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PBS seg. on the Baha'i Faith's month of fasting, March 1-19

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6B Interviews Cami about Baháʼí Faith.mp4

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The Joy of Meeting Baha'is in a Time of Segregation

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How Souls Make Progress in the World Beyond

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How Souls Make Progress in the World Beyond

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No greater mystery exists than the world beyond - but, like most mysteries, we do have a few clues about the nature of the afterlife.

The teachings of all the great Faiths refer to the existence of the human soul and its journey through this world and the worlds to come. The Baha'i writings give us more hints, indications, and insights as to what to expect. In those writings, we glean enough knowledge in this life to help us prepare for the next life. We learn that the hereafter, to a large extent, greatly depends on the here-and-now.

Full disclosure of life in the world beyond is neither possible nor desirable. That life, the Baha'i teachings tell us, is impossible to understand. Even if we were able to understand it, too much information would excite such great longing to experience that realm so as to tempt suicide, as Baha'u'llah states:

If any man be told that which hath been ordained for such a soul in the worlds of God, the Lord of the throne on high and of earth below, his whole being will instantly blaze out in his great longing to attain that most exalted, that sanctified and resplendent station. - Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 156.

To really know is to do. Knowledge should serve as a guide for enlightened actions. Without following through on what we know, such knowledge is for naught, if it produces no results. Although true as a general principle, this is especially true when it comes to the necessity for each of us to prepare for the world beyond.

What each of us does in the present, in fact, affects our future - not only in this life, but in the afterlife as well. Although there's a world of difference, the afterlife, after all, represents a continuation of this life. This is all the more reason to think about the world beyond while we are still living in the present world.

If one of the primary purposes of life is spiritual progress, the same applies in the life to come. The two are related - intimately interrelated, in fact - with the quality of the afterlife depending, in large measure, on the quality of this earthly life.

Material progress has its merits and demerits, but the Baha'i teachings define spiritual progress as the growth of spiritual awareness, including the love and "fear" (in a positive sense of what not to do) of God, but also the acquisition of godly virtues, as expressed in goodly deeds, in the path of service to others - and in the interest of advancing civilization, to the extent that each of us can contribute our part, to the best of each of our God-given abilities.

Progress in the world beyond, according to the Baha'i teachings, depends on: (1) the grace and bounty of God; (2) the intercession and prayers of other human souls; (3) significant contributions and charitable deeds which are offered in its [the soul's] name; and (4) discoveries experienced by the soul.

1. The grace and bounty of God: Abdu'l-Baha explained, in answer to the question "Through what means can the spirit of man-the rational soul-progress after departing from this mortal world?:

The progress of the human spirit in the divine world, after its connection with the physical body has been severed, is either [1] purely through the grace and bounty of the Lord, [2] or through the intercession and prayers of other human souls, [3] or through the significant contributions and charitable deeds which are offered in its name. - Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, newly revised edition, p. 334 [numbering added].

Here, the ways in which the soul is assisted in this progress by the grace of God, by the intercession of the Concourse on high and the prayers of the people here on Earth below, and/or philanthropic gifts or deeds done in memory of the departed, is not explained as to how this occurs. In a sense, the "how" is not as important as the "why." After all, it's the progress that counts, not how it occurs.

2. The intercession and prayers of other human souls: We can all pray for the spiritual progress of departed souls, and the Baha'i teachings say that prayer helps those souls advance spiritually in the world beyond.

3. Significant contributions and charitable deeds which are offered in its [the soul's] name: This is the third way in which the spiritual progress of a departed soul may be assisted. In response to a question, Baha'u'llah states the soul rejoices in the present for the good that is done both past and present:

After relinquishing the body, that is to say, after the soul hath been separated from the body, it hasteneth to the abode hereafter ...

Verily, We say: The soul is gladdened by goodly deeds and profiteth from the contributions made in the path of God. - Baha'u'llah, The Tabernacle of Unity, p. 63.

In the hereafter, the soul rejoices in contemplating past deeds and contributions performed here on Earth - but also rejoices in goodly deeds and contributions, also performed here on earth, but in the name and memory of that departed soul. Presumably, that happiness imparted to the soul somehow aids its progress, although we don't know how.

