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Celebrating the two hundredth Anniversaries of The Birth of Baha'u'llah and The Bab |
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Introduction In 2017 Baha'is around the world will celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah. Then in 2019 they will celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of the Birth of the Bab. This journal will contain poems and prose inspired by these two anniversaries. In addition, I will include thoughts and poems inspired by the scriptures revealed by Baha'u'llah and the Bab. Before Naw-Ruz of 2015, the Baha'i or Badi calendar "was synchronized to the Gregorian calendar".1 After Naw-Ruz of 2015, the date of the vernal equinox was established as the birthplace of Baha'u'llah which unlocked the Baha'i calendar from the Gregorian calendar.2 Because of this the dates of the celebrations are now calculated according to the Baha'i/Badi calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar which was the case before Naw-Ruz 2015. Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh  Bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha Twin Holy Days Celebrated on the fist and second day following the eight new moon after Naw-Ruz The Celebration of the Birth of the Báb occurred on October 21, 2017. The Bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb will occur on October 29, 2019 Born: 1 Muharram 1235 AH - 20 October 1819 The Bicentenary Celebration of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh occurred on October 22, 2017 The Celebration of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh will occur on October 30, 2019 Born: 2 Muharram 1233 AH - 12 November 1817 Centenary of the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha More information as 2021 progresses. Links to Articles Articles in the Huffington Post Baha’is Prepare for Bicentennial in 2017 By Shastri Purushotma (December 30, 2016)Baha’is To Celebrate “Twin Holy Days” For First Time Worldwide By Shastri Purushotma (November 5, 2015)200 Years Since His Birth: Who Is Bahá’u’lláh? by Genevieve Seri (September 9. 2017)Articles in Baha'i Chronicles http://bahaichronicles.org/ Articles in Beyond Foreignness 200 Articles in 200 Days for the 200th Anniversary of Bahá’u’lláh’s Birth by Michael Curtotti The Short Obligatory Prayer Revealed by Bahá'u'lláh "I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify, at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth. There is none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting." Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh, CLXXXI The Remover of Difficulties Revealed by The Bab "Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants and all abide by His bidding!" Selections from the Writings of the Báb Prayer for America Revealed by 'Abdu'l-Baha "O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad-tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal." Baha'i Prayers Footnotes |
Obligation of the Seeker August 12, 2017 at 6:49pm Obligation of the Seeker:
To The Blessed Beauty
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
Matthew 7: 7-8, Christian Bible, King James Version
Ask!
Ask God to guide your steps through the Valley of Search,
to give you patience in your quest for the Beloved,
and to give you courage to overcome your fea... [Read more] Crown of Martyrdom September 10, 2017 at 3:21pm Crown of Martyrdom:
To The Blessed Beauty
"Magnified be Thy name, O God, the Lord of heaven! Attire my head with the crown of martyrdom, even as Thou didst attire my body with the ornament of tribulation before all that dwell in Thy land. Grant, moreover, that they whose hearts yearn over Thee may draw nigh unto the horizon of Thy grace, above which the Day-Star of Thy beauty sheddeth its radiance. Ordain, also, for them what will make them rich enough to dispense with aught else... [Read more] Armor September 8, 2017 at 10:23pm Armor:
To The Blessed Beauty
"Armed with the power of Thy name nothing can ever hurt me, and with Thy love in my heart all the world’s afflictions can in no wise alarm me."
Bahá’u’lláh
“Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá!”
I feel the power of the Holy Spirit
each time I mentally intone
God's Greatest Name.
Fear is dispersed,
and I lay my head upon my pillow
knowing
nothing can harm me during the night.
Morning comes,
and again I mentally pronounce
... [Read more] Istiqlál September 8, 2017 at 9:08pm Istiqlál{footnote:#}Independence :
To The Blessed Beauty
Independence
of all except God
the goal of every believer
as they travel through
this material world.
Each day I live,
reveals the subtleties
of freedom
from everything
except obedience
to God
and His Manifestation.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 150 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Letters from the Beloved September 2, 2017 at 11:11pm Letters from the Beloved:
To The Blessed Beauty
Each person I meet
is a letter
sent from God,
requesting the Good News
of the Lord's Return.
Consciously
or unconsciously
each soul desires reality.
