Independent investigation of truth.

 

124. Independent investigation of truth: In the Bahá’í Faith we have no clergy, the Bahá’í writings encourage us to investigate truth for ourselves using reason and wisdom to come to our own conclusions. Baha’i Faith: “He (Bahá’u’lláh) lays stress on the search for Truth. This is most important, because the people are too easily led by tradition. It is because of this that they are often antagonistic to each other, and dispute with one another. But the manifesting of Truth discovers the darkness and becomes the cause of Oneness of faith and belief: because Truth cannot be two! That is not possible”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 27 thru 28)

 BABI RELIGION: “Be thou neither a divine without discernment nor a follower without discernment, for both of these shall perish on the Day of Resurrection. Rather it behooveth thee to be a discerning divine, or to walk with insight in the way of God by obeying a true leader of religion.” “In every nation thou beholdest unnumbered spiritual leaders who are bereft of true discernment, and among every people thou dost encounter myriads of adherents who are devoid of the same characteristic. Ponder for a while in thy heart, have pity on thyself and turn not aside thine attention from proofs and evidences. However, seek not proofs and evidences after thine idle fancy; but rather base thy proofs upon what God hath appointed.” “It behooveth you, O creatures of God, to help your own selves and to believe in the Verses revealed”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, pp. 100 and 123)

This is also a subtle teaching found in the bible and the other religions.  Christianity: 1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”  Judaism: Deuteronomy 27:26 “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words.” Man must look for the truth in all things if he really wants to know what God is trying to say. And if he proves all things to himself he doesn’t blindly go down the wrong path.  Christianity: Luke 6:39 “…..Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?”

BAHA’I FAITH: “Each must see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears and investigate the truth himself in order that he may follow the truth instead of blind acquiescence and imitation of ancestral beliefs.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 246)

 CHRISTIANITY: 1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

BAHA’I FAITH: “Man is not intended to see through the eyes of another, hear through another’s ears nor comprehend with another’s brain.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 76)

Baha’i Faith: “When we educate one we give him a copy of the Scriptures to read for himself.”

(Moojan Momen, The Babi  and Baha’i Religions, p. 195)

 CHRISTIANITY: John 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” The word of God is spiritual in nature it is not something that someone can just tell you with no effort on your part to know the truth. The words are life for those that seek this spiritual life: 1 Corinthians 10:15 “I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.”1 Corinthians 2:10 “The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” We must look for ourselves and see where God is leading us.  Judaism: Isaiah 34:16 “Seek ye out of the book of The LORD, and read:” If we choose not to look for ourselves and look into the written word we only deprive ourselves of the hidden mysteries that God is willing to share with us and, in effect, leave the door leading to the kingdom only slightly ajar and not fully open to the spiritual gifts beyond.  Christianity: Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect…..”  Judaism: Deuteronomy 5:1 “And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.” Learn them, keep them and do them. To learn something is to know something, it is not just blind memorization. It takes effort on our part to know something. And to know something is not just blind allegiance to an idea that may or may not be valid. To know something is to make it part of you, like God’s laws, to know them is to make them part of your life which is to follow them and do them. It takes active effort on our part to do this, it is not just leaving the work to someone else. Deuteronomy 12:28 “Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee forever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 17:19 “And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn.” Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:” God wants man to learn to do well and to use reason. We are to reason things out for ourselves and with others that the truth of a matter may be known from falsehood. Isaiah 28:10 “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” Lamentations 3:40 “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to The LORD.”  Christianity: Matthew 9:13 “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Christ states it plainly. We are to go, or in this case to make an effort, to learn the meaning of Christ’s words.  Judaism: Proverbs 2:2 “Incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;” Proverbs 2:3 “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;” Proverbs 2:4 “If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;” Proverbs 2:5 “Then shalt thou understand the fear of The LORD, and find the knowledge of God.”

 ISLAM: 121. “Those to whom We have sent the book study it as it should be studied; they are the ones that believe therein; those who reject faith therein, the loss is their own.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   2)

Islam: 94. “O ye who believe! when ye go abroad in the Cause of Allah (God), investigate carefully.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   4)

Islam: 48. “To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety; so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the truth that hath come to thee.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   5)

 ZOROASTRIANISM: “We worship the understanding of Ahura Mazda (God), to study the Holy Word.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta Fragments)

 Zoroastrianism: 31. “We worship Ahura Mazda to keep the Holy Word. We worship the understanding of Ahura Mazda, to study the Holy Word.”

