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 |   This blog contains responses to blog prompts, & thoughts on spiritual or religious themes |
Disclaimer: Any views, about religion or sacred scriptures, expressed in this blog are my own and not the official views of the Baha'i Faith or any other religion. If you wish to know more about the Baha'i Faith, please check one of these websites: The Baha'i Faith: The Official Website of the Worldwide Baha'i Community  or Baha'is of the United States ."The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers." Abdu'l-Baha1                     Other Blogs and Journals Content Rating 18+ "Writing in Snow" "The Snowflake Chronicles" "Snow Melt" "More Snow Melt" "Welcome to My Life" "Melting Snow" "Memories of Snow" "Dreams of Snow " "Poem Experiments" "Devotional Poetry" Other Journals Content Rating ASR "Bicentenary Poems and Prose" "Treasures lie hidden beneath the throne of God; the key to those treasures if the tongue of poets." The Bab "O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavor, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! Leave them not to themselves, but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge, and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord." Bahá’u’lláh2 ![Merit Badge in WDC Soundtrackers
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Jalál (Glory), 4 ‘Ilm (knowledge) 176 B.E. - Saturday, October 19, 2019
DAY 2525: Night Noises Night Noises If they wake you in the middle of the night they give you a heart stopping fright, but when you turn on the light you find that everything in the bedroom is all right. You get up and wander through the house looking for any sign of a mouse, the only thing you find is an open refrigerator with the cat and the dog eating yesterday's leftovers. |
Istiqlál (Independence), 3 ‘Ilm (knowledge) 176 B.E. - Friday, October 18, 2019 The Rose of Carmel Atop the mountain blooms the white Rose of Carmel reflecting to humanity the light of unity. The seed of this rose was planted by The Bab in the soil of the Bayan3 and water with His blood; Baha'u'llah transplanted the rose into the Garden of the The Kitáb-i-Aqdas4. All the colors are equal, their intensity the same thus revealing the oneness of the names of God, the foundation of religion, and of humanity. Half way down the mountain the Queen of Carmel stands inviting the human race to experience the perfume of unity and sip the rose water of immortality. Poet's Note: ▼ Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 2 ‘Ilm (knowledge) 176 B.E. - Thursday, October 17, 2019 "He hath moreover deposited within the realities of all created things the emblem of His recognition, that everyone may know of a certainty that He is the Beginning and the End, the Manifest and the Hidden." The Bab5 Every created thing reveals an attribute of God, a symbol of the reality of the Unknowable Divine Essence. No individual can have direct knowledge of the Divine Essence, that is why the Creator is referred to as the Hidden. Knowledge of the Divine Creator is shown through the Manifestations of the Divine attributes, that is why God is referred to as the Manifest. Still withing each created thing can be found a divine attribute, and the fine these divine characteristics we must look with unprejudiced eyes, putting aside preconceived ideas, and ancient dogmas. Footnotes |
‘Idál (Justice), 1 ‘Ilm (knowledge) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, October 16, 2019 Feast of Knowledge "The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion." ‘Abdu'l-Bahá The basis of religion-- love of God, prayer, fasting, and the golden rule-- do not change from dispensation to dispensation, from Manifestation to Manifestation. The essentials, the spiritual laws, may be restated in a language easier for maturing humanity to understand, but they do not change. As the race matures, evolves, both spiritually and materially each Manifestation brings laws and teaching appropriate to human kinds stage of growth. In the present age, when Earth can be seen as a single planet, a single country, God has sent The Bab and Baha'u'llah to reveal the knowledge of the unity of the human species and the common foundation of religion. |
Fiḍál (Grace), 19 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, October 15, 2019
DAY 2521: Use the following words in your blog entry: ghost, accept, wicked, rose, entreat, flat, shoes, delude Yesterday's Ghost Yesterday's ghost rose out of the fog of unrequited desires, accompanied by the wicked echoes of ego. The test was to let go of yesterday's failures, to forgive yourself, and accept the lessons learned. The past is a worn out pair of shoes, ready to be replaced by new hopes, joys, achievements, and desires. Do not let the fears of ego's evil whisperer delude you into thinking that the road ahead is flat and unmarked by more test and difficulties. Entreat the assistance of the Lord to keep moving forward. |
Kamál (Perfection), 18 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Monday, October 14, 2019
