Nasim Mullen

Persecution of Baha'is in Iran

2008-05-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

"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)

"...the present moment is a miracle."

2008-02-17T16:00:00.000-08:00

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)

Time for a change...

2007-11-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

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 :-)!

A poem

2007-10-02T16:03:00.001-07:00

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

What is our reality?

2007-09-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

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)

Jury Duty

2007-06-05T17:36:00.000-07:00

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)

A ray of sunshine in the wolrd

2007-05-31T09:19:00.001-07:00

Anisa and I
Originally uploaded by nasimmullen.

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.

The Alchemist

2007-05-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading a fantastic book titled The Alchemist. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend that you do...

There were many thought provoking messages in this book, but there was one quotation in particular that struck me:

"We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it's our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand." -pg. 76

I have definitely found this true in my own life...

The power of fear

2007-05-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

One of my professors gave a lecture last week on nuclear weapons. In addition to explaining how a nuclear bomb is constructed, he explained their destructive potential, and catalogued the impacts that nuclear testing had on people in the Polynesian islands and different parts of Europe and Russia, during the Cold War. He then gave us a statistic that I found rather interesting... He reported that between the years of 1940-1995, the US spent $7.2 trillion (in 2006 $'s) on nuclear weapons. My professor commented on this by saying, "During those years we spent 7.2 trillion dollars on developing weapons that no one would ever want to use..."

Hearing him say this caused a flurry of thoughts to enter my mind, framed by a single question-- How much control does our fear have over our actions?

The US wasn't the only country that spent trillions of dollars on weapons during those years... Everyone was afraid, but what were they afraid of? There were definitely other global issues during those years that money could have been spent on, but instead our fear drove us to extreme measures. This is not to say that we should not fear anything. Our fear can also protect us. There is a quotation from Baha'u'llah regarding the protection provided by the fear of God:

"Verily I say: The fear of God hath ever been a sure defence and a safe stronghold for all the peoples of the world. It is the chief cause of the protection of mankind, and the supreme instrument for its preservation. Indeed, there existeth in man a faculty which deterreth him from, and guardeth him against, whatever is unworthy and unseemly, and which is known as his sense of shame. This, however, is confined to but a few; all have not possessed, and do not possess, it."
(Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 27)

I learned much more from my professor's lecture that day than how a nuclear weapon is created... I learned that fear is a powerful emotion with immense potential to guide one's actions, and I've since reflected on the following question: Which of my fears can serve as my protection, and which of my fears will hold me back from moving forward in my life? In other words, which of my fears will I listen to, and which of my fears will I learn to overcome?

Sounds...

2007-05-05T20:39:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day in Berkeley today, so I took a break and laid in a warm grassy field. I decided to close my eyes, and listen to the world...

I heard birds chirping, and an occasional breeze in the trees--the beautiful sounds of nature. On top of that, I heard the constant hum of cars on a distant highway, and an occasional plane flying over head. These sounds are so commonplace now that we hardly notice them, but it's funny thinking how different they are from the sounds that people heard 100 years ago... I wonder what sounds I'll hear while laying in a grassy field 50 years from now...

Beware of fried potatoes...

2007-04-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

This article came out in the LA Times today about a potential carcinogen found in fast food french fries

This article caught my eye because it's a topic we've discussed extensively in my Toxicology class. In the article, KFC says that this chemical, acrylamide, is also found in home fried potatoes. While this is true, it is unlikely that the levels found in home cooked foods are anywhere near the levels found in industrial-scale frying operations. Basically, this is how fast-food places make their fries (take this with a grain of salt because I may not have it exactly right):
1. They buy high sugar content potatoes, cut them up, and flash fry them at high temperatures
2. They freeze the fried potatoes and send them to a plant to have flavorings added.
3. They flash fry them again after adding the flavor, and then refreeze them
4. They send the fries to the local restaurants, where they are fried yet again....

