Befriended Stranger

O congregation of the Bayan, and all who are therein! Recognize ye the limits imposed upon you, for such a One as the Point of the Bayan Himself hath believed in Him Whom God shall make manifest, before all things were created. Therein, verily, do I glory before all who are in the kingdom of heaven and earth. Suffer not yourselves to be shut out as by a veil from God after He hath revealed Himself. For all that hath been exalted in the Bayan is but as a ring upon My hand, and I Myself am, verily, but a ring upon the hand of Him Whom God shall make manifest — glorified be His mention! He turneth it as He pleaseth, for whatsoever He pleaseth, and through whatsoever He pleaseth. He, verily, is the Help in Peril, the Most High.

The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 168

Last night nine of us gathered around the table to share a meal which was a mix of foods as diverse as the people around the table — from USA, Scotland, Togo, Peru, Norway, Mexico, Iran, Bolivia, and Bulgaria. I suspect Abdu’l-Baha would have liked this. And that was the point, for we were together to commemorate His Ascension.

After the meal, we watched a movie “The Promise of All Ages” and after a break, we tried for the first time the board game “Spiritual Pursuit”. I am not sure we actually figured the rules but we had fun. It was quite fascinating to observe the gentlemen, in a typical ignoring-directions fashion, pull back as the ladies were reading the instructions trying to figure out how to play the game. Lo and behold, we did play the game and it truly challenged our knowledge of the Baha’i Faith. I highly recommend it. I also recommend reading the rules in advance

Then the time came to get into a more reflective mood. Music helped set the tone. We started with “Dastam Begir (Hold My Hand) Abdu’l-Baha”:

Then we listened to the narration by Hand of the Cause of God, William Sears, on the life of the Master, Abdu’l-Baha, followed by the beautiful song “The Most Great Branch” by Vahid N’Dobe and then read from the story of the Passing of Abdu’l Baha. We sang together “Look At Me, Be As I Am” and offered some prayers, in Farsi and English, before we concluded with The Tablet of Visitation and the “Prayer for the Southern States” from Red Grammer’s CD “Prayers from the Tablets of the Divine Plan”:

O my God!  O my God! Thou seest me in my lowliness and weakness, occupied with the greatest undertaking, determined to raise Thy word among the masses and to spread Thy teachings among Thy peoples.  How can I succeed unless Thou assist me with the breath of the Holy Spirit, help me to triumph by the hosts of Thy glorious kingdom, and shower upon me Thy confirmations, which alone can change a gnat into an eagle, a drop of water into rivers and seas, and an atom into lights and suns?  O my Lord!  Assist me with Thy triumphant and effective might, so that my tongue may utter Thy praises and attributes among all people and my soul overflow with the wine of Thy love and knowledge.

Thou art the Omnipotent and the Doer of whatsoever Thou willest.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

On this Baha’i Rights Day, day of awareness of the denial of human rights to Baha’s in the cradle of this world-unifying religion, we sigh with relief — the trial of the 7 Iranian Baha’i leaders has been postponed. But can you imagine the prolonged agony and anxiety of not knowing what will happen next? Can you imagine the spiritual strength these souls must have acquired in their reliance on God alone? Can you imagine how they must face moments of weakness when it would be only natural to wonder if they are forgotten — by the world, by the friends, by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, by Baha’u'llah, by God?

Many creative people have shared their inspiration online — see this video of Elika Mahony‘s beautiful song “Persecution“:

or this video adopted from the award winning movie “Persepolis”:

But what most personally touches my heart these days, probably because I relate to it on a very deep level, is the beautiful, touching song “Forgotten” by Grant Hindin Miller:

The cell was like a kennel, they dropped him like a dog
Staring at cold metal, in a blurred and darkened fog
Plucked from his own work-place, innocent of crime
Taken, shaken, in the late daylight

The prison was a chasm, wind was in the yard
They took him out an hour each day, herded by the guards
Shuffling over concrete, with the other inmates there
Not allowed to speak in open air

