Life and Death

Two weeks ago we entered into the third and last segment of Book 1 (Reflections on the Life of the Spirit) which followed sections 1) Understanding the Baha’i Writings and 2) Prayer.  The purpose of this section summarized in the book is as follows: 

To understand that life is not the changes and chances of this world, and it’s true significance is found in the development of the soul.  True life, the life of the soul, occurs in this world for a brief time and continues eternally in other worlds of God.

I missed the first class of this section due to some car problems (my wife lost her transmission and I was immediately elevated to chauffer for my daughter) but I understand it instigated warm conversation.  Obviously the subject is endless and we can only discuss it in line with what has been revealed in previous dispensations  along with the new impressions we gather from the Writings of Baha’u’llah.  I understand the class discussion focused a good deal on the soul.  Staying with the purpose of this blog I thought I would offer up some further reading on this topic as revealed by Baha’u’llah in His copious Writings.  The beloved Guardian compiled a book called Gleanings which pulls certain quotes from these Writings into what I could best summarize, in my own words, as what he believed to be the finest waters to wade in as you approach His Ocean.   A little of the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and yes a bit of the Arctic and Southern but in the end …. The Mediterranean Sea...  ; )  

In this book there is a section from LXXIX (pg 151) – LXXXIV (pg 167) that elucidates on the Soul as well as life and death.  You can scroll through them by selecting next in the upper right corner or jump around by selecting contents.  If you find yourself interested in purchasing this book it is available here.  In addition, another reminder from back at the beginning of this blog there is a great talk on THE NATURE OF THE SOUL. 

There are a couple other Writings on “death” that were not placed in the above grouping in Gleanings but can be found here and here.

We have a slight pause in the class due to spring break, which might allow the time to peruse a bit of this.?  How could you not?  lol   However, Amir has offered his abode (grin) this week for any of us who can make it for another evening of spiritual conversation. 

Peace..

Bahai Words

  

O thou true friend!

Read, in the school of God, the lessons of the spirit, and learn from love’s Teacher the innermost truths. Seek out the secrets of Heaven, and tell of the overflowing grace and favor of God.

 

~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

…make of my prayer a fire that will burn away the veils which have shut me out from Thy beauty, and a light that will lead me unto the ocean of Thy Presence.

Sorry to have missed class last week.  : (

Thanks to a comment on the post The Mystery of Prayer…  I was able to glean some sparks from your conversations.  This, along with actually putting this mystery of prayer into action in a manner declared in The Kitab-i-Aqdas, (The Most Holy Book) has formed some links I thought might be worth sharing.  I say, worth sharing, as if you might gain something from this.  However,  I have found it to be more of an exercise for myself to bring the multitude of thoughts and links that come cascading in my mind into something quantifiable.  If, by some coincidence you find it of any benefit … very well.  I wonder if this holds true for most anything anybody writes; a written conversation with yourself, which somebody else might benefit from. ??

So here is look at this crazy conversation in my head.  Lol  

Dynamics of Prayer.

While in Haifa, the beloved Guardian of the Cause (Shoghi Effendi) 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.

The above statement belongs properly to the class of statement known  as "pilgrim's notes" and as such as no authority but, since it seems to be  particularly helpful and clear, it was felt that believers should not be  deprived of it.

On Prayer: ....for were a man to read a single verse with joy and radiance it would be better for him than to read with lassitude all the Holy Books of God

In the following Writing of Baha’u’llah, which is one of my favorites on the subject of prayer, He reveals certain qualities and attitudes regarding prayer as well as still more attributes of God. 

Earlier on in the sequence of posts on this blog on the subject of confession we were show some of the qualities of God in The Ninth Glad Tidings.  In this, among other clarifications that are 180 degrees from what one might think on this subject, I find at the very root of the matter He (God) wants us to know without any uncertainty that “Verily He is the Compassionate, the Merciful”.    No matter what it is that we have done …still He …  exalted be His glory -- wisheth not the humiliation of His servants.

Beautiful, yes?  

Here, once again this same theme comes into play but this time on the subject of prayer.   That is, contrary to what we might think about prayer such as….BIGGER is better, higher frequency is more praiseworthy, the greater the length the more acceptable, the amount and quality of our pious deeds, or what company we are in would be the standard by which our prayers are graded, yes?  We see instead, the following: 

The Mystery of Prayer...

Friends,

Due to the nature of all of our individual schedules and commitments, our Ruhi 1 class has been on nearly a month’s adjournment.  Provided Amir is back in tip-top shape I presume we are back on for our normal Thursday meeting time.??  As an aside …to keep the cobwebs from forming, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to add a little…and then some.  Getting back on track I thought it would be somewhat helpful to review where we left off.

Back in our last class Amir shared with us the following prayer during our break for refreshments.  At the time, I believe the physical food was front and center over the spiritual food so the prayer may be a little foggy.  Lol   For Amir…only the best for his guests! 