Frying these carbs multiple times at high temperatures serves to increase the levels of these carcinogens... Does this mean you should stop eating fries? Well, if you really want fries, I'd recommend going to a place like In and Out where they cut and fry their potatoes within the restaurant itself...

You can check this FDA website for the concentration of acrylamide found in different foods. You'll notice that it's mostly packaged fried foods that have the highest levels.

In memory of those who's lives were lost in the shooting at Virginia Tech...

2007-04-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

With great sadness, I listened to the news this morning about the 31 individuals who were killed in the Virginia Tech shooting yesterday. Listening to the story moved me to tears, and I found myself wondering why this tragic event has hurt me more deeply than the tragedies I hear about from around the world every day... I decided it's because having such a tragedy happen so close to home, and in an environment so similar to the one that I am in every day, really causes me to realize that life is very very fragile and that the violent acts of one person can dramatically change the lives of countless others....
There is suffering and death going on all over the world, and I can't help but wonder how much of it is avoidable... How much could the pain of the world be reduced, if we increased the love and compassion in our communities?
As I walk through the pathways across the campus and the hallways of my building, I look at the people around me, and wonder how many more minutes/days/years they will be part of my life. Will I see them tomorrow? Will I be here tomorrow? Are they experiencing pain or hardship? Have I done anything to reach out to them and help them in times of need? Have I told my classmates/peers/friends that I love them?
There's nothing that can be done to bring back the dear individuals who have passed from this physical world, but it's not too late to make changes in our lives today...

I'd like to offer this prayer for the individuals who's physical lives were ended at the Virginia Tech shooting yesterday....

"O my God! O Thou forgiver of sins, bestower of gifts, dispeller of afflictions!

Verily, I beseech Thee to forgive the sins of such as have abandoned the physical garment and have ascended to the spiritual world.

O my Lord! Purify them from trespasses, dispel their sorrows, and change their darkness into light. Cause them to enter the garden of happiness, cleanse them with the most pure water, and grant them to behold Thy splendors on the loftiest mount."

- 'Abdu'l-Bahá; (Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 44)

The world is already changing... what direction will it take us?

2007-04-09T17:11:00.000-07:00

The IPCC (intergovernmental panel for climate change) came out with a report describing the changes that are already occurring as a result of climate change, and outlining the more dramatic changes that are probable in the future. The predictions include extreme drought, crop failures, and rising sea levels; all of which will result in millions of environmental refugees...

[As an aside, the IPCC is an agency of the UN that is composed of a panel of climate scientists from 10+ countries around the world. Their predictions are considered conservative by the generality of the science community.]

It appears to me that as humanity rapidly advances materially, we're transforming the physical world around us... The environmental problems that we have left in our wake cannot be easily solved by one group of people alone--it takes collective action. Collective action cannot be easily taken without a foundation of unity, and a willingness to detach ourselves from our own wants and desires.

These excepts from the Promise of World Peace really inspire me to see the potential for what the world can achieve in the face of hardship. I truly believe that each individual has the potential to positively-impact the world, and collectively that potential becomes even stronger. After all, the world is already changing, but it is in our power to affect the direction of that change...

"The scientific and technological advances occurring in this unusually blessed century portend a great surge forward in the social evolution of the planet, and indicate the means by which the practical problems of humanity may be solved. They provide, indeed, the very means for the administration of the complex life of a united world. Yet barriers persist. Doubts, misconceptions, prejudices, suspicions and narrow self-interest beset nations and peoples in their relations one to another...

We hold firmly the conviction that all human beings have been created "to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization"; that "to act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man"; that the virtues that befit human dignity are trustworthiness, forbearance, mercy, compassion and loving-kindness towards all peoples. We reaffirm the belief that the "potentialities inherent in the station of man, the full measure of his destiny on earth, the innate excellence of his reality, must all be manifested in this promised Day of God." These are the motivations for our unshakeable faith that unity and peace are the attainable goal towards which humanity is striving."
(The Universal House of Justice, 1985 Oct, The Promise of World Peace, p. 5)

Changing the World...

