"The att.i.tude of the Baha'is must be two-fold, complete obedience to the government of the country they reside in, and no interference whatsoever in political matters or questions. What the Master's statement really means is obedience to a duly const.i.tuted government, whatever that government may be in form. We are not the ones, as individual Baha'is, to judge our government as just or unjust--for each believer would be sure to hold a different viewpoint, and within our own Baha'i fold a hotbed of dissension would spring up and destroy our unity. We must build up our own Baha'i system, and leave the faulty systems of the world to go their way.

We cannot change them through becoming involved in them; on the contrary, they will destroy us."

152: POLITICS (REMAIN ALOOF FROM POLITICAL AFFAIRS)

"We should--every one of us--remain aloof, in heart and in mind, in words and in deeds, from the political affairs and disputes of the Nations and of Governments. We should keep ourselves away from such thoughts. We should have no political connection with any of the parties and should join no faction of these different and warring sects.

"Absolute impartiality in the matter of political parties should be shown by words and by deeds, and the love of the whole humanity, whether a Government or a nation, which is the basic teaching of Baha'u'llah, should also be shown by words and by deeds...

"According to the exhortations of the Supreme Pen and the confirmatory explanations of the Covenant of G.o.d Baha'is are in no way allowed to enter into political affairs under any pretense of excuse; since such an action brings about disastrous results and ends in hurting the Cause of G.o.d and its intimate friends."

153: POLITICS (SHUN POLITICS LIKE THE PLAGUE)

"The cardinal principle which we must follow ... is obedience to the government prevailing in any land in which we reside....

"We see therefore that we must do two things--Shun politics like the plague, and be obedient to the Government in power in the place where we reside... We must obey in all cases except where a spiritual principle is involved, such as denying our Faith. For these spiritual principles we must be willing to die. What we Baha'is must face is the fact that society is disintegrating so rapidly that moral issues which were clear a half century ago are now hopelessly confused and what is more, thoroughly mixed up with battling political interests. That is why the Baha'is must turn all their forces into the channel of building up the Baha'i Cause and its Administration. They can neither change nor help the world in any other way at present. If they become involved in the issues the Governments of the world are struggling over, they will be lost. But if they build up the Baha'i pattern they can offer it as a remedy when all else has failed."

154: PRAYER (FIVE STEPS OF)

"Regarding the five steps of prayer outlined by the Guardian, and recorded by Mrs. Moffett in her booklet, the 'Call to Prayer', these, he wishes me to explain, are merely personal suggestions and need not, therefore, be adopted strictly and universally by the believers."

155: PRAYER BEADS

"In the matter of the use and distribution of prayer beads, in this and other matters of secondary importance he does not wish that any hard and fast rules be set up. The believers should not be required to use prayer beads, nor should they be prevented from doing so, as the Teachings do not contain any specific instruction on the subject."

156: PRAYER (BAHa'U'LLaH'S IN DISPENSATION)

"The names of those cited in Baha'u'llah's Prayer in the Dispensation are quite correct as you gave them, (Abraham, Moses, Joseph, John the Baptist, Christ, Muhammad, Imam Husayn, the Bab and Baha'u'llah.)

"The Prophets 'regarded as one and the same person' include the lesser Prophets as well, and not merely those who bring a 'Book'. The station is different, but They are Prophets and Their nature thus different from that of ours.

"In the prayer mentioned above Baha'u'llah identifies Himself with Imam Husayn. This does not make him a Prophet, but his position was very unique, and we know Baha'u'llah claims to be the 'return' of the Imam Husayn. He, in other words, identifies His Spirit with these Holy Souls gone before, that does not, of course, make Him in any way their re-incarnation. Nor does it mean all of them were Prophets."

157: PRAYERS

"You have asked whether our prayers go beyond Baha'u'llah; It all depends whether we pray to Him directly or through Him to G.o.d. We may do both, and also can pray directly to G.o.d, but our prayers would certainly be more effective and illuminating if they are addressed to Him through His Manifestation Baha'u'llah.

"Under no circ.u.mstances, however, can we, while repeating the prayers, insert the name Baha'u'llah where the word 'G.o.d' is used. This would be tantamount to blasphemy."

"In quoting prayers any part may be used, but should be quoted as it is, however short."

158: PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS (BOOK OF)

"He is indeed pleased to know that the Book of Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah has been out in time to enable the friends to read it during the Fast, and he has every hope that the perusal of such a precious volume will help to deepen more than any other publication, the spirit of devotion and faith in the friends, and thus charge them with all the spiritual power they require for the accomplishment of their tremendous duties towards the Cause..."

159: PRAYERS (DAILY)

"The daily prayers are to be said each one for himself, aloud or silent makes no difference. There is no congregational prayer except that for the dead. We read healing and other prayers in our meetings, but the daily prayer is a personal obligation, so someone else reading it is not quite the same thing as saying it for yourself.

"If you find you need to visualize someone when you pray, think of the Master. Through Him you can address Baha'u'llah. Gradually try to think of the qualities of the Manifestation, and in that way a mental form will fade out, for after all the body is not the thing, His Spirit is there and is the essential, everlasting element."

160: PRAYERS (DAILY OBLIGATORY)

"The daily obligatory prayers are three in number. The shortest one consists of a single verse which has to be recited once in every twenty-four hours and at midday. The medium (prayer) which begins with the words: 'The Lord is witness that there is none other G.o.d but He,' has to be recited three times a day, in the morning, at noon and in the evening.

The long prayer which is the most elaborate of the three has to be recited once in every twenty-four hours, and at any time one feels inclined to do so.