Celebrating the two hundredth Anniversaries of The Birth of Baha'u'llah and The Bab |
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 |
Ancestral Home: To 'Abdu'l-Baha August 23, 2021 at 6:31pm Ancestral Home:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
Born on May 23, 1844,
in his father's mansion in Tehran;
his ancestral home
was the Provence of Nur--
the Provence of Light.
He spent his early childhood
sometimes in Tehran
and sometime at the country estate
in Nur.
At eight
his life suddenly changed.
His father,
Baha'u'llah,
along with other Babis
was imprisoned in the Síyáh-Chál--
the Black Pit of Tehran.
In 1853.
Baha'u'llah
and his family
wer... [Read more] Sharing the Bread of Life: To 'Abdu'l-Baha August 15, 2021 at 1:51pm Sharing the Bread of Life:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
His footsteps reverberate
through Akka,
through Haifa,
through Alexandria,
through Paris,
through London,
through New York,
through Canada{footnote:#}'Abdu'l-Baha made a short visit to Canada while on his journey through the United States. ,
across America,
and back to New York.
From 1911 to 1913,
he shared the Bread of Life
and the wine of immortality
on his Journey West{footnote:#}{link:http://www.thejourneywes... [Read more] The Streets of Paris: To 'Abdu'l-Baha August 12, 2021 at 10:42pm The Streets of Paris:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
"I am very glad to be here with you. I am very glad to see you all here. I love you very much. I have been in many beautiful houses, but this is more beautiful to me than any of the others, for the spirit of the love of BAHA'O'LLAH is here. You are all receiving the teachings of God and learning how to act and live and some day you will be great and wise for having learned the truth. I have seen many beautiful rich children, b... [Read more] World Citizen: To 'Abdu'l-Baha August 8, 2021 at 11:36am World Citizen:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
"That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens."
Bah... [Read more] Happiness: To 'Abdu'l-Baha August 4, 2021 at 3:11pm Happiness:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
H e is Baha'u'llah's gift to the Baha'is,
A ppointed the Center of his father's Covenant,
P referred the title Servant of Baha,
P assed his life in service to humanity,
I n all of his actions he reflected Divine Attributes,
N ever angry, he demonstrated patience,
E xpressed his joy through praise and prayer,
S teadfast in obedience to God,
S tayed the course no matter what the obstacle.
{dropnote:"Poet... [Read more] Tea with 'Abdu'l-Baha August 1, 2021 at 9:37pm Tea with
'Abdu'l-Baha
The Master
walked into my dream
carrying an elegant silver Persian tea pot,
with ten silver tea cups,
on a silver tray,
He stopped
in front of me,
gave me a cup,
poured tea in the cup,
and dropped in a sugar cube
before going on the the next person.
After everyone had been served,
the Master poured himself a cup of tea,
put a sugar cup in
and we drink our tea.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is poem #39 of the 100 I'm w... [Read more] Gender Equality: To 'Abdu'l-Baha July 31, 2021 at 3:08pm Gender Equality:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
"The Tenth Principle of the teaching of Bahá’u’lláh is the equality of the sexes."
'Abdu'l-Baha{footnote:#}{link:https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/PT/pt-51.html} {footnote:#} Paris Talks , page 160 {footnote:#}See also Emmeline Pankhurst, Abdu’l-Baha, and the Suffragettes
by David Langness {link:https://bahaiteachings.org/emmeline-pankhurst-abdul-baha-and-the-suffragettes/}
Gender equality
a branch on the ... [Read more] Prayer in Action: To 'Abdu'l-Baha July 24, 2021 at 3:21pm Prayer in Action:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
He did not delay
he worked everyday
and made his prayers action.
No fence was too high
nor opposition too dense,
because he relied
on the power of the Holy Spirit
to help him stay his chosen course.
He was never tense
or worried
about momentary delays,
because he saw
the eventual success
of his endeavors.
He demonstrated prayer in action
all the days
of his Earthly life.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is poe... [Read more] A Blitz Poem To 'Abdu'l-Baha July 20, 2021 at 1:37pm A Blitz Poem{footnote:#}{link:http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/blitzpoem.html}
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
Servant of Baha
Servant of Glory
Glory of God
Glory of service
Service to humanity
Service is prayer
Prayer is sweet
Prayer is action
Action is faith
Action is joy
Joy bestows wings
Joy is praise
Praise is worship
Praise is love
Love is reconciliation
Love the Holy Spirit's Breath
Breath of God
Breath of life
Life eternal
Life a journey
Journey toward... [Read more] Certitude: To 'Abdu'l-Baha July 17, 2021 at 9:28pm Certitude:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
Faith that doesn't quit!
