Theme: Philanthropic Deeds – Part III

Did you know that Hollywood stars and doctors are rising to the many challenges of the world? Read more…

If you did not get a chance to read part I and II of Philanthropic Deeds, the links are:

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/05/theme-philanthropic-deeds-part-i.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/05/theme-philanthropic-deeds-part-ii.html

Devotion

Know, O thou possessors of insight, that true spirituality is like unto a lake of clear water which reflects the divine. Of such was the spirituality of Jesus Christ. There is another kind which is like a mirage, seeming to be spiritual when it is not. That which is truly spiritual must light the path to God, and must result in deeds. (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 107)

You must become the means of lighting the world of humanity. This is the infallible proof and sign. Every progress depends on two things, knowledge and practice. First acquire knowledge, and, when conviction is reached, put it into practice. (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 108)

Deeper Learning

Hollywood stars are rising to the many challenges of the world. The famous Angelina Jolie Voight, an Academy Award winner, is well known for promoting humanitarian causes. As a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations, she has shown great compassion for the underprivileged of the world. Through this organization, she has been sent on special missions to disaster zones, such as Sierra Leon, Pakistan, Haiti, Cambodia, Tanzania and many more. “We cannot close ourselves off and ignore the fact that millions of people are out there suffering,” Angelina Jolie said, “I honestly want to help. I don't believe I feel differently from other people. I think we all want justice and equality, a chance for a life with meaning. All of us would like to believe that if we were in a bad situation someone would help us." Just like her, there are hundreds of celebrities who are associated with organizations to fight poverty, Aids, illiteracy and injustice. It seems every celebrity is involved in some charity work, and some like Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Aniston have their own foundations. In their position of wealth, power and popularity, they are totally engaged in the betterment of humanity by reducing poverty, illness, abuse, and conflict. 

Let’s look at the professional level. Doctors Without Borders is a well-known organization of doctors and nurses who volunteer their services in war zones and natural disaster areas. Just think of places recently hit by earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunami, drought and wars, these professionals have rendered great medical services in saving lives and avoiding catastrophic spread of diseases. This year (2011) was plagued with calamities everywhere, and, at times risking their own lives, these medical professionals were in Somalia, Japan, Haiti, Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, Bahrain, and Libya treating the most venerable.

At the local level, retirees are giving their experience, time and efforts to hospitals and other community services. In my own Baha’i community of Newmarket, spearheaded by Lisa Yazdani, many signed up to supply meals for one day at “In from the Cold,” a community service for the homeless; fifteen individuals, both adults and youth, volunteered to help. A few days before the event, the team bought enough food for 150 meals. Some showed up early in the morning to cook, and the cost of the food was funded by the Local Spiritual Assembly. At meal times, more volunteers arrived at the shelter to serve food. At the end of the day, about ninety guest showed up, one as young as 2 weeks and some in their sixties. The management was very impressed with the maturity, friendliness and politeness with which the service was provided by the youth. The experience was so rewarding this first time that the Baha’i community has signed up to do more such service activities in coming years.

Who says the sky is falling? Not according to the work of these noble souls that I have just mentioned. These deeds amount to very little compared to a massive philanthropic movement that is taking place and covers the globe like a comfort blanket. Individuals, organizations and businesses from all parts of the world have found in their hearts a place for the needy.  The spirit of service is well and alive. Like a deep and wide river, charity works continues, yet it does not get the headline attention. It also shows the power of spiritual attributes. These volunteers are compassionate, kind and generous. Their motives are only to help others, in whatever capacities they have. In my mind, they are doing many items from Baha’u’llah’s list of deeds given earlier. And all this work is part of God’s plan to build a paradise on Earth. Everyone is part of it.

Reflection

Do you do any volunteer work?

Deeds (path of service)

 Whoso ariseth, in this Day, to aid Our Cause, and summoneth to his assistance the hosts of a praiseworthy character and upright conduct, the influence flowing from such an action will, most certainly, be diffused throughout the whole world. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 287)

Theme: Philanthropic Deeds – Part II

If you ever wondered what deeds are acceptable in the sight of God, Baha’u’llah has given us a list of such actions to serve as a guideline.

