Nine Lamps ... One Light

What the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ Means ...

2009-05-03T11:20:00.000-07:00

This morning I was blessed to receive this passage from Gleaning from the Writings of Baha'u'llah.

Baha'u'llah is the Prophet and Founder of the Baha'i Faith.

This passage, I believe, speaks to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross and what it symbolizes and means for all of mankind.

XXXVI
Know thou that when the Son of Man yielded up His breath to God, the whole creation wept with a great weeping. By sacrificing Himself, however, a fresh capacity was infused into all created things. Its evidences, as witnessed in all the peoples of the earth, are now manifest before thee. The deepest wisdom which the sages have uttered, the profoundest learning which any mind hath unfolded, the arts which the ablest hands have produced, the influence exerted by the most potent of rulers, are but manifestations of the quickening power released by His transcendent, His all-pervasive, and resplendent Spirit.

We testify that when He came into the world, He shed the splendor of His glory upon all created things. Through Him the leper recovered from the leprosy of perversity and ignorance. Through Him, the unchaste and wayward were healed. Through His power, born of Almighty God, the eyes of the blind were opened, and the soul of the sinner sanctified.

Leprosy may be interpreted as any veil that interveneth between man and the recognition of the Lord, his God. Whoso alloweth himself to be shut out from Him is indeed a leper, who shall not be remembered in the Kingdom of God, the Mighty, the All-Praised. We bear witness that through the power of the Word of God every leper was cleansed, every sickness was healed, every human infirmity was banished. He it is Who purified the world. Blessed is the man who, with a face beaming with light, hath turned towards Him.

From Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah , p. 85

Festival of Ridvan on the 9th Day...

2009-04-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

What a glorious day this has turned out to be. Happy Ridvan to everyone who is celebrating the 9th day. Below is a quote from the Baha'i Scripture:

Verily I say, this is the Day in which mankind can behold the Face, and hear the Voice, of the Promised One. The Call of God hath been raised, and the light of His countenance hath been lifted up upon men. It behoveth every man to blot out the trace of every idle word from the tablet of his heart, and to gaze, with an open and unbiased mind, on the signs of His Revelation, the proofs of His Mission, and the tokens of His glory.

Great indeed is this Day! The allusions made to it in all the sacred Scriptures as the Day of God attest its greatness. The soul of every Prophet of God, of every Divine Messenger, hath thirsted for this wondrous Day. All the divers kindreds of the earth have, likewise, yearned to attain it. No sooner, however, had the Day Star of His Revelation manifested itself in the heaven of God’s Will, than all, except those whom the Almighty was pleased to guide, were found dumbfounded and heedless.

O thou that hast remembered Me! The most grievous veil hath shut out the peoples of the earth from His glory, and hindered them from hearkening to His call. God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal, “the Kingdom is God’s”, may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples.

Fasting, One of the Pillars Sustaining the Revealed Law of God

2009-03-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

During this 19-Days of Fasting, it can not hurt to share a few quotations and writings about its significance.

The laws of God, such as fasting, obligatory prayer and the like, as well as His counsels regarding virtues, good deeds and proper conduct, must be carried out everywhere to the extent possible, unless some insurmountable obstacle or some great danger presents itself or it runneth counter to the dictates of wisdom. For indolence and laxity hinder the outpourings of love from the clouds of divine mercy, and people will thus remain deprived.

“As regards fasting, it constitutes, together with the obligatory prayers, the two pillars that sustain the revealed Law of God. They act as stimulants to the soul, strengthen, revive and purify it, and thus insure its steady development.”

– Shoghi Effendi

Cling firmly to obligatory prayer and fasting. Verily, the religion of God is like unto heaven; fasting is its sun, and obligatory prayer is its moon. In truth, they are the pillars of religion whereby the righteous are distinguished from those who transgress His commandments. We entreat God, exalted and glorified be He, that he may graciously enable all to observe that which He hath revealed in His Ancient Book.

To everyone who is able and participating in the fast,

Happy Fasting.

Fasting, Spiritual Renewal and The Divine Springtime

2009-03-02T15:05:00.000-08:00

Q So, “What did the breeze say to the window?”

See answer at end.

As our 19-Day Fast begins today in the worldwide Baha'i community, I’m reminded about how much I look forward each year to this period of spiritual renewal and regeneration. And I have to admit, I also appreciate the physical restraints that it forces upon me.

Sounds odd, I know, to look forward to things like abstaining from excessive everyday indulgences that I’ve grown accustomed to over the last 12 months, but truly I need this yearly dose of reshuffling and realigning of the parts of my life that have gotten out of balance and are wrecking havoc with my ability to be at peace and loving to all those in my inner circle (i.e. the world).

Yes, by the time the fast gets here each year, I always seem to have some new habit I need to reflect on and kick to the curve.

This year I won’t even mention what the habit is that I need to break because confession of sins is not allowed (except we confess to our Maker, and what confession is that since He already knows), but what I can say is that I absolutely know without one iota of doubt why I have been challenged by this new habit.

It is the same obsession that I could not understand when my friend of many years allowed it to consume her every waking hour. It was an addiction with her--a destructive, behavioral addiction that had cost us our friendship after almost two decades.

