Bahá'u'lláh's Teachings on Spiritual Reality

by Bahá'u'lláh

This is a compilation dealing with spiritual reality, an excellent introduction for seekers and new Baha'is on Baha'i theology of the quest for spirituality, what it means to be spiritual, progress of the soul, and spiritual education. Reacquaints Baha'is with prayer and meditation, mastery of self, suffering, immortality, sacrifice, etc. Just as science is the source of understanding the laws of physical reality, true religion, based on scientific methods stripped of empty tradition and superstition, is a source of understanding of the laws of spiritual reality. Baha'u'llah explains that knowledge about spiritual reality comes to humanity through a series of divine teachers - the Founders of the great world religions. Spirituality is the process of systematically translating this knowledge into action for personal growth, the ordering of society, and the advancement of civilization.

Genres: Baha I, Nonfiction

204 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Persian religious leader Bahaullah, originally Mirza Huseyn Ali, a follower of the Bab, founded the Baha'i in 1863.

Baha'i, the word, signifies a follower of Bahaullah, which means the "splendor of God" in Persian.

Bahá'u'lláh, a member of the great patrician family, endowed with wealth and vast estates, ably traced lineage to the ruling dynasties of imperial past. Bahá'u'lláh turned his back on the position at court, which these advantages offered; people knew his generosity and kindliness, which made him deeply loved among his countrymen.

The religious revolution caused much social upheaval, and Bahá'u'lláh announced support for the message, so his privileged position survived not long. After the execution, authorities unleashed the the waves of violence unleashed upon the Bábis; Bahá'u'lláh, engulfed, suffered the loss of all his worldly endowments, and imprisonment, torture, and a series of banishment subjected him. In the first banishment to Baghdad, he in 1863 announced that God promised his coming as the one divine messenger.

From Baghdad, people sent Bahá'u'lláh to Constantinople, to Adrianople, and finally to Acre in the Holy Land, where he arrived as a prisoner in 1868. From Adrianople and later from Acre, Bahá'u'lláh addressed a series of letters among the most remarkable documents in religious history to the rulers of his day. They proclaimed the coming unification of humanity and the emergence of a world civilization. They called upon the monarchs, emperors, and presidents of the 19th century to reconcile their differences, to curtail their armaments, and to devote their energies to the establishment of universal peace.

Bahá'u'lláh passed away at Bahji, just north of Acre, and people buried his body. His teachings already began to spread beyond the confines of the Middle East and brought the world community, focused on the point of his shrine today.

Reviews

[Maeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great compilation for if you are looking for Writings on a particular topic or spiritual theme.

[Samira · Rating 5 out of 5]

"True loss is for him whose days have been spent in utter ignorance of his self."

[Marianne Henriksson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this compilation if you really want to find out on what spiritual beliefs are based. This compilation answered questions for me that nobody else could explain.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pretty chill and centers around praising the joys of Life.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful words from Baha'u'llah explaining why man needs the Manifestations of God and why They bring new laws and so much more.

[Caroline Gabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

i got this book for a class at summer school one year and just finished rereading it, got a lot out of it reading it again