NationStates Jolt Archive

Since this is the day that Baha'u'llah first publicly announced that He was the Promised One of all time, the return of Christ, Muhammed, Moses and all the Prophets of God I thought I would share this with NationStates. Kind of a ask the Baha'i thread. Hope you enjoy. Link after the quote.

The Divine Springtime is come, O Most Exalted Pen, for the Festival of the All-Merciful is fast approaching. Bestir thyself, and magnify, before the entire creation, the name of God, and celebrate His praise, in such wise that all created things may be regenerated and made new. Speak, and hold not thy * peace. The day star of blissfulness shineth above the horizon of Our name, the Blissful, inasmuch as the kingdom of the name of God hath been adorned with the ornament of the name of thy Lord, the Creator of the heavens

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 27)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/

Happy hollidays, GoodThoughts. I wish you and your family the best.

Neat! So many holy events in Spring. So what are your traditions for this day? Any special foods or rituals?

I don't know a lot about the Baha'i.

Neat! So many holy events in Spring. So what are your traditions for this day? Any special foods or rituals?

I don't know a lot about the Baha'i.

There is no special food that is apart of the religious tradition for all Baha'is. There are so many groups of people who have taken up this new/old religion that they tend to bring what is familiar from the old to the new. The Persian have they familiar food that tend to use on special days, but nothing that is prescribed in the Writings of Baha'u'llah. This is the one most joyful Baha'i Holy Days.

Neat! So many holy events in Spring. So what are your traditions for this day? Any special foods or rituals?

I don't know a lot about the Baha'i.

Have a look at the web site. It's a bit hard to describe ...

Have a look at the web site. It's a bit hard to describe ...

Can I help you with the describing?

Ridvan is remarkably similar to Passover. On Passover, we sit on cushions as well (on the chairs, though) and read the story of the Exodus. We even have a "Four Questions" ritual that involves the youngest child.

Why do Baha'i sit on cushions during this holiday? Is there an "order" to the proceedings, or is it very informal? Also, how does the story of Ridvan go, and why do only children read the scriptures, and not the adults?

Ridvan is remarkably similar to Passover. On Passover, we sit on cushions as well (on the chairs, though) and read the story of the Exodus. We even have a "Four Questions" ritual that involves the youngest child.

Why do Baha'i sit on cushions during this holiday? Is there an "order" to the proceedings, or is it very informal? Also, how does the story of Ridvan go, and why do only children read the scriptures, and not the adults?

In the US we sit on chairs and anyone can read the scriptures. I am not sure where you got the idea about cushions unless it was from the website that shows photos of rooms where Baha'u'llah lived. They used cushions because that was the custom of the people.

Ridvan means garden. Baha'u'llah was banished from Iraq, and before that from Iran or Pershia, to Haifa Israel by the government of the time. The Ridvan Festival celebrates the first public announcement from Baha'u'llah of His mention of His station as God's latest Messenger, the Promised One of all time. His mission is to unite the peoples of the world as one family with all of the diversity and uniqueness intact.

The Divine Springtime is come, O Most Exalted Pen, for the Festival of the All-Merciful is fast approaching. Bestir thyself, and magnify, before the entire creation, the name of God, and celebrate His praise, in such wise that all created things may be regenerated and made new. Speak, and hold not thy * peace. The day star of blissfulness shineth above the horizon of Our name, the Blissful, inasmuch as the kingdom of the name of God hath been adorned with the ornament of the name of thy Lord, the Creator of the heavens

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 27)
If the words are translated from Iranian, why are they translated into such a flowery English and not something more natural and easy on the ears?

One of the quoted reasons for atheism:
Religion stops people thinking in a rational and objective way.
This is quite a basic misconception, isn't it? That one must be objective to be rational.

If the words are translated from Iranian, why are they translated into such a flowery English and not something more natural and easy on the ears?

Baha'u'llah spoke in Arabic and Iranian or Persian and they words are what they are. It is in the ears of the beholder I guess. It seems naural to me.

Perhaps this is less flowery.

"In reference to the "new name" of Revelations,
our dear Lord said that the new name has a
spiritual and inward meaning, not an outward
one, that it does not mean something that can
be pronounced by the tongue, but it means that
when a soul comes into the great Kingdom of
God, the "attributes" or "names" of God light
upon him, and by this he receives new consciousness
and new understanding, and he becomes
a new man. Just, as when in springtime,
the sun and rain come to the earth, all the trees
and herbs spring up and bear new flowers. Man
is, as it were, in shadow, but when the sun
shines upon him, all the shadows disappear."

(Compilations, Baha'i Prayers 9, p. 53)

thats one sweet looking temple

is this some sort of interstellar religion?

"In reference to the "new name" of Revelations,
our dear Lord said that the new name has a
spiritual and inward meaning, not an outward
one, that it does not mean something that can
be pronounced by the tongue, but it means that
when a soul comes into the great Kingdom of
God, the "attributes" or "names" of God light
upon him, and by this he receives new consciousness
and new understanding, and he becomes
a new man. Just, as when in springtime,
the sun and rain come to the earth, all the trees
and herbs spring up and bear new flowers. Man
is, as it were, in shadow, but when the sun
shines upon him, all the shadows disappear."

(Compilations, Baha'i Prayers 9, p. 53)
Now *that* speaks more to a changing consciousness than anything you posted in the other thread. ;-)

thats one sweet looking temple

is this some sort of interstellar religion?
Not really. It grew from Judeo-Christian beleifs. It's such a cool religion because it afirms the equality of all people regardless of ethnicity or sex.