I had attempted to forgive her for her actions which had left us estranged, but still could not phantom how one could place a want for a physical thing (i.e. a cigarette) over a friendship.

And of course now I can fully appreciate the ramifications of what an addiction does, and how it clouds the judgment and can leave you powerless to do the right thing.

But what a lesson, and how do you break a new habit? My consolation is that this habit is less than 9 months old so there is the chance of being done with it just as rapidly.

It is said that you can break any habit in 19 days and that’s how long this fast is.

And, no my new habit is not cigarette smoking. My lungs would not allow it. As a child I had asthma for many, many years prior to moving from the North to the South.

This first day of the Fast has also showed me other appetites that I need to bring under conscious control. What a blessing that the father in his wisdom has infused these days with such spiritual help to allow us to overcome some of our shortcomings.

The fact that millions of Bahá’ís spend extra time in prayer during this special time can’t hurt either.

After 23 years of doing this religious Fast, I can honestly say that it really is not so much about the abstaining from food or drink from sunrise to sunset, but is more about getting the sludge out of my life that has collected and built up and is sometimes to the point of suffocating my spirit that is the most important thing the Fast does for me.

Of course, some days it feels like it’s all about the physical as we smell the foods that others are enjoying in the day, or we decline the sweets that often show up at the office for no apparent reason.

Even as I am writing this, I hear my younger sister who is over today because her power has gone out from the 8 or more inches of snow that blanketed us last night and this morning. I hear her telling my mom that the food she just had was so good.

“It’s so tender and perfect,” she said as she ate some of the left over pot roast beef my mom had prepared the prior evening.”It’s better than restaurant food!”

“Mom, why don’t you open a restaurant,” she continues.

And of course I know this is just part of the testing that takes place as you try to obey the laws of God. Still its funny nonetheless that after fasting for so long that I would still be tested with such petty stuff. Could be a sign that this fast will be harder for me than I anticipate.

Still, in 19 days we enjoy the Bahá'í New Year, Naw-Ruz!

Let’s hope that with it comes the Divine Springtime that mankind has awaited for thousands of years.

Let’s pray for peace and a new way as we tackle the economic pressures that confront so many of God’s children.

Let’s hope for a world of racial harmony and less bigotry.

And let us pray for our new African American president, Barack Obama. A leader who can succeed if we do our part and let him do his.

“Can’t you see the New Day!”

Happy Fasting Friends!

May the fire of the Love of God Inflame Your Desire to Serve

A: “Just passing through.”

The Purpose of Life Achieved...

2009-03-02T14:37:00.000-08:00

A Passage from the Baha'i Writings.

"This is the day to make mention of God, to celebrate His praise, and to serve Him; deprive not yourselves thereof. Ye are the letters of the words, and the words of the Book. Ye are the saplings which the hand of Loving-kindness hath planted in the soil of mercy, and which the showers of bounty have made to flourish. He hath protected you from the mighty winds of misbelief, and the tempestuous gales of impiety, and nurtured you with the hands of His loving providence. Now is the time for you to put forth your leaves, and yield your fruit. The fruits of the tree of man have ever been and are goodly deeds and a praiseworthy character. Withhold not these fruits from the heedless. If they be accepted, your end is attained, and the purpose of life achieved. If not, leave them in their pastime of vain disputes. Strive, O people of God, that haply the hearts of the divers kindreds of the earth may, through the waters of your forbearance and loving-kindness, be cleansed and sanctified from animosity and hatred, and be made worthy and befitting recipients of the splendors of the Sun of Truth."

(Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 25)

This is the first day of the 19-Day Fast. Let us rejoice in it and be exceedingly glad.

Missing the Point: How to Get Ready for Eternity

2008-06-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

How to Get Ready for Eternity

It's a curiousity to me that while the literature of all the world's great religions proclaim--in one manner or the other--that this physical world is not our home, nonetheless we seem to be grasping at its trappings more and more, and consequently we end up missing the point of life, the point of our very reason for being here.

Because, I have to tell you that if this physical world is not our home, and yet we use every waking minute in pursuit of its treasures and luxuries and comforts, of what use will it be to us when we do arrive at the proverbial "HOME" or heaven after our brief journey here?

And -- myself included -- I know that it is so easy to forget that this world is not our final destination, but could instead be considered a grand illusion when compared with what awaits us in the next life, the life of the spirit. When we are surrounded 24/7 by the illusion of this
physical world, is it any wonder that we forget to remember where we are headed?

I wrote a short article some years ago entitled, Transitioning from the Fetus to the Material World, and from the Material World to the Spiritual World: An Analogy. Of course the concepts presented in the article derived directly from the teachings of the Baha'i Faith, but
nonetheless the piece alluded to the fact that our main purpose here, on earth, is to develop spiritual qualities that will be useful to us now as well as in our approach to having a fullfilling existence in the eternal life of the spirit. In fact, if we fail to develop our spiritual qualities while yet on the physical plane, we will arrive in the next life severely handicapped.

So, what spiritual qualities will be useful for us to have a successful afterlife? This is a simple enough question. The holy books speak to the fact that it is those intangible virtues that we learn while here on earth that we will need in the world to come. So we can pick a virtue, any one will do, such as the act of being more loving, of showing more patience, of demonstrating kindness, of exercising our generousity muscle, of forgiving those who we think have wronged us, and so on, because the development of each of these virtues will help us go into the next life with one less handicap.