2007-04-05T14:27:00.001-07:00

812242296206_0_BG
Originally uploaded by nasimmullen.

I have some friends who refuse to listen to the news, because they feel it's too depressing. I agree that there is a great deal of pain and suffering going on in the world, but I strongly believe that there is something that we can do about it...

For the past year, I've had the blessing to serve with a group of friends at a weekly children and junior youth class. We started up the class over a year ago, and have continued having it for two hours a week ever since. The reason we started this class is simple-- if we want to change the world, we cannot ignore the children. The children are both our present and our future, and there's no more sustainable way to change the world than to arm our children with the ability to identify the social ills of the world and the tools to make change.

Baha'is all over the world have made the moral education and empowerment of children and junior youth a focus of community service activities. I truly feel that the more members of a community that get involved with these activities, the more likely we are to have a peaceful future, and it's never too late to get involved...

"Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom."

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 259)

Fish = poison?

2007-03-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

For those of you (like me) who are fans of fish for dinner, you may not have been very happy to hear the news of high levels of mercury in commercially sold fish (thanks to our water pollution). As it turns out, it's okay to eat fish as long as you eat the right kind at the right quantities. I was talking to a friend who is doing his PhD research in mercury removal from wetlands about what type of fish he would recommend. He recommended Tilapia, which he said not only has low mercury levels, but also has less impact on the environment because they are generally tank farmed (versus commercial fishing operations that make a mess of our natural waters). I decided to check up on what he said, and I found this website from the FDA that gives a list of the mercury levels found in fish. In general, you want to stay away from shark and swordfish, except on very rare occasions (these fish live longer, so there is more time for mercury to bioaccumulate). Salmon and tuna is okay, but you shouldn't eat it too often. Tilapia seems to be the best way to go, so that’s what I recommend. Here is a website with some tilapia recipes :-).

Yuck! Is that what I'm breathing?!?

2007-03-25T18:38:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder how the air quality in your area measures up with other parts of the country?

Go to: scorecard.org

Type in your zip code, and then scroll down to the section titled "Air". Follow the link titled "see how your county stacks up". The "smog and soot" category will tell you how your county ranks aoccording to levels of criteria air pollutant . The second category in the air section will tell you the levels of hazardous air pollutants in your county.

Difference between criteria air pollutants and hazardous air pollutants:
CAPs-- Are pervasive in urban air quality and are found at measurable levels. Studies have shown they cause human health problems, so states are required to keep the concentrations of CAPs below a certain level.
HAPs-- Are sparse and often exist in localized plumes coming directly from industrial sites. However, these are of concern because they are suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, and are therefore required to be at the lowest levels possible.

Something to keep in mind is that the air quality within your home or office is often quite different from the air quality outside... I'll probably write about indoor air quality later--that's one of my favorite topics ;-).

Happy Naw Ruz!!!

2007-03-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

Today is the Baha'i New Year (i.e. Naw Ruz in Persian)! As you may notice, it also coincides with the first day of spring. In the Baha'i Writings, it is written that everything in the spiritual world has an analogy in the physical world. I like to think that as the world becomes renewed with the change in seasons, I can also have a fresh start--building on lessons learned and knowledge gained over the past years.... Today is a great day to reflect on how we've used the past years to shape the world, how the world has shaped us, and how we can use this next year as a time of both growth and service.

I wish you all a new year full of love, joy, growth, and service to humanity!!

