Hope everyone's enjoying the Fast! 

I have some questions that may seem silly, but, you know, I'm curious. And have a lot of time on my hands these days now that I'm always up before the sun. 

Question 1: For people who live in areas that are always dark, or always light, this time of year, what times do they fast by? 

Question 2: I live in the northern hemisphere, so the fast becomes a little longer with each day. My Baha'i friend who was recently staying with me said, "Well that's the point!" Is it? If it is, then my question is this: In the southern hemisphere, it would become shorter with each day. What happens there? 

Hi all. 

I'm in the process of gathering information so I can make a Will before I go international pioneering. 

I was wondering if anyone knows if there are specific things I need to include in my Will, other than burial instructions and payment of the Huqúqu'lláh. 

And jsyk, I'm single and live at home with my parents.

Much thanks.

I find myself in a bit of a delimma.  My wife and I seem to be at odds regarding the celebration or observation of Christmas.

We both became baha'is a couple of years ago. She was Christian, while I was an Atheist.  For me, once I left the Christian faith, Christmas ceased to be a big part of my life.  I would send my mother and grandparents a present, while other family and friends got a card, and that was pretty much it. However, for my wife, Christmas has always been a big part of her life.  She LOVES Christmas.

Shoghi Effendi instructs in his Directives from the Guardian
That being said, we are also encouraged to act in ways that minimize discord, and maximize unity.  So my question is "How do we balance these issues?" This is especially contentious regarding the giving of gifts.  I feel that simply saying thank you to those who give us gifts, apart from close family, is enough to express gratitude. We in turn give gifts during Ayyam-i-Ha.  My wife is more inclined to give gifts in return.   We have a newborn, and family members will be sending lots of gifts to her as she grows up.  How do we recognize the gifts given to her and the reason they are given, without celebrating the holiday, or offending those who do?

I want to settle these questions as soon as possible so it is not an issue as my daughter grows up. It is a struggle to balance the need to observe the laws of our faith and to resist the immense societal pressure to do otherwise, with the need to minimize tension and the potential hurt feelings of our friends and family, and most importantly, my wife.

Any suggestions? 

It is in the forest on the other side of the mountain from the Baha'i Holy Places, but it would be good to say some prayers for those affected by this. Amazing to see that even countries who have conflict with Israel are pitching in to help fight the blaze.

http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Article.aspx?id=197845

( Full text behind cut )

Today we had a meeting of the tutors and we were speaking of art and God. I got inspired and tried my first quilling project. I hope it turned out nicely, I am going to give it to a fellow bahai who is an extraordinary man. Do you think he will like it?

Have you tried to do any art which is related to bahai religion? I would be interested to see your work?

I'm in my last term of University, about to get my BA in Communication, and I'm trying to figure out my 'next step.' I' would ideally like to go do service, either serving at the World Center or pioneering in either China or Africa.

My question to you all is: do you know which has a greater need for people to come and be of service? 

I keep seeing "help wanted at the World Center" emails. At the same time, I keep hearing that pioneers are needed, especially in China and that if American believers want to pioneer, it should be in China (I've yet come across any writings that confirm what I hear about China).

Any suggestions/ tips/ comments/ etc. are welcome.

Thanks in advance!

What can be more beautiful than Peace? Even if year by year globalization is taking over the world where we are living, we still see many useless disputes and wars. Humanity has not learned yet from its mistakes.
'I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content.
Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.'
'Hear no evil, and see no evil, abase not thyself, neither sigh and weep. Speak no evil, that thou mayest not hear it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the faults of others that thine own faults may not appear great; and wish not the abasement of anyone, that thine own abasement be not exposed. Live then the days of thy life, that are less than a fleeting moment, with thy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied, thy thoughts pure, and thy nature sanctified, so that, free and content, thou mayest put away this mortal frame, and repair unto the mystic paradise and abide in the eternal kingdom for evermore.' Bahá’u’lláh

I have some friends who are really talented. And they made this great short film called Revival that I think that you should see. So many of my friends are in this little movie! I’ve embedded both parts here. Tell your friends about it!

Nineteen Months is an international collaborative photo blog using spirituality to inspire photographers and in turn, inspire others.

There are Nineteen Months in the Bádi calendar; the calendar of the Bahá’í Faith. There are 19 days in every month, and every month has a name. Those names are ‘names’ or attributes of God.  These names are also the monthly photographic themes of Nineteen Months.

Thus, every 19 days, a new selection of photographs appear on Nineteen Months. Since unity in diversity is one of the main principles in the Baha’i Faith, every photographer will inevitably have their own interpretation of the name of the month, and this will be evident in their submissions.

www.nineteenmonths.com/

You can also become a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Nineteen-Months/112919568722828

Some of my Baha'i friends are making a movie, which will be posted online in the next few months.