Basically, it is all those qualities that are unique to human beings and not the lower animals that will be of benefit to us in eternity, things that you can't touch but that increase the quality of our
relationships with others. Concentrating on the development of virtues and of living a virtuous life is a major part of why we have been placed in this holding tank that some call earth and others call physical existence.

And this leads me to the main gist of why I am writing to you today. I woke up this morning thinking about something Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted to have said. He said "Do the
thing and you shall have the power."

And as a student of self empowerment, my response to the thought of that quotation was, "But how do you get the initial motivation or the strength or the fortitude to 'do the thing'?" Surely, that has to come first. And the answer -- from above -- to that question for me was just as immediate.

Connect to the Source of uninterrupted and unlimited power when you want to 'do the thing' consistently and have the power abundantly.

Yes, the missing piece for most of us is figuring out how to get the power to do the thing which will give us the power. And, now you have the answer. This is the answer to any lack in your life. If you are lacking in your finances, go ahead and connect to the Source to get the power to change it. If you are lacking in your relationships, connect to the Source to get the power to change your perceptions or your situation (one often follows the other). If you are lacking the will power to overcome some addiction, be it food or drink or illegal substance, then you need to first connect to the Source to get the power to make the change.

The Source gives you uninterrupted and unlimited power to do the thing that you seek to do.

What a revelation? What if connecting to the Source of my existence, the God of my life, what if that really is the answer to all my problems? Then maybe I should stop chasing after those things that are illusory, that are temporary, that are dead in comparison with what the
Source has stored up for me in Eternity. (For tips on how to practically solve problems by connecting to the Source you might want to take a look at this article.)

Of course, all of this just leads me into the meditative quotes that I read this morning that brought about my thoughts on the preceding theme. So here they are, from the Hidden
Words of Baha'u'llah in the Persian:

10. 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.

11. O SON OF DUST!

Blind thine eyes, that thou mayest behold My beauty; stop thine ears, that thou mayest hearken unto the sweet melody of My voice; empty thyself of all learning, that thou mayest partake of My knowledge; and sanctify thyself from riches, that thou mayest obtain a lasting share from the ocean of My eternal wealth. Blind thine eyes, that is, to all save My beauty; stop thine ears to all save My word; empty thyself of all learning save the knowledge of Me; that with a clear vision, a pure heart and an attentive ear thou mayest enter the court of My holiness.

12. O MAN OF TWO VISIONS!

Close one eye and open the other. Close one to the world and all that is therein, and open the other to the hallowed beauty of the Beloved.

13. O MY CHILDREN!

I fear lest, bereft of the melody of the dove of heaven, ye will sink back to the shades of utter loss, and, never having gazed upon the beauty of the rose, return to water and clay.

14. O FRIENDS!

Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty that must die, and set not your affections on this mortal world of dust.

Visit here to read more Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah.

Till next time, this is Lo the Nightingale singing....

"His fragrant breaths diffused in Eastern lands could well

to sick ones in the West restore their sense of smell..."

From Gems of Divine Mysteries

Knowing the Joy of Full Surrender...

2007-11-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a passage I have been blessed by in the last few days. It's written by Marianne Williamson, one of my all time favorite self-help, spiritual enlightenment authors. If you ever have a chance to read something she has written or spoken, do not pass it up.

I'm offering this "prayer" to my good friend Deb, who recently celebrated a birthday. Hope you enjoy its wisdom.

Dear God,

Please make me a force for Good.
Remove from my awareness all thoughts that keep me bound here.
Every goal I surrender to You.
All agendas I surrender to You.
All I have and all I am I give to You.
I ask only to be carried in Your arms that I might know the joy of full surrender.
May I not be tempted to think about meaningless things and give them weight and suffer thereby.
Please send Your spirit to lift me up, above the pain and turmoil of this world.
Please give me new youth, and a free and joyful spirit.
Show me the happiness of full forgiveness.
Whomever I do not forgive, dear Lord, please show me how, for I wish to be free of the guilt of this world.

Dear God,
Please make me happy.
I am ready to outgrow my childish pain.

Amen.

- from Marianne Williamson’s Illuminata: Thoughts, Prayers, Rites of Passage

He is the prayer-hearing, prayer-answering God!

2007-06-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

A prayer for today:

He is the prayer-hearing, prayer-answering God!

By Thy glory, O Beloved One, Thou giver of light to the world! The flames of separation have consumed me, and my waywardness hath melted my heart within me. I ask of Thee, by Thy Most Great Name, O Thou the Desire of the world and the Well-Beloved of mankind, to grant that the breeze of Thine inspiration may sustain my soul, that Thy wondrous voice may reach my ear, that my eyes may behold Thy signs and Thy light as revealed in the manifestations of Thy names and Thine attributes, O Thou within Whose grasp are all things!

