Buddhism and the Bahai Faith

Self-control and empathy

2011-10-18T22:25:00.003+02:00

"He who is master of himself is greater than he who is the master of the world."

"Happiness is born of altruism and misery of selfishness."

~ Siddhârtha Gautama, known as Buddha

The necessity of "action" by Benjamin Disraeli

2011-10-13T23:35:00.005+02:00

Action may not always bring happiness but there is no happiness without action.

~ Benjamin Disraeli

Wise insights inspired from Taoism

2011-09-18T18:37:00.002+02:00

"Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment."

~ Lao-Tseu, Tao-tö king

When will mankind adopt the Faith ?

2011-08-18T05:52:00.003+02:00

Once Varqa asked Baha'u'llah, "How will the Cause of God be universally adopted by mankind?" Baha'u'llah said that first, the nations of the world would arm themselves with infernal engines of war, and when fully armed would attack each other like bloodthirsty beasts. As a result, there would be anormous bloodshed throughout the world. Then the wise men from all nations would gather together to investigate the cause of such bloodshed. They would come to the conclusion that prejudices were the cause, a major form being religious prejudice. They would therefore try to eliminate religion so as to eliminate prejudice. Later they would realize that man cannot live without religion. Then they would study the teachings of all religions to see which of the religions conformed to the prevailing conditions of the time. It is then that the Cause of God would become universal.

~ Revelation of Baha'u'llah, vol. 4, p.56

Dealing with insults

2011-08-18T02:09:00.003+02:00

The Buddha explained how to handle insult and maintain compassion.
One day Buddha was walking through a village. A very angry and rude young man came up and began insulting him. "You have no right teaching others," he shouted. "You are as stupid as everyone else. You are nothing but a fake."

Buddha was not upset by these insults. Instead he asked the young man "Tell me, if you buy a gift for someone, and that person does not take it, to whom does the gift belong?"

The man was surprised to be asked such a strange question and answered, "It would belong to me, because I bought the gift."

The Buddha smiled and said, "That is correct. And it is exactly the same with your anger. If you become angry with me and I do not get insulted, then the anger falls back on you. You are then the only one who becomes unhappy, not me. All you have done is hurt yourself."

"If you want to stop hurting yourself, you must get rid of your anger and become loving instead. When you hate others, you yourself become unhappy. But when you love others, everyone is happy."

The young man listened closely to these wise words of the Buddha. "You are right, o Enlightened One, "he said. "Please teach me the path of love. I wish to become your follower."

The Buddha answered kindly, "Of course. I teach anyone who truly wants to learn. Come with me."

~ Stories about Buddha

Detachment

2011-07-23T12:08:00.002+02:00

"Detachment is as the sun; in whatsoever heart it doth shine it quenches the covetousness of self. He whose sight is illumined with the light of understanding will assuredly detach himself from the world and the vanities thereof.... Let not the world and its vileness grieve you. Happy is he whom riches fill not with vainglory, nor poverty with sorrow."

~ Baha'u'llah, The Divine Art of Living

What is the Bahai Faith ?

2011-07-23T11:50:00.004+02:00

Official definition :

The Bahá'í Faith upholds the unity of God, recognizes the unity of His Prophets, and inculcates the principle of the oneness and wholeness of the entire human race. It proclaims the necessity and the inevitability of the unification of mankind, asserts that it is gradually approaching, and claims that nothing short of the transmuting spirit of God, working through His chosen Mouthpiece in this day, can ultimately succeed in bringing it about. It, moreover, enjoins upon its followers the primary duty of an unfettered search after truth, condemns all manner of prejudice and superstition, declares the purpose of religion to be the promotion of amity and concord, proclaims its essential harmony with science, and recognizes it as the foremost agency for the pacification and the orderly progress of human society. It unequivocally maintains the principle of equal rights, opportunities and privileges for men and women, insists on compulsory education, eliminates extremes of poverty and wealth, abolishes the institution of priesthood, prohibits slavery, asceticism, mendicancy and monasticism, prescribes monogamy, discourages divorce, emphasizes the necessity of strict obedience to one's government, exalts any work performed in the spirit of service to the level of worship, urges either the creation or the selection of an auxiliary international language, and delineates the outlines of those institutions that must establish and perpetuate the general peace of mankind.

~ Shoghi Effendi to the United Nations Special Commission on Palestine (1947)

Justice

2011-05-07T05:37:00.000+02:00

"Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer to the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility."

~ Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 93

The Power of Love

2011-05-06T03:30:00.002+02:00

"Only by Love can men see me, and know me, and come to me."

~ Baghavad Gita

"We are what we think,
having become what we thought.
Like the wheel that follows the cart-pulling ox,
Sorrow follows an evil thought.

And joy follows a pure thought,
like a shadow faithfully tailing a man.
We are what we think,
having become what we thought...

There is only one eternal law:
Hate never destroys hate; only love does."

~ Dhammapada

Friendship

2011-04-09T22:22:00.003+02:00

"There is always an important difference between friends and tested friends. No matter how precious the first type may be, the future of the Cause rests upon the latter."

~ Shoghi Effendi, The Light of Divine Guidance v I, p. 34

Be Happy ! :)

2011-02-01T20:12:00.000+01:00

If we are not happy and joyous at this season, for what other season shall we wait and for what other time shall we look?

...This is the time for growing; the season for joyous gathering! Take the cup of the Testament in thy hand; leap and dance with ecstasy in the triumphal procession of the Covenant! Lay your confidence in the everlasting bounty, turn to the presence of the generous God; ask assistance from the Kingdom of Abha; seek confirmation from the Supreme World; turn thy vision to the horizon of eternal wealth; and pray for help from the Source of Mercy!

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 351

Do not feel depressed about not finding the right job

2011-01-08T04:22:00.002+01:00

You should never be too depressed about your dissatisfaction concerning not finding a job you like, a place in the world that fits you. If you analyze it, this general sense of mis-fit is one of the curses of your generation, one of the products of the world's disequilibrium and chaos. It is not confined to your life, it is pretty general.

~ Letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer. Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny, p. 454

Our materialistic civilization

2011-01-04T02:43:00.005+01:00

... the chief reason for the evils now rampant in society is the lack of spirituality. The materialistic civilization of our age has so much absorbed the energy and interest of mankind that people in general do no longer feel the necessity of raising themselves above the forces and conditions of their daily material existence. There is not sufficient demand for things that we should call spiritual to differentiate them from the needs and requirements of our physical existence.
The universal crisis affecting mankind is, therefore, essentially spiritual in its causes. The spirit of the age, taken on the whole, is irreligious. Man's outlook on life is too crude and materialistic to enable him to elevate himself into the higher realms of the spirit.
It is this condition, so sadly morbid, into which society has fallen, that religion seeks to improve and transform...

~ From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 8 December 1935. Lights of Guidance, no. 449, pp. 134-5

It would be perhaps impossible to find a nation or people not in a state of crisis today. The materialism, the lack of true religion and the consequent baser forces in human nature which are being released, have brought the whole world to the brink of probably the greatest crisis it has ever faced or will have to face. The Baha'is are a part of the world. They too feel the great pressures which are brought to bear upon all people today, whoever and wherever they may be.

~ From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, 19 July 1956. Lights of Guidance, no. 440, p. 131

Attitude towards oneself and others

2010-12-18T12:56:00.004+01:00

Be very demanding with yourself and expect few from others, thus you will prevent yourself from getting into many troubles.

~ Confucius

Others can raise our spirits or depress us

2010-12-10T22:39:00.007+01:00

There are persons with whom we associate and converse whose utterances are life-imparting, joy-giving. The withered and faded are refreshed, the joyless become happy, the extinct become enkindled and the lifeless are quickened with the breaths of the Holy Spirit. The one drowned in the sea of hesitation and doubt is saved by the life-boat of certainty and assurance; the one attached to this material world becomes severed and the one steeped in blameworthy deeds is adorned with praiseworthy attributes. On the other hand there are some persons whose very respiration extinguishes the light of faith; whose conversation weakens firmness and steadfastness in the Cause of God; whose company diverts one's attention from the kingdom of Abha.

~ Attributed to 'Abdu'l-Baha, Fire and Gold, Benefiting from Life's Tests, Brian Kurzius, p.84-85

The perfect human sentiments and virtues

2010-11-04T17:05:00.002+01:00

You live to do good and to bring happiness to others.

~ 'Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 112

The greatest happiness can only be found in the happiness of others.

~ Baha'u'llah, the Divine Art of Living

Inspiring quote from Sir Winston Churchill

2010-10-19T11:02:00.006+02:00

Success consists in going from chess to chess, without losing one's enthusiasm.

~ Sir Winston Churchill

Guidances

2010-10-04T08:13:00.004+02:00

Man must always associate with those from whom he can get light, or be with those to whom he can give light. He must either receive or give instructions. Otherwise, being with people without these two intentions, he is spending his time for nothing, and, by so doing, he is neither gaining nor causing others to gain.

~ 'Abdu'l-Baha, Misc Baha'i, The Diary of Juliet Thompson

Dynamics of prayer

2010-09-27T23:29:00.003+02:00

While in Haifa, the beloved Guardian of the Cause gave to the writer (Mrs Ruth Moffat), the most concise, complete, and effective formula she has ever seen, for the Dynamics of Prayer. After saying to stress the need of more prayers and meditation among the friends, he said to use these five steps if we had a problem of any kind for which we desired a solution or wished help.

First Step. - Pray and meditate about it. Use the prayers of the Manifestations as they have the greatest power. Then remain in the silence of contemplation for a few minutes.

Second Step. - Arrive at a decision and hold this. This decision is usually born during the contemplation. It may seem almost impossible of accomplishment but if it seems to be as answer to a prayer or a way of solving the problem, then immediately take the next step.

Third Step. - Have determination to carry the decision through.
Many fail here. The decision, budding into determination, is blighted and instead becomes a wish or a vague longing. When determination is born, immediately take the next step.

Fourth Step. - Have faith and confidence that the power will flow through you, the right way will appear, the door will open, the right thought, the right message, the right principle or the right book will be given you. Have confidence, and the right thing will come to your need. Then, as you rise from prayer, take at once the fifth step.

Fifth Step. - Then, he said, lastly, ACT; Act as though it had all been answered. Then act with tireless, ceaseless energy. And as you act, you, yourself, will become a magnet, which will attract more power to your being, until you become an unobstructed channel for the Divine power to flow through you. Many pray but do not remain for the last half of the first step. Some who meditate arrive at a decision, but fail to hold it. Few have the determination to carry the decision through, still fewer have the confidence that the right thing will come to their need. But how many remember to act as though it had all been answered? How true are those words - "Greater than the prayer is the spirit in which it is uttered" and greater than the way it is uttered is the spirit in which it is carried out.

~ Selected Statements and Special Documents Prepared by the National Spiritual Assembly, (Compilations, Principles of Bahai Administration, p. 91)

Four qualities which the Blessed Beauty [Baha'u'llah] loved to see manifested in people

2010-07-16T01:22:00.009+02:00

The Blessed Beauty [Bahá’u’lláh] often remarked:
"There are four qualities which I love to see manifested in people:
first, enthusiasm and courage;
second, a face wreathed in smiles and a radiant countenance;
third, that they see with their own eyes and not through the eyes of others;
fourth, the ability to carry a task once begun, through to its end."

~ Stories of Bahá'u'lláh, Furútan, `Alí-Akbar (editor), 1986

Spirituality: the best religion

2010-07-10T17:36:00.003+02:00

The best religion is the one that gets you closest to God. It is the one that makes you a better person.

Whatever makes you
more compassionate,
more sensible,
more detached,
more loving,
more humanitarian,
more responsible,
more ethical.

The religion that will do that for you is the best religion.

I am not interested, my friend, about your religion or if you are religious or not.

What really is important to me is your behavior towards your peers, family, work, community, and towards the world.

Remember, the universe is the echo of our actions and our thoughts.

The law of action and reaction is not exclusively for Physics. It is also of human relations.

If I act with goodness, I will receive goodness.
If I act with evil, I will get evil.
You will have what you desire for others.
Being happy is not a matter of destiny.
It is a matter of options.

Take care of your thoughts because they become words.
Take care of your words because they become actions.
Take care of your actions because they become habits.
Take care of your habits because they will form your character.
Take care of your character because it will form your destiny,
and your destiny will be your life.

...and...

There is no religion higher than the truth.

~ Adapted from an interview to the Dalai Lama

Happiness and serenity

2010-05-13T21:46:00.005+02:00

When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
~ Lao Tzu

Once Buddha was walking from one town to another town with a few of his followers. This was in the initial days. While they were traveling, they happened to pass a lake. They stopped there and Buddha told one of his disciples, "I am thirsty. Do get me some water from that lake there."

The disciple walked up to the lake. When he reached it, he noticed that right at that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the lake. As a result, the water became very muddy, very turbid. The disciple thought, "How can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink!"

So he came back and told Buddha, "The water in there is very muddy. I don't think it is fit to drink." After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink. The disciple obediently went back to the lake.

This time too he found that the lake was muddy. He returned and informed Buddha about the same. After sometime, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back. The disciple reached the lake to find the lake absolutely clean and clear with pure water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to be had. So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.

Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said," See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be... and the mud settled down on its own - and you got clear water. Your mind is also like that! When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don't have to put in any effort to calm it down. It will happen. It is effortless.

Mind precedes its objects. They are mind-governed and mind-made. To speak or act with a peaceful mind, is to draw happiness after oneself, like an inseparable shadow.

~ Buddhist, Dhammapada - Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards)

Conquer yourself

2010-04-30T00:38:00.006+02:00

"Shoghi Effendi was a very remarkable young man, and of course he just worshipped 'Abdu'l-Baha. And when 'Abdu'l-Baha pass away, the whole world became dark for him. All light had gone out. When he returned to the Holy Land, he had in mind, from the things which 'Abdu'l-Baha had said to him and I am now telling you what he said he said, 'I had in mind that 'Abdu'l-Baha would give me the honor of calling together the great conclave which would elect the Universal House of Justice. And I thought in His Will and Testament that that was probably what He was instructing be done.'

"'But,' he said, 'instead of that I found that I was appointed the Guardian of the Cause of God I didn't want to be the Guardian of the Cause. [In the] first place, I didn't think that I was worthy. Next place, I didn't want to face these responsibilities I didn't want to be the Guardian. I knew what it meant. I knew that my life as a human being was over.' He said, 'I didn't want it and I didn't want to face it.'

"'So remember I left the Holy Land, and I went up into the mountains of Switzerland, and I fought with myself until I conquered myself. Then I came back and I turned myself over to God and I was the Guardian.' 'Now,' he said, 'every Baha'i in the world, every person in the world has to do exactly that same thing. Whether you are a Hand of the Cause, whether you are a Knight of Baha'u'llah, whether you are a member of a National Assembly, whether you are a teacher, whether you are a pioneer, whether you are an administrator, regardless of what you are, whatever you are doing in the Cause, every Baha'i must fight with himself and conquer himself. And when he has conquered himself, then he becomes a true instrument for the service of the Cause of God and not until that. And he will not achieve as great a success until he has done it. And this is what every Baha'i in the world should know.'

"And this is one of the main things I want you to get out of this talk tonight and bear out of this talk: the Guardian's instructions that every individual must fight with himself, must conquer himself, must overcome his lower nature, must overcome himself, and turn himself over to God so that the Holy Spirit can function through you. And when the Holy Spirit functions through you then you will gain victory after victory. Because the Holy Spirit is the creative aspect of God and it cannot do other than win victories and make successes for the Cause."

~ From a talk given by Hand of the Cause of God Leroy Ioas, In the Days of the Guardian

What is Love ?

2010-03-14T19:58:00.004+01:00

Love is the mystery of divine revelations!

Love is the effulgent manifestation!

Love is the spiritual fulfillment!

Love is the light of the Kingdom!

Love is the breath of the Holy Spirit inspired into the human spirit!

Love is the cause of the manifestation of the Truth (God) in the phenomenal world!

Love is the necessary tie proceeding from the realities of things through divine creation!

Love is the means of the most great happiness in both the material and spiritual worlds!

Love is a light of guidance in the dark night!

Love is a bond between the Creator and the creature in the inner world!

Love is the cause of development to every enlightened man!

Love is the greatest law in this vast universe of God!

Love is the one law which causeth and controlleth order among the existing atoms!

Love is the universal magnetic power between the planets and stars shining in the lofty firmament!

Love is the cause of unfoldment to a searching mind, of the secrets deposited in the universe by the Infinite!

Love is the spirit of life in the bountiful body of the world!

Love is the cause of the civilization of nations in this mortal world!

Love is the highest honor to every righteous nation!

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v3, p. 526

What is the purpose of religion ?

2010-02-21T16:16:00.005+01:00

"Alas that humanity is completely submerged in imitations and unrealities, notwithstanding that the truth of divine religion has ever remained the same. Superstitions have obscured the fundamental reality, the world is darkened ... rites and dogmas are many and various; therefore, discord has arisen among the religious systems, whereas religion is for the unification of mankind. True religion is the source of love and agreement amongst men ... but the people are holding to the counterfeit and imitations ... Therefore, the realm of the religionist has gradually narrowed and darkened, and the sphere of the materialist has widened and advanced; for the religionist has held to imitation and counterfeit, neglecting and discarding holiness and the sacred reality of religion. When the sun sets, it is the time for bats to fly. They come forth because they are creatures of the night. When the lights of religion become darkened, the materialists appear. They are the bats of night. The decline of religion is their time of activity; they seek the shadows when the world is darkened and clouds have spread over it."

'Abdu'l-Baha, 'Promulgation of World Peace', pp. 179-80

"People think religion is confined to an edifice, to be worshipped at an altar. In reality it is an attitude toward divinity which is reflected through life. The confirmations of the Spirit come to that man or woman who accepts his life with radiant acquiescence. Release comes by making of the will a door through which the confirmations of the Spirit come. By religion we mean those necessary bonds which unify the world of humanity. This has ever been the essence of religion, for this object have all the Manifestations come to the world. Alas! that the leaders of religion afterwards have abandoned this solid foundation and have fabricated a set of blind dogmas and rituals which are at complete variance with the foundation of divine religion."

'Abdu'l-Baha, 'Baha'i Scriptures', p.438

"Universal benefits derive from the grace of the Divine religions, for they lead their true followers to sincerity of intent, to high purpose, to purity and spotless honour, to surpassing kindness and compassion, to the keeping of their covenanted, to concern for the rights of others, to liberality, to justice in every aspect of life, to humanity and philanthropy, to valour and to unflagging efforts in the service of mankind."

'Abdu'l-Baha, 'Secret of Divine Civilization', p. 98

What is the purpose of human life in the Bahai Faith ?

2009-12-04T23:57:00.001+01:00

Baha’u’llah, writing of the situation that human life is short and we should not misuse it, has said:

“Ages have passed and your precious lives are well-nigh ended, yet not a single breath of purity hath reached Our court of holiness from you.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Hidden Words, Persian no. 20

“I desire communion with thee, but thou wouldst put no trust in Me. The sword of thy rebellion hath felled the tree of thy hope. At all times I am near unto thee, but thou art ever far from Me. Imperishable glory I have chosen for thee, yet boundless shame thou hast chosen for thyself. While there is yet time, return and lose not thy chance.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Hidden Words, Persian no. 21

Do Bahais believe in reincarnation ?

2009-12-04T23:55:00.001+01:00

‘As to what thou hast written concerning "Reincarnation": Believing in reincarnation is one of the old tenets held by most nations and creeds, as well as by the Greek and Roman philosophers and wise men, the old Egyptians and the chief Assyrians. But all these sayings and superstitions are vanity in the sight of God.

‘The greatest argument produced by those who held to reincarnation has been this: "That it is necessary to the justice of God to give every one his due. Now everybody who is afflicted by any calamity is said to have sinned; but when a little child, which is still in the womb of its mother and hath just been formed, is found to be blind, deaf or imperfect, how could it have committed any sin that we might say this imperfection is given to it as a punishment therefore -- so, though such a child hath not done outwardly any sin in the womb of its mother, yet they say it must have sinned when it was in its former body, which hath caused it to suffer this punishment."

‘Indeed, these people have been negligent of the fact that had the creation been carried out in a uniform fashion, how could the statement be true, that "God doeth whatever He wisheth and God doeth whatever He desireth!"

‘Though the fact of "Return" is mentioned in the Divine Books, by this is intended the return of the qualities, characters, perfections, truths and lights, which re-appear in every age, and not of certain persons and souls. For example: If we say this lamp is the return of that of last night, or that the last year's flower hath returned in the garden, in this sense the return of the individual, or identity, or personality is not meant; nay, rather, it is intended that the same qualities and states existing in that lamp or flower, which are now seen in this lamp or flower, have returned. That is, the same perfections and virtues and properties which existed in the past springtime have returned during this present springtime. For instance: When one says, these fruits are the same as those of last year; in this sense, he hath reference to the freshness and delicacy of the fruit, which hath returned, although there is no doubt that the identical fruit of last year hath not returned.

‘Have the friends of God found such enjoyments and repose during their existence on this visible earth, that they might wish to have their return renewed and repeated constantly? Are all these calamities, injuries, trials and difficulties of the once coming not sufficient for them that they should wish a repeated life in this world? Hath this cup been of such sweetness that they should long for it successively and repeatedly? No! the friends of the Beauty of El-Baha never seek any recompense or reward except the meeting and the visit in the Kingdom of El-Baha; and they never walk but in the valley of desire to attain the Supreme Height. They only wish the immortal blessing and the eternal gift, which are sanctified above the worldly understanding.

‘Because, when thou lookest with the iron sight, thou wilt find that all mankind is suffering in this earthly world; there is no one in such tranquillity that this state might have been a reward for his good deeds in a former life and there is no soul so happy that this might be the fruit of his past pain! Had the life of a man in his spiritual being been only confined to his life in this world, the creation would have proved useless; the divine qualities would have no result and effect; nay, all things, created beings and the world of creation would have proved abortive. I ask pardon of God for such false imaginations and for such errors!

‘As the usefulness and powers of the life were not seen in that dark and narrow world, but when it is brought into this vast world, all the use of its growth and development becometh manifest and obvious in it, so likewise, reward and punishment, paradise and hell, and the requital of deeds and actions done by it in the present life become manifest and evident when it is transferred to the world to come -- which is far from this world! Had the life and growth of the child in the womb been confined to that condition, then the existence of the child in the womb would have proved utterly abortive and unintelligible; as would the life of this world, were its deeds, actions and their results not to appear in the world to come.

‘Therefore, know thou that the True One possesseth invisible worlds which human meditation is unable to comprehend and the intellect of man hath no power to imagine. When thou wilt purify and clarify thy spiritual nostrils from every worldly moisture, then thou wilt inhale the holy fragrances diffusing from the merciful gardens of these worlds.’

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 393

Do Bahais worship their ancestors ?

