Befriended Stranger

Just as I was fuming over the crashing of my new Vista laptop, I got this marvelous email in response to the invitation for the next session of our study circle (and all of a sudden, the annoyance with Vista and its instability disappeared):

What a great delight it was to be in your home Monday evening.  I cannot thank you enough, since every aspect was beautiful and memorable.  Every single aspect.

I have cancelled my attendance at my annual condo meeting in Washington next Monday evening so that I can be with you and the friends again.  Although I was supposed to be actively involved in my condominium association,  they will do just fine without me.  And I cannot miss, I repeat, cannot miss, the next session of the most beautiful and meaningful study circle I can possibly imagine.

I implore Thee by the glory of Thy Manifestation and by the power of Thy might, Thy sovereignty and Thine exaltation to render victorious those who have arisen to serve Thee, who have aided Thy Cause and humbled themselves before the splendour of the light of Thy face.

(Baha’u'llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 233)

Last night’s study circle provided a wonderful opportunity to dig out from my “old” musical collection the wonderful music of Mana, the Australian youth music group which recorded two CDs based on the quotations from the Ruhi 1 and 2 study circles. Their first album, “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit” was the soundtrack for the first study circle I ever facilitated around 2003. In the craziness of the past 5 years I had forgotten how wonderful and joyful this music is. And how practical too — for what could be an easier and more uplifting way to memorize the quotations than by singing along with these joyful youth from down under?

Mana’s CDs are still available at the Baha’i Bookstore, and I would highly recommend buying them even though they might seem pricey at the current exchange rate ($19.95). But if you always prefer a bargain and you own an MP3 player, you can download all ten songs of the CD from DivineNotes for only $10. Not bad for a wonderful collection of songs that will uplift your spirit and remind you of the timeless truth contained in the Baha’i Writings:

…backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul.

Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner.

Speak no evil, that thou mayest not hear it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the faults of others that thine own faults may not appear great…

O Son Of Being! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and busy thyself with the faults of others? Whoso doeth this is accursed of Me.

And for those visually inclined, the YouTube video of Mana’s song Backbiting is a true feast for both the eyes and the ears (just press play):

How do you describe a day which started with an inconclusive attempt to scientifically establish truthfulness, culminated with celebrating the Birth of the Bab, and concluded with a prayer meeting and a study circle discussion which revolved around the idea that “truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues”? God is all Glorious and His ways are truly mysterious…

The most touching moments were, of course, with my daughters — when they joined me in singing “Say: God sufficeth” at the Falls Church celebration of the Birth of the Bab. The most humbling moments were when listening to a beautiful song by Smith & Dragoman, “The messenger“:

At the break of dawn after centuries of night
A child is born a child of light
Into a world of shadows and pain
Injustice rules and darkness reigns

How unique the child His knowledge innate
No teacher could teach this child of fate
And there in a dream in an ocean disturbed
His long locks reached out and His message was heard

For a thousand years we invoke Your name
And when You appear You’re bound in chains
Oh why, why are we so afraid of change
And I won’t forget how unkind they were to You
I won’t forget how You suffered
I won’t forget your message of love
I won’t forget I won’t forget

You receive the word Your purpose is clear
To share with the world with those who would hear
You take their hands and You heal their pain
You comfort their hearts with nothing to gain

The plight of the world weighs down on Your back
You share Your message and they launch their attack
They cast You out and don’t recognize
Your book is wide open and there’s tears in Your eyes

The most inspiring moments were when reading the writings of the Bab and studying the Ruhi 1 section on truthfulness with a group of believers, one of whom had just declared this past Saturday, having attended the previous Prayer Station and having joined our study circle.

Since the devotional gathering was inspired by the Birth of the Bab (which means Gate in Arabic), the theme was “Open the Gate”, named not only after the Smith & Dragoman CD, but also by the idea of opening the gate to the truth of God for the multitudes of humanity. And since the previous Prayer Meeting resulted in a study circle, we tried to combine both — a prayer meeting and a Ruhi 1 study circle. This time three new people showed up and we all had a wonderful discussion. In the interest of time and to truly focus on the study of the Holy Writings, we decided to shift the devotional meetings to once a month and will dedicate the rest of the Mondays to the study circle.

I am also thinking of asking each of the participants in the study circle to organize one of the devotional gatherings, thus practicing the service element of the Ruhi 1 study circle even before it is completed (as recently suggested during a tutor encounter).