If you did not get a chance to read part I of Philanthropic Deeds, the link is: http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/05/theme-philanthropic-deeds-part-i.html

Devotion

Now is the time for you to put forth your leaves, and yield your fruit. The fruits of the tree of man have ever been and are goodly deeds and a praiseworthy character. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 25)

Yet it behoveth the people of truth that the signs of humility should shine upon their faces, that the light of sanctity should radiate from their countenances, that they should walk upon the earth as though they were in the presence of God and distinguish themselves in their deeds from all the dwellers of the earth. (Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 59)

Deeper Learning

If you ever wondered what deeds are acceptable in the sight of God, Baha’u’llah has given us a list of such actions to serve as a guideline. This list is long and may seem too overwhelming to achieve in one lifetime. As a standard of deeds, it is advisable to read this passage many times. It is beautifully written and is as follows:

“Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility.” (Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 93)

I have read this passage many times throughout my life. At different times, different parts resonate with me. How about you?

Now let’s examine the next part: philanthropy. This action—an impulse generated from a deep concern for the welfare and advancement of humanity—is usually manifested by donation of money and property. To many philanthropists, it means devoting their time in activities to help the needy, poor and sick. They listen to the cry of suffering whether in places as close as home or remote corners of the world. In their heart, they find ways to respond. 

Since the dawn of Baha’u’llah’s revelation, acts of good deeds have flourished around the world beyond one’s wildest imagination. I don’t mean in the Baha’i world only, rather, there is a massive movement, as huge as the ocean, in which participants from all parts of the globe are forging forward to help their fellow humans.   

It is so overwhelming I don’t know where to start. Let us look at the top and go down. One such philanthropy is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I knew Bill in the early 80’s, not personally, but rather as a programmer who had used some of his very first software tools he developed. Over the next ten years, his company, Microsoft, grew from a start up to a mega multinational. The software that came from this company not only changed the computing world but transformed business and society alike. I am not so much impressed by Bill Gate’s technological ingenuity, as he never invented anything new, but for his business creativity in making his products so successful globally. As the CEO and founder of Microsoft, he was ranked as the wealthiest man from 1995 till 2011, except in 2008 when he was third. His worth has reached around 40 billion dollars. In 2008, Bill Gates announced that he was working full-time for the foundation, started by him and his wife. What has this foundation achieved? As of 2007, this organization, which is known for its transparency in how money is spent, gave about $28 billion in charity. It deployed funds in global problems that have been ignored by governments. What did they specifically do with this large sum of money? This list is long. Some of them are fighting polio around the world, improving health through nutritious crops, educating about the benefits of breast-feeding, and eradicating malaria. The projects are always global in scope.

What is clearly emerging is that more and more billionaires are joining the charity club. Warren Buffet, a friend of Bill Gates and a well-admired investor in the business world, had given about $20 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. When asked about enlisting others to this noble cause, Buffet said, “In most cases we had reason to believe that the people already had an interest in philanthropy. It was a very soft sell but 40 have signed up.” In this campaign, he was asking the US billionaires to give at least half of their wealth. Giving among the rich has become part of a trendy lifestyle these days.

Many politicians, after retiring from running for government offices, have used their experience, knowledge and connection to help the needy. One of them is Bill Clinton, former president of USA, who formed the Clinton Global Initiative. This organization is a community of leaders dedicated to building a sustainable world. According to its mission statement, “CGI is to inspire, connect, and empower a community of global leaders to forge solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.” In terms of real action, its members have made nearly 2,000 commitments in the fields of education, health and economy, to improve lives of 300 million people in more than 180 countries. If all is successful, the cost will exceed $63 billion.

Another politician turned philanthropist is Tony Blair, former prime minister of England. His organization, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, aims at promoting respect and understanding between major religions. He uses faith to unite diverse groups and remove extreme poverty in over 100 countries. 

In 1982, Jimmy Carter, shortly after leaving the president’s office of the United States, founded a not-for-profit organization named the Carter Center. His aim has always been, as a politician and a philanthropist, to promote human rights and reduce suffering. He has clearly heard the groaning of war over many decades in the Middle East, and thusly has taken many trips to that region to bring about peace, for which he has been awarded the Nobel Prize. Jimmy Carter is also known for improving health around the world. He is a key figure in Habitat For Humanity, a worldwide organization to bring about affordable homes.

Reflection

What do you think of Baha’u’llah’s list of deeds mentioned earlier? After reading about good deeds of many rich and famous, does this change your perception of humanity?