2009-12-04T23:53:00.002+01:00

“People think religion is confined to an edifice, to be worshipped at an altar. In reality it is an attitude toward divinity which is reflected through life. The confirmations of the Spirit come to that man or woman who accepts his life with radiant acquiescence. Release comes by making of the will a door through which the confirmations of the Spirit come. By religion we mean those necessary bonds which unify the world of humanity. This has ever been the essence of religion, for this object have all the Manifestations come to the world. Alas! that the leaders of religion afterwards have abandoned this solid foundation and have fabricated a set of blind dogmas and rituals which are at complete variance with the foundation of divine religion.”

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 438

Why is alcohol forbidden in the Bahai Faith ?

2009-12-04T23:51:00.001+01:00

“O friends of God! Experience hath shown how much the renouncing of tobacco, wine and opium, giveth health, strength and intellectual enjoyments, penetration of judgment and physical vigor. There exists today a tribe which refrains and abstains from tobacco, alcohol and opium and it completely excels all others in power, in bravery, in health, beauty and grace. A single one of these men can withstand ten men of other tribes, and this hath been universally proved; that is to say, generally, the individuals of this tribe are superior to the individuals of the other tribes.

“Therefore strive that the greatest cleanliness and sanctity, which is the great desire of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, should be resplendent among the Bahá'ís, and that the companions of God should surpass the rest of mankind in all conditions and perfections; that they may be physically and morally superior to others; that through cleanliness and purity, refinement and health, they may be the chief of wise men, and that by their affranchisement, their prudence, and the control of their desires, they may be the princes of the pure, the free and the wise.”

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 336

‘Abdu'l-Bahá explains that the Aqdas prohibits "both light and strong drinks", and He states that the reason for prohibiting the use of alcoholic drinks is because "alcohol leadeth the mind astray and causeth the weakening of the body".

‘Shoghi Effendi, in letters written on his behalf, states that this prohibition includes not only the consumption of wine but of "everything that deranges the mind", and he clarifies that the use of alcohol is permitted only when it constitutes part of a medical treatment which is implemented "under the advice of a competent and conscientious physician, who may have to prescribe it for the cure of some special ailment".’

~ The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 227

Does the Bahai Faith mention the 8th Noble Path: Right Contemplation ?

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“… while you meditate you are speaking with your own spirit. In that state of mind you put certain questions to your spirit and the spirit answers: the light breaks forth and the reality is revealed… The spirit of man is itself informed and strengthened during meditation; through it affairs of which man knew nothing are unfolded before his view…

“Meditation is the key for opening the doors of mysteries. In that state man abstracts himself; in that state man withdraws himself from all outside objects; in that subjective mood he is immersed in the ocean of spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of things-in-themselves. To illustrate this, think of man as endowed with two kinds of sight; when the power of insight is being used the outward power of vision does not see.
This faculty of meditation frees man from the animal nature, discerns the reality of things…
The meditative faculty is akin to the mirror: if you put if before earthly objects it will reflect them. Therefore if the spirit of man is contemplating earthly subjects he will be informed of these.

“But if you turn the mirror of your spirits heavenwards, the heavenly constellations and the rays of the Sun of Reality will be reflected in your hearts, and the virtues of the Kingdom will be obtained.”

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, pp. 174-6

Does the Bahai Faith mention the 7th Noble Path: Right Mindfulness ?

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“He is not to be numbered with the people of Baha who followeth his mundane desires, or fixeth his heart on the things of the earth. He is My true follower who, if he come to a valley of pure gold, will pass straight through it aloof as a cloud, and will neither turn back, nor pause. Such a man is, assuredly, of Me… And if he met the fairest and most comely of women, he would not feel his heart seduced by the least shadow of desire for her beauty. Such a one, indeed is the creation of spotless chastity.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Gleanings, no. LX, pp. 117-8

“Live then the days of thy life, that are less than a fleeting moment, with thy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied, thy thoughts pure and thy nature sanctified, so that, free and content, thou mayest put away this mortal frame…”

~ Baha’u’llah, Hidden Words, Persian no.44

Does the Bahai Faith mention the 6th Noble Path: Right Effort ?

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“Success or failure, gain or loss, must, therefore, depend upon man’s own exertions. The more he striveth, the greater will be his progress.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Gleanings, no. XXXIV, p. 81

“Arise, therefore, and, with the whole enthusiasm of your hearts, with all the eargerness of your souls, the full fervour of your will, and the concentrated efforts of your entire being, strive to attain the paradise of His presence… and to obtain a portion of this perfume of celestial glory.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Gleanings, no. CLI, p. 320

“Our greatest efforts must be directed towards detachment from the things of the world; we must strive to become more spiritual, more luminous, to follow the counsel of the Divine Teaching, to serve the cause of unity and true equality…”

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 87

Does the Bahai Faith mention the 5th Noble Path: Right Living ?

2009-12-04T23:44:00.001+01:00

“The best of men are they that earn a livelihood by their calling and spend upon themselves and upon their kindred…”

~ Baha’u’llah, Hidden Words, Persian no. 82

“It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades and the like… Waste not your time in idleness and sloth. Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and others.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Tablets, p. 26

Does the Bahai Faith mention the 4th Noble Path: Right Action ?

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“Beware, O People of Baha, lest ye walk in the ways of them whose words differ from their deeds… Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind, for the professions of most men, be they high or low, differ from their conduct. It is through their deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others… Happy is the man that heedeth My counsel.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Gleanings, no. CXXXIX, p. 305

“Guidance hath ever been given by words, and now it is given by deeds. Every one must show forth deeds that are pure and holy, for words are the property of all alike, whereas such deeds as these belong only to Our loved ones. Strive then with heart and soul to distinguish yourselves by your deeds? In this wise We counsel you in this holy and resplendent tablet.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Hidden Words, Persian no. 76

“The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds; he whose words exceed his deeds, know verily that his death is better than his life.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Tablets, p. 156

Does the Bahai Faith mention the 3rd Noble Path: Right Speech ?

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“A true seeker… must cling unto patience and resignation, observe silence, and refrain from idle talk. For the tongue is a smouldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endure a century.
That seeker should also regard backbiting as grievous error, and keep himself aloof from its dominion, inasmuch as backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Book of Certitude, pp. 123-4

“Truthfulness is the foundation of all the virtues of the world of humanity.”

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Bahai World Faith, p. 384

“No man of wisdom can demonstrate his knowledge save by means of words. This showeth the significance of the Word as is affirmed in all the Scriptures, whether of former times or more recently. For it is through its potency and animating spirit that the people of the world have attained so eminent a position. Moreover words and utterances should be both impressive and penetrating. However, no word will be infused with these two qualities unless it be uttered wholly for the sake of God and with due regard unto the exigencies of the occasion and the people.”

~ Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 172

Does the Bahai Faith mention the 2nd Noble Path: Right Aim ?

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“Universal benefits derive from the grace of the Divine religions, for they lead their true followers to sincerity of intent, to high purpose, to purity and spotless honour, to surpassing kindness and compassion, to the keeping of their covenanted, to concern for the rights of others, to liberality, to justice in every aspect of life, to humanity and philanthropy, to valour and to unflagging efforts in the service of mankind.”

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 98

Does the Bahai Faith mention the 1st Noble Path: Right View ?

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“The essence of that We have revealed for thee is Justice, is for man to free himself from idle fancy and imitation, discern with the eye of oneness His glorious handiwork, and look into all things with a searching eye.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Words of Wisdom, Tablets, p.157

“He whose sight is illumined with the light of understanding will assuredly detach himself from the world and the vanities thereof… Let not the world and its vileness grieve you.”

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Divine Art of Living, p.66

Does the Bahai Faith mention the Path or the 4th Noble Truth of Buddhism : The Middle Way, the way of moderation that avoid extremes ?

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Baha’u’llah also praises the path of moderation and extends it to all matters.

“… the ninth leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: In all matters moderation is desirable. If a thing is carried to excess, it will prove a source of evil.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Tablets, p. 69

Does the Bahai Faith mention the 3rd Noble Truth of Buddhism : How to end the suffering ?

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Baha’u’llah also calls in people to detach themselves from the things of this world.

“Rejoice not in the things ye possess; tonight they are yours, tomorrow others will possess them.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Gleanings, no. CLIII, pp. 325-6

“O My Servant! Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and loose thy soul from the prison of self. Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Hidden Words, Persian no. 40

“Disencumber yourselves of all attachment to this world and the vanities thereof. Beware that ye approach them not, inasmuch as they prompt you to walk after your own lusts and covetous desires, and hinder you from entering the straight and glorious Path.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Gleanings, no. CXXVIII, pp. 274-5

Does the Bahai Faith mention the 2nd Noble Truth of Buddhism : Attachment to this world causes this sorrow ?

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Baha’u’llah sees the world in a similar way. The Bahai teachings identify our attachment to the things of this world as the cause of our sorrows.

“If we suffer it is the outcome of material things, and all the trials and troubles come from this world of illusion. For instance, a merchant may lose his trade and depression ensues. A workman is dismissed and starvation stares him in the face. A farmer has a bad harvest, anxiety fills his mind. A man builds a house which is burnt to the ground and he is straightway homeless, ruined, and in despair.

“All these examples are to show you that the trials which beset our every step, all our sorrow pain, shame and grief, are born in the world of matter…”

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 110

Baha’u’llah likens humankind to a bird that has been attracted to the earth.

“Could ye apprehend with what wonders of My munificence and bounty I have willed to entrust your souls, ye would, of a truth, rid yourselves of attachment to all created things, and would gain a true knowledge of your own selves… Suffer not your idle fancies, your evil passions, your insincerity and blindness of heart to dim the lustre, or stain the sanctity, of so lofty a station. Ye are even as the bird which soareth.. through the immensity of the heavens, until, impelled to satisfy its hunger, it turneth longinly to the water and clay of the earth below it, and, having been entrapped in the mesh of its desire, findeth itself impotent to resume its flight to the realms whence it came. Powerless to shake off the burden weighing on its sullied wings, that bird, hitherto an inmate of the heavens, is now force to seek a dwelling-place upon the dust. Wherefore… defile not your wings with the clay of waywardness and vain desires, and suffer them not to be stained with the dust of envy and hate, that ye may not be hindered from soaring in the heavens of My divine knowledge.”

~ Baha’u’llah, Gleanings, no CLIII, pp. 325-6

Does the Bahai Faith mention the 1st Noble Truth of Buddhism : Change leads to suffering and sorrow ?

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“Such is this mortal abode: a storehouse of afflictions and suffering. It is ignorance that binds man to it, for no comfort can be secured by any soul in this world, from monarch down to the most humble commoner. If once this life should offer a man a sweet cup, a hundred bitter ones will follow; such is the condition of this world.”

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Selections, p. 200

“These brief few days shall pass away, this present life shall vanish from our sight; the roses of this world shall be fresh and fair no more, the garden of this earth’s triumphs and delights shall droop and fade. The spring season of life shall turn into the autumn of death, the bright joy of palace halls shall give way to moonless dark within the tomb. And therefore is none of this worth loving at all, and to this the wise will not anchor his heart.”

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Selections, p. 220-I

What is the concept of God in the Bahai Faith ?

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“All the people have formed a god in the world of thought, and that form of their own imagination they worship; when the fact is that the imagined concept is comprehended by the mind which is the comprehended, for imagination is accidental (effect), while mind is essential (cause). Surely the essential is greater than the accidental.

“Therefore consider: All the sects and peoples worship their own thought; they create a god in their minds and proclaim him to be "the creator of all things," while that form is a superstition. Thus people adore and worship illusion.

“The Essence of the Divine Entity and the Unseen of the Unseen is holy above imagination and beyond thought. Consciousness doth not reach It. Within the capacity of comprehension of a created reality that Ancient (uncreated) Reality cannot be contained. It is a different world; from it there is no information; arrival thereat is impossible; attainment thereto is inaccessible and prohibited. This much is known: It exists, and Its existence is certain and proven -- but the condition is unknown.

“All the philosophers and sages knew that It is, but they were perplexed in the comprehension of Its existence and were at last discouraged, and left this world in great despair. For the comprehension of the condition and mysteries of that Reality of realities and Mystery of mysteries, there is need for another power and another sense. That power and sense is not possessed by mankind, therefore they have not found any information. For example: If a man possess the power of hearing, the power of tasting, the power of smelling and the power of feeling, but no power of seeing, he cannot see. Hence, through the powers and senses present in man the realization of the Unseen Reality, which is pure and holy above the reach of doubts, is impossible. Other powers are needed and other senses required. If those powers and senses are obtained, then information can be had; otherwise, not.”

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v3, p. 561

Heaven and hell: a Bahá'í view of life after death

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As in the world's other religions, the Bahá'í concept of life after death is deeply integrated into teachings about the nature of the soul and the purpose of this earthly life.

Bahá'u'lláh confirmed the existence of a separate, rational soul for every human. In this life, He said, the soul is related to the physical body. It provides the underlying animation for the body and is our real self.

Although undetectable by physical instruments, the soul shows itself through the qualities of character that we associate with each person. The soul is the focal point for love and compassion, for faith and courage, and for other such "human" qualities that cannot be explained solely by thinking of a human being as an animal or as a sophisticated organic machine.

The soul does not die; it endures everlastingly. When the human body dies, the soul is freed from ties with the physical body and the surrounding physical world and begins its progress through the spiritual world. Bahá'ís understand the spiritual world to be a timeless and placeless extension of our own universe--and not some physically remote or removed place.

Entry into the next life has the potential to bring great joy. Bahá'u'lláh likened death to the process of birth. He explains: "The world beyond is as different from this world as this world is different from that of the child while still in the womb of its mother."

The analogy to the womb in many ways summarizes the Bahá'í view of earthly existence. Just as the womb constitutes an important place for a person's initial physical development, the physical world provides the matrix for the development of the individual soul. Accordingly, Bahá'ís view life as a sort of workshop, where one can develop and perfect those qualities which will be needed in the next life.

"Know thou, of a truth, that if the soul of man hath walked in the ways of God, it will, assuredly return and be gathered to the glory of the Beloved," Bahá'u'lláh wrote. "By the righteousness of God! It shall attain a station such as no pen can depict, or tongue can describe."

In the final analysis, heaven can be seen partly as a state of nearness to God; hell is a state of remoteness from God. Each state follows as a natural consequence of individual efforts, or the lack thereof, to develop spiritually. The key to spiritual progress is to follow the path outlined by the Manifestations of God.

Beyond this, the exact nature of the afterlife remains a mystery. "The nature of the soul after death can never be described," Bahá'u'lláh writes.

'Abdu'l-Bahá on the Journey of the Soul

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Therefore I say that man must travel in the way of God. Day by day he must endeavor to become better, his belief must increase and become firmer, his good qualities and his turning to God must be greater, the fire of his love must flame more brightly; then day by day he will make progress, for to stop advancing is the means of going back. The bird when he flies soars ever higher and higher, for as soon as he stops flying he will come down. Every day, in the morning when arising you should compare today with yesterday and see in what condition you are. If you see your belief is stronger and your heart more occupied with God and your love increased and your freedom from the world greater then thank God and ask for the increase of these qualities. You must begin to pray and repent for all that you have done that is wrong and you must implore and ask for help and assistance that you may become better than yesterday so that you may continue to make progress.[1]

The wisdom of the appearance of the spirit in the body is this: the human spirit is a Divine Trust, and it must traverse all conditions, for its passage and movement through the conditions of existence will be the means of its acquiring perfections. So when a man travels and passes through different regions and numerous countries with system and method, it is certainly a means of his acquiring perfection, for he will see places, scenes and countries, from which he will discover the conditions and states of other nations. He will thus become acquainted with the geography of countries and their wonders and arts; he will familiarize himself with the habits, customs and usages of peoples; he will see the civilization and progress of the epoch; he will become aware of the policy of governments and the power and capacity of each country. It is the same when the human spirit passes through the conditions of existence: it will become the possessor of each degree and station. Even in the condition of the body it will surely acquire perfections.

Besides this, it is necessary that the signs of the perfection of the spirit should be apparent in this world, so that the world of creation may bring forth endless results, and this body may receive life and manifest the divine bounties. So, for example, the rays of the sun must shine upon the earth, and the solar heat develop the earthly beings; if the rays and heat of the sun did not shine upon the earth, the earth would be uninhabited, without meaning; and its development would be retarded. In the same way, if the perfections of the spirit did not appear in this world, this world would be unenlightened and absolutely brutal. By the appearance of the spirit in the physical form, this world is enlightened. As the spirit of man is the cause of the life of the body, so the world is in the condition of the body, and man is in the condition of the spirit. If there were no man, the perfections of the spirit would not appear, and the light of the mind would not be resplendent in this world. This world would be like a body without a soul.

This world is also in the condition of a fruit tree, and man is like the fruit; without fruit the tree would be useless.

Moreover, these members, these elements, this composition, which are found in the organism of man, are an attraction and magnet for the spirit; it is certain that the spirit will appear in it. So a mirror which is clear will certainly attract the rays of the sun. It will become luminous, and wonderful images will appear in it - that is to say, when these existing elements are gathered together according to the natural order, and with perfect strength, they become a magnet for the spirit, and the spirit will become manifest in them with all its perfections.

Under this conditions it cannot be said, "What is the necessity for the rays of the sun to descend upon the mirror?" - for the connection which exists between the reality of things, whether they be spiritual or material, requires that when the mirror is clear and faces the sun, the light of the sun must become apparent in it. In the same way, when the elements are arranged and combined in the most glorious system, organization and manner, the human spirit will appear and be manifest in them. This is the decree of the Powerful, the Wise.[2]

You have asked why it was necessary for the soul that was from God to make this journey back to God? ...

Man must walk in many paths and be subjected to various processes in his evolution upward. Physically he is not born in full stature but passes through consecutive stages of fetus, infant, childhood, youth, maturity and old age. Suppose he had the power to remain young throughout his life. He then would not understand the meaning of old age and could not believe it existed. If he could not realize the condition of old age, he would not know that he was young. He would not know the difference between young and old without experiencing the old. Unless you have passed through the state of infancy, how would you know this was an infant beside you? If there were no wrong, how would you recognize the right? If it were not for sin, how would you appreciate virtue? If evil deeds were unknown, how could you commend good actions? If sickness did not exist, how would you understand health? Evil is nonexistent; it is the absence of good. Sickness is the loss of health; poverty, the lack of riches. When wealth disappears, you are poor; you look within the treasure box but find nothing there. Without knowledge there is ignorance; therefore, ignorance is simply the lack of knowledge. Death is the absence of life. Therefore, on the one hand, we have existence; on the other, nonexistence, negation or absence of existence.

Briefly, the journey of the soul is necessary. The pathway of life is the road which leads to divine knowledge and attainment. Without training and guidance the soul could never progress beyond the conditions of its lower nature, which is ignorant and defective.[3]

In the beginning of his human life man was embryonic in the world of the matrix. There he received capacity and endowment for the reality of human existence. The forces and powers necessary for this world were bestowed upon him in that limited condition. In this world he needed eyes; he received them potentially in the other. He needed ears; he obtained them there in http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifreadiness and preparation for his new existence. The powers requisite in this world were conferred upon him in the world of the matrix so that when he entered this realm of real existence he not only possessed all necessary functions and powers but found provision for his material sustenance awaiting him.

Therefore, in this world he must prepare himself for the life beyond. That which he needs in the world of the Kingdom must be obtained here. Just as he prepared himself in the world of the matrix by acquiring forces necessary in this sphere of existence, so, likewise, the indispensable forces of the divine existence must be potentially attained in this world.

What is he in need of in the Kingdom which transcends the life and limitation of this mortal sphere? That world beyond is a world of sanctity and radiance; therefore, it is necessary that in this world he should acquire these divine attributes. In that world there is need of spirituality, faith, assurance, the knowledge and love of God. These he must attain in this world so that after his ascension from the earthly to the heavenly Kingdom he shall find all that is needful in that eternal life ready for him.

That divine world is manifestly a world of lights; therefore, man has need of illumination here. That is a world of love; the love of God is essential. It is a world of perfections; virtues, or perfections, must be acquired. That world is vivified by the breaths of the Holy Spirit; in this world we must seek them. That is the Kingdom of everlasting life; it must be attained during this vanishing existence.

By what means can man acquire these things? How shall he obtain these merciful gifts and powers? First, through the knowledge of God. Second, through the love of God. Third, through faith. Fourth, through philanthropic deeds. Fifth, through self-sacrifice. Sixth, through severance from this world. Seventh, through sanctity and holiness. Unless he acquires these forces and attains to these requirements, he will surely be deprived of the life that is eternal. But if he possesses the knowledge of God, becomes ignited through the fire of the love of God, witnesses the great and mighty signs of the Kingdom, becomes the cause of love among mankind and lives in the utmost state of sanctity and holiness, he shall surely attain to second birth, be baptized by the Holy Spirit and enjoy everlasting existence.[4]

[1] 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in Star of the West 8, no. 6 (24 June 1917): p. 68.
[2] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1964), pp. 200-02.
[3] 'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1922. 2nd edition 1982), p. 294-96.
[4] 'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 225-26.

The Soul [1]

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The Bahá'í writings affirm that "the soul is a sign of God, a heavenly gem whose reality the most learned of men hath failed to grasp, and whose mystery no mind, however acute, can ever hope to unravel." [2]

Concerning the soul or spirit of human beings and its relationship to the physical body, Bahá'u'lláh explained:

Know thou that the soul of man is exalted above, and is independent of all infirmities of body or mind. That a sick person showeth signs of weakness is due to the hindrances that interpose themselves between his soul and his body, for the soul itself remaineth unaffected by any bodily ailments. ... When it leaveth the body, however, it will evince such ascendancy, and reveal such influence as no force on earth can equal ... consider the sun which hath been obscured by the clouds. Observe how its splendor appeareth to have diminished, when in reality the source of that light hath remained unchanged. The soul of man should be likened unto this sun, and all things on earth should be regarded as his body. So long as no external impediment interveneth between them, the body will, in its entirety, continue to reflect the light of the soul, and to be sustained by its power. As soon as, however, a veil interposeth itself between them, the brightness of the light seemeth to lessen.... The soul of man is the sun by which his body is illumined, and from which it draweth its sustenance, and should be so regarded. [3]

The soul not only continues to live after the physical death of the human body, but is, in fact, immortal. Bahá'u'lláh wrote:

Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God, His sovereignty, His dominion and power will endure. [4]

In commenting on the immortality of the rational soul, 'Abdu'l- Baha explained that everything in creation which is composed of elements is subject to decomposition:

The soul is not a combination of elements, it is not composed of many atoms, it is of one indivisible substance and therefore eternal. It is entirely out of the order of the physical creation; it is immortal ! [5]

Bahá'u'lláh taught that individuals have no existence previous to their life here on earth. Neither is the soul reborn several times in different bodies. He explained, rather, that the soul's evolution is always towards God and away from the material world. A human being spends nine months in the womb in preparation for entry into this physical life. During that nine-month period, the fetus acquires the physical tools (e.g., eyes, limbs, and so forth) necessary for existence in this world. Similarly, this physical world is like a womb for entry into the spiritual world. Our time here is thus a period of preparation during which we are to acquire the spiritual and intellectual tools necessary for life in the next world.