Blessed Beauty,
please forgive me,
for my inability to clarify
in a way so that all humanity
can understand Your message of
hope and immortality.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 149 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Istijlál September 8, 2017 at 8:55pm Istijlál{footnote:#}Majesty :
To The Blessed Beauty
The majesty of the Blessed Beauty,
cast His light across the Earth
uniting
scattered tribes of humanity
into a single kindred.
The grandeur
of the Blessed Beauty reveals
to common foundation
of religion
reflected through the rainbow
of Divine Manifestations.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 148 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Obligatory Prayer September 8, 2017 at 6:32pm Obligatory Prayer:
To The Blessed Beauty
Prayer is not optional
in the practice of religion,
spirituality,
or faith.
Prayer forms
and strengthens the bond between
believer
and the Godhead.
Daily Obligatory Prayers
The Blessed Beauty
has revealed three prayers
for believers to chose from:
short obligatory prayer,
medium obligatory prayer,
or long obligatory prayer.
The believer can chose
which one,
but the prayer must be said according
to the instructions.
... [Read more] ‘Idál September 8, 2017 at 6:05pm ‘Idál{footnote:#}Justice :
To The Blessed Beauty
Justice,
the best beloved in the sight of God,
is the ability
of the believers to
search for truth,
and know
with the knowledge
they have discovered
for themselves.
It is the capacity
of individuals
to use their own minds
in order to see
with the eyes of
their own understanding.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 146 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Radiant Acquiescence September 8, 2017 at 5:36pm Radiant Acquiescence:
To The Blessed Beauty
"The confirmations of the Spirit are all those powers and gifts which some are born with (and which men sometimes call genius), but for which others have to strive with infinite pains. They come to that man or woman who accepts his life with radiant acquiescence."
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Struggle
is the nature of life,
the essence of evolution
and spiritual growth.
Acceptance
of the struggle
produces endurance
in the path... [Read more] Fiḍál September 8, 2017 at 5:22pm Fiḍál{footnote:#}Grace :
To The Blessed Beauty
Thank you,
for the grace of forgiveness,
for the benefaction of salvation.
Without
indulgence of your love,
my soul would be mired
in the drying cement
of matter.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 144 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Background Noises September 8, 2017 at 5:10pm Background Noises:
To The Blessed Beauty
Insistent self{footnote:#}Refers to the human ego. whispers,
vain imaginings
and idle fancies to my mind;
background noise
attempting to undermine
my faith.
I open the prayer app
on my cell phone,
find a prayer of protection,
and discover white noise
to cover ego's
irritating doubts.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 143 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty. '
... [Read more] ‘Alá' September 8, 2017 at 4:54pm ‘Alá'{footnote:#}Loftiness :
To The Blessed Beauty
Our paths crossed,
when a friend told me about Baha'u'llah,
the Glory of God.
His writings touched my soul,
challenged my concept
of religion.
I accepted the Blessed Beauty,
as my Lord and Savior,
now I see the loftiness
of Divine Unity.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 142 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Wine of Certitude September 2, 2017 at 10:34pm Wine of Certitude:
To The Blessed Beauty
Sweet is the wine of certitude,
confidence in the existence of God,
and assurance the Lord has returned
in the Father's Glory.
Word by word I sip
the wine of certitude
from the chalice shaped
by the Blessed Beauty.
This is the vintage
of immortality
pressed
from the fruit
of the Tree of Life.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 141 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Mulk September 8, 2017 at 4:28pm Mulk{footnote:#}Dominion :
To The Blessed Beauty
I inhale the fragrance of divine love
from the scriptures revealed by the Blessed Beauty,
as I contemplate realm of the Kingdom of God...
the hearts of humanity.
Soul by soul,
heart by heart,
the Blessed Beauty
reclaims the dominion
that belongs to the Divine Creator.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 140 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Way of Faith August 12, 2017 at 4:08pm Way of Faith:
To The Blessed Beauty
"If thine aim be to cherish Thy life, approach not Our court; but if sacrifice be thy heart's desire, come, and let others come with thee. For such is the way of Faith, if in thy hear thou seekest reunion with Baha;shouldst thoug refuse to tread this path, why trouble us? Begone!"
Baha'u'lla, Quoted in Dawnbreakers , p. 138
This is the path of faith
walked by those who seek
the splendor of the Beloved,
the beauty of ... [Read more] Sulṭán September 4, 2017 at 6:36pm Sulṭán{footnote:#}Sovereignty :
To The Blessed Beauty
The Sovereignty of God
encompasses the planet Earth
through the revelation
of the Blessed Beauty.