"Praise be to God! the springtime of God is at hand. This century is verily the spring season. The world of mind and the kingdom of soul have become fresh and verdant by its bestowals. It has resuscitated the whole realm of existence. On one hand the lights of reality are shining; on the other the clouds of divine mercy are pouring down the fullness of heavenly bounty. Wonderful material progress is evident and great spiritual discoveries are being made. Truly this can be called the miracle of centuries for it is replete with manifestations of the miraculous. The time has come when all mankind shall be united, when all races shall be loyal to one fatherland, all religions become one religion and racial and religious bias pass away. It is a day in which the oneness of humankind shall uplift its standard and international peace like the true morning flood the world with its light. Therefore we offer supplications to God, asking him to dispel these gloomy clouds and uproot these imitations in order that the East and West may become radiant with love and unity; that the nations of the world shall embrace each other and the ideal spiritual brotherhood illumine the world like the glorious sun of the high heavens."
(Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 16-18)

Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco

2007-03-15T14:10:00.001-07:00

IMGP1130
Originally uploaded by nasimmullen.

A couple weeks ago, I went with some friends to the Chinese New Year parade in San Francisco. It was a lot of fun, and I definitely encourage anyone from the area who hasn't gone to check it out next year. I especially enjoyed it because it brought back a wave of memories from my trip to China a few years ago. I had forgotten how culturally rich and beautiful the Chinese culture is, and the parade was a nice reminder :-). The picture to the right shows some of us touching the dragon, which is supposed to bring a year of good luck.

On another note, the Baha'i New Year is coming up on March 21st. That also marks the end of the Baha'i period of fasting...

The toxicologist says: "Cook your mushrooms!"

2007-03-08T17:11:00.000-08:00

In lecture last week, my toxicology professor said that he never eats raw mushrooms. He said they contain a chemical called 1,1-dimethylhydrazine which is a liver toxin and a possible carcinogen. He said that cooking mushrooms will detoxify them, so cooked mushrooms are fine to eat. He also said that most of the toxin is contained in the stock, so if you insist on eating raw mushrooms, at least cut-off the stock :-).

Have you listened to the children?

2007-03-06T16:48:00.000-08:00

We all know that children learn a great deal from adults, but have you ever thought about what we can learn from the children of our community?

I heard this story on public radio this weekend, and I was extremely touched. The 12-year old girl in this story shows courage, detachment, and determination unlike most of her contemporaries, regardless of age! I encourage you to listen to this story: Catie's Story. It's only half an hour long, and it's a touching reminder that there's no test that's insurmountable, and that the way we choose to view the world is up to us...

Also, next time you run into a child or junior youth in your community, you might stop and ask them about their take on the world... You might be surprised to hear what they have to say :-).

Current events and the question of justice...

2007-03-04T20:42:00.000-08:00

There is a couple recent worlds events that have caught my attention:

-Baha’is in Egypt are being denied national ID cards, unless they recant their Faith. Without ID cards they are unable to open bank accounts, drive a car, and may be arrested at random police checkpoints: Read the article here

-The International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor will name the first suspects of war crimes in the Darfur region of Sudan on Tuesday. The Sudan’s Justice minister has said the ICC has no jurisdiction over their national issues… Read the article here

I feel one of the fundamental principles underlying these issues is that of Justice. However, reflecting on this principle causes some questions to come to mind… What is justice? Why is justice important? How do we know when justice has been achieved? A person’s definition of justice may be different depending on where they are from, what they were taught as children, and what they learned through experience… This being the case, who decides which definition of justice is correct? It almost seems that we can’t see eye to eye on the standard of justice without a foundation of unity, and yet we can’t obtain a foundation of unity without an understanding of the requirements of justice… With the current state of affairs rapidly causing the world to shrink to a community, it seems especially important that humanity identify and accept a single standards of justice.

I believe that it’s important for all of us to search out answers to these fundamental questions: What is the source of a true standard of justice? Once we can answer this question and come to a common understanding, we can work together towards a solution that can be implemented on both a local or global scale. Coming to a collective solution will require detachment, open-mindedness and dedication on all of our parts, but I believe it’s attainable.
I was recently re-reading a document entitled “The Promise of World Peace”, and I feel it offers insight to this question based on the guidance offered by the Baha’i Faith. Here is an excerpt that particularly resonated with me:

“The Great Peace towards which people of good will throughout the centuries have inclined their hearts, of which seers and poets for countless generations have expressed their vision, and for which from age to age the sacred scriptures of mankind have constantly held the promise, is now at long last within the reach of the nations. For the first time in history it is possible for everyone to view the entire planet, with all its myriad diversified peoples, in one perspective. World peace is not only possible but inevitable. It is the next stage in the evolution of this planet -- in the words of one great thinker, "the planetization of mankind".

