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Heavy evening traffic slows our progress towards New Southgate and the grave of Shoghi Effendi. By 8.20 p.m., when the three of us in the Secretary’s car arrive outside the green custodian’s hut, the other six have already gathered in the enclosure around the familiar eagle-topped marble column.
This is the time for prayers in this special place that the National Spiritual Assembly (the national governing council of the UK Bahá’í community) had long promised itself.
There’s a certain attitude, a certain posture, that Bahá’ís adopt as they pass between the overhanging pines and wrought iron gates that open into the outer, brick-walled court of this holy place. They pace slowly with slightly lowered head and hands clasped in front of them along the red gravel path until they reach the two steps that lead through the opening in the stone balustrade surrounding the monument itself.
And then they raise their eyes to the gilded eagle with partly opened wings that perches on the stone globe at the top of the column.
Shoghi Effendi
That eagle symbolizes Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith from 1921, when he was in his 20s and a student at Balliol College, Oxford, until he died prematurely at the age of 60 during a trip to London. A man who wrote books setting out his vision of a future world civilization built on unity and justice, a man who laid out gardens and oversaw the building of great edifices, a man who wrote letters of encouragement to the small but growing Bahá’í community around the world, a man who guided the Bahá’ís through the early stages of building the administrative institutions ordained by Bahá’u'lláh and by Shoghi Effendi’s grandfather, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi was a man of extraordinary achievements. Sadly those achievements are as yet little known to the world outside the Bahá’í community.
A posture of reverence
The posture of reverence that Bahá’ís adopt when they approach this place of prayer is not required, it is not a ritual, it is not set down in any text. It is a response of the spirit to the power of the place and the knowledge of the extraordinary responsibility laid on Shoghi Effendi by his Grandfather’s Will and Testament while Shoghi Effendi was still a child and which remained unknown until the Will was read after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s death in 1921.
So there we nine stand on the white gravel of the inner court, as the twilight deepens, facing the column. A breeze rattles the leaves of the tall trees that grow nearby. There’s a hint of rain in the air.
Prayer list
The Secretary clears his throat and begins to read out our list of the sick, the departed, those who have achieved something special, those who are suffering, the Bahá’ís in Iran, those who have particularly asked for the National Assembly’s prayers. As he reads, the distant sound of the trains rushing through New Southgate station on the Great Northern line floats up the hill, but does not penetrate the prayerful peace surrounding us.
The Secretary comes to the end of the list and falls silent. One of the other members clears her throat and recites a prayer. One by one, along the line, each in turn reads a favourite prayer or a prayer that seems particularly appropriate as we remember the triumphs and the suffering, the victories and the crises, as we express our love for our friends, for the Bahá’ís, for suffering humanity.
Transcendence
These prayers connect us to God. And they connect us to Shoghi Effendi, whose forebears, the Báb, Bahá’u'lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, revealed them in matchless language to give expression to the deepest yearnings of our hearts.
I love to pray outside. When I pray outside I feel a connection not only to God but also to the natural world, which in itself is one of the books of God. But praying as night falls in this particular spot, so holy for Bahá’ís across the world, opens a unique door to transcendence.
The last prayer read, we remain silent for a time. Someone shifts his feet on the gravel. Someone coughs. And then we begin to move, to tear ourselves from this place that so strongly links us to the divine world. We reverse down the steps from the inner court, along the red gravel and back to the wrought iron gates. This walking backwards marks the kind of respect subjects give to a king, in our case a servant king who always signed his letters to the Bahá’ís “Your true brother”, or “Your co-worker”.
But more than that, we can scarcely bear to leave this place and to return to our responsibilities in the quotidian world.
Left to Right: Farid Afnan, Dorothy Foster, Hassan Afnan, Kishan Manocha
The late Joe Foster was a wonderful and active Bahá’í who was a natural teacher. Joe taught mechanical engineering at a college in the north of England, but found himself becoming involved in promoting the inclusion of the Bahá’í Faith in religious education syllabuses and documents.
The Bahá’í Religious Education Agency (BREA, the UK Bahá’í community’s specialist religious education advisory body) decided that it would be a worthy memorial for Joe, who passed away a few years ago, to institute an award in his name for services to Bahá’í involvement in religious education.
Last night (25 June) Dr Kishan Manocha, Secretary of the UK Bahá’í community’s national governing council, presented the Joe Foster lifetime service award to Hassan Afnan, who was a leading member of the Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education (SACRE) in the London Borough of Brent for many years and who persuaded Edexcel, one of the UK’s major examination providers, to provide a GCSE exam paper on the Bahá’í Faith.
During the evening Dorothy Foster, Joe’s widow, spoke about Joe and their life together, about how they met the Baha’i Faith and became Baha’is in the late 1960s and about Joe’s enthusiasm for religious education. This was a touching tale.
Dr Kishan Manocha addresses the Joe Foster Award ceremony
Sheila Williams, the first recipient of the Joe Foster Award was also present at the ceremony.
Mme Sylvana Dholah ouvrant la conference de presse avec les preoccupation de la Commmunaute Mondiale Bahais du recent arrestation par les autorités iraniennes sans aucune explication, six des sept membres responsables, sur une base ad hoc, de la communauté bahá’íe en Iran.
Ce nouveau coup porté à une communauté non-violente et respectueuse des lois iraniennes démontre la volonté implacable du gouvernement iranien de venir à bout de la plus grande minorité religieuse d’Iran avec 300 000 membres.
ces arrestations continu Mme Homa Mungapen sont pour nous extrêmement préoccupantes. En 1980, les autorités iraniennes s’étaient déjà attaquées à l’instance dirigeante élue de la communauté iranienne, et l’ensemble des neuf membres avait disparu sans laisser de trace. Huit des neuf membres de l’institution reformée l’année suivante avaient été exécutés le 27 décembre 1981 ».
