Today, Saturday, July 11, 2009, seven Baha'is will go on trial in Iran. What was their crime? They had helped to organize Baha'i weddings and Baha'i funerals. The Islamic government of Iran does not recognize the legitimacy of such services. Because Abdu'l-Baha took part in both Baha'i weddings and Baha'i funerals, I want to alert the readers of my blog to this trial.
Those who want to learn more about this trial can find a wealth of information at the following link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6669920.ece>.
After reading the information posted on the above website, then the readers of this blog can deceide for themselves whether or not the scheduled trial appears to represent a valid avenue for the delivery of justice.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Two Thoughts that Relate to Artists
Yesterday crowds around the world watched the memorial service for Michael Jackson. Today I am going to post two quotes from Abdu'l-Baha, quotes that relate to the important role of the artist in our present day society:
Words of Wisdom:"In accordance with the divine teachings, the acquisition of sciences and the perfection of arts is considered as acts of worship. If a man engages iwht all his power in the acquisition of a science or in the perfection if an art, it is as if he has been worshipping God in the churches andtemples."Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith
"Among some of the nations of the Orient, music and harmony was not approved of, but the Manifested Light, Bahá'u'lláh, in this glorious period has revealed in Holy Tablets that singing and music are the spiritual food of the hearts and souls. In this dispensation, music is one of the arts that is highly approved and is considered to be the cause of the exaltation of sad and desponding hearts."(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith)
Words of Wisdom:"In accordance with the divine teachings, the acquisition of sciences and the perfection of arts is considered as acts of worship. If a man engages iwht all his power in the acquisition of a science or in the perfection if an art, it is as if he has been worshipping God in the churches andtemples."Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith
"Among some of the nations of the Orient, music and harmony was not approved of, but the Manifested Light, Bahá'u'lláh, in this glorious period has revealed in Holy Tablets that singing and music are the spiritual food of the hearts and souls. In this dispensation, music is one of the arts that is highly approved and is considered to be the cause of the exaltation of sad and desponding hearts."(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith)
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thoughts for the Start of the Work Week
As American workers return to their place of business, following a long holiday weekend, they can reflect on some of the words of Abdu'l-Baha. Here is a passage taken from a talk that Abdu'l-Baha gave on June 6, 1912:
"Praise be to God! You have heard the call of the Kingdom. Your eyes are opened; you have turned to God. Your purpose is the good pleasure of God, the understanding of the mysteries of the heart and investigation of the realities. Day and night you must strive that you may attain to the significances of the heavenly Kingdom, perceive the signs of Divinity, acquire certainty of knowledge and realize that this world has a Creator, a Vivifier, a Provider, an Architect—knowing this through proofs and evidences and not through susceptibilities, nay, rather, through decisive arguments and real vision—that is to say, visualizing it as clearly as the outer eye beholds the sun. In this way may you behold the presence of God and attain to the knowledge of the holy, divine Manifestations.
You must come into the knowledge of the divine Manifestations and Their teachings through proofs and evidences. You must unseal the mysteries of the supreme Kingdom and become capable of discovering the inner realities of things. Then shall you be the manifestations of the mercy of God and true believers, firm and steadfast in the Cause of God.
Praise be to God! The door of divine knowledge has been opened by Bahá’u’lláh, for He has laid the foundation whereby man may become acquainted with the verities of heaven and earth and has bestowed the utmost confirmation in this day. He is our Teacher and Adviser; He is our Seer and the One clement toward us. He has prepared His gifts and vouchsafed His bounties, revealed every admonition and behest, prepared for us the means of eternal glory, breathed upon us the life-quickening breaths of the Holy Spirit, opened before our faces the doors of the paradise of Abhá and caused the lights of the Sun of Truth to shine upon us. The clouds of mercy have poured down their precious rain. The sea of favor is swelling and surging toward us.
The spiritual springtime has come. Infinite bounties and graces have appeared. What bestowal is greater than this? We must appreciate the divine generosity and act in accordance with the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh so that all good may be stored up for us and in both worlds we shall become precious and acceptable to God, attain to everlasting blessings, taste the delicacy of the love of God, find the sweetness of the knowledge of God, perceive the heavenly bestowal and witness the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is my advice, and this is my admonition."
The above passage can be found in the book The Promulgation of Universal Peace.
"Praise be to God! You have heard the call of the Kingdom. Your eyes are opened; you have turned to God. Your purpose is the good pleasure of God, the understanding of the mysteries of the heart and investigation of the realities. Day and night you must strive that you may attain to the significances of the heavenly Kingdom, perceive the signs of Divinity, acquire certainty of knowledge and realize that this world has a Creator, a Vivifier, a Provider, an Architect—knowing this through proofs and evidences and not through susceptibilities, nay, rather, through decisive arguments and real vision—that is to say, visualizing it as clearly as the outer eye beholds the sun. In this way may you behold the presence of God and attain to the knowledge of the holy, divine Manifestations.