And the iron bars, dark and hard, spider-webbed, human cage
Especially when evening came, they drilled into his brain

Left alone in shadow, not knowing noon from night
Mealtimes infrequent, rudimentary slop
The cell was cramped, inhuman, with a never-ending smell
He tried to pray, but every day, his thoughts went to himself

I’m forgotten, I’m forsaken, I’ve been left here on my own
I’m forgotten, I’m forsaken, left here to die alone

Cut off from his family, cut off from his friends
Where was Baha’u'llah, now he needed Him
Even Abdu’l-Baha, neglected where he was
He felt his consciousness slip down – to the abyss

I’m forgotten, I’m forsaken, You have left me on my own
I’m forgotten, my faith is shaken, left here to die alone

In the yard a prisoner brushed against his arm
No bigger than a finger-nail, something squeezed between his palms
And in his cell when guards had gone, he found it like a star
The torn-off photograph of Abdu’l-Baha

And words arose, in the Master’s tone, stirred up from long ago
Learnt by heart in a children’s class, now they echoed in his cell
“Do not think that ye are forgotten, for one moment, do not think
Do not think that ye are forgotten, for one moment, do not think ”

And the iron bars, like candelabras, they dissolved in a rosy gold
Angels soared within his soul, as the words spoke to his heart

“Do not think that ye are forgotten, for one moment, do not think
Do not think that ye are forgotten, for one moment, do not think.“

Dear friends, I would like to invite you to the commemoration of the Ascension of Baha’u'llah in Arlington, VA, starting this Thursday night, May 28th at 10 pm and culminating with the reading of the Tablet of Visitation on Friday, May 29th, at 4 am.

We will gather on Thursday night at 10 pm for refreshments and a choice of activities:

1) A selection of Baha’i movies:

• “The Promise of All Ages” – a documentary about the life of Baha’u'llah
• “Pilgrimage: A Sacred Experience” – a beautiful video meditation on the sacred experience of Baha’i pilgrimage
• “Smith & Dragoman: Live in Concert” – a live recording of the concert performance of the extremely talented Baha’i band Smith & Dragoman from Canada
• “Embrace the World Tour” – a documentary about the U.S. tour of an international group of talented Baha’i musicians bringing about the oneness of humanity through their music
• “The Noble Thief” – a moving one-man-play about the spiritual transformation of a flawed but sincere man through his growing love of Baha’u'llah

2) A board game called “Spiritual Pursuit” which would test our knowledge of the Baha’i Faith, its teachings and history.

We will continue with a devotional program of Holy Writings, Prayers and Sacred Songs starting at 3 am and culminating with the reading of the Tablet of Visitation at 4 am early Friday morning:

The praise which hath dawned from Thy most august Self, and the glory which hath shone forth from Thy most effulgent Beauty, rest upon Thee, O Thou Who art the Manifestation of Grandeur, and the King of Eternity, and the Lord of all who are in heaven and on earth! I testify that through Thee the sovereignty of God and His dominion, and the majesty of God and His grandeur, were revealed, and the Daystars of ancient splendor have shed their radiance in the heaven of Thine irrevocable decree, and the Beauty of the Unseen hath shone forth above the horizon of creation. I testify, moreover, that with but a movement of Thy Pen Thine injunction “Be Thou” hath been enforced, and God’s hidden Secret hath been divulged, and all created things have been called into being, and all the Revelations have been sent down.

I bear witness, moreover, that through Thy beauty the beauty of the Adored One hath been unveiled, and through Thy face the face of the Desired One hath shone forth, and that through a word from Thee Thou hast decided between all created things, caused them who are devoted to Thee to ascend unto the summit of glory, and the infidels to fall into the lowest abyss.

