And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
(Judaism / Christianity, Holy Bible, Isaiah, 2:17)

And we solemnly declared to the children of Israel in the Book, “Twice surely will ye enact crimes in the earth, and with great loftiness of pride will ye surely be uplifted.”
(Islam, The Qur’an, Sura  17 – The Night Journey)

The first Taraz and the first effulgence which hath dawned from the horizon of the Mother Book is that man should know his own self and recognize that which leadeth unto loftiness or lowliness, glory or abasement, wealth or poverty.
(Baha’i Faith, Baha’u'llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 34)

Dear friends!

What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, food cooked with love, tea poured in peace, cake shared with smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for the week ahead.

This Monday, March 15th, I invite you and your loves ones to the interfaith Prayer Station in Arlington on the theme of “Loftiness“. We’ll start at 7:14 pm with light dinner followed by reading, at 8:00 pm, of selected Holy Writings and Prayers. I have many books of prayers from different faith traditions but if you wish, feel free to bring your own prayer. We’ll also uplift and refresh our souls with music, and we’ll conclude with tea and sweets.

We’ll also say prayers for anyone in need, so if you can’t join us and would like to request prayers please contact me.

Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
(Christianity, Holy Bible, Ephesians, 6:2-3)

Thy Lord hath commanded that ye worship none, besides Him; and that ye shew kindness unto your parents, whether the one of them, or both of them attain to old age with thee.
(Islam, Holy Qur’an, 17:23)

Say, O My people! Show honour to your parents and pay homage to them. This will cause blessings to descend upon you from the clouds of the bounty of your Lord, the Exalted, the Great.
(Baha’i Faith, Bahá’u'lláh, from a Tablet-translated from the Arabic)

Dear friends!

What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, food cooked with love, tea poured in peace, cake shared with smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for the week ahead.

This Monday, February 22nd, I invite you and your loves ones to the interfaith Prayer Station in Arlington on the theme of “Honoring one’s parents“. We’ll start at 7:30 pm with light refreshments followed by reading, at 8:00 pm, of selected Holy Writings and Prayers. I have many books of prayers from different faith traditions but if you wish, feel free to bring your own prayer. We’ll also uplift and refresh our souls with music, and we’ll conclude with tea and sweets.

We’ll also say prayers for anyone in need, so if you can’t join us and would like to request prayers please contact me.

Though (by his learning and sanctity) he may be entitled to accept presents, let him not attach himself (too much) to that (habit); for through his accepting (many) presents the divine light in him is soon extinguished.
(Hinduism, Laws of Manu)

The most important thing is to polish the mirrors of hearts in order that they may become illumined and receptive of the divine light.
(Baha’i Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 14)

Dear friends!

What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, food cooked with love, tea poured in peace, cake shared with smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for the week ahead.

This Monday, December 14th, I invite you and your loves ones to the interfaith Prayer Station in Arlington which will be dedicated to the topic of Divine Light as reflected in different religious traditions. We’ll start at 7:30 pm with light refreshments followed by reading, at 8:00 pm, of selected Holy Writings and Prayers. I have many books of prayers from different faith traditions but if you wish, feel free to bring your own prayer. We’ll also uplift and refresh our souls with music, and we’ll conclude with tea and cake.

We’ll also say prayers for anyone in need, so if you can’t join us and would like to request prayers please contact me.

Rid thou thyself of all attachments to aught except God, enrich thyself in God by dispensing with all else besides Him, and recite this prayer:

Say: God sufficeth all things above all things, and nothing in the heavens or in the earth or in whatever lieth between them but God, thy Lord, sufficeth. Verily, He is in Himself the Knower, the Sustainer, the Omnipotent.

Regard not the all-sufficing power of God as an idle fancy. It is that genuine faith which thou cherishest for the Manifestation of God in every Dispensation. It is such faith which sufficeth above all the things that exist on the earth, whereas no created thing on earth besides faith would suffice thee. If thou art not a believer, the Tree of divine Truth would condemn thee to extinction. If thou art a believer, thy faith shall be sufficient for thee above all things that exist on earth, even though thou possess nothing.
(The Bab, Selections From the Writings of the Bab, p. 123.)