You must come into the knowledge of the divine Manifestations and Their teachings through proofs and evidences. You must unseal the mysteries of the supreme Kingdom and become capable of discovering the inner realities of things. Then shall you be the manifestations of the mercy of God and true believers, firm and steadfast in the Cause of God.
Praise be to God! The door of divine knowledge has been opened by Bahá’u’lláh, for He has laid the foundation whereby man may become acquainted with the verities of heaven and earth and has bestowed the utmost confirmation in this day. He is our Teacher and Adviser; He is our Seer and the One clement toward us. He has prepared His gifts and vouchsafed His bounties, revealed every admonition and behest, prepared for us the means of eternal glory, breathed upon us the life-quickening breaths of the Holy Spirit, opened before our faces the doors of the paradise of Abhá and caused the lights of the Sun of Truth to shine upon us. The clouds of mercy have poured down their precious rain. The sea of favor is swelling and surging toward us.
The spiritual springtime has come. Infinite bounties and graces have appeared. What bestowal is greater than this? We must appreciate the divine generosity and act in accordance with the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh so that all good may be stored up for us and in both worlds we shall become precious and acceptable to God, attain to everlasting blessings, taste the delicacy of the love of God, find the sweetness of the knowledge of God, perceive the heavenly bestowal and witness the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is my advice, and this is my admonition."
The above passage can be found in the book The Promulgation of Universal Peace.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Thoughts on Citizens and their Government
As citizens of the United States move closer to enjoyment of their Independence Day celebrations, it seems fitting to read what Abdu'l-Baha had to say about the role of both citizens and their government. Read what he said on July 1, 1912, when speaking at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street in New York City:
"Difference of capacity in human individuals is fundamental. It is impossible for all to be alike, all to be equal, all to be wise. Bahá’u’lláh has revealed principles and laws which will accomplish the adjustment of varying human capacities. He has said that whatsoever is possible of accomplishment in human government will be effected through these principles. When the laws He has instituted are carried out, there will be no millionaires possible in the community and likewise no extremely poor. This will be effected and regulated by adjusting the different degrees of human capacity. The fundamental basis of the community is agriculture, tillage of the soil. All must be producers. Each person in the community whose need is equal to his individual producing capacity shall be exempt from taxation. But if his income is greater than his needs, he must pay a tax until an adjustment is effected. That is to say, a man’s capacity for production and his needs will be equalized and reconciled through taxation. If his production exceeds, he will pay a tax; if his necessities exceed his production, he shall receive an amount sufficient to equalize or adjust. Therefore, taxation will be proportionate to capacity and production, and there will be no poor in the community. "
The above statement can be found in the book "The Promulgation of Universal Peace. "
"Difference of capacity in human individuals is fundamental. It is impossible for all to be alike, all to be equal, all to be wise. Bahá’u’lláh has revealed principles and laws which will accomplish the adjustment of varying human capacities. He has said that whatsoever is possible of accomplishment in human government will be effected through these principles. When the laws He has instituted are carried out, there will be no millionaires possible in the community and likewise no extremely poor. This will be effected and regulated by adjusting the different degrees of human capacity. The fundamental basis of the community is agriculture, tillage of the soil. All must be producers. Each person in the community whose need is equal to his individual producing capacity shall be exempt from taxation. But if his income is greater than his needs, he must pay a tax until an adjustment is effected. That is to say, a man’s capacity for production and his needs will be equalized and reconciled through taxation. If his production exceeds, he will pay a tax; if his necessities exceed his production, he shall receive an amount sufficient to equalize or adjust. Therefore, taxation will be proportionate to capacity and production, and there will be no poor in the community. "
The above statement can be found in the book "The Promulgation of Universal Peace. "
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Revisitng Old Thoughts
A letter of support sent to one group of Iranians contained a quote by Abdu'l-Baha. Here is that quote:
"Iran shall become a focal centre of divine splendours. Her darksome soil will become luminous and her land will shine resplendent."
"Iran shall become a focal centre of divine splendours. Her darksome soil will become luminous and her land will shine resplendent."
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Thoughts Relating to Leadership
June 23, 1912 fell on a Sunday. The following day, June 24, 1912, a number of the residents of Montclair and Englewood, New Jersey were thinking about statements that they had heard the previous day. They had listened to a talk, a talk given by Abdu'l-Baha. His words have meaning to us today. His words relate to the events of the 21st Century.
