Dearly loved friends,
The observable acceleration, during the past decade, of the
two processes described by our beloved Guardian, the disintegration of the old
order and the progress and consolidation of the new World Order of Baha'u'llah,
may well come to be regarded by future historians as one of the most remarkable
features of this period. The recent increase in this very acceleration is even
more remarkable. Both within and without the Cause of God, powerful forces are
operating to bring to a climax the twin tendencies of this portentous century.
Among the many evidences which reveal this process may be cited, on the one
hand, the continual increase of lawlessness, terrorism, economic confusion,
immorality and the growing danger from the proliferation of weapons of destruction,
and on the other, the world-wide, divinely propelled expansion, consolidation
and rapid emergence into the limelight of world affairs of the Cause itself, a
process crowned by the wonderful efflorescence of Mount Carmel, the mountain of
God, whose Divine springtime is now so magnificently burgeoning.
During the past five years, the historical dialectic of
triumph and disaster has operated simultaneously within the Cause of God. The
Army of Light has sustained the loss of six Hands of the Cause and waves of
bitter persecution which have again engulfed the long-suffering community in
Iran, and have resulted in the razing of the House of the Bab, the demolition
of Baha'u'llah's ancestral home in Takur, and the martyrdom of scores of
valiant souls. Yet these disasters have called forth fresh energies in the
hearts of the friends, have fed the deep roots of the Cause and given rise to a
great harvest of signal victories. Chief among these are the successful
conclusion of the Five Year Plan, the launching of the Seven Year Plan, now in
the final year of its second phase and unprecedented proclamation of the Faith
to Heads of States, parliaments and parliamentarians, government ministers and
officials, leaders of thought and people prominent in the professions, resulting
in a change of attitude on the part of the mass media, which now increasingly
approach us for information about the Cause.
To these movements must be added the world-wide observances
commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the passing of the Greatest Holy
Leaf, the completion of the restoration of the upper floor of the House of
'Abdu'llah Pasha, and its opening, at this very time, to its first visitors;
the occupation by the Universal House of Justice of its permanent Seat, in
further fulfilment of the great prophecy in the Tablet of Carmel; steady
progress on the construction of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkar of the Pacific
Islands in Samoa and the Mother Temple of the Indian Subcontinent in New Delhi.
Among the outstanding features of the teaching and
consolidation work are the continuing effective results of the participation of
more than sixteen thousand believers from all parts of the world in the five
International Conferences; intensive teaching campaigns carried out with the
active support of all levels of the community and drawing upon the enthusiasm
and capacity of Baha'i youth; the establishment of a second radio station in
South America; the re-formation of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Uganda
and Nepal, and the establishment of nine new National Spiritual Assemblies, two
of which will be elected during the month of May this year, bringing the total
of these secondary Houses of Justice to 135.
Above and beyond all these is the unity in action achieved
by the Baha'i world community in its efforts to enlist public support for the
dearly loved, greatly admired, cruelly beleaguered Iranian believers, a unity
further manifested in an outpouring of funds to replace their former liberal
contributions, and an upsurge of personal dedication rarely seen on so
universal a scale and holding the highest promise for the future.
The growing maturity of a world-wide religious community
which all these processes indicate is further evidenced in the reaching out, by
a number of national communities, to the social and economic life of their
countries, exemplified by the founding of tutorial schools, the inception of
radio stations, the pursuit of rural development programmes and the operation
of medical and agricultural schemes. To
these early beginnings must be added the undoubted skills acquired, as a result
of the Iranian crisis, in dealing with international organizations, national
governments and the mass media -- the very elements of society with which it
must increasingly collaborate toward the realization of peace on earth.
A wider horizon is opening before us, illumined by a growing
and universal manifestation of the inherent potentialities of the Cause for
ordering human affairs. In this light
can be discerned not only our immediate tasks but, more dimly, new pursuits and
undertakings upon which we must shortly become engaged. At present we must
complete the objectives of the Seven Year Plan, paying great attention to those
inner spiritual developments which will be manifested in greater unity among
the friends and in National and Local Spiritual Assemblies functioning
"harmoniously, vigorously and efficiently" as the Guardian desired.
We have no doubt that the Baha'i world community will
accomplish all these tasks and go forward to new achievements. The powers
released by Baha'u'llah match the needs of the times. We may therefore be utterly confident that
the new throb of energy now vibrating throughout the Cause will empower it to
meet the oncoming challenges of assisting, as maturity and resources allow, the
development of the social and economic life of peoples, of collaborating with
the forces leading towards the establishment of order in the world, of
influencing the exploitation and constructive uses of modern technology, and in
all these ways enhancing the prestige and progress of the Faith and uplifting
the conditions of the generality of mankind.
It is a time for rejoicing. The Sun of Baha'u'llah is
mounting the heavens, bringing into ever clearer light the contrast between the
gloom, the despair, the frustrations and bewilderment of the world, and the
radiance, confidence, joy and certitude of His lovers. Lift up your hearts. The
Day of God is here.
With loving Baha'i greetings,
The Universal House of Justice
('Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986')
('Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986')
