Bahai9 - User contributions [en]

On behalf of Shoghi Effendi

2006-02-20T14:14:24Z

59.40.72.199:

==Status of letters written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi==
* See http://bahai-library.com/?file=uhj_authenticity_some_texts#memorandum

==See also==
*[[Shoghi Effendi]]

Lao Zi

2006-02-20T14:08:59Z

59.40.72.199:

==Lao-Tse is not considered a prophet, even a secondary one or messenger==

"Regarding Lao-Tse: The Baha'is do not consider him a prophet, or even a secondary prophet or messenger, unlike Buddha or Zoroaster, both of whom were divinely-appointed and fully independent Manifestations of God.

:(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, November 10, 1939)

==''Discussion''==

* (Note: This might not preclude their being similarities in some aspects of Taoist belief and the Bahá'í Faith, however?...)

Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas

2006-02-20T14:04:56Z

59.40.72.199:

#REDIRECT[[Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá]]

China

2006-02-20T14:04:53Z

59.40.72.199:

==Greatest Holy Leaf: Chinese have fresh and receptive minds and grasp the importance of this Manifestation; hoped for assistance to pioneer in going there==

"I was very glad to know of your meeting with the Chinese students, and I am sure your effect and influence shall be great upon them because their fresh and receptive minds are ready to grasp the importance of this Manifestation; and when you go to China, which you may if you think it wise, your influence and success, I hope, will be still more.

I pray God that He should confirm you in your teaching, and when you go to China, He should make you a pioneer in carrying the Message of this Dispensation to the farthermost countries of the world and to the most obscure.

The members of the Holy Family join me in extending to you their love and Baha'i greetings, and may the spirit of Abdu'l-Baha guide you and keep you."
:(The Greatest Holy Leaf, [[Bahíyyih Khánum]], p. 171)

==See also==
*[[Confucius]]
*[[Lao Zi]]
*[[Buddha]]
*[[Far East]]

Far East Prophets

2006-02-20T14:00:32Z

59.40.72.199:

"As there were no followers of the Bab or Baha'u'llah derived from the religions of the Far East in Their days, this may be the reason that They did not address any Tablets directly to these people. Also we must remember that every religion springs from some root, and just as Christianity sprang from Judaism, our own religion sprang from Islam, and that is why so many of the teachings deduce their proofs from Islam."
:([[Shoghi Effendi]], 5 March 1957, Revised September 1990, in [[Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects]], no. [http://bahai-library.com/?file=compilation_buddha_krishna_zoroaster#25 25])

==See also==
*[[Confucius]]
*[[Lao Zi]]
*[[Buddha]]
*[[China]]
*[[Japan]]
*[[Korea]]

Confucius

2006-02-20T13:59:12Z

59.40.72.199: /* Confucius became the cause of civilization, advancement and prosperity for the people of China, but his time has gone as Bahá'u'lláh has come */

==Praise of Confucius as a moral reformer (but not a Prophet)==

===Confucius was a cause of the illumination of the world of humanity===

Blessed souls whether Moses, Jesus, Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, Confucius, or Muhammad were the cause of the illumination of the world of humanity. How can we deny such irrefutable proof? How can we be blind to such light?"

:([['Abdu'l-Bahá]] from a Tablet - translated from the Persian, in [[Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects]], no. [http://bahai-library.com/?file=compilation_buddha_krishna_zoroaster#1 1]))

===Confucius was not a Prophet but was the founder of a moral system and a great reformer===
Confucius was not a Prophet. It is quite correct to say he is the founder of a moral system and a great reformer.
:(From a letter written [[on behalf of Shoghi Effendi]] - 26 December 1941 to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand)

===Confucius renewed ancient morals===

"...Confucius renewed morals and ancient virtues..."

:([['Abdu'l-Bahá]], ''[[Some Answered Questions]]'', (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1984), Chapter [[saqc:43|43]], pp. [[saq:165|165]]-166)

==The beliefs, rites, and institutions of Confucius have not continued according to their basic teachings==
Question.--To which category <nowiki>[Greater or lesser prophet]</nowiki> do Buddha and Confucius belong?

Answer.--Buddha also established a new religion, and Confucius renewed morals and ancient virtues, but their institutions have been entirely destroyed. The beliefs and rites of the Buddhists and Confucianists have not continued in accordance with their fundamental teachings...

...The meaning is that the Buddhists and Confucianists now worship images and statues. They are entirely heedless of the Oneness of God and believe in imaginary gods like the ancient Greeks. But in the beginning it was not so; there were different principles and other ordinances.

...It is then clear and evident that in the passage of time religions become entirely changed and altered. Therefore, they are renewed.