DAY 2520: October 14 is Indigenous Peoples Day . Let this day inspire your blog entry.Every human being on Earth has a right to have and practice their own cultural identity, which includes, which includes both their native language and religion. For many indigenous peoples over the past centuries their cultural identities, their native language, and their religion was stolen from them because of the misguided idea that assimilation is better than diversity. When someone's cultural identity is taken away from them part of the person's soul dies. Fortunately, a number of indigenous people were able--in one way or another--to hold onto part or all of their cultural identity. Article 1 of the UNESCO "Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity"6 says "Cultural diversity: the common heritage of humanity"7 Cultural diversity, cultural pluralism, and multiculturalism are good things because they encourage unity in diversity, which will help humanity survive in the twenty-first century. When we encounter a cultural of part of a culture we don't understand, we need to ask about it. In fact, we should ask more than one person from that cultural about it, because one individual can't give us a proper picture of the culture as a whole. Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty), 17 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Sunday, October 13, 2019 Sacred Time The Badi, the Wondrous, calendar-- originated in the Persian Bayan by the Bab-- transformed the days, the months, and the years into sacred time. The Badi calendar is the Baha'i calendar used by every Baha'i community across the Earth to determine the Nineteen-Day Feast. The Baha'i calendar is a part of "The Bab's Living Legacy"8, with each month, each day of the month, and each day of the week named for an attribute of God. Poet's Note: ▼ Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 16 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Saturday, October 12, 2019 "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." Baha'u'llah9 I look at the headlines, at the chaos and disunity afflicting humanity, and I intone a prayer asking forgiveness. I ask forgiveness for the momentary distraction caused by headlines proclaiming the planet's afflictions, and I raise my spiritual eyes to Baha'u'llah-- the Glory of God-- who reflects the name of God in this day. I turn the eyes of my soul to Baha'u'llah and feel the love of God flow through my being. Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 15 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Friday, October 11, 2019 Fire of War Prayer "O God, my God! Thou seest how black darkness is enshrouding all regions, how all countries are burning with the flame of dissension, and the fire of war and carnage is blazing throughout the East and the West. Blood is flowing, corpses bestrew the ground, and severed heads are fallen on the dust of the battlefield." Prayer for World Peace The Fire of War prayer is a prayer for world peace, a prayer begging God to forgive humanity's ignorance and warmongering. As we move through the carnage of our own fears and hatred, we are so focused on our own survival that we don't see the light rising above the mountains that separate war from peace, hate from love, or disunity from unity. Look up! World peace is coming, the army of light is marching, and scattering the battalions of darkness. Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 14 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Thursday, October 10, 2019 "Glorified is He to Whom pertaineth the dominion of the heavens and of the earth, in Whose hand lieth the kingdom of all created things and unto Whom shall all return. It is He Who setteth the measure assigned to each and every thing and revealeth His goodly gifts and blessings in His sacred Book for the benefit of those who offer gratitude for His Cause." The Bab13 Give Thanks For the Manifestations of God Give thanks for each of God's Manifested for they have proclaimed the Cause of God each according to the capacity of humanity at the time of their appearance. Each and everyone of them proclaimed one of the names of God, and guided the spiritual and material evolution of humanity. Raise your voices in gratitude, giving thanks for Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, Christ, Muhammad, The Bab, and Baha'u'llah. Footnotes |
‘Idál (Justice), 13 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, October 9, 2019
DAY 2515: What are your favorite blogs or podcasts this month? Share a short list and help us all discover some new friends. I have two favorite blogs. One is "Complex Numbers" One of the podcast I have access to through the Baha'i Blog is the Baha'i Blog cast with Rain Wilson. There are others that I like to listen to as well. The great thing about the podcast and the music is that I can listen to it while I'm writing or doing other things. |
