The Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is the youngest of the world's independent religions. Its founder, Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892), is regarded by Bahá'ís as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad.
The central theme of Bahá'u'lláh's message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for
its unification in one global society. God, Bahá'u'lláh said, has set in motion historical forces that are breaking down traditional
barriers of race, class, creed, and nation and that will, in time, give birth to a universal civilization. The principal challenge
facing the peoples of the earth is to accept the fact of their oneness and to assist the processes of unification.
One of the purposes of the Bahá'í Faith is to help make this possible. A worldwide community of some five
million Bahá'ís, representative of most of the nations, races and cultures on earth, is working to give Bahá'u'lláh's teachings
practical effect. Their experience will be a source of encouragement to all who share their vision of humanity as one global
family and the earth as one homeland.
Basic Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh taught that there is one God whose successive revelations of His will to humanity have been the chief civilizing force in
history. The agents of this process have been the Divine Messengers whom people have seen chiefly as the founders of separate religious systems but whose common purpose has been to bring the
human race to spiritual and moral maturity.
Humanity is now coming of age. It is this that makes possible the unification of the human family and the building of a
peaceful, global society. Among the principles which the Baha'i Faith promotes as vital to the achievement of this goal are
A Way of Life
Bahá'u'lláh taught that each human being is "a mine rich in gems"
unknown even to the owner, let alone to others, and inexhaustible in its wealth. The purpose of life is to develop these capacities
both for one's own life and for the service of humanity. Life in this world, as Bahá'u'lláh presents it, is like the life of a child in the womb of its mother: the moral, intellectual, and spiritual powers which a
human being develops here, with the help of God, will be the "limbs" and "organs" needed for the soul's
progress in the worlds beyond this earthly one.
The way of life which Bahá'ís seek to cultivate, therefore, is one that encourages personal development. Daily prayer and
meditation free the soul from conditioned patterns and open it to new possibilities. Joining in projects with peoples of diverse
backgrounds breaks down traditional prejudices. The use of alcohol or narcotic drugs is avoided, except when prescribed for
medical reasons, because these substances eventually deaden the mind. The latter is also true of the habit of backbiting,
which weakens trust between people and undermines the spirit of unity upon which human progress depends. Bahá'u'lláh's writings
attach great importance to the institution of the family as the foundation of human society. The sanctity of marriage, recognition
of the equality of the husband and wife, and the use of consultation are especially emphasized.
The Historical Background
A Bahá'í father and his young son who were arrested and executed for their belief, 19th century
Iran.
| For Bahá'ís, evolutionary process is an essential feature of all the phenomena
of life including the revelations of God. The series of stages through which their own Faith gradually made its appearance
and established itself throughout the world is itself an expression of this principle.
The rise of the Bahá'í Faith has also been marked by a second feature that it shares in common with the formative period
in the history of each of the earlier world religions. The implications of a new stage in the unfoldment of God's will are
unwelcome to influential segments of existing society. The result has frequently been bitter persecution of followers of the
new faith. During its first century and a half of life the Bahá'í Faith has passed through several periods of such oppression.
Basic Beliefs of Hinduism
Hinduism is based on the concept that human and animal spirits reincarnate, or come back to earth to live many times in different forms. The belief that souls move up and down an infinite hierarchy
depending on the behaviors they practiced in their life is visible in many of the Hindu societal policies. The caste system
survives and charity towards others is unheard of because each individual deserves to be in the social class they were born
in. A person is born into the highest class because they behaved well in a past life, and a person is born into poverty and
shame because of misbehaviors in a past life.
 Today, a Hindu can be polytheistic (more than one god), monotheistic (one god), pantheistic (god and the universe are one),
agnostic (unsure if god exists), or atheistic (no god) and still claim to be Hindu. This open theology makes it difficult
to discuss basic beliefs since there are many ideas about what Hinduism means. However, these universal ideas must be mentioned.
Central to Hinduism are the concepts of reincarnation, the caste system, merging with brahman (or the ultimate reality), finding morality, and reaching Nirvana (the peaceful escape from the cycle of reincarnation).
