水自流

昨天上了第二堂课，但是进度很慢，只看到第四课，感觉好像在学初级华文一样。很谢谢Tech Cheng和Ming，也谢谢Melic昨天的旁听，参与的有David，Jessy，Fan Li， Yi Yun。这个星期天在Maziar & Tina的家里举行了Ridvan Celebration和地区选举（在新加坡最开始是分成９个地区，后来政府重新规划将整个岛分成５个区，新加坡巴哈伊教区也就跟着变成５个地区）。Ridvan是巴哈欧拉向世界宣布他是信使的日子；无记名选出９个人，为期一年，而下面的世界正义院(Universal House of Justice)为期５年。Lalitha已经到海法城等着选举会开始。

BAHA’IS TO ELECT UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

HAIFA, Israel, 22 April 2008 (BWNS) — A global election process that began with people in 100,000 cities and villages around the world will culminate on 29 April when delegates gather here to elect the international governing body of the Baha’i Faith.

Representatives of some 170 nations will cast ballots for the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, which has its seat at the Baha’i World Centre in Haifa. The election is held every five years.

Baha’i elections are distinctive in that there are no nominations, no campaigning, and no discussion about which individuals should be elected.

The delegates to the International Baha’i Convention – members of all the Baha’i national governing bodies around the world – vote by secret ballot for the nine people they believe best suited for membership on the supreme institution of their Faith.

The Baha’i writings state that voters should try to choose people “of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience.”

For Baha’is, the Universal House of Justice is the highest religious authority. It guides the worldwide Baha’i community in its development and in its response to changing world conditions, provides for Baha’i pilgrimage, holds in trust and maintains the Baha’i holy places, and administers international Baha’i funds.

The election process began well over a year ago when Baha’is in some 100,000 localities around the world began meeting in district conventions to elect delegates to their own national conventions. At those gatherings, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of each country is elected.

The members of those national councils gather as electors at the global level for the International Baha’i Convention, to be held from 29 April to 2 May 2008 in Haifa.

About 1,200 delegates are expected to attend the convention. Those unable to attend send ballots by mail.

The establishment of the institution of the Universal House of Justice was called for by Baha’u'llah Himself, the founder of the Baha’i Faith.

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