The crucial difference is that, whereas physical development in the mother's womb is involuntary, spiritual and intellectual development in this world depend strictly on conscious individual effort:

The incomparable Creator hath created all men from one same substance, and hath exalted their reality above the rest of His creatures. Success or failure, gain or loss, must, therefore, depend upon man's own exertions. The more he striveth, the greater will be his progress. [6]

The Bahá'í writings often speak of the bounty or grace of God towards humanity, but explain that an appropriate human response is always necessary for God's grace and mercy to penetrate the human soul and bring about any genuine change within us:

"No matter how strong the measure of Divine grace, unless supplemented by personal, sustained and intelligent effort, it cannot become fully effective and be of any real and abiding advantage." [7]

Thus, in the Bahá'í conception, salvation is not simply a unidirectional gift from God to us, but is rather a dialogue, a collaborative venture initiated by God but requiring vigorous and intelligent human participation.

Since human nature is spiritual, the essential capacities of women and men are the capacities of the soul. In other words, one's personality, one's basic intellectual and spiritual faculties, reside in the soul, even though they are expressed through the instrumentality of the body for the short duration of earthly life. Some of the faculties that Bahá'u'lláh mentioned as capacities of the soul are
1. the mind, which represents the capacity for rational thought and intellectual investigation;
2. the will, which represents the capacity for self-initiated action; and
3. the "heart" or the capacity for conscious, deliberate, self-sacrificing love (sometimes called altruism).

The Bahá'í teachings confirm that the soul retains its individuality and consciousness after death, and is able to associate with other souls that are drawn together by love.

[1] Adapted from William S. Hatcher and Douglas Martin, The Bahá'í Faith: The Emerging Global Religion (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1985), pp. 104-06.
[2] Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, 2d rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1976), pp. 158-59.
[3] Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings, pp. 153-55.
[4] Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings, pp. 155-56.
[5] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks: Addresses given by `Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912,11th ed. (London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1969), p. 91.
[6] Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings, pp. 81-82.
[7] From a letter date 27 February 1938 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer.

Life, Death, and the Soul

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According to Bahá'í teachings human nature is fundamentally spiritual. Although human beings exist on earth in physical bodies, the essential identity of each person is defined by an invisible, rational, and everlasting soul.

The soul animates the body and distinguishes human beings from the animals. It grows and develops only through the individual's relationship with God, as mediated by His Messengers. The relationship is fostered through prayer, knowledge of the scriptures revealed by these Teachers, love for God, moral self-discipline, and service to humanity. This process is what gives meaning to life.

Cultivation of life's spiritual side has several benefits. First, the individual increasingly develops those innate qualities that lie at the foundation of human happiness and social progress. Such qualities include faith, courage, love, compassion, trustworthiness and humility. As these qualities are increasingly manifest, society as a whole advances.

Another effect of spiritual development is alignment with God's will. This growing closer to God prepares the individual for the afterlife. The soul lives on after the body's death, embarking on a spiritual journey towards God through many "worlds" or planes of existence. Progress on this journey, in traditional terms, is likened to "heaven." If the soul fails to develop, one remains distant from God. This condition of remoteness from God can in some sense be understood as "hell." Thus, heaven and hell are regarded not as literal places but descriptions of one's spiritual progress toward the light of God.

Inspiration from the Mahatma Gandhi

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"You must be the change you want to see in the world."

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Seven Lights of Unity

2009-08-09T12:40:00.007+02:00

In one of His Tablets 'Abdu'l-Bahá, elucidating further His noble theme, reveals the following:

"In cycles gone by, though harmony was established, yet, owing to the absence of means, the unity of all mankind could not have been achieved. Continents remained widely divided, nay even among the peoples of one and the same continent association and interchange of thought were well nigh impossible. Consequently intercourse, understanding and unity amongst all the peoples and kindreds of the earth were unattainable. In this day, however, means of communication have multiplied, and the five continents of the earth have virtually merged into one... In like manner all the members of the human family, whether peoples or governments, cities or villages, have become increasingly interdependent. For none is self-sufficiency any longer possible, inasmuch as political ties unite all peoples and nations, and the bonds of trade and industry, of agriculture and education, are being strengthened every day. Hence the unity of all mankind can in this day be achieved. Verily this is none other but one of the wonders of this wondrous age, this glorious century. Of this past ages have been deprived, for this century -- the century of light -- has been endowed with unique and unprecedented glory, power and illumination. Hence the miraculous unfolding of a fresh marvel every day. Eventually it will be seen how bright its candles will burn in the assemblage of man."

"Behold how its light is now dawning upon the world's darkened horizon. The first candle is unity in the political realm, the early glimmerings of which can now be discerned. The second candle is unity of thought in world undertakings, the consummation of which will ere long be witnessed. The third candle is unity in freedom which will surely come to pass. The fourth candle is unity in religion which is the corner-stone of the foundation itself, and which, by the power of God, will be revealed in all its splendor. The fifth candle is the unity of nations -- a unity which in this century will be securely established, causing all the peoples of the world to regard themselves as citizens of one common fatherland. The sixth candle is unity of races, making of all that dwell on earth peoples and kindreds of one race. The seventh candle is unity of language, i.e., the choice of a universal tongue in which all peoples will be instructed and converse. Each and every one of these will inevitably come to pass, inasmuch as the power of the Kingdom of God will aid and assist in their realization."

~ Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah

Attitude to adopt when entering a city

2009-08-01T12:29:00.007+02:00

"Should any one of you enter a city, he should become a center of attraction by reason of his sincerity, his faithfulness and love, his honesty and fidelity, his truthfulness and loving-kindness towards all the peoples of the world, so that the people of that city may cry out and say: “This man is unquestionably a Bahá’í, for his manners, his behavior, his conduct, his morals, his nature, and disposition reflect the attributes of the Bahá’ís.”
~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1997), p. 71

Why do Bahais NOT go on strike or demonstrate?

2009-07-19T22:30:00.004+02:00

Below are notes from a talk by Michael Karlberg given at the Eastside Bahá'í Center in Bellevue, Washington, on 27 June 2009, as part of a larger public program organized in support of the Bahá'í prisoners in Iran.

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As you know, one year ago, seven Iranian Baha’is were arrested and imprisoned for the
crime of believing that there is only one God; that all of the world’s great religions spring from this same Divine Source and have all contributed to humanity’s collective spiritual evolution; and that the most important spiritual lesson humanity is facing in this day is the need to recognize our unity and interdependence – across all of the lines that have historically divided us – so that we can create a new social order based on the principle of the oneness of humanity.

For holding these beliefs, these seven Bahá'ís that we are remembering tonight have been charged with the crime of “spreading corruption on earth” and they face possible
execution. Over 200 Iranian Bahá'ís have been killed by the Iranian government since
the revolution in 1979, as a result of similar charges. Many of us know the stories of some of these Bahá'ís. For instance, one story that stands out most of our memories is the story of Mona Mahmudnizhad, a 17-year old girl who was arrested 26 years ago this month, and was hung in the dead of night, after watching nine other Bahá'í women being hung for the same crime – being a Bahá'í.

But these persecutions trace back much deeper than the current regime in Iran. One
hundred and fifty seven years ago, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith – Bahá'u'lláh – who was the author of the beliefs for which those we are remembering tonight were
persecuted, was himself arrested and thrown in a dark underground pit for four months to languish near death, and then sent into a forty year-long imprisonment and exile that would last until his death. One hundred and fifty nine years ago, the herald of the Bahá'í Faith – the Bab – was likewise arrested, imprisoned, and executed by a firing squad of 750 riflemen, for proclaiming the birth of this Faith.

In the period from the execution of the Báb to the arrest of the seven Bahá'í friends one year ago over twenty thousand believers have been killed in the most brutal and inhumane ways; many more have had their property plundered, their livelihoods taken from them, their gravesites desecrated, and their holy places destroyed. Bahá'í students have been denied access to higher education. Bahá'í children have been vilified in their schools. And all Iranian Bahá'ís have been systematically vilified from the pulpit and through the media.

It is no easy thing to be a Bahá'í in Iran.

But I am not here today to solicit your pity on behalf of the Iranian Bahá'ís. I want to put their suffering in a larger context so that you can understand the purpose of this suffering – and why the Bahá'ís accept these hardships with patience and long-suffering.

As I’ve already mentioned, Bahá'ís believe in the oneness of humanity. But this concept of oneness is not merely a vague or naïve expression of idealism. It is a social reality that Bahá'ís all around the world are actively and intelligently working to create. Bahá'ís are working to create this reality through the moral and spiritual education of children, through the spiritual empowerment of adolescents, and through training processes that foster the capabilities for community service in youth and adults. Bahá'ís are working to create this reality through inclusive worship with people of all Faiths, through social action directed at the betterment of our society, through the construction of a new model of participatory governance that is unifying rather than divisive, and through attention to the underlying spiritual disciplines – such as prayer and meditation, fasting, and calling
oneself to account each day – that are essential to processes of deep personal and social transformation.

If you step back and look at all of these processes as a whole, you can see that they
constitute an approach to social change – or a model of social change – directed at
bringing about the oneness of humanity.

Skeptics might ask: will it work? Ultimately, there is only one way to find out. The
approach has to be tried. The experiment has to be run.

This is what the Bahá'ís are doing all over the world, in ever-growing numbers. They are engaged in a vast social experiment, testing the hypothesis that humanity can learn to live as one family, in a single social order, characterized by unity and justice. It will take many generations before any conclusions can be drawn about the success of this vast social experiment. But the early results, in my opinion, are promising. And the experiment warrants the attention of anyone interested in peace and social justice.

But what about those seven Bahá'ís languishing in an Iranian prison, who we are here
tonight to remember? It might seem, on the surface, that the experiment is not working so well for them. Clearly they are suffering deeply, and their lives are at great risk, just like so many Baha’is before them.

When I first began writing and speaking out about the Bahá'ís in Iran, and the suffering they are experiencing, some people asked me: Why don’t the Bahá'ís in Iran fight back? Why aren’t they willing to confront their oppressors by organizing politically? Or by engaging in acts of civil disobedience? And more recently, people might ask: Why are the Bahá'ís of Iran not taking to the streets in protest – like their fellow citizens this past week following the Iranian election? After all, there are over 300,000 Bahá'ís in Iran.
That’s a small army – if it was mobilized in opposition to the current regime.

To answer these questions, we need to look closer at the Bahá'í approach to social
change. The Bahá'í approach to social change has one more element that needs to be
carefully examined to fully understand what is going on.

If the goal of the Bahá'í Faith is to bring about the oneness of humanity – to promote unity across all of the lines that have historically divided humans from one another – clearly this cannot be accomplished through methods that are divisive or adversarial, because the means would not be consistent with the ends. Therefore violent revolution is not an option for Bahá'ís. But neither is non-violent confrontation. Confrontation of any form is divisive and incompatible with the goal of unity.

Furthermore, the methods of non-violent confrontation were tried by others throughout
the twentieth century. These methods led to some significant social advances, such as
independence in India and advances in the field of civil rights in this country. But these methods have proven to be limited because the methods, in themselves, do not construct lasting alternatives to the oppressive systems they seek to replace. After the non-violent independence movement in India threw off the oppressive yoke of the British empire, the country descended into a sectarian bloodbath in which millions were killed and millions more were turned into refugees. After the non-violent civil rights movement in the US threw off the Jim Crow laws in the south, racism assumed more subtle expressions – even as the growing chasm between the richest and poorest people in this country created other forms of widespread oppression.

In this regard, while the methods of non-violent confrontation have led to some
remarkable achievements, they are arguably reaching a point of diminishing returns, and it is unlikely that these methods alone can lead us to the world of unity and justice we seek.

In this context, Bahá'ís are pioneering a radical model of social change that is unifying rather than divisive, that focuses on constructing the framework of a new social order, and that works even in the face of violent oppression. If I could describe this model in one phrase, I would call it “constructive resilience” (note: this phrase was used by the Universal House of Justice in a letter to the Bahá'í students deprived of access to higher education in Iran, dated 9 September 2007).

The model is constructive because all of the energy of the Bahá'í community goes into constructing a new social order, rather than attacking or tearing down the old order or those who benefit from it. It is resilient because it has proven itself capable of withstanding the most violent opposition. The Bahá'í community bends, but never breaks. It is like a palm tree that can withstand the hurricane winds that assail it from time to time, while the tree continues to grow, and thrive, and ultimately yield its fruit.

This model of constructive resilience is already proving itself to be remarkably effective. It enables the Bahá'í community to survive its birth in Iran, in the face of immediate, brutal, and sustained violence directed against it. From those humble origins the community has now taken root in every nation on earth. Its steadily growing membership numbers in the millions and in its diversity, the international Bahá'í community has become a microcosm of humanity.

With the Iranian revolution in 1979, a fresh wave of violent persecution was unleashed on the Bahá'í community there. Since then the principled response of the Iranian Bahá'í community has attracted the admiration of many Iranians. And it has denied the authorities any pretext with which to launch a much more violent, genocidal attack on the Bahá'ís.

Meanwhile, the worldwide Bahá'í community has been inspired to new heights of
achievement by the courageous and principled example of the Iranian Bahá'ís. This
worldwide community has also been galvanized in support of their Iranian brothers and
sisters and it has been able to shine a spotlight on the situation in Iran. As a result, governments and leaders of thought throughout the world have appealed for justice on behalf of the Bahá'ís of Iran. Countless resolutions of support have been passed by United Nations agencies, national governments, and international human rights organizations – and they have had a positive effect. A growing number of Iranian citizens outside and even inside Iran are also beginning to appeal for justice on behalf of the Bahá'ís – often at great personal risk.

Meanwhile, also inside Iran, every effort the government makes to eradicate the Bahá'í community spurs the development of creative, constructive responses. For instance, when the authorities denied Bahá'í students access to higher education, the Bahá'í community created a decentralized virtual university. It operates in Bahá'í living rooms across the country, and over the internet. Top faculty from inside Iran and around the world offer over a dozen university degrees that are recognized by prestigious graduate programs in many other countries.

This is constructive resilience. This is a force for progress that cannot be arrested and will not be denied. This is the big picture.

With this picture in mind, I want to turn our attention back to the seven friends in Iran who are languishing in prison, awaiting their sentence, with little hope of a fair trial.
These seven Bahá'ís are willing to pay the highest price of all – they are willing to
sacrifice their own lives – for the cause of the oneness of humanity. But these sacrifices may no longer be necessary because humanity is arriving at a new stage in its collective development. All around the world, people of conscience are recognizing that injury to one means injury to all, and that justice must become the reigning principle of human affairs. In this regard, the oneness of humanity is fast becoming a universally accepted ideal.

The Bahá'ís in Iran have made tremendous sacrifices, for over 150 years, to advance this ideal. It is time for humanity to lift the burden of sacrifice from their shoulders. It is time for people everywhere to speak out with a unified voice and say: enough is enough.

These oppression can no longer be tolerated – in any country, against any people.
Enough is enough.

So I urge all of you here to use every channel of communication and legitimate influence at your disposal to speak out. Speak out to your elected representatives and to your fellow citizens. Speak out through conversations, and emails, and letters, and the media. Speak out on behalf of our common humanity. Enough is enough.

Through their sacrifices, the Bahá'ís in Iran are offering humanity an opportunity to take the next step down the path toward unity and justice. It is time for humanity to move beyond the point of leaving persecuted and oppressed minorities to struggle in isolation for their own survival. It is time for all people of conscience, everywhere, to begin to speak out, with a unified voice, in support of the victims of oppression, everywhere. This is what the oneness of humanity looks like. This is where we are headed.

The Bahá'ís in Iran have made such painful sacrifices, for over 150 years, to bring about the reality of the oneness of humanity. It is time for humanity to lift the burden of sacrifice from their shoulders.

One Word: God

2009-06-05T10:18:00.011+02:00

“The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.” Baha’u’llah. One day I was walking along Charles River in Cambridge when I noticed two men in suites and yamakas looking for someone to take their picture with the Boston skyline behind them. I offered to take their picture. After I took a few photographs and was returning the camera, one of them spoke to me in Hebrew. I said: ‘I am afraid I do not speak Hebrew’. The man said: ‘but you are Jewish, right?’ Smiling and impressed, I replied: ‘Good guess! My ancestry is Jewish; in fact both sides of my family have included a couple of rabbis and are descended from Ecbatana, the ancient Persian city where Ester was from – but, I am not Jewish!’ The man gave me his card that identified him as the rabbi at one of the local colleges and asked: ‘so your great grandmother, grandmother and mother were Jewish?’ I replied, ‘yes.’ He said: ‘then you are Jewish!’ The young Spanish priest walked into our house in Needham with some urgency. ‘Where is your mother?’ he asked. I explained that it was my Mexican mother-in-law that was in need of his services and led him to her room. She had been seriously ill and very close to the end of her life. One of her friends visiting her earlier that day had become alarmed and had asked that we immediately find a Spanish speaking priest to perform her last rites. Through St. Joseph, where she was a parishioner, the Spanish padre was contacted and arrived at our door in an hour or so. I watched him say some prayers lovingly and tenderly and perform some rites that were completely unfamiliar to me. After a while, he stopped and said something to the effect that he could not perform the last rites since she was not close enough to passing. I asked what we should do for her meanwhile, and if he was going to come back again? He replied that we should pray for her. I said that we do, but out of respect for her, since she was a Catholic, we felt that it should also be done in a Christian way. He asked some questions such as, ‘do you believe in God, the Father’ and, ‘do you believe that Jesus was the Savior’, to which I replied in the affirmative. He said, ‘you can pray for her, you are a Christian!’ I have been in similar situations when I was also told by “good authority” that I must be a Muslim! Far from being offended or even uncomfortable I find these occasional mistaken attributions to other religions to be a confirmation of my Faith rather than its denial. I am a Baha’i which means I try to follow the teachings of Baha’u’llah in my day to day life. Baha’u’llah, who lived in the nineteenth century, was born to a noble and wealthy family. He taught that we are fundamentally spiritual beings and life is part of the journey of the human soul to acquire and perfect spiritual qualities such as love, justice, humility, selflessness and kindness. He taught that the Creator, known by different names at different times and places, has revealed himself to humanity throughout the ages by individuals who Baha’u’llah called “Manifestations of God”. It was through these Manifestations that humanity could learn about its Creator and acquire the spiritual perfections that it needs for its happiness, tranquility and peace. Baha’u’llah taught that there is only one human race and the spiritual foundations of the religions that were founded by Abraham, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab and Baha’u’llah are all the same. They only differ in their “social” teachings because the needs of each age are different. He claimed to be the latest in this progressive revelation. As a result of his claim and teachings, Baha’u’llah was arrested, stripped of all his worldly belongings, imprisoned in the Black Pit of Tehran and suffered 40 years of further exile and imprisonment finally ending in the Ottoman penal colony of Akka, in the present day Israel. Despite all his suffering and the intrigues of the Persian and Ottoman empires to silence him and destroy the movement that he had started, Baha’u’llah in over 100 volumes of books, letters and epistles outlined the spiritual and intellectual principles that are needed to relieve a suffering humanity from “the tumult of religious dissension and strife” and establish the Peace for which the followers of all religions have been praying and waiting for.

Ramin Abrishamian www.boston.com June 2, 2009

We must recognize the sun no matter from what dawning-point it may shine forth, be it Mosaic, Abrahamic or any personal point of orientation whatever, for we are lovers of sunlight and not of orientation. We are lovers of illumination and not of lamps and candles. We are seekers for water no matter from what rock it may gush forth. We are in need of fruit in whatsoever orchard it may be ripened. We long for rain it matters not which cloud pours it down. We must not be fettered. If we renounce these fetters we shall agree, for all are seekers of reality. The counterfeit or imitation of true religion has adulterated human belief and the foundations have been lost sight of. The variance of these imitations has produced enmity and strife, war and bloodshed. Now the glorious and brilliant twentieth century has dawned and the divine bounty is radiating universally. The Sun of Truth is shining forth in intense enkindlement. This is verily the century when these imitations must be forsaken, superstitions abandoned and God alone worshiped. We must look at the reality of the prophets and their teachings in order that we may agree.
~ Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 15

The Fire of Love

2009-05-25T13:54:00.003+02:00

Create, then, in their hearts, O my Beloved, the fire of Thy love, to such an extent that the mention of all save Thee may be consumed by it, that they may witness within their selves that Thou hast ever been in the loftiness of eternity, and that there has never been anything with Thee, and that Thou art as Thou bast ever been; no God is there save Thee, the Generous, the Mighty.

~ Baha'u'llah

Buddhism in Asian civilization

2009-05-20T00:07:00.008+02:00

Buddhism began as an intellectual and ethical movement in the sixth century B.C in India. It spread during the life time of the Buddha in India. At the time of the Buddha’s parinibhana almost all the important states of India seemed to have been deeply influenced by the new teaching. He had many disciples and accumulated a large public following by the time of his parinibhana in 483 B.C.

The spread of Buddhism

Buddhism has been significant not only in India, but also in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, where Theravada has been dominant. Mahayana has had greatest impact in China, Afghanistan, Japan, Taiwan, Tibet, Nepal, Mongolia, Korea and Vietnam as well as in India. Tibetan Buddhism which developed in isolation of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism is functioning as a separate sect since the 19th century. The number of Buddhists world wide has been estimated as between 150 and 300 million.

The fascinating philosophy which became a religion

The marvel of Buddhism is that it has lasted for more than 2500 years. It has a philosophy as well as a religion. The philosophy of the Buddha fascinates the intellectual. As a religion it illuminates the lives of millions of men, women and children. All the more wonderful, it has never been imposed by force.
Today many universities in Asia, the Buddha’s doctrine has been made a subject of philosophical research. Vivid dialogues and sayings of the Buddha, recordings, edicts, scriptures originated in Asian civilization. Two and half centuries after the parinibhana of the Buddha, a council of monks collected his teachings and the oral traditions of the faith into written form, called the Tripitake (The Three Baskets). The Tripitake which is translated to English and other languages form one great prime source of Buddhism in Asian civilization.

Buddhism and the Eightfold Path

The contribution which Buddhism has made to the spiritual, moral, social and intellectual advancement of man and woman in Sri Lanka and in Asian Civilization is needed notable. Buddhism is a moral code based on compassion, universal love, non-violence, equanimity and a practical philosophy for daily life. The essence of Buddhism is the Eightfold Path, which includes morality, mind, culture and wisdom.
Buddhism is also an institution of well-laid rules and regulations formulated for its functioning. Thus a community of men, women, male and female, disciples who are known to hold the same views dedicated to the same cause, opinion and principles and following the same religious teaching emerged. It was a highly organized community possessing stability and a high degree of efficiency without any loss of functions to the individual members whether man or woman. Woman had the right to freely participate in the social life of the religion. Given the diversity of target groups and educational tasks, the Buddha made effective use of informal education to teach and educate the fourfold Buddhist community.