4. Discoveries experienced by the soul: This is the fourth way in which the spiritual progress of a departed soul may be assisted, according to the following statement by Abdu'l-Baha:

As to thy question regarding discoveries made by the soul after it hath put off its human form: certainly, that world is a world of perceptions and discoveries, for the interposed veil will be lifted away and the human spirit will gaze upon souls that are above, below, and on a par with itself. It is similar to the condition of a human being in the womb, where his eyes are veiled, and all things are hidden away from him. Once he is born out of the uterine world and entereth this life, he findeth it, with relation to that of the womb, to be a place of perceptions and discoveries, and he observeth all things through his outer eye. In the same way, once he hath departed this life, he will behold, in that world whatsoever was hidden from him here: but there he will look upon and comprehend all things with his inner eye. There will he gaze on his fellows and his peers, and those in the ranks above him, and those below. - Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, pp. 170-171.

The soul's "perceptions and discoveries" presumably assist in the spiritual progress of that soul.

Further to the previous article ("What Will We Do In the World Beyond?" Part 3 in Series: The World Beyond), note also that the world beyond is also part of this world, but is hidden from our purview and perception:

Those souls who are pure and unsullied, upon the dissolution of their elemental frames, hasten away to the world of God, and that world is within this world. The people of this world, however, are unaware of that world, and are even as the mineral and the vegetable that know nothing of the world of the animal and the world of man. - Ibid., pp. 194-195.

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How We Make Progress In the World Beyond

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No greater mystery exists than the world beyond - but, like most mysteries, we do have a few clues about the nature of the afterlife. The teachings of all the great Faiths refer to the existence of the human soul and its journey through this world and the worlds to come.

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The Not-So-Random Practice of Extreme Kindness

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What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness? - Jean-Jacques Rousseau Philosophers, writers, and all of the world's great Faith traditions praise kindness.

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Story of Baha'u'llah's Kindness  (Key Stage 1, Video 5)

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Bahá'í worship

Bahá'ís see themselves as a people with a mission to bring harmony and unity in the world, and this is reflected in their spiritual practice.

The main purpose of life for Bahá'ís is to know and love God.

Prayer, fasting and meditation are the main ways of achieving this and for making spiritual progress.

Service to others is worship

Bahá'í texts state that work performed in the spirit of service to humanity is a form of worship.

Absence of ritual

The Bahá'í faith has no clergy or sacraments, and virtually no rituals.

There are only three Bahá'í rituals:

Obligatory daily prayers

Reciting the prayer for the dead at a funeral

The simple marriage rite

There are two reasons Bahá'ís avoid ritual:

Rituals can easily degenerate and become meaningless, so that people carry them out for the sake of the ritual and forget the spiritual purpose behind them

Rituals can be a form of cultural imperialism, imposing the same rituals across different cultures and destroying their rich diversity

Shoghi Effendi wrote in 1949...

Events and celebrations

Doing without rituals does not mean doing without celebrations or special events.

Communal worship

Bahá'ís have no liturgy, since the minimising of ritual makes it impossible to develop one.

The emphasis on prayer and meditation, and on social action in Bahá'í thinking means that congregational worship plays a much smaller part in Bahá'í life than it does in other faiths.

Bahá'í services are very simple with readings from the scriptures, along with interpretations of them and prayers. Hymns and poetry are allowed, but not common. The atmosphere is usually dignified.

Bahá'í are encouraged to come together in communal worship, but there are no congregational prayers. One person will recite prayers on behalf of everyone present.

This is because prayer is seen essentially as a private duty, and because there are no professional clergy within the Bahá'í faith.

Morning prayer

Bahá'í scripture recommends that the community should meet together for prayer each morning, although this is not commonly done by modern Bahá'ís.

Nineteen day feast

For modern Bahá'í the main occasion for group worship is the devotional portion of the nineteen day feast.

Holy days

Bahá'ís usually hold special worship events on holy days and festivals.

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Bahá'ís see themselves as a people with a mission to bring harmony and unity in the world, and this is reflected in their spiritual practice. The main purpose of life for Bahá'ís is to know and love God. Prayer, fasting and meditation are the main ways of achieving this and for making spiritual progress.

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The Baha'i religion centers around community and the oneness of humanity. At its root, the Baha'i faith values justice, equality, and peace. When someone of the Baha'i faith passes away, those core beliefs carry over to their death rituals, funeral, and the way the community mourns their death.

Jump ahead to these sections:

Baha'i followers believe in the inherent nobility of each human being, which means they treat death with the utmost care and consideration. At the same time, Baha'i teachings profess that the soul is eternal: it doesn't die just because the body ceases living.