Whether peace is to be reached only after unimaginable horrors precipitated by humanity's stubborn clinging to old patterns of behaviour, or is to be embraced now by an act of consultative will, is the choice before all who inhabit the earth…”
(The Universal House of Justice, 1985 Oct, The Promise of World Peace, p. 1)

Hooray!! The Fast is coming...

2007-02-25T16:25:00.000-08:00

For the days of March 2nd to March 20th, Baha'is around the world are engaged in a period of fasting. This will be my 9th year taking part in the Fast! I realize that to many of my friends who have never taken part in a fast, the whole concept seems a little strange... Why would a person subject themselves to unnecessary hardship? I can totally understand this perspective, because I'll admit that there are some days that are pretty challenging. However, I think it's interesting to note that most every world religion has teachings regarding the significance of fasting as a spiritual practice.

In order to make sure that I'm not fasting purely out of tradition, but that I truly understand and appreciate the significance of what I'm about to do, I'm trying to reflect on some of the Baha'i Writings regarding the purpose of the Fast. I've included three quotations from Baha'u'llah below. Please let me know if you have any insights to share regarding what you understand from these quotations...

"Verily, I say, fasting is the supreme remedy and the most great healing for the disease of self and passion."

"These are the days of the Fast. Blessed is the one who through the heat generated by the Fast increaseth his love, and who, with joy and radiance, ariseth to perform worthy deeds. Verily, He guideth whomsoever He willeth to the straight path."

"Even though outwardly the Fast is difficult and toilsome, yet inwardly it is bounty and tranquillity. Purification and training are conditioned and dependent only on such rigorous exercises as are in accord with the Book of God and sanctioned by Divine law... Whatsoever God hath revealed is beloved of the soul. We beseech Him that He may graciously assist us to do that which is pleasing and acceptable unto Him."

People-watching on BART and imagining the possibilities...

2007-02-20T19:29:00.000-08:00

I took a BART ride to San Francisco today, and though I had planned to make it a productive trip, I ended up people watching :-).
As I looked around the train, I realized that I was sharing the car with a more diverse and interesting group of people than I had been around for weeks... There were people of all ages, from many different ethnic and racial backgrounds, and from a spectrum of social strata. Most of the people sat in silence, maybe reading (like I had planned to do) or listening to music. There were a few conversations going on, and I caught one other guy people watching... I began to wonder what these people's lives were like. Many of them had probably experienced things that I couldn't even imagine... What joys, disappointments, injustices, successes had they felt in their hearts? I realized that I could probably learn so much about the world from the people sitting in this very BART car! How many of societies ills could be resolved if all of us began to earnestly get to know and understand the people sitting around us? However, instead of doing this, everyone stared down at their lap and tried to pretend that they were the only one on the train. I realize there's a number of reasons why we do this, many of which I often use myself, including:
1. If I start talking to them, they might want something from me...
2. If I start talking to them, they might think I want something from them...
3. I'd rather just read, and if I start talking to them now, I'll get stuck in a conversation for the rest of the trip.
4. What if the person turns out to be crazy? Then I'll really have opened a can of beans...

As a result of these fears, we all sit in silence and miss the opportunity to get to know the unique person sitting next to us. Instead, we go about each day within our little sphere of existence, and we make big plans to travel far and wide to see the world. Here's what I've come to realize: you don't need to travel to learn about the world; you just need to ride BART and start talking to the people around you...

I'm guilty of being a silent member of humanity, but I'd like to challenge everyone (including myself) to look up, smile, and say hello to the person next to you. How will the world change if we all earnestly reach out and say to hello to our fellow community members?