Religious documents include Sruti, (what is heard) and Smriti,  (what is remembered). The Sruti include deeply religious things communicated to a seer and recorded. The Vedas, the religious writings, include mantras (hymns of praise), brahmanas (sacrificial rituals) and upanishads (108 sacred teachings). The Smriti include the law (books of laws), puranas (myths, stories, legends) and epics (sets of holy myths including Ramayana and Mahabharata).
 The Hindu paths to salvation include the way of works (rituals), the way of knowledge (realization of reality and self-reflection),
and the way of devotion (devotion to the god that you choose to follow). If the practitioner follows the paths of these ways,
salvation can be achieved.
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Sikh Religious Philosophy |
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"Realization of Truth is higher than
all else.
Higher still is Truthful Living." (Guru Nanak, Sri Rag)
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 There is only one God, he is the Creator, Sustainer and Destroyer.
"You are the Creator, O Lord, the Unknowable. You
created the Universe of diverse kinds, colours and qualities. You know your own Creation. All this is your Play." (Guru Nanak,
Var Majh)
"The Formless Supreme Being abides in the Realm of Eternity.
Over His creation He casts His glance of grace. In that Realm are contained all the continents and the universes, Exceeding
in number all count. Of creation worlds upon worlds abide therein; All obedient to His will; He watches over them in bliss,
And has each constantly in mind." (Guru Nanak, Japji)
God cannot take human form.
"He neither has father, nor mother, nor sons nor brothers."
(Guru Nanak, Maru)
"Burnt be the mouth that asserts, the Lord takes birth.
He is neither born nor dies; neither enters birth nor departs. All pervasive is Nanaks Lord." (Guru Arjan Dev, Raga Bhairon)
The goal of human life is to break the cycle of birth's and deaths and merge with God. This can be accomplished by following
the teachings of the Guru, meditation on the Holy Name and performance of acts of service and charity.
Without devotion to the Name Divine is birth in the world
gone waste. Such consume poison, poisonous their utterance; Without devotion to the Name, without gain they die, and after
death in transmigration wander." (Guru Nanak, Raga Bhairon)
"True life is life in God, contemplation on the Name
and the society of the saints" (Guru Arjan Dev, Dhanasari)
"I shall merge in the Lord like the water in the sea
and the wave in the stream. The soul will merge in God and like air I shall look upon all alike. Then why shall I come again?
The coming and going is under the Will of the Lord and Realising This Will, I shall merge in the Lord" (Bhagat Kabir, Maru)
"The disciple of the True Guru (God) dwells upon the
Lord through the teaching of the Guru and all his sins are washed away" (Guru Ram Das, Var Gauri)
"Our service in the world gets us a seat in the Court
of the Lord" (Guru Nanak, Sri Rag)
"One known as disciple of the holy Perceptor must, rising
at dawn, on the Name Divine meditate" (Guru Ram Das, Raga Gauri)
The five cardinal vices are; Kam (lust), Krodh (anger), Lobh (greed), Moh (worldly attachment) and Ahankar (pride). If
one can overcome these, they will achieve salvation.
"Five thieves who live within this body are lust, anger,
greed, attachment and ego. They rob us of ambrosia, but the egocentrics do not understand it and no one listens to their cries"
(Guru Amar Das, Sorath)
"I am in the Refuge of the Lord; Bless me, O Lord with
your Grace, so that the lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego may be destroyed" (Guru Arjan Dev, Gauri Sukhmani)
Narm Marg; emphasizes daily devotion to the remembrance of God.
"Meditation of the Lord is the highest of the deeds,
through which myriads obtain release, through which the thirst (of desires) is quenched, through which one becomes all knowing,
through which the fear of death goes away, through which all the desires are fulfilled, through which the dirt of the mind
is cleansed and the Nectar of the Name of God is absorbed in the mind" (Guru Nanak, Gauri Sukhmani)
Rejection of all forms of blind rituals such as fasting, religious vegetarianism, pilgrimages, superstions, yoga, as well
as any form of idol worship.
