Investigation of truth

Roma81 · 06-27-2007, 04:39 AM

... What does that mean?

Hi, by the way.

I'm fairly new to this forum as well as this faith (Came across it through "Religion for dummies" book one day :tongue) Since then have just been reading and learning about it. Though, not exactly sure what "Investigation of truth" means?

Roma81 · 06-29-2007, 08:34 AM

... Hmm... Harder then I thought...

arthra · 06-30-2007, 08:13 AM

Welcome Roma to the Faith and to this Forum!

Very happy to read your post!:cool

Independent Investigation of Truth or Reality is a Baha'i principle meaning that you are obligated to find the Faith for yourself and not depend on the authority of someone else such as relying on a religious prelate to form your opinions... In Baha'i Faith you are expected to have your own mind and consult with others as we have no priests or theologians to tell us what to do.

- Art

Roma81 · 07-27-2007, 10:44 AM

I see, hey thanks.

arthra · 07-28-2007, 12:12 AM

No problemo!!!

- Art:wink

SomeGuy · 01-27-2011, 11:48 PM

to me it means dont just believe what you hear. find out the truth for yourself. IMO its one of the best teachings of all

tonyfish58 · 03-23-2011, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roma81

... What does that mean?

Hi, by the way.

I'm fairly new to this forum as well as this faith (Came across it through "Religion for dummies" book one day :tongue) Since then have just been reading and learning about it. Though, not exactly sure what "Investigation of truth" means?

This Hidden Word of Baha'u'llah may be of help

I have put in Bold the aspects of this that is a way to undertake the "Investigation of truth"

2. O SON OF SPIRIT!

The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.

unique75 · 03-23-2011, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roma81

... What does that mean?

Hi, by the way.

I'm fairly new to this forum as well as this faith (Came across it through "Religion for dummies" book one day :tongue) Since then have just been reading and learning about it. Though, not exactly sure what "Investigation of truth" means?

Your Love of GOD is what that count most, thus the faith encourage you to find it out (investigate it) yourself.

Pollwr · 03-23-2011, 07:52 AM

Welcome Roma81!

I think the principal of Independant Investigation of the Truth also is reflected in the way that we do not have priests of clergy in the Bahá'í Faith. We are all obliged to read for ourselves and not wait to be told how to see things.

Orthodox · 03-23-2011, 04:55 PM

It means do alot of reading though I often consider independent investigation something people don't actuelly stick to in the strictest sense of the word.

LordOfGoblins · 03-23-2011, 06:45 PM

O My brother! When a true seeker determineth to take the step of search in the path leading unto the knowledge of the Ancient of Days, he must, before all else, cleanse his heart, which is the seat of the revelation of the inner mysteries of God, from the obscuring dust of all acquired knowledge, and the allusions of the embodiments of satanic fancy. He must purge his breast, which is the sanctuary of the abiding love of the Beloved, of every defilement, and sanctify his soul from all that pertaineth to water and clay, from all shadowy and ephemeral attachments. He must so cleanse his heart that no remnant of either love or hate may linger therein, lest that love blindly incline him to error, or that hate repel him away from the truth. Even as thou dost witness in this Day how most of the people, because of such love and hate, are bereft of the immortal Face, have strayed far from the Embodiments of the Divine mysteries, and, shepherdless, are roaming through the wilderness of oblivion and error.

-Baha'u'llah

Pollwr · 05-03-2011, 05:19 PM

Thou Who art the Mighty, the All-Powerful, help us, favour us; withered as we are, revive us with showers from Thy clouds of grace; lowly as we are, illumine us with bright rays from the Day-Star of Thy oneness. Cast Thou these thirsty fish into the ocean of Thy mercy, guide Thou this lost caravan to the shelter of Thy singleness; to the wellspring of guidance lead Thou the ones who have wandered far astray, and grant to those who have missed the path a haven within the precincts of Thy might. Lift Thou to these parched lips the bounteous and soft-flowing waters of heaven, raise up these dead to everlasting life. Grant Thou to the blind eyes that will see. Make Thou the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak. Set Thou the dispirited ablaze, make Thou the heedless mindful, warn Thou the proud, awaken those who sleep.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 6)

The state in which one should be to seriously search for the truth is the condition of the thirsty, burning soul desiring the water of life, of the fish struggling to reach the sea, of the sufferer seeking for the true doctor to obtain the divine cure, of the lost caravan endeavoring to find the right road, of the lost and wandering ship striving to reach the shore of salvation.

Therefore, the seeker must be endowed with certain qualities. First of all, he must be just and severed from all else save God; his heart must be entirely turned to the supreme horizon; he must be free from the bondage of self and passion, for all these are obstacles. Furthermore, he must be able to endure all hardships. He must be absolutely pure and sanctified, and free from the love or the hatred of the inhabitants of the world. Why? because the fact of his love for any person or thing might prevent him from recognizing the truth in another, and, in the same way, hatred for anything might be a hindrance in discerning truth. This is the condition of seeking, and the 39 seeker must have these qualities and attributes. Until he reaches this condition, it is not possible for him to attain to the Sun of Reality.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 38)

06-27-2007, 04:39 AM	#1
Roma81 Junior Member Joined: Jun 2007 From: New York Posts: 3	Investigation of truth ... What does that mean? Hi, by the way. I'm fairly new to this forum as well as this faith (Came across it through "Religion for dummies" book one day :tongue) Since then have just been reading and learning about it. Though, not exactly sure what "Investigation of truth" means?