Steadfast as a redwood tree,
Firm as granite cliffs.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is poem #35 in the 100 I'm writing for the centenary of the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha.
... [Read more] Obedience: To 'Abdu'l-Baha July 8, 2021 at 5:16pm Obedience:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
“Let us try to understand the commands of the Most High and to order our lives as He directs.”
'Abdu'l-Baha{footnote:#} Paris Talks , page 108 {footnote:#}Quoted in My Thoughts on the Meaning of Obedience by Peter Gyulay {link:https://www.bahaiblog.net/2021/07/my-thoughts-on-the-meaning-of-obedience/#more-36123}
The epitome of acquiescence,
quintessence of understanding God's Will,
lived in accordance with the Divine Word.
... [Read more] Senectitude: To 'Abdu'l-Baha July 3, 2021 at 2:43pm Senectitude{footnote:#}{link:https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/senectitude} :
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
S enetitude never stopped him
E ach day was a testament to his spiritual fortitude
N ight and day he was the Servant of Baha{footnote:#}The meaning of 'Abdu'l-Baha.
E xample of the divine virtues to humanity
C enter of the Covenant of Baha'u'llah
T he appointed interpreter of Baha'u'llah's scriptures
I n old age, he took a th... [Read more] Mirror of the Prophets: To 'Abdu'l-Baha June 28, 2021 at 5:02pm Mirror of the Prophets:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
"The Master reflects the qualities of the Manifestations as if He were a mirror. He reflects not only those of Bahá'u'lláh but also of Christ as He is the exemplar of the spirit of the Prophet...."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha'i Community, p. 440)
The perfect mirror
reflecting the divine attributes
of God's Holy Manifestations.
Selfl... [Read more] Meditation on a Photo of 'Abdu'l-Baha June 27, 2021 at 11:43am Meditation
on a Photo of 'Abdu'l-Baha
How can I describe
the wisdom in his eyes:
compassion
for the downtrodden
and disenfranchised.
The gentle smile that understands,
my struggle to comprehend
physical death
as a part of God's plan.
Humble,
steadfast Servant of Baha,
perfect in his generation,
interpreter of the writings of Baha'u'llah--
God's most recent Manifestation.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is poem #31 of the 100 I'... [Read more] Happiest in Diversity: To 'Abdu'l-Baha June 24, 2021 at 10:07pm Happiest in Diversity:{footnote:#}{link:https://www.bahai.us/happiest-in-diversity/}
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
It was the diversity
of the audience
that gave him joy.
He was happiest,
when he saw
both black and white people
at the same table.
He was forthright
when it came to the importance
interracial unity,
and uncompromising in its practice.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is poem #30 of the 100 I'm writing for the Centenary of the Ascension of 'Ab... [Read more] Fearless: To 'Abdu'l-Baha June 21, 2021 at 1:56pm Fearless:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
At 64 he fearlessly proclaimed
the oneness of humanity
and God's Most Great Name
to Europe and America.
Across three continents--
in churches and public halls--
he attempted to tear down the walls
that separated humankind.
On his three year journey west
his footsteps doubly blessed
the ground on which he trod,
and his actions reflected the Glory of God.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is poem #29 in the 100 poems I am w... [Read more] The Beauty in Diversity: To 'Abdu'l-Baha June 20, 2021 at 5:26pm The Beauty in Diversity:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
{xlink:https://www.bahai.us/diversity-a-thing-of-beauty/}Diversity a Thing of Beauty
Beautiful diversity
God's gift to humanity,
the flowers in His divine garden.
Look at the exquisite elegance
of the various skin tones.
all expressing
the charm and loveliness
of the human species.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is poem #28 of the 100 poems I'm writing for the Centenary of the Ascension of 'Abdu&... [Read more] Father Figure: To 'Abdu'l-Baha June 19, 2021 at 3:11pm Father Figure:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
{xlink:https://bahaiteachings.org/abdul-baha-a-father-figure-for-humankind/}Abdu’l-Baha: A Father Figure for Humankind by Anne Gordon Perry
The perfect example
of selflessness and love
his guidance to humanity
reverberates across the world.