Impact of Buddhism

Impact of Buddhism in Asian civilization can be attributed to the unswerving faithfulness of the bhikkhu and bhikkunie groups, the Tripitake and the scriptures. There were a sufficient number of faithful, erudite monks to preach the doctrine undefiled and to fill millions with its spirit. The transforming power of Buddhism made new personalities of all kinds of people -- from kings to peasants. It has changed individual men and women, it has changed entire nations. Emperor Asoka of India, King Tissa of Sri Lanka were history’s greatest examples of transformation. The Indian missionaries led by Rev. Mahinda brought not only Buddhism to the Island, but also the culture and civilization of Buddhist India. Almost all the Buddhist rites, ceremonies, festivals, architecture, arts and crafts were introduced into countries of Asia.

Emperor Asoka’s great contributions to Buddhism

The Emperor Asoka is history’s greatest example in the impact of Buddhism in Asian Civilizations. Inspired by Buddhism in 200 B.C. he sent missionaries to many lands. As a result Buddhism played a vital role in Asian Civilization. Vincent Smith in his book “Asoka, Buddhist Emperor of India” states “the transformation of the local sect into a world religion is the work of Asoka alone.” He passed on the Teaching in its original purity. The extent of the accomplishment of Emperor Asoka, would not have been known today were it not for some 5000 inscriptions that he had carved on pillars, rocks and caves throughout his empire. The inscriptions contain Buddhist rules for the laity. These inscriptions explain the meaning of this religion and reveal what Emperor Asoka accomplished in social welfare in his empire.
Missionaries were sent to Sri Lanka while others went to Burma to Syria, Egypt, Cyprus, Macedonia and Epirus. So from generation to generation tales of the glory of Emperor Asoka, man of peace, in Asian civilizations were handed down from parent to child. He put the teaching into practice. One inscription includes the references to; “an absence of self-indulgence, many good actions, kindness, generosity, truthfulness and parity.”
Emperor Aoska recorded: All men are children. And just as I wish my children every kind of prosperity and happiness, in this world and the next, so do I wish for all other men.” Hundreds of monasteries arose, and subjects were encouraged to make pilgrimages to them. He built hospitals for men and animals. He was the pioneer in introducing the profession of veterinary surgery. He established gardens for the cultivation of healing herbs and rest houses at intervals along travel routes. He was a pioneer educationalist and urged Buddhist monks to raise the national level of instruction. He championed and financially supported the education for women.
The most glorious mission of Asoka was carried out by Rev. Mahinda in Sri Lanka. This was followed by the arrival of Rev. Sangamitta. These two visits brought about a renaissance in Sri Lanka. Buddhism, education, arts and craft, sculpture, agriculture and the economy developed. The social, cultural intellectual and moral development of the individuals would not have been a possibility if not for the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Buddhism was equated to governance and every king who ruled in Sri Lanka was dedicated to Buddhism and contributed to the welfare of the country.

Buddhism in other Asian societies

A Buddhist environment prevails in countries like Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Buddhism played a predominant role in Asian civilization. Theory and practice of Buddhism have made happier and more confident people as confirmed by other great individuals. Thomas Huckey stated, “It spread over a considerable portion of the world with marvelous rapidity, and is still the dominant creed of a large fraction of mankind.”
As a result of the spread of Buddhism, Asian civilizations remained devoted and dedicated to transient spiritual standards and values of a more lasting character. It may be rightly said that Emperor Asoka’s outstanding service to Asian mankind is the missionary zeal that he displaced both within and outside his vast domain. Sri Lanka profiting by his missionary activities, dedicated itself whole-heartedly to the observance, preservation and the custodianship of the Buddha-Dhamma writing down of the doctrine during the 1st century A.D. is the greatest contribution that Sri Lanka had made to the intellectual heritage of mankind. Asian civilizations are not only proud of its past Buddhist cultural attainments but they are also conscious that the present day world society sadly needs the most comforting message of peace and loving kindness declared by the Buddha as a panacea for all ills of the world.

The foundations: philosophy, ideology, concepts, and attitudes.

His philosophy was that everything in the world is transient -- it changes. It is so with the infant, the child, the youth, man and women. It is very philosophical and has a special appeal to mankind. His ideology is truthfulness, peace, compassion, justice and love. His attitudes are very positive such as respect, regard and recognition. These noble principles have been retained in Asian civilizations, where force and coercion dominate. The impact of Buddhism in Asian civilization cannot be underestimated. Its impact has been significant, where Therovada, as well as Mahayana traditions have had the greatest impact.
Dr (Mrs) Tilokasundari Kariyawasam www.dailymirror.lk May 08, 2009

One of the organizers of the Races Congress present spoke of the Western ideals of Bahá'u'lláh as differing from those of former prophets which were tinged with the ideas and civilization of the East. He then asked whether Bahá'u'lláh had made a special study of Western writings, and founded his teachings in accordance with them.

'Abdu'l-Bahá laughed heartily, and said that the books of Bahá'u'lláh, written and printed sixty years ago, contained the ideals now so familiar to the West, but, at that time, they had not been printed or thought of in the West. Besides, he continued, supposing that a very advanced thinker from the West had gone to visit Bahá'u'lláh and to teach Him, would the name of such a great man and the fact of his visit have been unknown and unrecorded? No! In former days, in the time of the Buddha and Zoroaster, civilization in Asia and in the East was very much higher than in the West and ideas and thoughts of the Eastern peoples were much in advance of, and nearer to the thoughts of God than those of the West. But since that time superstitions had crept into the religion and ideals of the East, and from many differing causes the ideals and characters of the Eastern peoples had gone down and down, lower and lower, while the Western peoples had been constantly advancing and struggling towards the Light. Consequently, in these days, the civilization of the West was much higher than that of the East, and the ideas and thoughts of the people of the West were much nearer to the thought of God than those of the East. Therefore, the ideals of Bahá'u'lláh had been more quickly realized in the West.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 68

Bahai’ism Combines Many Religions to Create a New World Order

2009-05-02T16:46:00.009+02:00

The Baha’i religion claims to be the fulfillment of spirituality on earth, and seeks to create a new universal faith by incorporating views of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism.

~ By Mark Hoerrner

It’s all about universality, Bahá'u'lláh asserts. Baha’ism, an offshoot (?) of Islam, is based on the teachings of an obscure figure in Asian history. A imprisoned 19th century Persian nobleman, Bahá'u'lláh, faced a vision for the future of humanity and in what the religion calls "a great moment of revelation," Bahá'u'lláh was made the messenger of God.

Today, Baha’ism has more than five million followers in 232 countries, surpassing all religions but Christianity in its spread on earth. Bahai’s universality concept of a global citizen is reflected in its members, which come from all over the planet. The religion claims to have supporters in 116,000 different geographic localities and more than 2,100 tribal and ethnic groups are represented.

Baha’i is unique in that unlike most monotheistic religions, other religions are not cast out, but referred to as evolutionary stages of a universal faith. The religion teaches that there is a single God, that there is only one human race, and that all people will eventually unite into a single "new world order."

According to www.bahai.com, the religions precepts are "the elimination of all forms of prejudice; full equality between the sexes; recognition of the essential oneness of the world's great religions; the elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth; universal education; the harmony of science and religion; a sustainable balance between nature and technology; and the establishment of a world federal system, based on collective security and the oneness of humanity."

The globalization of Baha’i cannot be disputed. The religion’s texts have been translated into more than 800 languages or dialects. It operates more than 18,000 governing councils, called "spiritual councils," around the world. It operates seven radio stations, 26 publishing trusts, 741 schools, and even supports 203 literacy programs. But where does Baha’i lead? The new world order is not just a glimpse of paradise on earth, but a real desire to replace all current government systems with a single form of democracy.

The Baha’is, a publication of the international Baha’i organization, has distinct ideas on its governmental processes. "The system combines the best elements of grassroots democracy with a facility for planet-wide coordination," the text reads. "It promotes the selection of leaders with integrity and has built-in checks against corruption. Its underlying principles strike a singular balance between individual freedom and the collective good. Although many of its elements are similar to other practices for democratic election, administration and governance, when viewed as a whole the Bahá'í system stands in sharp contrast. The election process, for example, excludes any form of campaigning, electioneering, or nominations. Yet it offers every individual elector the widest possible choice of candidates. The decision-making process used by Bahá'í councils in their deliberations is also distinctive; its method is non-adversarial and seeks to build community consensus in a manner that unites various constituencies instead of dividing them."

Baha’i is unusual for a religion that claims universality and then speaks of a single government form. Certainly, under perfect conditions, a one-world government may be the panacea for all that ills the planet, but will the perfect conditions arise? The Baha’ists affirm that it will, noting that the earth is now in its adolescence and ready for societies to merge into one.

~ By Buzzle Staff and Agencies, Published: 2/2/2006

World Unity (ctd 4)

2009-05-01T07:30:00.003+02:00

Today we heard another disturbing news pointing to the on going threat of the rule of ignorance, fear and injustice in Egypt! Did anyone pay attention? The Baha’i children in Egypt curled up once again and pleaded for a refuge. They lifted their little hands up, once more in prayer, begging for God’s grace and their parents’ safety.

Here is the news:
Egypt Parliamentary Committees Support Bill Against Adopting Baha’ism GMP20090428950035 Cairo MENA Online in English 1322 GMT 28 Apr 09 Cairo, 28 April: The joint committees of defense, national security, Arab affairs and Waqfs at the People’s Assembly (PNA) have called for accelerating preparation of a draft law banning the adoption of the Baha’i faith which contradicts with the rulings of heavenly Shari’ah (religious laws), especially the Islamic religion.

The committees held a meeting Tuesday [28 April] under the chairmanship of Ahmad Umar Hashim, the head of the religious committee in the PNA. The lawmakers asserted that Baha’i believers deny some key pillars of Islam and they should be strictly punished because their thoughts threaten the society’s security and stability.
They also urged the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the Ministry of Waqfs (religious endowments) to hold dialogue with such a group and convince them of rejecting such misconceptions about Islam.

[Description of Source: Cairo MENA Online in English — Government news agency ; URL:
A Persian proverb says; Whatever goes bad, let’s treat it with salt. Woe for the day when salt goes rotten?

Let me ask you; What choice any innocent person has today, when another intentionally and maliciously conspires and spreads false and harmful statements against them to injure and damage that person’s reputation, or to expose them to unreasonable personal embarrassment or danger such as putting them in prison, torturing, lynching, mob attack, burning, etc.?

You might say, well the good person should not waist their time with reasoning and appealing to the slanderer’s sense of justice or humanity, because there is none; instead they should take this defamation, slander and attack before the court of law and ask for justice through a civil liability case so the law can stop and punish the defamer and the malicious slanderer!!

My next question is, what do a group of innocent and defenseless people do when the judiciary, the ruling authorities of a country, the clergy, the leaders and the gate keepers of that society, feel threatened by the sheer existence of differences of religious belief and understanding. Then in order to safeguard their view and their own self interest, with absolute power in their hand, intentionally and deliberately spread false and harmful statements against the perceived enemy, pass laws to criminalize the Bahá’í communities very belief system and mobilize the ignorant and gullible masses to carry their inhumane agenda, to persecute, burn, lute, and destroy what they believe to be anti God, and to perpetuate and protect what they perceive to be of God!! What can the Bahá’í in Egypt or Iran do to defend their basic human rights? What recourse the innocent Bahá’í children have when they see no one can come to their aid and the whole world feels helpless to stand up for what the civilized world considers right and just?

Bahá’í community is a progressive religious community who has been taught to heed and obey the divine laws of God revealed to man by the divine Manifestations of God for that specific age. Bahá’ís are taught that religion like science reveals to man the ever unfolding laws of God. One of the reasons for the renewal of religion by God and the successive and progressive Revelations from God is to weed out the superstitious practices of the past and declare obsolete the outdated social laws such as men are superior over women, one man can take more than one wife and divorce any when he wishes, as he wishes, women must be kept restricted and controlled otherwise men will violate them, science is against religion, certain groups or races, classes, nationalities, religions are better and more human than others, or religion is in need of authoritarian gate keepers such as clergy and mullahs. Man and in particular leaders of religion has always attempted to adjust and remodel the religion of God as they saw needed. When religious leaders find it necessary to remodel and upgrade the old edifice of their religion and call it reformed, new, modern, etc. in reality, they play partners with God. The truth has always been one, but throughout the ages, the ignorant have multiplied it and caused great division, destruction, wars, and suffering in the name of every religion.

Bahá’í Faith introduces the new and refreshing Divine Springtime with all its new laws and vigor. It captivates not just the mind but the hearts of those who are seeking the renewal of spiritual life and a new spiritual understanding. Today the Bahá’í Faith is only 166 years old!! In 1844 when it was first revealed, humanity was desperate for its Teachings even though some perceived it as outrageous or idealistic. those who were attached to the decaying structure of tradition rose to resist its progressive teachings of oneness of God, oneness of all religions, oneness of all humanity, equality of men and women, the need for an auxiliary world language, harmony of science and religion, world peace, independent investigation of truth, universal access to religious scriptures, use of consultation as a means of decision making and consensus building, or universal education for all!! Now after 160 years the civilized world’s understanding of what is right and what is necessary and vital for advancing human civilization has drastically shifted in the direction of conformity with the teachings of Baha’u’llah. The very foundation of the superstitious hold of the religious leaders who do not wish to let go of their control is shaking and out of sheer fear they are grabbing unto every mean no matter how inhumane and unjust, to protect their hold on innocent and ignorant masses. For those who have the apparent power and control in their hand, slandering and defaming the Bahá’í community and its defenseless believers seems a very easy task.

The believers of Bahá’u’lláh and His Teachings like all early believers in the religion of God, understand the rough and rocky road they have chosen. But they also are committed to the belief that, God’s plan is not about the destruction of humanity but an ever advancing civilization which would be spiritual in its excellence and nature. Bahá’ís believe the oneness of humanity will ultimately be realized, world peace will be established and people of the world ultimately recognize the oneness of the religion of God. Men and women will be like two wings of the bird of human civilization and participate equally in its progress. Children will be reared in the bosom of divine love not its wrath and vengeance, and education will integrate spiritual development in its process. The nobility, integrity, honesty, justice, equality, chastity for men as well as women, happiness, consensus building, compassion, uprightness, selflessness and all other signs of the spiritual progress will be taught and nurtured and all the forces of darkness and injustice will ultimately vanish and be forgotten.

“How pathetic;” asserts Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith; “indeed are the efforts of those leaders of human institutions who, in utter disregard of the spirit of the age, are striving to adjust national processes, suited to the ancient days of self-contained nations to an age which must either achieve the unity of the world, as adumbrated by Bahá’u’lláh, or perish.”

“Let there be no mistake. The principle of the Oneness of Mankind — the pivot round which all the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh revolve — is no mere outburst of ignorant emotionalism or an expression of vague and pious hope. Its appeal is not to be merely identified with a reawakening of the spirit of brotherhood and good-will among men, nor does it aim solely at the fostering of harmonious cooperation among individual peoples and nations. Its implications are deeper, its claims greater than any which the Prophets of old were allowed to advance. Its message is applicable not only to the individual, but concerns itself primarily with the nature of those essential relationships that must bind all the states and nations as members of one human family. It does not constitute merely the enunciation of an ideal, but stands inseparably associated with an institution adequate to embody its truth, demonstrate its validity, and perpetuate its influence. It implies an organic change in the structure of present-day society, a change such as the world has not yet experienced. It constitutes a challenge, at once bold and universal, to outworn shibboleths of national creeds — creeds that have had their day and which must, in the ordinary course of events as shaped and controlled by Providence, give way to a new gospel, fundamentally different from, and infinitely superior to, what the world has already conceived. It calls for no less than the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole civilized world — a world organically unified in all the essential aspects of its life, its political machinery, its spiritual aspiration, its trade and finance, its script and language, and yet infinite in the diversity of the national characteristics of its federated units.

It represents the consummation of human evolution — an evolution that has had its earliest beginnings in the birth of family life, its subsequent development in the achievement of tribal solidarity, leading in turn to the constitution of the city-state, and expanding later into the institution of independent and sovereign nations.

The principle of the Oneness of Mankind, as proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh, carries with it no more and no less than a solemn assertion that attainment to this final stage in this stupendous evolution is not only necessary but inevitable, that its realization is fast approaching, and that nothing short of a power that is born of God can succeed in establishing it.”

~ Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u'llah, p. 41

This uplifting and ennobling vision, is the promise of the Cause of God entrusted to humanity by Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá’ís are committed to live it, teach it, spread it, defend it, pray for it, pay for it, educate the future generation about it, even offer their lives for it, until all humanity is free to live in peace and unity as cells of one body waves of one sea, flowers of one garden, leaves of one tree.
Keyvan, www.kidsidebyside.org April 29th, 2009

Justice and equity are twin Guardians that watch over men. From them are revealed such blessed and perspicuous words as are the cause of the well-being of the world and the protection of the nations.
These words have streamed from the pen of this Wronged One in one of His Tablets: "The purpose of the one true God, exalted be His glory, hath been to bring forth the Mystic Gems out of the mine of man -- they Who are the Dawning-Places of His Cause and the Repositories of the pearls of His knowledge; for, God Himself, glorified be He, is the Unseen, the One concealed and hidden from the eyes of men. Consider what the Merciful hath revealed in the Qur'án: No vision taketh in Him, but He taketh in all vision, and He is the Subtile, the All-Informed!"

~ Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 12

World Unity (ctd 3)

2009-04-30T16:17:00.004+02:00

International unity key to tackling swine flu threat, Ban says

Global solidarity is critical if a pandemic of swine flu is indeed imminent, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, as he made an unscheduled press appearance to lay out the rapid United Nations response to the new threat.

“The swine flu outbreak shows yet again that, in our interconnected world, no nation can deal with threats of such dimension on its own,” Mr. Ban said, stressing that it is the first test of the pandemic preparedness work the community of nations has been undertaking in the past three years.

Mr. Ban emphasized that the UN system is responding quickly and effectively, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the head of which was in constant contact with him, as well as other senior UN officials.

A WHO emergency committee has been set up as the front line against the deadly new swine influenza A (H1N1) which has broken out in Mexico, the United States, Spain and Canada and is currently meeting to determine the pandemic alert level that should be declared.

Announcing that the World Bank and other UN development and humanitarian agencies will provide funding to countries needing additional resources to combat an epidemic, Mr. Ban declared that the poorer nations must not be hit disproportionately hard by a potential health crisis.

“So far, our response has been an example of multilateral cooperation at its best. I am confident that it will continue to be so,” he said.

www.un.org 27 April 2009

Without the spirit the world of mankind is lifeless, and without this light the world of mankind is in utter darkness. For the world of nature is an animal world. Until man is born again from the world of nature -- that is to say, becomes detached from the world of nature, he is essentially an animal, and it is the teachings of God which convert this animal into a human soul...

In fine, such teachings are numerous. These manifold principles, which constitute the greatest basis for the felicity of mankind and are of the bounties of the Merciful, must be added to the matter of Universal Peace and combined with it, so that results may accrue. Otherwise the realization of Universal Peace in the world of mankind is difficult. As the teachings of His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh are combined with Universal Peace, they are like a table provided with every kind of fresh and delicious food. Every soul can find at that table of infinite bounty that which he desires. If the question is restricted to Universal Peace alone, the remarkable results which are expected and desired will not be attained. The scope of Universal Peace must be such that all the communities and religions may find their highest wish realized in it. At present the teachings of His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh are such that all the communities of the world, whether religious, political or ethical, ancient or modern, find in the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh the expression of their highest wish.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, pp. 30-31

Can philosophy really offer advice on happiness?

2009-04-30T07:45:00.004+02:00

Certainly this was one of its traditional aspirations. In the seventeenth-century, it was taken for granted that the philosopher's job included talking about how to achieve a happy life. When René Descartes was a schoolboy, one of the state-of-the-art textbooks he studied was a massive compendium of philosophy in four parts published in 1609 by the now forgotten scholastic philosopher Eustachius; it discussed logic and metaphysics and physics and psychology, but it also stated that "the final goal of a complete philosophical system is human happiness." And this was following a long tradition, that stretched back through the middle ages, and indeed right back to classical times. The Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca wrote a treatise called De Vita Beata, "On the Happy Life"; and much earlier his Greek Stoic predecessors had offered many recommendations on how to live in a calm and balanced and tranquil way, how to achieve a "good flow of life", as Zeno, the founder of Stoicism put it, in the third century before Christ. And going back just a little earlier, Aristotle, the co-founder of Western philosophy along with Plato, gave lectures on ethics which described the goal of human life as what he called eudaimonia, that is to say, happiness or human fulfilment.

So it's a project with a long history. And when you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. To begin with we are, as Aristotle famously pointed out, animals (albeit animals with a rather special, indeed unique, characteristic, that of rationality). And whether an animal is happy or flourishing isn't at all a subjective question: you can just see, straight off, that the dog or cat or horse with a glossy coat, well-fed but not overweight, not diseased or exploited or imprisoned, not mangy or nervy or snappish, but enthusiastically engaged in the (canine or feline or equine) activities characteristic of its kind - you can just see that such a specimen is happy, flourishing, thriving, a prime specimen of its species. Common sense here is backed up by science, since there are all sorts of physiological, biochemical and behavioural indicators of well-being, which can be established quite objectively. So by analogy, we might reasonably expect to have no trouble identifying a human being who is happy and flourishing.

But of course in the case of humans it's not quite that simple. We are certainly biological creatures, so it's reasonable to think the conditions for our happiness will include elements we share with other creatures. To be happy we need to be well-nourished, healthy, free from external repression or exploitation, and able to develop our human talents and capacities in ways that allow them to flourish. Flourishing is a biological term, which etymologically connotes flowering - that is to say the healthy, vigorous unfolding of the capacities peculiar to each species. For a tomato plant, flourishing is quite simply its production of strong leaves and shoots, and then its coming to maturity and bearing rich and succulent fruits. But what are the fruits of human life?

All the basic biological requirements for human flourishing (food, shelter, security and so on) are important and necessary - you might call them pre-conditions. But there are three more substantive elements I want to focus on - elements which go way beyond any of the purely biological models so far mentioned. These elements have to do, respectively, with human achievement, with human virtue and with human transcendence, or to put it in shorthand form, with the fine, the good and the meaningful. They are concerned in turn with the development of talents, with the perfecting of our nature, and lastly with our slow and painful attempts to come to terms with the significance of human life.

Let me take achievement first, since this is relatively uncontroversial. In the island described in Tennyson's poem "The Lotus Eaters" (taking its cue from Homer's Odyssey), the inhabitants seem at first to be very enviable. The place is idyllic, supremely relaxed and comfortable. "In the afternoon" (the poem opens) "we came unto a place/ in which it seemèd always afternoon…" Very pleasant. Rather like the planet described in The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, a planet that has stopped rotating on its axis, so that some zones are frozen in perpetual midnight, and others are always roasting in the midday sun, but where the rich and famous live in the pleasant zone where it's always four o'clock in the afternoon - time for tea and cucumber sandwiches.

