" Lament not in your hours of trial neither rejoice therein seek ye the
middle way which is remembrance of me in your inflection or reflection
of what may befall you in future. Thus informeth You. He is Onmipotent,
He is aware".
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Heights of Righteousness, Depths of
Devotion and The Most Great Balance
Being a cosmopolitan or a citizen of the world and then working on
the grassroots presents some difficulties at times. John Taylor a Baha'i
Blogger from Canada at badiblog.blogspot.com has addressed this issue in one of his more current posts. The Fast will be over tomorrow at sunset when Baha 1,166 B.E. will herald Naw Ruz.
Last night I was reading the Kitab-I-Iqan. I was fascinated with the section where Baha'u'llah speaks of the Heights of Righteousness. A
Few years ago Bett Midler sang a song titled: From A Distance,during
the Gulf War with Iraq. As Mr Balluzzi said in his book titled: Baha'u'llah ,the Manifestation of God ia an Archetype. I was in the
Heights of Righteousness last night Ala 18,165 B.E. because Ala is the
month of Loftiness.
Baha'u'llah has also spoken of the "Depths Of Ignorance and the
Depths of Devotion. This idea reminds me of the writings of Paul
Tillich where Mr. Tillich speaks about going below the depths of the
Satanic to find the Divine. He calls this depth the Depth of the Ultimate
Depth of Saving Grace or the "Unconditioned Inexhaustible Ground of
Being in Depth Christendom. The Depth of Devotion in the Baha'i Sense
would mean Obedience to the Laws of Baha'u'llah
Baha'u'llah also speaks of the "Most Great Balance". We must turn
to Him to obtain the "Divine Wisdom" enshrined within" Baha'u'llah
instructs us in the Kitab'I'Aqdas:
"Lament not in your hours of trial ,neither rejoice
therein. Seek your rembrance of me in your afflictions
and reflection over what may befall you in future
Thus He is Omnipotent He is aware.
There are a number of Baha'i Prayers where Baha'u'llah Manifests
the " Most Great Balance" There must be a Balance between exaltation
and piety. It is not spiritually healthy to go too far in either direction
without balancing our souls with Baha'u'llah's Super Soul.
The conclusion I have today Ala 18,165 B.E. in the year of Ahad and
tomorrow at sunset it will be Baha 1,166 B.E. in the Vahhab is this: "In
the Heights of Righteousness we can say anything less than world
unity is doomed to failure and in the Depths of Devotion we must:
"Think Globally but act locally" "The Earth is but One Country and
Mankind is its Citizens" Is easily understood where the "Three Unities"
are in "Clear Focus". On the Grassroots "The Depths of our Devotion"
is surely tested as we try to take our neighbors from the "Depths of
Ignorance to the Depths of Devotion" We need the "Unerring Balance"
in our day to day struggles.
Devotion and The Most Great Balance
Being a cosmopolitan or a citizen of the world and then working on
the grassroots presents some difficulties at times. John Taylor a Baha'i
Blogger from Canada at badiblog.blogspot.com has addressed this issue in one of his more current posts. The Fast will be over tomorrow at sunset when Baha 1,166 B.E. will herald Naw Ruz.
Last night I was reading the Kitab-I-Iqan. I was fascinated with the section where Baha'u'llah speaks of the Heights of Righteousness. A
Few years ago Bett Midler sang a song titled: From A Distance,during
the Gulf War with Iraq. As Mr Balluzzi said in his book titled: Baha'u'llah ,the Manifestation of God ia an Archetype. I was in the
Heights of Righteousness last night Ala 18,165 B.E. because Ala is the
month of Loftiness.
Baha'u'llah has also spoken of the "Depths Of Ignorance and the
Depths of Devotion. This idea reminds me of the writings of Paul
Tillich where Mr. Tillich speaks about going below the depths of the
Satanic to find the Divine. He calls this depth the Depth of the Ultimate
Depth of Saving Grace or the "Unconditioned Inexhaustible Ground of
Being in Depth Christendom. The Depth of Devotion in the Baha'i Sense
would mean Obedience to the Laws of Baha'u'llah
Baha'u'llah also speaks of the "Most Great Balance". We must turn
to Him to obtain the "Divine Wisdom" enshrined within" Baha'u'llah
instructs us in the Kitab'I'Aqdas:
"Lament not in your hours of trial ,neither rejoice
therein. Seek your rembrance of me in your afflictions
and reflection over what may befall you in future
Thus He is Omnipotent He is aware.
There are a number of Baha'i Prayers where Baha'u'llah Manifests
the " Most Great Balance" There must be a Balance between exaltation
and piety. It is not spiritually healthy to go too far in either direction
without balancing our souls with Baha'u'llah's Super Soul.