Le climat actuel en Iran semble augurer une fois de plus de prochaines atteintes graves aux droits de l’homme. Cette situation alarme vivement les associations et organes de défense des droits de l’homme, s’agissant en particulier du sort de la communauté bahá’íe d’Iran, persécutée depuis maintenant 28 ans par le régime révolutionnaire.
comme des milliers d’autres qui depuis 1979 ont été tués, emprisonnés et opprimés, sont persécutés au seul motif de leurs convictions religieuses. La meilleure preuve de ce fait est que, régulièrement, les bahá’ís se sont vus proposer la liberté s’ils renonçaient à leur croyance et se convertissaient à l’Islam, une option que peu d’entre eux ont choisi.
“ Loin d’être une menace à la sécurité d’Etat, la communauté bahá’íe d’Iran aime son pays et est profondément impliquée dans son développement. La meilleure preuve en est que la vaste majorité des iraniens bahá’ís sont restés en Iran malgré l’intensité des persécutions, le fait que les étudiants, privés d’accès à l’éducation en Iran et contraints d’étudier à l’étranger, sont retournés au pays pour participer à son développement, ainsi que les efforts récents des bahá’ís de Shiraz pour éduquer des enfants défavorisés, efforts sanctionnés par l’arrestation de 54 bahá’ís en mai 2006 ”,
en reponse a une question dun journaliste de la MBC monsieur Laval zephyr a repondu Le Centre mondial bahá’í se trouve en Israël car Bahá’ú’lláh fut envoyé en Terre Sainte, qui était à l’époque la Palestine, au milieu des années 1800 en tant que prisonnier par deux pays musulmans, la Turquie ottomane et l’Iran.
Ces accusations, courantes depuis les 30 dernières années, ne sont rien de plus qu’un effort du gouvernement pour encourager l’animosité à l’encontre des bahá’ís dans la population iranienne. Il ne s’agit que d’un élément supplémentaire d’une longue histoire de tentatives d’incitation à la haine contre les bahá’ís en les taxant d’être des agents au service de puissances étrangères, tels que la Russie, le Royaume-Uni, les Etats-Unis et maintenant Israël.
Tant a Mr Balram appadoo Les bahá’ís, qui sont à la fois non-partisans et non-violents, font face à un gouvernement qui, pour des raisons idéologiques, a entrepris de bloquer le développement de la communauté bahá’íe non seulement par des arrestations, du harcèlement et de l’emprisonnement, mais également en privant la jeunesse d’éducation et les adultes de moyens de subsistance.
Il serait intéressant de savoir quels motifs de sécurité d’Etat étaient en jeu lors des incidents récents telles que la destruction d’un cimetière bahá’í et l’utilisation d’un bulldozer pour écraser les os d’un bahá’í enterré là ; le harcèlement de centaines d’enfants bahá’ís dans les écoles par les enseignants et les responsables afin de leur faire renier leur foi ou encore la publication de dizaines d’articles diffamatoires anti-bahá’ís dans Kayhan et d’autres médias soutenus par le gouvernement dans les récents mois. ”
note également que de nombreux responsables gouvernementaux et religieux, ainsi que des membres de l’institution judiciaire ont relevé, en privé, la conduite non-partisane de la communauté bahá’íe et le caractère injustifié des accusations contre les bahá’ís. L’idéologie actuelle du gouvernement est largement fondée sur la croyance qu’il ne peut exister de Prophète après Mahomet. La foi bahá’íe pose à ce sujet un défi théologique.
“ La liberté religieuse est en cause et la République islamique d’Iran est signataire de conventions internationales reconnaissant cette liberté aux individus, incluant le droit de changer de religion.
Ce que le gouvernement iranien ne peut pas tolérer est que le peuple iranien soit moins influencé par la propagande gouvernementale, car il constate la réalité qui est que les iraniens bahá’ís aiment leur pays, sont sincères dans leur désir de contribuer à son développement ; paisibles et respectueux des lois, des qualités résultant de leur croyance. Les soutiens prenant la défense des bahá’ís, tant en privé qu’en public, à tous les niveaux de la société sont de plus en plus nombreux, l’intérêt et l’attractivité de la communauté bahá’íe augmentant au sein de la population ”
Papijoon / Independent blog writer
Prominent Iranian Professors Demand Release of Baha'i Prisoners
Baha'i leaders detained in Iran since 14 May 2008
Canadian Baha'i News Service reported yesterday an important development in the matter of the detained Baha'i leaders in Iran.
Prominent Iranian academics from leading universities in Canada have expressed their outrage at the deteriorating human rights conditions in Iran, issuing specific demands to the UN Secretary-General, the Honourable Ban Ki-moon, for the release of the Baha'i leaders. These professors are not members of the Baha'i Faith.
The article reports the following:
Toronto, Ontario, 3 June 2008 (CBNS) — Five Toronto-based Iranian leaders of thought have asked the UN Secretary General to press the Iranian authorities to release the Baha'is arrested three weeks ago. Though not themselves members of the Baha'i community, in a strongly worded letter (below), they have expressed their concern at the arrests along with other human rights violations in Iran.
The five are Professors Amir Hassanpour, a prominent Iranian Kurdish scholar and researcher teaching at the University of Toronto; Haideh Moghissi, founder of the Iranian National Union of Women before leaving Iran in 1984, prominent sociologist at York University and author of the three volumes “Women and Islam”, “Feminism and Islamic Fundamentalism” and “Populism and Feminism in Iran”, published by Routledge, Oxford University Press and Macmillan Press; Shahrzad Mojab, author and Director of the Women and Gender Studies Institute at the University of Toronto; Saeed Rahnema, frequent commentator in the media, professor of political science at York University and former director of the York School of Public Policy and Administration; and Mohamad Tavakoli-Targhi, author of “Refashioning Iran: Orientalism, Occidentialism and Nationalist Historiography”, among other books and articles, and Professor of History and Middle East Studies at the University of Toronto.
Their letter reads as follows:
Monday, June 02, 2008
To the Honourable Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations
Your Excellency:
As Iranian-Canadian academics we are writing to express our concern at the arrest two weeks ago of leaders of the Iranian Baha’i community. While we are not, ourselves, members of that particular faith community, as Iranians we feel it unacceptable that the regime in Iran has neither communicated the whereabouts of those arrested nor disclosed the formal charges under which they are being held.
