Baha'i Faith

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  • 2012 Baha’i Temple Choral Concert on Sunday, May 27

    Bahai Faith | Baha'i Faith | United States Official Website
    gfullmer
    10 May 2012 | 1:56 pm
    More than 200 talented voices from nine nations will sing beautiful sacred music at the 2012 Baha’i Choral Festival with two free public concerts on Sunday May 27th at Wilmette’s renowned Baha’i Temple. Rich harmonies and uplifting music will fill the 1,200-seat Baha’i House of Worship beginning at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. that Sunday. The concerts are dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Temple’s cornerstone on May 1, 1912 by Abdu’l-Baha, son of the founder of the Baha’i Faith. The annual Baha’i Choral Festival, a very…

  • Edward Price: I realize with astonishment what incredible mercy and kindness Baha’u’llah showered upon me

    Bahai Faith | Baha'i Faith | United States Official Website
    cwright
    11 May 2012 | 8:30 am
    Edward Price I became a Baha’i on the Feast of ‘Izzat in 1973, 38 years ago. I grew up in a Jewish family in Newton, Mass., but my family was not devout. We celebrated Passover and Chanukah and my parents sent me to Hebrew School when I was little but, honestly, none of it connected with me. When I was in High School I had embraced science and evolution, and thought that man was just a highly evolved primate. I did not believe in God. People wonder if I had maybe a small trace of belief in God hidden away somewhere, but I really didn’t. I was the kind of atheist who was very…

  • Soul-Making is a Lifelong Process – Let’s Get Busy!

    Remembering Who We Are -
    Bob
    30 Apr 2012 | 11:12 am
    Remembering who we are, and where we are going, is a function of the soul. We can even say that there is a process guiding the soul. This process can be thought of as soul-making, or what our life here on Earth is really for. It is how we develop and draw out the potential we are innately endowed with. Soul-making is the lifelong process of acquiring the attributes, qualities, and character needed for our eternal journey. It helps us in both this world and the next. As Marion Woodman puts it, “soul-making is allowing the eternal essence to live and experience the outer world through all the…

  • Many thanks, Baha'u'llah

    Meditations on Baha'u'llah
    15 May 2012 | 3:29 am
    Many thanks, Baha'u'llah, for coming to earth and suffering your whole life so that you could 'download' from the Houri a message saying that God, who I can never know directly, has come to call me home. For decades, I thought I was listening. But I wasn't. I was listening to people around me and Baha'i administration types and such like, and getting caught up in human affairs at all levels. And for years, I got caught up in my own dramas, which I thought had substance, but didn't. Finally, I actually began to listen to you. And I began to hear you say that you wanted me to forget the world…

  • National Spiritual Assembly co-sponsors National Race Amity Conference

    Bahai Faith | Baha'i Faith | United States Official Website
    cwright
    15 May 2012 | 5:30 pm
    From the program of the nation's first race amity conference, held in Washington D.C. in 1921 The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States is one of several supporting sponsors, along with the Boston Globe and public television station WGBH, of the National Race Amity Conference which will be held May 18-19 at Wheelock College. The second annual conference opens with a Thursday evening welcome reception that features sponsor presentations and time devoted to meeting and connecting with conference attendees and speakers. Conference keynote speeches and small…
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    Bahai Faith | Baha'i Faith | United States Official Website

  • National Spiritual Assembly co-sponsors National Race Amity Conference

    cwright
    15 May 2012 | 5:30 pm
    From the program of the nation's first race amity conference, held in Washington D.C. in 1921 The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States is one of several supporting sponsors, along with the Boston Globe and public television station WGBH, of the National Race Amity Conference which will be held May 18-19 at Wheelock College. The second annual conference opens with a Thursday evening welcome reception that features sponsor presentations and time devoted to meeting and connecting with conference attendees and speakers. Conference keynote speeches and small…

  • Edward Price: I realize with astonishment what incredible mercy and kindness Baha’u’llah showered upon me

    cwright
    11 May 2012 | 8:30 am
    Edward Price I became a Baha’i on the Feast of ‘Izzat in 1973, 38 years ago. I grew up in a Jewish family in Newton, Mass., but my family was not devout. We celebrated Passover and Chanukah and my parents sent me to Hebrew School when I was little but, honestly, none of it connected with me. When I was in High School I had embraced science and evolution, and thought that man was just a highly evolved primate. I did not believe in God. People wonder if I had maybe a small trace of belief in God hidden away somewhere, but I really didn’t. I was the kind of atheist who was very…

  • 2012 Baha’i Temple Choral Concert on Sunday, May 27

    gfullmer
    10 May 2012 | 1:56 pm
    More than 200 talented voices from nine nations will sing beautiful sacred music at the 2012 Baha’i Choral Festival with two free public concerts on Sunday May 27th at Wilmette’s renowned Baha’i Temple. Rich harmonies and uplifting music will fill the 1,200-seat Baha’i House of Worship beginning at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. that Sunday. The concerts are dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Temple’s cornerstone on May 1, 1912 by Abdu’l-Baha, son of the founder of the Baha’i Faith. The annual Baha’i Choral Festival, a very…

  • Faith and Race: A Dialogue Worth Having

    cwright
    10 May 2012 | 9:02 am
    In the blog State of Formation, Phillipe Copeland emphasizes the importance of engaging in interreligious dialogue and being attentive to including the intersections of faith and race into these conversations. “According to the Abrahamic traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Baha’i Faith, the universe itself was spoken into being. This offers a fitting metaphor for the promise of interreligious dialogue, the promise of a new creation. Like the speaking into being of the universe, for interreligious dialogue to fulfill this promise requires attention to detail. We…

  • Temple echoes with strains of a century ago

    Tom Mennillo
    8 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    Photo Gallery Centenary devotional programs bring thousands to the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois Click to enlarge and browse a gallery of related photos. Every seat filled. A hush in the air. That was the Auditorium of the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, until the strains of “Ya Baha’u'l-Abha,” sung by the House of Worship Choir, opened the first of three devotional programs April 29. Each commemorated ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit to North America and His laying of the Cornerstone for the Temple on May 1, 1912. (This event…
 
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    Baha'i World News Service Headlines

  • Persecution intensifies as former Baha'i leaders mark anniversary behind bars

    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Iran's former Baha'i leaders begin their fifth year in prison today amid an intensification of the persecution of their co-religionists. The seven prisoners each face the bleak prospect of 16 more years in jail for crimes they did not commit. Next week also marks the first anniversary of raids on homes of Baha'is associated with an informal initiative offering higher education to community...

