"Do men think when they say 'We believe' they shall be let alone and not be put to proof?" This quotation is from the Qur'án (29:2), and is quoted by Baha'u'llah (Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 25)
It's easy for a person to say "I believe" when their Faith is not tested. The strength and sincerity of a person's devotion becomes clear when they are given the choice of their Faith or their life...
Yesterday, 6 of 7 individuals serving on the national coordination committee of Baha'i activities in Iran were arrested for no reason other than their faith, and were taken to prison. This is reminiscent of activities taken by the Iranian government in the early 1980's, when members of the Baha'i National Spiritual Assembly were arrested, imprisoned and executed. A story about recent activities of the Iranian government can be found on CNN.com: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/05/16/iran.bahais/index.html?eref=rss_world
Raising public awareness of these alarming actions taken by the Iranian government will hopefully encourage international action to be taken, and an end to be put to this history of persecution of the Baha'is in Iran.
Let your vision be world-embracing, rather than confined to your own self.
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 94)
Friday, May 16, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
"...the present moment is a miracle."
A while back, we had some friends over to share dinner and interfaith readings on the topic of happiness. It was such an uplifting night! I prepared a compilation of readings from different religions on the theme, and some of our friends some other readings to contribute. Below is a reading from the Buddhist Faith that one of Shrin's classmates shared:
Our true home is in the present moment. To live in the present moment is a miracle. The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now. Enlightment is understanding that there is nowhere to go nothing to do and nobody you have to be except exactly who are being rite now.
This passage really resonated with me! Too often I find myself impatiently or anxiously anticipating the future, so much so that I forget to enjoy the beauty of the present! The present is a miracle! There is a great deal of beauty around us, and too many present opportunities for service and happiness are missed because we have our eyes fixed on the future... Below is one of my favorite quotations that I feel further emphasizes this point:
"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)
Our true home is in the present moment. To live in the present moment is a miracle. The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now. Enlightment is understanding that there is nowhere to go nothing to do and nobody you have to be except exactly who are being rite now.
This passage really resonated with me! Too often I find myself impatiently or anxiously anticipating the future, so much so that I forget to enjoy the beauty of the present! The present is a miracle! There is a great deal of beauty around us, and too many present opportunities for service and happiness are missed because we have our eyes fixed on the future... Below is one of my favorite quotations that I feel further emphasizes this point:
"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)
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Time for a change...
This morning on my way to the train, I saw woman jump out of her SUV at a traffic light to yell and swear at the man who was honking his horn behind her. When she jumped back in her car, he honked again, so she jumped out again and offered him some more profanity. It was quite a sight...
Now here's my question: Why is is that people are generally afraid to show their love and appreciation to each other, but have no fear when it comes to sharing their hate and anger? Why don't people ever jump out of their cars to thank the driver behind them for being courteous and letting them cut in? We have evolved into a very strange society! I don't know about you guys, but I think it's about time we make some changes :-)!
Now here's my question: Why is is that people are generally afraid to show their love and appreciation to each other, but have no fear when it comes to sharing their hate and anger? Why don't people ever jump out of their cars to thank the driver behind them for being courteous and letting them cut in? We have evolved into a very strange society! I don't know about you guys, but I think it's about time we make some changes :-)!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
A poem
I wrote this poem while sitting on the train last Friday. On the walk to the train station that morning, I had a jumble of things on my mind, and before I knew it, I had arrived... I couldn't even remember what I had seen on the street on my walk over! I realized how easy it is to lose touch with reality when your mind is preoccupied with petty concerns... This realization caused me to reflect on what in reality are the important matters of life that I should concern myself with. What should be my motivation? What should be my goal? Why am I here?
I walk down the street, my head in a cloud
In a state of semi-consciousness, thoughts cloaked in a shroud
The busyness of my mind causes preoccupation to be loud
Then I stop
I look up
I emerge from my cloud and see that I am not alone
People around me, rushing to and fro
People who do not notice that I am here with them
Because we all act like islands
Lost in our preoccupation
Then I realize these people are my family
Beneath the clouds and shrouds, there’s a deep sense of camaraderie
Because our origin is the same
Our Creator has one Name
When the world suffers, we all feel the pain
When the world becomes united, we’ll all serve to gain
Then I see my brother, and I smile
Suddenly—he notices me!
I smile at my sister, and she notices me too
Our lost connection is renewed!
I come off my island with a bit of fear
A sense of vulnerability rings like sirens in my ear
But then I feel the love of my Creator near
His love gives me strength, and it is that strength that I want to share!
The armor of the love of God, no bullet can impair!
I attempt to radiate this love and attract the souls that are near
For when we come off our islands, we have less to fear
Because the darkness of the hate that surrounds us
Is engendered by the ignorance, self-centeredness and incompetence
That results from solitary confinement by our own self-segregating assignment
But with unity, service and love
We can rise out of this prison into realms above!
This is the goal…
That is the desire of my soul
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
What is our reality?
What is our reality? Is our reality this material world around us? Is our reality the situation that we're born into? Is our reality to get a good job, make a lot of money, and die happy without a care in the world (or for the world)?
I don't think so. I think our reality is something much greater than this... I think that once we truly understand our reality, the world will become united...
These thoughts were recently inspired by some quotations I read in a book titled Creating a New Mind. I've included the quotations below...
I promise to start writing more often again :-).
The first teaching of Bahá'u'lláh is the duty incumbent upon all to investigate reality. What does it mean to investigate reality? It means that man must forget all hearsay and examine truth himself, for he does not know whether statements he hears are in accordance with reality or not. Wherever he finds truth or reality, he must hold to it, forsaking, discarding all else; for outside of reality there is naught but superstition and imagination...
