It seems our Faith in India and abroad is
continuously ridden with controversies and scandals. As though the numerous
elopement episodes, financial frauds, gross violation of Baha’i stipulations
(like consuming alcohol and post marital affairs) and legal violations (like
duplicate passports) were not enough, that we have a LSA flexing muscles and
interfering in personal lives of the community members.
The LSA of …….(India) has circulated an
agenda to discuss personal matter of a sincere Baha’i, ……., which he resisted
on ethical grounds that personal matters would become public. Subsequently the
LSA ex-communicated him on several pretexts, such as:
a. How
did he dare to write to UHJ?
b. His
interfering in affairs of another Baha’i, Mr. X.
c. His
misconduct with Mr. X, although she had openly abused and accused him.
This Baha’i was summoned several times
and subjected to severe humiliation. He was accused to be a liar, a criminal and
with indecent family background. He was also accused to be responsible of the
poor state of Baha’i Faith in his state.He was never given a chance to defend
himself and was always bombarded with fresh accusations.
He bore all of this, thinking a compromise would be
reached and having faith in Bahaullah. His torment reached such a state that he
has now lost hopes in the administrative order of the Baha’i Faith and indeed
in the integrity of LSA members and other Baha’is, including the RBC and NSA
who knew all along about the situation of this Baha’i. Finally he was disgraced
with ex-communication.
All this because of callous behaviour of LSA of ……..
Shameful indeed!
He has started feeling that all this problem in the
Faith is due to not having A GUARDIAN
of the Faith which was
clearly mentioned in WILL AND TESTAMENT of Abdul Baha.
An Open Letter to a Heterodox Believer
Dear [heterodox Bahá'í],
I'm writing this letter in order to express my
concerns.
Not too long ago I was sharing the Faith with a
close friend of mine whom happens to be a Sikh. I was so excited in having the
chance to explain the beautiful Faith to her. We had talked about other faiths
as well and how the Bahá'í Faith is prophesied in all the true faiths of the
world. But most of the human race doesn't recognize this because they have
deviated so far from the truth. Then she asked me a question that surprised me.
She asked, "So how can you be sure that the Bahá'í Faith won't deviate
from the truth?"
Recently, I have been studying the Will and
Testament [of `Abdu´l-Bahá] with some friends. At the end of the session there
are 14 questions listed. I was finding my answers to these questions when all
of a sudden, it was like a light went on. Question #5, "How will 'the mighty
stronghold' of the Cause 'remain impregnable and safe"? The answer,
"The mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable and safe through the
obedience to him who is the Guardian of the Cause of God."
What a wonderful answer. A Guardian on this earth to
keep us from deviating from the truth. A Guardian to translate the Holy
Writings. A true living Guardian to guide us to God's Kingdom. How great this
would be.
However, the large body of Bahá'ís don't believe
this to be true. So then how do the large body of Bahá'ís keep themselves from
deviating from the truth?
I read on. After the questions it has some
recommended reading. One of them is the Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh. So I read
it again, looking for an answer as to how Bahá'ís can be sure that they are
staying true to the Faith.
Of course, it continuously talks about the
importance of the Guardianship. One quote that stands out in regards to my
question is "Without such an institution, (the Guardianship) the integrity
of the faith would be endangered. It's prestige would suffer, the means
required to take a long, uninterrupted view over a series of generations would
be completely lacking, and the necessary guidance to define the sphere of
legislative action of it's representatives would be totally withdrawn." Without
the Guardian the integrity of the faith would be endangered. So how is the
Faith, at this present time, being kept from becoming endangered if it's
believed by most that there is no Guardian?
Later, I had asked one of the friends how Bahá'ís
are supposed to keep themselves from deviating from the truth. He told me that
the Bahá'ís, in order to remain true to the faith are to follow the Will and
Testament of `Abdu´l-Bahá. Well let's have closer look.
"By this body (the Universal House of Justice)
all difficult problems are to resolved and the Guardian of the Cause of God is
its sacred head and distinguished member for life of that body." But if
there is no Guardian, there is no sacred head. How can a body live without a
head?
"The Hands of the Cause of God must elect from
their own number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the
important services in the work of the Guardian of the Cause of God." How
can this instruction be fulfilled when soon there will be no more Hands of the
Cause within the large body of Bahá'ís? And therefore, they can not continually
"elect from their own number nine persons that shall at all times be
occupied in the important services in the work of the Guardian of the Cause of
God."
It is incumbent upon every one, "to show their
obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto the Guardian of the Cause of
God, to turn unto him and be lowly before him." Another instruction that
is not being followed, because it's believed by the large body of Bahá'ís that
there is no Guardian.
"This body of the Hands of the Cause of God is
under the direction of the Guardian of the Cause of God. He must continually
urge them to strive and endeavor to the utmost of their ability to diffuse the
sweet savors of God, and to guide all the peoples of the world..." So, if
it's believed by the large body of Bahá'ís, that there is no Guardian and soon
no more Hands of the Cause who is going to guide all the peoples of the world?
These are just a few excerpts taken from the Will
and Testament that already, aren't being followed. Again because it's believed
by most that there is no Guardian.
But with a living Guardian the instructions in the
Will and Testament could be completely followed. No question. How wonderful
that would be.
What have I been told about the Will and Testament
of `Abdu´l-Bahá? How important is it to the Bahá'í Faith? It's of the utmost
importance. That it's as if the Words have come from Bahá'u'lláh himself. That
together, the Will and Testament with the most Holy Book, "are inseparable
parts of one complete unit." They are both Holy Writings that can not be
changed or altered. Shoghi Effendi states, speaking of the Administrative
Order, that no one shall, "misconceive its character, belittle its
significance or misrepresent its purpose. The bedrock on which this
Administrative Order is founded is God's immutable purpose for mankind in this
day."
What I see happening right now with the large body
of Bahá'ís is terrifying. Because from what I see, if the Will and Testament is
supposed to keep everybody true to the faith and nobody is following it, they
must be already deviating. This is one of the reasons why I believe it is so
important to have a living Guardian on this earth today.
Isn't there any possibility that Shoghi Effendi
chose his successor and he went unrecognized?
Damaris Campbell