  • Fifty years on, European Baha'i communities recall landmark elections

    7 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Tributes have been paid to the Baha'i Faith on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Norwegian National Spiritual Assembly. In Oslo, some 100 special guests participated in a celebratory gathering. Among them, Shazia Mushtaq – a representative of Norway's Islamic Council – praised the "many beautiful elements" in the commemorative event, which included spoken tributes and...

  • Panel examines the role of young people in social change

    27 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am
    Preparing the world's young people for the future will require new directions in education that emphasize their role as global citizens. That was among the ideas presented here at a panel discussion, sponsored by the Baha'i International Community, as a side event to the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, 23-27 April. Titled "Youth and Adolescents: Educating the...

  • Guam joins global condemnation of Iran's human rights abuses

    27 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am
    The Senate of the western Pacific island territory of Guam has called upon the United States of America to keep up its pressure on Iran over human rights abuses. A resolution was unanimously passed this morning by the island's 15-member legislature. Fourteen senators voted in favor of the resolution, with none against. One senator was absent and did not vote. Guam – the largest and...

  • Plans to build new Houses of Worship announced

    22 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am
    With the construction under way in Chile of the last of the continental Baha'i Houses of Worship, plans have been announced for the building of the first two national Baha'i Temples – in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Papua New Guinea. The historic announcement was made yesterday by the Universal House of Justice in its annual message to mark the first day of Ridvan, the holiest...
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    Bahá’í Thought

  • Faith and Race: A Dialogue Worth Having

    4 May 2012 | 5:53 am
    Article first published in the Newsletter of the  Parliament of the World's ReligionsAccording to the Abrahamic traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Baha’i Faith, the universe itself was spoken into being. This offers a fitting metaphor for the promise of interreligious dialogue, the promise of a new creation. Like the speaking into being of the universe, for interreligious dialogue to fulfill this promise requires attention to detail. We must be attentive not only to what we are dialoguing about but who is engaged in the dialogue.In my experience, interreligious…

  • I Am George Zimmerman (Sometimes)

    27 Mar 2012 | 5:31 am
    Article first published as I Am George Zimmerman (Sometimes) on Blogcritics.comAgony and outrage have swept the nation in the wake of the killing of Trayvon Martin. African-American mothers and fathers have been pondering the possibility that he could have been their son. The "hoodie" has emerged as a symbol of solidarity, a rebuke to the notion that an article of clothing should be a life and death matter. The role of implicit racial bias is taking center stage in the national debate. Investigations have been launched at all levels of government and the President himself has called for…

  • Love Cannot Be Legislated

    11 Mar 2012 | 6:00 am
    Article first published as Love Cannot Be Legislated on Blogcritics.The Supreme Court will be taking up the controversial issue of affirmative action this year. Many are concerned that the court will ultimately strike down the use of race as a criterion for college admissions.Whatever the court decides, it is safe to say that the use of explicitly race-based policies to remedy racial inequities is unpopular among many Americans. It's important to acknowledge that opposition to such policies is not necessarily animated by racial animus or a belief in racial superiority. For most people it is a…

  • Self-Made in America

    3 Mar 2012 | 4:01 pm
    Writing for The Nation, Katrina vanden Heuvel describes critiques of the "self-made myth": "Americans benefit every day from government—from consumer protection to roads and bridges to food and safety regulation—even people who claim to hate an 'activist government' are some of the prime beneficiaries of the safety net at a moment when there are still over four unemployed workers for every available job and nearly one in six Americans lives in poverty." One of the things I found most interesting about this piece is how it connects the policy debate about government with the conversation…

  • The Soul of Black Consumerism

    26 Feb 2012 | 8:35 pm
    Article first published as The Soul of Black Consumerism on Blogcritics.Jayne Dirt over at the Clutch Mag Online has raised a question worth pondering during these waning days of Black History Month: "Is Hip-Hop to blame for the rampant consumerism among Black Folk?" Dirt contemplates the apparent disconnect between the glorification of consumption in the musical discourse of artists like Jay-Z and Kanye West and the economic reality of most of their fans: "These hip-hop songs boasting of all the material items they have accumulated, and the fabulous gold-plated, diamond-encrusted lives they…
 
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    Baha'i Views

  • On a Celebration of the Struggle to Arise: We have capacity

    george wesley dannells
    14 May 2012 | 10:23 pm
    ‘Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.’ MLK jr. …….. ‘Our duty is to encourage everyone in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.’ Swami Vivekananda ………. ‘The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.’…

  • On Believing Is Doing: A continual refinement

    george wesley dannells
    14 May 2012 | 4:44 pm
      Sizing up our actual practices to see if it's in accordance with our beliefs. It's works for conducting parent-infant groups to promote child-parent attachment, and it works for life. Are things not working out like they should? Perhaps it's because our beliefs aren't matching up with our actions. Tweety Yates comments at the Early Childhood Conference in Tacoma may seem a bit out of context here, but I think not. The learning culture that characterizes the Baha'i institute process means that we are constantly reviewing our progress to make further refinements, and…

  • On the Role of the International Criminal Court: Faith in the possibility of justice being done

    george wesley dannells
    14 May 2012 | 4:03 pm
    The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established on July 1, 2002 with the intention of acting as a permanent tribunal for heinous international offenses (crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes, and more recently, crimes of aggression).  Unlike the International Court of Justice—the judicial branch of the United Nations—the scope of cases, jurisdiction and mandate of the ICC are extremely narrow.   Given its limited function, it is not surprising that the ICC has only opened 7 cases and indicted 28 people.   The utility of such a court has been the subject of much debate…

  • On Fixing the Health Care System: A community mental health agency up to the task

    george wesley dannells
    14 May 2012 | 2:34 pm
      Powered by Socrata The little ol’ community mental health agency I worked for since the early 90′s has been awarded a 1.8 million dollar grant from the feds, the only community mental health agency on a list of 26 grand recipients. The KMH director wrote: “I am very confident we will develop a nationally replicable model to help fix the health care system and advance health care reform.” Let’s hear it for health care reform and Kitsap Mental Health! Over coffee this noon I read an article that says that the movement towards universal health care is strong…

  • On an Alternative to Rushing Around: Refresh my Heart, O my God

    george wesley dannells
    12 May 2012 | 11:39 am
    Life is such a rush. Take this Muskkrat Sally, for example. Redwing blackbirds fuss and fight. Humans, on the other hand, take it easy. – gw Refresh my heart, O my God, with the living waters of Thy love and give me a draught, O my Master, from the chalice of Thy tender mercy. Let me abide, O my Lord, within the habitation of Thy glory, and suffer me, O my God, to emerge from the darkness in which Thy divine obscurity is shrouded. Enable me to partake of every good Thou hast vouchsafed unto Him Who is the Point and unto such as are the exponents of His Cause, and ordain for me that…
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    Baha'i Words