Fiḍál (Grace), 12 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, October 8, 2019 The Dispensation of The Bab I contemplate the Dispensation of the Bab, meditate upon the sacrifices by those who met and those who did not meet Him. Tahirih heard Him speak in her dream and did not hesitate to accept His station. Tahirih dedicated poems to Him, removed her veil, and gave up her life. Baha'u'llah read the Bab's words in a tablet and knew that they were true. Baha'u'llah lost all His wealth, was chained in the Black Pit of Tehran, had a vision that foretold His future glory, and was banished from His native lane. Anis stood beside the Bab on the day of His execution, felt the bullets penetrate his flesh. and, without regret, died with his Lord. |
Kamál (Perfection), 11 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Monday, October 7, 2019
DAY 2513: You wake up at midnight and can't go back to sleep. What do you do? Midnight Prayer "O Lord, I have turned my face unto Thy kingdom of oneness and am immersed in the sea of Thy mercy. O Lord, enlighten my sight by beholding Thy lights in this dark night, and make me happy by the wine of Thy love in this wonderful age. O Lord, make me hear Thy call, and open before my face the doors of Thy heaven, so that I may see the light of Thy glory and become attracted to Thy beauty. Verily, Thou art the Giver, the Generous, the Merciful, the Forgiving." 'Abdu’l-Bahá14 In the Midnight Hour In the midnight hour when sleep evades my busy mind, and my eyelids open to stare at the ceiling or out the window, my soul seeks communion with the eternal Beloved. I turn of the light, open my prayer book and intone the Midnight Prayer. Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 9 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Saturday, October 5, 2019
DAY 2112: Happy World Smile Day! Share a list of ten things that make you smile. What Makes Me Smile? "O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord." ‘Abdu’l-Bahá15 A prayer to say, a sunshiny day, and hearing a sparrow's song echo through the neighborhood. A cup of hot coffee, a chocolate chip cookie, and reading an inspiring news article with an embedded video and a slide show: The scent of lemon dish washing soap, when washing the dishes by hand. "O Son of Man! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty." Baha'u'llah16 Reading the sacred scriptures revealed by Baha'u'llah, the Bab, or 'Abdu'l-Baha; writing poetry. and logging into writing.com. Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 8 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Friday, October 4, 2019 The First Friday in October On the first Friday in October,  Finish the remaining 50 poems celebrating the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab. Attend the unit convention on October 6 at the Baha'i Center. Attend the devotional gathering on October 20 at the Baha'i Center. Attend the local celebration of the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab on October 26 at the Clark high school auditorium. Read the upcoming installments of the series The Bab’s Living Legacy by Christopher Buck. Check Baha'i Blog for anything related to the Bicentenary celebration of the Birth of the Bab. Check the Baha'i World News Service for anything related to the Bicentenary 2019 news. Check {xlink:https://bicentenary.bahai.org/the-bab/}Bicentenary 2019 for any addition articles. |
Istijlál (Majesty), 7 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Thursday, October 3, 2019 Today I read The Bab’s Influence on Baha’i Life Today by Christopher Buck. This is the first article in the series The Bab’s Living Legacy . This series of articles tells how the Bab continues to influence the lives of Baha'is across the world. The Bab is one of the “twin Luminaries of the Baha’i Revelation.”1718 Some of the laws the Bab put in the Persian Bayan and the Arabic Bayan were confirmed by Baha'u'llah in the he Kitab-i-Aqdas,19 The calendar the Bab instituted in the Book of Names is the calendar Baha'i across the world use today. The Bab proclaimed the oneness of God. The Bab stated the uninterrupted flow of divine revelation throughout history. Today we refer to this as progressive revelation. The Bab is the forerunner of Baha'u'llah. The Babi faith, which the Bab introduced, is the predecessor of and part of the Baha'i Faith. The Bab's revelation along with that of Baha'u'llah are part of the same process of revelation.Footnotes |
‘Idál (Justice), 6 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, October 2, 2019 The Summer Has Passed The summer has passed, the triple digit temperatures have descended into double digits and are moving toward single digits. We have turned off the cool air, opened the front door during the daylight hours, and the windows at night. Cool breezes caress the boughs of pine and the fauns of palm, whisper promises of pleasant weather to pigeons and sparrows. The summer has passed, and with it the deadly heat; the winter has not yet arrived with its blood freezing cold. |
