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HOW TO KNOW AND USE BAHA'I LITERATURE
Green Acre Study Course August 12-19, 1946 Horace Holley I. SURVEY OF METHOD AND MATERIAL
A. Discussion of reading and study methods
1. 2. 3.
4. 5.
6. 7.
8.
What Bahá’í literature have I read?
Do I read regularly, as a joy or duty, or only occasionally?
Am I able to read and stud alone or do I need the su ort of an interested group? Y ’ pp
Do I read for inspiration or for knowledge?
Do I use Bahá’í books as references, to look up the explanation of spiritual and social problems?
Have I ever influenced any person to regard Bahá’í literature as Sacred Writings? '
If consulted by one newly interested in the Faith, what would I suggest as a basic Bahá’í library to be mastered by every believer?
If I had the choice, would I prefer to meet regularly with a group interested in reading Bahá’í books, or with a group organized to study and discuss a definite list of topics?
Discussion of lists of Bahá’í Works
1. 2.
Bahá’í Bibliography, The Bahá’í World (Vol. IX, pp. 679 et seq). Works currently available in English, Bahá’í catalog.
Classifications of Bahá’í Works (Assign one or more Bahá’í titles
to each of the following subjects, in order to develop a useful List of Sources for permanent reference).
Revelation of the Báb
a. His Station and Mission.
b. His Doctrine and Teachings.
c. His Dispensation.
d. Status of the Báb's Sacred Writings.
Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh The
The The
a. bi c. d. e. f.
One Foretold by the Báb.
Promised One of All Nations.
Quickener of Souls.
The World Educator.
The Law-Giver.
Founder of World Civilization.
1. The House of Justice.
2. Will and Testament: Threefold Station of Status of Bahá’u’lláh's Sacred Writings
‘Abdu’l-Bahá. g.
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5.
5.
l. 2. 5. 40 5.
The Mission of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá a. Development of the Bahá’í community. b. Proclamation of the Bahá’í Message.
c. The Bahá’í life.
d. Science and the universe.
e. Qualities and powers of Man.
f. The Day of God: promise and warning.
g. Will and Testament: The day not followed by night. The Guardian of the Cause of God
a. Development of Bahá’í Institutions. b. World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.
c. Transformation of Society.
d. Verities of the Faith.
Bahá’í History ‘
a. A Traveller's Narrative.
b. The Dawn-Breakers.
c. The Chosen Highway (Pilgrims Notes).
d. God Passes By.
e. Documents (reproduced in successive volumes of The Bahá’í
World).
References to Bahá’í Works in Bahá’í Literature
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf.% Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.% 'Abdu'l-baha's Public Addresses.% The Promised Day is Come.%
God Passes By.%
s - Make an Index of these references.
E. Works Written by Bahá’ís Available in English
1. 2.
l. 2. 5. Study
1. 2.
5.
Books and their special teaching use. Pamphlets and their special field of interest.
Three Uses of Bahá’í Literature
For worship. For understanding. For useful service and teaching.
Assignments for Lesson One: Tablets and Works of the Báb, God Passes By, 22-27. Distinguishing Principles and Precepts of Bahá’u’lláh, God Passes
By, 216-219. Prepare list of Best-Known Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
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II.
WORKS OF BAHA'U'LLAH
A. Kitab-i-Iqan, the Book of Certitude
l. 2: 5. 4:. 5.
Class
.1.
2.
Class
Study
The Station of the Prophet. The Continuity of Revelation. The Oneness of Religion.
The Meeting of God.
The Báb: Rise of a New Cycle.
reading and discussion: as by 0. do 8.
The Path of Faith, 5-5.
Return of the Prophet, 20-22.
The Manifestation, 97-99.
The Presence of God, 142-145. Qualifications of Faith, 192-194.
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
Division of Subjects: a. b. CO d. e.
The Day of God, 1-46.
The Manifestations, 47-156.
Soul, Immortality, the Universe, 157-200. Lesser and Most Great Peace, 201-259. Individual blessings and duties, 260-546.
How to read a work compiled from a selection each a unit in itself.
of_passages,
reading and discussion a. The beginning of all things, 5-9. b. All-praise to the unity of God, 64-69.
Tear asunder the veils, 145-144, 155-155. 0 kings of the earth& 210-212. Man is the supreme Talisman, 259-260.
assignments for-Lesson Two:I. Promulgation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, God Passes By, 215-216.