(The Zend-Avesta, Khorda Avesta – Book of Common Prayer pt. 1)

 Zoroastrianism: 1. “Now I will proclaim to those who will hear the things that the understanding man should remember, for hymns unto Ahura and prayers to Good Thought; also the felicity that is with the heavenly lights, which through Right shall be beheld by him who wisely thinks.” 2. “Hear with your ears the best things; look upon them with clear-seeing thought, for decision, each man for himself before the Great consummation, bethinking you that it be accomplished to our pleasure.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 30)

 Zoroastrianism: “Hear the best with your ears, and discern by pure mind. Choose the ought, man by man (every man), for his own self. Before the great trial comes, wake up to this my counsel.” “One should rely on his own conviction, and not allow himself to be drifted by the opinions of others.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan pp. 87 and 197)

 HINDUISM: 106. “(To study) this (work) is the best means of securing welfare, it increases understanding, it procures fame and long life, it (leads to) supreme bliss.”

(Hindu, Laws of Manu chapter 1)

 Hinduism: 17. “Let him avoid all (means of acquiring) wealth which impede the study of the Veda; (let him maintain himself) anyhow, but study, because that (devotion to the Veda-study secures) the realization of his aims.”

(Hindu, Laws of Manu chapter 4)

 BUDDHISM: 25. “One is one’s own guard. What other guard could one have? One is one’s own destiny. Therefore one should train oneself, like a merchant does a thoroughbred horse.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: 10. “By confidence, virtue, effort and concentration, By the investigation of the Doctrine, By being endowed with knowledge and conduct And by keeping your mind alert, Will you leave this great suffering behind.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 3 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: 20. “You yourself should make an effort, The Tathagata can but show the Way.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 3 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: “(Give) devout attention to the teaching(s) of the Blessed One.” Study the word for yourself.” (Buddha Lankavatara Sutra)

 SABEANISM: “The first (generations) sought and found: let those that come after seek, and they will find. Seek and find for yourselves, for your friends, for your friends’ friends and for those who love the great Family of Life. Your eyes shall not turn away from Me unsatisfied.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 35)

Sabeanism: “Be careful; make enquiry, display kindness, show compassion.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 74)

Sabeanism: “To you do I call and (you) do I teach, Men who have received the Sign. Hearken not to the talk of all peoples and generations.” “Be careful; make enquiry,” — into the word of God (Haiyi). “My chosen, ye sought and ye found, moreover ye shall seek and ye shall find. ye sought and found, my chosen ones, as the first (souls) sought and found.” Not through coercion but by self investigation. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 74, 89 and 99)

BAHA’I FAITH: “The first teaching of Bahá’u’lláh is the duty incumbent upon all to investigate reality. What does it mean to investigate reality? It means that man must forget all hearsay and examine truth himself, for he does not know whether statements he hears are in accordance with reality or not. Wherever he finds truth or reality, he must hold to it, forsaking, discarding all else; for outside of reality there is naught but superstition and imagination. For example, during the days of Jesus Christ the Jews were expecting the appearance of the Messiah, praying and beseeching God day and night that the Promised One might appear. Why did they reject Him when He did appear? They denied Him absolutely, refused to believe in Him. There was no abuse and persecution which they did not heap upon Him. They reviled Him with curses, placed a crown of thorns upon His head, led Him through the streets in scorn and derision and finally crucified Him. Why did they do this? Because they did not investigate the truth or reality of Christ and were not able to recognize Him as the Messiah of God. Had they investigated sincerely for themselves, they would surely have believed in Him, respected Him and bowed before Him in reverence. They would have considered His manifestation the greatest bestowal upon mankind. They would have accepted Him as the very Savior of man; but, alas, they were veiled, they held to imitations of ancestral beliefs and hearsay and did not investigate the truth of Christ. They were submerged in the sea of superstitions and were, therefore, deprived of witnessing that glorious bounty; they were withheld from the fragrances or breaths of the Holy Spirit and suffered in themselves the greatest debasement and degradation.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 62)

 BABI RELIGION: “He exemplified by his life and glorious martyrdom the truth of this tradition:” “Whoso seeketh Me, shall find Me. Whoso findeth Me, shall be drawn towards Me. Whoso draweth nigh unto Me, shall love Me. Whoso loveth Me, him shall I also love. He who is beloved of Me, him shall I slay. He who is slain by Me, I Myself shall be his ransom.”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 72)

 Babi Religion: “Seek ye whole-heartedly…..,” “the truths enshrined in this will more speedily and effectively enable the seeker to attain the object of his quest.” Baha’i Faith: “For is it not thy clear duty to investigate this Cause, to inform thyself.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 62 and The Dawn-Breakers, p. 31 and Baha’u’llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 192)