Community Corner
Bahá'u'lláh is the Founder of the Bahá'i Faith
Are you asking yourself what is a Bahá'i and who is Bahá'u'lláh? This religion was founded in the 1850s in Iran and is considered the youngest established religion.
"In this day Bahá'u'lláh, talking to the world about Oneness. Oh, what a wonder this Oneness, surely it's the day of God."
This is the opening line to a favorite song of the Bahá'is. Here in the township of Huntington we have a thriving and active community of Bahá'is. The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'i of Huntington is an active member of the Huntington Clergy association that includes spiritual communities from Dix Hills, Melville, Centerport, Huntington Station, Greenlawn and Huntington. Are you asking yourself what is a Bahá'i and who is Bahá'u'lláh?
Bahá'u'lláh is the founder of the Bahá'i faith. The word Bahá'u'lláh actually means "the glory of God." This religion was founded in the 1850s in Iran and is considered the youngest established religion. It is a culturally diverse community that follows the revelations of the Bahá'u'lláh who although he was just a man, received the beginnings of these revelations in the most horrendous of human conditions. While he was imprisoned in one of the most notorious dungeons in the Near East, Tehran's "Black Pit."
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Bahá'u'lláh's central message is unity. He combined spiritual and social teachings calling for a maturation of humanity. He taught that a true religion is in harmony with reason and the pursuit of scientific knowledge.
He called for unity because he believed that God has revealed Himself to humanity through a series of divine Messengers, whose teachings guide and educate us and provide the basis for the advancement of human society. These messengers have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Their religions come from the same source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God. (www.Bahai.org).
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Bahá'u'lláh said, "The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens," and that, as foretold in all the sacred scriptures of the past, now is the time for humanity to live in unity.
He called for general efforts at disarmament and urged the world's rulers to band together into some form of commonwealth of nations. The Bahá'is were instrumental in the establishment of the United Nations and are the only religion to have a seat on the General Assembly. This past week marked the celebration of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh.
In the Bahá'í view, the purpose of this life on earth is for each individual to develop the spiritual and moral qualities that lie at the core of his or her nature. Bahá'u'lláh referred to the human being as a "mine rich in gems of inestimable value." These "gems" or qualities can be "mined" or developed only when a person turns to God. (www.Bahai.org).
As we reflect on these ideas, what gems are we cultivating or mining in our lives? We are not condemned to a prison of filt and human excrement, without clean air, water and sunlight. We have our less extreme hardships and stresses. Are we using what we are faced with to bring us closer to the God of our understanding? Are we using the situations of our lives to distract us or become an excuse for us not to come closer to God?
This month we celebrate Thanksgiving. Is gratitude a priority? Gems need polishing in order to shine. How are you shining spiritual principles in your life?
Let us join with our Bahai neighbors and look to the strength of our unity to guide us in the direction of mining the highest and most beautiful of human gems, peace, love and harmony.
Let us join Bahá'u'lláh as he declares, "So powerful is the light of unity, that it can illuminate the whole earth."
May your week be lit with God's light shining through you!
Rev JoAnn Barrett is the Senior Officiant and founder of Gathering of Light Multifaith Spiritual Fellowship located in Dix Hills. She is one of the founding Board members of Council of Interfaith Congregations USA, CoChair of Interfaith Anti Bias Task Force of Suffolk County, a Member of Suffolk County Hate Crimes Task Force, a Member of Religions For Peace Long Island (a local branch of a world-wide NGO at the United Nations) and a Member of the "Dignity for All Students Act" Committee which recently helped this bill pass in the state Senate. She is a published author and poet. She is married and has six grown children.