  • May 16

    Words
    15 May 2012 | 11:02 pm
    I supplicate God that the coverings may be removed, the Beauty of Truth become apparent and evident, in order that thou mayest be taught in the wisdom of God, become a great teacher in the world of humanity and all thy desires be attained. ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

  • May 15

    Words
    14 May 2012 | 11:01 pm
    Whoso hath searched the depths of the oceans that lie hid within these exalted words, and fathomed their import, can be said to have discovered a glimmer of the unspeakable glory with which this mighty, this sublime, and most holy Revelation hath been endowed. ~ Bahá’u’lláh

  • May 14

    Words
    13 May 2012 | 11:01 pm
    Peruse ye every day the verses revealed by God. Blessed is the man who reciteth them and reflecteth upon them. He truly is of them with whom it shall be well. ~ Bahá’u’lláh

  • May 13

    Words
    12 May 2012 | 11:01 pm
    Whoso hath inhaled the sweet fragrance of the All-Merciful, and recognized the Source of this utterance, will welcome with his own eyes the shafts of the enemy, that he may establish the truth of the laws of God amongst men. Well is it with him that hath turned thereunto, and apprehended the meaning of His decisive decree. ~ Bahá’u’lláh

  • May 12

    Words
    11 May 2012 | 11:01 pm
    Were any man to taste the sweetness of the words which the lips of the All-Merciful have willed to utter, he would, though the treasures of the earth be in his possession, renounce them one and all, that he might vindicate the truth of even one of His commandments, shining above the Dayspring of His bountiful care and loving-kindness. ~ Bahá’u’lláh
 
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    Baha'is of Tacoma, Washington

  • In what should we rejoice?

    Admin
    1 May 2012 | 10:29 pm
      Say: Rejoice not in the things ye possess; tonight they are yours, tomorrow others will possess them. Thus warneth you He Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Say: Can ye claim that what ye own is lasting or secure? Nay! By Myself, the All-Merciful. The days of your life flee away as a breath of wind, and all your pomp and glory shall be folded up as were the pomp and glory of those gone before you. Reflect, O people! What hath become of your bygone days, your lost centuries? Happy the days that have been consecrated to the remembrance of God, and blessed the hours which have been…

  • Might you be the leaven of the world?

    Admin
    1 May 2012 | 10:16 pm
    Thou hast asked Me concerning the nature of the soul. Know, verily, that the soul is a sign of God, a heavenly gem whose reality the most learned of men hath failed to grasp, and whose mystery no mind, however acute, can ever hope to unravel. It is the first among all created things to declare the excellence of its Creator, the first to recognize His glory, to cleave to His truth, and to bow down in adoration before Him. If it be faithful to God, it will reflect His light, and will, eventually, return unto Him. If it fail, however, in its allegiance to its Creator, it will become a victim to…

  • Angels of Iran – Education Under Fire

    Admin
    24 Apr 2012 | 9:39 pm
    Dear Friends,   Education Under Fire is pleased to announce the latest in the Angels of Iran video series featuring journalist Roxana Saberi and Amnesty International Iran Specialist Elise Auerbach. In this beautiful and moving story, we share Roxana’s time in prison with Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi, two members of The Yaran, still unjustly incarcerated. To highlight the suffering of all Iranians and to commemorate and celebrate their resilience, we ask that you join us in spreading this special announcement through your contacts and networks, social media and news outlets.

  • The descent of the New Jerusalem denoteth a heavenly Law, that Law which is the guarantor of human happiness and the effulgence of the world of God.

    Admin
    11 May 2011 | 6:40 pm
    O thou seeker after truth! The world of the Kingdom is one world. The only difference is that spring returneth over and over again, and setteth up a great new commotion throughout all created things. Then plain and hillside come alive, and trees turn delicately green, and leaves, blossoms and fruits come forth in beauty, infinite and tender. Wherefore the dispensations of past ages are intimately connected with those that follow them: indeed, they are one and the same, but as the world groweth, so doth the light, so doth the downpour of heavenly grace, and then the Day-Star shineth out in…

  • Know verily that Knowledge is of two kinds: Divine and Satanic.

    Admin
    11 May 2011 | 6:22 pm
    Know verily that Knowledge is of two kinds: Divine and Satanic. The one welleth out from the fountain of divine inspiration; the other is but a reflection of vain and obscure thoughts. The source of the former is God Himself; the motive-force of the latter the whisperings of selfish desire. The one is guided by the principle: “Fear ye God; God will teach you;” the other is but a confirmation of the truth: “Knowledge is the most grievous veil between man and his Creator.” The former bringeth forth the fruit of patience, of longing desire, of true understanding, and…
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    The Baha'i Community of Arlington, Virginia

  • DC Metro Area Baha’is Celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of Abdul’Baha’s Visit

    Chris
    14 May 2012 | 6:43 am
    On Saturday, May 12, 2012, Baha’is in and around the District of Columbia, in a gigantic effort in line with Bahá’u'lláh’s vision of unity, collaborated to celebrate the 100th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to the United States of America. While many people know that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited Washington, D.C., he also graced Arlington Cemetery with his presence. Click here to find out more. Want to know more about the Bahá’u'lláh, the Baha’i Faith, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá? The Baha’is of Arlington would love to hear from you as well.

  • Happy Ridvan!

    Chris
    21 Apr 2012 | 3:41 pm
    Beginning at sunset on April 20 and ending at sunset on May 2, Ridvan is a twelve-day festival signifying the twelve days Baha’u’llah spent in the Garden of Ridvan, meeting with followers and friends before His exile to Turkey. Ridvan (paradise) marks Baha’u’llah’s declaration in 1863 as the Promised One of all religions. Ridvan is a celebration of this great revelation and is characterized by togetherness, joy, and continued service to the betterment of all humanity. Learn more about Ridvan and the Baha’i Faith by contacting your local community.

  • A social media documentary tracking the steps of Abdu’l-Baha’s visit to North America 100 years ago

    Mitko
    11 Apr 2012 | 4:27 pm
    WHEN HE ARRIVED IN AMERICA our newspapers called him the “Apostle of Peace.” He “will surely unite the East and West,” the president of Stanford University remarked, “for he treads the mystic way with practical feet.” “There is no doubt, among thinking people,” a famous columnist wrote, “that this man represents, in great degree, the growing and evolving spirit of our times.” “Let him visit any bank, factory, office building, church, and everything is laid aside, and eyes bulge and ears listen until he takes his departure.” His name was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The year was…

  • Musical Prayer Station with Kat Key “What The Fire Is”

    Mitko
    3 Apr 2012 | 4:38 pm
    “Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men.” (Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 294) What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, tea poured in peace, cake shared with a smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing songs and prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for days ahead. You and your loves ones are cordially…

  • SPAGHETTI DINNER AND BAHA’I FUNDRAISER!