This latest affront to universally accepted human rights joins a growing list of violations the Iranian government has committed against a wide range of those who wish merely to have the opportunity to contribute to the well-being of Iran: journalists, student leaders, those working to advance the rights of women, labour leaders, and other members of what should be a vibrant Iranian civil society.
In this latest incident, we understand that on Wednesday 14 May 2008 officers of the Iranian Ministry of the Interior raided the homes of six of the seven members of the group that coordinates the affairs of the Baha'i community. This group has functioned with the knowledge of the Iranian government since the outlawing of the formal Baha’i administration in 1983. The seventh member had been arrested in early March.
We feel that the international community, especially through the offices of the United Nations should do all it can to press Iranian Government authorities to establish human rights protections for the security and the freedom of all the Iranian people.
We ask that your Office take immediate action to demand the release of the Baha’i leaders, and that steps be taken, perhaps with the assistance of appropriate United Nations agencies provided to the Iranian authorities, to safeguard the human rights of other groups currently under attack in Iran in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Iran is a signatory.
Yours sincerely,
Professors Amir Hassanpour, University of Toronto Professor Haideh Moghissi , York University Professor Shahrzad Mojab, University of Toronto Professor Saeed Rahnema, York University Professor Mohamad Tavakoli-Targhi, University of Toronto
Copies: -The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada -President of the Islamic Republic of Iran c/o Embassy of the Islamic Rep. of Iran -Iran’s Representative to the UN, Ambassador H.E. Mr. Mohammad Khazaee -Geneva Permanent Mission, Islamic Rep. of Iran, Amb. H.E. Mr. Ali Reza Moaiveri -Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mme Louise Arbour -United Nations Human Rights Council
Dearly loved Baha'i friends,We have plenty of joys in informing all of you that the first National Convention granted by the Government on 20 and 21 of March 2008 in Ho Chi Minh City has been successfully.About 300 participants in this event including the representative of the Universal House of Justice, Mrs Joan Lincoln, Representative of the Continental Board of Consellor, Mr Gobu, ABM Mohajir Satanam and representatives of various NSA in South-East Asian Nations such as Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia. Representatives of authorities at central and local levels, media and delegates and believers throughout country.The delegation of the Government Religious Committee led by Doctor Nguyen Thanh Xuan, vice Chairman participated both days of 20 and 21 March 2008. But in the day of 20 March he has no speech to save time for the atmosphere of prayers and meditation to the delegates as the main purpose of this meeting is to elect the NSA (to be held at the Baha'i Office for about 50 participants). In the second day of 21 March 2008 the Convention took part at Minh Quan restaurant with 300 participants. The Charter of the Baha'i Community of Vietnam has been passed in this convention too.After convention may Vietnam news Agency as well as many newspapers have lauched the news. TV also broadcasted the event.Especially, The Government Religious Committee has its letter to the People Committee HCMC to request them to instruct the External Affair Office in HCMC to help the Baha'i community to receive Mrs Joan Lincoln, representative of the UHJ with the VIP guest So we receive her right at the plane door and she goes out without security and custom checking. This is shown the Government respects the Universal House of Justice so much. Mrs Joan Lincoln also has a visit to the People Committee HCMC at 9AM of 19 March 2008, Mr Nguyen Thanh Tai, Vice Chairman warm receives her for about 20 minutes. The TV has broadcasted this visit of Baha'i delegation in the NEWS of the day. Therefore people now know more about Baha'i Faith.The First National Convention leaves many good impression to participants chiefly representatives of authorities who have a little experience of Baha'is before.We would like to express our sincere thanks to all of you who have supported our community in many kinds of services to the Cause in Vietnam so far in contributing to the victory by victory that the top is this convention. Due to short of email address of other friends so you are kindly requested to help us in sharing this good news as well as our thanks to others.Please see some pictures attached,With warm loving Baha'i greetings,Nguyen Dinh Thoa Secretary of NSA
"...God has not granted to the unborn child the ability to discover the smallness of its temporary abode, or the vastness and the beauty of this world. Similarly, He has not endowed the human being, while on this earth, with the ability to perceive even to an infinitesimal measure the conditions of the spiritual worlds of God. If He had, the stability as well as the purpose of this life would have been completely undermined. Bahá'u'lláh states in one of His Tablets that should the station destined for a true believer in the world beyond be revealed to the extent of a needle's eye, every soul would expire in ecstasy. The story of Siyyid Isma'il of Zavarih, surnamed Dhabih (Sacrifice) who attained the presence of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad, is an example. Bahá'u'lláh complied with his plea and revealed to him a glimmer of the unknowable worlds of God. As a result of this experience, Dhabih could no longer bear to live in this world and took his own life.[1] [1 See The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, vol. 1, pp 101-103.]
Those who have passed into the next life abide in a realm which enfolds and embraces this life. The influence which pure and enlightened souls in the spiritual kingdom exert upon the world of humanity is the main cause of its progress, according to the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. This truth may be appreciated if one looks at nature and examines the relationship of the unborn child to those who care for him in this world. There are a host of people who are deeply interested in the welfare of the unborn. First, there is the mother who bears the child, loves it, and is even willing to risk her life for its 13 health and protection. Then, there is the father and many other people who are directly or indirectly involved in its welfare. But the child, so long as it is going through the embryonic stage of growth, is unaware of the love and care which are directed towards it. Similarly, those souls in the next world who are possessed of spiritual qualities are the instruments of man's welfare, development and growth on this earth. In many of His Writings Bahá'u'lláh has attributed man's progress in this world to the influence of the 'Concourse on high', the gathering of the Prophets and God's holy and chosen souls. He also indicates that when the believers in this Dispensation have shown extraordinary heroism and self-sacrifice in the path of God, these acts have caused great jubilation and rejoicing among the Concourse on high.[1] [1 For an example, see the story of Badi', The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, vol. 3, ch. 9. ]
In the same Tablet to Abdu'r-Razzaq, Bahá'u'lláh describes the influence of pure and holy souls upon mankind. These are His assuring words:
"Thou hadst, moreover, asked Me concerning the state of the soul after its separation from the body. Know thou, of a truth, that if the soul of man hath walked in the ways of God, it will, assuredly, return and be gathered to the glory of the Beloved. By the righteousness of God! It shall attain a station such as no pen can depict, or tongue describe. The soul that hath remained faithful to the Cause of God, and stood unwaveringly firm in His Path shall, after his ascension, be possessed of such power that all the worlds which the Almighty hath created can benefit through him. Such a soul provideth, at the bidding of the Ideal King and Divine Educator, the pure leaven that leaveneth the world of being, and furnisheth the power through which the arts and wonders of the world are made manifest. Consider how meal needeth leaven to be leavened with. Those souls that are the symbols of detachment are the leaven of the world. Meditate on this, and be of the thankful." [P-14]
The influence which these holy souls exert upon humanity can only be for the good of mankind. 'Abdu'l-Bahá states, 'God has never created an evil spirit...' [P-15] There can be no such thing as evil influences from the next world affecting anyone in this world. This is because the soul, when ascending to the next world, cannot carry with it 'bad' qualities. And since there is no evil in that realm, there can be no evil effects which could reach this world.