Here are two quotations that have inspired the thoughts that I have shared with you:

The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.
-Baha'u'llah

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

Clean House = Dirty Air (and lungs)?

2007-02-16T11:14:00.000-08:00

My advisor and a fellow student recently finished a research project investigating the pollutant emissions from household cleaning products, and the implications on human health. Their results are vere interesting. Here's the story:

- Even cleaning products that are "green" emit natural scented organics called "terpenes". These are the chemicals that give products their pine, lemon or orange smell.
- These "terpenes" are not harmful in their own right, but they can react with Ozone (O3) to produce an array of harmful products such as formaldehyde (the smelly stuff from high school bio class) and inhalable ultrafine particles.
- Ozone can infiltrate in your house from outdoors or some people make the mistake of generating ozone within their house by using ozone of ion air-cleaners...
- The bi-products from ozone and terpene reactions can cause short-term problems such as respiratory difficulty and eye-irritation. Long-term effects are uncertain...

I know what you're thinking: "Oh no! What should I do? Not clean my house?!?"

Here's some advice:
1. Don't use anymore cleaning product than you absolutely need
2. Ventilate well during cleaning activities
3. Throw-away soiled paper towels in the outdoor bin, so that they don't continue off-gassing from the garbage can in your kitchen/bathroom
4. Avoid cleaning on high-ozone days (Note: "spare the air" (bay are) and "ozone-action" (Austin) days are high-ozone days)
5. DO NOT use an ion or ozone air-cleaner (Remeber ozone = evil)

Have fun cleaning :-)!

Have you heard? There's a conflict in Darfur...

2007-02-14T21:22:00.000-08:00

This very tragic story has been dropped from the major news sources in the past few weeks. I think this is an important issue for us to be aware of, so I wanted to share an update...

BACKGROUND: In 2003 rebel groups accused the Sudanese government of ignoring non-Arab tribes. These groups subsequently began to attack police stations and military outposts. In 2003, the rebel groups won 34 of 38 engagements against government armed forces. The government is then accused of unleashing well-armed militias of Arab nomads known as Janjaweed on the rebel groups. These militias know no bounds to the atrocities they are willing to commit. By the spring of 2004, several thousand people — mostly from the non-Arab population — had been killed and as many as a million more had been driven from their homes, causing a major humanitarian crisis in the region. The United Nations says more than 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million chased from their homes by four years of fighting, rape and plunder.

UPDATE: There have been 7,000 African Union forces in Darfur attempting unsuccessfully to re-establish order. In January, the UN proposed sending 200,000 UN peace-keeping forces, but were resisted by the Sudanese president. A UN human rights mission was halted today because they were refused entry visas. The U.S. special envoy to Sudan said today that he feared aid groups could be forced out of Darfur and pro-government Janjaweed militia would try to close camps sheltering millions, resulting in a "blood bath."...

WHY SHOULD WE CARE? I know that many people avoid listening to the news, because they feel that there is nothing they can really do, and in the end they just feel hopelessly depressed... I'd like to offer another motivation for why we should be aware of the injustice happening in the world, and how we should react to this news... We have a tendency to think of those living in far off countries as part of an entirely different reality than the one that we live in, but how would our view change if we considered every member of humanity as our neighbors?

"It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." - Baha'u'llah

There may not be much that we can do to directly assist our kinsmen in Darfur, but perhaps we can let our yearning to assist those suffering around the world motivate us to use the fleeting moments of our lives to bring about unity and peace in our own communities. You know what they say--change starts at home...

"If you desire with all your heart, friendship with every race on earth, your thought, spiritual and positive, will spread; it will become the desire of others, growing stronger and stronger, until it reaches the minds of all men." -Abdu'l-Baha

Who turned up the heat???

2007-02-08T22:28:00.000-08:00

Recently, global climate change has been all over the news. It seems that there's a little confusion about the science behind this phenomena, so I thought I'd attempt to break it down...