I bear witness that he who hath known Thee hath known God, and he who hath attained unto Thy presence hath attained unto the presence of God. Great, therefore, is the blessedness of him who hath believed in Thee, and in Thy signs, and hath humbled himself before Thy sovereignty, and hath been honored with meeting Thee, and hath attained the good pleasure of Thy will, and circled around Thee, and stood before Thy throne. Woe betide him that hath transgressed against Thee, and hath denied Thee, and repudiated Thy signs, and gainsaid Thy sovereignty, and risen up against Thee, and waxed proud before Thy face, and hath disputed Thy testimonies, and fled from Thy rule and Thy dominion, and been numbered  with the infidels whose names have been inscribed by the fingers of Thy behest upon Thy holy Tablets.

Waft, then, unto me, O my God and my Beloved, from the right hand of Thy mercy and Thy loving-kindness, the holy breaths of Thy favors, that they may draw me away from myself and from the world unto the courts of Thy nearness and Thy presence. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou, truly, hast been supreme over all things.

The remembrance of God and His praise, and the glory of God and His splendor, rest upon Thee, O Thou Who art His Beauty! I bear witness that the eye of creation hath never gazed upon one wronged like Thee. Thou wast immersed all the days of Thy life beneath an ocean of tribulations. At one time Thou wast in chains and fetters; at another Thou wast threatened by the sword of Thine enemies. Yet despite all this, Thou didst enjoin upon all men to observe what had been prescribed unto Thee by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

May my spirit be a sacrifice to the wrongs Thou didst suffer, and my soul be a ransom for the adversities  Thou didst sustain. I beseech God, by Thee and by them whose faces have been illumined with the splendors of the light of Thy countenance, and who, for love of Thee, have observed all whereunto they were bidden, to remove the veils that have come in between Thee and Thy creatures, and to supply me with the good of this world and the world to come. Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Compassionate.

Bless Thou, O Lord my Lord, the Divine Lote-Tree and its leaves, and its boughs, and its branches, and its stems, and its offshoots, as long as Thy most excellent titles will endure and Thy most august attributes will last. Protect it, then, from the mischief of the aggressor and the hosts of tyranny. Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the Most Powerful. Bless Thou, also, O Lord my God, Thy servants and Thy handmaidens who have attained unto Thee, Thou, truly, art the All-Bountiful, Whose grace is infinite. No God is there save Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.

- Bahá’u'lláh

Would you join me, even if just in spirit?

The first time I had any intellectual curiosity about religion was when I came across an old book my grandfather had. Literally translated as  “Biblical Events”, I believe it must have been “The Bible as History” by Werner Keller. This was during the days of “mature socialism” in Bulgaria when religion was viewed, thanks to Karl Marx, as opium for the masses, and very few self-respecting and educated young people would consider it beyond the traditional egg painting for Easter or the private Christmas Eve dinner with the family. Thus as intrigued as I was by the idea of a book describing archeological discoveries proving the validity of Biblical events, I was just not brave enough to do more than browsing the maps of the book and reading few paragraphs here and there. This book, however, planted in my mind the idea that Jesus was indeed a real person, who must have been special enough to have people talk about Him some 2000 years later.

One of the most memorable experiences from my 2007 pilgrimage to the Holy Day was from the first day, when our guide pointed to a grove of cyprus trees which indicated the exact place Baha’u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith, was standing while instructing His son and appointed Center of His Covenant, Abdu’l-Baha,  on where to build the Shrine of the Bab, His Predecessor. The historical significance hit me so powerfully that right there and then I started sobbing uncontrollably.

Yesterday, I had the honor of participating in a trip which was in a way a pilgrimage. A group of almost 50 people toured in a bus, guided by a very knowledgeable and dedicated individual, Lex Musta, who is writing a book called “DC Talks”, dedicated to the three visits Washington, DC, Abdu’l-Baha had in 1912. The highlight of the tour was visiting the house which used to be the Persian Legation at 1832 16th Street NW. The current owners of the house called themselves its stewards, and were so generous with us, the guests, that treated us all with luncheon and let us stroll around the house while we all reflected on its historical significance — the profound lesson that Abdu’l-Baha gave on April 23, 1912 at that same house.