Thou seest, O Lord my God, the tears of Thy favored ones, shed because of their separation from Thee, and the fears of Thy devoted ones in their remoteness from Thy Holy Court. By Thy power, that swayeth all things, visible and invisible! It behooveth Thy loved ones to shed tears of blood for that which hath befallen the faithful at the hands of the wicked and the oppressors on the earth. Thou beholdest, O my God, how the ungodly have compassed Thy cities and Thy realms! I ask Thee by Thy Messengers and Thy chosen ones and by Him whereby the standard of Thy divine unity hath been implanted amidst Thy servants, to shield them by Thy bounty. Thou art, verily, the Gracious, the All-Bountiful.

And, again, I ask Thee by the sweet showers of Thy grace and the billows of the ocean of Thy favor, to ordain for Thy saints that which shall solace their eyes and comfort their hearts. Lord! Thou seest him that kneeleth yearning to arise and serve Thee, the dead calling for eternal life from the ocean of Thy favor and craving to soar to the heavens of Thy wealth, the stranger longing for his home of glory 'neath the canopy of Thy grace, the seeker hastening by Thy mercy to Thy door of bounty, the sinful turning to the ocean of forgiveness and pardon.

By Thy sovereignty, O Thou Who art glorified in the hearts of men! I have turned to Thee, forsaking mine own will and desire, that Thy holy will and pleasure may rule within me and direct me according to that which the pen of Thy eternal decree hath destined for me. This servant, O Lord, though helpless turneth to the Orb of Thy Power, though abased hasteneth unto the Dayspring of Glory, though needy craveth the Ocean of Thy Grace. I beseech Thee by Thy favor and bounty, cast him not away.

Thou art verily the Almighty, the Pardoner, the Compassionate.

Baha'u'llah

The Worlds of God are Countless

2007-03-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

Mysteries of Divine Wisdom are Treasured in these Words

Hey Friends,

Just thought I would share with you some of the Gleaning from the Writings of Baha'u'llah as I continue to enjoy the extra communing time we allow ourselves during the Baha'i Fast. (Paragraph breaks in the quote below are my own)

As to thy question concerning the worlds of God. Know thou of a truth that the worlds of God are countless in their number, and infinite in their range. None can reckon or comprehend them except God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Consider thy state when asleep. Verily, I say, this phenomenon is the most mysterious of the signs of God amongst men, were they to ponder it in their hearts. Behold how the thing which thou hast seen in thy dream is, after a considerable lapse of time, fully realized. Had the world in which thou didst find thyself in thy dream been identical with the world in which thou livest, it would have been necessary for the event occurring in that dream to have transpired in this world at the very moment of its occurrence. Were it so, you yourself would have borne witness unto it. This being not the case, however, it must necessarily follow that the world in which thou livest is different and apart from that which thou hast experienced in thy dream. This latter world hath neither beginning nor end. It would be true if thou wert to contend that this same world is, as decreed by the All-Glorious and Almighty God, within thy proper self and is wrapped up within thee. It would equally be true to maintain that thy spirit, having transcended the limitations of sleep and having stripped itself of all earthly attachment, hath, by the act of God, been made to traverse a realm which lieth hidden in the innermost reality of this world.

Verily I say, the creation of God embraceth worlds besides this world, and creatures apart from these creatures. In each of these worlds He hath ordained things which none can search except Himself, the All-Searching, the All-Wise.

Do thou meditate on that which We have revealed unto thee, that thou mayest discover the purpose of God, thy Lord, and the Lord of all worlds. In these words the mysteries of Divine Wisdom have been treasured. We have refrained from dwelling upon this theme owing to the sorrow that hath encompassed Us from the actions of them that have been created through Our words, if ye be of them that will hearken unto Our Voice.

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 151)

Who is Baha'u'llah?

Spiritual Fasting … For the Love of God

2007-03-05T05:04:00.000-08:00

Baha'is Fast from 2-20 March each year, abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Some quotes on fasting are noted here:

"In the realm of worship, fasting and obligatory prayer constitute the two mightiest pillars of God’s holy Law."

"O ye loved ones of God! Out of gratitude for firmness in the eternal Covenant arise to serve the threshold of the omnipotent Lord, observe obligatory prayer and fasting, and spend your time in diffusing the sweet savors of God and in spreading the Divine verses. Tear asunder the veils, remove the obstacles, proffer the life-giving waters, and point out the path of salvation."

"Fasting is the cause of the elevation of one's spiritual station."

"Well is it with you, as you have followed the Law of God and arisen to observe the Fast during these blessed days, for this physical fast is a symbol of the spiritual fast. This Fast leadeth to the cleansing of the soul from all selfish desires, the acquisition of spiritual attributes, attraction to the breezes of the All-Merciful, and enkindlement with the fire of divine love."

(Quotes from The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting, Bahá'í World Center)

Well, it's that time of year again—2 March – 20 March—a 19-day period when Bahá'ís worldwide are enjoined to observe the Fast.

And after my 20 years of fasting, you would think that I would remember when it begins. But, this year it was 10 a.m. on Friday, 2 March when I remembered that it was time to fast. I had spent the last two days prior to then visiting my family and delivering a few gifts, as is the custom of Bahá'ís as we celebrate a 4 to 5 day period of gift giving, fellowshipping and performing charitable activities immediately preceding the Fast. These days prior to the Fast are called the days of Ayyam-i-Ha.