Not really. It grew from Judeo-Christian beleifs. It's such a cool religion because it afirms the equality of all people regardless of ethnicity or sex.


cool - that is important.

still though, that temple looks lik eit is going to be travelling the stars one day. that, or shoot a death beam at a rival planet (as soon as we find a rival planet)

Now *that* speaks more to a changing consciousness than anything you posted in the other thread. ;-)

The first statement could be compared to a trumpet blast announcing who He is. The second is a standard for the believer to strive towards.

In the US we sit on chairs and anyone can read the scriptures. I am not sure where you got the idea about cushions unless it was from the website that shows photos of rooms where Baha'u'llah lived. They used cushions because that was the custom of the people.

Ridvan means garden. Baha'u'llah was banished from Iraq, and before that from Iran or Pershia, to Haifa Israel by the government of the time. The Ridvan Festival celebrates the first public announcement from Baha'u'llah of His mention of His station as God's latest Messenger, the Promised One of all time. His mission is to unite the peoples of the world as one family with all of the diversity and uniqueness intact.


Its just that the website talked about "removing all the chairs" in the place of cushions, and only mentioned the children reading from the scriptures. I was just wondering.

Anyway, on Ridvan, do you have a sort of "order of ceremonies" or is it an informal reading of the scriptures plus a meal?

cool - that is important.

still though, that temple looks lik eit is going to be travelling the stars one day. that, or shoot a death beam at a rival planet (as soon as we find a rival planet)

Here is a link to a picture of the main Baha'i center in Haifa, Israel. It looks much more old fashioned but it is a very beautiful place. Doesn't it remind you of the Hanging Gardens?

http://www.nikolsky.name/2/bahai8_2_sm.jpg

Lemurian - I don't know waht the hanging gardens are - but that is a nice looking temple - I like the sci-fi looking one better tho :D

Its just that the website talked about "removing all the chairs" in the place of cushions, and only mentioned the children reading from the scriptures. I was just wondering.

Anyway, on Ridvan, do you have a sort of "order of ceremonies" or is it an informal reading of the scriptures plus a meal?

I reference you read was about that paticular celebration that paticular day. There is very little ceremony or ritual in the Baha'i Faith. The general order for Ridvan is to read from the history of the event, read from the Writings of Baha'u''ah, have a social time and share food. There as many ways to do that as there are cultures in the world.

Here is a link to a picture of the main Baha'i center in Haifa, Israel. It looks much more old fashioned but it is a very beautiful place. Doesn't it remind you of the Hanging Gardens?

http://www.nikolsky.name/2/bahai8_2_sm.jpg

Yep, that's it. I was there last June. It is breathtaking in person.

Wow.
From the stuff I've just learned from the link you gve and the discussion, it seems the Baha'i Faith is quite fascinating. I don't have any questions as of yet, but I most likely will later.

Lemurian - I don't know waht the hanging gardens are - but that is a nice looking temple - I like the sci-fi looking one better tho :D

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon:

http://www.ancientroute.com/Monument/7wonders/01307.gif

oh ok thanks - I see how you could compare them

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon:

http://www.ancientroute.com/Monument/7wonders/01307.gif

The terraces that go up Mt Carmel start at the bottom of the rather large hill up to the very top with the Tomb of the Bab almost exactly in the middle. The Bab was the Forerunner of Baha'ullah much like John the Babtist was for Christ.

I reference you read was about that paticular celebration that paticular day. There is very little ceremony or ritual in the Baha'i Faith. The general order for Ridvan is to read from the history of the event, read from the Writings of Baha'u''ah, have a social time and share food. There as many ways to do that as there are cultures in the world.

Ok. Sounds great, like Passover without the rigid customs! Baha'ism sounds like a very fascinating religion (I should do more research on it). ;)

Is Ridvan celebrated chiefly in the home, or is it also celebrated in a place of worship? Does anyone preside over the holiday and leads the readings or is Ridvan more of a communal observance?

The terraces that go up Mt Carmel start at the bottom of the rather large hill up to the very top with the Tomb of the Bab almost exactly in the middle. The Bab was the Forerunner of Baha'ullah much like John the Babtist was for Christ.

Do the terraces have any particular significance, or are they just there for decoration?

Also, judging by the name of the holiday and the gardens surrounding the Bab's tomb, how significant is the garden as a religious symbol in Baha'ism?

[You may answer the first post first, though ;) ]

Ok. Sounds great, like Passover without the rigid customs! Baha'ism sounds like a very fascinating religion (I should do more research on it). ;)

Is Ridvan celebrated chiefly in the home, or is it also celebrated in a place of worship? Does anyone preside over the holiday and leads the readings or is Ridvan more of a communal observance?

Ridvan is celebrated mostly in homes. Those communities that are big enough and have buildings, of course, celebrate in those buildings. There are no priests or clergy in the Baha'i Faith so there is no one assigned to the priestly duties those kinds of things are shared by the Baha'is.

Do the terraces have any particular significance, or are they just there for decoration?

Also, judging by the name of the holiday and the gardens surrounding the Bab's tomb, how significant is the garden as a religious symbol in Baha'ism?

[You may answer the first post first, though ;) ]

The Gardens are like an adornment to the resting place of the Bab. Mt Carmel has significance in the Bible.

35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

(King James Bible, Isaiah)