pheonixduprese

Heeeeeeelllooo(:

I'm turning fifteen in about a year, which means it's time for me to sign up as an official member of the Baha'i faith(: [yes, i'm terribly excited.]

I was wondering, now that I've downloaded what seems to be the entire library of Baha'i authoritive texts to my nook, where do I start? Should I go chronologically, starting with the writings of the Bab, moving to Baha'u'llah, to 'Abdu'l-Baha, to the Guardian, finishing with works of the UHJ? Or, is there a priority on certain books that I should read first before delving into others? I understand the Kitab-i-Aqdas holds certain priority, followed by the Kitab-i-Iqan, but then what?

Thank you,
-Cole(:

BruceDLimber

Personally, I'd recommend reading the Kitab-i-Iqan and delaying reading the Aqdas, which IMHO isn't as directly relevant!

Another book which is massively helpful early on is 'Abdu'l-Baha's Some Answered Questions.

And while you're reading these, I'd recommend The Hidden Words as dessert. :-)

There are other books well worth reading, but I think these will give you the best start!

Many regards, and my congratulations on your impending declaration! :-)

(BTW, be sure to remember its date, time, and surrounding circumstances so that decades later you can still fondly recall it <as I do mine in 1971>!)

Bruce

cire perdue

HEY! I'm of a different view. I would say start a habit now of reading from a few sentences or a paragraph to a page or two each morning and evening of the Sacred Writings. I have read I think the KATABI-IQAN more like other books, reading more at a time, but by reading a little each day I have read all of the Sacred Writings. We are told to be firm in the Covenant we should read the Sacred Writings a.m. and p.m. I find I can not read all of Baha'u'llah's Writings hours at a time. School still needs to be first for you.

However to read at a more rapid pace I would first reccommend THE REVELATION OF BAHA'U'LLAH by Teherzadeh. I would reccommend THIEF IN THE NIGHT and/or THE WINE OF ASTONISHMENT, GOD LOVES LAUGHTER, and THE PRICELESS PEARL. This might take some time, but that is okay. I don't think I reccommend GOD PASSES BY or THE DAWNBREAKERS unless you have read those I first reccommended. I don't know why but everything got easier after Pilgrimage. You might consider reading any of Balyuzi's books before trying THE DAWNBREAKERS. Don't hurt yourself over these suggestions or books. Once you have read a few you can decide what interests you. I liked CORRINNE TRUE and THE HERALD OF THE COVENANT those really give one insight into the ministry of The Master and how much His love affected people. There is so much out there. You have a lifetime to read. One of my bestest favorite books is LEARN WELL THIS TABLET. The author, Richard Gurinsky, died before it was published, and it was completed anyway. It is lovely with so much insight into things we miss without knowledge of the Qu'ran.

At your age I don't know if it is realistic to do much reading and praying in the morning trying to get off to school. However if you are stuck on a bus long that could be an opportunity. What do you think could work? What preferences do you have already? How do you plan to say your 95 Allah'u'abhas? I should do them when I first get up, but have gotten lax with not working presently......When I have finished a book of Baha'u'llah's or The Bab's I eventually repeat it again.

pheonixduprese

Bruce: Thanks for the info! I was thinking about reading the Iqan before the Aqdas anyways. I've already read quite a bit of Some Answered Questions, and I did find it massively helpful.

Cire: I will definitely be devoting certain amounts of time in the morning and evening to reading the Writings. Thank you for your suggestions also. Usually during the day, I have a short bus ride in the morning that I could use for praying... I don't do very well in the morning though. As for my 95 Allah'u'Abhas, I'll most likely do those before I go to sleep. [On a side note, I usually get up around 6:00 AM and school doesn't start until 7:45, so I have pleennnntttyyyy of free time in the morning.]

Thank you very much(:

arthra

It depends largely on the believers what books they choose...

When I first became a Baha'i I read "Baha'u'llah and the New Era" and "Baha'i World Faith" ..which is no longer in print. But those two were enough for me at that time..

You could also download "Ocean" for free and do searches for areas you are interested in..

Ocean - World Religions Free Research Library

and of course there's the Baha'i Reference Library:

Baha'i Reference Library

There's also the Ruhi courses supposed to be offered maybe near where you live...ask the friends about that.

Violet

I was just gonna post a similar question, but I see it's been answered!!!!!

cire perdue

They are incredible and free!!!!!

BruceDLimber

Violet, my recommendations are in message #2 above.

Regards, :-)

Bruce

cire perdue

ooops.

Best one to start is short and so very, very special, but it's too short:

HIDDEN WORDS

Bahá'í Reference Library - The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Page 3

then Bruce's first choice:

Bahá'í Reference Library - The Kitáb-i-Íqán, Pages 3-41

Iconodule

Read the early church fathers and compare them to Bahai, and ask, why is what they believe so fundamentally different from this recently invented religion? then read the Islamic sources and ask why is this so fundamentally different? Then read any other source and ask, why is this so fundamentally different?

gusash

Baha'u'llah Himself has said it is better to read less than more, if reading more will become tiresome.

"Pride not yourselves on much reading of the verses
or on a multitude of pious acts by night and day; for
were a man to read a single verse with joy and radiance 74
it would be better for him than to read with lassitude
all the Holy Books of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.
Read ye the sacred verses in such measure
that ye be not overcome by languor and despondency.
Lay not upon your souls that which will weary them
and weigh them down, but rather what will lighten
and uplift them, so that they may soar on the wings of
the Divine verses towards the Dawning-place of His
manifest signs; this will draw you nearer to God, did ye
but comprehend."

(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 73)

Abid Taherzadeh has also commented on this:

"In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Bahá'u'lláh states that there is no merit in reading His words when tired. He says that to read a few lines with a spirit of joy and fragrance is better than to read a whole book when depressed and weary. This commandment is very much tune with the law of nature which advocates that a person eat his food only when he is hungry."

(Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 3, p. 324)

I once tried to read the Baha'i Writings successively. Make sure you go easy on yourself. You have a lifetime of learing ahead of you.

Bless you.

cire perdue

I require at morning and evening no more than a sentence or paragraph of the Writings. I always exceed that, but it was a goal that allowed me to reach reading evening and morning over the years,andit is pretty well entrenched. I do read on purpose at length at other times, but my requirement is a reachable goal. I treat prayer likewise, but pray much more than that most days.

Parsa

In case folks don't know (I know many here do), here's an excellent site for Baha'i ebooks in virtually every format:

Baha'i eBooks Publications

Cole, if you are like I was at 15, you'll read all the books by Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha in a year. I topped the year off by reading the Dawn-Breakers for dessert.

I think the answer largely depends on what you enjoy.
Gleanings, as a compilation, is a good place to start, but I generally agree with Bruce's choices.