And for me, the fact that I could forget when the Fast started, well that is the point of the Fast exactly. You see, if I had been performing all of the spiritual requirements of my faith, then there would be no way that the Fast would have snuck up on me.

Daily obligatory prayers "is the very foundation of the Cause of God," Abdu’l-Bahá states.

And Bahá'u'lláh states:

"Cling firmly to obligatory prayer and fasting. Verily, the religion of God is like unto heaven; fasting is its sun, and obligatory prayer is its moon. In truth, they are the pillars of religion whereby the righteous are distinguished from those who transgress His commandments. We entreat God, exalted and glorified be He, that he may graciously enable all to observe that which He hath revealed in His Ancient Book."

And though public confession is not allowed, it would be hard for the Fast to sneak up on one who had been engaging dutifully in observance of the requirement for daily prayer.

Now, do not misunderstand, not a day goes by that I do not talk to and communicate with my Maker, especially given the seemingly insurmountable obstacles I have been challenged with as of late.

Fasting for me is an indispensable part of my life now, as I use it to bring myself back into greater alignment with my spiritual nature and spiritual obligations each year.

For me, it is a time of increased prayers, meditation and reflection, a time when the TV does not stay on as long, and I spend less time in front of the computer monitor.

It is a time for shedding all the dross, dirt and extra baggage I have accumulated from the previous year, and for bodily and spiritual cleansing, as I get ready for the New Year. When the Fast has ended, the Bahá'í New Year (Naw-Ruz) begins on 21 March.

What a blessing it is to be able to participate in the Fast. Bahá'ís between the ages of 15 and 70 are asked to fast. There are exemptions based on physical infirmities, pregnancy and other conditions, but everyone else is expected to abstain from food and drink (and smoking) from sunrise to sunset for 19 days.

So what are some of the spiritual benefits of Fasting?

Francis Worthington of Greenville, SC, in her book Bahá'í Basics, highlights two passages from the Writings:

"… These are the days whereon Thou hast bidden all men to observe the fast, that through it they may purify their souls and rid themselves of all attachment to anyone but Thee, and that out of their hearts may ascend that which will be worthy of the court of Thy majesty and may well beseem the seat of the revelation of Thy oneness. Grant, O my Lord, that this fast may become a river of life-giving waters and may yield the virtue wherewith Thou hast endowed it. Cleanse Thou by its means the hearts of Thy servants whom the evils of the world have failed to hinder from turning towards Thy all-glorious Name, and who have remained unmoved by the noise and tumult of such as have repudiated Thy most resplendent signs which have accompanied the advent of Thy Manifestation Whom Thou hast invested with Thy sovereignty, Thy power, Thy majesty and glory. These are the servants who, as soon as Thy call reached them, hastened in the direction of Thy mercy and were not kept back from Thee by the changes and chances of this world or by any human limitations."

"Praised be Thou, O God, my God! These are the days whereon Thou hast enjoined Thy chosen ones, Thy loved ones and Thy servants to observe the Fast, which Thou hast made a light unto the people of Thy kingdom, even as Thou didst make obligatory prayer a ladder of ascent unto those who acknowledge Thy unity."

(Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting)

You can read more quotes from The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting here:

http://tinyurl.com/2sz8d3

Or read the entire compilation online here:

http://tinyurl.com/2npgrb

Happy Fasting to all the Baha'is!

He Granteth A Hundred Thousand Hopes...A Prayer for Those in Need

2007-01-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite passages that I often turn to in times of need, in times of struggle, in times of seemingly insurmountable odds. Maybe I have shared it with you before.

But perhaps, like me, this is a time that you need such loving words, such reassurance that He is able to assist you with all things...in an instance.

It is a passage by Abdu'l-Baha, the son of Baha'u'llah, Prophet Founder of the Baha'i Faith.

It reads:

O thou who art turning thy face towards God! Close thine eyes to all things else, and open them to the realm of the All-Glorious. Ask whatsoever thou wishest of Him alone; seek whatsoever thou seekest from Him alone. With a look He granteth a hundred thousand hopes, with a glance He healeth a hundred thousand incurable ills, with a nod He layeth balm on every wound, with a glimpse He freeth the hearts from the shackles of grief. He doeth as He doeth, and what recourse have we? He carrieth out His Will, He ordaineth what He pleaseth. Then better for thee to bow down thy head in submission, and put thy trust in the All-Merciful Lord.

And right below that passage was another one which I thought would be particularly on topic with the theme of this blog proclaiming the oneness and unity of all mankind.

It reads:

O thou who dost search after truth! Thy letter of 13 December 1920 hath come.

From the days of Adam until today, the religions of God have been made manifest, one following the other, and each one of them fulfilled its due function, revived mankind, and provided education and enlightenment. They freed the people from the darkness of the world of nature and ushered them into the brightness of the Kingdom. As each succeeding Faith and Law became revealed it remained for some centuries a richly fruitful tree and to it was committed the happiness of humankind. However, as the centuries rolled by, it aged, it flourished no more and put 52 forth no fruit, wherefore was it then made young again.