If you're interested in death in different cultures , you might like to know what funeral practices, death rituals, and mourning look like in the Baha'i religion. Below, we'll discuss everything you need to know about death in the Baha'i religion and culture.

Virtual funeral tip: If you're planning a virtual funeral using a service like GatheringUs, you can incorporate some of the traditions of a Baha'i funeral. Your virtual funeral facilitator will help you put the details together.

Baha'i Views on Death and Dying

The modern-day religion of Baha'i receives its teachings from an authority called the Universal House of Justice. It's believed that the Universal House of Justice received its authority from a divine messenger of God.

The Universal House of Justice guides Baha'i followers and upholds the values set forward in sacred Baha'i texts. Baha'i views about death and dying are based on guidance from the Universal House.

Eternal soul

According to Baha'i teachings, a person's "true identity" is their soul. The soul has free will, as well as powers of understanding and rationality. According to Baha'i, art, science, and all knowledge come from the intelligence of the rational soul.

When a human being dies, the Baha'i religion teaches that the soul leaves the body. It then continues on its journey towards perfection.

Life and death

According to Baha'i, an individual's life begins at the moment of conception. That's when the eternal soul, described above, joins together with the physical body on Earth. At death, the body returns to the Earth as dust, while the soul continues its journey to the afterlife.

Baha'i writings compare physical death to destroying a bird's cage. When you destroy the cage, the bird doesn't cease to exist. Instead, the bird experiences even greater feelings and more heightened perceptions than before.

According to Baha'i teachings, the physical world is an environment where people can complete an initial stage of development. But the afterlife is where the human soul reaches its full capacity.

Fear of death

The Baha'i religion teaches that death isn't something people should fear. In fact, some Baha'i writings refer to death as a "messenger of joy."

In death, Baha'i people see the opportunity to achieve their true potential spiritually. The progress of a person's soul, according to Baha'i, is based on their good deeds on Earth, help from family and friends (in the form of prayer), and the grace of God.

Heaven and hell

Do Baha'i people believe in heaven and hell? In a way, they do. Like most religions, the teachings of Baha'i relate the actions of this world with the state of the soul in the afterlife. Good deeds result in peace, while negative actions result in consequences.

But while some cultures see heaven and hell as physical locations, Baha'i views the afterlife as an eternal journey toward spiritual perfection. It interprets references to "heaven" and "hell" in any holy scriptures as metaphorical, rather than literal.

In Baha'i understanding, "heaven" is a state of closeness with God in both this life and the afterlife. "Hell," on the other hand, is a state of being separated from God.

" MORE: How do you host a virtual or hybrid funeral? Start here

What Happens During a Baha'i Funeral?

Baha'i funerals and burials are extremely simple, consisting of only a few rituals and traditions. The funeral service itself only consists of one prayer: the Prayer for the Dead, and the burial takes place quickly.

If you're attending a Baha'i funeral (or you're just curious about what one might look like), here's what you can expect .

Prayer for the Dead

According to Baha'i, a soul needs the grace of God, as well as prayers from family and friends on Earth, to reach eternal perfection. Prayers, then, are a crucial part of a Baha'i funeral as a way to ensure the person's soul finds peace in the afterlife.

The central prayer at a Baha'i funeral, and the only one which is mandatory, is the Prayer for the Dead. One member of the congregation recites the prayer, while all others stand in silence.

The Prayer for the Dead typically obligatory only if the deceased is an adult. It may be recited once or twice, depending on the local Baha'i Spiritual Assembly's laws regarding funerals.

Baha'i burial

Like a Baha'i funeral service, burial following Baha'i teachings is very simple and straightforward. That's because Baha'i teachings value simplicity and flexibility over tradition and rigidity.

There are, however, a few hard-and-fast laws one must follow for burying the dead according to the Baha'i faith:

Bury the body nearby. It's forbidden to bury a person's body more than an hour away from where the person died, according to Baha'i. This applies to travel by air, land, and sea. The sooner the burial takes place, according to Baha'i teachings, the better.

Choose burial over cremation. The proper method of interment, according to Baha'i funeral and burial laws, is burial. Cremation of the dead is not acceptable according to the laws.

Skip the embalming. A Baha'i funeral will typically be closed-casket. That's because Baha'i burial laws disallow treatments like embalming.

Recite the Prayer for the Dead first. The congregation must recite the Prayer for the Dead, as described above, before the burial can take place.