    Chris
    21 Feb 2012 | 11:49 am
    The Event: A three-course dinner, complete with friends to break the second day of the 19-Day Fast. Date: Saturday, March 3rd Time: 6:03 p.m., at sunset (Please arrive as early as 5:30 p.m. to prepare for breaking the Fast together.) Where: DC Baha’i Center – 5713 16th St NW Washington, DC 20011 Price: $20 per Baha’i attendee or donations. All proceeds will be sent to the National Baha’i Fund. What to bring: A smile, friends, and an appetite (shouldn’t be too hard with the Fast) Whats on the menu? Spaghetti and meatballs, salad, and dessert. Please RSVP to the…
 
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    Befriended Stranger

  • Let All Associate

    Mitko
    12 May 2012 | 10:14 pm
    As children of all races lined up infront of us, carrying roses of different colors and reciting Baha’u'llah’s exhortation “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole world!” I could not fight the tears nor the thoughts of gratitude to be a part of such a remarkable commemoration of the Centenary of Abdu’l-Baha’s visit to Washington, DC. I have no doubt He would have been delighted by the gathering of more than 1500 friends of the most diverse background one could imagine. I have no doubt He would have been smiling at the harmony of…

  • The reminder

    Mitko
    11 May 2012 | 10:28 pm
    While we were rehearsing tonight, a dear friend reminded us that it was a century ago while walking in Washington, DC, that Abdu’l-Baha on His visit to the West, proclaimed the oneness of humanity with the words “O Bahá’u'lláh! What hast Thou done?” and gave practical examples on how to live a spiritual life to inspire the whole humanity. As I am getting ready for the concert tomorrow, commemorating the visit to Washington, DC a century ago by Abdu’l-Baha, Son of Baha’u'llah and Exemplar of Baha’i life, such reminders are priceless to me: My name…

  • Join us in celebrating the 9th Day of Ridvan, Sunday, April 29, 2012

    Mitko
    22 Apr 2012 | 8:29 pm
    Dear friends, Please join the Arlington Baha’i Community next Sunday, April 29th, in celebrating the 9th Day of Ridvan, a twelve day Festival during which Baha’u'llah publicly proclaimed His mission: “Arise, and proclaim unto the entire creation the tidings that He Who is the All-Merciful hath directed His steps towards the Ridvan and entered it. Guide, then, the people unto the garden of delight which God hath made the Throne of His Paradise. We have chosen thee to be our most mighty Trumpet, whose blast is to signalize the resurrection of all mankind.”…

  • The real to-do list

    Mitko
    11 Apr 2012 | 5:02 pm
    You’ve seen those lists reminding you to sing, hope, laugh, smile to strangers, love — and yes indeed, as a friend on Facebook reminded me, the list should start with love. And yet, how often do we take the time to do the good work? Why, because we seem to convince ourselves somehow that it is big work. And yet another friend, Tara Ellis, reminded me yesterday: “Do the great while it is still small.” – Tao Te Ching And yet another friend, the supreme friend, Abdu’l-Baha, who 100 years ago on this same day arrived in New York, reminds us all: “If we…

  • Musical Prayer Station with Kat Key “What The Fire Is”

    Mitko
    29 Mar 2012 | 4:26 pm
    “Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men.” (Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 294)  Dear friends! What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, tea poured in peace, cake shared with a smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing songs and prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for days ahead. I…
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    teaching.bahai.us

  • 39 and Counting

    Teaching blog
    26 Apr 2012 | 11:37 am
    A Bahá’í in New Hampshire asked that we share this inspiring story.  She wanted to encourage all of us to view each seeker and on-line declarant as a unique and wonderful soul with limitless and unknown potential. Here’s Jim’s story: I was so blessed that believers, still unknown to me, put Bahá’í books into the Hofstra University Library where I was working, with the faith and understanding that Bahá’u’lláh would guide seekers of truth to find those books and respond to His Message.Of course, we didn't have Internet in those days (1970s) but…

  • The Path

    Teaching blog
    17 Apr 2012 | 4:15 pm
    That the path of service upon which we are currently embarked “can be experienced and known, not only by one or two but by scores and scores” and that “ it belongs to the community” becomes increasingly apparent through stories shared by a Baha'i Seeker Response Coordinator in one region.One by One -  Sharin was a Muslim woman who had married a Muslim man through an arranged marriage. The marriage did not work out, and she later married another Muslim man, who was less active in his faith.  When Lea, a Bahai, called Sharin to learn of her story, she shared that she had been…

  • Youthful Impression

    Teaching blog
    6 Apr 2012 | 12:27 pm
    Baha'is from Virginia shared this story about Marla who declared online.  She recalled the first of many encounters with the Baha’i teachings coming from a Baha’i youth.  Marla was raised in a Methodist family in Georgia but never felt content with her spiritual life.  The turning point happened in 2000 when she had finished graduate school and was working for the mayor’s office in a large city.  She was organizing a youth diversity summit.  The youth participating in the summit also mentioned that they needed to talk about diversity of religion. …

  • Happy Naw Ruz

    Teaching blog
    28 Mar 2012 | 9:10 am
    The Fast has ended and Baha’is throughout the world look forward to the bounties of the New Year (Naw Ruz).  As we look to the year ahead, we reflection with gratitude upon the many teaching opportunities afforded to strengthen bonds of love and fellowship during the Fast.  A few inspirational moments came in from an Area Teaching Committee in a New Jersey cluster. A Baha’i in the cluster invited the mother of her son’s schoolmate to a fast-breaking dinner. Although the schoolmate is already a member of the neighborhood junior youth group, the dinner gave the mothers and sons…

  • The Fast

    Teaching blog
    20 Mar 2012 | 10:06 am
    Today, March 20th, marks the final day of the Fast.  For 19 days Baha’is worldwide have abstained from food or drink, from sunrise to sunset, “as a symbol of self-restraint” and to take on “characteristics of the spirit.”  In this story a Baha’i from Maine shares how the Fast presented the opportunity to connect with a receptive heart.I was visiting a friend whom I have known only for a few months, at her house today. When she offered me a cup of tea I had to say "No, thank you".  She then asked if I would prefer a glass of water.  This time I…
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    doberman pizza. a baha'i blog.