The religion of God is one religion, but it must ever be renewed. Moses, for example, was sent forth to man and He established a Law, and the Children of Israel, through that Mosaic Law, were delivered out of their ignorance and came into the light; they were lifted up from their abjectness and attained to a glory that fadeth not. Still, as the long years wore on, that radiance passed by, that splendour set, that bright day turned to night; and once that night grew triply dark, the star of the Messiah dawned, so that again a glory lit the world.

Our meaning is this: the religion of God is one, and it is the educator of humankind, but still, it needs must be made new. When thou dost plant a tree, its height increaseth day by day. It putteth forth blossoms and leaves and luscious fruits. But after a long time, it doth grow old, yielding no fruitage any more. Then doth the Husbandman of Truth take up the seed from that same tree, and plant it in a pure soil; and lo, there standeth the first tree, even as it was before.

Note thou carefully that in this world of being, all things must ever be made new. Look at the material world about thee, see how it hath now been renewed. The thoughts have changed, the ways of life have been revised, the sciences and arts show a new vigour, discoveries and inventions are new, perceptions are new. How then could such a vital power as religion -- the guarantor of mankind's great advances, the very means of attaining everlasting life, the fosterer of infinite excellence, the light of both worlds -- not be made new? This would be incompatible with the grace and loving-kindness of the Lord.

Religion, moreover, is not a series of beliefs, a set of customs; religion is the teachings of the Lord God, teachings which constitute the very life of humankind, which urge high thoughts upon the mind, refine the character, and lay the groundwork for man's everlasting honour.

Note thou: could these fevers in the world of the mind, these fires of war and hate, of resentment and malice among the nations, this aggression of peoples against peoples, which have destroyed the tranquillity of the whole world ever be made to abate, except through the living waters of the teachings of God? No, never!

And this is clear: a power above and beyond the powers of nature must needs be brought to bear, to change this black darkness into light, and these hatreds and resentments, grudges and spites, these endless wrangles and wars, into fellowship and love amongst all the peoples of the earth. This power is none other than the breathings of the Holy Spirit and the mighty inflow of the Word of God."

(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha)

How to attain the utmost joy in the New Year!

2007-01-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

Well the Gregorian New Year is finally upon us.

Here is what my good book turned to the first thing when I awakened this morning. This passage is something I pray I will remember every day this year:

"Obligatory prayer and supplications are the very water of life. They are the cause of existence, of the refinement of souls, and of their attainment to the utmost joy. Exercise the greatest care in this regard, and encourage others to recite the obligatory prayers and supplications."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Wow. Could this simple act of performing your daily obligatory prayer lead to the refinement of your soul, the attainment of the utmost joy? If you are planning to make a new start this year, why not try daily prayer and see where you are by 1 January 2008.

Here’s a site I put together on obligatory prayer sometime last year:

http://obligatory-prayers.juslo.com/

On a purely personal note, losing weight this year is one of my goals/resolutions, and the small passage above uses some words – albeit in a different context -- that speak to several of the necessary things I know I need to implement in order to reach that goal.

It mentions water. I need to drink an ounce for each pound of my body weight every day.

It mentions exercise. I need to make it a daily habit to walk more.

It mentions encouragement. I need to give more to others if I am to receive it.

It mentions joy. Hallelujah! For joy gives us wings to do all things through obedience to His command.

If all goes well and I manage to drop at least a pound every week, then by the Bahá'í New Year (which takes place on 21 March), I will be 11 or 12 pounds lighter.

Ok…gotta go out and find me some black eyed peas and collard greens to bring in this New Year right. Oh, you probably don’t believe in that old legend that insists you gotta eat these two foods on New Year’s Day if you want to have a financially prosperous year. No, I do not really believe it either, but…I ain’t taking no chances this year. Last year was a wipe out…

Be at peace

Be unified

Be loving

Be happy.

Well, this is Lo and I gotta go ‘cause I’m runnin’ for my life.

Approaching the Anniversary of the Birth of the Prophet Baha'u'llah Celebrated 12 November

2006-11-09T16:53:00.000-08:00

Baha'is are getting ready to celebrate the Birth of Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith.

Baha'u'llah is an Arabic title meaning the Glory of God. His Birthday is celebrated on November 12. This holy day is a day in which work is to be suspended.

Learn more about Baha'u'llah's Teachings and Life .

The text of the Tablet of Visitation has made its way to YouTube. The Tablet of Visitation was Authored by Baha'u'llah and is often used to commemorate the anniversary of His birth.

Hey, you can also check out this new website on Bahaullah that I just discovered. It's at: http://www.bahaullah.com/

Introducing the Hidden Words

2006-10-26T22:54:00.000-07:00

Have you read the Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah?

If not, you are in for a treat, a very special treat. Here is an extract from the intro:

This is that which hath descended from the realm of glory, uttered by the tongue of power and might, and revealed unto the Prophets of old. We have taken the inner essence thereof and clothed it in the garment of brevity, as a token of grace unto the righteous, that they may stand faithful unto the Covenant of God, may fulfill in their lives His trust, and in the realm of spirit obtain the gem of Divine virtue.

And indeed these little gems of wisdom are clothed in the garment of brevity. You could read this little complilation of Hidden Words in less than one sitting, but it would take you 500,000 lifetimes to grasp the inner essence of each morsel.

Many Baha'is try to read at least one of these Hidden Words each day.