One hundred years after his passing,
we--
who chose to fallow Baha'u'llah--
look to 'Abdu'l-Baha
for lessons on how to live,
while struggling
to show forth justice and equali... [Read more] Laying The Foundation-Stone: To 'Abdu'l-Baha May 27, 2021 at 4:35pm Laying The Foundation-Stone:
To 'Abdu'l-Baha{footnote:#}{link:https://www.bahai.us/laying-the-cornerstone/}
On a cold and windy day in May,
the congregated
in Wilmette--
a city located
on the shores of Lake Michigan,
just outside of Chicago--
for the groundbreaking
and laying the cornerstone
of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkars{footnote:#}Dawning-points of praise and mentionings of God
of the Occident.
Taking a gold trowel,
'Abdu'l-Baha
and delegates repres... [Read more] 'Abdu'l-Baha's Relationship with Baha'u'llah May 27, 2021 at 2:08pm 'Abdu'l-Baha's Relationship
With Baha'u'llah{footnote:#}{link:https://bahaiteachings.org/abdul-bahas-relationship-to-his-father-bahaullah/}
The first to recognize
his father's station,
'Abdu'l-Baha spent his life
in service to God's Manifestation.
Choosing the position
of servitude,
'Abdu'l-Baha is
the perfect reflection
of radiant light of Baha'u'llah.
Baha'u'llah showed His affection
for His son,
by honoring ... [Read more] 'Abdu'l-Baha Celebrates the Declaration of the Bab May 26, 2021 at 1:54pm 'Abdu'l-Baha Celebrates
the Declaration of the Bab{footnote:#}{link:https://www.bahai.us/declaration-of-the-bab/}.
On the day
commemorating the Declaration of the Bab,
'Abdu'l-Baha--
Servant of the Glory--
himself
served the guest,
who represented all religions.
This feast,
celebrated at the Supreme Spot--
the Tomb of the Bab--
and beneath the shade
of the Blessed Beauty{footnote:#}Baha'u'llah ,
was proclaimed "The Lord's Sustenance"
... [Read more] The Road of Servitude: To 'Abdu'l-Baha May 20, 2021 at 3:14pm The Road of Servitude:{footnote:#}{link:https://www.bahaiblog.net/2020/11/abdul-baha-walking-the-chosen-highway/}
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
He chose the road of servitude--
to the Abha Beauty{footnote:#}Baha'u'llah --
he walked it all his life
through the storms of strife.
He chose the road of servitude--
to the Ancient Beauty
and to humanity--
he walked it
through the darkest night
always focused on the light,
never looking left or right.
Knowing both the destina... [Read more] Faith: To 'Abdu'l-Baha May 19, 2021 at 6:00pm Faith{footnote:#}{link:http://www.thejourneywest.org/2013/02/18/abdul-baha-and-faith/} :
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
What is Faith?
It is love of God,
love taken into action,
and the root of philanthropy.
He showed his love
and faith in God
each day of his life
through deeds that demonstrated
the essence
of the laws and ordinances
revealed by Baha'u'llah.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is poem #21 in the 100 poems I'm writing for the centenary of the ... [Read more] Spiritual Relaxation: To 'Abdu'l-Baha May 15, 2021 at 8:16pm Spiritual Relaxation{footnote:#}{link:http://www.thejourneywest.org/2013/04/08/abdul-baha-and-laughter/} :
To 'Abdu'l-Baha
He demonstrated
that it's laughter
which relaxes our soul
and refreshes our mind.
Laughter--
not of the type
that embarrasses
or hurts someone else
but--
of the type that embraces all
in love and unity.
His sense of humor proved
that spirituality
doesn't have to be
somber,
unsmiling,
or grim.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:&... [Read more] Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha May 4, 2021 at 1:28pm Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha{footnote:#}{link:https://www.bahai.us/remembering-abdulbaha/}
“My name is ‘Abdu’l-Baha. My qualification is ‘Abdu’l-Baha. My reality is ‘Abdu’l-Baha. My praise is ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious and refulgent diadem, and servitude to all the human race my perpetual religion… No name, no title, no mention, no commendation have I, nor will ever have, except ‘Abdu’l-Baha. This is my longing. This is... [Read more] |