And last night the Prayer Station was so wonderful! Ghaneh joined me, Farah, Wil, Madeleine and Merrie. He spoke so eloquently and with such sincere love for Jesus Christ, explaining the spiritual meaning of the tests faced by those who two thousand years ago had a chance and responsibility to recognize the Son of God, just as we all today are being tested in our readiness to recognize His Return, that Merrie was in tears and shared that she had never been so touched and so enlightened by another person shedding light on the wisdom in God’s Holy Book, and that Ghaneh was the answer to her dream from two week ago. Ghaneh humbly replied that his hope is we all become worthy of such responsibility. Rejoiced as we all were in praising the Lord, dear Madeleine encouraged us all to keep in our hearts the hunger for God, for only God can satisfy the hunger of the soul:

I counsel you, in the end, not to overstep the bounds of God, nor to heed the ways and habits of men, for these can neither “fatten nor appease your hunger”. Fix, rather, your gaze upon the precepts of God. Whosoever desireth, let him accept this counsel as a path leading unto his Lord, and whosoever desireth, let him return to his own idle imaginings. My Lord, verily, is independent above all who are in the heavens and on the earth, and above all that they say and do.
(Baha’u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 237)

The God-conscious being is always unattached,
as the lotus in the water remains detached.

The God-conscious being is always unstained,
like the sun, which gives its comfort and warmth to all.

The God-conscious being looks upon all alike,
like the wind, which blows equally upon the king and the poor beggar.

The God-conscious being has a steady patience,
like the earth, which is dug up by one, and anointed with sandal paste by another.

(Sikhism, Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Section  7 – Raag Gauree)

Another prayer station, both unique yet usual. This time it was Max, Marite, Sohi and myself. We had another bean soup / banitza / banana bread dinner (what it is with the Bs?), followed by Holy Writings, prayers and the music of Leonor Dely, SKY and Paul Parrish, each singing their version of:

O SON OF MAN!
For everything there is a sign. The sign of love is fortitude under My decree and patience under My trials.
(Baha’u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, #48)

Then came the time for Marite’s questions who during the dinner told us that she is getting ready to become a Baha’i but has some things on her mind that trouble her. Can she pray to both Jesus Christ and Baha’u'llah? Can she accept both? Can she consider Jesus as higher than Baha’u'llah since Jesus was from older times? Can she be a Baha’i and go to church? She certainly feels more embraced and at ease at Baha’i gatherings than at church although understandably she is being careful about her own roots and identity.

We all shared our thoughts, and experiences, and prayed some more, and even sang the song “Hoy Es El Dia” together. And we clarified that if and when Marite becomes a Baha’i, she would be part of the Arlington Baha’i community. Now is the time for more patience and more prayers, until the heart is calm and ready to embrace the peace of knowing that there is one God, one humanity and one religion.

But, O my brother, when a true seeker determineth to take the step of search in the path leading to the knowledge of the Ancient of Days, he must, before all else, cleanse and purify his heart, which is the seat of the revelation of the inner mysteries of God, from the obscuring dust of all acquired knowledge, and the allusions of the embodiments of satanic fancy. He must purge his breast, which is the sanctuary of the abiding love of the Beloved, of every defilement, and sanctify his soul from all that pertaineth to water and clay, from all shadowy and ephemeral attachments. He must so cleanse his heart that no remnant of either love or hate may linger therein, lest that love blindly incline him to error, or that hate repel him away from the truth. Even as thou dost witness in this day how most of the people, because of such love and hate, are bereft of the immortal Face, have strayed far from the Embodiments of the divine mysteries, and, shepherdless, are roaming through the wilderness of oblivion and error. That seeker must at all times put his trust in God, must renounce the peoples of the earth, detach himself from the world of dust, and cleave unto Him Who is the Lord of Lords. He must never seek to exalt himself above any one, must wash away from the tablet of his heart every trace of pride and vainglory, must cling unto patience and resignation, observe silence, and refrain from idle talk. For the tongue is a smouldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endure a century.

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 192)

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
(Christianity, King James Bible, Hebrews, 10:35-36)

O ye who believe! seek help with patience and with prayer, for God is with the patient.
(Islam, The Holy Qur’an, Sura   2 – The Cow)

It behoveth whosoever hath set his face towards the Most Sublime Horizon to cleave tenaciously unto the cord of patience, and to put his reliance in God, the Help in Peril, the Unconstrained.
(Baha’i Faith, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 211)

Dear friends!

