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.