Tonight, we closed the prayer meeting with the version of “Say God Sufficeth” which Eric Dozier and JB Eckl so beautifully put together on their “Badasht” CD:

Say: God sufficeth all things above all things, and nothing in the heavens or in the earth but God sufficeth. Verily, He is in Himself the Knower, the Sustainer, the Omnipotent.
— The Báb

I feel I can never have enough reminders that God should be sufficient unto me… Moreover, God has been blessing me lately with reminders, both positive and negative, of where the true path for me lies. I am learning to accept that the pain of detachment is a necessary part of growth. I am more and more realizing that it is so difficult, perhaps impossible, to remedy the pain and mess of the past. But it is very humbling to realize, with gratitude, that in each present moment I still have a chance to do the right thing. And doing the right thing, for me, includes the praise of God, and His Messengers.

May God open up the gate of each heart and touch each one of you with His Truth:

I ask God that He may open the gate of the knowledge of this station to thine heart so that thou mayest apprehend whatever is necessary and proper, garner spiritual bounties from the heaven of the All-Merciful, obtain the effulgences of knowledge from the Sun of Reality, and become a manifestation of inspiration from the Unseen and a source of glad-tidings from the All-Merciful.

(Baha’u'llah, Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting)

Standing at the hallway, waiting for the elevator, I am holding a clear plastic cup full of water. A lady from another company on the same floor approaches me asking:

Lady: Is this one?
Me: Is this one what?
Lady: One shot?
Me: ? (I look puzzled as we both enter the elevator)
Lady: One shot of vodka or gin?
Me: No, it is just water (thinking to myself, is water unrecognizable anymore unless in a branded bottle?). I am a Baha’i and Baha’is don’t drink alcohol…
Lady: You are a what?
Me: I am a Baha’i, a member of the Baha’i Faith…
Lady: What is that?
Me: The Baha’i Faith is an independent world religion aiming to unite all, considering that we are all one human family belonging to one country, the world (thinking to myself, where did my Ruhi 6 definition go?)
Lady: Oh, ok. At my company everybody drinks so I was wondering if you were getting tight early.
Me: No, I am not. Have a blessed day…

As to thyself, whenever thou art enraptured by the vitalizing breaths of the revealed verses and art carried away by the pure, life-giving water proffered by the hand of the bounty of thy Lord, the sovereign Ruler of the Day of Resurrection, lift up thy voice and say:

O my God! O my God! I yield Thee thanks that Thou hast directed me towards Thyself, hast guided me unto Thy horizon, hast clearly set forth for me Thy Path, hast revealed to me Thy testimony and enabled me to set my face towards Thee, while most of the doctors and divines among Thy servants together with such as follow them have, without the least proof or evidence from Thee, turned away from Thee. Blessing be unto Thee, O Lord of Names, and glory be unto Thee, O Creator of the heavens, inasmuch as Thou hast, through the power of Thy Name, the Self-Subsisting, given me to drink of Thy sealed wine, hast caused me to draw nigh unto Thee and hast enabled  me to recognize the Dayspring of Thine utterance, the Manifestation of Thy signs, the Fountainhead of Thy laws and commandments and the Source of Thy wisdom and bestowals. Blessed is the land that hath been ennobled by Thy footsteps, wherein the throne of Thy sovereignty is established and the fragrance of Thy raiment is diffused. By Thy glory and majesty, by Thy might and power, I desire not my sight save to behold Thy beauty, nor my hearing save to hearken to Thy call and Thy verses.
(Baha’u'llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 110)

As to the Nineteen Day Feast, it rejoiceth mind and heart. If this feast be held in the proper fashion, the friends will, once in nineteen days, find themselves spiritually restored, and endued with a power that is not of this world.
(Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 91)

Last night Justin invited me to go with her and the girls to the 19th Day Feast at the Falls Church Baha’i community in order to encourage the friends to share ideas for direct teaching in preparation for the Cluster Reflection meeting this coming Saturday. The Falls Church community could not be more different than the Arlington one. While Arlington is in flux constantly with a number of people moving in and out pretty much throughout the year, Falls Church has Baha’is who have been living there for more than 30 years, and have been doing community outreach for years. Talk about the patience and persistence it takes to establish the presence they have.

Something else unique that Falls Church has is the presence of the Baha’i interns at the Tahirih Justice Center, the young Baha’is who come from all over the world each year to volunteer at the Center. They are usually hosted by Baha’i families in Falls Church and provide wonderful services beyond their work on justice for women and girls. Emma, one of those interns, was so wonderful with the girls last night: her play with them enabled a very productive consultation among the rest of us present at the Feast. To me, this presence of visiting Baha’is is another example of Baha’i cross-pollination. We all can be so refreshingly different yet so the same in recognizing that the same core activities — devotional gatherings, children classes, study circles — animate community life throughout the world.