The Lotus Eaters are contented enough - but, as it slowly dawns on Odysseus (or Ulysses), there's something disquieting about them - they never do anything, just loll around eating the lotus (perhaps the ancient Greek equivalent of reaching for the valium). The moral drawn by Homer, and Tennyson, is that the truly happy life must be one where we are stretched. We may not like this fact, we may kick and scream against it, like Odysseus' companions, whom he had to drag weeping back into the ship, once they had tasted the lotus fruit. But like it or not, we cannot as humans be truly happy if we allow our talents to atrophy. As the parable of the talents (found in the gospel of Matthew) makes clear, talents are for use, not to be buried in the ground. Excellence can of course take many forms, musical, artistic, intellectual, athletic; and (as the parable of the talents again makes clear) people have different gifts, and not everyone is expected to achieve the same levels. But some degree of achievement is necessary for everyone, if they are to aspire to human happiness. What is more, achievement does not simply drop into our laps - it must be worked for, striven for. As the Dutch-Jewish philosopher Benedict Spinoza observed, "All fine things are difficult." This is, again, whether we like it or not, a necessary truth about the human condition.

So happiness requires achievement. But although achievement is necessary for happiness, it is not, I suggest, sufficient - not in itself enough. Something more is needed, and this brings me to my second, and perhaps more controversial, dimension, character development, or (to use a somewhat old-fashioned term) virtue. Consider the case of someone who achieves considerable success, yet who exercises their talents in an utterly vicious way. This, I would argue, cannot constitute human happiness. The Don Giovanni of Mozart's opera is a complex and interesting character, who exercises his charm and charisma and intelligence in a way that is glamorous and exciting and gratifies his own ego, but at the cost of riding rough-shod over the feelings of others. Can he be happy? Well, someone might object, of course he can: in his triumphant song in Act Three, about wine women and song - viva le femine, viva il buon vino - doesn't he prove that virtue is one thing, happiness another? You may disapprove of the Don's life, you may call it vicious, but surely (so runs the objection) that doesn't show he's not happy.

We can't deny that the vicious person may have considerable enjoyment - much of their life may be, to use a notion that Don Giovanni draws on in one of his arias, diverting. But happiness, as Aristotle insisted, has to be assessed not in terms of particular pleasurable episodes, but in more holistic terms, over a life taken as a whole. And many moral philosophers, including the atheist Scottish philosopher David Hume in the eighteenth century, have argued that vice can't make you happy in the long run.

Is this just because the vicious person is likely eventually to be caught out and get his come-uppance? Even if that were true (and it would be very hard indeed to establish), it does not, I think, get to the heart of the issue. Suppose Giovanni's crimes had not been discovered, and suppose there is no supernatural justice to drag him down to hell, as eventually happens at the close of the Mozart opera. Even were we to delete this final denouement, it is made brilliantly clear in the music given to Giovanni from the start of the opera that all is not well with his interior life. He may go triumphantly from one conquest to another, he may insist that he knows what he wants, but there is a harshness, an ugliness, a kind of defiant anger in his music that tells us he is not truly at peace. Despite Nietzsche's later rantings about the will to power, and the need for heroic individuals to "invert eternal values" and be strong enough to suppress the "weak" impulses of compassion and tenderness, the fact remains that we cannot write the script for human fulfilment on our own. We may not like it, we may furiously insist that there must be an alternative, but the moral responses of sympathy, caring and openness to the needs of others are inescapably bound up with the possibility of human happiness. Human happiness is, inevitably, fragmented and damaged when it is pursued in a way that is cut off from the pursuit of the good.

I have so far argued for two necessary conditions for happiness: first, achievement, and second, virtue. I now come to the third and most difficult condition of all, transcendence. The seventeenth-century French philosopher Blaise Pascal kept a collection of thoughts on the human condition, which, had he lived, he was hoping to turn into a book. One of the thoughts was this: l'homme passe l'homme - man transcends himself. Part of what he meant by this, I think, is that the human being always reaches beyond any given set of circumstances, any given formula for existence: we are never satisfied just with the "given", but have that mysterious urge to question, to seek for more. That at once puts us in a completely different category from any of the other creatures with whom we share this planet. For an oak tree, or a blackbird, or a horse, if you give them the appropriate environment where all the conditions for their biological welfare are fully met, then they will be happy, or flourish. But humankind, notoriously, is different. However well our biological and social and psychological needs are catered for, we cannot wholly escape that strange restlessness which is our birthright. It is the mark of our unique property of being not just conscious but self-conscious, reflective creatures. We alone know our own finitude, and in that very fact we dimly grasp the infinity we fall short of.

Part of this is that we are aware of our mortality, in a way none of the animals quite are. As the atheist philosopher Anthony Grayling has noted, our total expected ration of life, even if we make it to our eighties, is around a thousand months. And even without dwelling on that sombre thought, we cannot but be aware, more generally, of the fragility that besets human life. We are subject to contingency - the constant interplay of forces that at any moment may interrupt our lives with accident, or disease, or any of what Hamlet called "the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to." This contingency, this fragility, means that human happiness is intrinsically vulnerable. This obviously affects the first of my elements of happiness, achievement, since achievements are in constant danger of being eroded or undermined by external factors which we cannot control. Nor does my second element, virtue, seem enough to safeguard us against this risk. Even the most devoted and sincere moral projects can come to grief as a result of accident or misfortune: someone may devote their lives to a good cause only to see it go up in smoke.
This illustrates the spectre of futility that seems to undermine that sense of meaning that is so crucial for happiness. For it often seems as if we live in an absurd universe - a universe, certainly, where there are no guarantees that our efforts, however noble or well-intentioned, will succeed. Everything we do seems subject to what the ancients called Fortuna - luck, or fate. Achievement is certainly a hostage to luck, and, as was argued by one of the most influential moral philosophers of modern times, the late Bernard Williams, the domain of morality is not immune either.

Luck gives rise to a sense of arbitrariness - a sense that nothing ultimately makes much sense. And this in turn generates a sense of futility or absurdity - the special theme of the twentieth century French existentialist philosophers, notably Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. In his reflections on the ancient Greek myth of Sisyphus, who was condemned by the gods to the endlessly repeated punishment of pushing a boulder up a hill only to see it roll all the way down again, Camus directly highlights the plight of humankind in the face of a blank and seemingly hostile universe. Camus's Sisyphus, the "proletarian of the Gods", stands for all the millions of our fellow human-beings on the planet who are still today condemned to wearisome drudgery without any hope of escape. But Sisyphus is above all a defiant thinker who will not abandon his fierce "lust for life", who refuses to be docile and accepting of his plight, and who is unflinchingly conscious of the ultimate absurdity of the existence he has to endure. Sisyphus, says Camus, is "the true hero of the absurd."

In the last sentence of his essay, Camus makes a remarkable claim about Sisyphus's state of mind, as after each backbreaking effort he watches the bolder roll back downhill again, and turns to trudge down to the valley one more time: il faut imaginer Sisyphe heureux, says Camus - "we must imagine Sisyphus as happy". Well, perhaps. But to take the superhuman heroism of the defiant Sisyphus as our model for the human condition seems to me a profoundly elitist manoeuvre, presupposing the need for a courage so indomitable as to deny realistic prospects for happiness, let alone meaning, to countless numbers of human beings. Most of us, all too conscious of our fragility and vulnerability to fortune, would surely be overwhelmed by the thought that all the cards were as stacked as they were for Sisyphus against the chance of any ultimate success. Yet of course this bleak picture is precisely the one presented by Camus in his book - a book that opens with the chilling pronouncement that "There is only one really serious philosophical problem, namely suicide." Life for Camus in this mood could only be absurd, futile and meaningless: in a Godless universe, without any of the supporting structures of religion to sustain faith in the power of goodness, all that is left us is "the refusal to hope and the unyielding evidence of a life without consolation."

So does my third dimension, the need for meaning, lead us to embrace the consolations of religion? Not if you mean by religion a crude view that everything will somehow be made right in the next world. I don't think a philosopher, using human reason alone, is in a position to pronounce on that one way or another. But I do think that acknowledging the spiritual dimension of human life will guide us towards a richer conception of human happiness - one that acknowledges our need for transcendence, and so allows for the possibility of meaning, rather than absurdity, in our human existence. It's not about pie in the sky, or an insistence that "everything will be OK in the end." On the contrary, if you look at the world's religions, they put suffering at the very centre of the human condition - this is strikingly true, of course, of Christianity, in its central symbol of the cross.

Religious claims about the "triumph" of goodness are very easy to misunderstand. Goodness, in the course of actual human history, is clearly often defeated. When St Paul encouraged his followers to bear adversity with the cry that "neither death nor life nor … any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God" (Romans 8:38) he cannot have meant his words to be construed as the naive assertion that things always work out for the best. The Jewish scriptures, in which he was so well versed, are packed with stories of terrible trials suffered by the innocent, of heroic goodness often crushed by the forces of tyranny and oppression. So the Pauline thought cannot be a piece of slick optimism, but must involve a more subtle understanding of the power of Goodness.

A rather less well known passage from his letters perhaps expresses it more tellingly: "No trial has come upon you that is outside the boundaries of human experience. And God is faithful, who does not let you be tested beyond your capacity, but with the test provides a way out, the power to endure" (I Corinthians 10:13). The resilience affirmed here is evidently not a magical overcoming of impossible odds, but a certain mindset which will not judge the value of sticking to the side of goodness by reference to its success or failure measured in terms of outcome, but which generates the courage to endure.

Any discussion of happiness and the meaning of life raises questions about suffering and whether it may not somehow be inextricably bound up with the possibility of human happiness and meaning. There are no easy answers here. But I do believe that the traditions of spirituality offer something richer and far more profound, when it comes to coping with human suffering, than anything on offer from the secular atheism of our time. The latter rests its case on scientific rationality - and of course there is nothing whatever wrong with this. Indeed, reason is our greatest human gift, and science perhaps our greatest achievement, with untold power to alleviate distress and improve the conditions for life. But on the religious view, we are here not just to improve the quality of life, important though that is, but to come to terms with that "interior" dimension which spiritual writers have discussed for many centuries. The task, to put it bluntly, is to orient ourselves towards the good, and to grow in knowledge and love of that good. And the disciplines of spirituality, which have traditionally included reading, chanting, mediation, prayer, fasting, and so on, are clearly on a quite different wavelength from rationalistic and scientific solutions.

I am not saying these religious traditions should be immune from critical scrutiny - clearly things can go wrong, institutions can become corrupt, and not all spiritual exercises are equally valid. But at their best, what such forms of life are directed towards is the development of all our human resources, not just for reasoning and rationality, but for ethical sensibility and emotional depth and psychological and moral growth, for tranquillity, integrity, and ultimately perhaps, what has traditionally been called "blessedness".

The path envisaged by these traditions is not of course an easy one. But we know anyway that human life is not easy - the attempt to solve everything by making it easy is one of the self-defeating idolatries to which humans have always had recourse, and today is no exception. But the very difficulty can have a purifying force, as George Eliot beautifully observed in her novel Adam Bede (1859): "Let us … be thankful that our sorrow lives in us as an indestructible force, only changing its form, as forces do, and passing from pain into sympathy - the one poor word which includes all our best insight and our best love … For it is at such periods that the sense of our lives having visible and invisible relations beyond any of which either our present or prospective self is the centre, grows like a muscle that we are obliged to lean on and exert."

The precise nature of those "invisible relations" (at least on anything like a religious interpretation) was something about which George Eliot herself was agnostic. If, as I would argue, they ultimately connect with the transcendent, a source of goodness and reality beyond the cosmos studied by science, that is something that cannot by definition be established by science, or perhaps even by philosophy, but must remain a matter of faith. Dogmatism is out of place here, and is in my view one of the greatest blemishes that alienate people from true religion.

What I have been arguing is, to begin with, that there are basic biological and other preconditions for happiness that can be objectively determined, and scientifically confirmed. But beyond that, in order to be happy a human life needs, in the first place, to be one of genuine achievement, one that allows for the successful development of our characteristic human talents and capacities. Second, it needs to be oriented towards the good; for a life cut off from moral sensibility cannot reach integrity and fulfilment. And thirdly, happiness requires a sense of meaning, the courage to endure, as inherently weak and dependent creatures, in the face of contingency and apparent futility; and this brings in the need for a spiritual dimension to our lives, as we recognise our finitude and embark on the search for the transcendent. This last dimension takes us beyond the limits of science, into an area where there are no guarantees; but, paradoxically, this very lack of guarantees may perhaps be the key to the humility we need as we set out on the journey.

John Cottingham www.philosophypress.co.uk April 20, 2009

THERE CAN BE NO TRUE HAPPINESS AND
PROGRESS WITHOUT SPIRITUALITY

November 21st,1911

Ferocity and savagery are natural to animals, but men should show forth the qualities of love and affection. God sent all His Prophets into the world with one aim, to sow in the hearts of men love and goodwill, and for this great purpose they were willing to suffer and to die. All the sacred Books were written to lead and direct man into the ways of love and unity; and yet, in spite of all this, we have the sad spectacle of war and bloodshed in our midst.

When we look into the pages of history, past and present, we see the black earth reddened by human blood. Men kill each other like the savage wolves, and forget the laws of love and tolerance.

Now this luminous age has come, bringing with it wonderful civilization and material progress. Men's intellects have widened, their perceptions grown, but alas, in spite of all this, fresh blood is being spilt day by day. Look at the present Turco-Italian war; consider for a moment the fate of these unhappy people! How many have been killed during this sad time? How many homes are ruined, wives desolate, and children orphans! And what is to be gained in exchange for all this anguish and heartache? Only a corner of the earth!

This all shows that material progress alone does not tend to uplift man. On the contrary, the more he becomes immersed in material progress, the more does his spirituality become obscured.

In times gone by progress on the material plane was not so rapid, neither was there bloodshed in such profusion. In ancient warfare there were no cannons, no guns, no dynamite, no shells, no torpedo boats, no battleships, no submarines. Now, owing to material civilization, we have all these inventions, and war goes from bad to worse! Europe itself has become like one immense arsenal, full of explosives, and may God prevent its ignition -- for, should this happen, the whole world would be involved.

I want to make you understand that material progress and spiritual progress are two very different things, and that only if material progress goes hand in hand with spirituality can any real progress come about, and the Most Great Peace reign in the world. If men followed the Holy Counsels and the Teachings of the Prophets, if Divine Light shone in all hearts and men were really religious, we should soon see peace on earth and the Kingdom of God among men. The laws of God may be likened unto the soul and material progress unto the body. If the body was not animated by the soul, it would cease to exist. It is my earnest prayer that spirituality may ever grow and increase in the world, so that customs may become enlightened and peace and concord may be established.

War and rapine with their attendant cruelties are an abomination to God, and bring their own punishment, for the God of love is also a God of justice and each man must inevitably reap what he sows. Let us try to understand the commands of the Most High and to order our lives as He directs. True happiness depends on spiritual good and having the heart ever open to receive the Divine Bounty.

If the heart turns away from the blessings God offers how can it hope for happiness? If it does not put its hope and trust in God's Mercy, where can it find rest? Oh, trust in God! for His Bounty is everlasting, and in His Blessings, for they are superb. Oh! put your faith in the Almighty, for He faileth not and His goodness endureth for ever! His Sun giveth Light continually, and the Clouds of His Mercy are full of the Waters of Compassion with which He waters the hearts of all who trust in Him. His refreshing Breeze ever carries healing in its wings to the parched souls of men! Is it wise to turn away from such a loving Father, Who showers His blessings upon us, and to choose rather to be slaves of matter?

God in His infinite goodness has exalted us to so much honour, and has made us masters over the material world. Shall we then become her slaves? Nay, rather let us claim our birthright, and strive to live the life of the spiritual sons of God. The glorious Sun of Truth has once again risen in the East. From the far horizon of Persia its radiance is spreading far and wide, dispersing the dense clouds of superstition. The light of the unity of mankind is beginning to illumine the world, and soon the banner of Divine harmony and the solidarity of nations will be flying high in the Heavens. Yea, the breezes of the Holy Spirit will inspire the whole world!

Oh, peoples and nations! Arise and work and be happy! Gather together under the tent of the unity of mankind!

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 106

World Unity (ctd 2)

2009-04-30T07:40:00.002+02:00

With a mission of spreading a message of unity and peace through the beauty and the power of music, the Society for Universal Sacred Music (http://www.universalsacredmusic.org) and The New York Virtuoso Singers (http://www.nyvirtuoso.org) will co-sponsor "Voices for Love and Unity - A Concert for Peace," on Sunday, April 26, 2009, at St. Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church in New York City. Harold Rosenbaum, artistic director for both organizations, will conduct. The Canticum Novum Youth Choir, directed by Edie Rosenbaum, and The Elm City Girls' Choir, directed by Rebecca Rosenbaum, will participate. The concert will commence at 3:00 p.m. A pre-concert talk with composers takes place at 2:00 p.m.The concert will feature contemporary pieces and will be highlighted by Francis Poulenc's "Figure humaine." This complex tonal choral masterpiece, composed for a cappella double chorus while Nazi forces occupied Paris during World War II, focuses on the horrors of war and on mankind's inherent ability to survive and cope with a greater awareness of the brotherhood of man.A world-premiere titled "To The Peacemakers," composed by Roger Davidson, Founder and President of the Society for Universal Sacred Music, will be performed, as will "Voices for Today," which was written by Benjamin Britten to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the United Nations. Works by Richard McIntyre, the NYVS 2006 Choral Composition Competition First-Prize Winner, and Richard Rice, a NYVS two-time Composition Competition Honorable Mention, will also be included. "The mission of the concert -- and of the featured composers and their pieces -- is to share the message of unity through music and to foster a belief that individually and collectively society can strive together to work towards world peace," states Harold Rosenbaum.

news.prnewswire.com April 16, 2009

The teachings of Bahá'u'lláh will establish a new way of life for humanity. Those who are Bahá'ís must endeavour to establish this way of life just as rapidly as possible. Now that the hour has arrived when the Bahá'í Faith is gaining prominence, and is being reviewed by so many peoples, it is necessary that the adherents of the Faith should live up to the high ideals of the Faith in every way. In this way they can demonstrate that the Bahá'í Faith does create a new way of life, which brings to the individual a complete association with the Will of God, and thus the establishment of a peaceful and universal society. Divisional attachments are of men, while universal service is of God.

~ Shoghi Effendi, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 195

World Unity (ctd)

2009-04-30T07:34:00.003+02:00

During the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) Summit in Montebello, Canada in 2005, the “three amigos” (Bush, Harper and Calderon) released “North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza,” described as a “collaborative North American approach that recognizes that controlling the spread of avian influenza or a novel strain of human influenza, with minimal economic disruption, is in the best interest of all three countries.” The plan outlines how “Canada, Mexico and the United States intend to work together to prepare for and manage avian and pandemic influenza.”

It was hardly a coincidence that at the same time the U.S. Northern Command, or NORTHCOM, created a webpage dedicated to avian flu and subsequently ran exercises in preparation for the possible use of U.S. military forces in a continental domestic emergency involving avian flu or pandemic influenza.

In 2006, NORTHCOM held an international exercise with more than 40 international, federal, and state agencies “designed to provoke discussion and determine what governmental actions, including military support, would be necessary in the event of an influenza pandemic in the United States.” In addition, NORTHCOM participated in a nationwide Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed exercise code-named Exercise Ardent Sentry 06 to rehearse cooperation between Department of Defense and local, state, federal agencies, and the Canadian government.

In 2005, then president Bush shifted U.S. policy on avian flu and pandemic influenza and placed the U.S. under international guidelines. “The policy shift was formalized Sept. 14, 2005, when Bush announced a new International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza to a High-Level Plenary Meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, in New York,” Jerome Corsi wrote in September, 2007. “The new International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza was designed to supersede an earlier November 2005 Homeland Security report that called for a U.S. national strategy that would be coordinated by the Departments of Homeland Security, Health and Agriculture.”

In other words, any U.S. response to an avian flu pandemic would be directed under WHO, WTO, U.N. and NAFTA directives. Congress and U.S. agencies would be cut out of the picture. “The U.N.-WHO-WTO-NAFTA plan advanced by SPP features a prominent role for the U.N. system influenza coordinator as a central international director in the case of a North American avian flu or pandemic influenza outbreak,” Corsi adds.

Dr. David Nabarro, WHO executive director of sustainable development and health environments, was appointed the first U.N. system influenza coordinator. In 2005, Nabarro said during a press conference that his number one priority was to prepare for the H5N1 virus, known as the avian flu. Nabarro played into the global fear that an epidemic was inevitable.

“I’m not, at the moment at liberty to give you a prediction on numbers, but I just want to stress, that, let’s say, the range of deaths could be anything from 5 to 150 million,” said Nabarro. On March 8, 2006, during a U.N. press conference Nabarro predicted an outbreak of the H5N1 virus would “reach the Americas within the next six to 12 months.”

On Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stoked the fear of a global flu pandemic. He said the Mexican flu outbreak is the “first test” of the “pandemic preparedness work undertaken by the international community over the past three years.” Ban Ki-moon said if “we are indeed facing a pandemic, we need to demonstrate global solidarity. In our interconnected world, no nation can deal with threats of such dimension on its own.”

For Ki-moon and the global elite, “global solidarity” in “our interconnected world” translates into yet another push for world government. Ki-moon’s dire warning falls on the heels of the G20 summit where plans were announced for implementing the creation of a new global currency to replace the U.S. dollar’s role as the world reserve currency. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and others repeatedly called for “global governance” and a “New World Order.”

The current flu pandemic hype serves as punctuation mark between the G20 held in London and the upcoming one to be held in Italy in June. “The G20 summit has agreed to try to kick start stalled Doha trade liberalization talks at the next G8 meeting,” Reuters reported on April 2. So-called “trade liberalization” is code for the neoliberal plan to “privatize” public and private industries around the world, impose “flexibilization” of labor markets (create massive unemployment), “deregulate” consumer and financial markets, and foster foreign buyouts, layoffs, wage cuts, transient employment, higher prices, and potentially destabilizing capital flows.

As noted by the Eagle Forum in October, 2007, the SPP’s North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza “is not only about combating a flu epidemic but is far-reaching in seeking control over U.S. citizens and public policy during an epidemic.” The Plan would give authority to international bureaucrats “beyond the health sector to include a coordinated approach to critical infrastructure protection,” including “border and transportation issues.”

On April 26, Infowars covered the Department of Defense’s “Implementation Plan for Pandemic Influenza” that proposes nothing less than the militarization of health care, military augmentation of civilian law enforcement, and the mass vaccination of the population as directed by the government.

Ki-moon, the United Nations, and the globalists, with the participation of the globalist-dominated corporate media and the ruling elite in Mexico, are hyping the flu outbreak as a possible pandemic in order to sell us their scheme for world government.

