Studying the Writings of Shoghi Effendi

FOREWORD .................................................. vii
   Peter Khan
   
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...................................... ix

INTRODUCTION ................................................ 1
   Morten Bergsmo and Kishan Manocha

STUDYING THE WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI: A COMPILATION ...... 5
   Prepared by the Research Department 
   of the Universal House of Justice

SHOGHI EFFENDI, EXPOUNDER OF THE WORD OF GOD ............... 1O
 David Hofman [see related audio]
    
THE LIFE OF SHOGHI EFFENDI ................................. 21
   Helen, John and Amelia Danesh
   
STUDY GUIDES TO THE WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI ............. 35

 1. God Passes By .......................................... 37
    Kishan Manocha

 2. The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh ......................... 61
    Shahriar Razavi

 3. Call to the Nations .................................... 78
    Morten Bergsmo

 4. The Advent of Divine Justice ........................... 85
    Dwight W. Allen and Morten Bergsmo

 5. The Promised Day is Come ............................... 95
    Seena Fazel

 6. Messages to the Bahá'í World .......................... 101
    Payam Akhavan

 7. Bahá'í Administration ................................. 108
    Gerard J. Kay

 8. Messages to America ................................... 114
    Morten Bergsmo, Seena Fazel and Kishan Manocha
    
 9. Citadel of Faith ...................................... 118
    Seena Fazel
    
 1O. Unfolding Destiny .................................... 123
     Seena Fazel
     
 11. The Light of Divine G.uidance: Volumes 1 and 2 ....... 129
     Hamid Samandari
    
 12. Messages to Canada ................................... 139
     Seena Fazel
    
 13. Dawn of a New Da ..................................... 141
     Kishan Manocha
    
 14. Letters from the Guardian to Australia 
      and New Zealand 1923-1957 ........................... 149
     Shahriar Razavi
    
 15. Arohanui: Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand . 154
     Shahriar Razavi
    
 16. High Endeavours ...................................... 157
     Payam Akhavan
    
 17. Selected Writings of Shoghi Effendi .................. 159
     Kishan Manocha
    
 18. Guidance far Today and Tomorrow ...................... 163
     Carina S. Bischoff, and Kasra and Negar Mottahedeh
    
 19. Principles of Bahá'í Administration .................. 175
     Seena Fazel
    
 20. Directives from the Guardian ......................... 181
     Seena Fazel
    
 21. Living the Life ...................................... 184
     Oyvind Thiis

BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................................. 189

REFERENCES ................................................ 191

About the Authors ......................................... 202

2. Image scans of Contents only

Abbreviations

ADJ----The Advent of Divine Justice 
BA-----Bahá'í Administration 
CF-----Citadel of Faith 
CN-----Call to the Nations 
DND----Dawn of a New Day 
GPB----God Passes By 
GWB----Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh 
KI-----Kitáb-i-Íqán (The Book of Certitude) 
LGANZ--Letters of the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand 
LODG---The Light of Divine Guidance 
MTA----Messages to America 
MBW----Messages to the Bahá'í World 
PBA----Principles of Bahá'í Administration 
PDIC---The Promised Day is Come 
SAQ----Some Answered Questions 
SWA----Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá 
TB-----Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh 
UD-----Unfolding Destiny 
WOB----The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh 

Introduction

by Morten Bergsmo and Kishan Manocha

[The authors acknowledge the contributions made by Dwight W. Allen, Seena Fazel, Shahriar Razavi and Hamid Samandari to the Introduction.]

If Shoghi Effendi had left us with no other evidence of his divinely-appointed station as Guardian of the Cause of God, his writings alone would convince us of the sublimity of his rank. His writings and translations have transformed all previous understanding of the station and purpose of the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá, shaped the evolving destiny of a world-wide community, and constitute the primary medium through which the teachings of the Revealer of God's Word in this day have become more fully recognised and understood, in familiar well-established terms of though and concept, and charged with the necessary potency to effect a lasting change in the evolution of social and spiritual life on the planet.

