A few days ago I wrote about this most wonderful festival, a gift from God...but realized that perhaps I didn't emphasize the magnitude of the event that took place during this 12 day period: the Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh.
This post is dedicated exclusively to describe personal influences of the Baha'i Faith in my life as well as select Writings that glorify this Blessed Day.
Being a Baha'i is the most important influence of my life. I had the blessing to be born into a Baha'i home (both my parents were Baha'is) thus, got to know the Faith from a young age. Of course, as any human being, I had questions regarding God and religion. What fascinated me about the Baha'i Faith was that there really were logical answers to all my questions. I was given such clarity in matters of the spirit that after studying various other religions of the world, I decided to choose the Baha'i Faith as my personal path in life. From that day on, the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh definitely influence my everyday life and I will forever be grateful to God for this wonderful blessing.
Manions of Bahji where Bahá\'u\'lláh passed away. Photo by Kamran Granfar 2004, taken from the bahai.org website[/caption]
The declaration of Bahá'u'lláh meant the beginning of the Cycle of Fulfillment. Ok, a bit complicated to explain on this post but will be coming up soon, promise! Bahá'u'lláh brought the Healing Message of God for this specific day and age. Each Messenger of God from Abraham to Jesus Christ, to Muhammad has done this according to humanity's needs as well as capacity of understanding. Bahá'u'lláh in 1863 declared that:
"I am the One...Whom the tongue of Isaiah hath extolled, the One with Whose name both the Torah and the Evangel were adorned."
The World order of Bahá'u'lláh, p.109.
Furthermore, every person has the capacity to know God, oh this Bahá'u'lláh states in the Kitab-i-Iqan, p.199-200:
When the channel of the human soul is cleansed of all worldly and impeding attachments, it will unfailingly perceive the breath of the Beloved across immeasurable distances, and will, led by its perfume, attain and enter the City of Certitude.
...That city is none other than the Word of God revealed in every age and dispensation.... All the guidance, the blessings, the learning, the understanding, the faith, and certitude, conferred upon all that is in heaven and on earth, are hidden and treasured within these Cities.
If there is only one true then with detachment from our idle fancies, vain imaginings and our pre-conceptions we can all attain this one truth.
The whole duty of man in this Day is to attain that share of the flood of grace which God poureth forth for him. Let none, therefore, consider the largeness or smallness of the receptacle. The portion of some might lie in the palm of a man's hand, the portion of others might fill a cup, and of others even a gallon-measure.
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p.7-9