"Let good conduct be thy fasting." (Guru Nanak, Var Majh)
"You keep the fast to please Allah, but slay life for
your relish..But you do not reflect on the Lord, Who is within you" (Bhagat Kabir, Asa)
"Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't
understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is meat and what is plant? Who knows where the sin lies,
being a vegetarian or a non vegetarian?" (Guru Nanak, Var Malar)
"The world is in agony because of the filth of ego, the
word is filthy because of duality; The filth of ego cannot be washed away, even if one bathes at one hundred holy places."
(Guru Amar Das, Sri Raga)
"They go to holy places for a bath, Their minds are impure
and bodies are like thieves; If by bath their dirt drops down, they got on themselves twice as much dirt and ego." (Guru Nanak,
Var Suhi)
"Whosover controls the mind, he is a pilgrim" (Guru Arjan
Dev, Maru Solhe)
"You calculate the auspicious moments, but do not realise,
That God is far above the effects of these auspicious moments." (Guru Nanak, Ramkali)
"Good omens and ill omens stick to him Who does
not remember the Lord." (Guru Arjan Dev, Asa)
"The way to true yoga is found by dwelling in God and
remaining detached in the midst of worldly attachments." (Guru Nanak, Suhi))
"Pandits are busy studying Puranas, Yogis are busy in
yogic meditations; Sannyasis are intoxicated with ego, Tapsis are intoxicated with secrets of Tapas; All are intoxicated,
none is awake, With them are thieves robbing them." (Bhagat Kabir, Basant)
"Five are the Muslim prayers; five their appointed hours,
Five their names. These be the true prayers: The first is Truth, the second is lawful earning and the third is to beg the
Graces of God for all, The fourth is the right intention in the mind and the fifth is the praise of the Lord." (Guru Nanak,
Var Majh)
"He reads the holy books with commentaries, He does not
remember God, his way of living is not flowless. He instructs and makes other people firm, But does not practise, whatever
he says. Understand the substance of the Vedas, O Pandit!" (Guru Arjan Dev, Ramkali)
"The stone he calls his god, in the end, drowns him with
itself... Know that a boat of stone carries one not across" (Guru Arjan Dev, Suhi)
"The stone neither speaks nor gives anything. Therefore
its service is fruitless and its worship is of no avail." (Bhagat Kabir, Bhairo)
Normal Family life (Grasth) is encouraged, celibacy or renunciation of the world is not necessary to achieve salvation.
The devotee must live in the world yet keep his mind pure. He must be a soldier, a scholar, a saint.
"Beauteous lady! hast not heard with thy ears, To the
husband's home must thou come, nor for ever canst thou in the parental home abide" (Guru Nanak, Sri Rag)
"I that in the parents home on the Lord meditated, In
the husband's home bliss have found. Blessed is the entire life of such." (Guru Ram Das, Sri Rag)
"Those known as celibates knowing not the right device,
discard house and home." (Guru Nanak, Asa)
"Forsaking the household, one's mind took him to the
forest, but it could not get peace even for a moment; but when it sought the refuge of the Saint of the Lord, its wanderings
ceased and it returned to its own home. One abandoned his relatives and became a Sannyasi, but the craving of the mind did
not cease. One's desires are not finished without the Word of the Guru, which alone can bring peace. When hatred for the world
wells up in ones mind, he becomes a naked recluse, but the mind wanders ceaselessly and these wanderings do not end his desires,
but when he meets the saints, he reaches the House of Mercy. Siddhas learn numerous Yogic poses; but their mind only after
miraculous powers yearns. Thereby comes not to them fulfilment, content and peace of mind." (Guru Ram Das, Bilaval)
The Sikh Holy Book (Guru Granth Sahib) is the perpetual Guru, there is no place in Sikhism for a living Guru today.