The soul carries with it divine attributes and spiritual qualities to the next world, but cannot take with it bad qualities for badness has no existence of its own; it is only the lack of goodness. In order to clarify this point further, let us look at the following examples. We may note that darkness has no real existence; it is the absence of light. 14 It is the same with poverty; a poor man cannot claim that he carries his poverty around with him. What he has is very little money. There is no standard for measuring poverty; it can only be defined as lack of riches, and is measured by the standard of wealth. A bad person may be described as one who has very few good qualities. His soul is impoverished and therefore he can take only a very small measure of goodness with him to the spiritual worlds of God.
The degree of the progress of one's soul in the spiritual worlds of God depends upon the extent to which the individual has adorned his being with the 'ornaments of goodly character and praiseworthy virtues'. This is the main reason that God has sent His Manifestations, so that they can cast light upon man's path in this life and show him how to acquire spiritual qualities and heavenly attributes. We have seen that these attributes, which may be likened to spiritual limbs and organs, are needed in the next world for the continued progress of one's soul. Obedience to the teachings of God will endow the soul with divine attributes, otherwise the soul will return to the spiritual realms of God in a state of loss and impoverishment. In one of His Tablets Bahá'u'lláh reveals these weighty utterances:
"If it [the soul] be faithful to God, it will reflect His light, and will eventually, return unto Him. If it fail, however, in its allegiance to its Creator, it will become a victim to self and passion, and will, in the end, sink in their depths... Every soul that walketh humbly with its God, in this Day, and cleaveth unto Him, shall find itself invested with the honour and glory of all goodly names and stations." [P-16]
From the study of the Writings we gather that as in this world where there are degrees of existence such as the mineral, the vegetable, the animal and man -- and within each kingdom there are many divisions -- the soul will also progress in the spiritual worlds of God on different levels, depending on the qualities it has acquired in this life. The level in which the soul can abide in the next world is determined by its closeness to God and the spiritual attributes that it takes with it after its separation from the body. However, there is another determining factor, and that is the bounty of God. Through this the soul may be elevated, and its outpouring is beyond the comprehension of man.[1] [1 For an example of this, see The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, vol. 2, p. 401.]
It is stated in the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh that the souls on a higher level will encompass those on a lower one, while the latter will not be able to comprehend the powers and realities of the former. In fact, the grading of human souls and their different stations is similar to the variety of creatures which God has created on this earth. We note that in this physical world also the lower kingdom is blind to the 15 qualities of a higher one. For instance, while the three kingdoms are so closely linked together, breathing the same air and receiving the same sunshine, the vegetable does not understand the animal and the animal is incapable of really knowing the human being. Conversely, based on the same principles, we note that the higher kingdom dominates the lower ones. The animal has ascendancy over the vegetable, while man rules over the entire world of nature.
In a Tablet revealed in honour of one of His apostles, Zayn'ul-Muqarrabin,[1] Bahá'u'lláh reveals these thought-provoking words: [1 For a short reference to his life, see The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, vol. 1, pp. 25-6.]
"And now concerning thy question whether human souls continue to be conscious one of another after their separation from the body...
"The people of Baha, who are the inmates of the Ark of God, are one and all well aware of one another's state and condition, and are united in the bonds of intimacy and fellowship. Such a state, however, must depend upon their faith and their conduct. They that are of the same grade and station are fully aware of one another's capacity, character, accomplishments and merits. They that are of a lower grade, however, are incapable of comprehending adequately the station, or of estimating the merits, of those that rank above them. Each shall receive his share from thy Lord. Blessed is the man that hath turned his face towards God, and walked steadfastly in His love, until his soul hath winged its flight unto God, the Sovereign Lord of all, the Most Powerful, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.
(Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, p. 12) - Show quoted text -
What Hurts the Soul? by RUMI We tremble, thinking we're about to dissolve into non-existence, but non-existence fears even more that it might be given human form! Loving God is the only pleasure. Other delights turn bitter. What hurts the soul? To live without tasting the water of its own essence. People focus on death and this material earth. They have doubts about soul-water. Those doubts can be reduced! Use night to wake your clarity. Darkness and the living water are lovers. Let them stay up together. When merchants eat their big meals and sleep their dead sleep, we night-thieves go to work.
Best Wishesfor a Happy and ProsperousNew Year! 165 B.E.
One of the poems of Tahirih that celebrates life and a time of renewalmay actually have been written on Naw-Ruz. She refers to the day in the poem: Sleeper!
