Listen to the Songs of the New Age!

As this age is a luminous age and this century the century of knowledge, new teachings are necessary, a new effulgence is essential and a new life is needed. The souls cannot accept the ancient ideas, a new thought and new teachings are necessary that shall be the spirit of this age and the light of this century. Investigate, make a great effort so that the Centre of the Light of Reality may be seen in the assembly of the world as a witness of love… – Abdu’l-Baha, Star of the West, Volume 5, pp. 35-36.

Why do you sleep? Awake from your beds of negligence! The sun hath arisen from the day-spring of pre-existence. Why do you drown yourselves in the sea of materialism? The king of might hath appeared! Behold the resplendent light! Listen to the songs of the new age! A new life is breathed into all existing things. The zephyrs of the divine favors are wafting upon you. – Tahirih, quoted by Abdu’l-Baha in Divine Philosophy, p. 64.

The Baha’i movement has presented a new age of spiritual growth and development to humanity for its investigation:

A new era of divine consciousness is upon us. The world of humanity is going through a process of transformation. A new race is being developed. The thoughts of human brotherhood are permeating all regions. New ideals are stirring the depths of hearts and a new spirit of universal consciousness is being profoundly felt by all men. – Abdu’l-Baha, Star of the West, Volume 4, p. 120.

The central claims of the Baha’i Faith—that a new messenger of God has appeared named Baha’u’llah; that Baha’u’llah is the latest in a progressive succession of founders and prophets of the world’s great Faiths; and that this renewed Faith aims to unify humanity and bring about global peace and oneness—challenge everyone to inquire and investigate their truth.

The Baha’i teachings say that the new era humanity has entered—whether you call it the modern age, the new age or the Age of Aquarius—receives its life, its force and its primary impetus from this fresh outpouring of Baha’u’llah’s revelation:

Praise be to Him Who hath fashioned this new era, this age of majesty, even as an unfolding pageant where the realities of all things can be exposed to view. Now are clouds of bounty raining down and the gifts of the loving Lord are clearly manifest; for both the seen and the unseen worlds have been illumined, and the Promised One hath come to earth and the beauty of the Adored One hath shone forth.

Salutations, blessings, and welcome to that Universal Reality, that Perfect Word, that Manifest Book, that Splendour which hath dawned in the highest heaven, that Guide of all nations, that Light of the world — the billowing ocean of Whose abounding grace hath flooded all creation, in such wise that the waves thereof have cast upon the sands of this visible world their shining pearls. Now hath the Truth appeared, and falsehood fled away; now hath the day dawned and jubilation taken over, wherefore men’s souls are sanctified, their spirits purged, their hearts rejoiced, their minds purified, their secret thoughts made wholesome, their consciences washed clean, their inmost selves made holy: for the Day of Resurrection hath come to pass, and the bestowals of thy Lord, the Forgiving, have encompassed all things. – Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, pp. 38-39.

Baha’is believe that this new, radiant light of revelation represents a quantum leap for humanity, an inheritance of a new field of progress, a spiritual infusion of renewed energy, knowledge and joy:

This is the day of Baha’u’llah, the age of the Blessed Perfection, the cycle of the Greatest Name. If you do not smile now, for what time will you await and what greater happiness could you expect? This is the springtime of manifestation. The vernal shower has descended from the cloud of divine mercy; the life-giving breeze of the Holy Spirit is wafting the perfume of blossoms. From field and meadow rises a fragrant breath of thanksgiving like pure incense ascending to the throne of God. The world has become a new world; souls are quickened, spirits renewed, refreshed. Truly it is a time for happiness. – Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 210.

The promise of this new age of human consciousness, the Baha’i teachings say, will transform us all:

When a divine spiritual illumination becomes manifest in the world of humanity, when divine instruction and guidance appear, then enlightenment follows, a new spirit is realized within, a new power descends, and a new life is given. It is like the birth from the animal kingdom into the kingdom of man. When man acquires these virtues, the oneness of the world of humanity will be revealed, the banner of international peace will be upraised, equality between all mankind will be realized, and the Orient and Occident will become one. Then will the justice of God become manifest, all humanity will appear as the members of one family, and every member of that family will be consecrated to cooperation and mutual assistance. The lights of the love of God will shine; eternal happiness will be unveiled; everlasting joy and spiritual delight will be attained. – Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 305.

This spiritual joy and delight, Baha’u’llah assures us, awaits anyone who responds with heart and soul to the spirit of the age:

A new life is, in this age, stirring within all the peoples of the earth; and yet none hath discovered its cause or perceived its motive…

O friends! Be not careless of the virtues with which ye have been endowed, neither be neglectful of your high destiny. Suffer not your labors to be wasted through the vain imaginations which certain hearts have devised. Ye are the stars of the heaven of understanding, the breeze that stirreth at the break of day, the soft-flowing waters upon which must depend the very life of all men, the letters inscribed upon His sacred scroll. With the utmost unity, and in a spirit of perfect fellowship, exert yourselves, that ye may be enabled to achieve that which beseemeth this Day of God… – Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 195.