:([['Abdu'l-Bahá]], ''[[Some Answered Questions]]'', (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1984), Chapter [[saqc:43|43]], pp. [[saq:165|165]]-166)

==Confucius became the cause of civilization, advancement and prosperity for the people of China, but his time has gone as Bahá'u'lláh has come==
Thou hast written regarding Buddha and Confucius. Buddha was an illustrious personage. Confucius became the cause of civilization, advancement and prosperity for the people of China. Now it is not the time when we discuss concerning the stations and positions of those who are passed away. We must concentrate our attention upon the present. What hath transpired in a former time is past. Now is the time when we restrict our discussion to the Most Great Luminary of Peace and Salvation in this Age, to talk of the Blessed Perfection [Bahá'u'lláh] and to voice His exhortations, behests and teachings. Buddha and Confucius were kings in bygone ages who have disappeared. Their sovereignty in this world is ended and their cycle is completed. Now the Throne of the Kingdom of ABHA is established and the Blessed Perfection is sitting upon the Throne of Grandeur. We must raise this Call, promulgate the Word of God and live in accord with the teachings and advices of the Beauty of ABHA

:(''[[Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas]]'', vol. 2 (Chicago: Bahá'í Publishing Society, 1915), pp. [[tab2:469|469]]-70, in [[Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects]] no. [http://bahai-library.com/?file=compilation_buddha_krishna_zoroaster#2 2])

==Book of Confucius refers to glad tidings of this Promised Day==

"In the divine Holy Books there are unmistakable prophecies giving the glad tidings of a certain Day in which the Promised One of all the Books would appear, a radiant dispensation be established, the banner of the Most Great Peace and conciliation be hoisted and the oneness of the world of humanity proclaimed. Among the various nations and peoples of the world no enmity or hatred should remain. All hearts were to be connected one with another. These things are recorded in the Torah, or Old Testament, in the Gospel, the Qur'an, the Zend-Avesta, the books of Buddha and the book of Confucius. In brief, all the Holy Books contain these glad tidings. They announce that after the world is surrounded by darkness, radiance shall appear. For just as the night, when it becomes excessively dark, precedes the dawn of a new day, so likewise when the darkness of religious apathy and heedlessness overtakes the world, when human souls become negligent of God, when materialistic ideas overshadow spirituality, when nations become submerged in the world of matter and forget God - at such a time as this shall the divine Sun shine forth and the radiant morn appear."
:([['Abdu'l-Bahá]], ''The [[Promulgation of Universal Peace]]'', pp. [[pup:220|220]]-221)

==Authenticity of past Scriptures cannot be ascertained besides for the Qur'án==

Application to Confucius?:

"In the Baha'i teachings it states that all the Prophets have foretold a Promised One Who is Baha'u'llah. We cannot be sure of the authenticity, word for word, of any of the past Holy Scriptures except the Qur'an, as they were either not written down during the Prophet's lifetime or have been changed in the course of time and the originals lost; what we can be sure of is that when Baha'u'llah or the Master stated that Zoroaster foretold a Promised One's coming, it is correct. The Zoroastrians have no way of contradicting this assertion of ours, as they themselves know their scriptures are not in the original form, and therefore not absolutely authentic."
:([[Shoghi Effendi]], 22 June 1943, in [[Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects]], no. [http://bahai-library.com/?file=compilation_buddha_krishna_zoroaster#20 20])

==See also==
*[[Far East]]
*[[China]]
*[[Buddha]]

Far East Prophets

2006-02-20T13:53:30Z

59.40.72.199:

"As there were no followers of the Bab or Baha'u'llah derived from the religions of the Far East in Their days, this may be the reason that They did not address any Tablets directly to these people. Also we must remember that every religion springs from some root, and just as Christianity sprang from Judaism, our own religion sprang from Islam, and that is why so many of the teachings deduce their proofs from Islam."
:(5 March 1957) Revised September 1990
:(Shoghi Effendi, in [[Buddha, Krisna, Zoroaster]], p. 23)

==See also==
*[[Confucius]]
*[[Lao Zi]]
*[[Buddha]]
*[[China]]
*[[Japan]]
*[[Korea]]

Confucius

2006-02-20T13:51:38Z

59.40.72.199:

==Praise of Confucius as a moral reformer (but not a Prophet)==

===Confucius was a cause of the illumination of the world of humanity===

Blessed souls whether Moses, Jesus, Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, Confucius, or Muhammad were the cause of the illumination of the world of humanity. How can we deny such irrefutable proof? How can we be blind to such light?"

