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Why Bahai

Moz

Religion. A pox on all their Houses.
Baha'u'llah is a Title, it means the 'Glory of God' or 'Glory of the Lord'. That Glory is all of God's Messengers, all the Messages they have given. Thus we find God in all those Names and all those Messages.

It is man that says that each does not understand the other Message, it is man that divides.

When we turn to find Truth in them all, then all those Truths mould back to the one source. If I talk of Baha'u'llah, I talk of all Messengers, the Love does not divide it is all encompassing. That Love is inclusive of all humanity, as we issue forth from them.



I see the above somewhat answers your query

Regards Tony
Hi
No your comments did not somewhat answer my queries,

You did not say anything other than to somehow vaugely claim solidarity with and ownership of the truths you wish to pick from these other religions regardless of whether they contradict each other at a fundemental level or not. I am realy suprised the bahai structure turned out to be so unsophisticated but i've seen all i need too.
Peace
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Hi
No your comments did not somewhat answer my queries,

You did not say anything other than to somehow vaugely claim solidarity with and ownership of the truths you wish to pick from these other religions regardless of whether they contradict each other at a fundemental level or not. I am realy suprised the bahai structure turned out to be so unsophisticated but i've seen all i need too.
Peace

Peace be with you and all.

Regards Tony
 

shunyadragon

shunyadragon
Premium Member
My dilemma: To (sigh) or to LOL, that is the question.

(Terry's note to @shunyadragon: This second link is a link I shared with paarsurrey in response to his question to me. You don't like how I handled that? Maybe you'd like to report me to the Moderators and put me on your "Ignore" list?

Your over reacting to meaningless misunderstanding.
 

loverofhumanity

We are all the leaves of one tree
Premium Member
What would such a reapperance even be? Buddhist core concepts don't really allow for reincarnation, despite a considerable amount of confusion and controversy that I personally attribute to a bit more concession to syncretism with Tibetan Bon beliefs than we should have had.

Yes, there is the expectation of the coming of Maitreya, and there has been a veritable legion of Maitreya "hopefuls" since. But Maitreya is explicitly a separate Buddha, and it takes a severe beating of the core ideas of Buddhism to decide that he is somehow Gautama.

It just doesn't make any logical sense.

Then there are the calculations about when to expect Maitreya, if we should truly expect him as a living person at all. Low estimates go from about the year 30000, up to hundreds of millions of years in the future.

One would expect a doctrine such as the Bahai Faith that explicltly relies on the idea of Progressive Revelation to understand that such high numbers might lead to something more meritory than expectations of meeting either Buddha in the flesh during our recent past or predictable future, but apparently not.

Any way you slice it, the Bahai claims about Buddhism just can't be made to work.

The appearance of Maitreya is not Gautama Himself but in reference to a future Buddha. Not reincarnation. A separate Buddha Who will bring His own religion.

It is not a matter of making anything work. It is a promise enshrined in Buddhist scriptures that one day must come to pass because Buddha foretold it.
 
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Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
That is God's way and Baha'u'llah said it has not changed.

As a Hindu we can embrace Abrahamic Faiths and learn from what was offered. We can find our unity in our Diversity. No caste no higher class of people.

Thus if this Faith, this path is wrong, then which is right, which will achieve the oneness of Humanity?
If it is a God's way then it is a very poor process and shows the ineptness of that God. Surely, there are better, direct ways to do it. He has already caused so much mayhem between Jews, Christians and Muslims. Bahaullah said so because it suited his design (of being called a manifestation/avatara of God).

Hinduism already provides the option of not being caste-conscious. There are many Vaishnava and Shiva denominations which repudiate such distinctions, Hare-Krishnas or Vinayaka's Shaiva Siddhanta or my Advaita being such. And even if castes and tribes exist, they do not necessarily create problems. Does being an Irish or Italian or German create any problem in the Western world? It is discrimination based on these distinctions that creates problems.

India has already traversed a long distance in that direction with a 'dalit' President and a lower caste Prime Minister. There are people from all castes, all tribes, all religions, in the Indian Government, administration, police and army. That is how unity is achieved. It does not require adherence to one faith or one so-called manifestation.

What do Abrahamic religions offer other than make-believe stories of One God and the prophets/sons/messengers/manifestations/mahdis that he is supposed to be keep sending to the world, creating ever-new religions which then fight with each other? None of these has achieved any unity. Bahullah and Mirza Ghulam Ahmad have just added two more in the recent times. The Ahmadiyyas also have the all the same sweet talk which Bahaullah has. It is preposterous to think that Abrahamic religions can ever bring about unity of mankind.
 