Anyway, the following is the prayer Amir shared with us:

Addendum to comments on previous post "Mom...How Big is God's Finger"

Friends…

Being the novice blogger that I am I tried posting this as a comment to the previous blog and was denied.  Apparently, like my voicemail messages, I was a little to long-winded.  Seems that just over 4,000 characters is the max.??  I guess I can’t complain, at least its more than a twitter but still, hardly enough to say anything.  IMO

I ran across this Writing today on another Blog while reading up on the latest news regarding the trial for the 7 Baha'is in Iran which has again been set, this time for next Tuesday January 12.  The piece was titled, Iran: Another Wave of False and Outrageous Allegations.  While reading up on this, yet again, tragic news I happened to notice the blog’s “quote of the day” and it seemed to connect with a portion of the gem that was shared in a comment on the previous post, specifically the portion...

Mom…how big is God’s finger?

I remember it like it was yesterday.  It was a typical day on a drive down a country road and I sat in the passenger seat of our family car looking out the window in wonder with questions cascading through my mind.  I don’t recall my exact age…probably 4, 5 or 6; the time when everything in life seems to be up for question.  A healthy questioning state I might add, one of wonder rather than conflict and contention.  I had lots of small trivial questions that afternoon like, “what are those big weights hanging on the power lines for?” However, these were all leading up to the BIG one.  “Mom…how big is God?” 

She replied, “Nobody knows how big God is, hunny.” 

Not satisfied with that answer I came back with a second, “well then…can you just tell me how big God’s finger is?”  (apparently we learn to extrapolate at a young age.  lol)

Servitude to all the human race is my perpetual religion

Once again, I would like to connect a thought from an earlier blog to something that has just recently been released  but this time instead of podcast #1 it is the one titled  Baha’i Epistolary podcast #2..  In the “Comments” section at the bottom I made reference in a “Comment” (this would be me talking to myself …  lol) and towards the end I said something in regards to the “community of interest” being  “Baha’is + Everybody that wants to support these instruments for masses of humanity to transform and come together. He speaks of Baha’i Faith as not another denomination, but rather, a tool to join a community in order that we may fulfill our own potential of service, with our vision and mindset being “what can we do” vs. “what can I get”. 

As it just so happens a video was released on the National Baha’i website displaying what this process looks like; what it is we are in the act of, and how it is manifesting itself in this day.  It is somewhat surreal to see what is going on in Amir’s living room being replicated across the globe by both Baha’is and those included in the community of interest.  Sometimes it can be very difficult to differentiate the two because it is not a name we are talking about anymore but ... deeds.  I think this can be clarified with a reply Abdul-Baha (Son of Baha’u’llah) gave to those who asked of his station.  He replied with these words:

*Abdul-Baha translated in English means Servant of Baha.

My name is Abdul-Baha, my identity is Abdul-Baha, my qualification is Abdul-Baha, my reality is Abdul-Baha, my praise is Abdul-Baha, Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious refulgent diadem; and servitude to all the human race is my perpetual religion. Through the bounty and favor of the Blessed Perfection, Abdul-Baha is the Ensign of the Most-Great-Peace, which is waving from the Supreme Apex; and through the gift of the Greatest Name, he is the Lamp of Universal Salvation, which is shining with the light of the love of God. The Herald of the Kingdom is he, so that he may awaken the people of the East and of the West. The Voice of Friendship, Uprightness, Truth and Reconciliation is he, so as to cause acceleration throughout all regions. No name, no title, no mention, no commendation hath he nor will ever have except Abdul-Baha. This is my longing. This is my supreme apex. This is my greatest yearning. This is my eternal life. This is my everlasting glory! Express ye the same thing which is issued from my pen. This is the duty of all. Consequently the friends of God must assist and help Abdul-Baha in the adoration of the True One; in the servitude to the human race; in the well-being of the human world and in divine love and kindness.

                (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 429)

By definition this gives a new and fresh light to what religion should be defined as… servitude to all the human race rather than whatever denomination we belong to.  Religious communities being the means rather than the end.  

Beauty in the Writings

In a previous blog (Baha’i  Epistolary Podcast #1) Ismael spoke of being able to influence our interaction with beauty but not being able to control it.  He gives a number of examples and their respective results that triggered a number of scenes in my mind that attested to the validity of this statement.  I’ll skip sharing those with you as I’m sure your own are much better.  (grin)  OK…one, I’ll share one.  Actually two, which I already did, I just didn’t make the connection with the above statement until just now.  The two I am referring to are the previous two posts.  As you can see I find the connection of spiritual attributes with that which we cloth ourselves to fall straight away into the category of beauty Ismael speaks of.  One that is ineffable.  I can feel confident in it being ineffable when I read Baha’u’llah’s description of Trustworthiness.

“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”

As the body of man needeth a garment to clothe it, so the body of mankind must needs be adorned with the mantle of justice and wisdom. Its robe is the Revelation vouchsafed unto it by God.