  • canopy: mj cyr in ottawa

    dragfyre
    10 May 2012 | 12:14 pm
    So, just a little note about an upcoming event in Ottawa. Ridiculously talented singer-songwriter MJ Cyr is coming to the Ottawa Bahá’í Centre (211 McArthur Ave, near the Vanier Parkway) to perform her latest devotional album, Canopy, a collection of spiritual writings presented in a variety of musical genres that everyone can enjoy. Please don’t hesitate to invite friends, as attendance is free. Don’t miss this rare chance to hear one of Toronto’s hottest new artists performing in Ottawa! MJ’s thoughts on Canopy: “All the lyrics have been extracted…

  • 4th baha’i national convention, vietnam

    dragfyre
    24 Apr 2011 | 12:43 pm
    The Bahá’ís of Vietnam have just finished electing their new Spiritual Assembly at the National Convention in Phan Thiet, in the southern province of Binh Thuan. Quynh, Nu and Lam were there, along with 300 other Bahá’í friends. Quynh and Lam travelled on the overnight train from Da Nang, and friends came from as far away as Hanoi, all the way in the country’s north, to be there. Apparently it was amazing and a joy to attend. Quynh got to meet with several Vietnamese government representatives and members of Bahá’í institutions responsible for Southeast Asia. The…

  • goggling google goggles

    dragfyre
    2 Apr 2011 | 1:09 pm
    I don’t often get excited about mobile apps (heck, I haven’t even downloaded Angry Birds yet) but as far as I’m concerned, this one is the best thing since sliced bread: Google Goggles, part of the official Google app. It’s a piece of image recognition software that uses pictures you take with your mobile camera to search the web. In a nutshell: search with images instead of words. It’s not perfect yet, but it does seem to be good at recognizing things like logos, landmarks, and so on. To give you an example, I was able to take a picture of Dogs Playing Poker and…

  • grief and the value of community

    dragfyre
    21 Mar 2011 | 10:49 pm
    This post is the fifth in a series on Vietnamese customs relating to death, from a personal and a Baha’i perspective. It’s been several months since Quynh’s father Hai passed away, and the one hundred days—the “tốt khốc” (“end of tears”), marking a resumption of “normal” life after a loved one’s passing—have elapsed long since. Being surrounded by family has helped Quynh’s mother Lam cope with the tragic loss greatly. Quynh commented on her mother’s evident sense of joy at the large turnout for the 100th-day…

  • heheh slight delay

    dragfyre
    10 Jan 2011 | 1:35 pm
    ok, so I said the last post on “Death and Life in Vietnam” would be up before the new year, but I’ve gotten a little sidetracked—not in the least by the arrival of the newest letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Conference of the Counsellors, which, along with the Ridván Message of 2010 (167 B.E.), basically describe the aims of the coming Five Year Plan. so yeah, look for the final post sometime this week. I’ll be back in Vietnam in about two weeks to celebrate Tet, so I’ll be nice and busy visiting relatives and taking pictures. What a blessing,…
 
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    Baha'i Rants

  • Pathology of Homosexuality

    Baquia
    9 May 2012 | 11:22 pm
    This is another in a series of articles exploring homosexuality within the Baha’i Faith. The first was delving into the historical and semantic context of the infamous excerpt in the Aqdas where Baha’u'llah refers reluctantly to the “subject of boys”. Unfortunately the exact practice that Baha’u'llah was referring to cryptically is still being practiced today in Afghanistan. You can watch the PBS domentary following the above link as well as find a brief update on the situation from this recent Washington Post article. Image credit: Barat Ali Batoor Societal…

  • Baha’i Population Data for the United States

    Baquia
    6 May 2012 | 5:18 pm
    In a recent discussion we looked at the question of growth in Baha’i communities. While it may be relatively easy to calculate the size and growth rate of an individual Baha’i community from the regular annual reports which show new enrollments, resignations, and deaths, coming up with an accurate aggregate national number is not so easy. I know of no National Spiritual Assembly which shares this information in their annual reports. An alternative source is the government census data, as Steve pointed out in the comments section of that previous article. In the US unfortunately we…

  • Baha’is Elect New National Spiritual Assembly Members

    Baquia
    30 Apr 2012 | 5:22 pm
    With Ridvan comes the National Baha’i Conventions as Baha’is everywhere around the world elect their new National Spiritual Members. Due to a systematic incumbency bias, the “new” NSA’s are more than likely exactly the same as the “old” NSA. That certainly is the case in North America. In the US, the delegates at the 14th Baha’i National Convention elected the following members (in descending order of votes): Kenneth E. Bowers Jacqueline Left Hand Bull David F. Young Muin Afnani Juana C. Conrad S. Valerie Dana Fariba Aghdasi Erica…

  • Ridvan Message 2012 from the Universal House of Justice

    Baquia
    21 Apr 2012 | 2:57 pm
    This year’s Ridvan message from the Universal House of Justice is notable for the announcement of several building projects for local and national Houses of Worship. The House of Justice notes that as the process of entry by troops is advanced enough to merit the construction of a national Mashriqu’l-Adhkar in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Papua New Guinea. According to the House of Justice, the construction of the Temple in Chile and these new houses of worship mark the “Fifth Epoch of the Formative Age of the Faith”. As well, several local Houses of…

  • Is Your Baha’i Community Growing?

    Baquia
    19 Apr 2012 | 6:37 pm
    For a very long time the official estimate of the size of the Baha’i worldwide community has been 5-6 million. This is the figure often cited in media, as was the case in the recent CBS religion special: “What They Believe: Hindus, Zoroastrians, Baha’is”. Reputable sources more recently have cited anywhere between 7.9 and 5.5 million. Unfortunately, official figures are not released by the Baha’i World Center. The various national statistics are aggregated but for reasons unexplained these figures are not shared publicly. Estimating the size of any religious…
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    Bahais Online

  • The OCeeker: Baha'i Center and the Pick-a-Prophet People of God

    14 May 2012 | 10:15 am
    A lot of ye heathen have a favorite phrase whenever the question of God, man and the meaning of it all comes up: "I'm not religious. I'm spiritual." Granted, ye only say this when accosted by a Jehovah's Witness or downing a Natural Light in the drowning hours of night. But good on ya anyway, fair pagans. Alas, if you truly are spiritual, and looking for a house of worship where the only person who is wrong is the one who believes he alone is right, the ol' OCeeker has a place for you, oh man of weak conviction: Baha'i Center in San Clemente. Worship tip: meditation time is a great way to…

  • I think it comes down to choices

    13 May 2012 | 2:40 pm
    In conversation with someone, I explained that the last week or so had been heaven in that I'd had beautiful weather and I could sit outside on my porch in the sun and have a coffee and read and enjoy the trees. For me, this ritual is crucial to my wellbeing. I always feel spiritually uplifted by it and believe I am at my best spiritually when I have made time each day for it. The person I was in discussion with commented that it would be nice to do that, implying they did not have the time. I suggested giving up the rat race, to which they replied that they like the rat race. And that, I…

  • On death and dying and the Mongrel Mob

    13 May 2012 | 2:13 pm
    Full story... (http://syrinx-karenthesyrinx.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/on-death-and-dying-and-mongrel-mob.html)

  • Be a treasure to the poor...