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shunyadragon

shunyadragon
Premium Member
Hi
No your comments did not somewhat answer my queries,

You did not say anything other than to somehow vaugely claim solidarity with and ownership of the truths you wish to pick from these other religions regardless of whether they contradict each other at a fundemental level or not. I am realy suprised the bahai structure turned out to be so unsophisticated but i've seen all i need too.
Peace

Yes, religions believe they disagree at the fundamental level with other religions. This negates the fallible human element in all the ancient religions that corrupts and adds to the religions and leaves a cultural impact. There is a problem with from the perspective of the universal IF God exists. From the perspective expecting all religions to agree deteriorates into the condrume that all religions are created by humans for human interests. The alternative is an evolving progressive revelation that changes over time representing the progressive spiritual nature potential of humanity. There is a choice no God, or a universal God that reflects the evolving spiritual nature of humanity, and an organic evolving nature of the nature of our physical existence.

Your describing religious syncretism, which may be an accusation for any religion over the millennia. The Bah'i Faith does reinforce much of the basic morals and ethics with spiritual laws, and teachings. It also reinstated pure monotheism rejecting polytheistic and anthropomorphic concepts of God. Yes, there are syncretic religions but the Baha'i Faith is not one.

The brought new teachings and principles such as the mandatory education for all children female and male, and absolute end to all forms of slavery. Thes new teachings, as well as others are not taken from older religions.

You, of course, do not believe, but your dismissive acrid polymic against the Baha'i Faith reflects your own negative bias.
 
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LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
The appearance of Maitreya is not Gautama Himself but in reference to a future Buddha. Not reincarnation. A separate Buddha Who will bring His own religion.
You realize that this "his own religion" part is not what we Buddhists say, right?

In effect, you are recycling the concepts of Buddhism for your own purposes, going out of your way to disregard their true meanings. That does not strike me as very honest.

It is not a matter of making anything work. It is a promise enshrined in Buddhist scriptures that one day must come to pass because Buddha foretold.
No. It is a deliberate misrepresentation, no doubt meant to convince the less informed and dissuage well-earned doubts and disagreements.
 

loverofhumanity

We are all the leaves of one tree
Premium Member
Yes, beautiful poetic Baha'i speak... we are the leaves of one tree. The flowers of one garden. But... we were all taught to believe different things. Many of us questioned those things and went out and searched for better or greater truths. Some found truth in the religious teachings from India or China or from Persia. Or, some rediscovered Jesus and swear he is the only truth.

Now we have the Baha'i Faith. How does it square with those other beliefs that we have studied and learned and, sometimes, believed was the absolute truth. Baha'is are asking as to believe them as having the absolute truth. That is what Baha'is are doing and saying. It might very well be the truth. But, if the Baha'i Faith is the truth, then all our old beliefs are wrong and not the absolute truth. There are some things or many things wrong with them... according to the Baha'i Faith.

Hi CG.

I think what we are appealing for people to do in order to reconcile their differences and live in harmony and peace is to accept our past, each other’s history and culture. If we can accept or appreciate that there is truth in all religions not just our own then it will go a long way to peace. There is truth in every religion, in every human being. Different religions express truth different ways and place emphasis.on different qualities.

For example Jesus focused on love and forgiveness while Buddha mindfulness and meditation, Krishna that we are spirit not our bodies and detachment, Baha’u’llah on unity. So if we made one Bible in our hearts and in it love, detachment, unity, mindfulness and so on then we stand to benefit.

Baha’is need to learn the Christian concept of love and the Buddhist concept of mindfulness and meditation and they can learn unity from us, None of us has all or exclusive absolute knowledge.

By asking me these good questions you are teaching me and helping me to become a better person. We cannot lose sight of what all the religions teach. To do so would be spiritual suicide. But we do need to build on our past knowledge and add to it the concept of the oneness of mankind so as to end discrimination and prejuduces and establish peace.

None of us have absolute truth not the Baha’is or anyone only God. All we have is the collective knowledge and wisdom of our past and some new concepts Baha’u’llah has brought specifically for this age to add to our accumulated knowledge not replace it and in the future as we develop and advance we will attain greater heights spiritually but we need each other. We are all parts of one great whole.

We can only achieve peace and happiness if we work together in harmony. If we cut up the human body it ceases to function so we need the disjointed body of humanity to become whole and healthy and begin to function as it was meant to.

Only ego prevents us from all dropping our prejudices towards one another’s faith and accept all truth no matter where it comes from.
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Theoretically, wouldn't a Buddha's "reappearance" suggest that he or she had undergone a really huge, involuntary set-back?
Yes. The purpose of enlightenment isn't to go back into rebirth. It's defeating the purpose. GOOD point.
It is a 'good point' only for those who do not understand Buddhism and what Buddha said.
I see it is but the veil of name's that prevents this. .. I see when we lift that veil, we have the same source.
Ah! Then it should be simple. Just stop calling yourself 'Bahais'.
 
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Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
It is a 'good point' only for those who do not understand Buddhism and what Buddha said.Ah! Then it should be simple. Just stop calling yourself 'Bahais'.

Do you mean Maitreya will come back?

I know Mahayana teaching has the Buddha coming back many incarnations (for lack of better words). Though, not as a prophet, messenger, or anything like that. That's kind of like saying no one will reach an enlightenment state because they will always be going through rebirth.