Observe the proper burial dress. Baha'i burial laws state that the body should be wrapped in a simple shroud made of silk or cotton. Additionally, a ring may be placed on the person's finger bearing the inscription:

"I came forth from God, and return unto Him, detached from all save Him, holding fast to His Name, the Merciful, the Compassionate."

Use the right kind of casket. Baha'i burial law also states that the casket should be made of stone, hard fine wood, or crystal.

How Do the Baha'i Mourn and Remember the Dead?

Baha'i people take great care to honor the dead at funerals and burial services. Although their services are simple, they represent the Baha'i faith's core teachings.

According to Baha'i, it's also recommended that believers who have deceased loved ones, and the community as a whole, remember the dead on a regular basis.

Influence of ancestors

Baha'i people believe that a freed soul-the spirit of someone who died-has an influence on our world. The soul of a person who's passed away can continue to impact the progress and advancement of people on Earth.

Because ancestors and the souls of people who've passed away have influence over our daily lives, according to Baha'i beliefs, it's important to offer them assistance and prayer where possible.

Offering prayers

The prayers of family and friends are essential to a soul's journey towards spiritual perfection, according to Baha'i. Therefore, the religion recommends that believers offer prayers for the deceased at regular intervals.

Prayer is also a key part of the Baha'i religion, in general. Believers recite three distinct types of prayer each day, and they take part in devotional gatherings regularly.

These prayers and meetings are designed to promote community life cemented by spiritual belief. They're also thought to help deceased Baha'i community members achieve perfection in their eternal existence.

Memorial services

Baha'i teachings dissuade members of the faith from taking part in rituals and customs that are associated with other systems or religions.

If a family wishes to hold a memorial gathering for someone who has passed away, they're encouraged to do so following only Baha'i rites and customs. They're asked to demonstrate the Baha'i way of life to any attendees who might be unfamiliar with the faith.

Baha'i gravestones and cemeteries

Like Baha'i funerals and burials, Baha'i cemeteries are simple but meaningful. They're often well-manicured and cared for, and might include lush foliage or even water features.

Baha'i cemeteries are designated for believers of the faith, but family members of those believers may also be accepted. This is often left up to the individual cemetery's Spiritual Assembly.

Baha'i headstones are typically sparse and simple, though they may feature spiritual emblems or quotes in addition to the individual's name.

Death According to Baha'i

According to the religion of Baha'i, death isn't the end of life but the beginning of a person's true and perfect spiritual existence.

If you're preparing to attend a Baha'i funeral, and you're not sure what to expect , or you want to send condolences to a friend who's Baha'i, you now have the information you need to offer your support.
Sources

1. "A practitioner's guild to culturally sensitive practice for death and dying." Texas State University. April 2002. digital.library.txstate.edu/bitstream/handle/10877/4361/Practitioner%27s%20Guide%20to%20Culturally%20Sensitive%20Practice%20for%20Death%20and%20Dying.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

2. Bahá'u'lláh, Shoghi Effendi, and Universal House of Justice. "Burial, Baha'i." Compilation of Compilations (Baha'i Library Online) . 1991. bahai-library.com/compilation_bahai_burial

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Guide to Baha'i Funeral Practices, Death Rituals & Mourning | Cake Blog

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The Baha'i religion centers around community and the oneness of humanity. At its root, the Baha'i faith values justice, equality, and peace. When someone of the Baha'i faith passes away, those core beliefs carry over to their death rituals, funeral, and the way the community mourns their death.

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The Baha'is are among the most persecuted religious minorities in the world.

In Iran, where the religion was founded, universities refuse to admit Baha'i students, Baha'i cemeteries have been destroyed and the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has confiscated properties from Baha'i families. Baha'is have also been discriminated against in Yemen and in Egypt.

At the same time, the Baha'i faith has spread around the globe. There are more than 100,000 local Baha'i communities in places as diverse as Chile, Cambodia and the United States.

On the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i faith, the question remains: What is the reason for their persecution?

Baha'u'llah and the Babi movement

Baha'u'llah, whose name means "Glory of God" in Arabic, was born in Tehran in 1817. Baha'u'llah's father was a minister in Iran's government, which supported Shi'i Islam as the state religion. As a member of Iran's nobility, Baha'u'llah was offered a government position. Instead, he joined a new religious movement, started by a young Iranian, known as the Bab.

The Babi movement called for revolutionary social changes and championed women's rights. Quite controversially, the Bab claimed that his teachings were a revelation from God and predicted that a new prophetic figure, or manifestation of God, would soon appear.