    12 May 2012 | 2:47 pm
    Not much is known about the Baha’i that started this food line during the Great Depression, only that he was living true to these words from the Baha’i Writings. In what ways can we be a treasure to the poor today? Full story... (http://fundamentals.bahai.us/post/19397622701/not-much-is-known-about-the-bahai-that-started) Also, see New York Breadline (http://bahaisonline.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=edit&id=2584&Itemid=2&Returnid=2)

  • Pathology of Homosexuality

    11 May 2012 | 12:47 am
    This is another in a series of articles exploring homosexuality within the Baha’i Faith (http://bahairants.com/bahaullah-the-subject-of-boys-123.html). The first was delving into the historical and semantic context of the infamous excerpt in the Aqdas where Baha’u'llah refers reluctantly to the “subject of boys”. Unfortunately the exact practice that Baha’u'llah was referring to cryptically is still being practiced today in Afghanistan. You can watch the PBS documentary following the above link as well as find a brief update on the situation from this recent Washington Post…
 
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    Hadley-Ives family update

  • American household monthly budget in Chinese and Taiwan currencies

    29 Apr 2012 | 7:16 pm
    I've been doing some calculations in preparation for going to China.  I leave next week, and I am preparing some lectures that I will eventually share on this blog, I think.I know some people in China might be interested in the sort of lifestyle we have in the United States, how much things cost and that sort of thing.  Here is our monthly household budget in RMB (Chinese currency) and NTD (Taiwan's currency):My monthly salaryRMB28,481NT$131,579Tax on our house (property tax)RMB1,912NT$8,833Illinois State Taxes on sales and incomeRMB1,653NT$7,639Federal Income…

  • Taxes and incomes.

    5 Feb 2012 | 5:26 pm
    Just figured out our taxes for 2011.This doesn't examine local and state sales taxes, excise taxes, Medicare tax, other payroll taxes, etc.Remember that I'm a state employee, and I don't pay Social Security withholding for an old age pension, because a similar percentage of my income is withheld and put into a state pension program.Here is the historical record:2011: I'm estimating we earned 119% of the median family household income.2011: Federal income tax was 5.8%2011: State income tax and property tax combined was 9.3%2011: Federal and State income and property taxes: 15.2%2010:…

  • Religions are like subjects in science.

    3 Feb 2012 | 11:27 pm
    Sometimes my co-religionists (Baha'is) describe the concept of progressive revelation as an idea that humanity is culturally evolving, and is able to handle certain forms of truth and teachings at different times appropriate to the sophistication of society and general intelligence levels.  Thus, the oldest levels are good enough when people live simple lives, and then religion became more sophisticated with very ancient Hinduism and Judaism when people settled in cities, and then Christianity and Buddhism came along when there were empires and very complex societies, and then Islam came…

  • Dream of Shame

    21 Jan 2012 | 10:57 am
     I had a dream last night, that I can remember quite clearly.  I was in the consciousness of someone who stood in the court of some sort of king, and there were several of us there, playing a sort of game.  The game was that we had cards, which we turned over to find revealed some word or phrase, and we had to, spontaneously, say something poetic or profound on the theme or word revealed on the card.When it came my turn, the card revealed to me the word, "Shame" and I decided to keep it short, not wanting to go on and on about it.  So, all I said (in the dream) was…

  • Sebastian's summer video

    21 Aug 2011 | 11:22 pm
    Sebastian made a film with clips from the summer.  It's worth watching if you want to know what we did this summer.
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    Meditations on Baha'u'llah

  • Many thanks, Baha'u'llah

    15 May 2012 | 3:29 am
    Many thanks, Baha'u'llah, for coming to earth and suffering your whole life so that you could 'download' from the Houri a message saying that God, who I can never know directly, has come to call me home. For decades, I thought I was listening. But I wasn't. I was listening to people around me and Baha'i administration types and such like, and getting caught up in human affairs at all levels. And for years, I got caught up in my own dramas, which I thought had substance, but didn't. Finally, I actually began to listen to you. And I began to hear you say that you wanted me to forget the world…

  • I think it comes down to choices

    12 May 2012 | 8:20 pm
    In conversation with someone, I explained that the last week or so had been heaven in that I'd had beautiful weather and I could sit outside on my porch in the sun and have a coffee and read and enjoy the trees. For me, this ritual is crucial to my wellbeing. I always feel spiritually uplifted by it and believe I am at my best spiritually when I have made time each day for it. The person I was in discussion with commented that it would be nice to do that, implying they did not have the time. I suggested giving up the rat race, to which they replied that they like the rat race. And that, I…

  • To the eternal I call thee

    7 May 2012 | 3:47 am
    When Baha'u'llah says, time and again, to detach from the world, I've discovered that that includes not letting myself get caught up in world affairs. In the past, I've been so rapt up in the horrors that I have felt distanced from God. It's not that I don't care anymore; it's that I now recognise I am powerless and that the world is in God's hands not mine. And so, I reach for my morning reading and discover these words of solace: "To the eternal I call thee, yet thou dost seek that which perisheth" (AHW 23). Gee, when Baha'u'llah puts it that way, I wonder why I get caught up in what's…

  • Back to Baha'u'llah

    6 May 2012 | 3:29 am
    I haven't posted for a while. Some serious work came my way, and I had to give up things to do it. Also, I need to listen to Steve, who has given up saying to me that it is worth blogging about an idea that I think is obvious, and that takes only a paragraph to outline. Ever into self-flagellating - that's me. And it has been a veil between me and God all my life. What is, essentially, a very simple message from Baha'u'llah - "love me and return to me" - I make complicated by turning it into hard work. It's not about doing things, Alison; it's about being in love with one who is more worthy…

  • Introduction to Tablet of Manifestation (Lawh-i zuhur)

    31 Dec 2011 | 4:32 pm
    (Please note: In this introduction, for ease of reading, I have referred to the manifestation as ‘he’. I usually try to avoid this when the reference is to a generic manifestation and not a specific one. But in this case, making the text gender neutral became awkward.) The translation of Tablet of Manifestation was published in Horris Holley (ed), Baha'i Scriptures, 2nd ed, New York: Bahá'í Publishing Committee, 1923. It is reproduced at the Baha'i Library Online. The translator is not known, but appears to have had English as a second language. To make the translation easier to read, I…
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    The Cormorant Baker

  • Still waiting for a reply

    Steve
    14 May 2012 | 6:53 am
    Date: Fri, 04 Aug 2000 14:55:59 To: Dunedin Assembly From: Steve Marshall <forumbahai@xx.xx.xx> Subject: Assembly feast letter I’ve read the assembly’s latest feast letter and would like to assist you in keeping tabs on violations of Baha’i law. I occasionally masturbate, even though I realise that it is in violation of Baha’i law. I want [...]

