Photo by MD_JERRY on Unsplash. The Lotus Temple, located in Delhi, India, is a Baháʼí House of Worship that was dedicated in December 1986. Notable for its flowerlike shape, it has become a prominent attraction in the city. Like all Houses of Worship, the Lotus Temple is open to all, regardless of religion or any other qualification
Course: The Bahá’í Faith and the Arts (2023)
Faculty Mentor: Jalaliyyih Quinn
In this enriching course, we’ve explored the role and stature of the arts through the Baháʼí perspective. In this essay, I will address a key question: how can we apply the current Bahá’í guidance on the arts to our activities, particularly in shaping our future civilization? To tackle this question, I’ll draw upon quotes from our weekly readings, discussing themes such as the divine origin of the arts, the integration of their latent power, their role in propagating Baháʼí teachings, the challenges of current artistic explorations, and the crucial role of patience in awaiting the arts’ full maturity. Please bear in mind that these are my personal reflections and interpretations, intended to spark deeper thought and discussion.
Abdu’l-Bahá profoundly articulates the divine origin of the arts, stating,
All Art is a gift of the Holy Spirit. When this light shines through the mind of a musician, it manifests itself in beautiful harmonies. Again, shining through the mind of a poet, it is seen in fine poetry and poetic prose. When the Light of the Sun of Truth inspires the mind of a painter, he produces marvellous pictures. These gifts are fulfilling their highest purpose, when showing forth the praise of God.
‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted in Lady Blomfield, The Chosen Highway (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1954), p. 167
This encompassing insight deepens our understanding that the inspiration or beauty perceived in arts is in fact the divine light shining through the artist into their creation. Reinforcing this idea that artists act as channels for the expression of divine principles and virtues. Additionally, if art is a channel of the Divine, the origin of all human creations is the channeling of the “Light of the Sun of Truth.” This connection not only enhances our engagement with the art we create but also establishes a clearer purpose and function for creation itself. In staying with this theme, ʻAbdu’l-Bahá elucidates the blessings that emerge when one successfully channels these energies into singing. He declares,
O nightingale of the rose-garden of God! Singing melodies will bring animation and happiness to the world of humanity, the hearers will be delighted and joyful and their deeper emotions stirred. But this gladness, this sense of emotion is transitory and will be forgotten within a short time. However, praise be to God, thou hast blended thy tunes with the melodies of the Kingdom, wilt impart solace to the world of the spirit and wilt everlastingly stimulate spiritual feelings. This will last forever and endure the revolution of ages and centuries.
“The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith,” a compilation prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, no. 10
However, he clarifies that unless an artist’s creations harmonize with the “melodies of the Kingdom,” the joy and emotional response elicited may be fleeting and soon forgotten, underscoring the crucial role of aligning our creative endeavors with divine inspiration. Finally, Abdu’l-Bahá states,
O bird that singeth sweetly of the Abhá Beauty! In this new and wondrous Dispensation the veils of superstition have been torn asunder and the prejudices of eastern peoples stand condemned. Among certain nations of the East, music was considered reprehensible, but in this new age the Manifest Light hath, in His holy Tablets, specifically proclaimed that music, sung or played, is spiritual food for soul and heart. The musician’s art is among those arts worthy of the highest praise, and it moveth the hearts of all who grieve. Wherefore, O thou Shahnaz, play and sing out the holy words of God with wondrous tones in the gatherings of the friends, that the listener may be freed from chains of care and sorrow, and his soul may leap for joy and humble itself in prayer to the realm of Glory.
Selections from the Writings of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá, no. 74
Thus, it is evident that when art is created through the divine channel, it serves as “spiritual food for the soul and heart,” soothes the hearts of those in grief, and liberates listeners from their cares and sorrows, allowing their souls to experience joy. This, in essence, confirms the profound, transformational impact of art born from a divine source.
A quote by the Guardian illuminates the significant role the arts play in teaching the Cause. Reflecting on this it becomes apparent how effective the arts are at educating and evoking emotions for the exploration of truth and meaning. A letter on behalf of the Guardian says:
Shoghi Effendi was very much interested to learn of the success of the “Pageant of the Nations” you produced. He sincerely hopes that all those who attended it were inspired by the same spirit that animated you while arranging it.
It is through such presentations that we can arouse the interest of the greatest number of people in the spirit of the Cause. The day will come when the Cause will spread like wildfire when its spirit and teachings will be presented on the stage or in art and literature as a whole. Art can better awaken such noble sentiments than cold rationalising, especially among the mass of the people.
We have to wait only a few years to see how the spirit breathed by Bahá’u’lláh will find expression in the work of the artists. What you and some other Bahá’ís are attempting are only faint rays that precede the effulgent light of a glorious morn. We cannot yet value the part the Cause is destined to play in the life of society. We have to give it time. The material this spirit has to mould is too crude and unworthy, but it will at last give way and the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh will reveal itself in its full splendour.
Source: “The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith,” a compilation
prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, no. 30
This illustrates the latent potential of the arts as a universal medium to evoke noble sentiments, a capacity that cold reasoning often lacks. This inherent capacity within the arts will be further discussed in a subsequent paragraph on the theme of patience in relation to the maturation of the arts. A letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice in response to an individual believer, says:
The House of Justice is pleased to learn of the success you are achieving in your profession. It advises you to view this professional activity within the context of service to the Faith and the promotion of the proclamation and teaching work. Your musical achievements will enable you to reach a wide range of people and ultimately to proclaim the Message of Bahá’u’lláh to them through the expression of its values in your music.
