Directives From The Guardian Part 1

Directives from the Guardian.

by Shoghi Effendi.

1: 'ABDU'L-BAHa (STORIES ABOUT)

"He would also urge you to attach no importance to the stories told about 'Abdu'l-Baha or to those attributed to Him by the friends. These should be regarded in the same light as the notes and impressions of visiting pilgrims. They need not be suppressed, but they should not also be given prominent or official recognition."

2: 'ABDU'L-BAHa'S MINISTRY (RE: WORLD OBJECTIVES)

"As to the three aims which Shoghi Effendi has stated in his America and the Most Great Peace to have been the chief objectives of 'Abdu'l-Baha's ministry, it should be pointed out that the first was: The establishment of the Cause in America; the erection of the Baha'i Temple in I_sh_qabad, and the building on Mt. Carmel of a mausoleum marking the resting-place of the Bab, were the two remaining ones."

3: ADMINISTRATION--ATt.i.tUDE TOWARDS (NATIONAL a.s.sEMBLY'S STATEMENT APPROVED)

"He also wishes me to express his approval of your statement in the November issue of the Baha'i News to the effect of creating within the a.s.semblies and individual believers a more positive and active att.i.tude towards the Administration. The need for positive action seems, indeed, to be one of the most urgent needs of the Cause at present."

4: ADMINISTRATION, BAHa'i--(RULES AND REGULATIONS)

"The various rulings and regulations recorded in the 'Baha'i Administration', and the supplementary statements already issued by the National a.s.sembly, he feels, are for the present sufficiently detailed to guide the friends in their present-day activities... The American believers, as well as their National representatives, must henceforth direct their attention to the greater and vital issues which an already established Administration is called upon to face and handle, rather than allow their energies to be expended in the consideration of purely secondary administrative matters."

5: ADMINISTRATION (STUDY AND APPLY)

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

6: ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY (RELATED TO AMERICA)

"Now that they (the American believers) have erected the administrative machinery of the Cause they must put it to its real use--serving only as an instrument to facilitate the flow of the spirit of the Faith out into the world. Just as the muscles enable the body to carry out the will of the individual, all a.s.semblies and committees must enable the believers to carry forth the Message of G.o.d to the waiting public, the love of Baha'u'llah, and the healing laws and principles of the Faith to all men."

7: AFRICAN STUDENTS AND VISITORS

"He hopes that wherever it is possible the believers will make every effort to contact African students and visitors, and to show them kindness and hospitality. This may not only lead to the conversion of some while in America, but will also make friends for the Faith in Africa."

8: AGES AND EPOCHS (DEFINE)

"The Faith is divided into three Ages: the Heroic, the Formative, the Golden Age, as has been outlined in His Writings. The Heroic Age closed with the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha. The Formative Age is divided into epochs. The first epoch lasted 25 years. We are now actually in the second epoch of the Formative Age. How long the Formative Age will last is not known, and there will probably be a number of epochs in it.

"The Divine Plan of 'Abdu'l-Baha is divided into epochs. The first Seven-Year Plan const.i.tuted the first stage of the first epoch; the second Seven-Year Plan const.i.tutes the second stage; while the Ten-Year Crusade will const.i.tute the third stage of the first epoch of the Divine Plan. The first epoch of the Divine Plan will conclude with the conclusion of the Ten-Year Crusade."

9: ALLaH-U-ABHa (BAHa'i GREETING)

"The Baha'is are free to greet each other with Allah-u-Abha when they meet, if they want to, but they should avoid anything which to outsiders, in a western country, might seem like some strange Oriental pa.s.sword. We must be very firm on principles and laws, but very normal and natural in our ways, so as to attract strangers."

10: ANNUAL CONVENTION

"I am deeply convinced that if the Annual Convention of the friends in America, as well as the National Spiritual a.s.sembly, desire to become potent instruments for the speedy realization of the Beloved's fondest hopes for the future of that country, they should endeavor, first and foremost, to exemplify, in an increasing degree, to all Baha'is and to the world at large the high ideals of fellows.h.i.+p and service which Baha'u'llah and the beloved Master repeatedly set before them."

11: AQDAS (THE)--LAWS OF