43: COVENANT (MEANING OF BAHa'i)

"As regards the meaning of the Baha'i Covenant: The Guardian considers the existence of two forms of Covenant both of which are explicitly mentioned in the literature of the Cause. First is the Covenant that every Prophet makes with humanity or, more definitely, with His people that they will accept and follow the coming Manifestation who will be the reappearance of His reality. The second form of Covenant is such as the one Baha'u'llah made with His people that they should accept the Master. This is merely to establish and strengthen the succession of the series of Lights that appear after every Manifestation. Under the same category falls the Covenant the Master made with the Baha'is that they should accept His administration after Him."

"The Most Great Covenant is different from the Everlasting Covenant."

44: COVENANT BREAKERS (EXPULSION AND REINSTATEMENT OF)

"The Guardian, like the Master before him, has not considered it advisable to as yet permit any person or a.s.sembly to put another person out of the Cause of G.o.d. There is a sharp distinction between depriving a believer of his voting rights, which is a severe disciplinary measure and not a spiritual sanction, and p.r.o.nouncing a former believer to be a truly spiritually diseased soul, a soul in the condition the Master referred to when, in His last cable to America before His ascension, He said: 'He who sitteth with a leper catcheth leprosy.' The Guardian has, within the last few years, considered the National a.s.semblies strong enough to wield the instrument of sanction in the sense of depriving a Baha'i of his voting rights. But no one but himself can p.r.o.nounce a person to be in that diseased condition we call 'Covenant Breaking' and no one but he can reinstate a Covenant Breaker. No National a.s.sembly has been given this right and cannot therefore review the question or reinstate anyone..."

45: COVENANT BREAKERS (SHUN)

"...Baha'u'llah and the Master in many places and very emphatically have told us to shun entirely all Covenant breakers as they are afflicted with what we might try and define as a contagious spiritual disease; they have also told us, however, to pray for them. These souls are not lost forever.

In the Aqdas, Baha'u'llah says that G.o.d will forgive Mirza Ya?ya if he repents. It follows, therefore, that G.o.d will forgive any soul if he repents. Most of them don't want to repent, unfortunately. If the leaders can be forgiven it goes without saying that their followers can also be forgiven...

"Also, it has nothing to do with unity in the Cause; if a man cuts a cancer out of his body to preserve his health and very life, no one would suggest that for the sake of unity it should be reintroduced into the otherwise healthy organism. On the contrary, what was once a part of him has so radically changed as to have become a poison."

46: CRIMSON BOOK (THE)

"Unfortunately it would seem that the knowledge 'which could largely eliminate fear' has not been disclosed or identified by Baha'u'llah, so we do not know what it is.

"However, what Baha'u'llah did not elaborate but what He meant by the 'world' recorded in the Crimson Book was the power of the Covenant.

"The 'Crimson Book' refers to the Book of His Covenant, and the reference above means the power for unity which the Covenant possesses and radiates.

On page 238 of 'G.o.d Pa.s.ses By' you will find the cross-reference to the 'Crimson Book' and the 'Epistle to the Son of the Wolf.'"

47: CRITICISM

"When criticism and harsh words arise within a Baha'i community, there is no remedy except to put the past behind one, and persuade all concerned to turn over a new leaf, and for the sake of G.o.d and His Faith refrain from mentioning the subjects which have led to misunderstanding and inharmony.

The more the friends argue back and forth and maintain, each side, that their point of view is the right one, the worse the whole situation becomes.

"When we see the condition the world is in today, we must surely forget these utterly insignificant internal disturbances, and rush, unitedly, to the rescue of humanity. You should urge your fellow Baha'is to support you in a strong effort to suppress every critical thought and every harsh word, in order to let the spirit of Baha'u'llah flow into the entire community, and unite it in His love and in His service."

48: CRITICISM (ON)

"...Vicious criticism is indeed a calamity. But its root is lack of faith in the system of Baha'u'llah, i.e., the Administrative Order--and lack of obedience to Him--for He has forbidden it! If the Baha'is would follow the Baha'i laws in voting, in electing, in serving and in abiding by a.s.sembly decisions, all this waste of strength through criticizing others could be diverted into cooperation and achieving the Plan..."

49: DANIEL, THE PROPHECY OF

"Regarding the Prophecy of Daniel: The pa.s.sage in Esselmont should be changed to state that this prophecy refers to the one-hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Baha'u'llah, in the Garden of Ridvan, Ba_gh_dad--reference to this can be found in 'The Pa.s.sing of 'Abdu'l-Baha in quotation from two of His Tablets."

50: DISPENSATION OF BAHa'U'LLaH

"With reference to ... the Dispensation of Baha'u'llah, he wishes me to explain that although 'Abdu'l-Baha's station is not that of a Manifestation of G.o.d, nevertheless supplications may be addressed to Him.

It is essential, however, that every believer should realize that while doing so he is directing his thoughts toward the Master as an intermediary between him and the Manifestation, and not as the Source of Divine Revelation and Spiritual Guidance. Provided this distinction is clearly established, there can be no harm or objection in addressing prayers to 'Abdu'l-Baha."

51: DISPUTES, INDIVIDUAL--(CONSULTATION WITH a.s.sEMBLY)

"Regarding consultation: Any person can refer a matter to the a.s.sembly for consultation whether the other person wishes to or not. In matters which affect the Cause the a.s.sembly should, if it deems it necessary, intervene even if both sides don't want it to, because the whole purpose of the a.s.semblies is to protect the Faith, the Communities and the individual Baha'is as well."

52: DRAMA--MANIFESTATIONS (DRAMATIC WORKS)