Deepening

From Lights of Guidance (to categorize)

Incumbent on Believers to Read Sacred Writings Daily

"Recite ye the verses of God every morn and eventide. Whoso faileth to recite them hath not been faithful to the Covenant of God and His Testament, and whoso turneth away from these holy verses in this Day is of those who throughout eternity have turned away from God. Fear ye God, O My servants, one and all…."

(Bahá’u’lláh: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, K149, p. 73, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1913)

Deepening—What it Means—No Limit to the Study of the Cause

"To deepen in the Cause means to read the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and the Master so thoroughly as to be able to give it to others in its pure form. There are many who have some superficial idea of what the Cause stands for. They, therefore, present it together with all sorts of ideas that are their own. As the Cause is still in its early days we must be most careful lest we fall under this error and injure the Movement we so much adore.

"There is no limit to the study of the Cause. The more we read the writings the more truths we can find in them the more we will see that our previous notions were erroneous."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, August 25, 1926, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1914)

Deepening Generates Stimulus

"… Deepening the newly-enrolled believers generates tremendous stimulus which results in further expansion. The enrollment of new believers, on the other hand, creates a new spirit in the community and provides additional potential manpower that will reinforce the consolidation work."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to All National Spiritual Assemblies, July 13, 1964, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1915)

Study with Others

"He urges you to study deeply the teachings, teach others, study with those Bahá’ís who are anxious to do so the deeper teachings of our Faith, and through example, effort and prayer bring about a change."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, September 30, 1949: Living the Life, p. 16, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1916)

Study Classes—Little Knowledge is Dangerous—Quote from the Tablets

"It is also very important to hold study classes and go deep in the Teachings. A great harm is done by starting to teach without being firmly grounded in the literature. 'Little knowledge is dangerous' fully applies to the teaching work. The friends should read the Writings and be able to quote from the Tablets when discussing subjects pertaining to the Faith."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, May 9, 1932: Bahá’í News, No. 67, October 1932, p. 4, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1917)

Deepen Their Knowledge

"…the friends should deepen their knowledge and this can be achieved if, together with the lectures, there are study classes and seminar work carried on by the same lecturer…."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, January 27, 1932: Bahá’í Summer Schools, p. 1, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1918)

Understanding the Import of His Teachings Motivates New Believers to Dedicate their Lives to His Service

"Shoghi Effendi trusts, however, that these souls who are attracted by the teachings would be made to live the life and also deepen their knowledge of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh. For it is only by fully appreciating the spiritual and social import of His mission that we can be willing to dedicate our life to its service.

"By holding study classes where the Word is read and understood and obtaining a thorough knowledge of the spirit that animated the early believers we can make sure that these newcomers are grounded in the teachings and made into real and devoted believers. Books such as the Íqán, Some Answered Questions, the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, Nabil's Narrative and Dr. Esselmont's book should be read and read over again by every soul who desires to serve the Movement or considers himself an active member of the group."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, November 9, 1932, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1919)

Study and Application

"Without the study and application of the administration the teachings of the Cause becomes not only meaningless, but loses in effectiveness and in scope."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, May 31, 1935: Bahá’í News, No. 105, p. 1, February 1937, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1920)

Spiritual Teachings of Faith—Will and Testament, Firm Grounding Needed

"… Some of the … believers, from letters and reports received here, seem to lack a firm grounding on such matters as the Will and Testament and the deeper spiritual teachings of the Faith. Whenever the grasp of these fundamentals is weak, the friends are almost sure to pay undue attention to secondary procedures, to quibble over details, to lose themselves in personalities, and to founder in a sea of unnecessary inharmony. This has nothing to do with their devotion, their loyalty, their zeal, their eagerness to serve. It is merely a question of not having received, perhaps through lack of sufficient teachers to carry on the all-important work of deepening the friends in their own faith, a strong enough education in the Covenant before the duties and responsibilities of the Administrative Order were thrust upon them."

(Shoghi Effendi: Messages to Canada, pp. 58-59, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1921)

Presenting the Master's Will to Newcomers

"Concerning the best method of presenting the Master's Will to the newcomers, Shoghi Effendi is of the opinion that the N.S.A. should first make some suitable extracts from the Testament, and to send these to all the Local Assemblies for their use, so that there may be full unity in circulating the provisions of the Will among the new believers… The main thing, as it appears to the Guardian, is that the full station of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá be clearly explained, and that the origins, nature and working of the Administrative Order of the Faith be clearly stated. The full implications of such a recognition are evidently beyond the comprehension of any new believer. Such a knowledge can be acquired gradually and only when the essentials of the Faith have been clearly recognized and adequately understood."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, March 21, 1934: Bahá’í News, No. 211, September 1948, p. 1, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1922)

The Cause Needs People—Whose Faith Stands on a Rock, no Trial Can Move

"Another essential thing is that those who do embrace the Faith should be constantly urged to study the literature of the Cause. It is not sufficient that our numbers should increase, we want people whose faith stands on a rock and no trial can move. We want people who in turn arise and carry the message to other people and guide other souls."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, March 13, 1932: Bahá’í News, No. 64, July 1932, p. 4, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1923)

Education of New Believers

"It is not enough to bring people into the Faith; one must educate them and deepen their love for it and their knowledge of its teachings, after they declare themselves. As the Bahá’ís are few in number, especially the active teachers, and there is a great deal of work to be done, the education of these new believers is often sadly neglected, and then results are seen such as the resignations you have had recently."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, July 18, 1957: A Special Measure of Love, p. 19, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1924)

Regarding Spiritual Children, Each Soul Receives Gift of Faith for Himself, Independent of Teachers