You can preview a sampling of the Hidden Words here.

A couple of my favorites are noted below. Baha'u'llah says:

O SON OF MAN!
Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.

O SON OF LIGHT!
Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This is of the essence of My command, therefore turn unto it.
Preview the entire Hidden Words collection here >>>

The Ancient Beauty Has Consented to be Bound in Chains

2006-10-20T07:09:00.000-07:00

Bound in Chains That ManKind May Be Released from Bondage...

The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with gladness. This is of the mercy of your Lord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We have accepted to be abased, O believers in the Unity of God, that ye may be exalted, and have suffered manifold afflictions, that ye might prosper and flourish. He Who hath come to build anew the whole world, behold, how they that have joined partners with God have forced Him to dwell within the most desolate of cities!

(Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah)

Who is Baha'u'llah?

Man's Glory Lies in His Knowledge, His Upright Conduct, Character and Wisdom

2006-10-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the seventh leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: O ye men of wisdom among nations! Shut your eyes to estrangement, then fix your gaze upon unity. Cleave tenaciously unto that which will lead to the well-being and tranquillity of all mankind. This span of earth is but one homeland and one habitation. It behoveth you to abandon vainglory which causeth alienation and to set your hearts on whatever will ensure harmony.

In the estimation of the people of Baha man's glory lieth in his knowledge, his upright conduct, his praiseworthy character, his wisdom, and not in his nationality or rank. O people of the earth! Appreciate the value of this heavenly word. Indeed it may be likened unto a ship for the ocean of knowledge and a shining luminary for the realm of perception.

(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 67)

Teachings of the Baha'i Faith: A Short Summary

2006-10-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

ON September 30th, 'Abdu'l-Bahá met the Theosophical society at their new Headquarters at the express request of their president Mrs. Annie Besant. After a general history of the movement and sympathetic words of welcome by Mr. A. P. Sinnett, 'Abdu'l-Bahá rose and delivered to the crowded assembly an address upon the distinctive notes of the Bahá'í teaching, warmly commending the eagerness of the Society in its search for Truth.

Discourse of 'Abdu'l-Bahá given at the Theosophical Head Quarters.

Who is 'Abdu'l-Baha?

September 30th, 1911

O RESPECTED Assembly! O friends of Truth! The inherent nature of fire is to burn, the inherent nature of electricity is to give light, the inherent nature of the sun is to shine, and the inherent nature of the organic earth is the power of growth.

There is no separation between a thing and its inherent qualities.

It is the inherent nature of things on this earth to change, thus we see around us the change of the seasons. Every spring is followed by a summer and every autumn brings a winter -- every day a night and every evening a morning. There is a sequence in all things.

Thus when hatred and animosity, fighting, slaughtering, and great coldness of heart were governing this world, and darkness had overcome the nations, Bahá'u'lláh, like a bright star, rose from the horizon of Persia and shone with the great Light of Guidance, giving heavenly radiance and establishing the new Teaching.

He declared the most human virtues; He manifested the Spiritual powers, and put them into practice in the world around Him.

Firstly: He lays stress on the search for Truth. This is most important, because the people are too easily led by tradition. It is because of this that they are often antagonistic to each other, and dispute with one another.

But the manifesting of Truth discovers the darkness and becomes the cause of Oneness of faith and belief: because Truth cannot be two! That is not possible.

Secondly: Bahá'u'lláh taught the Oneness of humanity; that is to say, all the children of men are under the mercy of the Great God. They are the sons of one God; they are trained by God. He has placed the crown of humanity on the head of every one of the servants of God. Therefore all nations and peoples must consider themselves brethren. They are all descendants from Adam. They are the branches, leaves, flowers and fruits of One Tree. They are pearls from one shell. But the children of men are in need of education and civilization, and they require to be polished, till they become bright and shining.

Man and woman both should be educated equally and equally regarded.
It is racial, patriotic, religious and class prejudice, that has been the cause of the destruction of Humanity.

Thirdly: Bahá'u'lláh taught, that Religion is the chief foundation of Love and Unity and the cause of Oneness. If a religion become the cause of hatred and disharmony, it would be better that it should not exist. To be without such a religion is better than to be with it.

Fourthly: Religion and Science are inter-twined with each other and cannot be separated. These are the two wings with which humanity must fly. One wing is not enough. Every religion which does not concern itself with Science is mere tradition, and that is not the essential. Therefore science, education and civilization are most important necessities for the full religious life.

Fifthly: The Reality of the divine Religions is one, because the Reality is one and cannot be two. All the prophets are united in their message, and unshaken. They are like the sun; in different seasons they ascend from different rising points on the horizon. Therefore every ancient prophet gave the glad tidings of the future, and every future has accepted the past.

Sixthly: Equality and Brotherhood must be established among all members of mankind. This is according to Justice. The general rights of mankind must be guarded and preserved.

All men must be treated equally. This is inherent in the very nature of humanity.

Seventhly: The arrangements of the circumstances of the people must be such that poverty shall disappear, and that every one as far as possible, according to his position and rank, shall be comfortable. Whilst the nobles and others in high rank are in easy circumstances, the poor also should be able to get their daily food and not be brought to the extremities of hunger.

