Presentation given by Jesse Villagomez at Texas Bahá'í School September 2010
Baha’u’llah says:
“is not the object of every Revelation
to effect a transformation in the whole
character of mankind, a transformation
that shall manifest itself both outwardly
and inwardly, that shall affect both its
inner life and external conditions?”
(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 240)
Isaiah "they shall beat their swords into
ploughshares and their spears into pruning
hooks, and nation shall not rise up against
nation, neither shall they learn war no
more?“
Isaiah 2 King James Version
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”Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature.”
Mark 16:15-16 (King James Version)
The disciples of Christ…scattered far and
wide and engaged in calling the peoples of the
world to the Divine Guidance, till at last they
made the world another world, illumined the
surface of the earth…Let them that are men of
action follow in their footsteps!
(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 442)
Christ, in His blessed day, in reality only
educated eleven men…
… With this small army Christ conquered the
world of the East and the West.
His name, beloved and adored by a few
disciples, now commands the reverence of
kings and nations of the world...The little
army of disciples has become a mighty
cohort of millions.
Abdu’l-Baha
From 11 Apostles to
2.1 billion Christians in the World Today
Some of them were catchers of fish. Most of them were
ignorant men, not trained in the knowledge of this world. All
of them were men of the least consequence in the eyes of the
world…
(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 5)
The two great apostles, St Peter and St John the Evangelist,
were once simple, humble workmen, toiling for their daily
bread.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 59)
The leader of the apostles was Peter and on the night of
the crucifixion… denied Christ…
(Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 49)
"Peter…was…incapable of keeping count of the days of the
week. Whenever he decided to go fishing, he would tie up his
weekly food into seven parcels, and every day he would eat
one of them, and when he had reached the seventh, he would
know that the Sabbath had arrived…" If the Son of Man was
capable of infusing into apparently so crude and helpless an
instrument such potency as to cause, in the words of
Bahá'u'lláh, "the mysteries of wisdom and of utterance to flow
out of his mouth," and to exalt him above the rest of His
disciples, and render him …the founder of His Church, how
much more can the Father, Who is Bahá'u'lláh, empower the
most puny and insignificant among His followers to
achieve… such wonders as would dwarf the mightiest
achievements of even the first apostle of Jesus Christ!
(Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 214)
O ye apostles of Bahá'u'lláh, -- May my life be sacrificed
for you!
…Like unto the apostles of Christ, who were filled with Him,
these souls also have become filled with His Holiness
Bahá'u'lláh; that is, the love of Bahá'u'lláh has so mastered
every organ, part and limb of their bodies, as to leave no
effect from the promptings of the human world…
Any soul from among the believers of Bahá'u'lláh who
attains to this station will become known as the Apostle of
Bahá'u'lláh. Therefore strive ye with heart and soul so that
ye may reach this lofty and exalted position
(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of the Divine Plan, p. 48)
“Ours is the duty to… strive to widen our vision, and to deepen
our comprehension of this Cause, and to arise,…to play our
part, however small, in this greatest drama of the world's
spiritual history.
(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 25)
"May all the privileged participators, enlisting under the banner
of Bahá'u'lláh…distinguish themselves by such deeds of
heroism as will rival, nay outshine, the feats accomplished
nineteen hundred years ago, by that little band of
God-intoxicated disciples who, fearlessly preaching the Gospel
of a newly arisen Messiah, contributed so decisively to the
illumination, the regeneration and the advancement of the
entire European continent.“
Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 72)
six month trip across 2,000 miles of difficult country
Flys at the speed of 567 mph, it has an intercontinental range
of 8,350 miles. Can accommodate up to 524 passengers.
Act
Plan
Check
Do
The Apollo 11 space flight landed the first
humans on Earth's Moon on July 20, 1969.
Neil Armstrong – first man on the moon.
Flys at the peed of 567 mph, it has an intercontinental range of 8,350 miles.[13]
The 747-400 passenger version can accommodate up to 524 passengers.
…in 1935…Shoghi Effendi called upon national
communities to adopt formal teaching plans.
He described meetings to promote world unity
as “an experiment to test the efficacy of the
indirect method of teaching”
Over time certain approaches – such as
firesides and pioneering– proved through
experiments to be more effective than others,
all communities were encouraged to adopt
them and they became mainstays of
propagation.
Pg 68 Revelation & Social Reality: Learning to Translate What Is Written into Reality.
The Beloved Guardian explained that the
growth of the Faith would go through
three stages
1.Steady flow of fresh recruits followed by
2.Entry by troops and
3.Mass Conversion
In 1996 the Universal House of Justice focused
all Bahá'ís the world over with a new course
of action:
“advance in the process of entry by troops.”