Sleeper! Wake up now! Your lover is here!Get up, and brush the cobwebs off your hair. Now your sweet love has come with love for you. Wake up, dead lover! Your loved one is here. The doctor of mercy stands by your bed. Get up! Get up! No more grief, no more tears! You - still cold from your long separation -will now embrace your love! That much is clear! So wan, so worn, and wasted by the Fall... Get up! Get up! At last the Spring is here. It's New Year's Day. Life is calling for you. Rise up, you corpse of every dead, past year! - trans. by Amin Banani and Anthony A. Leepublished in the book Tahirih: A Portrait in Poetryhttp://www.kalimat.com
Naw-Ruz is the first day of the new year. It coincides with the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere. About Naw-Ruz The Bab introduced a new calendar, known now as the Badí or Bahai calendar. According to this calendar, a day is the period from sunset to sunset. In the Bayan, the Bab ordained the month of Ala to be the month of fasting, decreed that the day of Naw-Ruz should mark the termination of that period, and designated Naw-Rúz as the Day of God. Baha'u'llah confirms the Badí calendar wherein Naw-Ruz is designated as a feast. Naw-Ruz is the first day of the new year. It coincides with the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, which usually occurs on 21 March. Baha'u'llah explains that this feast day is to be celebrated on whatever day the sun passes into the constellation of Aries (i.e. the vernal equinox), even should this occur one minute before sunset. Hence Naw-Rúz could fall on 20, 21, or 22 March, depending on the time of the equinox. Baha'u'llah has left the details of many laws to be filled in by the Universal House of Justice. Among these are a number of matters affecting the Bahai calendar. The Guardian has stated that the implementation, worldwide, of the law concerning the timing of Naw-Ruz will require the choice of a particular spot on earth which will serve as the standard for the fixing of the time of the spring equinox. He also indicated that the choice of this spot has been left to the decision of the Universal House of Justice.Dear Reader : This page is replete with "Baha'i" names and titles such as "the Bab", "Bayan", "Universal House of Justice" and "the Guardian" without explanation. We understand that this can be confusing and so we encourage you to learn more about these terms and the Baha'i Faith at your nearest Baha'i Center or on the internet at http://www.bahai.org www.nawruz.net
Annual Baha'i Fast cleanses, challenges mind and body
February 13, 2008 - 4:20pm
From March 2-20, Baha'is worldwide will rise before dawn to eat breakfast, pray and then abstain from eating or drinking until sunset in observation of the annual 19-day Fast.
As in many world religions, the Fast is a time for reflecting on one's spiritual progress and making an effort to detach from material desires. As one Baha'i puts it, "During the fast, we make an effort to know God better.”
The Faith exempts from fasting those who are ill, elderly, traveling, pregnant, nursing, menstruating or engaged in heavy labor. Baha'is from age 15 to 70 are enjoined to participate in the annual fast.
Abdu'l-Baha, the son and appointed successor of Baha'u'llah, wrote that “Fasting is the cause of awakening man. The heart becomes tender and the spirituality of man increases.”
The Fast, said, Baha'u'llah, helps people become better aware of the sufferings of the poor. Abdu’l-Baha described how the Prophets of God - including Moses, Jesus and Baha'u'llah - all fasted. Thus, He said, the Baha'i period of fasting allows believers to feel closer to the founders of the great religions by sharing this experience.
Ashley Sandvoss chronicled her first Fast in her blog last year, shortly after becoming a member of the Baha’i Faith. For Ms. Sandvoss, reflecting on the approach of her second Fast, one challenge will be to get through two college midterm exams. “If I remember what it (the Fast) is really all about,” she writes, “I’ll have a bit of an advantage going into my studies, a grounding in faith, Baha’u’llah among all the lines of my textbooks.”
Baha'i Dale E. Lehman says he and his fellow Baha’is look forward to this opportunity to “recharge our spiritual batteries.” “The Universal House of Justice has in the past referred to the ‘spiritual energies unleashed by the Fast,’" he says. “These energies, real and potent, propel us forward into the new year that dawns with Naw-Ruz at the close of the Fast.”
mardi 12 février 2008
Australian Baha'i Community Commends Apology
CANBERRA, 13 February 2008
The Australian Baha’i Community commends the national commitment to deliver justice to indigenous people as signalled by today’s apology by the Federal Parliament to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
The acceptance and application of the fundamental spiritual principle of justice will enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to join in full partnership in the construction of a united, progressive society, said Baha’i spokesperson, Natalie Mobini-Kesheh.
“Justice demands the recognition of human rights, and it is an unavoidable reality of Australia’s past that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been denied the opportunity to fully enjoy those rights,” Dr Mobini-Kesheh said.
“At the root of all forms of injustice, discrimination and intolerance is the mistaken idea that human kind is somehow composed of subgroups that possess varying intellectual, moral and physical capacities which justify different forms of treatment,” she said.
“The reality is that there is only the one human race," she said.
“We are a single people, one human family, a single entity created from the same substance.”
Spiritual
Dr Mobini-Kesheh said it was the Baha’i view that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have much to offer humanity through their spiritual perspective, understanding and view of life.
“Our hopes for the future will be realised when the people of Australia come together in a harmonious and creative relationship based on such underlying spiritual principles as justice and the oneness of humanity,” she said.
Reconciliation
The Australian Baha’i Community has had a long-standing commitment to reconciliation in Australia.
Since the 1950s, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians have been part of the Baha’i Community, participating in its development and national leadership, and as representatives at national and international events.
Today, more than three percent of the Baha’is in Australia are indigenous people. The Australian Baha’i Community was one of the first faith groups represented on the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation's Advisory Group of Faith Communities.
To read related statements by the Australian Baha'i Community, please visit the Human Rights section of this website.
Above
Priscilla Wightman, right, with her friend Judith Light from the Lismore Baha'i community.
Ms Wightman travelled from Goonellabah, northern NSW to Canberrra to watch the speech by Prime Minister the Hon Kevin Rudd. Money for her flights was donated by the Lismore Baha'i community and Lismore People for Reconciliation.
Ms Wightman was taken from her parents at the age of two in 1960.
Photograph courtesy of the Lismore Northern Star
vendredi 25 janvier 2008
http://www.bahai.us/Q-A/ What is the Baha'i Faith? Founded by Baha'u'llah in the mid-1800s, the Baha'i Faith is among the fastest-growing of the world's religions. With more than five million followers throughout the world, it is the second-most widespread faith, surpassing every religion but Christianity in its geographic reach. Baha'is live in more than 100,000 localities around the world, which reflects their dedication to the ideal of world citizenship. What does 'Baha'i' mean? Baha'i means a follower of Baha'u'llah, of or pertaining to Baha'u'llah's revelation.