2. Bahá’u’lláh's Writings in Adrianople, GPB, 171-172, 177. 5. Bahá’u’lláh's Writings in Akka, GPB, 205-206, 216, 219-220.
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~ :9
III.
WORKS OF BAHA'U'LLAH Continued
C. Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh (Distinction between truth, principle, law and precept)
O3CJ'lhBCNl\'H*-’ -scout
Tarazat, BWF, 166-172.
Tablet of the World, BWF, 172-179. Words of Paradise, BWF, 180-186. Tajalliyat, BWF, 186-191.
The Glad-Tidings, BWF, 191-197. Ishraqat, BWF, 197-205.
Class reading and discussions a. The Glad-Tidings. b. The Ninth Ishraq.
Study assignments for Lesson Three: 1. Tablet of the Branch, BWF, 204-207.
2. Kitab-i-Ahd, BWF, 207-210.
5. The Institution of the Covenant, BWF, 257-240. 4. Tablet to the Pope, BWF, 61-65.
IV.
WORKS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA
A. The Bounty of Divine Love
1. Tablets to individual believers
8. b. C.
2. a.
b. c.
The fire of the life of God, BWF, 359-560. The straight path, BWF, 561-562. Arise with great power, BWF, 562-565.
Tablets to communities
The beloved of God, BWF, 565-566. Ye are the angels, BWF, 560. The world is infirm, BWF, 556-557.
B. The Bounty of Spiritual Understanding
1. The Manifestations of God
9-. bc 0. d. 8f.
Proofs of the existence of God, SAQ, 5-7.
The need of an educator, SAQ, 8-15.
God can only be apprehended, SAQ, 167-172.
The three stations, SAQ, 173-176.
Human and spiritual condition, 177-179. Knowledge of the Manifestations, SAQ, 180-182.
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2.
- 5-/'
Powers and conditions of man
a. The relation between God and man, SAQ, 256-258. b. Soul, mind and spirit, SAQ, 245-244. c. Physical and intellectual powers, SAQ, 245-246.
C. World unity through world religion
1.
Study 1.
5.
Proclamation of the message in America.
a. b. c. d. e. f.
g. The divine plan
The Maturity of man, PUP, 455-456. Universal peace, PUP, 118-121.
Man has spiritual existence, PUP, 85-88. Progressive revelation, PUP, 158-141. The great plan of life, PUP, 542-549. The source of unity, PUP, 185-189. Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, PUP, 506-515.
a. The community of the Greatest Name, BWF, 400-401. b. The fundamental aim, BWF, 402-405.
c. Obedience to the Assembly, BWF, 406-407.
d. The armies of God, GWF, 425-429.
The test of faithfulness
a. Last Tablet to America, BWF, 429-458. b. Will and testament, BWF, 458-449.
assignments for Lesson Four: Note the continuity and unfoldment of aim in the Master's Tablets to individual believers and to the local, national and world community as compiled in Chapters Eight and Nine of Bahá’í World Faith.
List documents reproduced in volumes of The Bahá’í World which have importance in the history of the Faith.
List the intimate talks given by the Master to American Bahá’ís included in Promulgation of Universal Peace.
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V. WRITINGS OF THE GUARDIAN A. Four aims disclosed in the writings of Shoghi Effendi
1. Establish the institutions of world order. 2. Upheld the laws of Bahá’u’lláh.
5. Interpret the Bahá’í teachings.
4. Spread the Message.
B. What letters in Bahá’í Administration convey the essentials of the present-day administrative order?
C. Fundamental implications of the administrative order. WOB, 16-25.
1. God-given institutions destined to arise upon their ruin.
2. Essential elements for the contitution of the world Bahá’í Commonwealth.
3. A living organism.
4. Embraces the whole of mankind.
\
D. The Unfoldment of World Civilization, WOB, 161-206. 1. List dominating ideas. 2. Mark most significant passages.
5. Make an outline suitable for a study group planning to devote four evenings to this letter.
Study assignments for Lesson Five:1. In what passages does the Guardian discriminate between the
Lesser and the Most Great Peace?
2. In what passages does the Guardian deal with the essential teachings we are to present to the public?
5. Note the fourteen unfinished tasks of the Faith. GPB, 411.
VI.
A. Reports on study assignments.
B. Suggestions concerning other treatments of the general theme of this study course which the School Committee might consider for next year.
3. Suggestion for self-study this year: Concentrate on the text of Selected Writings; note the basic teachings; make your own Index.
