Energizing Thoughts

Today, the start of the Persian New Year begins a two week period of celebration. In 1912, Abdu'l-Baha could not afford to take two weeks off from his efforts. He continued to share with residents of the United States information about the Baha'i Faith.

Here is a quote for Abdu'l-Baha. It shows how his thoughts provided him with the motivation to keep going.

".....Cleanse ye your eyes,
so that ye behold no man as different from yourselves.... See ye no strangers;
rather see all men as friends, for love and unity come hard when ye fix your gaze on otherness...." Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahap. 23

When I Can't Read Thoughts

Last night I was watching a program on Persian satellite TV. It was a special about the Baha'i Faith. That program displayed a number of different pictures of Abdu'l-Baha. I could not, of course, know what thoughts Abdu'l-Baha was thinking while he was being photographed. I could, however, imagine that he might have had thoughts similar to those presented below:

"From the seed of reality,
religion has grown into a tree
which has put forth leaves and branches, blossoms and fruit. After a time this tree has fallen into a condition of decay.
The leaves and blossoms have withered and perished;
the tree has become stricken and fruitless.
It is not reasonable that man should hold to the old tree, claiming that its life forces are undiminished,
its fruit unequalled, its existence eternal.
The seed of reality must be sown again in human hearts
in order that a new tree may grow therefrom
and new divine fruits refresh the world."

(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith -
Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 226)

Thoughts on the Baha'i New Year

Yesterday I mentioned that the first day of spring was a special day for Abdu'l-Baha. March 21st, the day after the arrival of spring was also a special day for Abdu'l-Baha. March 21st is the date for the Baha'i New Year.

One hundred years ago, on March 21, 1909, Abdu'l-Baha fulfilled a promise that he had made to his father. Read what he did by going to this website:

http://news.bahai.org/story/704

Thoughts on Spring

Today is the first day of spring. The arrival of spring held great significance for Abdu'l-Baha. Go to the following website to read his comments about this day:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/man_is_like_unto_a_tree/3370088854/

Thoughts on Peace

Before coming to the United States, Abdu'l-Baha spent some time visiting Europe. While he was in London, he followed his usaual practice of inviting questions at the conclusion of each talk. After a talk about peace, someone in the audience asked Abdu'l-Baha if he expected peace on earth to come all at once or gradually.

Abdu'l-Baha told that curious listener that peace on earth would probably come about gradually. Abdu'l-Baha then explained why he had made that prediction. He said "A plant that grows too quickly lasts but a short time." (quote taken from the book Abdu'l-Baha in London, page 106)

Apparently Abdu'l-Baha felt that the achievement of peace on earth would usher in a lasting peace.

Thoughts on Greed

Tonight as I listened to the evening news I recalled a statement made by Abdu'l-Baha. Recent news reports have hightlighted the bonuses offered to executives at AIG, after that company received tax payer money. That act seems to underline a culture of greed.

Here is what Abdu'l-Baha said about greed:


"...greed, which is to ask for something more, is a praiseworthy quality provided that it is used suitably. So if a man is greedy to acquire science and knowledge, or to become compassionate, generous and just, it is most praiseworthy. " (Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 215)


Do you think that a greed for generosity, justice or compassion fueled the drive by AIG to provide its executives with larger bonuses? Do you think that AIG wanted to help its executives go after scientific, technological or financial knowledge? If I use Abdu'l-Baha's statement as a measure of AIG greed, I have to conclude that their greed was less than praiseworthy.

More thoughts on Women

In March of 1912, as the U.S. Cedric crossed the Atlantic Ocean, carrying Abdu'l-Baha and hundreds of other passengers, one of those passengers happened to speak with the traveler from Persia. That fellow traveler was Professor Brown, a man on the faculty at Mount Holyoke College.

Professor Brown told Abdu'l-Baha that he taught at an all female institution. Abdu'l-Baha was most impressed; Baha'is attach great importance to the education of women. Yet, that fact should not be interpretted as a condemnation of marriage. In fact, see below what Abdu'l-Baha as written about marriage:

"Wherefore, wed Thou in the heaven of Thy mercy these two birds of the nest of Thy love, and make them the means of attracting perpetual grace; that from the union of these two seas of love a wave of tenderness may surge and cast the pearls of pure and goodly issue on the shore of life."Abdu'l-Baha, Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 105