In 1850, the Bab was charged by Shi'i religious officials with heresy and was put to death by firing squad. Subsequent public protests and mob violence claimed the lives of thousands of his followers.

Bahá'í World News Service © Bahá'í International Community

As part of its crackdown on the followers of the Bab, the Iranian government incarcerated Baha'u'llah. He was kept in an underground prison in Tehran, which Baha'u'llah describes in his writings as filthy, dark and " foul beyond comparison."

The government released Baha'u'llah in 1853, and exiled him to Baghdad, then part of the Ottoman Empire. It was during this exile that he publicly announced the establishment of the Baha'i faith. Indeed Baha'u'llah claimed to be the manifestation of God that the Bab had foretold and gained a large following.

Ottoman officials later moved Baha'u'llah to the prison city of Akka in Palestine. He remained there until his passing in 1892. Today, Baha'u'llah's shrine, now in Israel, is an important pilgrimage site.

Baha'u'llah's teachings

Bahá'í World News Service © Bahá'í International Community

Baha'u'llah's writings form the foundation of the Baha'i faith. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 volumes in Arabic and Persian. About a dozen of these have been translated into English and other languages.

His most well-known book is "The Hidden Words," which is composed of short poetic statements that get to the heart of his spiritual and ethical teachings.

A primary theme of Baha'u'llah's teachings is achieving world peace through the establishment of unity, justice and equality. Therefore, Baha'u'llah's teachings specifically advocate for racial unity, gender equality, universal education, and harmony of science and religion.

Baha'is, for example, embrace interracial marriage and education for girls. In fact, the first school for girls in Iran was established by the Baha'is.

Baha'is were nonetheless subjected to persecution, as some Muslim clerics perceived their faith to be a heresy. For most Muslims, the prophet Muhammad was the last and final prophet.

Establishment of the Baha'i faith

Despite the persecution, the Baha'i faith has attracted millions of adherents around the globe for its ability to transcend nationalism, racism and the like.

Baha'u'llah's followers disseminated his teachings in the Middle East and beyond. His son and successor, Abdu'l-Baha, traveled to Europe and the United States to spread the faith.

Baha'u'llah encouraged Baha'is to cooperate with their governments and engage with the followers of all religions in a spirit of fellowship. Yet Baha'is in Iran, who are the largest non-Muslim religious community, continue to face persecution. The majority of Baha'is, however, live in the global south.

For many, the Baha'i faith is one of the most universal religions. Summed up in Baha'u'llah's words:

" The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens."

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Who are the Baha'is and why are they so persecuted?

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The Baha'is are among the most persecuted religious minorities in the world. In Iran, where the religion was founded, universities refuse to admit Baha'i students, Baha'i cemeteries have been destroyed and the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has confiscated properties from Baha'i families. Baha'is have also been discriminated against in Yemen and in Egypt.

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Time for Anti-Baha’i Discrimination to End in Iran

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How to Get Closer to God in the Afterlife

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How to Get Closer to God in the Afterlife

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Life After Death: The Progress of the Soul

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A Baha'i wedding is a simple ceremony-the couple exchanges a ten-word vow. That's it-no clergy, no long sermons, no rituals.

Of course the bride and groom are free to embellish their momentous occasion with any introduction, music, readings, sacred writings or prayers that they wish. However, this vow is the only requirement: " We will all, verily, abide by the will of God."

This vow represents the core of the Baha'i marriage contract. Nothing else-and nobody else-needs to be involved in the ceremony. No other person "marries" the couple, since the Baha'i Faith has no clergy.

Why don't Baha'is have any clergy? Baha'u'llah, the prophet and founder of the Baha'i Faith, proclaimed that we are now experiencing the dawn of the age of fulfillment, which will supplant the former age of prophecy. In this transitional era of humanity's coming of age (hence, the world's current adolescent-like upheavals), all are capable of recognizing truth for themselves-without the intermediary of a clergy or priesthood. Thus, in keeping with that Baha'i principle of the independent investigation of truth, the Baha'i wedding couple-through the exchange of that simple vow-actually marry each other.

Of course, the Baha'i Local Spiritual Assembly is a legally recognized religious body for overseeing a lawful marriage, and two witnesses are chosen as the law requires, but the Baha'i marriage ceremony itself involves only two people. A third participant exists-as the title of this essay implies-but it's not a priest, a minister or any other human agent.
RELATED: Without Any Clergy, How Do Baha'is Govern Themselves?
Within the few words of the Baha'i wedding vow lies a wealth of meaning. First of all, note that the vow does not say, "We will abide by the will of God"-and given the Baha'i principle of the equality of men and women, it certainly does not say, "I will abide by my husband's will-or by my wife's will."