Here is part of what he said:
"Jesus Christ established the religion of God through love. His sovereignty is everlasting. Napoleon overthrew governments in war and bloodshed. His dominion passed away; he himself was dethroned. Bonaparte destroyed human life; Christ was a Savior. Bonaparte controlled the physical bodies of men; Christ was a conqueror of human hearts. None of the Prophets of God were famous men, but They were unique in spiritual power. Love is the eternal sovereignty. Love is the divine power. By it all the kings of earth are overthrown and conquered. What evidence of this could be greater than the accomplishment of Bahá’u’lláh? He appeared in the East and was exiled. He was sent to the prison of ‘Akká in Palestine. Two powerful despotic kings arose against Him. During His exile and imprisonment He wrote Tablets of authority to the kings and rulers of the world, announcing His spiritual sovereignty, establishing the religion of God, upraising the heavenly banners of the Cause of God. One of these Tablets was sent to Napoleon III, Emperor of France. He received it with contempt and cast it behind his back. Bahá’u’lláh addressed a second Tablet to him, containing these words, “Hadst thou been sincere in thy words, thou wouldst have not cast behind thy back the Book of God, when it was sent unto thee…. We have proved thee through it, and found thee other than that which thou didst profess. Arise, and make amends for that which escaped thee. Erelong the world and all that thou possessest will perish, and the kingdom will remain unto God. …For what thou hast done, thy kingdom shall be thrown into confusion, and thine empire shall pass from thine hands, as a punishment for that which thou hast wrought. Then wilt thou know how thou hast plainly erred…. Thy pomp … shall soon pass away, unless thou holdest fast by this firm Cord. We see abasement hastening after thee….” All this happened just as announced by Bahá’u’lláh. Napoleon III was dethroned and exiled. His empire passed away and became nonexistent while the dominion and sovereignty 212 of Bahá’u’lláh, the Prisoner, has become eternal through the confirmation of God. This is as evident as the light of the sun at midday except to those who are spiritually blind. If we are afflicted with a cold, we cannot inhale the delicate fragrances emanating from the rose garden of the divine Kingdom. "
The above paragraph comes from the book "Promulgation of Universal Peace."
Here is part of what he said:
"Jesus Christ established the religion of God through love. His sovereignty is everlasting. Napoleon overthrew governments in war and bloodshed. His dominion passed away; he himself was dethroned. Bonaparte destroyed human life; Christ was a Savior. Bonaparte controlled the physical bodies of men; Christ was a conqueror of human hearts. None of the Prophets of God were famous men, but They were unique in spiritual power. Love is the eternal sovereignty. Love is the divine power. By it all the kings of earth are overthrown and conquered. What evidence of this could be greater than the accomplishment of Bahá’u’lláh? He appeared in the East and was exiled. He was sent to the prison of ‘Akká in Palestine. Two powerful despotic kings arose against Him. During His exile and imprisonment He wrote Tablets of authority to the kings and rulers of the world, announcing His spiritual sovereignty, establishing the religion of God, upraising the heavenly banners of the Cause of God. One of these Tablets was sent to Napoleon III, Emperor of France. He received it with contempt and cast it behind his back. Bahá’u’lláh addressed a second Tablet to him, containing these words, “Hadst thou been sincere in thy words, thou wouldst have not cast behind thy back the Book of God, when it was sent unto thee…. We have proved thee through it, and found thee other than that which thou didst profess. Arise, and make amends for that which escaped thee. Erelong the world and all that thou possessest will perish, and the kingdom will remain unto God. …For what thou hast done, thy kingdom shall be thrown into confusion, and thine empire shall pass from thine hands, as a punishment for that which thou hast wrought. Then wilt thou know how thou hast plainly erred…. Thy pomp … shall soon pass away, unless thou holdest fast by this firm Cord. We see abasement hastening after thee….” All this happened just as announced by Bahá’u’lláh. Napoleon III was dethroned and exiled. His empire passed away and became nonexistent while the dominion and sovereignty 212 of Bahá’u’lláh, the Prisoner, has become eternal through the confirmation of God. This is as evident as the light of the sun at midday except to those who are spiritually blind. If we are afflicted with a cold, we cannot inhale the delicate fragrances emanating from the rose garden of the divine Kingdom. "
The above paragraph comes from the book "Promulgation of Universal Peace."
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Thoughts on an Impeded Transition
Today someone has submitted an interesting observation about the demonstrations in Iran. They have likened them to the youth movement in the U.S. during the 1960s. I want to make it clear that as Susan B. Anthony spoke out in favor of equal rights for women, a woman in Persia removed the veil from her face. She was attending a conference.
The man who had organized that conference was named Baha'u'llah. He encouraged the people of Persia to accept the equality of men and women, as well as equality among people of all races, and people of all faiths. The authorities in Persia did not like the teachings of Baha'u'llah, and they banished from Persia both Baha'u'llah and his family.
Abdu'l-Baha was the eldest son of Baha'u'llah. Before coming to the U.S., Abdu'l-Baha had been a prisoner in a Turkish city. The people of Persia/Iran have long craved equality. The actions of their government have impeded the transition to a more equalized society.
The man who had organized that conference was named Baha'u'llah. He encouraged the people of Persia to accept the equality of men and women, as well as equality among people of all races, and people of all faiths. The authorities in Persia did not like the teachings of Baha'u'llah, and they banished from Persia both Baha'u'llah and his family.
Abdu'l-Baha was the eldest son of Baha'u'llah. Before coming to the U.S., Abdu'l-Baha had been a prisoner in a Turkish city. The people of Persia/Iran have long craved equality. The actions of their government have impeded the transition to a more equalized society.
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