Revelation & Social Reality – Learning to Translate What Is Written into Reality Pgs. 76 - 78
The Four Year Plan, the Twelve Month Plan,
The Five Year Plans beginning in 2001 and
2006 and the subsequent Plans that will unfold
until the year 2021 are a series of progressive
steps… in which the Bahá'í world is learning
how to advance the process of entry by troops.
“culture of learning”
Revelation & Social Reality – Learning to Translate What Is Written into Reality Pgs. 76 - 78
Process in a “culture of
Learning” for the:
• Individual
• Institutions
• Community
Act
Check
Plan
Do
The Bahá'í Culture of Learning (Process)
Study of the
Writings
The Word is the first
instructor in the school
of existence…Every
word that proceedeth
out the mouth of God,
Is endowed with such
potency as can instill
new life into every
human frame”
Baha’u’llah
The Bahá'í Culture of Learning (Process)
Study of the
Writings
Consultation
"The purpose of consultation
is to show that the views of
several individuals are
assuredly preferable to one
man, even as the power of a
number of men is of course
greater than the power of one
man… Thus consultation…
hath been enjoined upon the
believers, so that they may
confer upon ordinary and
personal matters, as well as
on affairs which are general
in nature and universal…In
short, consultation…in all
things and on all issues."
Abdu’l-Baha
The Bahá'í Culture of Learning (Process)
The attainment
of any object is
conditioned upon
knowledge,
volition and
action. Unless
these three
conditions are
forthcoming
there is no
execution or
accomplishment.
Abdu'l-Baha
Study of the
Writings
Action
Consultation
The Bahá'í Culture of Learning (Process)
Through the faculty of
meditation man attains
to eternal life; through it
he receives the breath
of the Holy Spirit -- the
bestowal of the Spirit is
given in reflection and
meditation.
(Abdu'l-Baha)
Reflection
Study of the
Writings
Action
Consultation
The Bahá'í Culture of Learning (Process)
Reflection
Study of the
Writings
Action
Consultation
…the Cause has so many burdens to
bear at this time, we are forced to do as
'Abdu'l-Bahá said -- give up the
important for the most important.
(Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 117)
Say: O people, the first duty is to recognize
the one true God -- magnified be His glory -the second is to show forth constancy in His
Cause and, after these, one's duty is to
purify one's riches and earthly possessions
according to that which is prescribed by
God.
Bahá’u’lláh, Huqúqu'lláh Compilation 2007 #2
What is the Huqúqu'lláh
After one has paid all his necessary expenses
19% of what is left is then taken by him and
given as Huqúq.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Huqúqu’lláh, C46
God
Abraham
Krishna
Moses
Zoroaster
Buddha
Christ
Muhammad
The Báb
Bahá'u'lláh
Tithing – 10%
Giving Alms
Tithing – 10%
Giving Alms
Giving Alms
Tithing – 10%
Khums – “one-fifth of wealth”
Huqúqu'lláh - 19%
Huqúqu'lláh - 19% after
necessary
expenses
Huqúqu’lláh Is Incumbent Upon All
Huqúqu’lláh is indeed a great law. It is incumbent*
upon all to make this offering, because it is the
source of grace, abundance, and of all good.
Bahá’u’lláh, Huqúqu’lláh, C13
The Right of God is an obligation upon everyone…
(Bahá'u'lláh, Compilations, Huqúqu'lláh p. 14)
*Meaning of incumbent: Obligatory
With humility before our sovereign Lord, we
now announce that as of Ridván 1992, the
beginning of the Holy Year, the Law of
Huqúqu’lláh, the Right of God, will become
universally applicable. All are lovingly called to
observe it.
The Universal House of Justice, Ridván Message, 1991, Huqúqu'lláh Compilation 2007, #28
Payment of the Right of God is a
spiritual obligation that is fulfilled
voluntarily. Just as the laws of obligatory
prayer, daily recitation of the Greatest
Name, and fasting are left to the
conscience of the believer…observance
of the law of the Right of God is a
devotional practice left to the faith and
conscience of the individual.
To demand the Huquq is in no
wise permissible….
(Compilations, Huqúqu'lláh)
Income
$1000
Income
$1000
“Necessary”
Expenses
$900
Income
“Necessary”
Expenses
$900
$1000
Savings
$100
Income
$1000
“Necessary”
Expenses
$900
$19
Right of
God
Savings
$100
$81
Belongs
to you
Huqúqu’lláh Is Incumbent Upon All
Huqúqu’lláh is indeed a great law. It is incumbent*
upon all to make this offering, because it is the source
of grace, abundance, and of all good.
Bahá’u’lláh, Huqúqu’lláh, C13
The Right of God is an obligation upon everyone…
(Bahá'u'lláh, Compilations, Huqúqu'lláh p. 14)
*Meaning of incumbent: Obligatory
Person calculates to see if they owe the Right of God
$4000
Income with
“necessary”
expenses
of $4000
Has this person observed the law of the Right of God?