Nichiren Buddhism teaches that The Buddha. In this case, in Shoshu Nichiren is the reincarnation of The Buddha. There are many different points of views.

So, you're saying Maitreya comes back as a prophet as Bahai said if the "point" is wrong? Bahai right on something?
 

loverofhumanity

We are all the leaves of one tree
Premium Member
You realize that this "his own religion" part is not what we Buddhists say, right?

In effect, you are recycling the concepts of Buddhism for your own purposes, going out of your way to disregard their true meanings. That does not strike me as very honest.


No. It is a deliberate misrepresentation, no doubt meant to convince the less informed and dissuage well-earned doubts and disagreements.

I have been completely honest and truthful. Not to mention that we believe in Buddha as the Enlightened One and have the utmost reverence and respect for His teachings and regard Him as the Sun of Truth.

This is what we are taught that Buddha is the True One.

You’re free to think what you like about us.
 

loverofhumanity

We are all the leaves of one tree
Premium Member
It is a 'good point' only for those who do not understand Buddhism and what Buddha said.Ah! Then it should be simple. Just stop calling yourself 'Bahais'.

Outward names are merely for practical purposes alone. Otherwise truth knows no name or colour and it’s essence is spirit.
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
I have been completely honest and truthful. Not to mention that we believe in Buddha as the Enlightened One and have the utmost reverence and respect for His teachings and regard Him as the Sun of Truth.

This is what we are taught that Buddha is the True One.

You’re free to think what you like about us.
I will. You may have convinced themselves that you are being honest and disrespectful.

I emphatically disagree.
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
If it is a God's way then it is a very poor process and shows the ineptness of that God. Surely, there are better, direct ways to do it. He has already caused so much mayhem between Jews, Christians and Muslims. Bahaullah said so because it suited his design (of being called a manifestation/avatara of God).

Hinduism already provides the option of not being caste-conscious. There are many Vaishnava and Shiva denominations which repudiate such distinctions, Hare-Krishnas or Vinayaka's Shaiva Siddhanta or my Advaita being such. And even if castes and tribes exist, they do not necessarily create problems. Does being an Irish or Italian or German create any problem in the Western world? It is discrimination based on these distinctions that creates problems.

India has already traversed a long distance in that direction with a 'dalit' President and a lower caste Prime Minister. There are people from all castes, all tribes, all religions, in the Indian Government, administration, police and army. That is how unity is achieved. It does not require adherence to one faith or one so-called manifestation.

What do Abrahamic religions offer other than make-believe stories of One God and the prophets/sons/messengers/manifestations/mahdis that he is supposed to be keep sending to the world, creating ever-new religions which then fight with each other? None of these has achieved any unity. Bahullah and Mirza Ghulam Ahmad have just added two more in the recent times. The Ahmadiyyas also have the all the same sweet talk which Bahaullah has. It is preposterous to think that Abrahamic religions can ever bring about unity of mankind.

I do not see any us verses them, I see we are one family of man. I see we are still adolescent on the verge of maturity.

Big happy birthday by the way :)

As such it becomes less about self and more about scraficing for the whole family. A bit like happily doing the chores without being asked or nagged to do so.

Regards Tony
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Ah! Then it should be simple. Just stop calling yourself 'Bahais'.

That is denial of the Light, part of the whole where I see all names merge into nothingness, life becomes a prayer that rises above words and letters and transcend the murmur of syllables and sounds—all things merge into nothingness before the revelation of the splendour of that Light.

Regards Tony
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Do you mean Maitreya will come back?
"Gate Gate Paragate Parasumgate" - Heart Sutta
That is what Buddha said about himself after his death. "Gone, gone, totally gone, totally and truly gone". Buddha is not going to return. Nobody returns. The form has neither substance (Anatta) nor permanence (Anicca). Form is Pratityasamutpada (paṭiccasamuppāda) - a seeming depentent co-origination b ycoming together of aggregates (Skandhas). But that philosophy will be very difficult to understand for followers of Abrahamic religions. A God and his prophets/sons/messengers/manifestations/mahdis is as far as they can generally go.

Outward names are merely for practical purposes alone. Otherwise truth knows no name or colour and it’s essence is spirit.
Yeah, we also term ourselves as Hindus for practical reasons so as not to fall prey to totally unsubstantiated Abrahamic assertions of one God and his prophets/sons/messengers/manifestations/mahdis.
 

oldbadger

Skanky Old Mongrel!
The brought new teachings and principles such as the mandatory education for all children female and male, and absolute end to all forms of slavery. Thes new teachings, as well as others are not taken from older religions.
Bahai education segregates men from women quite a bit. They are routed to differing lifes, such is the gender imbalance.
They are ordered to have different hair-styles, even.


You, of course, do not believe, but your dismissive acrid polymic against the Baha'i Faith reflects your own negative bias.
That's you..... the way you talk to folks who have 'clocked' Bahai for what it is.

In a Bahai World we couldn't even have our hair to our own individual tastes!

That's not an acrid sentence..... just the Truth.
 
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