covenant of Bahaullah 2

A wonderful talk by Mr Adib Taherzadeh, on Covenant.

... explore the relationship between spirituality and social action

Vancouver youth gather to explore the relationship between spirituality and social action.

Vancouver, British Columbia, 26 September 2013 (CBNS) —
Earlier this month, about 40 young people between the ages of 15 and 35 gathered at the University of British Columbia for a conversation about "the spirit of social change," an event at which they explored the relationship between spirituality and social action. Rabbi Dr Robert Daum, Director of the Iona Pacific Inter-Religious Centre, welcomed everyone to the conversation on behalf of UBC.
 The event was part of a year-long series of conversations across the country, co-presented by the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs and the Inspirit Foundation, with support from the Baha’i Community of Canada. Its purpose is to promote reflection on how the spiritual, moral and ethical commitments of young people contribute to positive social action that is unifying rather than divisive. The ultimate aim of the initiative is to develop and advance a discourse about the role of youth in society.

Continue reading http://www.bahainews.ca/en/node/866

The Valley of Unity

It is clear to thine Eminence that all the variations which the wayfarer in the stages of his journey beholdeth in the realms of being, proceed from his own vision. We shall give an example of this, that its meaning may become fully clear: Consider the visible sun; although it shineth with one radiance upon all things, and at the behest of the King of Manifestation bestoweth light on all creation, yet in each place it becometh manifest and sheddeth its bounty according to the potentialities of that place. For instance, in a mirror it reflecteth its own disk and shape, and this is due to the sensitivity of the mirror; in a crystal it maketh fire to appear, and in other things it showeth only the effect of its shining, but not its full disk. And yet, through that effect, by the command of the Creator, it traineth each thing according to the quality of that thing, as thou observest.  In like manner, colors become visible in every object according to the nature of that object. For instance, in a yellow globe, the rays shine yellow; in a white the rays are white; and in a red, the red rays are manifest. Then these variations are from the object, not from the shining light. And if a place be shut away from the light, as by walls or a roof, it will be entirely bereft of the splendor of the light, nor will the sun shine thereon.


Baha’u’llah, ‘The Seven Valleys’

شهادت در امر بهائی؛ به یاد شهید مجید جناب عطاءالله رضوانی

جناب عطاءالله رضوانی جزء خیل عظیم بیش از ۲۰۰۰۰ شهید امر بهائی در عصر قاجار و پهلوی و جمهوری اسلامی تا حال است که جان شیرین را همچون اسلاف خود در راه رفع کینه و اختلاف و ایجاد وحدت و اتحاد عالم بشری فدا نمود. به این مناسبت، مطلب زیر را با عنوان «شهادت در امر بهائی» نوشتۀ دکتر علیمراد داودی استاد فقید فلسفۀ دانشگاه طهران که خود در اوایل انقلاب اسلامی در ایران ربوده و به شهادت رسید، تقدیم می دارد.

http://www.noghtenazar.org/node/1143

شهادت در امر بهائی نوشتۀ دکتر علیمراد داودی،
 به درخواست لجنۀ فارغ التّحصیلان بهائی
 شهادت در لغت به معنی دیدن و دریافتن و پدید آمدن است. جهانی را که از دیدگان پنهان است عالم غیب می نامند و در برابر آن جهانی را که رخ می گشاید و پیدا می آید عالم شهادت می خوانند. پس شاهد یا شهید کسی است که به چشم خود می بیند و آنچه دیده است بازمی گوید و با گفتار خود کسانی را که ندیده اند آگاه می سازد. به قول او مجهولی معلوم می شود و ادعائی به ثبوت می رسد. به شرط ...آن که صدق او در قول خود ثابت باشد و این همان کسی است که به فارسی گواه می گویند.

I am a Baha'i ...

A diverse range of everyday people describe, in their own words, the spiritual fulfillment they receive as members of the Baha'i Faith as well as the impact their religion has had on their lives and the hope they feel it offers to others. The Baha'is interviewed range from single mothers, to mid-level career women and men, to young and old families, and represent diversity across the board racially and economically.
 The Baha'is discuss parenting, professional aspirations, interracial understanding, service to others and the power of independent investigation of truth as elements of faith. Produced from interviews made on locations in California, South Carolina, Illinois and Massachusetts, the program reflects the regional diversity of the Baha'is in the United States.
 Copyright 2000 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. All rights reserved.

City of Love and Rapture,...

When once the seeker hath ascended unto this station, he will enter the City of Love and Rapture, whereupon the winds of love will blow and the breezes of the spirit will waft. In this station the seeker is so overcome by the ecstasies of yearning and the fragrances of longing that he discerneth not his left from his right, nor doth he distinguish land from sea or desert from mountain. At every moment he burneth with the fire of longing and is consumed by the onslaught of separation in this world.
He speedeth through the Párán of love and traverseth the Horeb of rapture. Now he laugheth, now he weepeth sore; now he reposeth in peace, now he trembleth in fear. Nothing can alarm him, naught can thwart his purpose, and no law can restrain him. He standeth ready to obey whatsoever His Lord should please to decree as to his beginning and his end. With every breath he layeth down his life and offereth up his soul. He bareth his breast to meet the darts of the enemy and raiseth his head to greet the sword of destiny; nay rather, he kisseth the hand of his would-be murderer and surrendereth his all. He yieldeth up spirit, soul, and body in the path of his Lord, and yet he doeth so by the leave of his Beloved and not of his own whim and desire. Thou findest him chill in the fire and dry in the sea, abiding in every land and treading every path. Whosoever toucheth him in this state will perceive the heat of his love. 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. Blessed indeed are they that have attained unto such a station, for this is the
station of the ardent lovers and the enraptured souls.