It is an ongoing process.

Kurt Nimmo Prison Planet.com April 27, 2009

The fatherhood of God, His loving-kindness and beneficence are apparent to all. In His mercy he provides fully and amply for His creatures and if any soul sins He does not suspend His bounty. All created things are visible manifestations of His fatherhood, mercy and heavenly bestowals. Human brotherhood is likewise as clear and evident as the sun, for all are servants of one God, belong to one humankind, inhabit the same globe, are sheltered beneath the overshadowing dome of heaven and submerged in the sea of divine mercy. Human brotherhood and dependence exist because mutual helpfulness and cooperation are the two necessary principles underlying human welfare. This is the physical relationship of mankind. There is another brotherhood, the spiritual, which is higher, holier and superior to all others. It is heavenly; it emanates from the breaths of the Holy Spirit and the effulgence of merciful attributes; it is founded upon spiritual susceptibilities. This brotherhood is established by the Manifestations of the Holy One.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 13

Prayers and Meditations

2009-04-28T11:26:00.012+02:00

Want to build a better brain?

Ramp up your spiritual practice, says Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania. Meditation and prayer can improve your physical, intellectual, and emotional well-being and may even slow the brain's aging process.

Newberg, who is also the director of the Center for Spirituality and the Mind, is the author of four books, including the recently released "How God Changes Your Brain," which discusses the results of brain scans that he and his team conducted on more than 100 meditating or praying people. The research shows that the physical and emotional benefits of spiritual observances dramatically accrue over years of practice, but even recent converts exhibit healthier brains -- in one study Newburg's team scanned the brains of people who had never meditated before, then taught them simple meditative methods. After eight weeks of meditating 12 minutes a day, an evaluation showed considerable improvement in memory scores and a measurable decrease in anxiety and anger.

Atheists can feel free to jump right in here as Newburg's research indicates that faith in a divine being isn't required to benefit from meditation. But pessimists may be out of luck -- faith in a positive outcome is necessary for the best results.
In your book, you write that religion is a "wonderful tool because it helps the brain perform its primary functions."

Which functions are you talking about, and how does religion help those functions?

The brain has basically two main functions, globally speaking. It helps us to survive, and it helps us to adapt and grow. Religion is extremely valuable in both respects.

A lot of the new research that we've been doing shows that when people engage in religious or spiritual activities and practices, or they have religious experiences, by and large they tend to have a positive impact on a person's mental health and wellbeing. That helps them accomplish their goals, to set a path for themselves, and therefore helps them survive. At the same time, religion and spiritual pursuits help us change and grow over time by giving us a model for transforming ourselves. Ultimately, they're our way of asking ourselves to follow the ideals of what we think a good human being should be.

You measured the effects of doing a practice like meditation or prayer on the brains of long-term practitioners in different spiritual traditions. What did you notice about the brain of a meditator that's different from someone who is not meditating?
When we compare the baseline brain scans -- meaning when the person is at rest -- of long-term practitioners to those of non-practitioners, we see substantial changes in many parts of the brain.

For example, long-term meditators have higher activity in their frontal lobes, the part of the brain that helps us focus our attention and will on whatever behaviors we need to do. Another interesting finding we have noticed occurs in the thalamus, the central structure that helps different parts of the brain communicate with each other and is very involved in processing all of our sensory information. We find there is a difference in how the thalamus is acting in long-term meditators compared to non-meditators. We think this may have something to do with, on the one hand, enabling the brain to function in a heightened way, but it also suggests that it really does alter our way of looking at reality when one engages in these practices. It changes how the brain works.

When you talk about the effects of religious beliefs or activities on the brain, that's a very broad spectrum of possibilities to consider. Does it matter what you believe or what sort of practices you're doing?

The particular beliefs and practices are very important. One major point is the difference between having a loving and compassionate view of God versus a God that is vengeful, angry, and exclusive. We know from other research that if you focus your mind on positive emotions, and if you have an optimistic outlook, then that is going to activate the areas of your brain that help you lower stress, which helps you to function better and ultimately to be healthier physically and mentally. And if you focus on a God that's angry and vengeful, that activates the anger centers of your brain, the strong emotional centers, which creates stress and anxiety. When that happens, your body releases hormones that can actually damage the way your brain functions which fosters more negative emotions and negative behaviors outwardly. That can be destructive both for the individual as well as on society as a whole.

There was a statistic cited in your book showing that Americans mostly view God as authoritarian, critical, or distant -- only 23 percent of believers see God as gentle and forgiving ...

That's one of the things that we really want to advocate for, that people have to be cautious about the beliefs they hold in terms of whether they focus on God and religion as something that's a positive influence in their lives and provides forgiveness and compassion or whether they're going to look at God and religion as exclusive and negative, because that really does have a detrimental effect.

The good news is that the brain does have the ability to continually change and adapt, and therefore, even if you have gone down a fairly long path of negative emotions, you do have an opportunity, if you start to focus anew on the other side, so to speak, to bring about changes that are more positive. I don't mean to make it sound simplistic -- it's not like you are just going to flip a switch, most likely, and change your whole way of being. It does take effort.

You're studying religion in a laboratory. Do you see a limit as to what you can learn about faith through science?

Well, I don't want it to be construed that, because we can do this kind of research, we are explaining away what religion is. You know, when we get a brain scan of somebody describing their vision of God, for example, that tells us what the brain is doing in the midst of that experience, but it doesn't prove to us whether God was really in the room with them, or that one person's religious or spiritual beliefs are right and somebody else's is wrong. What it shows is how these experiences affect us, and I think ultimately it can contribute to our knowledge, not only of the brain, but also to our perspective on spiritual and theological ideas.

How did you become interested in this field of study?

As a child I was always asking questions like, why are there different religions? Why do some people believe one thing over something else? As I got older, I had a deep desire to learn about science, which seemed to provide answers to these questions. But I began to explore other philosophical and spiritual traditions in college that made me realize that what we can know by science is just one part of the discussion, and that we need to think very hard about what religious and spiritual perspectives bring to the table in helping us understand reality. When I went into medical school, I had the good fortune of meeting a mentor who was interested in these same questions, and how it ultimately came about, in terms of my own journey, is that I wanted, somehow, to find a way of integrating these two perspectives.

Science and religion, you mean?

Yes. I don't know how much integration there needs to be, but... there are certain fundamental paradoxes that science will never help us transcend. The big one, which always creates a problem in my own mind, is how do you get outside of your own brain so that you can look at what is happening inside and figure out whether or not they match? The interesting thing is that religious and spiritual traditions are the only places in human experience that I know of where people at least describe that they have gone beyond their minds, their brains. And, if that's the case, we need to look at what those experiences are because that may be our only way of actually getting to what absolute reality is all about.

Are you a spiritual person yourself?

I would say that this whole process is my spiritual journey. I guess to some degree I'm not totally sure what we mean by spiritual or religious -- in fact, in my classes, I always start out by saying: How do you define these terms? Everybody defines them a little bit differently. I guess the reason why I'm comfortable saying that this work I do is spiritual is that it's my way of trying to connect with the universe, with all the things that are.

Are you a member of an organized religion?

I identify culturally with being Jewish, which is my upbringing, but I don't think I've ever come across one specific viewpoint that seems to answer all of the questions. I really do struggle with where the truth is. I also think that if I want to do this kind of research, I have to keep as neutral a stance as I can. I'm sure people are going to say, "He's biased towards religion," or, "He's biased against it." But I really try to maintain, to the best of my ability, a healthy respect both for what religion and science can do.

Have you ever had a mystical experience?

I think I have had experiences that helped me realize what people are talking about when they describe their own mystical and spiritual experiences. Of course, one of the problems in trying to answer the question of "have you had a mystical experience" is that to some degree, they are by definition indescribable. So I'm not sure that I could definitively answer the question. But I think that studying other people's experience is getting me closer to an understanding. Maybe in 10 or 15 years I'll have a different answer for you.
David Ian Miller www.sfgate.com April 27, 2009

The first thing to do is to acquire a thirst for Spirituality, then Live the Life! Live the Life! Live the Life! The way to acquire this thirst is to meditate upon the future life. Study the Holy Words, read your Bible, read the Holy Books, especially study the Holy Utterances of Bahá'u'lláh; Prayer and Meditation, take much time for these two. Then will you know this Great Thirst, and then only can you begin to Live the Life!
("Star of the West" Vol. 19, No. 3, p. 69)

Knowledge is love. Study, listen to exhortations, think, try to understand the wisdom and greatness of God. The soil must be fertilized before the seed can be sown.
("Star of the West" Vol. 20, No. 10, p. 314)

~ Abdul-Baha, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 204

World Unity

2009-04-28T00:58:00.005+02:00

In the Orient the various peoples and nations were in a state of antagonism and strife, manifesting the utmost enmity and hatred toward each other. Darkness encompassed the world of mankind. At such a time as this Bahá'u'lláh appeared. He removed all the imitations and prejudices which had caused separation and misunderstanding and laid the foundation of the one religion of God. When this was accomplished, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Buddhists all were united in actual fellowship and love. The souls who followed Bahá'u'lláh from every nation have become as one family living in agreement and accord, willing to sacrifice life for each other. The Muslim will give his life for the Christian, the Christian for the Jew and all of them for the Zoroastrian. They live together in love, fellowship and unity. They have attained to the condition of rebirth in the Spirit of God. They have become revivified and regenerated through the breaths of the Holy Spirit. Praise be to God! This light has come forth from the East, and eventually there shall be no discord or enmity in the Orient. Through the power of Bahá'u'lláh all will be united. He upraised this standard of the oneness of humanity in prison. When subjected to banishment by two kings, while a refugee from enemies of all nations and during the days of His long imprisonment He wrote to the kings and rulers of the world in words of wonderful eloquence, 203 arraigning them severely and summoning them to the divine standard of unity and justice. He exhorted them to peace and international agreement, making it incumbent upon them to establish a board of international arbitration -- that from all nations and governments of the world there should be delegates selected for a congress of nations which should constitute a universal arbitral court of justice to settle international disputes. He wrote to Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, the Czar of Russia, the Emperor of Germany, Napoleon III of France and others, inviting them to world unity and peace. Through a heavenly power He was enabled to promulgate these ideals in the Orient. Kings could not withstand Him. They endeavored to extinguish His light but served only to increase its intensity and illumination. While in prison He stood against the Shah of Persia and Sultan of Turkey and promulgated His teachings until He firmly established the banner of truth and the oneness of humankind.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 202

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.

~ "Foundations of World Unity", (Wilmette, Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1972), p. 65

Unification of the whole of mankind is the hall mark of the stage which human society is now approaching. Unity of family, of tribe, of city-state, and nation have been successively attempted and fully established. World unity is the goal towards which a harassed humanity is striving. Nation-building has come to an end. The anarchy inherent in state sovereignty is moving towards a climax. A world, growing to maturity, must abandon this fetish, recognize the oneness and wholeness of human relationships, and establish once for all the machinery that can best incarnate this fundamental principle of its life.

~ The Guardian, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 184

In connection with the World Unity Conferences, which you have organized, I desire to assure you of my heartfelt appreciation of such a splendid conception. I am profoundly impressed by the generous assistance spontaneously offered by those who, faithful to their other obligations, have risen to insure the financial success of such a noble Plan. I am grateful to those local Assemblies and individuals who have given it their whole-hearted support in their respective fields.

~ Shoghi Effendi, Baha'i Administration, p. 124

Regarding the series of World Unity meetings which some of the thoughtful, capable and devoted servants of the Cause have carefully organized and successfully conducted, and to which you have referred in your letter of March 8th, I wish to express my keen appreciation of such a splendid conception, my deep gratitude for the efforts they have exerted, and my gratification in view of the success they have achieved.

~ Shoghi Effendi, Baha'i Administration, p. 108

We are told by Shoghi Effendi that two great processes are at work in the world: the great Plan of God, tumultuous in its progress, working through mankind as a whole, tearing down barriers to world unity and forging humankind into a unified body in the fires of suffering and experience. This process will produce, in God's due time, the Lesser Peace, the political unification of the world. Mankind at that time can be likened to a body that is unified but without life. The second process, the task of breathing life into this unified body -- of creating true unity and spirituality culminating in the Most Great Peace -- is that of the Bahá'ís, who are labouring consciously, with detailed instructions and continuing Divine guidance, to erect the fabric of the Kingdom of God on earth, into which they call their fellow men, thus conferring upon them eternal life.

~ The Universal House of Justice, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 196

"It is true that 'Abdu'l-Bahá made statements linking the establishment of the unity of the nations to the twentieth century. For example '...The fifth candle is the unity of nations -- a unity which, in this century, will be securely established, causing all the peoples of the world to regard themselves as citizens of one common fatherland...' And, in The Promised Day is Come, following a similar statement quoted from Some Answered Questions, Shoghi Effendi makes this comment: 'This is the stage which the world is now approaching, the stage of world unity, which, as 'Abdu'l-Bahá assures us, will, in this century, be securely established.'

~ The Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, p. 434

In absorbing such advice, it is illuminating indeed to view the Nineteen Day Feast in the context in which it was conceived. It is ordained in the "Kitáb-i-Aqdas" in these words: "It hath been enjoined upon you once a month to offer hospitality, even should ye serve no more than water, for God hath willed to bind your hearts together, though it be through heavenly and earthly means combined". It is clear, then, that the Feast is rooted in hospitality, with all its implications of friendliness, courtesy, service, generosity and conviviality. The very idea of hospitality as the sustaining spirit of so significant an institution introduces a revolutionary new attitude to the conduct of human affairs at all levels, an attitude which is critical to that world unity which the Central Figures of our Faith laboured so long and suffered so much cruelty to bring into being. It is in this divine festival that the foundation is laid for the realization of so unprecedented a reality.

~ The Universal House of Justice, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 422

The Purpose of the Creation of Man

2009-04-10T18:42:00.007+02:00

"All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization."

~ Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, CIX, p. 215

The Beauty of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah

2009-04-05T21:50:00.005+02:00

"Consider these days in which He Who is the Ancient Beauty hath come in the Most Great Name, that He may quicken the world and unite its peoples."

~ Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 63

And further We have said: "Doth it behoove you to relate yourselves to Him Who is the God of mercy, and yet commit the things which the Evil One hath committed? Nay, by the Beauty of Him Who is the All-Glorified! could ye but know it. Purge your hearts from love of the world, and your tongues from calumny, and your limbs from whatsoever may withhold you from drawing nigh unto God, the Mighty, the All-Praised.

~ Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 54

Turning Our face to the right, We beheld what the pen is powerless to describe; nor can it set forth that which the eye of the Lord of Mankind witnessed in that most sanctified, that most sublime, that blest, and most exalted Spot. Turning, then, to the left We gazed on one of the Beauties of the Most Sublime Paradise, standing on a pillar of light, and calling aloud saying: 'O inmates of earth and heaven! Behold ye My beauty, and My radiance, and My revelation, and My effulgence. By God, the True One! I am Trustworthiness and the revelation thereof, and the beauty thereof.

~ Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 136

Influence of 'Abdu'l-Bahá

2009-04-03T09:57:00.005+02:00

Leaders of the world's largest economies have reached an agreement to tackle the global financial crisis with measures worth $1.1 trillion (£681bn).

To help countries with troubled economies, the resources available to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be tripled to $750bn.

There will also be sanctions against secretive tax havens and tougher global financial regulation.

And the G20 has committed about $250bn to boost global trade.

US President Barack Obama said the summit could mark a "turning point" in the pursuit of economic recovery and made progress in reforming a "failed regulatory system".

"By any measure the London summit was historic.

"It was historic because of the size and the scope of the challenges that we face and because of the timeliness and the magnitude of our response," he said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said there was "no quick fix" for the world economy but there was a commitment to do whatever was necessary.

"This is the day that the world came together to fight back against the global recession, not with words, but with a plan for global recovery and for reform and with a clear timetable for its delivery," Mr Brown said.

Another G20 meeting will be held in New York in September to check on progress, the BBC has learned.

The deal was announced shortly before the European stock markets closed and gave leading indexes a significant boost.

London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares ended 4.3% higher. In Paris, the Cac 40 jumped 5.4% and in Frankfurt, the Dax rose 6%.

The deal

On behalf of the G20, Mr Brown announced the following steps:
· Bankers' pay and bonuses will be subject to stricter controls

A new Financial Stability Board will be set up to work with the IMF to ensure co-operation across borders and provide an early warning mechanism for the financial system :
· There will be greater regulation of hedge funds and credit ratings agencies
· A common approach to cleaning up banks' toxic assets has been agreed
· The world's poorest countries will receive $100bn extra aid
· G20 countries are already implementing the biggest economic stimulus "the world has ever seen" - an injection of $5tn by the end of next year.

IMF boost

The IMF has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the G20 summit.

The resources it has to help troubled economies will be increased to $500bn.

An overdraft facility will also be increased to $250bn (in the IMF's currency, so-called Special Drawing Rights) that all members can call upon.

Mr Brown said that there would be a crackdown on tax havens to prevent the loss of sorely needed tax revenue.

Shortly after the summit finished the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development published a blacklist of countries deemed uncooperative.

It said Costa Rica, Malaysia, Philippines and Uruguay had not made any commitment to respecting international standards.

"We have agreed tough standards and sanctions for use against those who don't come into line in the future," Mr Brown said.

President Obama was said to have played a key role in brokering the agreement on tax havens, resolving differences between France and China.

Hopes met?

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that the conclusions of the G20 summit were "more than we could have hoped for".

Earlier, there had been suggestions of rifts between France and Germany and the US and the UK.

The US and UK emphasised the need for public spending to ease the crisis while France and Germany were keen for tougher financial regulation.

Mr Sarkozy had threatened to walk out of the meeting if it did not yield concrete results.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also praised the outcome.

She said the new measures would give the world a "clearer financial market architecture" and the agreement was "a very, very good, almost historic compromise".

Her finance minister, Peer Steinbrueck, said he was pleased that the G20 statement did not oblige states to launch further economic stimulus packages.

Protests

Protesters gathered outside the summit, but in smaller numbers than during Wednesday's demonstrations in London's financial district.

Several hundred staged "noisy but calm" protests near the Excel centre, representing groups including the Stop the War Coalition and CND.

And about 400 more demonstrators were boxed in by police outside the Bank of England in London's financial district, during angry but peaceful protests.

More than 100 people were arrested over the two days of protests - 86 of them on Wednesday, police said.

A small group of protesters gathered earlier at the London Stock Exchange, but later dispersed.

Poor benefit

The G20 countries have pledged $100bn in aid for developing countries, more than expected.

The money will be dispensed through multilateral lenders such as the Asian Development Bank.

The measure that could make the most difference in the short term for the poorest countries is the availability of $250bn of trade credit, says BBC international development correspondent David Loyn.

It will enable goods currently rotting on the quayside in Africa to move again, he says.

BBC business editor Robert Peston said the tougher financial regulation announced by the G20 was a significant step.

He said it sounded the death knell for the freewheeling Anglo-American way of banking and conducting financial markets.

However, he said the measures would not get the world out of recession overnight.

news.bbc.co.uk 2 April 2009

After a little while we gathered around the table with him. During the meal one of the friends asked 'Abdu'l-Bahá how he enjoyed his stay in London, and what he thought of the English people. I acted as interpreter. 'Abdu'l-Bahá replied: "I have enjoyed London very much and the bright faces of the friends have delighted my heart. I was drawn here by their unity and love. In the world of existence there is no more powerful magnet than the magnet of love. These few days will pass away, but their import shall be remembered by God's friends in all ages and in all lands.

There are living nations and dead nations. Syria lost its civilization through lethargy of spirit. The English nation is a living one, and when in this spiritual springtime the divine truth come forth with renewed vitality, the English will be like fruitful trees, and the Holy Spirit will enable them to flourish in abundance. Then will they gain not only materially, but in that which is far more important, spiritual progress, which will enable them to render a greater service to the world of humanity."

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 78

What is the most important thing governments can do?

2009-03-30T11:54:00.007+02:00

Tens of thousands of people have marched through London demanding action on poverty, climate change and jobs, ahead of next week's G20 summit.

The Put People First alliance of 150 charities and unions walked from Embankment to Hyde Park for a rally.

Speakers called on G20 leaders to pursue a new kind of global justice.

Police estimate 35,000 marchers took part in the event. Its organisers say people wanted the chance to air their views peacefully.

Protesters described a "carnival-like atmosphere" with brass bands, piercing whistles and stereos blasting music as the slow-paced procession weaved through the streets.

Police said one man was arrested during the march for being drunk and disorderly.

Unite union, general secretary Derek Simpson said: "I think it's an important message but whether it will get through to the people meeting in London I don't know. Anyone who sees the numbers on this march should realise how important it is."

Families with children in pushchairs were among those marching along the 4.2-mile route under banners with slogans including 'capitalists - you are the crisis' and 'justice for the world's poor'.

As protesters passed the heavily-policed gates of Downing Street, there were chants and jeers with one person shouting "enjoy the overtime".

BBC News reporter Mario Cacciottolo said people were clearly angry, but the atmosphere was not tense.

Milton McKenzie, 73, from Essex, told him: "How the hell can we have a situation here in Britain where we have people out of work and the bankers just cream it off and are helped by the government."

Italian trade unionist Nicoli Nicolosi, who had travelled from Rome, said: "We are here to try and make a better world and protest against the G20."

Glen Tarman, chairman of the Put People First co-ordination team, said: "An exciting alliance has been born today. We will keep up the pressure on world leaders and the UK government to address our demands and put people first."

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said he wanted to see G20 leaders agree a plan of action to deal with the financial downturn.

"Where I hope we will see a consensus emerge is in the recognition that unless they act together, then the problems are only going to get worse.

"This, unlike any other recession, is a recession right across the world."

The Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said it was important for the G20 to make commitments on helping the environment as well as the economy.

"There are some people who will say you can either tackle the economic crisis or the climate crisis.

"But the truth is that both come together with this idea of a Green New Deal, of investing in the jobs of the future, which are going to be in the green industries of the future."

The director of the the Adam Smith Institute, Dr Eamonn Butler, said governments have caused the economic crisis.

"The world market economy is actually a very moral system that raised a billion people out of poverty in the last 10 years," he said.

A huge security operation is under way in the run-up to the G20 summit, at which world leaders will discuss the global financial crisis and other issues.

There have been fears that banks and other financial institutions could be the focus for violent protests.

Commander Simon O'Brien, one of the senior command team in charge of policing security, said: "It's fair to say that this [the march] is one of the largest, one of the most challenging and one of the most complicated operations we have delivered.

"G20 is attracting a significant amount of interest from protest groups. There is an almost unprecedented level of activity going on."

Saturday's march will be followed by a series of protests on Wednesday and Thursday by a variety of coalitions and groups campaigning on a range of subjects, from poverty, inequality and jobs to war, climate change and capitalism.

Ahead of the summit, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been visiting a number of countries seeking support.