Deeds (path of service)

This morning before rushing out of the door to work, my wife wanted to this:

One righteous act is endowed with a potency that can so elevate the dust as to cause it to pass beyond the heaven of heavens. It can tear every bond asunder, and hath the power to restore the force that hath spent itself and vanished....(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 286)

When I read this pronouncement from a Messenger of God, I felt the urge to share it with the audience of this blog. It shows that we don’t have the slightest clue as to what our action has on the entire creation. There is more to this passage to be shared in the next blog. 

Theme: Philanthropic Deeds – Part I

One of the themes of many messages from Universal House of Justice is for us, the believers, to find our path of service, a way to engage to in building a neighborhood and become the catalyst of change in society. A similar divine guidance echoed through the words of Abdu'l-Baha, hundred years ago when he travelled in North America. He said: through Philanthropic deeds, one can obtain “merciful gifts and powers.”

A quick study shows that the human spirit of helping our brothers and sisters is alive and healthy. Look beyond the headlines and you will find a mighty river of generosity flowing towards the needy, poor and sick and filling their hearts with hope. It is happening in places close to home and in the far corners of the world.  The philanthropic movement is so vast and enduring that it boggles the minds of most pessimists. The wealthy, poor and educated are all part of this phenomenon.  Baha’is can connect with these like-minded citizens in building a new world order.

Devotion

The fruits of the tree of man have ever been and are goodly deeds and a praiseworthy character. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 25)

When asked by an American friend: "Which is the best way to spread the teaching?" he said: "By deeds. This way is open to all, and deeds are understood by all. Join yourselves to those who work for the poor, the weak and the unfortunate; this is greatly to be commended. To teach by words requires the skill of a wise physician. (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 98)

Deeper Learning

The carrying out of philanthropic deeds is the fourth way to obtain “merciful gifts and powers” in our awesome spiritual journey. Let’s start with deeds. What is a deed? It’s an act of doing something, like performing a task or achieving a goal in a measurable, concrete way. Through such actions, whether they are daily chores, service to others, work or whatever you may decide to do, your character is reflected through the deeds you perform. If you simply do or say nothing, no one will know, including yourself, your true capacities. When we do things well, it gives us confidence, stored in the psyche, thus becoming a treasure house of experience. More importantly, our deeds can serve as a measurement of our own capacities. And, if we fail, it is also considered a good thing, as it gives us opportunities to improve our skills. Just imagine a one-year old learning how to walk. At first the child may hold an adult’s hand or hang on-to furniture as she tries to walk. The moment of success is when she achieves balance and strength and is able to confidently stand on her own. Overall, following this same principal, this process is the only way to increase our own self-knowledge. Deeds do not happen in isolation; they are a part of a combination of other inner aspects of our being, three of which—knowledge, love and faith—we have dealt with in previous blog posts.

The next example illustrates this point. Let’s suppose you want to learn how to swim, which I did when I was forty years old. Let’s first assume that you are in good health with enough strength in your arms and legs to power your movement in water. You will also need love for water and an attraction to become a swimmer. Another important element is faith in yourself that you will be able to learn this new interest in your life. Armed with desire to learn something new, the next step would be to educate yourself, such as reading books on the subject and investigating possible venues and costs for swimming lessons. The crucial step is to get in the water, and ultimately there is no other way to begin to learn. The first time you jump into the pool, you will quickly realize that swimming is not easy. With practice and perseverance, you learn how to float, breath properly and move your arms and legs such that all work in concert propelling the body forward for a long period of time. In this simple example, knowledge, love, faith and action all come together and through them you create a successful experience in whatever you do.

Let’s look at another example. Terry Fox, a Canadian suffering from bone cancer, decided to embark upon a unique challenge. On April 12^th, 1980, he, after dipping his artificial foot into the Atlantic Ocean, started his “Marathon of Hope.” With one strong leg and the other, a prosthetic, limping along the way, his aim was to cross the vast continent of North America coast to coast in order to raise about twenty-four million dollars. On average, he walked about forty-eight kilometers a day. His brother, who accompanied him, could not believe how he managed. Terry was in constant pain, yet he kept moving forward. It was his spirit of hope and faith in finding the cure for cancer that kept him going. After 5373 kilometers, halfway across his journey, the cancer spread to his lungs, cutting short his life and his goal. His spirit, however, stayed forever.  Today, his heroic perseverance is commemorated through numerous awards, research grants, and an annual fund-raising run held in 60 countries in his name. His short life, filled with sacrifice, courage, and a good attitude was an inspiration to millions. With love for others and faith in himself, he started a journey of hope. Terry Fox recreated himself from being doomed to die, one month short of his twenty-third birthday, to becoming a vision of hope to others.