Who is Baha'u'llah? Baha'u'llah is recognized by millions throughout the world as the Messenger of God for this age. The Baha'i Faith is founded on His teachings. Born in 1817 to a prominent family in Iran, Baha'u'llah showed unusual brilliance and spiritual insight from an early age although He wasn't formally schooled. He also demonstrated extreme devotion to helping the poor. Baha'u'llah's given name was Mirza Husayn Ali, but He identified Himself as Baha'u'llah, which means "Glory of God," a title bestowed by His Forerunner, the Bab. Because of His teachings, Baha'u'llah was exiled for 40 years and died in the Holy Land in 1892.
Who is the Bab? Baha'is believe that the Bab (1819-1850) was an independent Messenger of God, whose mission was to inaugurate a new cycle in humanity's spiritual development. His writings prepared the way for the mission of Baha'u'llah. The Bab was executed in 1850 at the insistence of Islamic clergy, who felt threatened by the principles He taught.
What does the Baha'i Faith teach? The Baha'i Faith teaches that there is one God, that all humanity is one family and that there is a fundamental unity underlying religion. Baha'u'llah affirms that this is the age in which world peace will be established. As anticipated in the sacred scriptures of the past, humanity will achieve its spiritual and social maturity and live as one family in a just, global society.
I've read in different places that the Baha’i Faith began in 1844 and in 1863. Which is correct? Both years are significant: In 1844, the Bab announced the imminent coming of Baha’u’llah. The Bab is considered an independent Messenger of God who plays a role similar to John the Baptist in the founding of Christianity. In 1863, Baha’u’llah announced that He was the Promised One foretold by the Bab. Most often, we point to 1844 as the inception of the Baha’i Faith, but it was not until after Baha’u’llah’s declaration in 1863 that the Bab’s followers became known as Baha’is.
What are some basic teachings of the Baha'i Faith? While retaining the basic spiritual teachings of all the Messengers of God, the Baha'i Faith brings new social principles relevant to the needs of a global society: the oneness of humanity, equality of men and women, the abolition of prejudice, the harmony of science and religion and the elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth.
Where are the headquarters of the Baha'i Faith?
The Baha'i World Center is located in the Haifa/Akka area in northern Israel. Set among lush, extensive gardens, the center includes the Shrines of Baha'u'llah, the Bab, and Abdu'l-Baha, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the International Teaching Center, the Center for the Study of the Texts and the International Baha'i Archives.
Who is the head of the Baha'i Faith? Baha'u'llah created a system of democratically elected councils at the local, national and international levels. The head of the Faith is the Universal House of Justice, the nine-person international council elected by secret ballot by the members of national councils.
Why is there no clergy in the Baha'i Faith? There is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith. Baha’u’llah taught that in an age of universal education, there was no longer a need for a special class of clergy. Instead, He provided a framework for administering the affairs of the Faith through a system of elected councils at the local, national and international levels.
Do the Baha'is have a holy book? The Most Holy Book of the Baha'i Faith is the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the book of laws written by Baha'u'llah. It is part of a large body of scriptures authored by Him. Comprising an estimated 100 volumes, these wide-ranging writings include laws and principles for personal conduct and the governance of society, as well as mystical writings on the progress of the soul and its journey toward God. The many writings of the Bab and those of Abdu'l-Baha also are a sacred source of reference for Baha'is. Moreover, Baha'is recognize the Bible, the Qur'an and the holy texts of the world's other revealed religions as sacred.
Why are Baha'i writings and prayers written in the style of the King James Bible? When Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Faith, translated the writings of the central figures of the Faith, he chose a slightly archaic form of English to act as a bridge between the formal Persian and Arabic style in which they wrote and modern English. The Guardian also chose a style similar to that of the King James Bible to convey the texts’ exact meaning and to evoke in the reader the spirit of meditative reverence, a distinguishing feature of the response to the original writings. What does Baha'u'llah teach about God?God is the ultimate Reality, Creator of the universe, Whose nature is unknowable and inaccessible to humankind. Such designations as God, Allah, Yahweh and Brahma all refer to the One Divine Being. We learn about God through His Messengers, Who teach and guide humanity. How do Baha'is relate to other religions?Baha'u'llah called upon Baha'is to associate with the followers of all religions in a spirit of love and friendship. Baha'is see no intrinsic conflict with other religious communities because they believe that all the revealed faiths originate from the same source, God, and are essentially one. Baha'is practice “independent investigation of truth,” but what exactly does that mean?Baha'u'llah emphasizes the fundamental obligation of individuals to acquire knowledge with their "own eyes and not through the eyes of others" and therefore know why they adhere to a given ideology or doctrine. When we blindly follow various traditions, movements and opinions, we tend to become intolerant of those who do not share them. This attitude - believing that only our own beliefs are right and everyone else is wrong - is one of the main sources of conflict in the world today. History has witnessed conflict and bloodshed over slight alterations in religious practice, or a minor change in the interpretation of doctrine. Abdu’l-Baha explains that “God has given man the eye of investigation by which he may see and recognize truth…Man is not intended to see through the eyes of another, hear through another’s ears nor comprehend with another’s brain. … Therefore depend upon your own reason and judgment and adhere to the outcome of your own investigation…” Baha’is believe that, as there is only one reality, all people will gradually discover its different facets and come to a common understanding and unity, provided they sincerely seek after truth. In this connection, Abdu'l-Baha said: Being one, truth cannot be divided, and the differences that appear to exist among the many nations only result from their attachment to prejudice. If only men would search out truth, they would find themselves united. There are so many differences between the religions. How can Baha'is claim that they are all "one?" When Baha'is say that religions are one, they do not mean they all have the same creeds and organizational structure. Rather, Baha'is believe that there is only one religion and that all the Messengers of God have progressively revealed its nature. Together, the world's great religions are expressions of a single, unfolding Divine plan, "the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future." Baha'u'llah explains: "That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated." What is the relationship