(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 62)
Were one to observe with an eye that discovereth the realities of all things, it would become clear that the greatest relationship that bindeth the world of being together lieth in the range of created things themselves, and that co-operation, mutual aid and reciprocity are essential characteristics in the unified body of the world of being, inasmuch as all created things are closely related together and each is influenced by the other or deriveth benefit therefrom, either directly or indirectly...
And thus when contemplating the human world thou beholdest this wondrous phenomenon shining resplendent from all sides with the utmost perfection, inasmuch as in this station acts of co-operation, mutual assistance and reciprocity are not confined to the body and to things that pertain to the material world, but for all conditions, whether physical or spiritual, such as those related to minds, thoughts, opinions, manners, customs, attitudes, understandings, feelings or other human susceptibilities. In all these thou shouldst find these binding relationships securely established. The more this inter-relationship is strengthened and expanded, the more will human society advance in progress and prosperity. Indeed without these vital ties it would be wholly impossible for the world of humanity to attain true felicity and success.
(Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 508)
I don't think so. I think our reality is something much greater than this... I think that once we truly understand our reality, the world will become united...
These thoughts were recently inspired by some quotations I read in a book titled Creating a New Mind. I've included the quotations below...
I promise to start writing more often again :-).
The first teaching of Bahá'u'lláh is the duty incumbent upon all to investigate reality. What does it mean to investigate reality? It means that man must forget all hearsay and examine truth himself, for he does not know whether statements he hears are in accordance with reality or not. Wherever he finds truth or reality, he must hold to it, forsaking, discarding all else; for outside of reality there is naught but superstition and imagination...
(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 62)
Were one to observe with an eye that discovereth the realities of all things, it would become clear that the greatest relationship that bindeth the world of being together lieth in the range of created things themselves, and that co-operation, mutual aid and reciprocity are essential characteristics in the unified body of the world of being, inasmuch as all created things are closely related together and each is influenced by the other or deriveth benefit therefrom, either directly or indirectly...
And thus when contemplating the human world thou beholdest this wondrous phenomenon shining resplendent from all sides with the utmost perfection, inasmuch as in this station acts of co-operation, mutual assistance and reciprocity are not confined to the body and to things that pertain to the material world, but for all conditions, whether physical or spiritual, such as those related to minds, thoughts, opinions, manners, customs, attitudes, understandings, feelings or other human susceptibilities. In all these thou shouldst find these binding relationships securely established. The more this inter-relationship is strengthened and expanded, the more will human society advance in progress and prosperity. Indeed without these vital ties it would be wholly impossible for the world of humanity to attain true felicity and success.
(Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 508)
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Jury Duty
Today I had my first jury duty experience. As you can imagine, I was not particularly looking forward to having this experience, but I could delay my fate no longer (I postponed twice). However, my experience overall was positive. While I was sitting in the courtroom, listening to the judge ask people somewhat personal questions, I had this realization...
I have never sat in a room with such a diverse group of people.
It's true that there are a lot of Baha'i settings that are very diverse, but this experience was unique; primarily because I was not only sitting with them, but learning A LOT about them. I learned of their professions, their level of education, their families, their bias' and prejudices... The only think I didn't learn was their thoughts, passions, desires, and struggles... However, I learned enough about them to realize how easily I misjudge an individuals purely based on their appearance, and how much I enjoy talking with someone who's life is dramatically different from my own...
In the end, I feel like there should be more opportunities to have experiences like jury duty... We don't spend enough time getting to know our community members. That's why I'm a big fan of Devotional gatherings, which I feel can provide this opportunity, but I'll leave that for another blog entry :-).
"Ye observe to what a degree the world is in continual turmoil and conflict, and to what a pass its nations have now come. Perchance will the lovers of God succeed in upraising the banner of human unity, so that the one-coloured tabernacle of the Kingdom of Heaven will cast its sheltering shadow over all the earth; that misunderstandings among the world's peoples will vanish away; that all nations will mingle one with another, dealing with one another even as the lover with his beloved."
(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 90)
I have never sat in a room with such a diverse group of people.
It's true that there are a lot of Baha'i settings that are very diverse, but this experience was unique; primarily because I was not only sitting with them, but learning A LOT about them. I learned of their professions, their level of education, their families, their bias' and prejudices... The only think I didn't learn was their thoughts, passions, desires, and struggles... However, I learned enough about them to realize how easily I misjudge an individuals purely based on their appearance, and how much I enjoy talking with someone who's life is dramatically different from my own...
In the end, I feel like there should be more opportunities to have experiences like jury duty... We don't spend enough time getting to know our community members. That's why I'm a big fan of Devotional gatherings, which I feel can provide this opportunity, but I'll leave that for another blog entry :-).
"Ye observe to what a degree the world is in continual turmoil and conflict, and to what a pass its nations have now come. Perchance will the lovers of God succeed in upraising the banner of human unity, so that the one-coloured tabernacle of the Kingdom of Heaven will cast its sheltering shadow over all the earth; that misunderstandings among the world's peoples will vanish away; that all nations will mingle one with another, dealing with one another even as the lover with his beloved."
(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 90)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
A ray of sunshine in the wolrd
For the past year, I've had a roommate who I have found to be one of the most articulate, selfless and compassionate people that I've ever met. When I began living with Anisa, I never could have anticipated how much I would learn from the conversations and experiences that we would share together. We began living together as friends, and we ended the year as sisters. Now, our lives have gone separate ways, and Anisa is off to serve in India. While, I'm excited about the changes that lie ahead of me, it's still difficult to close a chapter of my life that is filled with so many good memories. I'm really going to miss Anisa, but I know I've made a bond with a special person that will last for an eternity.
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