“The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith,” a compilation prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, no. 61
The last sentence in the letter goes on to make a particularly thought-provoking point: “Bahá’í artists who achieve eminence and renown in their chosen field, and who remain dedicated to the promotion of the Faith, can be of unique assistance to the Cause at the present time when public curiosity about the Bahá’í teachings is gradually being aroused.” This suggests that Bahá’í artists, through the application of the Faith’s teachings in their creations, acquire a unique set of tools. As public curiosity about the teachings of the Faith grows, these tools become increasingly valuable; a point worthy of reflection and exploration.
The potential pitfalls that can accompany the arts also deserve attention. While powerful, the arts can fall victim to societal influences of selfishness, irreverence, and an obsession with spotlighting the disintegration occurring within our communities. The Universal House of Justice underscores this in the following statements:
The same destructive forces are also deranging the political, economic, scientific, literary, and moral equilibrium of the world and are destroying the fairest fruits of the present civilisation…” [including music, art, and literature, which are expressions of worldly values.
10 February 1980 – To the dear Iranian believers resident in other countries throughout the world
You can also make valuable friendships for the Faith among the influential people you will meet as your business continues to develop. These considerations might well guide you in the decision now before you concerning the area in which you should reside. Bahá’í artists who achieve eminence and renown in their chosen field, and who remain dedicated to the promotion of the Faith, can be of unique assistance to the Cause at the present time when public curiosity about the Bahá’í teachings is gradually being aroused.
The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith,” a compilation prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, no. 61
I love the alignment that the House of Justice establishes between professional success and service to the Faith. Limitless possibilities are unlocked when one perceives their profession not merely as a job, but as an act of worship—realizing the profound idea that:
Discoveries and inventions, which are the fruit of scientific and technological advancements, have become the means and tools of mass extermination and destruction and are in the hands of the ungodly. Even music, art, and literature, which are to represent and inspire the noblest sentiments and highest aspirations and should be a source of comfort and tranquillity for troubled souls, have strayed from the straight path and are now the mirrors of the soiled hearts of this confused, unprincipled, and disordered age.
“The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith,” a compilation prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, no. 61
Without acting as channels for divine inspiration, Baháʼí artists run the risk of generating art that mirrors the confusion, hedonism, and disorder of our current era. This appears to diverge from the kind of art that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá envisions Baháʼí artists to create. Therefore, it is crucial that we remain aligned with the noblest sentiments and highest aspirations, as outlined in the Baháʼí teachings.
Patience, a virtue often heralded yet challenging to embody, presents itself in numerous situations in life. Surprisingly, I never considered the patience we would have to exercise in relation to the maturation of the arts, a context I had not previously considered. This notion was introduced to me through a quote by the Universal House of Justice, which states:
The beloved Guardian made it clear that the flowering of the arts which is the result of a divine revelation comes only after a number of centuries. The Bahá’í Faith offers the world the complete rebuilding of human society — a rebuilding of such far-reaching effect that it has been looked forward to in all the revelations of the past and has been called the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. The new architecture to which this revelation will give birth will blossom many generations hence. We are now merely at the beginning of this great process. The present time is a period of turmoil and change. Architecture, like all arts and sciences, is undergoing very rapid development; one has only to consider the changes that have taken place in the course of the last few decades to have some idea of what is likely to happen during the years immediately ahead. Some modern buildings have, no doubt, qualities of greatness and will endure, but very much of what is being constructed now may be outgrown and may appear ugly but a few generations hence. Modern architecture, in other words, may be considered a new development in its primitive stage.
“The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith,” a compilation prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, no. 47
This statement emphasizes the need for patience as it foretells a time of exponential growth and blossoming that future generations will witness. However, this is not to suggest we can be mere spectators in this process. This reminds me of a favorite quote of mine by an anonymous author: “The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.” Sometimes we plant seeds whose fruits we may never see, and the House’s statement helps frame this concept in relation to the new society we are striving to build. We can observe the arts in its early stages of development, recognizing that this is but a glimpse of what lies ahead. The House’s quote further accentuates this theme of patience, stating:
What you and some other Bahá’ís are attempting are only faint rays that precede the effulgent light of a glorious morn. We cannot yet value the part the Cause is destined to play in the life of society. We have to give it time. The material this spirit has to mould is too crude and unworthy, but it will at last give way and the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh will reveal itself in its full splendour.
“The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith,” a compilation prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, no. 30
In essence, the effulgent light envisioned by Baháʼu’lláh for a new civilisation is fast approaching, but realizing it will require steadfastness, patience, and reverence from us.
In conclusion, the arts are destined for an elevated station in this Dispensation, far beyond what has previously been envisioned. Artists and their creations are set to undergo a significant metamorphosis in the years to come, aligning more closely with their true spiritual station. As Bahá’ís, and more specifically as Bahá’í artists, it appears our role is to ease these growing pains, to ensure that our creative endeavors consistently reference and reflect the teachings of the Faith, and to strive to polish the mirror of our hearts so as to better reflect the attributes of this revelation. Although, as suggested by the quotations discussed earlier, we are merely witnessing the inception of what Bahá’í arts will evolve into, I am filled with profound optimism and humility for what lies ahead. It’s a journey of transformation that invites us to simultaneously be the sculptors of change and the clay being moulded. Lastly, in a departure from conventional essay writing I find it fitting to conclude with the profound words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá addressed to a Bahá’í artist:
As to your art, it is one of the teachings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that art is identical with an act of worship, and you must go on with your art and improve in it; and through this very Cause you will be able to make great progress in your art, for you will be helped from above. Say, “I have two arts, one physical, the other spiritual. The physical one is that I draw the images of men; my spiritual art is that I draw the images of the angels, and I hope that at last I shall be able to draw pictures of the perfections of God. My physical art will at last end, but my spiritual art is everlasting. My physical art can be done by many, but my spiritual art is not the work of everyone.
Star of the West 6:30–31
Note: “The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith,” a compilation prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, is available at https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/compilations/importance-art/