Terry Fox is a great example of how, when moved by the spirit, physical discomfort cannot prevent us from doing extraordinary things. Actions speak louder than words. In the Bahá’í Faith, idle talk is very much discouraged. Prayers and meditation alone are not enough to discover the true self; one has to put oneself in action. Bahá’u’lláh gives a stern warning about lack of action in one’s life with these words:

“The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds; he whose words exceed his deeds, know verily his death is better than his life.” (Báhá’u’lláh, Tablets of Báhá’u’lláh, p. 156)

In the Báhá’i Faith, deeds are elevated to a much higher purpose. One must not only help oneself and ones immediate family, but have a world consciousness. This means regarding humanity as a global family and taking responsibility for being a member of this family. In our planet of billions of people, our good deeds can extend to any continent, wherever there is a need. This openness is another great phenomena of the age we live in.

Reflection

Have you noticed that at younger age we are eager to try new things? But as we grow older the enthusiasm for new adventure diminishes. What are some of the obstacles? Could it be fear of failure or lack of skills? 
  

Deeds (path of service)

Since we are dealing with deeds, I skipped this section.

Previous post links are:

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/05/theme-philanthropic-deeds-part-i.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/04/theme-spirit-of-faith-part-iii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/04/theme-spirit-of-faith-part-ii.htmlhttp://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-spirit-of-faith-part-i_28.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-love-of-god-part-iii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-love-of-god-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-love-of-god-part-i.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-iii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-i.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-higher-spiritual-goals.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-cultivating-healthy-spiritual_24.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-cultivating-healthy-spiritual.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-spiritual-birth-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2012/07/theme-spiritual-birth-part-i-theme.html

Theme: Spirit of Faith – Part III

If you did not get a chance to read part I and part II of this theme, the links are:

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-spirit-of-faith-part-i_28.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/04/theme-spirit-of-faith-part-ii.html

How do we keep our faith strong and healthy? Read more…

 

Devotion

That which thou hast heard concerning Abraham, the Friend of the All-Merciful, is the truth, and no doubt is there about it. The Voice of God commanded Him to offer up Ishmael as a sacrifice, so that His steadfastness in the Faith of God and His detachment from all else but Him may be demonstrated unto men. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 75)

My sorrows are for those who have involved themselves in their corrupt passions, and claim to be associated with the Faith of God, the Gracious, the All-Praised. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 100)

Deeper Learning

How do we keep our faith strong and healthy? It has to do a lot with maintaining a relationship with God, and as you get closer to the Divine Presence the stronger the faith becomes. Focus and balance are two key elements. Think of a tightrope walker at a circus. He walks on a tensioned wire between two points. Using a balancing tool or freehand, he must maintain his body balance or else he could fall and get hurt. Without a safety net, the risk becomes even higher. One is allowed to perform in front of an audience only after exhibiting balance, strength and skill. Reaching the right level of excellence is only possible after many hours of practice. Confidence comes with discipline and perseverance. To acquire a high degree of faith, the skill of focus in one’s relationship with God is essential. Maintaining a balanced life is always a challenge as this material existence is filled with distractions that can lead one to barter God’s bounty for the benefits of this world.

Once a man was interested in the Baha’i Faith. To get a second opinion on this newly found religion, he approached a priest to whom he offered a few books on the Faith to read. The priest refused. The man was disturbed by his reaction. He really wanted to get an opinion from someone he trusted. When pressed for an answer from the one whom he had known and trusted for many decades, the clergyman said, “What if this religion is true? Son, being a priest is all I have known for most of my life. Changing religions means losing everything that I have—a profession. I am too old to start all over again.”

In 1899, it is reported that Abdu’l-Baha gave a commandment to the first western pilgrim as part of His parting address. He said:

“As ye have faith so shall your powers and blessings be. This is the balance -- this is the balance -- this is the balance.” (Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 4, p. 217)

If we do manage to hang on to our faith, the promise of God’s bounty is unimaginably wonderful according to Abdu'l-Baha. He said:

“Your Lord hath assuredly promised His servants who are firm and steadfast to render them victorious at all times, to exalt their word, propagate their power, diffuse their lights, strengthen their hearts, elevate their banners, assist their hosts, brighten their stars, increase the abundance of the showers of mercy upon them, and enable the brave lions to conquer.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 357)

The life of Martha Root is a living proof of every aspect of the Master’s words above. Martha Root was called the “lioness at the Threshold.” With all the powers unleashed in this Day of God, anyone can do extra-ordinary deeds. This is the age of fulfillment in which the poor shall inherit the earth, only if one should arise.