The conclusion I have today Ala 18,165 B.E. in the year of Ahad and
tomorrow at sunset it will be Baha 1,166 B.E. in the Vahhab is this: "In
the Heights of Righteousness we can say anything less than world
unity is doomed to failure and in the Depths of Devotion we must:
"Think Globally but act locally" "The Earth is but One Country and
Mankind is its Citizens" Is easily understood where the "Three Unities"
are in "Clear Focus". On the Grassroots "The Depths of our Devotion"
is surely tested as we try to take our neighbors from the "Depths of
Ignorance to the Depths of Devotion" We need the "Unerring Balance"
in our day to day struggles.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Seven Valleys Four Valleys
Teaching Project In
Cortland ,New York
The Seven Valleys Four Valleys Teaching Project was initiated by me
almost twenty years ago. The program consists of Seven Major Parts. The
main or central core speaks about writing a special edition of Baha'u'llah's book titled : The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys for the
people of Cortland ,New York. Cortland ,New York has seven geographical valleys. There are six converging on the seventh which is
the central valley. George Townsend ,a prominent Baha'i wrote a book
titled: The Heart of the Gospel. In the chapters titled: Ministers of Evolution Mr. Townsend speaks about the opening book of Genesis.God
created the world in six days and on the seventh He rested. This seven
fold rythm is carried throughout the Bible from the beginning in the
book of Genesis to the end in the book of Revelation. A few years ago I
heard Hossein Danesh speak about Baha'u'llah's book titled: The Seven
Valleys and the Four Valleys. Mr Danesh said :"Once you go through the
"Seven Valleys you go through them over again.Since seven is a significant number in a number of religions this issue would be addressed also. There is a correlation between the "Seven Valleys" and
"The Lord of the Seven Spheres". In Sufism the Way has Seven Valleys.
In Taoism we encounter the "Valley Spirit" the mystic female,the gateway
between heaven and earth. Ironically the Bab describes Himself as "The
Maid of Heaven". Psaloms 23 is spoken in conjunction with the Seven
Words of Jesus on the Cross. "Yea though I walk through the Valley of
the Shadow of Death I will fear no Evil for Thou art with Me" Again the
Bab speaks of Himself as:God the Help in Peril the Self Subsisting.There
was a Way Movement in Cortland at one time. In the Way Bible ,Seven
Books of the Bible are suggested as starting points.
Other parts of the Program ,for example would focus on Abdu-l'Baha'is Industrial Justice Tablet. Cortland,New York is an Industrial
City. Brockway Trucks used to be one of "THE SEVEN VALLEYS FINEST"
Brockway Truck Owners from all over come to Cortland,New York every
summer.
At the time the "Seven Valleys Four Valley's Teaching Project was
introduced the Buffalo Baha'i Community sponsored Project LUA in
honor of Lua Getsinger. Teaching Blitzes were part of that program.
I have been attending "Open Mike Nights" at the Blue Frog Coffee
House. One performer of interest is a person known as the "Poet"The
Blue Frog Coffee House inspired me to develope an idea known as the
CORTACA MUG in conjunction with GIMME COFFEE in Ithaca. Now
we have the Dryden Cafe.
The 1890 House is another place of interest . It is the former home
of Chester Wickwire. He translated cloth weaving into wire weaving. The
1890 House is an example of the Victorian Era. There is a Baha'i Belief,
when a Manifestation of God dies nature is endowed with His Spirit. There is a video at the 1890 House that speaks of the Dynamics of the
1890s. Baha'u'llah died May 29 ,1892,so there is a connection here.
Another aspect of this teaching program would be "Holy Spirit
Workshops". Prior to presenting this program to the City of Ithaca Baha'is I had been engaged in a Lutheran Baha'i Dialogue at Saint Pauls
Lutheran Church in Cortland ,New York. Currently Nasrin Parvizi has
presented the Baha'i Faith at Saint Anthony's. Part of the Back to Bible
Study Program was a section "Recognizing the Holy Spirit" at Saint Pauls
Lutheran Church. Nancy and Glenn Blackburn, Baha'is from Pennsylvannia conducted "Holy Spirit Workshops" The name of Their
workshop: Attracting the Holy Spirit. They have thirteen was of attracting the Holy Spirit. There is a lot of similarities between the two
programs,the one conducted at Saint Pauls and the one conducted by
the Blackburns. Ironically besides CORTCA BAHA'I I have A HOLY
SPIRIT BLOG.
Another part would be dealing with the establishment of a special
program for teaching the Baha'i Faith to Christians. At the time I developed this program I didn't know about the "Seven Words of Jesus
on the Cross". One version done by the Plain Truth,originally established
by Herbert W. Armstrong, sounds very similar to the Seven Stages of the
Marathon. I have spoken with Christian Athletes and I have had some
very warm conversations on this matter. I found a book on the Seven
Words of Jesus on the Cross and it was published in 1949 the year I
was born.
We have been doing the Ruhi Books at Nazrin Parvizi's and Robert
Baumeister's Home. I've developed : "The Seven Joys of Ruhi Teaching"
taken from the second Ruhi Book. The "Seven Joys Of Mary " were a
source of inspiration.
The Industrial Justice Tablet has taken on greater significance after
writing to Elvie Dames. She is Pioneering in Phenom Penh, Cambodia.