of the Baha'i Faith to Islam?Baha'u'llah was born into a Muslim family and society. Thus, in much the same way that Christianity grew out of Judaism, or Buddhism out of Hinduism, the Baha'i Faith emerged from an Islamic context. Like them, however, the Baha'i Faith is an independent religion with its own laws, teachings and institutions. Are there sects or branches of the Baha'i Faith?No. The Baha'i Faith is protected from division by a Covenant established by Baha’u’llah. It was instituted to preserve the unity of His followers and prevent schism after His passing. The Covenant calls on Baha’is to turn for guidance to Baha'u'llah's eldest son, Abdu’l-Baha, the appointed interpreter of His teachings; to Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Faith until his passing in 1957; and to the Universal House of Justice, the elected international council. Those who do not, or cease to, observe these provisions of the Covenant cannot legitimately claim to be Baha’is. Despite efforts by individuals to divert authority to themselves, the Baha'i community is a single, united body, free of schisms or factions. The Baha’i Faith is thus the first religion in history that has survived its critical first century with its unity firmly established. "Were it not for the protecting power of the Covenant to guard the impregnable fort of the Cause of God," said Abdu'l-Baha, "there would arise among the Baha’is, in one day, a thousand different sects as was the case in former ages." But in this Revelation, Baha'u'llah's Covenant is the magnet that draws the hearts of its followers together. What holidays do Baha'is observe?Baha'is observe 11 holy days each year and abstain from work on nine of those days. Baha'i holy days include days associated with the lives of Baha'u'llah and the Bab; Naw-Ruz, the Baha'i new year, on March 21; and Ridvan, a 12-day festival in spring commemorating Baha'u'llah's declaration of His mission. Baha'is observe holy days by gathering for prayer, reflection and fellowship. The Baha'i calendar is made up of 19 months of 19 days each. Do Baha’is celebrate Christmas?The Baha'i Faith is an independent religion with its own holy days, so Baha’is generally do not celebrate Christmas in their own homes. However, because Baha’is recognize Christ as a Divine Messenger, we share in the season’s spirit of goodwill. Based on Baha’u’llah’s instruction to “Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship,” Baha’is with Christian friends and family enjoy various Christmas activities. The Baha'i season of gift-giving is Ayyam-i-Ha, which takes place at the end of February. It is followed by the annual 19-day Fast and then the Baha'i New Year, Naw-Ruz, on March 21. What does Baha'u'llah teach about Heaven and Hell?Baha'u'llah explains that heaven and hell are not physical places, but rather spiritual realities -- allegories for nearness and remoteness from God. When we die, the condition of our souls determines our experience in the afterlife. What is the role of the individual in the Baha'i Faith?As the Faith has no clergy, individuals are responsible for building a united, functioning Baha'i community and acquainting others with the Faith. The role of the individual is important in the Baha'i Faith because the success of the Baha'i community depends ultimately on the individual's response to the teachings of Baha'u'llah. In addition to individual initiative, Baha'is work at the community and institutional levels. Baha'is are expected to pray and meditate daily, be wholly engaged with the world at large and place service to humanity as their highest goal. What is the Baha'i view of marriage and family?A stable, loving family is considered the basic unit of social life on which the progress of society depends. Monogamous marriage between a man and a woman is the foundation of family life. Baha'u'llah described matrimony as "a fortress for well-being and salvation" and identified the rearing of children as the fundamental, though not the only, purpose of marriage. How does the Baha’i Faith deal with the reality of suffering?Suffering should be understood in the context of the purpose of life: Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha have shown us that one of the primary purposes of life is to prepare human souls for the afterlife, the world to come. As John Hatcher, in his book The Purpose of Physical Reality explained, the Baha'i Writings teach that this world is like a classroom in which all of our experiences either directly or indirectly provide us with opportunities to learn. The main point of the lessons in this classroom is to acquire spiritual virtues, develop spiritual knowledge, increase in the love of God, promote unity, advance civilization and serve our fellow human beings in their endeavor to do the same. A key aspect of these lessons is that human beings should learn to live fully in this world and yet be detached from it so as to be fully prepared - mentally, emotionally, spiritually - for the transition from this world into the next. As Abdu’l-Baha reminds us, “The earthly life lasts but a short time, even its benefits are transitory; that which is temporary does not deserve our heart's attachment.” Suffering plays a vital role in helping us learn the lessons we need to learn. Suffering, especially in the path of God and for the sake of service to others, helps us let go of our limitations, develop our innate capacities to the fullest and serve as an example for others. The Universal House of Justice reminds us that, “an essential characteristic of this physical world is that we are constantly faced with trials, tribulations, hardships and sufferings and that by overcoming them we achieve our moral and spiritual development.” It is important to note that Baha'is are not taught to suffer needlessly or accept injustices simply because good often can come from suffering. Baha'is are neither masochistic nor ascetic. While the Baha'i teachings make clear that suffering for noble purposes is commendable, suffering needlessly is just simply tragic, and effective efforts should be made to remedy such pointless and harmful sorrows. What is the Baha'i attitude toward homosexuality?Baha'i law limits permissible sexual relations to those between a man and a woman in marriage. Believers are expected to abstain from sex outside matrimony. Baha'is do not, however, attempt to impose their moral standards on those who have not accepted the Revelation of Baha’u’llah. To regard homosexuals with prejudice would be contrary to the spirit of the Baha'i teachings. What kinds of activities are Baha'is involved in for the benefit of others?Baha'i are dedicated to personal and social transformation, which Baha'u'llah said is the true purpose of religion. Specifically, as individuals and as a community, Baha'is are dedicated to improving society through social and economic development projects in education, agriculture and healthcare, among other fields. The ultimate goal is to unite humanity by eliminating prejudice, promulgating the equality of the sexes, adopting a universal standard of human rights, ensuring education for all, recognizing the harmony between religion and science, and establishing a world federated government. Baha'is work with other organizations, such as the United Nations, to achieve these goals. What does the Baha'i Faith teach regarding participation in political affairs?The Baha'i Faith encourages its members to take their civic responsibilities