The Tenets of the Baha'i Path
click for more discussions fromThe Baha'i View thru they eyes of Rafael Castillo
1. How does one learn the teachings of your tradition?
One can learn several ways about the Baha’i Faith, through books and literature about the teachings of the Faith or the Central Figures, participating in Study Circles or Deepening and by attending Firesides. Firesides are informal gatherings where seekers can ask any questions they may have. A Deepening is a group study of some aspect of the Baha’i Faith such as the history, tenets, or books/Holy Writings. A Study Circle is a facilitated group study using one of several workbooks.
2. Does your tradition accept an authoritative body or council? If so, how active are they in the every day life of the practitioner?
Yes, we do have several authoritative bodies. At the local level, we have the Local Spiritual Assembly, at the national level there is the National Spiritual Assembly and the worldwide governing body of the Baha’i Faith is the Universal House of Justice. They all are comprised of nine members who have no authority as individuals but as a group can administer to the affairs of the community and provide guidance. Their guidance and governance provides for the daily protection and promulgation of the Bahá’i Faith.
3. Does your spiritual tradition acknowledge a higher power? If so, what is the nature of this higher power? Is it a personal divine being or a non-personal energy or state? How do you refer to this higher power?
Baha’u’llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith tells us that God is an unknowable essence. However, it is our purpose to know, love, and worship Him. In my personal view, we do not have the capacity to receive direct revelation from God so He sends to us Divine Messengers throughout the ages as needed for the spiritual and social evolution of humanity.
4. What is the relationship between Divinity and humanity?
As I see it, the relationship is that of a loving Creator to Who’s commands we abide and to Who’s will we submit. We are to love and worship God and part of that entails serving humankind, living morally, and daily prayer.
5. What is the relationship between humans, animals, plants, and elements?
Humans are the custodians of Earth and the animals. It is our bounty and blessing that we have the physical plane for the growth of our soul. God placed Earth and the animals on our care and although we are above the animals as they are above the plants and the plants are above the minerals we are not to abuse them. We must care for them as they provide much for us.
6. In your tradition is there a conception of matter and of spirit, and if so, what is the relationship between the two? If not, please explain how you see it.
While I’m am not sure if there is any specific mention of this, in my opinion, there is a distinct separation between the material world and the spiritual plane and we have an influence on the world of matter by power of our thoughts. After all, that is what quantum mechanics shows us. In the Baha’i Faith, we are taught that the soul is created at the moment of conception. If I am not mistaken our souls are not in us as much as it is attached to us. I have yet to expand my understanding of this so I cannot explain more.
7. Is there something that stands out to you that people "outside" of your tradition misunderstand about your tradition? If so, please set us straight.
The only thing that comes to mind is the misconception some may have in how the Baha’i Faith relates to Islam. At times, it has been called a sect of Islam. The Bahá’i Faith is no more a sect of Islam than Christianity is a sect of Judaism. My Faith is a distinct major religion as Christianity and Hinduism are.
One can learn several ways about the Baha’i Faith, through books and literature about the teachings of the Faith or the Central Figures, participating in Study Circles or Deepening and by attending Firesides. Firesides are informal gatherings where seekers can ask any questions they may have. A Deepening is a group study of some aspect of the Baha’i Faith such as the history, tenets, or books/Holy Writings. A Study Circle is a facilitated group study using one of several workbooks.
2. Does your tradition accept an authoritative body or council? If so, how active are they in the every day life of the practitioner?
Yes, we do have several authoritative bodies. At the local level, we have the Local Spiritual Assembly, at the national level there is the National Spiritual Assembly and the worldwide governing body of the Baha’i Faith is the Universal House of Justice. They all are comprised of nine members who have no authority as individuals but as a group can administer to the affairs of the community and provide guidance. Their guidance and governance provides for the daily protection and promulgation of the Bahá’i Faith.
3. Does your spiritual tradition acknowledge a higher power? If so, what is the nature of this higher power? Is it a personal divine being or a non-personal energy or state? How do you refer to this higher power?
Baha’u’llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith tells us that God is an unknowable essence. However, it is our purpose to know, love, and worship Him. In my personal view, we do not have the capacity to receive direct revelation from God so He sends to us Divine Messengers throughout the ages as needed for the spiritual and social evolution of humanity.
4. What is the relationship between Divinity and humanity?
As I see it, the relationship is that of a loving Creator to Who’s commands we abide and to Who’s will we submit. We are to love and worship God and part of that entails serving humankind, living morally, and daily prayer.
5. What is the relationship between humans, animals, plants, and elements?
Humans are the custodians of Earth and the animals. It is our bounty and blessing that we have the physical plane for the growth of our soul. God placed Earth and the animals on our care and although we are above the animals as they are above the plants and the plants are above the minerals we are not to abuse them. We must care for them as they provide much for us.
6. In your tradition is there a conception of matter and of spirit, and if so, what is the relationship between the two? If not, please explain how you see it.
While I’m am not sure if there is any specific mention of this, in my opinion, there is a distinct separation between the material world and the spiritual plane and we have an influence on the world of matter by power of our thoughts. After all, that is what quantum mechanics shows us. In the Baha’i Faith, we are taught that the soul is created at the moment of conception. If I am not mistaken our souls are not in us as much as it is attached to us. I have yet to expand my understanding of this so I cannot explain more.
7. Is there something that stands out to you that people "outside" of your tradition misunderstand about your tradition? If so, please set us straight.
The only thing that comes to mind is the misconception some may have in how the Baha’i Faith relates to Islam. At times, it has been called a sect of Islam. The Bahá’i Faith is no more a sect of Islam than Christianity is a sect of Judaism. My Faith is a distinct major religion as Christianity and Hinduism are.
|