But the tests and difficulties that come in believing in the Revelation of Baha’u’llah should not be underestimated. In most cases, it is a humbling experience. In our awesome journey to paradise, tests and difficulties in successive turns will surely visit each one of us. In the Qur’an it is said: “Never will they attain (unto Divine bounty), except through severe trials.” For the people of faith, trials, tribulations, disasters, sorrow, pain and illness are all parts of the spiritual path of purification that the soul travels when drawing closer to God to ultimately attain His Presence.

If Baha’is don’t hang on to the cord of steadfastness, what is their loss? Paradise? No, bigger. Blissful abode. Baha’u’llah explains:

"Put away the cups of Paradise and all the life-giving waters they contain, for lo, the people of Baha have entered the blissful abode of the Divine Presence, and quaffed the wine of reunion, from the chalice of the beauty of their Lord, the All-Possessing, the Most High."  (H.M. Balyuzi, Baha'u'llah - The King of Glory, p. 171)

Reflection:

On the ladder of faith, what is the highest rung? I think it is certitude. What do you think?

Deeds (path of service)

Say: O people of God! Adorn your temples with the adornment of trustworthiness and piety. Help, then, your Lord with the hosts of goodly deeds and a praiseworthy character. We have forbidden you dissension and conflict in My Books, and My Scriptures, and My Scrolls, and My Tablets, and have wished thereby naught else save your exaltation and advancement. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 135)

In the last post we saw that fear of God is a motivating factor for good deeds and virtues. In this quotation, there is a connection between trustworthiness and deeds. More interestingly, we are asked to help our “Lord with the hosts of goodly deeds and a praiseworthy character.” Does spirit of faith has anything to do with your path of service?

Previous post links are:

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/04/theme-spirit-of-faith-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-spirit-of-faith-part-i_28.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-love-of-god-part-iii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-love-of-god-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-love-of-god-part-i.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-iii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-i.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-higher-spiritual-goals.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-cultivating-healthy-spiritual_24.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-cultivating-healthy-spiritual.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-spiritual-birth-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2012/07/theme-spiritual-birth-part-i-theme.html

Theme: Spirit of Faith – Part II

Combining love and faith brings about trust, which is very similar to what we experience as infants, but with one exception.

If you did not get a chance to read part I of Spirit of Faith, the link is: 

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-spirit-of-faith-part-i_28.html

Devotion

That the divers communions of the earth, and the manifold systems of religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of God and His Religion. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 13)

Do thou ponder on the penetrative influence of the Word of God. Every single one of these souls was first ordered to blaspheme and curse his faith, yet none was found to prefer his own will to the Will of God. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 75)

Deeper Learning

According to Abdu’l-Baha, “The first sign of faith is love.” (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 337). Combining love and faith brings about trust, which is very similar to what we experience as infants, but with one exception. In human relationships we deal with visible faces, but in a divine engagement we travel into the unknown. It is also true that whatever belief system we acquire we have to take responsibility for it. “For the faith of no man can be conditioned by anyone except himself.” (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 143) Our belief, regardless of whether it is truth or not, makes us accountable to every action we take.

Faith requires trust. To better understand the relationship between the two, let’s consider briefly the life of a blind person. Without vision, day-to-day life is full of risk. Without knowing what lies ahead, she could run into things, burn her hands on a stove, fall into a hole or eat the wrong food. Danger is always around the corner. She decides to get a dog to help her with daily activities. Just any dog wouldn’t do the job. One with proper training is needed, but she has to trust her new friend. With a seeing-eye dog, daily living becomes easier. With the help of a trusted friend, many blind people do tasks ordinary to others such as take public transportation, go to work and walk around town.

Spiritually, sometimes our inner vision is blurry. We are asked to do something, without knowing exactly where it will lead. In the Baha’i Faith, some take the journey into the unknown because of obedience to higher authorities, such as the Central Figures, the Guardian or the Universal House of Justice. Our history pages are filled with many inspirational stories in which heroic deeds were accomplished purely based on faith and knowledge. When individuals take the first step, divine assistance comes when needed. There are many accounts of great travel teachers and pioneers who selflessly moved around the world and martyrs who gave up their lives for the love of God.