The incoming energy from the sun is absorbed by the earth, and is balanced by a net release back through the atmosphere in the form of blackbody emissions (First Law of Thermodynamics---remeber that from Physics 101?). Since we know the amount of energy coming from the sun, we can do a calculation to see what the corresponding temperature of the earth should be in order to maintain the energy balance. The answer is....-2.5 degrees Ferenheit! Okay, I know what you're thinking: "Nasim what are you saying! It's pretty cold outside right now, but not that cold!" Well, don't worry. Our earth is not violating the laws of Physics... The reason that our surface temperature is actually an average of 60 degrees is because of the GREENHOUSE GASSES... Yes, it's true---we actually need the greenhouse gasses to keep our earth at a comfortable temperature. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas that holds heat in our atmosphere. For many many years, the CO2 absorbed by our earth (e.g. by plants) was essentially equal to the amount emitted (e.g. by respiration), so that the concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere stayed at a constant level (both flows equal approximately 100 Tg (C)/yr). Then... along came the humans. The primary method by which humans have disrupted the CO2 balance in the atmosphere is by digging up all the burried organic Carbon from deep within our earth, and burning it so that it is re-emitted as CO2. The human contribution to the flow is 5-10 Tg (C)/yr. That's a metric ton of Carbon per year for every person on earth!!! The other way that we have upset the balance is by clearing away forests, so that the net uptake of CO2 by plants is reduced....

It's hard to say what the net effect of this increase in CO2 will be, but we know from a pure energy balance that this suggests warming. Climatologists suggest that a warming trend can already be observed from the past couple centuries of data...

Don't dismay, there are things that we can each do to overcome this challenge:
(1) Drive less-- carpool or take public transit
(2) Be more energy efficient (this one is key)! You can use compact flourescent lightbulbs to save a great deal on your electric bill, and reduce your contribution to CO2 emissions! Also, the next time you have to replace big appliances, consider getting an energy-star rated product. You should also consider unplugging your remote-control operated entertainment systems when you are not using them...

To see how you can decrease your "footprint" on the earth, visit www.earthday.net/footprint

My one year aniversary...

2007-02-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

February 14th will be the one year anniversary of the union of my braces and I... This relationship has had it's ups and downs, and I don't feel bad saying that I will be VERY happy when it's over... I visited the orthodontist this morning and asked her how much longer I had. Her answer was about as vague as possible--- within a year.

Well, I can't complain too much. The braces aren't really that bad, and I'm pretty much used to them by now. There are actually some benefits to having braces. For instance, they serve as a great conversation piece with the Junior Youth that are in the junior youth group that I facilitate, since many of them also have braces. In fact, the braces also help initiate conversations with children. I can't tell you how many kids have come up to me and asked, "What's on your teeth?" Last Sunday, an adorable and insightful 4 yr old at the children's virtues class that I help with asked me this very question. I explained to him that they were braces and were meant to fix my teeth and make them straight. I went on to tell him that the orthodontist had put the braces on for me as a service, and that he could be an orthodontist when he grew up and do the same for other people. He then informed me that he already had plans to be a "jewelry-maker" when he grew up. I asked him what kind of "jewelry-maker", and he told me to guess. Well, I guessed everything I could think of and was unsuccessful, so I finally gave up. His answer was, "A surfer jewelry-maker!" Needless to say, this wasn't the answer I was expecting, however it might not be a bad idea... I bet the market for surfer jewelry-makers is wide open!

Shirin's quotation of the day...