The vast majority of Shoghi Effendi's writings fall under the general category of letters written to individual Assemblies (local and national) or believers: some 26,00 are in the current possession of the Bahá'í World Centre. With the exception of God Passes By, his monumental review of the significance of the events of the first century of the Bahá'í era and essentially the only 'book' he ever wrote, the other works by Shoghi Effendi are either collections of letters to various national communities, and include titles such as The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, The Advent of Divine Justice, The Promised Day is Come, and Citadel of Faith (to the United States and Canada), Unfolding Destiny (the British Isles) and Dawn of a New Day (India). In addition, there are the compilations such as Selected Writings of Shoghi Effendi and Principles of Bahá'í Administration prepared during his lifetime, and others compiled posthumously such as Living the Life, Call to the Nations, and Guidance for Today and Tomorrow. [p2]

Although in scope of Shoghi Effendi's writings as Expounder of the Word of God deal with almost every aspect of human activity and thought, there are nevertheless major themes running through his mighty works; the development of the administrative institutions of the world-wide Bahá'í community; the cultivation of personal spiritual life; the promotion of the proclamation and teaching work of the Bahá'í Faith; the explanation of the Covenant, laws, teachings and principles; the history of the Bábí and Bahá'í Dispensations, including the stations and titles of the Central Figures of the Faith; and the history of world civilization and the forces animating its development, both in terms of its growth and decline, particularly in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

It is therefore clear that a prolonged and systematic study of these writings is an indispensable component of, and an adjunct to, the study of the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh as a whole. Studying the writings of Shoghi Effendi raises the level of the discourse carried out by the followers of Bahá'u'lláh. It unfolds to every believer a true understanding of the nature of the remedy the Divine Physician has prescribed for the ills of mankind, for it lays bare the innumerable gems that lie in the ocean of the revealed Word of God. It is also concerned with capturing a unique vision, the vision of Shoghi Effendi, a vision that fuels within one's soul a fervour, an ardour and a passion which manifests itself in service to the Cause of God.

Using the power of Shoghi Effendi's historical analysis one is able to teach an serve with greater strength, with greater confidence, as one attempts to situate one's every initiative to serve the Cause of God in a special historical moment, to see one's endeavours as part of a series of past victories and future opportunities. To those who have accepted to embody the spiritual discipline called for in The Advent of Divine Justice there also comes the discipline of faith, of indomitable faith, which runs like a sublime thread throughout the faith in the validity of the principles enunciated by Bahá'u'lláh, faith in the infinite potential of His Order as a channel for divine confirmation, as an instrument of change.

Bahá'ís have been ardently and consistently encouraged to make the writings of Shoghi Effendi a habitual and constant part of their general deepening in their Faith, until such a study becomes incorporated into the very core of their existence. Such an appeal has been especially directed towards Bahá'í Youth, whom Shoghi Effendi himself has declared can contribute decisively to the 'the virility, the purity and the driving force of the life of the Bahá'í community'. [p3]

This book has been prepared as an aid to the 'prolonged systematic study'^[1] of Shoghi Effendi's writings. Our regular and continued study should be 'systematic' in at least three different ways: firstly, we should develop a systematic approach to the entire body of Shoghi Effendi's writings, first obtaining an overview of his published works, their background and main contents, and then studying the essential titles, steadily and conscientiously; secondly, we should cultivate a systematic method in studying and contemplating each work, so as not only to enter Shoghi Effendi's universe of exposition, but to integrate his life-giving vision through sound understanding sustained by reflection and thus equip ourselves with the ability to relate the teachings of the Faith to the contemporary realities of society and the individual; and finally, we should develop the ability to identify, explore and evaluate systematically the various themes and topics that Shoghi Effendi raises in each work.

[1. The Universal House of Justice, from a telex dated 4 August 1987 to the participants of the Youth Conference in Manchester, United Kingdom.]

Following this introduction the book opens with a unique compilation of extracts of letters written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi and by the Universal House of Justice on the importance of studying the writings of the Guardian. Then come two essays appraising the life and works of Shoghi Effendi. The rest of the book comprises a compendium of study guides to twenty-one titles by Shoghi Effendi. Although prepared by twelve Bahá'ís from six different countries, these study guides are base on the same method: they contain only questions to the text, and page references. No answers. The purpose is to open doors to the given text, to stimulate independent reflection and further investigation. Moreover, experience demonstrates that prepared questions can assist the study process as a basis for consultation.

However uniform the basic approach of the study guides, there is an element of individual judgement in the selection and formulation of questions. The reader will therefore notice a reflection of the diversity of those involved in the preparation of questions. But still, none of the guides are exhaustive, and the selection of questions is necessarily arbitrary, because of the scope and complexity of the writings. Some questions are repeated in different guides: the idea is that the guides can be used separately and that the compendium shall offer a guide to as many of the published works of the Guardian as possible.