"The bani is the preceptor and the preceptor is the bani,
All the nectars are present in the bani: If the faithful follows the bani of the preceptor, The preceptor himself helps him
in the realisation of his ideal." (Guru Ram Das, Nat)
Sikhism rejects all distinctions of caste, creed, race or sex.
"All are created from the seed of God. There is the same
clay in the whole world, the potter (God) makes many kinds of pots." (Guru Amar Das, Bhairo)
"Recognise the light (of God) and do not ask for the
caste, There is no caste in the next world." (Guru Nanak, Asa)
The Guru's stressed the full equality of women, rejecting female infanticide, sati (wife burning), permitting widow remarriage
and rejects purdah (women wearing veils).
"We are born of woman, we are conceived in the womb of
woman, we are engaged and married to woman. We make friendship with woman and the lineage continued because of woman. When
one woman dies, we take another one, we are bound with the world through woman. Why should we talk ill of her, who gives birth
to kings? The woman is born from woman; there is none without her. Only the One True Lord is without woman" (Guru Nanak, Var
Asa)
"They cannot be called satis, who burn themselves with
their dead husbands. They can only be called satis, if they bear the shock of separation. They may also be known as satis,
who live with character and contentment and always show veneration to their husbands by remembering them." (Guru Amar Das,
Var Suhi)
Honest labour and work (Kirat Karna) are the approved way of living ones life. It is considered honourable to earn ones
daily bread through honest work and not by begging or dishonest means.
"He who eats what he earns through his earnest
labour and from his hand gives something in charity; he alone, O Nanak, knows the true way of life" (Guru Nanak Dev, Rag Sarang,
pg. 1245)
Vand Chhakna, sharing with others is also a social responsibility. The individual is expected to help others in need through
charity.
Seva, community service is also an intergral part of Sikhism. The free community kitchen (langar) found at every gurdwara
and open to people of all religions is one expression of this community service. |
 Islam
Basic Beliefs of Islam
The teachings of Islam are comprised of both faith and duty (din). One branch of Muslim
learning, "Tawhid", defines all that a man should believe, while the other branch, "Shari'a," prescribes everything that he
should do. There is no priesthood and no sacraments. Except among the Sufis, Muslims receive instruction only from those who
consider themselves adequately learned in theology or law.
 The basis for Islamic doctrine is found in the Qur'an (Koran). It is the scripture of Islam, written by Muhammad
and his disciples as dictated by the Angel Gabriel. It alone is infallible and without error. The Qur'an is comprised of 114
surahs, or chapters, arranged from longest to shortest. For Muslims, the Qur'an is the word of God, and he carrier
of the revelation of Muhammad, the last and most perfect of God's messengers to mankind.
In addition to the Qur'an, other documents are also referred to by followers of Islam. A
number of additional sayings of Muhammad were complied in the Hadith ("tradition"). The Torat (of Moses), Suhuf (books of
the prophets), Zabur (psalms of David), and the Injil (gospel of Jesus) are also studied and considered to be revelations,
although they are believed to have been corrupted through time.
Five Articles of Faith
The five articles of faith are the main doctrines of Islam. All Muslims are
expected to believe the following:
- God. There is one true God and his name is Allah.
- Angels. Angels exist and interact with human lives. They are comprised of
light, and each have different purposes or messages to bring to earth. Each man or woman has two angels who record his actions;
one records good deeds, the other bad deeds.
- Scripture. There are four inspired books, the Torah of Moses, the Psalms (Zabin)
of David, the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Injil) and the Qur'an. All but the Qur'an have been corrupted by Jews and Christians.
- Prophets. God has spoken through numerous prophets throughout time. The six
greatest are: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. Muhammad is the last and greatest of Allah's messengers.
- Last Days. On the last day there will be a time of resurrection and judgment.
Those who follow Allah and Muhammad will go to Islamic heaven, or Paradise. Those who do not will go to hell.
The Five Pillars of Faith
The five pillars of faith are observances in Islam which are duties each
Muslim must perform.
- Creed (Kalima)- One must state, "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is
the Prophet of Allah." publicly to become a Muslim.