  • The more the better

    Steve
    6 May 2012 | 4:02 am
    As I recall, the defining characteristic of Moojan Momen’s so-called Baha’i apostates was that they carried out a prolonged/sustained campaign of “attacks” upon the Bahá’í community. Did it not occur to him that the folks he chose to give this title to were no more tireless and committed as “apostates” than they were when they [...]

  • Palmanova

    Steve
    24 Mar 2012 | 4:12 am
    View Larger Map “The humanist theorists of the ideal city designed numerous planned cities that look intriguing on paper but were not especially successful as livable spaces. Along the northeastern frontier of their mainland empire, the Venetians began to build in 1593 the best example of a Renaissance planned town: Palmanova, a fortress city designed [...]

  • God is one, man is one, Formula One

    Steve
    1 Nov 2011 | 2:50 am
    Go Team Lotus!

  • It’s a SOCIAL world

    Steve
    23 Oct 2011 | 3:36 pm
    Marc Benioff, an IT guy, is using an acronym, SOCIAL, to describe how organisations should operate in the new, hyperconnected world: Marc Benioff, the founder of Salesforce.com, a cloud-based software provider, describes this phase of the I.T. revolution with the acronym SOCIAL. S, he says, is for speed — everything is now happening faster. O, [...]
 
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    Iran Press Watch

  • Iranian Bahai man imprisoned for marrying a Muslim girl

    editor
    6 May 2012 | 3:39 pm
    [CNN iReport, By senmcglinn] On April 19, four members of the Bahai religious minority were arrested in Qaemshahr, Iran. the day before, a young Bahai couple, Sahel Miri and Raheleh Ma`sumi had been arrested following a search of their home. It has emerged that the main charge against Mr. Miri is that he married a Muslim girl (Sahel) and caused her to change her religion. Because the accusation has been denied, the Ministry of Intelligence agents have pressured the parents of Raheleh to lay a complaint of Bahai conversion activities against their son-in-law. Raheleh, who is pregnant, has…

  • Stop state-sponsored genocide and crimes against humanity

    editor
    6 May 2012 | 3:32 pm
    Campaigns have been focused in Washington - what about Europe? [www.thecommentator.com, By Wahied Wahdat-Hagh] The most negative aspect of the negotiations between the P5-plus-one (the UN Security Council Five plus Germany) and Iran is the dearth of attention being paid to human rights violations in that country. Iranian nuclear activities have no relation to the suppression of religious minorities, women, human rights activists and workers. The Iranian Bahai community in particular is in a precarious position. According to article 6 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,…

  • Publication Review: Baha’is of Iran: Power, Prejudices and Persecutions

    editor
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:35 am
    The relationship between religious majorities and minorities in the Middle East is often construed as one of domination versus powerlessness. While this may indeed be the case, to claim that this is only or always so is to give a simplified picture of a complex reality. Such a description lays emphasis on the challenges faced by the minorities, while overlooking their astonishing ability to mobilize internal and external resources to meet these challenges. Through the study of strategies of domination, resilience, and accommodation among both Muslim and non-Muslim minorities, this volume…

  • Guam joins global condemnation of Iran’s human rights abuses

    editor
    29 Apr 2012 | 2:25 pm
    Speaker Judith Won Pat – pictured center – addresses the Guam legislature during a vote about the denial of access to higher education in Iran. The vote, which passed by a majority of 14-0, was held on 27 April 2012. [BWNS 27 April 2012] HAGǺTÑA, Guam — The Senate of the western Pacific island territory of Guam has called upon the United States of America to keep up its pressure on Iran over human rights abuses. A resolution was unanimously passed this morning by the island’s 15-member legislature. Fourteen senators voted in favor of the resolution, with none against. One…

  • “Iranian Taboo” at Stanford University – Q&A

    editor
    29 Apr 2012 | 10:01 am
    Questions and Answers at Stanford University in Farsi with English subtitles regarding “Iranian Taboo” documentary. Click here to view the embedded video. source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBCFz-UOfAM&feature=youtu.be
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    Inspiration for Bahá'í Teaching

  • Inestimable privilege, inescapable duty of Bahá’ís to teach Cause

    alexbn
    30 Apr 2012 | 4:59 pm
    - 0 - From the latest Ridván message of the Universal House of Justice encouraging systematic application on behalf of the Baha’is’ of learnings being gained as a result of the friends’ dedicated efforts in pursuit of the goals of the Plan. Our supplications, offered at the Threshold of an All-Bountiful Providence, are for the assistance of the Supreme Concourse to be vouchsafed to every one of you in contributing to the progress of the Plan. Our fervent desire, bolstered by witnessing your consecrated efforts during the past year, is that you will intensify your…

  • Kinds of service the friends perform (1 Jan. 2011 message)

    alexbn
    31 Mar 2012 | 5:00 pm
    The 1 January 2011 message from the Universal House of Justice addressed to the Bahá’ís of the world gives a succinct summary of the nature of the activities the friends are striving to accomplish in service to their Faith:– It is hard to express in words how much love for you has been shown in these few, fleeting days [of the Continental Counsellors' conference]. We praise God that He has raised up a community so accomplished and render thanks to Him for releasing your marvellous potentialities. You it is who, whether in collective endeavours or individual efforts, are…

  • Master’s encouragement re teaching methods, requisite attitude

    alexbn
    29 Feb 2012 | 5:01 pm
    Two anecdotes from the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá regarding teaching – not to be taken as His authentic words – not authoritative – but they convey the spirit we are called upon to nourish in our hearts! The Master made it quite clear that people of very different capacities were qualified to teach this great Faith, each in his own way. John David Bosch, who had come to America from Switzerland, felt that he could not be a speaker—instead he circulated pamphlets and books. The Master encouraged him: ‘You are doing very well; you are doing better than talking. With…

  • Tales of teaching encounters within framework of the Plan

    alexbn
    31 Jan 2012 | 4:59 pm
    Some illuminating reflections on, and pointers about the teaching process as seen in different localities and situations through nine stories. The list of learnings at the end nicely summarizes the varying experiences gained through the teaching process. Spiritual conversations build bonds, confidence                                                                               . May 31, 2011…

  • Workings of Regional Council for England in pursuit of the Plan

    alexbn
    31 Dec 2011 | 5:59 pm
    (UK, 13 December 2011) A categorical and purposeful message from the Baha’i Council for England to the friends in the region regarding the implementation of the provisions for the Five Year Plan (2011-2016) in the various clusters. Baha’i Council for England 13 December 2011 To all believers in England Dearly loved Friends, Your newly elected Baha’i Council for England held its first meeting on 26-27 November 2011…. The Council reviewed and consulted upon the goals of the Five Year Plan set by the National Spiritual Assembly [of the Bahá'ís of the United Kingdom]…
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    Remembering Who We Are -

  • Soul-Making is a Lifelong Process – Let’s Get Busy!