One such example is the remarkable life of Martha Root. She was called the “archetype of Baha’i teachers” by the Guardian..” In 1909 she became a Baha’i and had two private interviews with Abdu’l-Baha during His visit to America and Canada. Fascinated by the simplicity and majesty of the Faith, this small-framed woman, from an ordinary family in Cambridgeboro, Pennsylvania, decided to discover the communities around the world of her newly-found religion. In 1915, she started her global journey, alone, with the hope of financing her travel as a journalist. She went to Egypt, India, Burma, Japan, Hawaii and finally back to the USA. She met Baha’is wherever possible. Her great regret was that she could not enter Haifa to visit the Master, as the region was engulfed in conflict during that time. In 1919, Martha Root decided to take another world voyage, this time fuelled by the idea that she had gems of Baha’u’llah’s message in her hand and she should share them with the world. In her many travels she reached millions through her newspaper articles and radio broadcasts. She met with common people as well as kings and queens, scholars and prominent leaders.  Among those whom she met was Queen Marie of Romania (who eventually became a Baha’i), and president of Czechoslovakia and Nobel-prize-winning poet Rabindranath Tagore. Was it easy? Not at all. She suffered from cancer, fatigue and apprehension of her limitations. She was not strong, rich nor attractive according to the standards of the time. Many times she was in great danger. Whenever she was downhearted, she read the counsels of Abdu’l-Baha and, more importantly, she prayed for greater capacity to serve more intelligently and lovingly. Traveling alone, Martha Root came across many men behaving badly, at times in challenging ways, yet she was careful not to become a barrier between any soul and the message of Baha’u’llah.

Regardless of what stage of growth you are at, faith can be at risk. Once you profess your belief in Baha’u’llah, there is no guarantee that you will not lose it. Perhaps you or someone you know has experienced this. Losing faith in God happens all the time. The challenge is that faith is tested over and over again. The closer you are to God, the harder faith is to hold on to. When faced with persecution by the Romans, the disciples of Jesus Christ started to lose their faith in their Savior. Mary Magdalene, the strongest of them all, saved them during this extreme time. In the Baha’i Faith, there have even been many covenant breakers who were defiant and disobeyed the Authorities. Many join the Faith with great enthusiasm and expectation, but when disappointment creeps in, slowly their steadfastness withers away. Why? In my opinion, trivial issues become more important than love of God. 

Reflection:

There is a connection between love and faith. Can you recall the first time you made that relationship?

Deeds (path of service)

We have admonished Our loved ones to fear God, a fear which is the fountain-head of all goodly deeds and virtues. It is the commander of the hosts of justice in the city of Baha. Happy the man that hath entered the shadow of its luminous standard, and laid fast hold thereon. He, verily, is of the Companions of the Crimson Ark, which hath been mentioned in the Qayyum-i-Asma. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 135)

Fear of God has been mentioned in scriptures of all religions. As indicated in this extracts, it could lead one to good deeds and pursuit of virtues. Our instinct is to run away from anything that cause fear in us. How do we reconcile these two opposite emotions.    

Previous post links are:

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-spirit-of-faith-part-i_28.html

 http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-love-of-god-part-iii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-love-of-god-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-love-of-god-part-i.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-iii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-i.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-higher-spiritual-goals.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-cultivating-healthy-spiritual_24.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-cultivating-healthy-spiritual.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-spiritual-birth-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2012/07/theme-spiritual-birth-part-i-theme.html

Theme: Spirit of Faith – Part I

Faith, like knowledge and love, is the foundation of human existence. Without it, life is not worth much. When we climb to the highest rung on the ladder of faith—faith in God—a metamorphosis takes place just like a caterpillar transforms into a beautiful monarch butterfly. But for the soul, hanging on to the cord of steadfastness is not easy. There is a steep penalty to pay in losing faith in God—in not reaching the “blissful abode.”  How do we manage this risk?

Devotion

That the divers communions of the earth, and the manifold systems of religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of God and His Religion. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 13)

The voice of the true Faith calleth aloud, at this moment, and saith: O people! Verily, the Day is come, and My Lord hath made Me to shine forth with a light whose splendor hath eclipsed the suns of utterance. Fear ye the Merciful, and be not of them that have gone astray." (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 29)

Deeper Learning

Regarding the spirit of faith, Abdu’l-Baha said:

“…the magnet of faith and service is the manifested loving power of the spirit of faith. It allows one to attract the divine virtues and to experience spiritual happiness. The key is a life of faith. We must endeavor to know ourselves, for within each of us lies mysteries of existence. Then, we can enter the Kingdom revealed and feel the healing warmth of the Sun of Reality.”