06-30-2007, 08:13 AM	#3
arthra Senior Member Joined: Jun 2006 From: California Posts: 3,064	Independent investigation of truth... Welcome Roma to the Faith and to this Forum! Very happy to read your post!:cool Independent Investigation of Truth or Reality is a Baha'i principle meaning that you are obligated to find the Faith for yourself and not depend on the authority of someone else such as relying on a religious prelate to form your opinions... In Baha'i Faith you are expected to have your own mind and consult with others as we have no priests or theologians to tell us what to do. - Art

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06-29-2007, 08:34 AM	#2
Roma81 Junior Member Joined: Jun 2007 From: New York Posts: 3	... Hmm... Harder then I thought...

07-27-2007, 10:44 AM	#4
Roma81 Junior Member Joined: Jun 2007 From: New York Posts: 3	I see, hey thanks.

07-28-2007, 12:12 AM	#5
arthra Senior Member Joined: Jun 2006 From: California Posts: 3,064	No problemo!!! - Art:wink

01-27-2011, 11:48 PM	#6
SomeGuy Junior Member Joined: Jan 2011 From: USA Posts: 8	to me it means dont just believe what you hear. find out the truth for yourself. IMO its one of the best teachings of all

03-23-2011, 07:52 AM	#9
Pollwr Senior Member Joined: Jun 2009 From: earth Posts: 311	Welcome Roma81! I think the principal of Independant Investigation of the Truth also is reflected in the way that we do not have priests of clergy in the Bahá'í Faith. We are all obliged to read for ourselves and not wait to be told how to see things.

03-23-2011, 04:55 PM	#10
Orthodox Dedicated to Orthodoxy Joined: Sep 2010 From: New Zealand Posts: 1,302	It means do alot of reading though I often consider independent investigation something people don't actuelly stick to in the strictest sense of the word.

03-23-2011, 06:45 PM	#11
LordOfGoblins Senior Member Joined: Dec 2010 From: Australia Posts: 1,329	O My brother! When a true seeker determineth to take the step of search in the path leading unto the knowledge of the Ancient of Days, he must, before all else, cleanse his heart, which is the seat of the revelation of the inner mysteries of God, from the obscuring dust of all acquired knowledge, and the allusions of the embodiments of satanic fancy. He must purge his breast, which is the sanctuary of the abiding love of the Beloved, of every defilement, and sanctify his soul from all that pertaineth to water and clay, from all shadowy and ephemeral attachments. He must so cleanse his heart that no remnant of either love or hate may linger therein, lest that love blindly incline him to error, or that hate repel him away from the truth. Even as thou dost witness in this Day how most of the people, because of such love and hate, are bereft of the immortal Face, have strayed far from the Embodiments of the Divine mysteries, and, shepherdless, are roaming through the wilderness of oblivion and error. -Baha'u'llah

05-03-2011, 05:19 PM	#12
Pollwr Senior Member Joined: Jun 2009 From: earth Posts: 311	Thou Who art the Mighty, the All-Powerful, help us, favour us; withered as we are, revive us with showers from Thy clouds of grace; lowly as we are, illumine us with bright rays from the Day-Star of Thy oneness. Cast Thou these thirsty fish into the ocean of Thy mercy, guide Thou this lost caravan to the shelter of Thy singleness; to the wellspring of guidance lead Thou the ones who have wandered far astray, and grant to those who have missed the path a haven within the precincts of Thy might. Lift Thou to these parched lips the bounteous and soft-flowing waters of heaven, raise up these dead to everlasting life. Grant Thou to the blind eyes that will see. Make Thou the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak. Set Thou the dispirited ablaze, make Thou the heedless mindful, warn Thou the proud, awaken those who sleep. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 6) The state in which one should be to seriously search for the truth is the condition of the thirsty, burning soul desiring the water of life, of the fish struggling to reach the sea, of the sufferer seeking for the true doctor to obtain the divine cure, of the lost caravan endeavoring to find the right road, of the lost and wandering ship striving to reach the shore of salvation. Therefore, the seeker must be endowed with certain qualities. First of all, he must be just and severed from all else save God; his heart must be entirely turned to the supreme horizon; he must be free from the bondage of self and passion, for all these are obstacles. Furthermore, he must be able to endure all hardships. He must be absolutely pure and sanctified, and free from the love or the hatred of the inhabitants of the world. Why? because the fact of his love for any person or thing might prevent him from recognizing the truth in another, and, in the same way, hatred for anything might be a hindrance in discerning truth. This is the condition of seeking, and the 39 seeker must have these qualities and attributes. Until he reaches this condition, it is not possible for him to attain to the Sun of Reality. (Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 38)