Category: Books
Resolving the omnivore’s dilemma
Many people make new year’s resolutions and one of mine has been finishing to read books I had sitting near my bed unfinished. One of them has been so fascinating, eye-opening, thought-provoking, that I want to share about it. It is called “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan, whose article in the New York Times [...]
Once upon a time, childhood took place outside
Once upon a time, childhood took place outside… This rings so true! Growing up in Bulgaria, we always had a garden plot in the city, a vineyard near the city, and orchard and vegetable gardens in both villages I spent time — where my mom and my dad were born. My interactions with the gardens [...]
Find thirst
Another of the most inspiring quotes I have come across over the years: Make no search for water. But find thirst, And water from the very ground will burst. (Rumi, a Persian mystic poet, quoted in Delight of Hearts, p. 77)
The way he can follow grows narrower
From one of the books that was most influential in my life before I was introduced to the Baha’i Faith: As a man’s real power grows and his knowledge widens, ever the way he can follow grows narrower: until at last he chooses nothing, but does only and wholly what he must do. From “A [...]
Finding peace in every moment
As I am contemplating how exactly to write about what’s in my heart, I am looking at the joyous smile on the face of my almost 5 year old daughter, beaming at me from a photo calendar on the wall. I ask myself, what will her life be? Will it be peaceful? And I mean [...]
Connecting all the hearts in the world
This morning I was wondering what to write about and thought of sharing a brief review of a wonderful little book I’ve been reading, called “Heart to Heart”. It is a teaching handbook by Jenny and Grant Hindin Miller (yes, the amazingly talented New Zealand songwriter and singer), dedicated to the memory of Martha Root, [...]
Inspiration from Shoghi Effendi
I am reading a fabulous book about a fascinating person, the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, Shoghi Effendi. The book is called “Shoghi Effendi: Recollections by Ugo Giachery” and it paints a vivid picture of an extraordinary person who was truly divinely guided and enabled by his unshakable belief in following the Will of God [...]
The price of vainglory
I just finished reading “Gems of Divine Mysteries” by Baha’u’llah. This was one of the required reading for a class which also includes study of the “Kitab-i-Iqan”. The Gems is similar in style to the Seven Valleys and it describes severals Cities of God as stages of spiritual development. These Cities are, of course, metaphors [...]
You’ve been reading Gleanings for more than a week?
I got an email today from the Bookshelf application on Facebook: “You’ve been reading ‘Gleanings from the Writings…’ for more than a week. Still true?” This question made me smile — how is it possible to complete reading “Gleanings” in a week? I truly think one could read and reread and refer and come back [...]