- Prayer (Salat)- Prayer must be done five times a day (upon rising, at noon,
in mid-afternoon, after sunset, and before going to sleep) towards the direction of Mecca. The call to prayer is sounded
by the muezzin (Muslim crier) from a tower (minaret) within the mosque.
- Almsgiving (Zakat)- Muslims are legally required to give one-fortieth of their
income to the needy. Since those whom alms are given are helping the giver achieve salvation, there is no sense of shame in
receiving charity.
- Fasting (Ramadan)- During the holy month of Ramadan, faithful Muslims fast
from sunup to sundown each day. This develops self-control, devotion to God, and identity with the needy.
- Pilgrimage (Hajj)- Each Muslim is expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca
at least once in their lifetime if they have the means to do it and are physically capable of the trip. It is an essential
part of gaining salvation, so the old or infirm may send someone in their place. It involves a set of rituals and ceremonies.
A sixth religious duty associated with the five pillars is Jihad, or Holy War.
This duty requires that if the situation warrants, men are required to go to war to defend or spread Islam. If they are killed,
they are guaranteed eternal life in Paradise.
Jainism
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'Jain' is a great religion. It strickly believes in nonviolence and vegetarianism.
It describes the spectrum of life in the details. Jainism believes in reincarnation(re-birth). It says that any living being
is a combination of body and soul.After the death, the soul does not die, but it takes a new birth in another body based upon
the soul's moral & ethical performance in previous life. Each soul constantly passes through birth and death cycles for
uncountable times. Making own soul free from birth & death cycle should be the ultimate
aim for everyone. Jainism shows the ways to free one's own soul from birth & death
cycles and to achieve everlasting peace & happiness by practicing nonviolence, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion &
simplicity in one's own life. |
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Zoroastrianism: A Short Overview
by Hannah M.G.
Shapero
Links to Sectors of Creation
 Zoroastrianism is the ancient religion of Persia. It was founded about 3500 years ago by
the prophet Zarathushtra. Arising out of the polytheistic traditions of ancient India and Iran, he was one of the first monotheists in human history.
Zarathushtra preached that there was one God, whom he called Ahura Mazda. Ahura means "Lord," and Mazda means "Wise," so Zoroastrians
call God the "Wise Lord." Zarathushtra has been known in the West as Zoroaster, from the Greek transliteration of his name;
in Persia and India he is known as Zarthosht.
No one knows exactly when Zarathushtra lived. Zoroastrian tradition places him at around 600 B.C.E., but this
date is thought by modern scholars to be far too late. The modern estimate of Zarathushtra's date is anywhere from 1500 to
1000 B.C.E.
The basic scripture of Zoroastrianism is a set of 5 poetic songs called the Gathas, which were composed by Zarathushtra
himself and have been preserved through the millennia by Zoroastrian priests. Over the years many other scriptures have accumulated
around these Gathas. Much of these scriptures were destroyed by the Greek, Muslim, and Mongol invasions, but some remain.
The Gathas are still the core text of the faith.They are composed in a very ancient language known as Avestan, which is closely related to Sanskrit. The evidence scholars use to give a time reference to Zarathushtra is linguistic:
the language of the hymns composed by the Prophet is similar to the Sanskrit of the Rig-Veda, an ancient Hindu text which
has been dated to the period of 1500-1000 B.C.E.
In the Gathas, Zarathushtra preached that the One God, Ahura Mazda, is transcendent, but he is in constant relationship
with human beings and the world God created through his Attributes. These Attributes are how God reaches the world, and how
the world reaches God. Zarathushtra did not specify a fixed number of Attributes, but soon after the Prophet they were specified
into seven. These attributes are called the Amesha Spentas, or "Bounteous Immortals." Each one of these embodies
an attribute of God, as well as a human virtue.