What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, food cooked with love, tea poured in peace, cake shared with smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for the week ahead.

This Monday, November 16th, I invite you and your loves ones to an interfaith Prayer Station in Arlington which will be dedicated to the topic of Patience as reflected in different religious traditions. We’ll start at 7:30 pm with light refreshments followed by reading, at 8:00 pm, of selected Holy Writings and Prayers. I have many books of prayers from different faith traditions but if you wish, feel free to bring your own prayer. We’ll also uplift and refresh our souls with music, and we’ll conclude with tea and cake.

We’ll also say prayers for anyone in need, so if you can’t join us and would like to request prayers please contact me.

This year, the celebration of the Birth of Baha’u'llah, the Prince of Peace, was made doubly meaningful for me because I was able to attend it with two new friends who expressed interest in joining me during the Monday Prayer Station. As Madeleine and Merrie live in DC, I wanted to introduce them to some of the friends there. I went to pick them up and even though it was dark and rainy I found their place rather easily as I used to live in their vicinity years ago when I first moved to DC. The celebration itself was outstanding: full of music, prayers, joy and fellowship. It was hosted by the Baha’i Black Men’s Gathering who ensured we all participated and sang along. I loved their rendition of Van Gilmer’s “I’m Going Back To The Father”. Then Katharine, Melissa and Sholeh sang angelically SKY’s “Sign of Love”, followed by an original composition based on quotations from the Ruhi books and closing with their version of “Say God Sufficeth”. The musical dessert were the delightful Vocal Motion Six from Namibia, whom last week I had a chance to bring to the International Fall Fest at Sofia’s school.

The seekers enjoyed themselves. Madeleine was delighted to discover others intrigued by the Glory of God and was very impressed to meet some 5th generation Baha’is and some new Baha’is and Baha’is of such impressive diversity all mingle in loving fellowship. On the way to the celebration and back I had a fascinating talk with Merrie trying to interpret a dream she had had following the prayer meeting on Monday, in which she had found a box which opened threefold and in which there was a photo of a man in imperial clothes from 19th century. I linked the dream to the Covenant of Baha’u'llah and His Tablets addressing the kings and rulers of the world and the promise for world peace.

Speaking of peace, I am going to the dialogue hosted by the Baha’i Chair of World Peace next Thursday, which is the reason I am shifting my Ruhi 3 class next week. Tonight’s class was a very delightful closing of a long and busy but also joyous day, with some very deep discussions on how the unconditional love of God can be the only tool for overcoming insecurity and selfishness in children and adults:

For every one of you his paramount duty is to choose for himself that on which no other may infringe and none usurp from him. Such a thing — and to this the Almighty is My witness — is the love of God, could ye but perceive it.
(Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 261)

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
(Judaism / Christianity, Holy Bible, Psalms, 19:1)

Behold how the manifold grace of God, which is being showered from the clouds of Divine glory, hath, in this day, encompassed the world. For whereas in days past every lover besought and searched after his Beloved, it is the Beloved Himself Who now is calling His lovers and is inviting them to attain His presence.
(Baha’i Faith, Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 320)

Dear friends!

What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, food cooked with love, tea poured in peace, cake shared with smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for the week ahead.

This Monday, November 9th, I invite you and your loves ones to an interfaith Prayer Station in Arlington which will be dedicated to the topic of The Glory of God as reflected in different religious traditions. We’ll start at 7:30 pm with light refreshments followed by reading, at 8:00 pm, of selected Holy Writings and Prayers. I have many books of prayers from different faith traditions but if you wish, feel free to bring your own prayer. We’ll also uplift and refresh our souls with music, and we’ll conclude with tea and cake.

We’ll also say prayers for anyone in need, so if you can’t join us and would like to request prayers please contact me.

I am, O my God, but a tiny seed which Thou hast sown in the soil of Thy love…

So timely, for the theme of the prayer meeting tonight was to be Transformation.