It was a humbling reminder for me that we all strive to serve the Faith in our own way, in the unique capacity God had given us, and that one should never assume to know better than others. We all could learn from each other so much. I know that cluster reflection meetings are one of the venues for exchanging ideas outside of a community “box” but last night’s experience reminded me how enlightening it is to visit, from time to time, another community and see how they do things. Try it, and you might be pleasantly surprised!

Today’s Blog Action Day is focused on fighting poverty. It is a worthwhile subject and I am sure many capable people will share wonderful man-made ideas to address this cause for suffering of billions of people on Earth. Needless to say, the Baha’i perspective on poverty and its spiritual dimension, based on statements by the divinely-inspired Universal House of Justice is what’s closest to my heart. At a time when it’s become more and more obvious that being financially wealthy (even if less so lately, in a funny money economy) does not bring sustainable happiness, I feel it is time to openly share the wisdom in Baha’u'llah’s Hidden Words and address the question of spiritual poverty:

13. O SON OF SPIRIT!
I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself? Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou enlightenment from anyone beside Me? Out of the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy thyself with another? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting.
(Baha’u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

53. O SON OF BEING!
If poverty overtake thee, be not sad; for in time the Lord of wealth shall visit thee. Fear not abasement, for glory shall one day rest on thee.

(Baha’u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

51. O SON OF MY HANDMAID!
Be not troubled in poverty nor confident in riches, for poverty is followed by riches, and riches are followed by poverty. Yet to be poor in all save God is a wondrous gift, belittle not the value thereof, for in the end it will make thee rich in God, and thus thou shalt know the meaning of the utterance, “In truth ye are the poor,” and the holy words, “God is the all-possessing,” shall even as the true morn break forth gloriously resplendent upon the horizon of the lover’s heart, and abide secure on the throne of wealth.

(Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

55. O SON OF PASSION!
Cleanse thyself from the defilement of riches and in perfect peace advance into the realm of poverty; that from the well-spring of detachment thou mayest quaff the wine of immortal life.

(Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

Blog action day is tomorrow, or today — depending on what part of the world you are at. An initiative started by a fellow Baha’i in Australia, initiated this event to unify bloggers of all sorts to discuss the topic of poverty. As announced on the Baha’i News Service, the event very much fits with the Baha’i principle of individual initiative:

One of the main organizers, Collis Ta’eed, says the concept of Blog Action Day fits well with his Baha’i beliefs and his understanding of Baha’i teachings about social action.

“Our idea is to give bloggers a platform and enable them to take a day out of their schedule to do something socially positive,” said Mr. Ta’eed, an Australian who works internationally as a professional Web designer.

Similar is the topic of Aaron Emmel’s book “Taking Action in a Changing World” which he will discuss at a fireside this Friday night in Arlington. A quick check with Ocean confirms that prayer and action very much can go hand in hand:

‘Should Prayer take the form of action?’

‘Abdu’l-Bahá. — ‘Yes: In the Bahá’í Cause arts, sciences and all crafts are (counted as) worship. The man who makes a piece of notepaper to the best of his ability, conscientiously, concentrating all his forces on perfecting it, is giving praise to God. Briefly, all effort and exertion put forth by man from the fullness of his  heart is worship, if it is prompted by the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer. A physician ministering to the sick, gently, tenderly, free from prejudice and believing in the solidarity of the human race, he is giving praise’.
(Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 176)

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.
(Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

What a day this has been. God teaching me on both planes: on one side with renewed clarity indicating the path to be avoided, and on the other, clearly identifying the path to be followed.

Following Abdu’l-Baha’s guidance, “I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life”, as more than enough of them have been thrust upon me in a way and with timing that no doubt have a special purpose and meaning to be revealed in due time. But I will reflect on the bounty of teaching as it is the one way, besides spending time with my beautiful daughters, that has proven nurturing to me and, hopefully, a valuable service to God and His servants.

Tonight, we started a Ruhi 1 study circle “Reflections on the life of the spirit”. There were two seekers; the third one was sick but is certain to come next week (we said healing prayers for her). There were also three more Baha’is and myself, each one bringing a treasure of thoughts and reflections: two guys who grew up in the middle East and a lady who grew up in the midwest. The seekers of course are the most fascinating ones: a lady from Mali who through reflection and independent Bible study discerned that there must be more to religion than the simple message in the Good Book, and a young woman forced to reflect on the meaning of life after being challenged by her future family-in-law, and her own realization of the limited satisfaction of following the Ego. Immersed in the Writings, reflecting, discerning, they described as being in heaven. One of them had already seen the Visual Presentation and had read all the books I had given her. The other, having attended one fireside and having read 100 pages of “The Book of Certitude” asked about the way of becoming a Baha’i. I handed declaration cards to both of them and they were encouraged to reflect and choose the time when they are ready.

