Bahá’u’lláh has called for two branches of the Bahá’í Administrative Order in the Kitáb-i-‘Ahdí (Book of My Covenant): the Rulers (Umará) and the Learned (‘Ulamá). The Universal House of Justice has stated that the “distinction is that whereas the ‘rulers’ function as corporate bodies, the ‘learned’ operate primarily as individuals.”
The administrative functions of both branches are clearly defined and delineated in the Bahá’í Writings as well as in the writings of the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice. Both branches are integral to the theory and practice of Bahá’í spirituality. The members of the Local Spiritual Assembly for example “should consider themselves as entering the Court of the Presence of God, the Exalted, the most High, and as beholding Him Who is the Unseen” as ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. They are to serve both the individual Bahá’í and the community at large as “channels of divine guidance.” This branch of the Bahá’í administration is unique in terms of mystical guidance compared to other schools of mystical thought, with respect to even though one finds parallels between the “rulers ” and the function of the spiritual master in general.
It is the “learned” arm of the Bahá’í administration, however, that parallels the function of the Sufi master most closely, and as such it is also integral to the Bahá’í mystical experience. This arm consists of the Hands of the Cause, the Continental Board of Counselors and the Auxiliary Board. The functions of the Hands of the Cause as delineated in the Will and Testament are:
The obligations of the Hands of the Cause of God are to diffuse the Divine Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to promote learning, to improve the character of all men and to be, at all times and under all conditions, sanctified and detached from earthly things. They must manifest the fear of God by their conduct, their manners, their deeds and their words.
The functions of the “Hands” as expounded above are clearly similar to that of the Sufi master as examined earlier. These same functions of the Hands of the Cause are carried into the future by the Continental Board of Counselors, and their Auxiliary Board. Therefore the term “learned” has been applied to the Hands of the Cause, Counselors, and Auxiliary Board members.
The Hands of the Cause of God, the Counselors and the members of the Auxiliary Board fall within the definition of the “learned” given by the beloved Guardian. Thus they are all intimately interrelated and it is not incorrect to refer to the three ranks collectively as one institution.
By Ayat'u'l Baha Hadrat Kavian S. Milani
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Sen, it is *real*. Get a grip!
by Aryana-Vaeja on Fri Oct 01, 2010 03:06 AM PDTI have the original paper by Kavian Milani. It is not a spoof. He sent it to me himself in 1999 when he was subscribed to talisman9 and at the time he genuinely believed this nonsense.
Don't try your usual antic of dishonestly trying to muddy waters on a factual issue in order to ingratiate yourself to the ones who kicked you out of the organization you are now desperately trying to find your way back into. Have Kavian Milani come here, if he dares, and state for the public record himself that it is a spoof. But if he should do so, I am quite happy to pull the original paper out he sent me together with his email correspondences to me where he was quite seriously and matter of factly spouting off this nonsense as his beliefs.
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May we be amongst those who are to bring about the transfiguration of the Earth - Yasna XXX 9
Duh - it is a spoof of
by Sen McGlinn on Fri Oct 01, 2010 02:01 AM PDTDuh - it is a spoof of Bahai-think,and rather well done. You get through a sentence or two before you realise it's not for real. The signature at the bottom is a dead give-away.
So if you do use this as evidence in some argument, prepare to be laughed at.
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What I can do, is keep my arm
from bringing others any harm.
How can I give the enviers ease?
They are themselves their own disease.
(Sa'di, Gulestan 1:5)
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//senmcglinn.wordpress
delete
by Aryana-Vaeja on Thu Sep 30, 2010 05:39 PM PDTdelete
Pure Stalinism masquerading as religion
by Aryana-Vaeja on Thu Sep 30, 2010 05:37 PM PDTThat is all one can say about this. It also eerily mirrors the Khomeinist position on Islamic government especially in regard to the dual sacredotal and temporal authority that the cleric is supposed to be imbued with in Khomeini's theory.
The next time Haifan Baha'is try to say they have no clergy, whip this out as evidence. The branch of the 'learned' (i.e. councilors and auxilliary board memers) as Sufi shaykhs?!? Jesus H. Christ!!!!
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May we be amongst those who are to bring about the transfiguration of the Earth - Yasna XXX 9