XXXIV. All praise and glory be to God Who, through the power of His might, hath delivered His creation from the nakedness of non-existence, and clothed it with the mantle of life. From among all created things He hath singled out for His special favor the pure, the gem-like reality of man, and invested it with a unique capacity of knowing Him and of reflecting the greatness of His glory.   This twofold distinction conferred upon him hath cleansed away from his heart the rust of every vain desire, and made him worthy of the vesture with which his Creator hath deigned to clothe him. It hath served to rescue his soul from the wretchedness of ignorance.

Trustworthiness as an ornament..

"We will now mention unto thee Trustworthiness and the station thereof in the estimation of God, thy Lord, the Lord of the Mighty Throne. One day of days We repaired unto Our Green Island. Upon Our arrival, We beheld its streams flowing, and its trees luxuriant, and the sunlight playing in their midst. 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. I will recompense whosoever will cleave unto Me, and recognize My rank and station, and hold fast unto My hem. I am the most great ornament of the people of Baha, and the vesture of glory unto all who are in the kingdom of creation. I am the supreme instrument for the prosperity of the world, and the horizon of assurance unto all beings.' Thus have We sent down for thee that which will draw men nigh unto the Lord of creation."

(Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 135)

Hidden Words

O SON OF BEING!
With the hands of power I made thee and with the fingers of strength I created thee; and within thee have I placed the essence of My light. Be thou content with it and seek naught else, for My work is perfect and My command is binding. Question it not, nor have a doubt thereof 

                                                              Baha'u'llah.

Bahai Epistolary podcast #2

If religion divides - why join one? If truth is universal, why "label" oneself? Why call oneself "Baha'i", and not just believe, and remain open?

Following good feedback, this is a podcast (my second!)of another talk I gave at Cambridge University, addressing the perennial question that Baha'is encounter: "I like the Baha'i teachings very much, I even love Baha'u'llah, but I don't want to label myself, I want to be free to be myself, and not divide myself from others by joining anything." I think people who state this view, have a point.

Baha'i Epistolary podcast #1 - Mind-bending!

Who could possibly believe in God? How? How could we possibly know whether an unknowable God exists or not?

'What is Truth, said jesting Pilate, but would not stay for an answer'

(Bacon, "On Truth").

I've given it a go at an answer... a wordy way of saying

"Who knows? ...Yet I believe."

and why.

What is the nature of religious conviction? Is it different from knowledge? And what would religious knowledge be anyway?

This is my first podcast, from a lecture I gave at Cambridge University a while ago. Please let me know what you think of this format. Would you like more podcasts? And please let me know what you think about this podcast!

The file is large (54megs) and lasts an hour and twenty minutes. I have it is less heavy formats (under 20, and under 10 megs), but have no server in which to store them yet. If you need the lighter version, just ask, and I'll forward it to you...

Thanks is andvance for your feedback.

The Ninth Glad-Tidings

The following is a link as well as what Baha'u'llah revealed on the subject of confession for this day.

The Ninth Glad-Tidings When the sinner findeth himself wholly detached and freed from all save God, he should beg forgiveness and pardon from Him. Confession of sins and transgressions before human beings is not permissible, as it hath never been nor will ever be conducive to divine forgiveness. Moreover such confession before people results in one's humiliation and abasement, and God -- exalted be His glory -- wisheth not the humiliation of His servants. Verily He is the Compassionate, the Merciful. The sinner should, between himself and God, implore mercy from the Ocean of mercy, beg forgiveness from the Heaven of generosity and say:

O God, my God! I implore Thee by the blood of Thy true lovers who were so enraptured by Thy sweet utterance that they hastened unto the Pinnacle of Glory, the site of the most glorious martyrdom, and I beseech Thee by the mysteries which lie enshrined in Thy knowledge and by the pearls that are treasured in the ocean of Thy bounty to grant forgiveness unto me and unto my father and my mother. Of those who show forth mercy, Thou art in truth the Most Merciful. No God is there but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.

O Lord! Thou seest this essence of sinfulness turning unto the ocean of Thy favour and this feeble one seeking the kingdom of Thy divine power and this poor creature inclining himself towards the day-star of Thy wealth. By Thy mercy and Thy grace, disappoint him not, O Lord, nor debar him from the revelations of Thy bounty in Thy days, nor cast him away from Thy door which Thou hast opened wide to all that dwell in Thy heaven and on Thine earth.

Alas! Alas! My sins have prevented me from approaching the Court of Thy holiness and my trespasses have caused me to stray far from the Tabernacle of Thy majesty. I have committed that which Thou didst forbid me to do and have put away what Thou didst order me to observe.

I pray Thee by Him Who is the sovereign Lord of Names to write down for me with the Pen of Thy bounty that which will enable me to draw nigh unto Thee and will purge me from my trespasses which have intervened between me and Thy forgiveness and Thy pardon.

Verily, Thou art the Potent, the Bountiful. No God is there but Thee, the Mighty, the Gracious.