Baha'i Faith/Symbolism/Roots

In the Baha'i faith, roots can symbolize the starting point for just about anything. It is important to note that any person entrusted with disseminating knowledge within the community is considered to be a root for the people they help. Although teachers are often emphasized in the Baha'i faith, they are not the only disseminators of knowledge. But, roots can not live without the branches and leafs. Of course, no part of the tree can live without the Sun.

Relation to Other Symbols
The Roots serve as a source of unity for all of the tree related symbols. Branches are all subcategories of the roots. Leafs could not live without the roots. Also, roots must be firmly planted in something solid. It is important to note that the roots are not the only source of unity for the tree. For example, the Sun can also serve as a source of unity for all the branches and leafs.

The Bab
The earliest known mention of Roots was actually written as a prayer. In the book "Prayers and Meditations" the Bab is quoted saying; "Send down Thy blessings, O my God, upon the Tree of the Bayán, upon its root and its branch, its boughs, its leaves, its fruits and upon whatsoever it beareth or sheltereth." It should be noted that "Bayan" is an Arabic word meaning "clear in meaning". The Bab was blessing the tree of this new faith.

Baha'u'llah
Baha'u'llah used roots more liberally than the Bab. He used roots to symbolize the starting point or foundation of a wide variety of things. In the "The Kitáb-i-Aqdas" Baha'u'llah describes himself as branching from an ancient root. This is a reference to the eternal nature of the word of God. God has always existed. Thus, the roots of dispensations are ancient. In "Tablets of Baha'u'llah" the text uses roots to encourages support for the Lesser Peace. Baha'u'llah states that "hostilities and conflict lie at the root of affliction and calamity".

Abdu'l-Baha
Abdu'l-Baha liked to use roots to describe the workings of the human psyche. For example, in "Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha", the following text helps define human imagination; "imagination is but the branch, while mind is the root; and certainly the root is greater than the branch". He was insisting that people us evidence rather than fastening theories and ideas from pure imagination. Also, in "Some Answered Questions" he said that; "ignorance is the root cause of crime, the more knowledge and learning advance, the less crime will be committed".