In this brief excerpt, there are many important points to consider. Two of them are attraction to divine virtues and spiritual happiness, both of which are themes that we’ll regularly visit as part of our series of presentations. The third is faith, the understanding and growth of which is of the highest importance as it is the path that leads us to virtues and happiness.

What is faith? If you ask several people, you will get many different answers depending on experience, age, belief and knowledge. Let’s go through some of the more common understandings of faith. There is no doubt that faith is the foundation of life–but as we go through the various ways of seeing faith, make sure to reflect on your own system of belief. Through it, self-knowledge will certainly grow, as promised in the previous quotations, and serve as a way to discover the mysteries enshrined within each of us. Faith is like a compass that guides a wise spiritual traveler on the path of self-discovery, and with every awesome insight that the soul receives it inches closer to paradise. 

Faith has many meanings and definitions.  And we’ll review four of them:

To some faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing. The earliest experience of trust in a human takes place during the first few days of life. The newborn immediately senses the love of the mother and starts to trust her. Have you noticed that in crisis—it could be pain, hunger or fear—where a newborn first turns for comfort? It’s always the mother’s arm and no one else. When faith in the mother grows, then the young one is able to trust others. This relationship is extended to others such as the father and siblings. When this faith does not exist, what happens? One becomes reclusive, shy and hopeless. Just like oxygen and water are essentials for physical existence, our emotional existence needs faith. Just imagine parents and children living with little or no faith among each other. This unit will surely collapse into a dysfunctional family. Lately in the world, since the summer of 2011we have seen fighting in the Middle East, protests in Europe and riots in England, the causes of all of them are attributed to lack of faith in our political leaders. Faith comes from knowledge and trust (a derivative of love), both of which are building blocks for proper functioning of an individual as well as families, society and the world. For example, would you allow a surgeon to give you a heart transplant when you know that he has botched up many other surgeries? Will a construction worker climb up a scaffold knowing that it is unsafe? Obviously, the answer to both is ”no.” Faith is fundamental for the survival of anyone whether she a toddle or the most brilliant scientist.

Another kind faith is in a code of ethics. This is common in businesses where a person or group that maintains certain behaviors and sense of integrity.

The third is a system of religious belief, such Baha’i Faith, Hindu Faith or Jewish Faith. Many belong to these religions without awareness of God. It is possible as I was one of them. In numerous cases, belonging to these organizations provide comfort, a sense of belonging or because their parents were of that faith.

The fourth kind of faith is a belief system that is not proof-based, for example, acceptance of a Creator, whom no one else has seen. This faith is born out of an intimate relationship between the soul and the Holy Spirit as discussed before. As it grows, so do ones inner powers. Let’s look deeper into this faith.

Reflection

Have you ever thought of what it is like to be truly happy? How happiness and faith tied together?

Deeds (path of service)

Strive thou, that haply thou mayest achieve a deed the fragrance of which shall never fade from the earth. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 115)

What that deed could be? Just “a deed” could leave an everlasting footprint in this material world. What a wonderful thought!!!

Post links are:

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-love-of-god-part-iii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-love-of-god-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-love-of-god-part-i.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-iii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-i.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-higher-spiritual-goals.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-cultivating-healthy-spiritual_24.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-cultivating-healthy-spiritual.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-spiritual-birth-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2012/07/theme-spiritual-birth-part-i-theme.html

Theme: Love of God – Part III

Love is the path to a life of bliss, after meeting with the beloved of the heart. But not everyone can reach this goal. Why?

If you did not get a chance to read part I and part II of this blog post, the links are:

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-love-of-god-part-i.html.