They are also symbols for the various sectors of Creation over which God watches. They are:
- Vohu Manah - Good Thought - connected with Animals
- Asha Vahishta - Justice and Truth - Fire and Energy
- Kshathra - Dominion - Metals and minerals
- Spenta Armaiti - Devotion and Serenity - The earth and land
- Haurvatat - Wholeness - Waters
- Ameretat - Immortality - Plants
- Spenta Mainyu - Creative Energy - Human beings
In the Gathas these are sometimes personified, and sometimes just Ideas or concepts. In later traditions, they are personified,
and become like archangels. They are never worshipped on their own.
The "dualism" of Zoroastrianism is known in the "West," but is mostly misunderstood. In the Gathas Spenta Mainyu, the "Holy
Creative Spirit," is opposed to Angra Mainyu, the Hostile Spirit. This conflict takes place in the human heart and mind, not
in the material Universe. It is the constant struggle between good and evil in human beings. This is ethical dualism,
the dualism of Good and Evil. In later traditions this changed into a dualism that took in the material world, dividing the
Universe into two camps, each ruled by the Good God or the Evil Spirit. This is called "cosmic" dualism.
Some Zoroastrians believe in "cosmic" dualism, others in ethical dualism. The teachings of the Gathas, the original work
of the Prophet, tend toward ethical dualism.
Zoroastrian worship involves prayers and symbolic ceremonies said before a sacred fire. This fire, which was a God- symbol
even before Zarathushtra, was used by the Prophet and by his followers ever after as the ideal sign of God, who is light,
warmth, energy. Zoroastrians do NOT worship fire, as some people believe. They use Fire as a symbol, or an icon, the focus
of their worship.
Zoroastrianism does not teach or believe in reincarnation or karma. Zoroastrians believe that after life on earth, the
human soul is judged by God as to whether it did more good or evil in its life. Those who chose good over evil go to what
Zarathushtra referred to simply as the "best existence," or heaven, and those who chose evil go to the "worst existence,"
or hell. Zoroastrianism was one of the first religions to give the afterlife a moral dimension.
Zoroastrianism also believes in the progress of sacred time, and the eventual end of time. The belief is that the collective
good acts of humanity will slowly transform the imperfect material world into its heavenly ideal. This is known as the "frasho-kereti,"
or "making-fresh," that is, renewal. At the end of time everything and everyone will be purified, even the souls in hell -
so hell is not eternal.
Zoroastrian ideas of moral dualism, heaven and hell, sacred time, and angelic beings have influenced Judaism and Christianity,
during long centuries of contact between these faiths in the Middle East.
The most important thing about Zoroastrianism is the dedication to ethical and moral excellence. The motto of the faith
is:
Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds.
This threefold path is the center of the faith. One knows what is good through the Divine help of Vohu Manah (Good Mind)
and divinely inspired conscience (Daena).
If there is anything to remember about Zoroastrianism, it is this threefold path. By thinking good thoughts, one is moved
to speak good words, and that leads to good deeds. This is a practical and world-affirming faith, that does not hate the world
nor dwell on sin and guilt.
Zoroastrians are mostly of Persian origin, though the recent breakup of the Soviet Union has revealed isolated groups of
Central Asian and Armenian Zoroastrians as well. In the 10th century A.D. groups of Persian Zoroastrians fled an oppressive
Muslim regime and settled in Gujarat, in western India. These are the Parsis of India, who are a major influence today. From
India and Iran Zoroastrians have spread all over the world, and there are communities in England, Australia, Canada, the United
States, and other countries. These diaspora communites now face the problems of how to adapt their ancient religious traditions
to a modern world.
Author's notes:
The best current book on Zoroastrianism is The Zoroastran Tradition by Farhang Mehr, published by Element
Books, 1991.
A widely available translation of the Gathas is by the Belgian scholar Duchesne-Guillemin, translated from the French by
Henning. This is a little red book in the "Wisdom of the East" series, published by Charles E. Tuttle Co, Inc., 1992.
It is somewhat out of date by modern scholarship's standards.
I highly recommend the English translation of the Gathas by Dr. Ali A. Jafarey.
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