She has been exemplifying what Abdu'l-Baha speaks about in this tablet,
in fact she has been His Spokes Person in a very difficult situation where
she works. She and I have spoken about this teaching project and she has been very supportive. Thank You Elvie. She is a very significant Baha'i Friend who I met on "Two Doves"
Teaching Project In
Cortland ,New York
The Seven Valleys Four Valleys Teaching Project was initiated by me
almost twenty years ago. The program consists of Seven Major Parts. The
main or central core speaks about writing a special edition of Baha'u'llah's book titled : The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys for the
people of Cortland ,New York. Cortland ,New York has seven geographical valleys. There are six converging on the seventh which is
the central valley. George Townsend ,a prominent Baha'i wrote a book
titled: The Heart of the Gospel. In the chapters titled: Ministers of Evolution Mr. Townsend speaks about the opening book of Genesis.God
created the world in six days and on the seventh He rested. This seven
fold rythm is carried throughout the Bible from the beginning in the
book of Genesis to the end in the book of Revelation. A few years ago I
heard Hossein Danesh speak about Baha'u'llah's book titled: The Seven
Valleys and the Four Valleys. Mr Danesh said :"Once you go through the
"Seven Valleys you go through them over again.Since seven is a significant number in a number of religions this issue would be addressed also. There is a correlation between the "Seven Valleys" and
"The Lord of the Seven Spheres". In Sufism the Way has Seven Valleys.
In Taoism we encounter the "Valley Spirit" the mystic female,the gateway
between heaven and earth. Ironically the Bab describes Himself as "The
Maid of Heaven". Psaloms 23 is spoken in conjunction with the Seven
Words of Jesus on the Cross. "Yea though I walk through the Valley of
the Shadow of Death I will fear no Evil for Thou art with Me" Again the
Bab speaks of Himself as:God the Help in Peril the Self Subsisting.There
was a Way Movement in Cortland at one time. In the Way Bible ,Seven
Books of the Bible are suggested as starting points.
Other parts of the Program ,for example would focus on Abdu-l'Baha'is Industrial Justice Tablet. Cortland,New York is an Industrial
City. Brockway Trucks used to be one of "THE SEVEN VALLEYS FINEST"
Brockway Truck Owners from all over come to Cortland,New York every
summer.
At the time the "Seven Valleys Four Valley's Teaching Project was
introduced the Buffalo Baha'i Community sponsored Project LUA in
honor of Lua Getsinger. Teaching Blitzes were part of that program.
I have been attending "Open Mike Nights" at the Blue Frog Coffee
House. One performer of interest is a person known as the "Poet"The
Blue Frog Coffee House inspired me to develope an idea known as the
CORTACA MUG in conjunction with GIMME COFFEE in Ithaca. Now
we have the Dryden Cafe.
The 1890 House is another place of interest . It is the former home
of Chester Wickwire. He translated cloth weaving into wire weaving. The
1890 House is an example of the Victorian Era. There is a Baha'i Belief,
when a Manifestation of God dies nature is endowed with His Spirit. There is a video at the 1890 House that speaks of the Dynamics of the
1890s. Baha'u'llah died May 29 ,1892,so there is a connection here.
Another aspect of this teaching program would be "Holy Spirit
Workshops". Prior to presenting this program to the City of Ithaca Baha'is I had been engaged in a Lutheran Baha'i Dialogue at Saint Pauls
Lutheran Church in Cortland ,New York. Currently Nasrin Parvizi has
presented the Baha'i Faith at Saint Anthony's. Part of the Back to Bible
Study Program was a section "Recognizing the Holy Spirit" at Saint Pauls
Lutheran Church. Nancy and Glenn Blackburn, Baha'is from Pennsylvannia conducted "Holy Spirit Workshops" The name of Their
workshop: Attracting the Holy Spirit. They have thirteen was of attracting the Holy Spirit. There is a lot of similarities between the two
programs,the one conducted at Saint Pauls and the one conducted by
the Blackburns. Ironically besides CORTCA BAHA'I I have A HOLY
SPIRIT BLOG.
Another part would be dealing with the establishment of a special
program for teaching the Baha'i Faith to Christians. At the time I developed this program I didn't know about the "Seven Words of Jesus
on the Cross". One version done by the Plain Truth,originally established
by Herbert W. Armstrong, sounds very similar to the Seven Stages of the
Marathon. I have spoken with Christian Athletes and I have had some
very warm conversations on this matter. I found a book on the Seven
Words of Jesus on the Cross and it was published in 1949 the year I
was born.
We have been doing the Ruhi Books at Nazrin Parvizi's and Robert
Baumeister's Home. I've developed : "The Seven Joys of Ruhi Teaching"
taken from the second Ruhi Book. The "Seven Joys Of Mary " were a
source of inspiration.
The Industrial Justice Tablet has taken on greater significance after
writing to Elvie Dames. She is Pioneering in Phenom Penh, Cambodia.
She has been exemplifying what Abdu'l-Baha speaks about in this tablet,
in fact she has been His Spokes Person in a very difficult situation where
she works. She and I have spoken about this teaching project and she has been very supportive. Thank You Elvie. She is a very significant Baha'i Friend who I met on "Two Doves"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