Eighthly: Bahá'u'lláh declared the coming of the Most Great Peace. All the nations and peoples will come under the shadow of the Tent of the Great Peace and Harmony -- that is to say, by general election a Great Board of Arbitration shall be established, to settle all differences and 30 quarrels between the Powers; so that disputes shall not end in war.

Ninthly: Bahá'u'lláh taught that hearts must receive the Bounty of the Holy Spirit, so that Spiritual civilization may be established. For material civilization is not adequate for the needs of mankind and cannot be the cause of its happiness. Material civilization is like the body and spiritual civilization is like the soul. Body without soul cannot live.

This is a short summary of the Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. To establish this Bahá'u'lláh underwent great difficulties and hardships. He was in constant confinement and He suffered great persecution. But in the fortress (Akká) He reared a spiritual palace and from the darkness of His prison He sent out a great light to the world.

It is the ardent desire of the Bahá'ís to put these teachings into common practice: and they will strive with soul and heart to give up their lives for this purpose, until the heavenly light brightens the whole world of humanity.

I am very happy that I have been able to talk with you in this gathering: and hope that this deep consciousness of mine is acceptable to you.

I pray for you, that you may succeed in your aspirations and that the bounties of the Kingdom may be yours.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 30)

2006-09-27T09:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Nine Lamps One Light!

Proclaiming the Oneness of Humanity and Presenting the Blueprint for the Establishment of Peace on Earth ... One Heart at a Time

My friends, one way to spiritual enlightenment is through access to and meditations on the holy scriptures and writings given to us by the Prophets / Manifestations / Mouthpieces of God Who each come to us from age to age to instruct and train us, the human family, up in His ways.

The Nine Lamps in the blog title refer to the nine major revealed religions of God. They represent only the Prophets of God Who have been known since man's recorded history, and not those previous to written history.

The One Light in the title refers to the fact that each of these Prophets has had the same Source of inspiration from the One true God. These Divine Luminaries have been called throughout history by the Names of Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, Zoroaster, Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad, the Bab and Baha'u'llah.

Abraham proclaimed that there is only one God. And, consequently, we deduce that there can only be one Faith and one Religion. Otherwise, God would be in competition with Himself, fighting for adherents to this or that religion.

So the truth is that salvation is accessible to all those who seek and find Him and receive His Words, His blessing and grace, no matter which of the nine Names that individual may use to approach His Holy Court.

This blog aims (primarily) to present the Teachings of "Him Whom God Will Make Manifest", the Prophet who has returned in the "Glory of the Father", the Person that members of the Baha'i Faith believe is the latest Manifestation of God Who has come with the sole purpose of unitying all mankind in a spirit of love, friendship, oneness and fellowship.

The Teachings of this Prophet--Who goes by the Name of Baha'u'llah (an Arabic title meaning "The Glory of God")--forms the blueprint for the creation of the heaven on earth as promised by His Holiness Jesus Christ and other Prophets of old.

But, alas, what good is a blue print if people do not know it exists, or if they do know, but do not take action to use it to build up the peace, joy and prosperity in their lives that such a course of action would lead to?

As your host, I will be sharing with you some writings and teachings from the Baha'i Faith, the blueprint if you will, as well as writings from other Lamps who have been Instruments in the Hands of God throughout man's spiritual journey.

You will find that though some of Their Words may differ (ie. the social teachings that each Prophet proclaims do change from age to age), the Essence of Their Message is One. Their truths proclaimed are eternal in the past and eternal in the future. They are everlasting and have not deviated one iota from the Desire of Their One Omnipotent Source.

There is no doubt that God's plan for mankind will be manifested in the fullness of time. And it will be done one heart at a time as people begin to ingest the teachings of oneness and then act to fulfill the teachings in their daily lives ... until this earth becomes a heavenly place and the prophecies are all fulfilled.

I want to be there in that great gettin' up morning.

I want to experience the light.

I want to see the heaven while yet on this plane, in my own life and in the lives of my family, neighbors, coworkers and friends.

In that great gettin' up morning, I want to be numbered among the chosen.

Hope to see each and every one of you there.

Your Sister in Faith,

Lo

PS ii--Okay, here's some words from the great grandson of Baha'u'llah, who quotes from the Prophet's writings:

"Put your trust in God, and commit your affairs to His keeping. He, verily, will, through the power of truth, render you victorious, and He, verily, is powerful to do what He willeth, and in His grasp are the reins of omnipotent might." "I swear by My life! Nothing save that which profiteth them can befall My loved ones. To this testifieth the Pen of God, the Most Powerful, the All-Glorious, the Best Beloved." "Let not the happenings of the world sadden you. I swear by God! The sea of joy yearneth to attain your presence, for every good thing hath been created for you, and will, according to the needs of the times, be revealed unto you." "O my servants! Sorrow not if, in these days and on this earthly plane, things contrary to your wishes have been ordained and manifested by God, for days of blissful joy, of heavenly delight, are assuredly in store for you. Worlds, holy and spiritually glorious, will be unveiled to your eyes. You are destined by Him, in this world and hereafter, to partake of their benefits, to share in their joys, and to obtain a portion of their sustaining grace. To each and every one of them you will, no doubt, attain."
(Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 82)