Memorization
To memorize the Writings (can be recited at devotional meetings)[edit]
"...the Five Year Plan calls for the friends to memorize selections from the Writings. If a believer finds it difficult to memorize, he may be encouraged to make for his own use a selection of extracts, however brief, which he could reread and enjoy at his own leisure, to satisfy his inner soul."
See also[edit]
Memorizing Writings and prayers can help in study of the Cause and deepening and enrichment of spiritual life[edit]
"The Guardian was truly pleased to note that you have already started reading some Bahá'í books, and would specially advise you to endeavour to commit to memory certain passages from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, and in particular, some of His prayers. This training would undoubtedly be of tremendous help to you in your future studies of the Cause, and would also serve to considerably deepen and enrich your own spiritual life at present."
- (From a letter dated 10 April 1939 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 130)
What to Memorize[edit]
Tablets[edit]
Memorizing text of Tablets and perspicous words and statements is praiseworthy[edit]
"Memorizing the texts of the holy Tablets, and of perspicuous words and statements is highly praiseworthy. You should exert the utmost endeavour in your efforts to educate, to expound, and to instruct."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, from a newly translated Tablet of Abdu'l-Bahá, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 32)
“The Master used to attach much importance to the learning by heart of the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb. During His days, it was a usual work of the children of the household to learn Tablets by heart...”
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 19 October 1932, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 108)
Tablets on teaching and for teaching[edit]
"The sanctified souls should ponder and meditate in their hearts regarding the methods of teaching. From the texts of the wondrous, heavenly Scriptures they should memorize phrases and passages bearing on various instances, so that in the course of their speech they may recite divine verses whenever the occasion demandeth it, inasmuch as these holy verses are the most potent elixir, the greatest and mightiest talisman. So potent is their influence that the hearer will have no cause for vacillation. I swear by My life! This Revelation is endowed with such a power that it will act as the lodestone for all nations and kindreds of the earth. Should one pause to meditate attentively he would recognize that no place is there, nor can there be, for anyone to flee to."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 200, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. [1])
"When your hearts are wholly attracted to the one true God you will acquire divine knowledge, will become attentive to the proofs and testimonies and will commit to memory the glad-tidings concerning the Manifestations of the Beauty of the All-Merciful, as mentioned in the heavenly Scriptures. Then ye shall behold how wondrous are His confirmations and how gracious is His assistance."
- (`Abdu'l-Bahá, from a newly translated Tablet of Abdu'l-Bahá, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. [2])
"It is very good to memorize the logical points and proofs of the Holy Books. Those proofs and evidences which establish the fact that Bahá'u'lláh is the fulfillment of the Promises of the Holy Books. These proofs ought to be collected and memorized. As soon as someone will ask you-What are your proofs?-you may cry out at the top of your voice and say: "Here they are!""
- (`Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, 3, no.11[27 Sept. 1912], 4, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 64)
"Those who participate in such a campaign, whether in an organizing capacity, or as workers to whose care the execution of the task itself has been committed, must, as an essential preliminary to the discharge of their duties, thoroughly familiarize themselves with the various aspects of the history and teachings of their Faith. In their efforts to achieve this purpose they must study for themselves, conscientiously and painstakingly, the literature of their Faith, delve into its teachings, assimilate its laws and principles, ponder its admonitions, tenets and purposes, commit to memory certain of its exhortations and prayers, master the essentials of its administration, and keep abreast of its current affairs and latest developments."
- (Shoghi Effendi, Advent of Divine Justice, p. 49, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 83)
“They [the Bahá’í youth] must be acquainted with those essential prerequisites of teaching as recorded in the Holy Books and Tablets.”
- (Shoghi Effendi, translated from a letter dated 9 June 1925 to the Spiritual Assembly of the East, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 73)
“The friends should read the Writings and be able to quote from the Tablets when discussing subjects pertaining to the Faith.”
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 9 May 1932, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 105)
“Surely the ideal way of teaching is to prove our points by constant reference to the actual words of Bahá’u’lláh and the Master. This will save the Cause from being misinterpreted by individuals. It is what these divine Lights say that is truth and therefore They should be the authorities of our statements. This, however, does not mean that our freedom of expression is limited. We can always finds new ways of approach to that truth or explain how they influence our life and condition. The more deep our studies the more we can understanding the significance of the teachings. In the Cause we cannot divorce the letter from the spirit of the words. As Bahá’u’lláh says we should take the outward significance and super-impose upon it the inner. Either without the other is wrong and defective.”
- (From a letter dated 16 February 1932 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer), Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 103)
Hidden Words[edit]
"We should memorize the Hidden Words, follow the exhortations of the Incomparable Lord, and conduct ourselves in a manner which befitteth our servitude at the threshold of the One True God."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, from a newly translated Tablet of Abdu'l-Bahá, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 38)
See also[edit]
Prayer[edit]
"There is no objection to the friends memorizing prayers; on the contrary it is excellent for them to do so."
- (From a letter dated 6 September 1946 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 144)
"The Guardian was truly pleased to note that you have already started reading some Bahá'í books, and would specially advise you to endeavour to commit to memory certain passages from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, and in particular, some of His prayers. This training would undoubtedly be of tremendous help to you in your future studies of the Cause, and would also serve to considerably deepen and enrich your own spiritual life at present."
- (From a letter dated 10 April 1939 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 130)
"Those who participate in such a campaign, whether in an organizing capacity, or as workers to whose care the execution of the task itself has been committed, must, as an essential preliminary to the discharge of their duties, thoroughly familiarize themselves with the various aspects of the history and teachings of their Faith. In their efforts to achieve this purpose they must study for themselves, conscientiously and painstakingly, the literature of their Faith, delve into its teachings, assimilate its laws and principles, ponder its admonitions, tenets and purposes, commit to memory certain of its exhortations and prayers, master the essentials of its administration, and keep abreast of its current affairs and latest developments."
- (Shoghi Effendi, Advent of Divine Justice, p. 49, Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, no. 83)
See also[edit]
Studying the original language(s) or language for self/teaching?[edit]
See Persian, Arabic, language education.
Melodies[edit]
See recite melodiously.