There are many ways in which this outline can be used as a guide for study. They can be a personal guide for individual study or be used for group study. One person may be asked to lead the group, but it might be more effective if most or all members of the group [p4] assume active roles in the collective study. One format is to assign one question in rotation to all participants and then allow five or ten minutes at the beginning for everyone to prepare a discussion of his or her question. Some will simply read the question and then read the text which provides the answer. Others will choose to use the text as a springboard for further discussion. The group as a whole should be invited to comment on each question as well.

It might be wise not to set a number of questions to 'cover' in one study session. The session could proceed naturally. Some of the more effective study sessions will result from the spirited discussion of only one question. Part of the excitement of studying is its unpredictable quality which results from the dynamics of the specific participants when everyone feels a responsibility for the process. It is useful to have a dictionary at hand, as well as other Bahá'í scriptures and commentaries for reference.

The idea of preparing this book was conceived in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana, in August 1987 when a group of Bahá'í youth were travelling teaching in the land of the Basarwa. We discussed various ways of studying Shoghi Effendi's writings. The example of the Bahá'í youth in Oslo, Norway, who conducted deepenings based on study guides, spurred us to embark on the project which led to the present book. Many Bahá'ís have participated in its preparation; efforts were made in a number of countries before the manuscript was finalised during the first Winter School of Czechoslovakia in the heart of Central Europe.

We would like to place on record gratitude to the Universal House of Justice for preparing the compilation on studying the writings of Shoghi Effendi and allowing its use in the book; to Mr. 'Ali Nakhjavání for his loving encouragement; to Dr. May Hofman Ballerio for her advice on substance and form; and to Mrs. Joan Dahl for her help with typing the manuscript.

About the Authors

Dwight W. Allen (b. 1931) was brought up in the United States. He has had a distinguished career as an educationalist and currently works as a professor at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. He has served as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States for many years.

Morten Bergsmo (b. 1963) is a jurist, brought up in Norway, now living in Czechoslovakia.

Carina S. Bischoff (6. 1968) holds a B.Sc. in medicine and is currently studying philosophy. She was brought up in Denmark and now lives in Czechoslovakia.

Amelia Danesh (b. 1973) is a first year law student at the University of Otago. She is a member of the National Teaching Committee of the Bahá'ís of New Zealand, and was the New Zealand Young Writer of the Year in 1989.

Helen Danesh-Meyer (b. 1967) is a physician in Dunedin, New Zealand, in the ophthalmology residency programme at the Otago University Medical School. She has conducted research in many fields, including medical education, laser-therapy in glaucoma, infertility, and Maori health. She and her siblings co-authored Bahá'í Challenge.

John Danesh (b. 1968) is a final year medical student at the Otago University Medical School. He has published more than a dozen scholarly articles, and holds the unique distinction of winning national debating titles in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. [p202]

Seena Fazel )b. 1969) was raised in England. He attended St. Paul's School in London, and is currently studying medicine in Edinburgh University.

David Hofman served at the Bahá'í World Centre from 1963-1988 as a member of the Universal House of Justice.

Gerard J. Kay (b. 1964) trained as a musician at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. Since 1990 he has been living in Hong Kong where he works in broadcast journalism.

Peter Khan is now serving at the Bahá'í World Centre as a member of the Universal House of Justice.

Kishan Manocha (b. 1965) was raised in England. He holds degrees in psychology and medicine from London University. He has published articles in the fields of medicine and human rights, participated several times in Model United Nations Conferences, and has worked for the Bahá'í International Community, the United Nations Office. He is currently living in Czechoslovakia.

Kasra Mottahedeh was born in Teheran (1972) and brought up in Norway. He graduated in the International Baccalaureate in May 1990, and is currently serving at the Bahá'í World Centre.

Negar Mottahedeh was born in Teheran (1968) and brought up in Norway. She holds a B.A. in international relations from Mount Holyoke College, and is currently completing a Ph.D. in social science at the University of Minnesota.

Shahriar Razavi (b. 1965) was brought up in Iran and England. He holds a degree in physics from the University of London and now works for a firm of management consultants.

Hamid Samandari was born in Teheran (1964) and brought up in Switzerland. He holds degrees in mathematics and computer science, and has worked as a research assistant at the University of Geneva.

Oyvind Thiis (b. 1965) was raised in Norway. He is studying political Science at the University of Oslo.