Baha’u’llah, ‘Gems of Divine Mysteries’, ‘Javáhiru’l-Asrár’

Veiled as they remain within their own selves, the generality of the people

have failed to perceive the sweet accents of holiness, inhale the fragrance of mercy, or seek guidance, as bidden by God, from those who are the custodians of the Scriptures. He proclaimeth, and His word, verily, is the truth: “Ask ye, therefore, of them that have the custody of the Scriptures, if ye know it not.” Nay rather, they have turned aside from them and followed instead the Sámirí of their own idle fancies. Thus have they strayed far from the mercy of their Lord and failed to attain unto His Beauty in the day of His presence. For no sooner had He come unto them with a sign and a testimony from God than the same people who had eagerly awaited the day of His Revelation, who had called upon Him in the daytime and in the night season, who had implored Him to gather them together in His presence and to grant that they may lay down their lives in His path, be led aright by His guidance and illumined by His light—this very people condemned and reviled Him, and inflicted upon Him such cruelties as transcend both My capacity to tell and thine ability to hear them. My very pen crieth out at this moment and the ink weepeth sore and groaneth. By God! Wert thou to hearken with thine inner ear, thou wouldst in truth hear the lamentations of the denizens of heaven; and wert thou to remove the veil from before thine eyes, thou wouldst behold the Maids of Heaven overcome and the holy souls overwhelmed, beating upon their faces and fallen upon the dust.

Bahá'u'lláhGems of Divine Mysteries (Javáhiru’l-Asrár) P.21

Wish of the life time.

From the sweet-scented streams of Thine eternity give me to drink, O my God, and of the fruits of the tree of Thy being enable me to taste, O my Hope! From the crystal springs of Thy love suffer me to quaff, O my Glory, and beneath the shadow of Thine everlasting providence let me abide, O my Light! Within the meadows of Thy nearness, before Thy presence, make me able to roam, O my Beloved, and at the right hand of the throne of Thy mercy, seat me, O my Desire! From the fragrant breezes of Thy joy let a breath pass over me, O my Goal, and into the heights of the paradise of Thy reality let me gain admission, O my Adored One! To the melodies of the dove of Thy oneness suffer me to hearken, O Resplendent One, and through the spirit of Thy power and Thy might quicken me, O my Provider! In the spirit of Thy love keep me steadfast, O my Succorer, and in the path of Thy good pleasure set firm my steps, O my Maker! Within the garden of Thine immortality, before Thy countenance, let me abide for ever, O Thou Who art merciful unto me, and upon the seat of Thy glory stablish me, O Thou Who art my Possessor! To the heaven of Thy loving-kindness lift me up, O my Quickener, and unto the Daystar of Thy guidance lead me, O Thou my Attractor! Before the revelations of Thine invisible spirit summon me to be present, O Thou Who art my Origin and my Highest Wish, and unto the essence of the fragrance of Thy beauty, which Thou wilt manifest, cause me to return, O Thou Who art my God! Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou art, verily, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the All-Highest.

 Bahá’u’lláh

O army of God!

O army of God!

The Exalted One, the Báb, gave up His life. The Blessed Perfection gave up a hundred lives at every breath. He bore calamities. He suffered anguish. He was imprisoned. He was chained. He was made homeless and was banished to distant lands. Finally, then, He lived out His days in the Most Great Prison. Likewise, a great multitude of the lovers of God who followed this path have tasted the honey of martyrdom and they gave up everything—life, possessions, kindred—all they had. How many homes were reduced to rubble; how many dwellings were broken into and pillaged; how many a noble building went to the ground; how many a palace was battered into a tomb. And all this came about that humankind might be illumined, that ignorance might yield to knowledge, that men of earth might become men of heaven, that discord and dissension might be torn out by the roots, and the Kingdom of Peace become established over all the world. Strive ye now that this bounty become manifest, and this best-beloved of all hopes be realized in splendour throughout the community of man.

Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Meditation in a Minute: Prayer for America

America goes through ups and downs, dark days and bright days. But, our destiny is a great one!




O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal.

`Abdu'l-Bahá: The Promulgation of Universal Peace

Shoghi Effendi: Messages to the Bahá’í World

The violent derangement of the world's equilibrium; the trembling that will seize the limbs of mankind; the radical transformation of human society; the rolling up of the present-day Order; the fundamental changes affecting the structure of government; ... the development of infernal engines of war; the burning of cities; the contamination of the atmosphere of the earth -- these stand out as the signs and portents that must either herald or accompany the retributive calamity which, as decreed by Him Who is the Judge and Redeemer of mankind, must, sooner or later, afflict a society which, for the most part, and for over a century, has turned a deaf ear to the Voice of God's Messenger in this day -- a calamity which must purge the human race of the dross of its age-long corruptions, and weld its component parts into a firmly knit world-embracing Fellowship – a Fellowship destined, in the fullness of time, to be incorporated in the framework, and to be galvanized by the spiritualizing influences, of a mysteriously expanding, divinely appointed Order, and to flower, in the course of future Dispensations, into a Civilization, the like of which mankind has, at no stage in its evolution, witnessed.

Shoghi Effendi: Messages to the Bahá’í World: 1950–1957