Abdu’l-Baha had been invited to a Persian dinner, along with 18 other attendees very prominent in the social and political life of Washington, among which were Admiral Robert Peary, who claimed to be the first person (of European decent) to reach the North Pole, and Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. Enlightened as the Baha’is at the time might have been, they were not above the social norms of the day. ‘Abdu’l-Baha, on the way back from His talk at Howard University had come along with Mr. Louis Gregory, an African American lawyer and fervant believer of the Baha’i Faith who years later would be posthumously appointed as Hand of the Cause of God, a title of spiritual significance in this Faith which has no clergy. As ‘Abdu’l-Baha entered the house, the hosts turned the black man away. ‘Abdu’l-Baha, clearly displeased upon finding out about this, sent for Mr. Gregory to be invited back immediately and having Himself rearranged the chairs, put this noble soul who happened to be in a dark-skinned body at his right side, at the seat of honor, practically demonstrating that:

A man’s heart may be pure and white though his outer skin be black; or his heart be dark and sinful though his racial color is white. The character and purity of the heart is of all importance. The heart illumined by the light of God is nearest and dearest to God, and inasmuch as God has endowed man with such favor that he is called the image of God, this is truly a supreme perfection of attainment, a divine station which is not to be sacrificed by the mere accident of color.
(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 70)

Stories like this are precious reminders of how close to history we are. After visiting this house we went to Howard University to commemorate the 97th anniversary of Abdu’l-Baha’s talk there. I was pleasantly surprised by how truly integrated the program was. For some reason, my memories of past years were that Howard University was a kind host to allow the Baha’i community to have such an event at Rankin Chappel but my impression was of a program dominated by the Baha’is themselves. Last night was different. It was called “Colors of Worship” and the program was a very inspiring mix of participation from Baha’i artists and students from the Howard University Divinity School. The MC, the young but talented Reverent Joseph Smith, rocked the house with his beautiful voice making us all sing a rousing song called “God is my friend”.  New Creation performed two songs, “Let All Associate” and “Conversation” reminiscing a talk between Lua Getsinger and Abdu’l-Baha. The most touching moment for me was a poem by Farinaz Firouzi, written few hours before the occasion which captured the historical moment and the promise of the future brilliantly:

The American continent gives signs and evidences of very great advancement; its future is even more promising, for its influence and illumination are far-reaching, and it will lead all nations spiritually.
(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 104)

And here goes Farinaz’s poem:

I saw a man here once
On this hilltop
His white hair trailed on his shoulders
His gait was straight
His eyes were sharp
Yet endearing
He looked at you and you knew there was no fearing anything for you were home
And this man,
This man pointed up to the sky that day
To the bright white clouds and to the deep black soil
And said: “Come together”
With a gentle, clear voice
No mistaking
In Whose presence we were in
A voice that drew all in
All textures and colors
All fragrances like roses we were many colors in this garden
That voice, those eyes, that face drew all in
As though to an embrace as wide as heaven

And the oceans of knowledge- till then full of the tears angels had shed for his imprisonment-
Broke the dams of ignorance and prejudice
And guided by those loving hands
Decades bound by prison chains
Unbolted doors that racism had shut on American hearts
And this man,
This Persian with flowing robes
From the East
Who spoke of the need for unity for peace
Who praised the black as the all-penetrating pupil of humanity’s eye
in an atmosphere dead set against mixing black with white I
would have been dumbfounded
But in a land this dry
He… He
Made it rain
Made those soft white clouds and that deep black soil
Collide in a monsoon

And now, almost a century later, those seeds of patience and trust
bloom
In flowers of color
As we work together under one banner
Surrounded by unbelieving eyes
Who can only see the outer skin
We know that if one man
A prisoner weak from age and suffering
Who crossed over a tear-filled ocean
Could stand in this spot
And make the rain of truth to flow
Into closed hearts
We know
that our success was planted here
As sure as those potent seeds by His own hands
We know that we will come together
Before the eyes that see our true colors
The content of our characters
The beauty of our loving hearts
And the power of change and growth that our diversity brings
To overcome division and heal centuries of pain
We know because this man had made it rain.