:([['Abdu'l-Bahá]] from a Tablet - translated from the Persian, in [[Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects]], no. [http://bahai-library.com/?file=compilation_buddha_krishna_zoroaster#1 1]))

===Confucius was not a Prophet but was the founder of a moral system and a great reformer===
Confucius was not a Prophet. It is quite correct to say he is the founder of a moral system and a great reformer.
:(From a letter written [[on behalf of Shoghi Effendi]] - 26 December 1941 to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand)

===Confucius renewed ancient morals===

"...Confucius renewed morals and ancient virtues..."

:([['Abdu'l-Bahá]], ''[[Some Answered Questions]]'', (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1984), Chapter [[saqc:43|43]], pp. [[saq:165|165]]-166)

==The beliefs, rites, and institutions of Confucius have not continued according to their basic teachings==
Question.--To which category <nowiki>[Greater or lesser prophet]</nowiki> do Buddha and Confucius belong?

Answer.--Buddha also established a new religion, and Confucius renewed morals and ancient virtues, but their institutions have been entirely destroyed. The beliefs and rites of the Buddhists and Confucianists have not continued in accordance with their fundamental teachings...

...The meaning is that the Buddhists and Confucianists now worship images and statues. They are entirely heedless of the Oneness of God and believe in imaginary gods like the ancient Greeks. But in the beginning it was not so; there were different principles and other ordinances.

...It is then clear and evident that in the passage of time religions become entirely changed and altered. Therefore, they are renewed.

:([['Abdu'l-Bahá]], ''[[Some Answered Questions]]'', (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1984), Chapter [[saqc:43|43]], pp. [[saq:165|165]]-166)

==Confucius became the cause of civilization, advancement and prosperity for the people of China, but his time has gone as Bahá'u'lláh has come==
Thou hast written regarding Buddha and Confucius. Buddha was an illustrious personage. Confucius became the cause of civilization, advancement and prosperity for the people of China. Now it is not the time when we discuss concerning the stations and positions of those who are passed away. We must concentrate our attention upon the present. What hath transpired in a former time is past. Now is the time when we restrict our discussion to the Most Great Luminary of Peace and Salvation in this Age, to talk of the Blessed Perfection <nowiki>[Bahá'u'lláh]</nowiki> and to voice His exhortations, behests and teachings. Buddha and Confucius were kings in bygone ages who have disappeared. Their sovereignty in this world is ended and their cycle is completed. Now the Throne of the Kingdom of ABHA is established and the Blessed Perfection is sitting upon the Throne of Grandeur. We must raise this Call, promulgate the Word of God and live in accord with the teachings and advices of the Beauty of ABHA

:(''[[Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas]]'', vol. 2 (Chicago: Bahá'í Publishing Society, 1915), pp. 469-70, in [[Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects]] no. [http://bahai-library.com/?file=compilation_buddha_krishna_zoroaster#2 2])

==Book of Confucius refers to glad tidings of this Promised Day==

"In the divine Holy Books there are unmistakable prophecies giving the glad tidings of a certain Day in which the Promised One of all the Books would appear, a radiant dispensation be established, the banner of the Most Great Peace and conciliation be hoisted and the oneness of the world of humanity proclaimed. Among the various nations and peoples of the world no enmity or hatred should remain. All hearts were to be connected one with another. These things are recorded in the Torah, or Old Testament, in the Gospel, the Qur'an, the Zend-Avesta, the books of Buddha and the book of Confucius. In brief, all the Holy Books contain these glad tidings. They announce that after the world is surrounded by darkness, radiance shall appear. For just as the night, when it becomes excessively dark, precedes the dawn of a new day, so likewise when the darkness of religious apathy and heedlessness overtakes the world, when human souls become negligent of God, when materialistic ideas overshadow spirituality, when nations become submerged in the world of matter and forget God - at such a time as this shall the divine Sun shine forth and the radiant morn appear."
:([['Abdu'l-Bahá]], ''The [[Promulgation of Universal Peace]]'', pp. [[pup:220|220]]-221)

==Authenticity of past Scriptures cannot be ascertained besides for the Qur'án==

Application to Confucius?:

"In the Baha'i teachings it states that all the Prophets have foretold a Promised One Who is Baha'u'llah. We cannot be sure of the authenticity, word for word, of any of the past Holy Scriptures except the Qur'an, as they were either not written down during the Prophet's lifetime or have been changed in the course of time and the originals lost; what we can be sure of is that when Baha'u'llah or the Master stated that Zoroaster foretold a Promised One's coming, it is correct. The Zoroastrians have no way of contradicting this assertion of ours, as they themselves know their scriptures are not in the original form, and therefore not absolutely authentic."
:([[Shoghi Effendi]], 22 June 1943, in [[Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects]], no. [http://bahai-library.com/?file=compilation_buddha_krishna_zoroaster#20 20])

==See also==
*[[Far East]]
*[[China]]
*[[Buddha]]