Bahá'í meetings
(This page is to be about general guidance for Bahá'í meetings.)
Need for strict focus during[edit]
“This gathering must be completely spiritual. That is, the discussion must be confined to marshaling clear and conclusive proofs that the Sun of Truth hath indeed arisen.”
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, no. 94.1-94.4, pp. 130-131)
“Verily, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá inhaleth the fragrance of the love of God from every meeting place where the Word of God is uttered, and proofs and arguments set forth, that shed their rays across the world; and where they recount the tribulations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at the evil hands of those who have violated the Covenant of God. O handmaid of the Lord: Speak thou no word of politics; thy task concerneth the life of the soul, for this verily leadeth to man’s joy in the world of God. Except to speak well of them, make thou no mention of the earth’s kings, and the worldly governments thereof. Rather, confine thine utterance to spreading the blissful tidings of the Kingdom of God, and demonstrating the influence of the Word of God, and the holiness of the Cause of God. Tell thou of abiding joy and spiritual delights, and godlike qualities, and of how the Sun of Truth hath risen above the earth’s horizons; tell of the blowing of the spirit of life into the body of the world.”
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, sec. 53, pp. 92-93)
“At these meetings, there should be no extraneous conversation whatever. Rather, the assemblage should confine itself to reading and reciting the Holy Words, and to the discussion of matters relating to the Cause of God, expounding, for example, conclusive proofs and arguments, and the Writings of the Best Beloved of mankind. Those who present themselves at these gatherings must first array themselves in spotless clothing, turn their faces toward the Kingdom of Abhá, and then with lowliness and submissiveness enter in. During the readings they must maintain complete silence. Should anyone wish to speak, he should say in all humility, with exactitude and eloquence. Salutations be unto you, and praise.”
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, from unpublished Tablet, Bahá'í Meetings, no. 20)
"In these meetings outside conversation must be entirely avoided, and the gathering must be confined to chanting the verses and reading the words, and to matters which concern the Cause of God, such as explaining proofs, adducing clear and manifest evidences, and tracing the signs of the Beloved One of the creatures. Those who attend the meeting must, before entering, be arrayed with the utmost cleanliness and turn to the Abha Kingdom, and then enter the meeting with all meekness and humbleness; and while the tablets are being read, must be quiet and silent; and if one wishes to speak he must do so with all courtesy, with the satisfaction and permission of those present, and do it with eloquence and fluency."
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, cited in Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, pp. 185-186)
“Today it behooveth one and all to forgo the mention of all else, and to disregard all things. Let their speaking, let their inner state be summed up thus: “Keep all my words of prayer and praise confined to one refrain; make all my life but servitude to Thee.” That is, let them concentrate all their thoughts, all their words, on teaching the Cause of God and spreading the Faith of God, and inspiring all to characterize themselves with the characteristics of God; on loving mankind; on being pure and holy in all things, and spotless in their public and private life; on being upright and detached, and fervent, and afire. All is to be yielded up, save only the remembrance of God; all is to be dispraised, except His praise. Today, to this melody of the Company on high, the world will leap and dance: “Glory be to my Lord, the All-Glorious!” But know ye this: save for this song of God, no song will stir the world, and save for this nightingale-cry of truth from the Garden of God, no melody will lure away the heart. “Whence cometh this Singer Who speaketh the Beloved’s name?”
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, no. 54.1-54.2, p. 99)
"Let the loved ones of God, whether young or old, whether male or female, each according to his capabilities, bestir themselves and spare no efforts to acquire the various current branches of knowledge, both spiritual and secular, and of the arts. Whensoever they gather in their meetings let their conversation be confined to learned subjects and to information on the knowledge of the day.
If they do thus, they will flood the world with the Manifest Light, and change this dusty earth into gardens of the Realm of Glory."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, from a Tablet - translated from the Arabic, Bahá'í Education, no. 27)