We must strive with energies of heart, soul and mind to develop and manifest the perfections and virtues latent within the realities of the phenomenal world, for the human reality may be compared to a seed. If we sow the seed, a mighty tree appears from it. The virtues of the seed are revealed in the tree; it puts forth branches, leaves, blossoms, and produces fruits. All these virtues were hidden and potential in the seed. Through the blessing and bounty of cultivation these virtues became apparent. Similarly, the merciful God, our Creator, has deposited within human realities certain latent and potential virtues. Through education and culture these virtues deposited by the loving God will become apparent in the human reality, even as the unfoldment of the tree from within the germinating seed.
(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 90)

As I was driving I would listen to the song, immersed in Tara Ellis’ voice and singing along with her…

When I arrived in their welcoming home, the hosts offered prayer books but the one I picked was such an old edition that I got lost looking in vain for the prayer containing the verse about the tiny seed. Just as I gave up, I opened on a page with a prayer for children and started reading:

Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! I give Thee thanks inasmuch as Thou hast called me into being in Thy days, and infused into me Thy love and Thy knowledge. I beseech Thee, by Thy name whereby the goodly pearls of Thy wisdom and Thine utterance were brought forth out of the treasuries of the hearts of such of Thy servants as are nigh unto Thee, and through which the Day-Star of Thy name, the Compassionate, hath shed its radiance upon all that are in Thy heaven and on Thy earth, to supply me, by Thy grace and bounty, with Thy wondrous and hidden bounties.

Then I thought, how appropriate, for these days I feel as if my life is starting anew:

These are the earliest days of my life, O my God, which Thou hast linked with Thine own days. Now that Thou hast conferred upon me so great an honor, withhold not from me the things Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones.

And then I recognized the verse I was looking for and switched from reading to singing:

I am, O my God, but a tiny seed which Thou hast sown in the soil of Thy love, and caused to spring forth by the hand of Thy bounty. This seed craveth, therefore, in its inmost being, for the waters of Thy mercy and the living fountain of Thy grace. Send down upon it, from the heaven of Thy loving-kindness, that which will enable it to flourish beneath Thy shadow and within the borders of Thy court. Thou art He Who watereth the hearts of all that have recognized Thee from Thy plenteous stream and the fountain of Thy living waters.

Praised be God, the Lord of the worlds.

(Baha’u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u'llah, p. 176)

So often in life, the answer comes naturally, unforced — not when you seek it but when you are about to give up trying, and then, free from expectations, the answer appears… Answer for a tiny seed.

“I noticed your  email address name — do you have a blog with this name “befriended stranger”? I’ve seen this before.”

So, befriended strangers,welcome back

Tonight the Prayer Station was selfishly tuned to the theme of the Saints because it is my name’s day, but Wil, the kind gentleman who has been attending my devotional gathering every other week, asked me if the reason was the approaching All Saints’ Day. We ended up talking about what sainthood means and Wil was surprised to discover that the Apostles were indeed called Saints in the Bible. Funny how traditions become such ingrained habits that we tend to not even notice their meaning — Wil grew up the son of a Lutheran priest and is currently alternating this Christian denomination with Universalist Unitarian church but was first introduced to the Baha’i Faith in 1968.

We talked about the prospective of one day being in the company of the soul of saints in the next world:

Grant, then, O my God, that Thy servant may consort with Thy chosen ones, Thy saints and Thy Messengers in heavenly places that the pen cannot tell nor the tongue recount.
(Baha’u'llah, Baha’i Prayers, p. 42)

But we also reflected that as we turn to God, even in this world we can join the saints:

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.
(Christianity, King James Bible, Ephesians, 2:19)

I shared with Wil about the suffering of Baha’u'llah and that of His followers even today in Iran, then we listened to MANA‘s song “They Suffered”:

…they suffered the most grievous difficulties and severe ordeals. They withstood the tests with wonderful power and sublime heroism. Thousands were cast into prison, punished, persecuted and martyred. Their homes were pillaged and destroyed, their possessions confiscated. They sacrificed their lives most willingly and remained unshaken in their faith to the very end. Those wonderful souls are the lamps of God, the stars of sanctity shining gloriously from the eternal horizon of the will of God.
(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 138)

Then we shared prayers and Wil read a couple of Baha’i prayers, commenting how beautiful they were…

Prayers as guiding lights; Saints as lamps of God.