"As to your question about the spiritual children of people who enter the Cause with some old ideas still clinging to them: Everyone should study the Faith for himself, and just because a person's Bahá’í teacher has some concept not strictly Bahá’í, it does not stand to reason that the new believer must be saddled with it; old believers, as well as new, should constantly endeavour to grow more fully into the Bahá’í pattern of thought and of life. Each soul receives the gift of faith for himself, and from then on is a Bahá’í in his own right, independent of his teacher."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 17, 1945, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1925)

One Cannot Catch the Spirit of the Cause Through the Reading of Books Alone

"It behooves you now to try to deepen your knowledge of the history and the teachings of the Faith and get acquainted with the principles that stand at the basis of its present-day Administration. The best way to attain that goal is through continued cooperation with the friends and through participation in their spiritual activities. For you cannot catch the spirit of the Cause through the reading of books alone. You should reinforce the knowledge you get through Bahá’í Writings with a whole-hearted association with the friends."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, August 20, 1932, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1926)

Imperative Need to Deepen in the Cause—God's Purpose for Man

"A detailed and exact knowledge of the present structure of Bahá’í administration, or of the By-laws of National and Local Spiritual Assemblies or of the many and varied applications of Bahá’í law under the diverse conditions prevailing around the world, while valuable in itself, cannot be regarded as the sort of knowledge primarily intended by deepening. Rather is suggested a clearer apprehension of the purpose of God for man, and particularly of His immediate purpose as revealed and directed by Bahá’u’lláh, a purpose as far removed from current concepts of human well-being and happiness as is possible…."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the World, Ridván 1967: Wellspring of Guidance, p. 113, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1927)

The Study of Dawn-Breakers will Arouse the Friends to Renewed Zeal

"The reading of the Dawn-Breakers is sure to arouse the friends to renewed zeal and added perseverance in spreading the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. Consider to what extent the Báb and those early leaders of the Faith suffered. It was not through a blind religious zeal but because they desired to bring about for the future generations that promised era that the Faith of the Báb promised to startáan era of peace, good-will and full realization of the spiritual significance of the life of man upon the earth. They suffered that we may be happy. They died that we may live in perfect bliss. What a sacred debt, therefore, we owe to them! How much we ought to labour to repay them for their sacrifices, and how willing and earnest we should be in consecrating our life in the path they trod!"

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, January 27, 1933, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1928)

Theme Pursued in Effort to Deepen—What is God's Purpose for the Human Race?

"…this is the theme we must pursue in our efforts to deepen in the Cause. What is Bahá’u’lláh's purpose for the human race? For what ends did He submit to the appalling cruelties and indignities heaped upon Him? What does He mean by a 'new race of men'? What are the profound changes which He will bring about? The answers are to be found in the Sacred Writings of our Faith and in their interpretation by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and our beloved Guardian. Let the friends immerse themselves in this ocean, let them organize regular study classes for its constant consideration, and as reinforcements to their effort, let them remember conscientiously the requirements of daily prayers and reading of the Word of God enjoined upon all Bahá’ís by Bahá’u’lláh."

(From the Message of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the World, Ridván 1967: Wellspring of Guidance, pp. 114-115, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1929)

Presenting Greatest Name Prematurely

"He feels that it is not necessary to present, prematurely, to every new Bahá’í the teachings regarding the use of the Greatest Name. Some souls need and are ready for this; others are not. Judgement must be used in such matters. It is more essential to stress the importance of prayer and to urge the use of one of the obligatory prayers."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, October 11, 1949: Bahá’í News, No. 228, February 1950, p. 4, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1930)

One Must Deepen His Knowledge of the Literature in Order to Teach Others and Render Service to the Faith

"… Shoghi Effendi hopes that you will exert all your effort to deepen your knowledge of the literature of the movement, until you become fully acquainted with its spirit and tenets. Unless you do obtain such a firm hold you will never be able to teach others and render real service to the promulgation of the Faith. Of special importance is the Book of the Íqán which explains the attitude of the Cause towards the prophets of God and their mission in the history of society. Besides this there is 'Some Answered Questions' of the Master and the 'Dawn-Breakers' of Nabíl. Every Bahá’í should master these books and be able to explain their contents to others. Besides their importance, they are interesting and most absorbing."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 9, 1932, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1931)

The Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh Deal with Many Aspects of Man's Inner and Communal Life

"The Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh are so great, and deal with so many aspects of both the inner life of man and his communal life, that it takes years to really plumb them to the depths. He has brought spiritual food for the soul of the individual, to help each one to find himself and become a finer and better developed personality; and also He has brought the laws and principles needed to enable all men to live in harmony together in a great, united world. The Guardian hopes you, together with …, will do all in your power to help the believers to understand both aspects of the teachings, and to develop both as individuals and as a community, an ever higher, finer way of life."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, December 12, 1942, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1932)

Progress of Cause Now to be Characterized by Increasing Relationship with Non-Bahá’í World—Our Preparation Must be Continual Deepening

"There can be no doubt that the progress of the Cause from this time onward will be characterized by an ever increasing relationship to the agencies, activities, institutions and leading individuals of the non-Bahá’í world. We shall acquire greater stature at the United Nations, become better known in the deliberations of governments, a familiar figure to the media, a subject of interest to academics, and inevitably the envy of failing establishments. Our preparation for and response to this situation must be a continual deepening of our faith, an unwavering adherence to its principles of abstention from partisan politics and freedom from prejudices, and above all an increasing understanding of its fundamental verities and relevance to the modern world."

(From the Message of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the World, Ridván 1984, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1933)

See also

• Study