Oh Lord,
forgive our sins
and reveal to us
the all-possessing power
of unity.
No earthly king
can compare with the majesty
and potency
reflected to humanity
from the Mirror of Divine Manifestation.
Oh, Sovereign Monarch
of my soul
assist me to proclaim
Thy name to humanity.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:&#... [Read more] Overcoming Self August 12, 2017 at 4:05pm Overcoming Self:
To The Blessed Beauty
I walk through the Valley of Self,
attempting to understand:
"Who I am."
Ego
is a cruel master
who questions my self-worth.
I am more
then just this physical creature,
this animal brain
that holds within it
the memory of pain,
the memory of use
and abuse.
Within
I hold the legacy
of the Beloved.
My reality
goes beyond the physical
into the spiritual.
I am
a dual natured creature,
with a body
and soul.
My ... [Read more] Sharaf August 28, 2017 at 3:56pm Sharaf{footnote:#}Honour :
To The Blessed Beauty
Blessed Beauty,
I contemplate the excellence
of Your titles.
I meditate
upon the glory encompassed
by God's revealed word,
as it echoes
across the surface of Earth.
I am awestruck
by the honor of living
at the beginning
of a new phase
in the spiritual evolution
of humanity.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 136 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Doing God's Work August 25, 2017 at 6:52pm Doing God's Work:
To The Blessed Beauty
How do I know,
I'm doing God's work?
I open the prayer app
on my smartphone,
and intone
the teaching prayer
for the Western States.
Even though,
I am a broken winged bird
I can still proclaim
the Blessed Beauty's name
through stanza and line.
Each time,
I say a prayer,
chant the Greatest Name,
or announce in simile and metaphor
the Blessed Beauty
I am doing God's work.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:... [Read more] Masá’il August 24, 2017 at 9:28pm Masá’il{footnote:#}Questions :
To The Blessed Beauty
The seeker has many questions,
as she enters
the city of search.
First,
is the question of identity...
not her identity,
but the goal of her desire.
Who am I looking for ?
The answer comes
in the silence of meditation
and contemplation.
Second,
concerns the principles
of prayer.
How do I pray?
Why do I pray?
When do I pray?
Where do I pray?
Who do I pray to?
What is the highest prayer?
A multitude o... [Read more] Overview Effect August 12, 2017 at 3:59pm Overview Effect:
To The Blessed Beauty
"The Overview Effect is a message from the universe to humanity. The message is that the Earth, when seen from orbit or the moon, is a whole system, where borders and boundaries disappear, and everything is interconnected. Our planet is a tiny spaceship in an enormous universe, which is itself a whole system, of which we are an important part."
Frank White, founder of the Overview Institute{footnote:#}http://bahaiteachings.org/overvie... [Read more] Qawl August 24, 2017 at 8:10pm Qawl{footnote:#}Speech :
To The Blessed Beauty
I repeat the prayer,
I intone the sacred words aloud,
and I fee the presence of the Holy Spirit.
I meditate upon
the testimony of the scriptures
revealing for the age of humanity's maturity.
I weep my gratitude
for the speech of the Blessed Beauty
whose echoes reverberate though my as I read a morning prayer.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 132 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] God's Love August 12, 2017 at 3:56pm God's Love:
To The Blessed Beauty
"God sees us as we can be,
But loves us as we are."
Author Unknown
God sees the soul within,
that weeps in silent agony,
with each committed sin.
God also sees the potential hidden,
within the soul dying of starvation,
because it cannot see the gate of salvation.
We are the flowers of God's garden,
He loves us each as we are,
He sees in each of us a potential star.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Po... [Read more] Qudrat August 20, 2017 at 8:19pm Qudrat{footnote:#}Power :
To The Blessed Beauty
The all-pervading power
of the Lord of Lords
echoes across the planet
and reverberates through the scriptures
revealed by the Blessed Beauty.
As I read the prayers
of Baha'u'llah
I feel the omnipotence
of the King of Kings
flowing through the words written
by the Wronged One of the Worlds.
The power of the Holy Spirit
flows through the sacred verses,
encourages me to become committed
to my own spiritual evolution... [Read more] Unity August 12, 2017 at 1:57pm Unity:
To The Blessed Beauty
Unity
sees the differences,
but focuses on the similarities.
Maturity
Oneness
solidarity
World Peace
Completeness
This is the day of Unity;
humanity's maturity as a species.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 129 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] |
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