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-love-of-god-part-ii.html

Devotion

Should there be ignited in thy heart the burning brand of the love of God, thou wouldst seek neither rest nor composure, neither laughter nor repose, but wouldst hasten to scale the highest summits in the realms of divine nearness, sanctity, and beauty. (Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 14)

All the hatred, the rejection, the iniquity, and the unbelief that He witnesseth serve but to strengthen His love for God, to augment the yearning of His heart, to heighten the exultation of His soul, and to fill His breast with passionate devotion. (Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 56)

Deeper Learning

 Love has been given a lot of attention not only in religion.  It has been a well-studied and researched subject throughout history. Writers, philosophers, poets, scientists and educators have given much thought and time to exploring love and its many implications. Shakespeare, the renowned English playwright’s most famous romantic work was Romeo and Juliet, which celebrates the passion of two young lovers. In the East there is a similar love story called Laila and Majnun.  Countless novels, paintings and poems are dedicated to love. Somewhere in the plot of every Hollywood and Bollywood movies lies a love story. The Taj Mahal, a mausoleum renowned worldwide for its architectural magnificence and aesthetic beauty, built by Shah Jahan, an emperor of 17^th century India, symbolizes the everlasting love he had for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Millions visit it annually.

The following story is an example of love between a daughter and father. A man punished his three-year old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.” He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty. He yelled at her, “Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside of it?” The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, “Oh, Daddy it's not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy.” The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and begged her for forgiveness. He kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses. There is not a more precious possession anyone could have.

Human love comes in many shades. There is romantic love, love for your country and love for your religion. Love drives passion in us, but it can be blind. It can betray us and lead us onto a wayward path, leading to destruction. Worse of all, when love has gone wild it is an obstacle in the spiritual path. Love has led many to violence, disagreement and disunity. Passion is a good thing but it must be tempered with cool-mindedness.

What is the highest expression of love? In my opinion, it is sacrifice. It is an act of giving a prized possession for the sake of something that has a higher or more pressing claim. Religious rituals and traditions are filled with many examples of worshippers offering goods to God. In the Bible, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice His son, Isaac. Obedient to this divine request, the prophet traveled with his son for three days until he reached the spot that God directed Him towards. Just as Abraham was about to sacrifice His son, he was prevented by an angel: a ram appeared, which he sacrificed instead of his son.  

When Bahá’u’lláh, His family and followers were confined in prison in Akka, His son Mirza Mihdi used to pray on the roof, pacing back and forth as he chanted. One evening he was so immersed in prayer that he fell through the open skylight and was fatally wounded. In the face of death, his Father asked him if he would like to be cured of his injuries. However, Mirza Mihdi’s wished to sacrifice His life so that the authorities would allow the pilgrims, who travelled from afar to see Bahá’u’lláh, to attain their hearts desire. The death of Mirza Mihdi, also known as The Purest Branch, was regarded by Bahá'u'lláh as His own sacrifice.

A lover’s greatest desire is to sacrifice for his Beloved. When this yearning is fulfilled, the insistent self evaporates in the face of a higher Being. This is bliss. The love and sacrifice that the Manifestations of God demonstrate to their Creator are the best examples history can provide. The lives of Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Christ, Muhammad, the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh are all sterling examples of love and sacrifice. The Báb, Who was martyred in a public square in Iran, longed to shed His blood for His Beloved. He said:

"O Remnant of God, I am wholly sacrificed to Thee; I am content with curses in Thy way; I crave naught but to be slain in Thy love; and God the Supreme sufficeth as an Eternal Protection." (‘Abdu'l-Bahá, A Traveller's Narrative, p. 4)

It is my hope that this very brief presentation on the love of God will cause us to consider how this love influences our lives. In the next few blogs, we will discover how the love of God cannot exist in one’s heart without faith.

Reflection

The Bahá’i Faith aims to bring about the unity of mankind. The dynamic that exists between love and unity is worthy of exploration:  “The more love is expressed among mankind and the stronger the power of unity, the greater will be this reflection and revelation, for the greatest bestowal of God is love. Love is the source of all the bestowals of God. Until love takes possession of the heart no other divine bounty can be revealed in it.” (‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Baha’i World Faith – ‘Abdu'l-Bahá Section, p. 218)

Deeds (path of service)

Occupy thyself, during these fleeting days of thy life, with such deeds as will diffuse the fragrance of Divine good pleasure, and will be adorned with the ornament of His acceptance. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 76)

One of the good deeds that will meet the criteria of “Divine good please” is to help bring about the unity of mankind. I think love of God is the greatest tool in achieving this goal. What do you think?

Post links are:

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/03/theme-love-of-god-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-love-of-god-part-i.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-iii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/02/theme-knowledge-of-god-part-i.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-higher-spiritual-goals.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-cultivating-healthy-spiritual_24.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-cultivating-healthy-spiritual.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2013/01/theme-spiritual-birth-part-ii.html

http://3-d-project.blogspot.ca/2012/07/theme-spiritual-birth-part-i-theme.html