A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »
A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »
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Bedrock of Baha’i Administrative Order |
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The Guardian was very pleased to learn of the progress
done by the Indian N.S.A. in its efforts to consolidate, widen
and maintain the scope of its national activities. The difficulties
in your way are tremendous. The differences of language and
of social and intellectual background do, undoubtedly, render
the work somewhat difficult to carry out and may temporarily
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check the efficient and smooth working of the national administrative
machinery of the Faith. They, nevertheless, impart to
the deliberations of the National Assembly a universality which
they would be otherwise lacking, and give to its members a
breadth of view which is their duty to cultivate and foster. It
is not uniformity which we should seek in the formation of
any national or local assembly. For the bedrock of the Baha’i
administrative order is the principle of unity in diversity, which
has been so strongly and so repeatedly emphasized in the
writings of the Cause. Differences which are not fundamental
and contrary to the basic teachings of the Cause should be
maintained, while the underlying unity of the administrative
order should be at any cost preserved and insured. Unity, both
of purpose and of means is, indeed, indispensable to the safe
and speedy working of every Assembly, whether local or
national.
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Another factor which, in the Guardian’s opinion, is essential
to the development of your N.S.A. is the holding of frequent
meetings. Although the members are stationed at great distances
from one another, yet they can communicate through correspondence.
It is not necessary that all the members should be
present in all the sessions. Those who for some reason or
another are unable to attend in person the meetings of the
N.S.A., can express their views in a written form and send them
to the Assembly. The main point is that your national
activities should not be let to suffer in any way, and its work
be retarded and postponed because of such necessarily unimportant
and secondary considerations.
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I wish to assure you in person of my prayers for the
removal of the difficulties, domestic and otherwise, that
beset your path in these days. I will supplicate the Almighty
to guide you in your manifold and valuable activities in the
service of His Faith, to cheer your heart, and to deepen
your understanding of the fundamentals of His Faith. You
should concentrate your efforts at the present time on whatever
will, in your opinion reinforce the basis and extend the
influence, of the administrative institutions and the teaching
activities of the Faith. The Cause will, no doubt, surmount
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the obstacles that now hinder its growth and will establish
its ascendency in the fulness of time and at the appointed
hour. We should persevere and never feel disheartened.
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