Next Monday we will meet again for a combined Prayer Station and the second session of our study circle; and of course, to celebrate the Birth of the Bab.

Until then, patience and reliance upon God’s Will, and prayers for my dear family:

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.

(Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 329)

Just a few random thoughts before jumping into a “Go / No Go” meeting at work…

Monday’s Prayer Station once again reminded me how much the question of the meaning of life is on people’s minds.

I was reflecting last night on the value of journaling one’s thoughts. There is a qualitative difference between when I journal my own thoughts and when I journal my reflections on inspired thoughts and Holy Writings. Life is so much easier when there is a guiding light to follow. I am so blessed to have this light in the Baha’i Faith.

This morning Gmail randomly selected a quote for me:

Robert Byrne: The purpose of life is a life of purpose.

Baha’i Readings sent me a message too:

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

‘Abdu’l-Baha

Staying out of trouble, making sure not to do the wrong things, is so much less than a life of inspired service.

Being not the center of the universe but of service to others is so much more fulfilling than consuming whatever others might provide or might be manipulated out of.

Becoming a father was one (or rather two) of those pivotal moments in my life that very dramatically showed me that the meaning of life is in serving God and His creation. I am happy for Phillipe for experiencing this joy and blessing as well!

Blessings to you all!

What a blessing tonight was! When it rains, it pours! I had ten people come to the devotional gathering tonight, two of whom were not yet Baha’is but had contacted us through the Arlington Baha’i website and were very much driven by their longing to seek spiritual truth and to find it in the Baha’i Faith. Of course, as fate would have it, I could not find the declaration cards but these are small details. I am sure there is wisdom in everything.

The spirit was great, the banana bread smell too The best of all were the people who blessed my apartment with their presence. They came from Singapore and Ireland (courtesy of the Tahirih Justice Center), Holland and Bulgaria (courtesy of Dessi and her mom), Hyattsville, MD (courtesy of the Metro), and of course good old Arlington. Prayers were offered in English, Bulgarian and Arabic. We talked about the meaning of life and the power of prayer. We shared stories of searching for faith and finding it.  We decided to start a study circle on the “Life of the Spirit” starting next Monday, a week from tonight.

The lovely seekers were so eager to know more about the Faith that I had to part with my copies of “Selected Writings of Baha’u'llah”, “The Hidden Words of Baha’u'llah”, “Baha’u'llah and the New Era”, and”Remembrance of God”. I just reordered extra copies so I hope this helps to keep the Baha’i Bookstore steady in these turbulent times I also ordered ten copies of the Ruhi 1 book, just in case and to be ready for the study circle on Monday. I am so grateful for the gift of this glorious Faith! And so pumped up, I can hardly go to bed now but let me follow the established procedure and share with you the musical program from tonight’s Prayer Station:

First was “Hollow Reed” from Eric Dozier and JB Eckl’s “Badasht Vol. 1“. This selection was, in fact, the result of a technical glitch (wrong song list) in my mp3 player but I am sure it was all fine and with a special purpose:

Oh, God, make me a hollow reed, from which the pith of self hath been blown so that I may become as a clear channel through which Thy Love may flow to others.

Of course, it is not from the Writings, but still is a marvelous song!

Then we had a selection from the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Baha’i sacred writings, related (somewhat loosely) to the theme of “Tender Hearts”.

Then came the next song, yet again the result of a technical glitch, this time a more serious one — rebuilding the song database — but as beautiful as the originally planned would have been. The song was “Heights above” from Ali Youssefi’s CD “A Step Away”:

7. O SON OF LOVE!
Thou art but one step away from the glorious heights above and from the celestial tree of love. Take thou one pace and with the next advance into the immortal realm and enter the pavilion of eternity. Give ear then to that which hath been revealed by the pen of glory.

(Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

Then many of us offered prayers: for healing, for peace, for removing of difficulties, for detachment, for nearness to God. And then we finished with a little gem of a song written and performed by Rose-Marie Peterson:

May you become as the waves of one sea, stars of the same heaven, fruits adorning the same tree, roses of one garden in order that through you the oneness of humanity may establish its temple in the world of mankind, for you are the ones who are called to uplift the cause of unity among the nations of the earth.

(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 214)