Person does not calculate to see if they owe Right of God
$4000
Income
unknown
amount of
necessary
expenses
Has this person observed the law of the Right of God?
Person “A”
Savings
of$5,000
Person “B”
Savings
of$5,000
Should a man wish to adorn himself with the
ornaments of the earth, to wear its apparels, or
partake of the benefits it can bestow, no harm
can befall him, if he alloweth nothing whatever
to intervene between him and God, for God
hath ordained every good thing, whether
created in the heavens or in the earth, for such
of His servants as truly believe in Him.
Who Decides What is a Necessary Expense?
... we wish to let you know that in these days it
is not deemed advisable to enact detailed
rulings for Huqúqu’lláh. Thus the friends are
left free, and whenever no definite rulings exist
they may fulfil in each case that which they
understand from the texts, and may honour
their Huqúqu’lláh obligations according to their
own judgement and the promptings of their
own conscience.
 The Universal House of Justice, Huqúqu’lláh, C62
Huqúq offering is a test
...the Huqúq offering is but a test applied by
Him unto His servants and maidservants.
 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Huqúqu’lláh, C26 [75]
…with fire We test the gold, and with gold We
test Our servants.
Bahá’u’lláh, Hidden Words, Arabic #55
Right of God Takes Priority to Donations to Bahá'í Funds
Contributions to the funds of the Faith
cannot be considered as part of one’s
payment of Huqúqu’lláh; moreover, if one
owes Huqúqu’lláh and cannot afford both
to pay it and to make contributions to the
Fund, the payment of Huqúqu’lláh should
take priority over making contributions.
The Universal House of Justice, Huqúqu’lláh, C105
What is the priority of debts & the Right of God
Thou hast asked which is to take precedence: the
Huququ'lláh, the debts of the deceased, or the
cost of burial. It is God's command that the cost of
burial take precedence, then payment of debts,
then the Right of God. The settlement of debts is
a most important command set forth in the Book.
Well is it with him who ascendeth unto God,
without any obligations to Huququ'lláh and to His
servants.
(Compilations, Huququ'llah)
Give them [the children] the advantage of every
useful kind of knowledge…Bring them up to work
and strive, and accustom them to hardship. Teach
them to dedicate their lives to matters of great
import, and inspire them to undertake studies that
will benefit mankind.
(Abdu'l-Bahá, in Bahá'í Education: Compilation, p. 30)
Methods for Calculating the Right of God
The minimum amount subject to Huqúqu’lláh is
reached when one’s possessions are worth the
number of Váhid (19); that is, whenever one
owneth 19 mithqáls of gold, or acquireth
possessions attaining this value, after having
deducted therefrom the yearly expenses, the
Huqúq becometh applicable and its payment is
obligatory.
Bahá’u’lláh, Huqúqu’lláh, C44
Methods for Calculating the Right of God
After one has paid all his necessary expenses
19% of what is left is then taken by him and
given as Huqúq.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Huqúqu’lláh, C46
October, 2009
Understanding the Huqúqu'lláh
Methods for Calculating the Right of God
Nothing that existeth in the world of being
hath ever been or ever will be worthy of
mention. However, if a person be graciously
favoured to offer a penny-worth—Nay—even
less…, this would in His sight be…superior
to all the treasures of the earth…Beesch ye
God that He may enable everyone to
discharge the obligation of the Huqúq…
(Baha’u’llah Compilations, Huququ'llah)
The Bahá'í Culture of Learning (Process)
Reflection
Study of the
Writings
Action
Consultation
The time and conditions of payment are left
to each individual.
The Universal House of Justice, Huqúqu’lláh, C56
If one spontaneously offereth Huqúq with
the utmost joy and radiance it will be
acceptable, and not otherwise.
Bahá’u’lláh, C27
It is clear and evident that the payment of
the Right of God is conducive to prosperity,
to blessing, and to honour and divine
protection.
Bahá’u’lláh, Huqúqu'lláh Compilation 2007, #12
The Bahá'í Culture of Learning (Process)
Reflection
Study of the
Writings
Action
Consultation
The institution of Huqúqu’lláh will, during the
course of this Dispensation, contribute to the
spiritualization of humanity through the
promotion of a new attitude to the acquisition
and use of material resources. It will provide
the material resources necessary for great
collective enterprises designed to improve all
aspects of life, and will be a powerful element
in the growth of a world civilization.
 The Universal House of Justice, Huqúqu’lláh, C31
Isaiah "they shall beat their swords into
ploughshares and their spears into pruning
hooks, and nation shall not rise up against
nation, neither shall they learn war no
more?“
Isaiah 2 King James Version
Painted by Leonardo da Vinci