    Bob
    30 Apr 2012 | 11:12 am
    Remembering who we are, and where we are going, is a function of the soul. We can even say that there is a process guiding the soul. This process can be thought of as soul-making, or what our life here on Earth is really for. It is how we develop and draw out the potential we are innately endowed with. Soul-making is the lifelong process of acquiring the attributes, qualities, and character needed for our eternal journey. It helps us in both this world and the next. As Marion Woodman puts it, “soul-making is allowing the eternal essence to live and experience the outer world through all the…

  • Soul-Making is Connecting to Our Deepest Nature

    Bob
    20 Apr 2012 | 7:58 am
    C.G. Jung wrote: “My life is a story of the self-realization of the unconscious… I can understand myself only in the light of inner happenings. It is these that make up the singularity of my life.” He seems to be implying that at our essence, we are like all other human beings. The soul is what links us to the archetypal world. Soul-making is communicating deeply with the inner realm, being fully awake and aware as the numinous bursts forth from the unconscious, flooding our consciousness with eternal images. James Hillman sees soul-making as what happens when we evoke the emotions and…

  • Soul-Making is “Learning Life by Heart”

    Bob
    10 Apr 2012 | 10:06 am
    John Keats asked the question, “How then are souls to be made?” He wasn’t referring to how our soul is originally created, but how it is brought into its fullness of being. He knew that the soul is a “spark” of Divine creation. The question was, “How then are these sparks which are God to have identity given them—so as ever to possess a bliss peculiar to each one’s individual existence?” Our soul is a work in progress, and this life is designed to assist it in reaching its fruition. We are placed in this physical setting, with all its contradictions and oppositions, so our…

  • We Need to Know the Value of Our Own Soul

    Bob
    30 Mar 2012 | 8:11 am
    You know the value of every article of merchandise, but if you don’t know the value of your own soul it’s all foolishness. You’ve come to know the fortunate and the inauspicious stars, but you don’t know whether you yourself are fortunate or unlucky. This, this is the essence of all sciences— that you should know who you will be when the Day of Reckoning arrives.             —Rumi Is this the greatest challenge of our lives? How many of us, as Jung has asked, are really prepared for the second half of life, for old age, death, and eternity? For Rumi, this is all a very…

  • Finding Our Inner Phoenix – & Rising From Our Own Ashes!

    Bob
    20 Mar 2012 | 10:06 am
    As winter turns into spring, as nascent flower buds begin to push their way up from sleeping leaves of life, we too can remember that it is our time to emerge afresh with renewed energy for the things we are most deeply committed to. This renewal is as much a part of our perennial process as it is part of nature’s cycle. We also can – and do – arise from the ashes of our own exertion to become even more than we were. The Phoenix, the mythical bird rising from its own ashes, is but one expression of a universal archetype of renewal and rebirth, one of the most powerful symbols…
 
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    Sen's daily

  • Riaz Sobhani transferred to a Tehran hospital

    Sen
    15 May 2012 | 1:54 pm
    Khabar Navard, May 14 Riaz Sobhani ( ریاض سبحانی ), one of the imprisoned teachers from the Bahai Open University (BIHE) was transferred to a hospital in Tehran on May 13, at the request of the official doctor for Tehran province. He was being held at Raja’i Shahr prison. He was transferred in handcuffs and shackles, although he suffers from heart disease, a lung disease and stomach bleeding, and the official doctor has repeatedly stated that he is not fit to serve his sentence. He has served one year of a 4 year sentence. Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1iS Older items can be…

  • Sarir Sadeqi transferred to Shiraz

    Sen
    15 May 2012 | 11:29 am
    HRANA, May 15 Sarir Sadeqi ( سریر صادقی ), a Bahai resident of Karaj who was arrested in his home on April 8, has been transferred from the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention centre to the central prison in Shiraz. He suffered serious mistreatment at the hands of the Ministry of Intelligence. Thus far, the authorities have refused to give his family any answers as to the reasons for his detention, although it is said to be related to the arrests of Bahais in Shiraz in February 2012. Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1iO Older items can be found in the archive, here. Even older…

  • Two more Bahais arrested in Semnan, one free on bail

    Sen
    15 May 2012 | 10:57 am
    HRANA and PCED, May 14 [updated 16.15 GMT] Akbar Pourhosseini and Afrasayab Sobhani (اکبر پورحسینی و افراسیاب سبحانی), two Bahai men living in Semnan, were arrested by security forces on May 14. The agents searched their homes and seized some personal possessions, before taking them to their businesses and conducting a search there. It is not known where they are being held, or what the accusation may be. Their homes had been searched by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence previously, December 15, 2008, when some 20 Bahais homes in Semnan were searched. `Erfan…

  • Kamran Rahimian’s sentence confirmed

    Sen
    13 May 2012 | 11:44 am
    PCED, May 13 The review court in Tehran has confirmed the four-year sentence of Kamran Rahimian (کامران رحیمیان), one of the teachers at the Bahai Open University (BIHE). He was sentenced On February 14, on charges of membership of the Bahai community and colluding to undermine national security, and is being held in Raja’i Shah prison. His wife Faran Hesami (فاران حسامی) has also been sentenced to four years, and the sentence is still pending review. She was freed on bail on November 28, 2011. Source (in Persian) Short link: http://wp.me/pNMoJ-1iz Older items can…

  • Omid Firuzeyan tried in Semnan

    Sen
    9 May 2012 | 3:42 am
    HRANA, May 8 Omid Firuzeyan ( امید فیروزیان ), a Bahai resident of Semnan, was tried on May 6. He was found guilty of propaganda against the regime, membership in groups (meaning, participation in non-Shia religious activities), and the intention to undermine national security. The sentence is to be announced soon. Mr. Firuzeyan was arrested in summer last year, and held for two months before being released on bail. A large number of Bahais have been tried in Semnan in recent months, some receiving sentences of as much as seven years. Source (in Persian) Short link:…
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