On Friday, during a visit to Chile, he said people should not be "cynical" about what could be achieved at next week's summit, saying he was optimistic about the likely outcome.

However, in an interview with Saturday's Financial Times, German Chancellor Angela Merkel dampened expectations of a significant breakthrough.

She said one meeting would not be enough to solve the economic crisis and finish building a new structure for global markets.

In Berlin, thousands of protesters have also taken to the streets with a message to the G20 leaders: "We won't pay for your crisis".

Another march took place in the city of Frankfurt. The demonstrations attracted as many as 20,000 people.

Banners accused the Germany government of being too willing to spend billions bailing out financial institutions and too slow to protect ordinary workers, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg said from Berlin.
news.bbc.co.uk 28 March 2009

The most important thing is to polish the mirrors of hearts in order that they may become illumined and receptive of the divine light. One heart may possess the capacity of the polished mirror; another be covered and obscured by the dust and dross of this world. Although the same Sun is shining upon both, in the mirror which is polished, pure and sanctified you may behold the Sun in all its fullness, glory and power revealing its majesty and effulgence, but in the mirror which is rusted and obscured there is no capacity for reflection although so far as the Sun itself is concerned it is shining thereon and is neither lessened nor deprived. Therefore our duty lies in seeking to polish the mirrors of our hearts in order that we shall become reflectors of that light and recipients of the divine bounties which may be fully revealed through them.

This means the oneness of the world of humanity. That is to say, when this human body-politic reaches a state of absolute unity, the effulgence of the eternal Sun will make its fullest light and heat manifest. Therefore we must not make distinctions between individual members of the human family. We must not consider any soul as barren or deprived. Our duty lies in educating souls so that the Sun of the bestowals of God shall become resplendent in them, and this is possible through the power of the oneness of humanity. The more love is expressed among mankind and the stronger the power of unity, the greater will be this reflection and revelation, for the greatest bestowal of God is love. Love is the source of all the bestowals of God. Until love takes possession of the heart no other divine bounty can be revealed in it.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 218

Buddhist quotes

2009-03-13T13:09:00.006+01:00

Those who seek the way of Enlightenment must always bear in mind the necessity of constantly keeping their body, speech and mind pure.
~ Buddha Gautama, Teaching of Buddha, p. 242

All the treasures of the world, all its gold and silver and honors are not to be compared with wisdom and virtue.
~ Buddha Gautama, Teaching of Buddha, p. 238

Human beings tend to move in the direction of their thoughts.
~ Buddha Gautama, Teaching of Buddha, p. 238

... virtue appears from good deeds, wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind.
~ Buddha Gautama, Teaching of Buddha, p. 238

The words we speak should always be words of sympathy and wisdom.
~ Buddha Gautama, Teaching of Buddha, p. 246

...people should train their minds so that they would not be disturbed by whatever kinds of words they might hear.
~ Buddha Gautama, The Teaching of Buddha, p. 248

The Source of Unity

2009-03-12T14:52:00.002+01:00

What is real unity? When we observe the human world we find various collective expressions of unity therein. For instance, man is distinguished from the animal by his degree or kingdom. This comprehensive distinction includes all the posterity of Adam and constitutes one great household or human family which may be considered the fundamental or physical unity of mankind. Furthermore, a distinction exists between various groups of humankind according to lineage, each group forming a racial unity separate from the others. There is also the unity of tongue among those who use the same language as a means of communication; national unity where various peoples live under one form of government such as French, German, British, etc.; and political unity which conserves the civil rights of parties or factions of the same government. All these unities are imaginary and without real foundation, for no real result proceeds from them. The purpose of true unity is real and divine outcomes. From these limited unities mentioned only limited outcomes proceed whereas unlimited unity produces unlimited result. For instance, from the limited unity of race or nationality the results at most are limited. It is like a family living alone and solitary; there are no unlimited or universal outcomes from it.

The unity which is productive of unlimited results is first a unity of mankind which recognizes that all are sheltered beneath the overshadowing glory of the All-Glorious; that all are servants of one God; for all breathe the same atmosphere, live upon the same earth, move beneath the same heavens, receive effulgence from the same sun and are under the protection of one God. This is the most great unity, and its results are lasting if humanity adheres to it; but mankind has hitherto violated it, adhering to sectarian or other limited unities such as racial, patriotic or unity of self-interests; therefore no great results have been forthcoming. Nevertheless it is certain that the radiance and favors of God are encompassing, minds have developed, perceptions have become acute, sciences and arts are widespread and capacity exists for the proclamation and promulgation of the real and ultimate unity of mankind which will bring forth marvelous results. It will reconcile all religions, make warring nations loving, cause hostile kings to become friendly and bring peace and happiness to the human world. It will cement together the Orient and Occident, remove forever the foundations of war and upraise the ensign of the Most Great Peace. These limited unities are therefore signs of that great unity which will make all the human family one by being productive of the attractions of conscience in mankind.

Another unity is the spiritual unity which emanates from the breaths of the Holy Spirit. This is greater than the unity of mankind. Human unity or solidarity may be likened to the body whereas unity from the breaths of the Holy Spirit is the spirit animating the body. This is a perfect unity. It creates such a condition in mankind that each one will make sacrifices for the other and the utmost desire will be to forfeit life and all that pertains to it in behalf of another's good. This is the unity which existed among the disciples of His Holiness Jesus Christ and bound together the prophets and holy souls of the past. It is the unity which through the influence of the divine spirit is permeating the Bahá'ís so that each offers his life for the other and strives with all sincerity to attain his good-pleasure. This is the unity which caused twenty thousand people in Iran to give their lives in love and devotion to it. It made the Báb the target of a thousand arrows and caused Bahá'u'lláh to suffer exile and imprisonment forty years. This unity is the very spirit of the body of the world. It is impossible for the body of the world to become quickened with life without its vivification. His Holiness Jesus Christ -- may my life be a sacrifice to Him! -- promulgated this unity among mankind. Every soul who believed in Jesus Christ became revivified and resuscitated through this spirit, attained to the zenith of eternal glory, realized the life everlasting, experienced the second birth and rose to the acme of good fortune.

In the Word of God there is still another unity, the oneness of the Manifestations of God, His Holiness Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. This is a unity divine, heavenly, radiant, merciful; the one reality appearing in its successive manifestations. For instance, the sun is one and the same but its points of dawning are various. During the summer season it rises from the northern point of the ecliptic; in winter it appears from the southern point of rising. Each month between it appears from a certain zodiacal position. Although these dawning-points are different, the sun is the same sun which has appeared from them all. The significance is the reality of prophethood which is symbolized by the sun, and the holy Manifestations are the dawning-places or zodiacal points.

There is also the divine unity or entity which is sanctified above all concept of humanity. It cannot be comprehended nor conceived because it is infinite reality and cannot become finite. Human minds are incapable of surrounding that reality because all thoughts and conceptions of it are finite, intellectual creations and not the reality of divine being which alone knows itself. For example, if we form a conception of divinity as a living, almighty, self-subsisting, eternal being, this is only a concept apprehended by a human intellectual reality. It would not be the outward, visible reality which is beyond the power of human mind to conceive or encompass. We ourselves have an external, visible entity but even our concept of it is the product of our own brain and limited comprehension. The reality of divinity is sanctified above this degree of knowing and realization. It has ever been hidden and secluded in its own holiness and sanctity above our comprehending. Although it transcends our realization, its lights, bestowals, traces and virtues have become manifest in the realities of the prophets, even as the sun becomes resplendent in various mirrors. These holy realities are as reflectors, and the reality of divinity is as the sun which although it is reflected from the mirrors, and its virtues and perfections become resplendent therein, does not stoop from its own station of majesty and glory and seek abode in the mirrors; it remains in its heaven of sanctity. At most it is this, that its lights become manifest and evident in its mirrors or manifestations. Therefore its bounty proceeding from them is one bounty but the recipients of that bounty are many. This is the unity of God; this is oneness; -- unity of divinity, holy above ascent or descent, embodiment, comprehension or idealization; -- divine unity. The prophets are its mirrors; its lights are revealed through them; its virtues become resplendent in them, but the Sun of Reality never descends from its own highest point and station. This is unity, oneness, sanctity; this is glorification whereby we praise and adore God.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 256

Believe nothing

2009-02-28T22:25:00.026+01:00

Believe nothing, O monks, merely because you have been told it or because it is traditional, or because you yourselves have imagined it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.
~ Buddha Gautama
(Compare this to the Words of Baha’u’llah about Independent Investigation of Truth)

I reached in experience the Nirvana which is unborn, unrivalled, secure from attachment, undecaying and unstained. This condition is indeed reached by me which is deep, difficult to see, difficult to understand, tranquil, excellent, beyond the reach of mere logic, subtle, and to be realized only by the wise.
~ Buddha Gautama
(Compare this to the Words of Baha’u’llah about God)

Love the whole world as a mother lovers her only child.
~ Buddha Gautama
(Compare this to the Words of Baha’u’llah about Love and Unity)

'He insulted me, he cheated me, he beat me, he robbed me' -- those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.
~ Buddha Gautama
(Compare this to the Words of Baha’u’llah about Non-existence of evil)

Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.
~ Buddha Gautama
(Compare this to the Words of Baha’u’llah about Being and Doing;
and keep on looking for the Baha’i Plan to realize all the divine ideals)

Fashion your life as a garland of beautiful deeds.
~ Buddha Gautama

”An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”
~ Buddha Gautama

Follow then the shining ones, the wise, the awakened, the loving, for they know how to work and forbear.
~ Buddha Gautama

As irrigators lead water where they want, as archers make their arrows straight, as carpenters carve wood, the wise shape their minds.
~ Buddha Gautama

Through zeal, knowledge is gotten; through lack of zeal, knowledge is lost.
~ Buddha Gautama

Everything changes, nothing remains without change.
~ Buddha Gautama

He is not the same, nor is he another.
~ Buddha Gautama

It is wrong to think that misfortunes come from the east or from the west; they originate within one's own mind. Therefore, it is foolish to guard against misfortunes from the external world and leave the inner mind uncontrolled.
~ Buddha Gautama

We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.
~ Buddha Gautama

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.
~ Buddha Gautama

Be vigilant; guard your mind against negative thoughts.
~ Buddha Gautama

They are not following dharma who resort to violence to achieve their purpose. But those who lead others through nonviolent means, knowing right and wrong, may be called guardians of the dharma.
~ Buddha Gautama

There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.
~ Buddha Gautama

The Buddhas do but tell the way; it is for you to swelter at the task.
~ Buddha Gautama

If a man who enjoys a lesser happiness beholds a greater one, let him leave aside the lesser to gain the greater.
~ Buddha Gautama

A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another.
~ Buddha Gautama

When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear.
~ Buddha Gautama

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
~ Buddha Gautama

The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.
~ Buddha Gautama

Never in this world can hatred be stilled by hatred; it will be stilled only by non-hatred --
this is the law of eternal.
~ Buddha Gautama

This life of separateness may be compared to a dream, a phantasm, a bubble, a shadow, a drop of dew, a flash of lightning.
~ Buddha Gautama

On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.
~ Buddha Gautama

You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.
~ Buddha Gautama

Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind.
Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten.
~ Buddha Gautama

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else;
you are the one who gets burned.
~ Buddha Gautama

The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.
~ Buddha Gautama

Meditation brings wisdom; lack of mediation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.
~ Buddha Gautama

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.
~ Buddha Gautama

On life's journey
Faith is nourishment,
Virtuous deeds are a shelter,
Wisdom is the light by day and
Right mindfulness is the protection by night.
If a man lives a pure life nothing can destroy him;
If he has conquered greed nothing can limit his freedom.
~ Buddha Gautama

Service to the Cause

2009-02-05T23:14:00.004+01:00

Whoso ariseth to teach Our Cause must needs detach himself from all earthly things, and regard, at all times, the triumph of Our Faith as his supreme objective. This hath, verily, been decreed in the Guarded Tablet. And when he determineth to leave his home, for the sake of the Cause of his Lord, let him put his whole trust in God, as the best provision for his journey, and array himself with the robe of virtue. Thus hath it been decreed by God, the Almighty, the All-Praised.

If he be kindled with the fire of His love, if he forgoeth all created things, the words he uttereth shall set on fire them that hear him. Verily, thy Lord is the Omniscient, the All-Informed. Happy is the man that hath heard Our voice, and answered Our call. He, in truth, is of them that shall be brought nigh unto Us.

~ Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 334

A Spiritual Civilization

2009-01-30T22:50:00.003+01:00

The purpose of religion is to bring about fellowship and harmony among people:
“The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship among men.”

Bahá’u’lláh also says:
“All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. The Almighty beareth Me witness: To act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man. Those virtues that befit his dignity are forbearance, mercy, compassion and loving-kindness towards all the peoples and kindreds of the earth.”

True civilization is based on the laws and teachings of God, and is spiritual. For such a civilization to emerge requires that individuals dedicate themselves to serving others in the light of divine principles:
“Do not busy yourselves in your own concerns; let your thoughts be fixed upon that which will rehabilitate the fortunes of mankind and sanctify the hearts and souls of men. This can best be achieved through pure and holy deeds, through a virtuous life and goodly behavior... Cleave unto righteousness.”

Education is an important aspect of human progress, because it helps to ensure that people acquire the outlook and skills necessary to contribute to an ever progressing society. Education should include moral issues as well as intellectual knowledge. As is stated in the Bahá’í writings:
“It is incumbent upon the friends of God to exert such an effort and strive with such eagerness to promote Divine Knowledge, culture and the sciences, that erelong those who are schoolchildren today will become the most erudite of all the fraternity of the wise. This is a service rendered unto God Himself, and it is one of His inescapable commandments.”

The Hidden Words

2009-01-30T21:07:00.004+01:00

O SON OF BEING! Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant.

~ Baha'u'llah, Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah, Arabic

O SON OF MAN! My calamity is My providence, outwardly it is fire and vengeance, but inwardly it is light and mercy. Hasten thereunto that thou mayest become an eternal light and an immortal spirit. This is My command unto thee, do thou observe it.

~ Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words 51

Baha'i Faith: An Introduction for Beginners By Catherine Beyer, About.com

2009-01-17T15:55:00.013+01:00

The Baha’i Faith is a monotheistic religion that emerged in the nineteenth century. It puts forward that many major religions in the world today are part of a progressive revelation from God, and it considers such diverse figures as Krishna, Zoroaster, Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad to be divine messengers sent by God to guide the world’s spiritual development.
Baha’is emphasize unity among all of mankind and strive for a united world society. In working toward this goal, the Baha’is vigorously engage in social programs and education that promote racial and gender equality, religious tolerance, environmental responsibility, and improved economies for those in need.
Baha’is consider their faith to be separate and independent from other faiths, although its most prominent influence is Shi’a Islam.

Origins

Siyyid Ali-Muhammad set down the foundations of the Baha’i Faith in 1844 by proclaiming himself as a messenger of God and predicting the arrival of a greater messenger. Siyyid became known as the Bab, which is Arabic for "Gate". The Bab’s teachings were considered heretical in Islamic Persia (Islam specifically teaches that Mohammad is both the greatest and the last of God’s messengers), and he was executed in 1850.
In 1852, a Babi follower named Mirza Husayn Ali, also known as Baha’u’llah ("The Glory of God"), had a revelation while in prison that he is the foretold messenger. The next year he publicly announces this fact and takes control of the movement, which gains its present name, the Baha’i Faith.

Basic Beliefs

A Single, All-Powerful, Indivisible God.
The Baha’i Faith is monotheistic. There is a single, limitless deity who knows all and is in all places. He is so great that no single person or religion can fully understand him, which is why messengers have revealed varying aspects of his totality through the ages and why different religions have differing ideas about him.
God has no form, as defining a form for him would limit him. Baha’is recognize anthropomorphic descriptions and images of God to be people’s way of attempting to relate to and understand an entity ultimately beyond full human comprehension.
God is also indivisible. The Christian concept of the trinity is considered either metaphorical or erroneous. Polytheism is contrary to the Baha’i Faith, and it is generally accepted that no messenger taught polytheism.

Manifestations of God

God manifests himself through his messengers, who possess both mortal and divine qualities, although they are not identical to God nor considered a portion of God. Some Baha’is compare the Manifestations of God to mirrors, reflecting the light of God onto the world. God has sent many messengers in a system of evolving revelation to mankind, each appropriate for the specific time and place.

Intrinsic Equal Value Of All Human Life

God created all humans, so all are equally gifted. Baha’is are strong supporters of equal treatment for women and minorities. The unification of humankind is considered a primary goal to Baha’is.

Importance of Education

Bahai’s strive toward a goal of universal education in both religious and secular matters. Positively serving humanity is considered a duty for everyone, and education is the best path for preparing people to better society.

Narrowing The Gap Between Rich And Poor

The widening golf between the extremes of wealth and poverty are of great concern to Baha’is. Baha’i groups provide care for the less fortunate in a number of ways, including charity, education, and activism.

Holidays and Celebrations

The Baha’i calendar starts at sunset on March 20 in order to roughly correspond with the spring equinox.. This day is referred to as Naw-Ruz, the same as for Zoroastrians, another religion originating in Persia. Naw-Ruz is one of eleven holy days, the others being:
· First day of Ridvan, April 21 - Ridvan celebrates Baha'u'llah’s announcement of revelation
· Ninth day of Ridvan, April 29
· Twelfth day of Ridvan, May 2
· Declaration of the Bab, May 23 – Celebrating the day of the Bab’s revelation
· Ascension of Baha'u'llah, May 29
· Martyrdom of the Bab, July 9
· Birth of the Bab, October 20
· Birth of Baha'u'llah, November 12
· Day of the Covenant, November 26 - Celebrating Baha'u'llah’s son’s, Abdu’l-Baha, ascension to the head of the Baha’i church
· Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha, November 28 – Recognizing the day of Abdu’l-Baha’s death

Elsewhere on the Web

Baha'i Faith Official Website
Baha'i Online Library

Teachings of the Bahai Faith

2009-01-17T15:28:00.005+01:00

The Baha'i Faith is the most recent Religion of God. The Manifestation or Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith is Baha'u'llah, which is a title meaning Glory of God. Some of the principles of the Baha'i Faith are:

· Oneness of God
· Oneness of His Manifestations
· Oneness of Mankind
· Unity of Religion
· Unity in Diversity
· Universal Peace
· Universal Education (Compulsory Education)
· Equality of Men and Women
· Universal Auxiliary Language
· Abolishment of all forms of prejudice
· Globalization (World Government)
· Religion and Science must be in accordance with each other
· Spiritual solutions for Economic problems
· Independent Investigation of Truth

"Baha'u'llah emphasizes the fundamental obligation of human beings to acquire knowledge with their "own eyes and not through the eyes of others." One of the main sources of conflict in the world today is the fact that many people blindly and uncritically follow various traditions, movements, and opinions. God has given each human being a mind and the capacity to differentiate truth from falsehood. If individuals fail to use their reasoning capacities and choose instead to accept without question certain opinions and ideas, either out of admiration for or fear of those who hold them, then they are neglecting their basic moral responsibility as human beings. Moreover, when people act in this way, they often become attached to some particular opinion or tradition and thus intolerant of those who do not share it. Such attachments can, in turn, lead to conflict. History has witnessed conflict and even bloodshed over slight alterations in religious practice, or a minor change in the interpretation of doctrine. Personal search for truth enables the individual to know why he or she adheres to a given ideology or doctrine.
Bahá'ís believe that, as there is only one reality, all people will gradually discover its different facets and will ultimately come to common understanding and unity, provided they sincerely seek after truth. In this connection, 'Abdu'l-Bahá said:

Being one, truth cannot be divided, and the differences that appear to exist among the many nations only result from their attachment to prejudice. If only men would search out truth, they would find themselves united.

~ 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 129.

And further:

The fact that we imagine ourselves to be right and everybody else wrong is the greatest of all obstacles in the path towards unity, and unity is necessary if we would reach truth, for truth is one.

~ 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 136."

Source for last paragraph and quotes: http://info.bahai.org/article-1-3-2-17.html

You can go to www.bahai.com for more information concerning the Baha'i Faith.

Insights on the meaning of struggle in life

2009-01-15T16:36:00.011+01:00

In the days of old an instinct for warfare was developed in the struggle with wild animals; this is no longer necessary; nay, rather, co-operation and mutual understanding are seen to produce the greatest welfare of mankind. Enmity is now the result of prejudice only.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 19

In former days, in the time of the Buddha and Zoroaster, civilization in Asia and in the East was very much higher than in the West and ideas and thoughts of the Eastern peoples were much in advance of, and nearer to the thoughts of God than those of the West. But since that time superstitions had crept into the religion and ideals of the East, and from many differing causes the ideals and characters of the Eastern peoples had gone down and down, lower and lower, while the Western peoples had been constantly advancing and struggling towards the Light. Consequently, in these days, the civilization of the West was much higher than that of the East, and the ideas and thoughts of the people of the West were much nearer to the thought of God than those of the East. Therefore, the ideals of Bahá'u'lláh had been more quickly realized in the West.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 69

Everything is transformed. The existing government of France cannot adapt itself to the requirements of the middle ages. As everything evolves, so also does religion - as witness the doctrines that are losing their influence today. All religious rites and ceremonies, when adhered to, become the cause of destruction and struggle. Look at the war in the Balkans. Can you imagine anything more terrible? Men have arisen against their brothers and both armies think they act in accordance with principle. If each side would put into practice the true principles of its own religion, there could be no further strife.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 67

We make a differentiation in these subjects. When we speak of the soul we mean the motive power of this physical body which lives under its entire control in accordance with its dictates. If the soul identifies itself with the material world it remains dark, for in the natural world there is corruption, aggression, struggles for existence, greed, darkness, transgression and vice. If the soul remains in this station and moves along these paths it will be the recipient of this darkness; but if it becomes the recipient of the graces of the world of mind, its darkness will be transformed into light, its tyranny into justice, its ignorance into wisdom, its aggression into loving kindness; until it reach the apex. Then there will not remain any struggle for existence. Man will become free from egotism; he will be released from the material world; he will become the personification of justice and virtue, for a sanctified soul illumines humanity and is an honor to mankind, conferring life upon the children of men and suffering all nations to attain to the station of perfect unity. Therefore, we can apply the name "holy soul" to such a one.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 120

During these six thousand years the world of humanity has not been free from war, strife, murder and bloodthirstiness. In every period war has been waged in one country or another, and that war was due to either religious prejudice, racial prejudice, political prejudice or patriotic prejudice. It has, therefore, been ascertained and proved that all prejudices are destructive of the human edifice. As long as these prejudices persist, the struggle for existence must remain dominant, and bloodthirstiness and rapacity continue. Therefore, even as was the case in the past, the world of humanity cannot be saved from the darkness of nature, and cannot attain illumination, except through the abandonment of prejudices and the acquisition of the morals of the Kingdom...