2007-02-06T22:50:00.000-08:00

This morning my sister called me, and said she wanted to tell me the "quote of the day". She then went on to recite the following quotation, which she said she's working on memorizing:

"Today the confirmations...are with those who renounce themselves, forget their own opinions, cast aside personalities and are thinking of the welfare of others. Whosoever has lost himself has found the universe and the inhabitants thereof. Whosoever is occupied with himself is wandering in the desert of heedlessness and regret. The "master-key" to self-mastery is self-forgetting. The road to the palace of life is through the path of renunciation."
-Abdu'l-Baha

She said that a week ago she had a really bad day (lost her keys, was late to class, forgot her lunch...), and by the end of the day was pretty annoyed with life (yes, we've all had those days :-). When she got home, she opened a book to this quote, and reading it helped clear things up for her. She realized that when we're focused on our own selfish interests the little things of life will really get us down, but when we have our vision fixed on promoting the welfare of others, the little things don't seem to matter anymore...

I thought this was a really great insight, so I wanted to pass it along. Thanks Shirin!!!

Yoga... yes, no, maybe?

2007-02-05T22:08:00.000-08:00

Yes, everyone should try yoga!!! I can't give you any statistics about how yoga will change your life, but I can give you my personal testimony. I started practicing yoga a year and a half ago, and I've firmly decided it's something I want to continue with for the rest of my life! Yoga helps you better understand your body and learn how to have more control over it. For example, you realize how to best sit/stand/walk so as to minimize stress to your back and shoulder muscles, and prevent injury (repetitive stress injury is becoming more and more common!). You also gain in flexibility which minimizes muscle stiffness and pain. On top of that, yoga is both a strengthening and a relaxing activity--- you get the best of both worlds!!

To make a long story short, I think that everyone should give yoga a try, no matter who you are! Just make sure to go into it with an open mind... Let me know how it goes :-)!

My friend was in the San Francisco Chronicle!!!

2007-02-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Ijeoma Thomas was spotlighted in the San Francisco Chronicle. I met Ijeoma shortly after I first moved here, and in the year and a half that I've known her, I never realized the full extent of her talant and service!!

Take a moment to read about this wonderful person, and her contribution to humanity:
http://www.sfgate.com:80/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/02/DDGKUNSFUL1.DTL

You're not going to believe what I learned today!

2007-02-01T20:29:00.000-08:00

I learned something interesting in class today, and before I tell you what it is, I want to share a quotation that this new learning made me think of:

"Nature is God's Will and is its expression in and through the contingent world... It is endowed with a power whose reality men of learning fail to grasp. Indeed a man of insight can percieve naught therein save the effulgent splendour of Our Name, the Creator. Say: This is an existence which knoweth no decay, and Nature itself is lost in bewilderment before its revelations, its compelling evidences and its effulgent glory which have encompassed the universe."
-Tablets of Baha'u'llah, pg. 142

Today I learned that microbes in the soil breakdown nitrate, and convert it to nitrous oxide. The nitrous oxide is released into the atmosphere, and because it is inert, is able to make it up to the stratosphere where it reacts with the ozone layer. Therefore, the nitrous oxide contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer, but is luckily balanced by another naturally reaction that replenshes the ozone. However, the point is that this nitrous oxide ultimately determines how much UV gets through the atmosphere (which is filtered by the ozone layer), and the amount of UV determines the mutation rates on earth, which in turn determines the pace of evolution..... WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN??? It means that little microbes in the soil determine the pace of evolution!!!

Well, what it really means to me is that everything in this amazing creation called nature is connected in some way, so much so that it really blows your mind!... In the same way, I feel that all the people of the world are in some way connected with each other. We never know how we can impact those around us with our thoughts, words and actions, and what effect that might have the world-over...

Here's another quotation:
"The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct." -Baha'u'llah

Here we go...

2007-02-01T16:43:00.000-08:00

I resisted starting a blog because it seemed like it would be a big distraction, and a potentially large time-sink. Though this may be true, I feel inspired by the neat blogs that some of my friends have to start one of my own. There's two things I hope to accomplish with this blog: (1) Keep my friends and family up to date with the status of my life, without having to send out 100s of emails :-), (2) Share with others the inspiring insights and interesting facts that I learn through my classes, research, and study of the Baha'i Writings.

We'll see how this goes :-)...