seriously. Members are required to uphold the authority of established governments through loyalty and obedience to the laws of their country. They are permitted to vote in government elections, but must abstain from partisanship or joining political parties. Baha'is may serve their government in administrative posts, but may not accept appointments to political or partisan positions. Baha'is may run as unaffiliated independents in elections for posts where no political party affiliations and no campaigning is required. This approach reflects the practice within the Baha'i community of holding elections -- entirely without nominations and campaigning -- for Baha'i administrative councils at the local, national and international level. What is the Baha'i position on the status of women?The Baha'i writings clearly indicate that from a spiritual point of view there is no difference between women and men and no basis-moral, biological or social-for discrimination on grounds of gender. What does the Baha'i Faith teach about science?The Baha'i Faith teaches that science and religion as complementary systems of knowledge, which throughout history have been the most powerful instruments for the investigation of reality and the advancement of civilization. Baha'is see the harmonious interaction of science and religion, each operating within its proper sphere, as one of the prerequisites for the establishment of a peaceful and just society. How do Baha'is view the environmental crisis?Baha'is see the environmental crisis as one of a number of issues requiring a profound change in human behavior. They believe that humanity is in a turbulent period of transition toward a unified global society. Humanity will be able to live in harmony with the environment when its spiritual and material potentials are treated with respect. Baha’i teachings stress that sustainable development depends on humanity’s acceptance of ethical and spiritual principles that foster economic, social and environmental well being. Do Baha'is observe dietary restrictions?Although there are no dietary restrictions in the Baha'i Faith, Baha'is are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages and using narcotic and hallucinogenic drugs. Are Baha'is required to tithe a portion of their income?As an element of their life of service, Baha'is contribute regularly, in accordance with their means, to the funds that support the work of the Faith. Contributing is considered a spiritual duty and a matter of individual conscience, and is performed without coercion or overview by the Baha'i community. How are Baha'i activities and projects funded? The work of the Baha'i Faith is entirely supported by voluntary contributions from its members. Giving to the Baha'i fund is regarded as one of the priviledges of membership; the Faith does not accept outside contributions. Giving to the Baha'i fund is considered a spiritual duty and a matter of individual conscience, with no coercion or oversight from the Faith's elected institutions. Are there Baha'i activities in which I can participate?The public is invited to participate in Baha'i devotional gatherings and observance of holy days; study circles that explore Baha'u'llah's teachings; and social, spiritual and educational activities for children, youth and adults. Informal gatherings, sometimes referred to as "firesides," provide an open setting for asking questions and learning more about the Faith.
mercredi 9 janvier 2008
How to Attend a Baha'i Meeting Many people meet Baha'is and learn about the Baha'i Faith by attending a meeting. This meeting may be a Fireside, Devotional or Ruhi Book Group. By showing how eager you are to learn about the Baha'i Faith, you will be welcomed by any Baha'i who confidently follows the sacred text, which encourages people to use the Word of God as proof, rather than conventions about how one should behave and appear.
[edit] StepsBe at ease. No one expects you to enroll in the Baha'i Faith after attending one meeting—it is not a missionary religion.
No one will try to talk you into anything.
Wear modest clothing that will not risk distracting others from your desire to learn. There is no single definition of modesty, and there are no Baha'i rules for modesty. But if you wear very tight, flashy or revealing clothing, you take a greater chance that people will be more focused on your body than your mind, and you are less likely to learn about the Baha'i faith.
Be on time. Your hosts are eager to fit their devotional or book group into their busy schedules.
By being on time you show the greatest courtesy and also receive the greatest use of your time.
Accept your status as a guest. Hospitality is a given at a Baha'i meeting, where you will be served snacks, sweets and refreshing drinks. You may certainly volunteer to bring something to share with the group, but don't be surprised to be told that "you are our guest".
Understand what the prayers are about. Baha'is believe strongly in the Creative Word, that is, prayers that have been composed by the Central Figures of the Baha'i Faith. In most meetings at least one or several of these prayers will be read to open and close the meeting.
Be prepared to accept information about the religion. Baha'is will also happily present you with a gift of books, booklets, flyers, handouts, fact sheets, workbooks, anything you could possibly want. They will be happy if you take them home, but not insulted if you do not.
Understand that men and women are completely equal in the Baha'i Faith. Your meeting may be led by a woman, the tea may be served by a man. There are no priests or ministers in the Baha'i Faith. The person leading the meeting may be a trained teacher in a book group, or just an average Baha'i who wishes to host a devotional or potluck dinner.
Ask away. The Baha'i Faith is so new and unknown that your Baha'i friends are quite used to being asked many questions. Don't be shy, ask.
[edit] TipsBaha'is love to tell their personal stories, if you ask be prepared to be entertained. Baha'is love singing and music, although there are no Baha'i hymns, many prayers have been set to music.
The first Baha'is were former Shi'a Muslims. The Baha'i Faith is not a sect of Islam in any way, but much of its language is influenced by Islamic writings.
Most Baha'is have accepted their Faith after having been raised in another religion.
In a Baha'i meeting there may be former Catholics, Baptists, Jews, Muslims, or Buddhists. There may also be people who are 4th and 5th generation Baha'i.
Baha'is believe that all religions come from God. That all the major Prophets of God have taught the same Faith. Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is the Manifestation of God for this day, teaching the same Faith that has been taught in the past by Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, and Muhammad.
Alcohol is never served at a Baha'i meeting. Baha'is do not drink alcohol.
Smoking does not usually occur at a Baha'i meeting. But there are Baha'is who do smoke and who will step out with you if you want to take a smoking break.
You never will be asked for any money at a Baha'i meeting. Giving to Baha'i Funds is a privilege of membership. If you try to contribute, your money will be very politely refused.
[edit] WarningsWhile Baha'is do not register with political parties or participate in party politics, this does not mean they are not liberal or conservative in practice, or that they do not have opinions about politics.