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 29

And among the teachings of His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh is man's freedom: that through the Ideal Power he should be emancipated and free from the captivity of the world of nature; for as long as man is captive to nature he is a ferocious animal, as the struggle for existence is one of the exigencies of the world of nature. This matter of the struggle for existence is the fountain-head of all calamities, and is the supreme affliction.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 30

His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh has given instructions regarding every one of the questions confronting humanity. He has given teachings and instructions with regard to every one of the problems with which man struggles. Among them are (the teachings) concerning the question of economics that all the members of the body politic may enjoy through the working out of this solution the greatest happiness, welfare and comfort without any harm or injury attacking the general order of things. Thereby no difference or dissension will occur. No sedition or contention will take place. This solution is this:

First and foremost is the principle that to all the members of the body politic shall be given the greatest achievements of the world of humanity. Each one shall have the utmost welfare and well-being. To solve this problem we must begin with the farmer; there will we lay a foundation for system and order because the peasant class and the agricultural class exceed other classes in the importance of their service. In every village there must be established a general storehouse which will have a number of revenues.

The first revenue will be that of the tenth or tithes.

The second revenue (will be derived) from the animals.

The third revenue, from the minerals, that is to say, every mine prospected or discovered, a third thereof will go to this vast storehouse.

The fourth is this: whosoever dies without leaving any heirs all his heritage will go to the general storehouse.

Fifth, if any treasures shall be found on the land they should be devoted to this storehouse.

All these revenues will be assembled in this storehouse.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 39

Concerning the methods to be adopted for the realization of your urgent task, Shoghi Effendi approves of the suggestion that some business firms open branches in new districts and thus provide Bahá'í settlement by this means. However, he feels that this will not be enough, and that all the Spiritual Assemblies, as well as each individual believer, should rally to this great opportunity which, indeed, may not again be presented to them, of spreading the Faith through the length and breadth of India while they are still in a position to do so. The world is day by day becoming increasingly involved in this cataclysmic struggle, but so far the Bahá'ís of India, Australia, New Zealand and the American continents have not felt either the dangers or the restrictions imposed on less fortunate communities which find themselves either over-run and temporarily eclipsed, or in the actual theatre of war. Therefore the believers of India should not allow these truly priceless days to slip by without exerting themselves to the utmost and sacrificing comfort, home, and money, to the great duty of giving the Divine Message to the people of their vast country.

Smallness of numbers, lack of skilled teachers, and modesty of means should not discourage or deter them. They must remember the glorious history of the Cause, which, both in East and West, was established by dedicated souls who, for the most part, were neither rich, famous, nor well educated, but whose devotion, zeal and self-sacrifice overcame every obstacle and won miraculous victories for the Faith of God. Such spiritual victories can now be won for India and Burma by the friends. Let them dedicate themselves -- young and old, men and women alike -- and go forth and settle in new districts, travel, and teach in spite of lack of experience, and be assured that Bahá'u'lláh has promised to aid all those who arise in His Name. His strength will sustain them; their own weakness is unimportant.

~ Shoghi Effendi, Dawn of a New Day, p. 89

Baha'u'llah on the life of Jesus

2009-01-12T10:31:00.004+01:00

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jrcole/bahai/bhjesu.htm

His Highness Christ called all men to peace and reconciliation and ordered His Holiness Peter to sheath his sword. This was the council and commandment of His Highness Christ.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Letter to Martha Root

"Thou didst begin thy letter with a blessed phrase, saying: 'I am a Christian.' O would that all were truly Christian! It is easy to be a Christian on the tongue, but hard to be a true one. Today some five hundred million souls are Christian, but the real Christian is very rare: he is that soul from whose comely face there shineth the splendour of Christ, and who showeth forth the perfections of the Kingdom; this is a matter of great moment, for to be a Christian is to embody every excellence there is. I hope that thou, too, shalt become a true Christian. Praise thou God that at last, through the divine teachings, thou hast obtained both sight and insight to the highest degree, and hast become firmly rooted in certitude and faith. It is my hope that others as well will achieve illumined eyes and hearing ears, and attain to everlasting life: that these many rivers, each flowing along in diverse and separated beds, will find their way back to the circumambient sea, and merge together and rise up in a single wave of surging oneness; that the unity of truth, through the power of God, will make these illusory differences to vanish away. This is the one essential: for if unity be gained, all other problems will disappear of themselves."

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 29

Detachment from all save God

2009-01-11T00:03:00.003+01:00

If one is praised and chosen by God, the accusation of all the creatures will cause no loss to him; and if the man is not accepted in the threshold of God, the praise and admiration of all men will be of no use to him.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v1, p. 158

He walketh the heights of detachment and traverseth the vale of renunciation. His eyes are ever expectant to witness the wonders of God's mercy and eager to behold the splendours of His beauty.

~ Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 29

And when this stage of the journey is completed and the wayfarer hath soared beyond this lofty station, he entereth the City of Divine Unity, and the garden of oneness, and the court of detachment.

~ Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 29

Baha'u'llah's Revelation as a gift for Humanity

2009-01-07T12:51:00.008+01:00

O SON OF DESIRE!
Give ear unto this: Never shall mortal eye recognize the everlasting Beauty, nor the lifeless heart delight in aught but in the withered bloom. For like seeketh like, and taketh pleasure in the company of its kind.

~ Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words

And further We have said: "Doth it behoove you to relate yourselves to Him Who is the God of mercy, and yet commit the things which the Evil One hath committed? Nay, by the Beauty of Him Who is the All-Glorified! could ye but know it. Purge your hearts from love of the world, and your tongues from calumny, and your limbs from whatsoever may withhold you from drawing nigh unto God, the Mighty, the All-Praised.

~ Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 54

"Consider these days in which He Who is the Ancient Beauty hath come in the Most Great Name, that He may quicken the world and unite its peoples."

~ Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 63

Turning Our face to the right, We beheld what the pen is powerless to describe; nor can it set forth that which the eye of the Lord of Mankind witnessed in that most sanctified, that most sublime, that blest, and most exalted Spot. Turning, then, to the left We gazed on one of the Beauties of the Most Sublime Paradise, standing on a pillar of light, and calling aloud saying: 'O inmates of earth and heaven! Behold ye My beauty, and My radiance, and My revelation, and My effulgence. By God, the True One! I am Trustworthiness and the revelation thereof, and the beauty thereof.

~ Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 136

Create, then, in their hearts, 0 my Beloved, the fire of Thy love, to such an extent that the mention of all save Thee may be consumed by it, that they may witness within their selves that Thou hast ever been in the loftiness of eternity, and that there has never been anything with Thee, and that Thou art as Thou bast ever been; no God is there save Thee, the Generous, the Mighty.

~ Baha'u'llah

Believe, just believe

2009-01-06T11:43:00.004+01:00

If we see that unity brings Light we shall continue it. For six thousand years we have been walking on the left-hand path; let us walk on the right-hand path now. We have passed many centuries in darkness, let us advance towards the light.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 61

In this connection We will relate unto thee that which was revealed of old concerning "life", that perchance it may turn thee away from the promptings of self, deliver thee from the narrow confines of thy prison in this gloomy plane, and aid thee to become of them that are guided aright in the darkness of this world.

~ Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 49

The Bahai Faith brings the East and the West together :)

2009-01-06T08:17:00.004+01:00

Knowledge is the first step; resolve, the second step; action, its fulfillment, is the third step. To construct a building one must first of all make a plan, then one must have the power (money), then one can build. A society of Unity is formed, that is good -- but meetings and discussions are not enough. In Egypt these meetings take place but there is only talk and no result. These meetings here in London are good, the knowledge and the intention are good, but how can there be a result without action? Today the force for Unity is the Holy Spirit of Bahá'u'lláh. He manifested this spirit of Unity. Bahá'u'lláh brings East and West together. Go back, search history, you will not find a precedent for this.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 54

War, patriotism, pacifism

2009-01-05T08:14:00.004+01:00

In this day the one who is favored in the threshold of grandeur is the one who offers the cup of faithfulness and bestows the pearl of gift to the enemies, even to the fallen oppressor, lends a helping hand, and considers every bitter foe as an affectionate friend.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 215

Therefore, all of you ought with your hearts and minds to endeavour to win the people with kindness, so that this great Unity may be established, that childish superstitions may pass away, and all may become one.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 44

Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, they're red, white and blue.
And when the band plays hail to the chief,
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

But it ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no...

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don't they help themselves, yo.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire son, no, no.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, yo.

Some folks inherit star-spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord!
And when you ask them, how much should we give?
Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yo,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one.

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no...

Its [the world-wide Law of Bahá'u'lláh] purpose is neither to stifle the flame of a sane and intelligent patriotism in men's hearts, nor to abolish the system of national autonomy so essential if the evils of excessive centralization are to be avoided. It does not ignore, nor does it attempt to suppress, the diversity of ethnical origins, of climate, of history, of language and tradition, of thought and habit, that differentiate the peoples and nations of the world. It calls for a wider loyalty, for a larger aspiration than any that has animated the human race. It insists upon the subordination of national impulses and interests to the imperative claims of a unified world. It repudiates excessive centralization on one hand, and disclaims all attempts at uniformity on the other.

~ Shoghi Effendi, World Order of Baha'u'llah, pp. 41-42

"With reference to the absolute pacifists, or conscientious objectors to war; their attitude, judged from the Bahá'í standpoint is quite anti-social and due to its exaltation of the individual conscience leads inevitably to disorder and chaos in society. Extreme pacifists are thus very close to the anarchists, in the sense that both of these groups lay an undue emphasis on the rights and merits of the individual. The Bahá'í conception of social life is essentially based on the subordination of the individual will to that of society. It neither suppresses the individual nor does it exalt him to the point of making him an anti-social creature, a menace to society. As in everything, it follows the `golden mean'. The only way that society can function is for the minority to follow the will of the majority.

"The other main objection to the conscientious objectors is that their method of establishing peace is too negative. Non-cooperation is too passive a philosophy to become an effective way for social reconstruction. Their refusal to bear arms can never establish peace. There should first be a spiritual revitalization which nothing, except the Cause of God, can effectively bring to every man's heart."

~ Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, http://bahai-library.com/writings/shoghieffendi/dg/sec-145.html

Faith in Baha'u'llah

2008-12-25T23:35:00.007+01:00

The hour is approaching when ye will witness the power of the one true God triumphing over all created things and the signs of His sovereignty encompassing all creation. On that day ye will discover how all else besides Him will have been forgotten and come to be regarded as utter nothingness.

~ Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 72

The day is approaching when its flame will devour the cities, when the Tongue of Grandeur will proclaim: "The Kingdom is God's, the Almighty, the All-Praised!"

~ Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 342

The day is approaching when the wrathful anger of the Almighty will have taken hold of them.

~ Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 208

To people who deny the existence of God

2008-12-25T23:31:00.004+01:00

It is no proof of intelligence to reject everything which does not strike the senses. Nay, rather, such a one is brother to the animal. The cow has no idea of God; she does not know the soul. So the only difference between her highness the cow and a materialistic philosopher is that the latter takes a great deal of trouble! It is not a special or exclusive privilege to be the prisoner of one's senses; the cow is the example of this theory.

Man has a sacred power beyond the confines of the senses. The power of the rational mind is the power of the soul over the senses. This cycle is radiating love and the bestowals of God are descending like unto rain. Man's glory lies in the difference between him and the animals. In Persia a small child who has been taught to think universally can talk with the learned. The religious people no longer question the followers of BAHA'U'LLAH, being unable to reply to their arguments. The priests and rulers call them necromancers, persecuting and martyring them; and with great joy these disciples give all their worldly goods and gladly lay down their lives for the cause of BAHA'U'LLAH. They go to death crying aloud, "Ya Baha El-Abha!"

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 94

Why do we need Baha'u'llah?

2008-12-24T15:58:00.002+01:00

WHY DO WE NEED BAHA’U’LLAH

All human beings desire prosperity, peace, progress, love and unity (which is wrongly considered last and least!)
And no one knows how to wisely and abidingly satisfy all or even one of these desires for himself, his family, his country, and especially for all the human race.

While over 150 years ago Baha’u’llah taught:

UNITY FIRST
Because all men are the children of the One True God
and being educated by One Divine Religion ( revealed by
the successive Messengers of God throughout history).
When we learn to realize this fact, we will attain LOVE.

LOVE
When we love each other for the sake of God,
our Creator and Heavenly Father,
this love will become selfless, unconditional and unchanged.
This true love will conduct to PEACE.

PEACE
Peace will naturally leads to all the good things
such as prosperity, progress, civilization….

All these things have been recorded in details in over
one hundred Books revealed by Baha’u’llah, interpreted
by Abdul-Baha and Shoghi Effendi,
and gradually realized by the Universal House of Justice.

More information is available at

http://www.bahai.org/

Love and Hatred

2008-12-24T15:48:00.006+01:00

Even the Lord Buddha suffered both Love and Hatred.

People who love Him say that He is Perfect in all things;
His breath is full of quickening fragrance, and His teachings
nurtures the eternal Buddhist civilization.

Those who hate Him say that He only talked and produced nothing;
He is not selfless because He wanted to become Buddha,
leaving His parents, wife and son in soreful separation from Him!

So why should we bother about such vain imaginings!

~ Personal and Humble opinion of a Dear Uncle of Mine

What is the meaning of the fast in the Bahai Faith?

2008-12-23T15:01:00.005+01:00

"The Kitáb-i-Aqdas states: "We have commanded you to pray and fast from the beginning of maturity [15 year]; this is ordained by God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.... The traveler, the ailing, those who are with child or giving suck, are not bound by the fast.... Abstain from food and drink, from sunrise to sundown, and beware lest desire deprive you of this grace that is appointed in the Book."

The period of the Fast is March 2 through March 20.

~ Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 236

"Praise be to Thee, O Lord my God! I beseech Thee by this Revelation whereby darkness hath been turned into light, through which the Frequented Fane hath been built, and the Written Tabled revealed, and the Outspread Roll uncovered, to send down upon me and upon them who are in my company that which will enable us to soar into the heavens of Thy transcendent glory, and will wash us from the stain of such doubts as have hindered the suspicious from entering into the tabernacle of Thy unity.

I am the one, O my Lord, who hath held fast the cord of Thy loving-kindness, and clung to the hem of Thy mercy and favors. Do Thou ordain for me and for my loved ones the good of this world and of the world to come. Supply them, then, with the Hidden Gift Thou didst ordain for the choicest among
Thy creatures.

These are, O my Lord, the days in which Thou hast bidden Thy servants to observe the fast. Blessed is he that observeth the fast wholly for Thy sake and with absolute detachment from all things except Thee. Assist me and assist them. O my Lord, to obey Thee and to keep Thy precepts. Thou, verily, hast power to do what Thou choosest.

There is no God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. All praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

~ Bahá'u'lláh (Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 244)

(Naw-Ruz, March 21, is the first day of the Bahá'í year.)

"Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-Ruz as a festival unto those who have observed the fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto thee. Grant, O my Lord, that the fire of Thy love and the heat produced by the fast enjoined by Thee may inflame them in Thy Cause, and make them to be occupied with Thy praise and with remembrance of Thee.

Since thou hast adorned them, O my Lord, with the ornament of the fast prescribed by Thee, do Thou adorn them also with the ornament of Thine acceptance, through Thy grace and bountiful favor. For the doings of men are all dependent upon Thy good-pleasure, and are conditioned by Thy behest. Shouldst Thou regard him who hath broken the fast as one who hath observed it, such a man would be reckoned among them who from eternity had been keeping the fast. And shouldst Thou decree that he who hath observed the fast hath broken it, that person would be numbered with such as have caused the Robe of Thy Revelation to be stained with dust, and been far removed from the crystal waters of this living Fountain.

Thou art He through Whom the ensign "Praise-worthy art Thou in Thy works" hath been lifted up, and the standard "Obeyed art Thou in thy behest" hath been unfurled. Make known this Thy station, O my God, unto Thy servants, that they may be made aware that the excellence of all things is dependent upon Thy bidding and Thy word, and the virtue of every act is conditioned by Thy leave and the good pleasure of Thy will, and may recognize that the reins of men's doings are within the grasp of Thine acceptance and Thy commandment. Make this known unto them, that nothing whatsoever may shut them out from Thy Beauty, in these days whereon the Christ exclaimeth: "All dominion is Thine, O Thou the Begetter of the Spirit (Jesus)"; and Thy Friend (Muhammad) crieth out: "Glory be to Thee, O Thou the Best-Beloved, for that thou hast uncovered thy Beauty, and written down for Thy chosen ones what will cause them to attain unto the seat of the revelation of Thy Most Great Name, through which all the peoples have lamented excepted such as have detached themselves from all else except Thee, and set themselves towards Him Who is the Revealer of Thyself and the Manifestation of Thine attributes."

He Who is Thy Branch and all Thy company, O my Lord, have broken this day their fast, after having observed it within the precincts of Thy court, and in their eagerness to please Thee. Do Thou ordain for Him, and for them, and for all such as have entered Thy presence in those days all the good Thou didst destine in Thy Book. Supply them, then, with that which will profit them, in both this life and in the life beyond.

Thou, in truth, art the the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."

~ Bahá'u'lláh (Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 261)

Should we learn to understand the meanings of the tree of FAST in order to voluntarily and consciously make proper preparations physically, mentally, spiritually like a true champion of God to climb up to the highest branch to thankfully pick and taste the mysterious and sweet fruit of detachment for His Divine Pleasure;

Or

Should we ignorantly imitate our ancestors to blindly and painfully starve or foolishly eating too much every night to make fun to the doubters!

Yes, notice His warning:

And shouldst Thou decree that he who hath observed the fast hath broken it, that person would be numbered with such as have caused the Robe of Thy Revelation to be stained with dust, and been far removed from the crystal waters of this living Fountain.

~ Bahá'u'lláh (Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 261)

Wordless to say ...

2008-12-23T15:00:00.003+01:00

"Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths."

~ Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 136

Moderation in the Bahai Faith

2008-12-23T14:39:00.005+01:00

"The Great Being saith: O ye children of men! The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity. This is the straight Path, the fixed and immovable foundation. Whatsoever is raised on this foundation, the changes and chances of the world can never impair its strength, nor will the revolution of countless centuries undermine its structure. Our hope is that the world's religious leaders and the rulers thereof will unitedly arise for the reformation of this age and the rehabilitation of its fortunes. Let them, after meditating on its needs, take counsel together and, through anxious and full deliberation, administer to a diseased and sorely-afflicted world the remedy it requireth... It is incumbent upon them who are in authority to exercise moderation in all things. Whatsoever passeth beyond the limits of moderation will cease to exert a beneficial influence. Consider for instance such things as liberty, civilization and the like. However much men of understanding may favorably regard them, they will, if carried to excess, exercise a pernicious influence upon men..."

~ Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 215

"Overstep not the bounds of moderation, and deal justly with them that serve thee. Bestow upon them according to their needs, and not to the extent that will enable them to lay up riches for themselves, to deck their persons, to embellish their homes, to acquire the things that are of no benefit unto them, and to be numbered with the extravagant. Deal with them with undeviating justice, so that none among them may either suffer want, or be pampered with luxuries. This is but manifest justice."

~ Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 23

"Whoso cleaveth to justice, can, under no circumstances, transgress the limits of moderation. He discerneth the truth in all things, through the guidance of Him Who is the All-Seeing. The civilization, so often vaunted by the learned exponents of arts and sciences, will, if allowed to overleap the bounds of moderation, bring great evil upon men. Thus warneth you He Who is the All-Knowing. If carried to excess, civilization will prove as prolific a source of evil as it had been of goodness when kept within the restraints of moderation. Meditate on this, O people, and be not of them that wander distraught in the wilderness of error. The day is approaching when its flame will devour the cities, when the Tongue of Grandeur will proclaim: "The Kingdom is God's, the Almighty, the All-Praised!"

"All other things are subject to this same principle of moderation. Render thanks unto thy Lord Who hath remembered thee in this wondrous Tablet. All-Praise be to God, the Lord of the glorious throne."

~ Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 342

"It is evident that the changes brought about in every Dispensation constitute the dark clouds that intervene between the eye of man's understanding and the Divine Luminary which shineth forth from the day spring of the Divine Essence. Consider how men for generations have been blindly imitating their fathers, and have been trained according to such ways and manners as have been laid down by the dictates of their Faith. Were these men, therefore, to discover suddenly that a Man, Who hath been living in their midst, Who, with respect to every human limitation hath been their equal, had risen to abolish every established principle imposed by their Faith -- principles by which for centuries they have been disciplined, and every opposer and denier of which they have come to regard as infidel, profligate and wicked, -- they would of a certainty be veiled and hindered from acknowledging His truth. Such things are as "clouds" that veil the eyes of those whose inner being hath not tasted the Salsabil of detachment, nor drunk from the Kawthar of the knowledge of God. Such men, when acquainted with those circumstances, become so veiled that, without the least question, they pronounce the Manifestation of God as infidel, and sentence Him to death. You must have heard of such things taking place all down the ages, and are now observing them in these days."

~ Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 26

"Happy is the man who will arise to serve My Cause, and glorify My beauteous Name. Take hold of My Book with the power of My might, and cleave tenaciously to whatsoever commandement thy Lord, the Ordainer, the All-Wise, hath prescribed therein. Behold, O Muhammad, how the sayings and doings of the followers of Shi'ih Islam have dulled the joy and fervor of its early days, and tarnished the pristine brilliancy of its light. In its primitive days, whilst they still adhered to the precepts associated with the name of their Prophet, the Lord of mankind, their career was marked by an unbroken chain of victories and triumphs. As they gradually strayed from the path of their Ideal Leader and Master, as they turned away from the Light of God and corrupted the principle of His Divine unity, and as they increasingly centered their attention upon them who were only the revealers of the potency of His Word, their power was turned into weakness, their glory into shame, their courage into fear. Thou dost witness to what a pass they have come. Behold, how they have joined partners with Him Who is the Focal-Point of Divine unity. Behold how their evil doings have hindered them from recognizing, in the Day of Resurrection, the Word of Truth, exalted be His glory. We cherish the hope that this people will henceforth shield themselves from vain hopes and idle fancies, and will attain to a true understanding of the meaning of Divine unity."

~ Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 69

To Make Their Views Known to Others the Young People Should Keep in Touch With Local Youth Activities:

"... the young Bahá'ís in every city should make a point of keeping in touch with local youth activities and clubs, and endeavouring to make their views known to as many young people in as many ways as possible. Above all they should set a high example to them; chastity, politeness, friendliness, hospitality, joyous optimism about the ultimate future happiness and well being of mankind, should distinguish them and win over to them the love and admiration of their fellow youth. The thing which is most conspicuously lacking in modern life is a high standard of conduct and good character; the young Bahá'ís must demonstrate both, if they hope to seriously win over to the Faith members of their own generation, so sorely disillusioned and so contaminated by the laxity war gives rise to."

~ From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Youth Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, October 20, 1945 (Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 629)

Insights on why we undergo tests in our lives

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"He will never deal unjustly with any one, neither will He task a soul beyond its power. He, verily, is the Compassionate, the All-Merciful."

~ Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 105