Teaser: http://www.revivalthemovie.com/

Forgot to post this here, but you really should check it out. Inspiring & amazing video!! www.bahai.org/arising

From the site:
"In October 2008, the Universal House of Justice announced 41 regional conferences to be held throughout the world over a period of four months. The response to the invitation was magnificent. Nearly 80,000 Bahá’ís and their friends from more than 170 countries attended.

This film is a unique historical and inspirational record of those precious moments when the participants gathered to share what they had learned in their community-building activities, to plan for the work ahead and to celebrate their achievements, arising to serve their fellow citizens of the world."

I just posted some random thoughts in my journal about missing people I haven't seen for years, and aching to have them back in my life again.

Things we wish for may or may not be good for us. What about these longings for long lost friends, for The Way We Were, and for The Way It Used To Be? I'd like to know what good others see in them, and your ideas about what to do with them.

Also, I'd like to read about people's experiences with renewing old friendships, and The Way We Were and the Way It Used to Be.

Hi,

I just found this group and you may all hate me but I'm about to shake things up a bit.

Just some general background:  I was raised Baha'i in central Wisconsin.  My adult life has led me on a wild journey as I search for the truth.  I've spent years investigating almost every faith out there.  Most of my time was actually checking out pagan faiths (no, not devil worship, most pagans don't even belive in the devil, it's suprisingly compatable with Baha'i beliefs).  I was inactive for near ten years.

Lately I've sort of been called back to the faith.  I found where I fit in the universe and found I didn't have deny my beliefs to be who I am and who I was meant to be, but there were some big reasons I left in the first place that I kind of have to reconcile.  I don't think I ever stopped being Baha'i.  When times are worst I still turn to the writings.  I never stopped beleiving in Baha'u'llah.  I never stopped seeing Abdul'baha in meditations and dreams.  When people ask about Baha'is I still say 'We' instead of 'they'.  So my heart and soul are telling me something.

My biggest problem is some of the interpretations on laws by the House.  I'm just going to say it.  I am completely and without a doubt pro-gay rights.  I have too many gay friends.  I can not look at a happy funtioning family and say they are going against God.  I can not see the light in their souls shining like a beacon and think there is something wrong with who they are or what thyey do.  I truly believe God made them the way that they are and I just can not believe that God would punish them for making them so.

The Kitabi-aqdas (sp?) says 'Boyism is strictly prohibited.'  Thats it. No where else that I have ever found does it say anythhing about homosexuality.  My own indipendant research revealed that the term Boyism refers to a practice where nobles would take a ten-14 year old boy as a lover.  That is pedifilia, not homosexuality.  It says nothing about the love between two adult men or two adult women.  So I disagree with the House's interpretation about that.

But to be an active Baha'i I pretty much state I follow where the House leads.  How do I reconcile that?  I've heard speeches about how we are spiritual beings not sexual beings and sex and marriage are about children.  Well then why does Baha'u'llah tell us that we need to find a mate that is both spiritually and physically attractive to us?  You might as well just condem all gays to a life of celebacy.

If you want to pull out progressive revelation and say well the bible says its bad, that's not true either.  At no time did Jesus, God, or any other messenger say anything at all about homosexuality.  The Paul that was Saul, speaking as a man and not a messenger was the only person in the entire bible to condem homosexuality.  So where is it?  Where does God or a vessel of his say without refute that 'Thou shalt not be Gay'?

I am a very spiritual person and I love the faith.  If you find it for me I will listen.  But until then how do I reconcile this and still be an active Baha'i?  Am I too doomed to solitary worship becuase I simply disagree?

If someone is considered a covenant breaker, is their whole family supposed to stop talking to them? 

Baha'i web project

Hey everyone out there. I'm working on a project for a site for Baha'i communities to post info about their community, calendar events, etc. You can see a sample of what I'm talking about here:

www.bahaicommunities.com/sample

This of course is just a sample page. There are about 25 communities that have been set up so far, and most are just getting started as this is a new site and they are figuring things out. There's a place to log in and add/edit info, events, pictures, etc.

Looking for some help (no tech skills required)

So I'm the developer of this site, and I'm also doing all the correspondence, setting up communities, answering questions, etc. Since there's a lot of time spent doing the logistical stuff, I have less time to work on adding new features to the site. There's still a lot more I'd like to add to the site. It's still in its very early stages of development.

So if anyone out there is interested in helping out, any help would be appreciated. Right now some of the stuff to do is:

• Create documentation so that people with basic computer skills can get started quickly and easily


• Setup new communities (through web admin, easy to use) and email people from these new communities, explaining the system (there's a template for that)


• Research other Baha'i community websites and add to this site's database: eventually I want it to be worldwide directory for local Baha'i communities everywhere, whether they are hosted at bahaicommunities.com or elsewhere.


• Help people out if they need assistance learning how to use the site

If anyone out there would like to help out, please send an email to bahaicommunities [AT] gmail [DOT] com or message me on livejournal.