Fiḍál (Grace), 5 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, October 1, 2019 Today is the International Day of the Old Person. Since I'm 72, going on 73, I'm sure I'm qualified, and maybe even overqualified, to write about the issues facing people over 60. If you are over 60 you can refer yourself as an older, a senior citizen, and, if you don't find this word offensive, elderly. I seldom us the word elderly because I don't think of myself as elderly. I think of myself as a senior citizen or an older person. The International Day of the Older Person is a United Nations day and is intended to focus on the needs of people over 60 years old. There are many problems facing us Senior Citizens, not only here America but, across the world. In many countries you will encounter numerous sexagenarian, but very few septuagenarians, octogenarian, and nonagenarian. That is because of access to medical and other services that assist older people. Because there are numerous inequities afflicting older people the UN theme for this year is "The Journey to Age Equality"20.Ageism is the prejudice that afflicts those of us 60 and over. Sometimes it is overt and sometimes it is subtle. One of the subtle way it affects us is in the job market. While many companies no longer fire or "retire" people over s certain age, they normally will not hire a person over that age. In America, the company or business won't say that is the reason the person isn't hired, because, if the did, they would face a law suite. However, when you enter a business and the new hires are under 60, you can guess the reason. If you are interested in reading an article on this subject, I recommend Ageism and the International Day of Older Persons by Jaellayna Palmer.Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 4 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Monday, September 30, 2019
PROMPT: September 30th - On this final day on the competition, reflect on the month. What was your favorite prompt, and which challenged you the most? Any highlights from your offline life? What are you looking forward to in October? It's the last Monday in September 2019, Which prompts challenged me most? All the prompts were a special and different challenge. Those that were especially challenging were those that I had encountered before. Sometimes it's difficult to find a new approach to a previously encountered prompt. This month it was "My Muse" , because I written about my muse numerous times using different metaphors and similes. What am I looking forward to in October?  Finish the 200 poems I'm writing for the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab. Reviewing Attending the Bicentenary Celebration of the Birth of the Bab. |
Jamál (Beauty, 3 Mashíyyat (Will) 176 B.E. - Sunday, September 29, 2019
PROMPT: September 29th - Name an inside and an outside activity that you enjoy and share in detail what these activities look like. Outdoor Activity Lately my outdoor activities have consisted of walking to the mailbox--located on the west wall of the apartment complex--opening the box, removing any letters or ads, closing the box, and locking it. This is a complicated procedure because I have to make sure my sandals stay buckled. The sandals' "buckles" are Valcro and, if my feet swell, tend to come undone. Once I've made sure my sandals remain buckled, I go to the mail box. This consists of taking my walker out the door, getting it off the concrete porch, and onto the ground. I make sure the walker's brakes are secure, after which, I carefully step down while holding onto the walker. I go to the mailbox, greeting any neighbors who happen to be outside. Once I have picked up the mail. I go back to my apartment, open the screen door (I usually leave the inside door open), get the walker up the porch's one step and onto the porch. I make sure the walker's brakes are locked, carefully climb up the one step onto the porch (holding onto the walker all the time), and go into the house. Whether or not this is my favorite outside activity, I'm not sure. This is a question someone needs to ask me at the end of October, because I going to expand my outdoor activities. Indoor Activity My main indoor activities are writing poetry and washing dishes. I wash dishes the old fashion way, by hand. When I go to do this, I put liquid dish soap in the dishpan, and fill it with hot water. After that I wash one dish or one piece of dinnerware at a time. I begin with the least dirty item and work my way up to the one that has the most food left on it. I rinse the dishes under running hot water, and place them in the drying rack. The dish washing part I learned from my Grandmother, who washed dishes all her life. When Grandma washed dishes she would rinse them in a separate dishpan, which is a good idea because it saves water. I would do that if I had another dishpan, however, since I only have one dishpan, I have to rinse the dishes under running water. Is washing dishes my favorite activity? I would prefer to be writing poetry, reviewing, or reading an online article. However, since I can't eat off of dirty dishes, I have to wash the dishes at least once a day. |
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