Instead, the pledge specifies, "We will verily, abide by the will of God." So, who then is this "all" being joined in union, and what exactly is "the will of God"? Since the role of the clergy has been abrogated in the Baha'i Faith, I'm not here to interpret scripture for anyone else. We all have to meditate upon revealed truth for ourselves-and not be dependent on another's explanation. But with that said, allow me to offer some ideas for consideration.

According to a recent ABC News report, 60% of the marriages in the world are arranged (in India, 90%!) These marriages are usually arranged by parents. However, such a practice is forbidden by the Baha'i teachings. Baha'u'llah said that no one can decide for a young (or any other) person whom he or she will marry. The couple has to first find each other.

However, by the same token, the Baha'i teachings recognize that marriage is not just about the married couple. In a very real sense, two families are joined together by a marriage. Indeed, as Baha'u'llah's teaching and the evolving social reality that "the earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens" is increasingly recognized and practiced, more and more people marry across ethnic, racial and national lines. As a consequence, many modern marriages have the potential to unite not only families but also cultures.
RELATED: Getting Married During a Pandemic
The essential purpose of the Baha'i Faith is to create world unity-unity of nations, of races, and of religions. So, of course, its function is to create unity between families as well. Therefore, one requirement of a Baha'i marriage is parental involvement-but not in the choosing of a marriage partner. The couple finds each other. However, if, after their initial attraction, followed by their investigation of each other's character, the two decide to marry, Baha'i law requires that they seek out and benefit from the wisdom of their parents. In a show of love and respect for family, before marrying, the couple requests from both pairs of parents consent that this marriage, this union, take place.

Oftentimes this very show of effort and respect on the couple's part proves to be a catalyst for family unity. Obedience to spiritual law always creates harmony (both inner and outer), whose ripples go forth and touch shores as yet unknown. By seeking parental consent-and by exchanging a simple, albeit profound vow-the marrying couple lays a firm foundation for true unity between two families, creating an atmosphere of harmony ideal for nurturing children yet to be born. No doubt, such harmony likewise attracts the blessings of the departed ancestors of both families as those ascended souls bear witness to their descendants' noble efforts to create a legacy of unity. Baha'i marriage, as the wedding vow confirms, truly involves all.

But, most of all, Baha'i marriage involves the Unknowable Essence, that Great Spirit breathing through all creation Whom language inadequately describes as All-Knowing, Almighty and All-Wise. In contrast to the contemporary concept of romantic love with its faulty notion that the beloved is all the lover will ever need, the Baha'i wedding vow stresses the necessary presence of the most vital component of any marriage-spiritual guidance from the Creator. Baha'i marriage is about two helpmates-two mates helping each other to know God's will.

The future is uncertain. The world is round to remind us that we cannot see where we are going. The only infallible guide, the only reliable compass on that unpredictable journey is the will of the Almighty-because God knows us better than we know ourselves, or than we know our spouse. God knows better than we do what we need and need. Therefore, the marrying couple, by vowing, "We will all, verily, abide by the will of God," pledges each other to a life of prayer and meditation as foundation of their nascent family. How else could each married partner intuitively perceive what the bible calls "the still, small voice within"?

The Baha'i writings contain a beautiful metaphor regarding marriage:

He hath let loose the two seas, that they meet each other ... From each He bringeth up greater and lesser pearls.

Abdu'l-Baha alludes to the fact that rivers consist of fresh water and the ocean is composed of salt water. Fresh river water flows down from a mountain to meet the salty sea; and the union of fresh and salt waters at the mouth of a river forms a rich estuary, fertile with life, where birds and fish flock to feed. Just as an estuary represents a rich source of life-giving sustenance, so too does marriage. By coming together in Baha'i marriage, the wedded couple does not lose their individual identities. On the contrary, seeking to know the will of God assists in fulfilling one's maximum individual potential, while the marriage union creates a life-giving source of sustenance, of harmony - not only for the couple - but potentially for all.

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A Baha'i wedding is a simple ceremony-the couple exchanges a ten-word vow. That's it-no clergy, no long sermons, no rituals. Of course the bride and groom are free to embellish their momentous occasion with any introduction, music, readings, sacred writings or prayers that they wish.