Also, if you live in a community that could use this service, I can set it up from anyone. I only ask that any requests come from an LSA or ATC. So you can tell your LSA and they can email bahaicommunities [AT] gmail [DOT] com to request a profile or ask for more info.

Great example of a Baha'i in action!

 Does anybody feel that doing Ruhi just leaves them with something to be desired? 

I did a chunk of book 1 a while back and found that it didn't really encourage deep discussion. 

I mean, I remember something like, You shouldn't steal  : True or False. 
So yeah, the answer is supposed to be True. But how are you supposed to generate deep thought and discussion when you have all these questions with answers in little ticky boxes? If only our lives were as simple as the little ticky boxes!!!!!! What if you're Robin Hood and stealing to help the poor????!!! How about some real questions?! 

I discussed it with my mother at the time, who pointed out that the books are meant to reach a wide population -- including people with little education and people don't speak the language as their first. Also, it was meant to attract seekers. So while questions like "Is a Baha'i allowed to drink alcohol?" seems ridiculous to someone like me whose entire family has been Baha'i since their great-grandparents' generation, it's not to someone else. 

What I found most striking is there would be a passage such as: 

"To be a good person you must X, Y, and Z." 

And then a question like: "What must you do to be a good person?" Which is expecting an answer like "X, Y, and Z." When I was training to be a literacy tutor this was exactly the kind of thing they told us to avoid because it doesn't involve comprehension. Just being able to copy part of the passage. 

I find it frustrating because people will try to encourage me to do Ruhi and don't understand why I resist. I have a great deal (over 10 years) of experience with kids, and want to do Children's Classes and potentially Junior Youth. Of course before I do this, I'm expected to do the Ruhi books which I don't find to be an exciting prospect. 

What have your experiences been? 

Hello to all! I am new in this community. Going to get an MBA degree, but it is too expensive for me to go far away from home and pay
hundreds of thousand dollars for MBA dimploma, especially in today financial situation. But still would like to upgrade myself due to many reasons...
..thinkin' of online MBA.. What is your opinion? Is it still effective as a real one? And is it competitive an a job market? Thanks for any thoughts.

 I'm thinking I want to do a year of service in a place where French is the main language. 

Anybody know any Baha'i schools in French speaking places? Any French speaking schools? 

Thanks! 

The Indian Baha'i community has recently launched bahaihouseofworship.in, a site for the House of Worship in Delhi. Here are a couple of ways you can help this website:

1. If you have a blog or other web space, add a link to it. You can add a link that says Baha'i House of Worship in India or also Baha'i Lotus Temple in India. Your link can help the site get better search engine results and send more traffic there.

It's officially known as the House of Worship, but links with the words "Baha'i Lotus Temple in India" will probably help more with traffic. Everyone in India knows it as the Lotus Temple, and those keywords get more searches in Google. Also, it has almost no rankings for kewords "Baha'i Lotus Temple", so any help there would be great.

2. Mention it on Facebook or other social networking sites. If you're into StumbleUpon, give it a stumble. It's another opportunity to make people aware of the Faith.

Any help here would be much appreciated. Keep in mind that these kinds of links and exposure are helpful to other Baha'i sites too :)

Have you visited SoulPancake? If not, you should check it out. From the FAQ's:

What is Soul Pancake?

Well, it’s more of a mission than a Web site...

We want to make discussions about Spirituality, Creativity, and Philosophy cool again. Were they ever cool? I have no idea. But it seems like a good idea. We want to engage the user to “Chew on Life’s Big Questions”™. (I was kidding about the ™ symbol; you can use that phrase however you want. Even to sell frozen taquitos.) Where do you go on the Interwebs if you want an irreverent, fun, and profound take on God and Art and the Soul and Faith and Beauty? Fox.com? Maybe. But maybe also here at SoulPancake.com.

We provide some rockin’ content (interviews, blogs, challenges, contests, features, and more), but it’s really all about having YOU - the SoulPancake community - bring this site to life. Say what’s on your mind. Be real. Talk about WHY WE’RE HERE. And if I say something that offends you, let me have it.

Just remember: Life is a rich, weird, difficult experience. So join us as we go on the spiritual and artistic journey that is SoulPancake.

Why aren't Baha'is allowed to teach to Israelis? 

A little early for the UK, but I am going out to break the fast with friends.

Intro to a four-part documentary on Hand of the Cause of God, Enoch Olinga. This project is the culmination of literally decades of dedication and work by American Baha'i filmmaker Joyce Olinga.

I got this information via email (which I copy/pasted in here), so some of you guys may have seen this already. :)

Rainn Wilson on Oprah – Monday, March 9, 2009

 

As one of the better known Baha’is on the international scene, Rainn Wilson (who plays Dwight on The Office) has been letting people know the basics of this Faith whenever afforded the opportunity in the media — particularly mentioning the onenesses of God, religion and humanity.

Recently, as many are already aware, he wrote a commentary for CNN bringing awareness to the plight of the 7 Baha’i leaders who remain wrongfully incarcerated in Iran.

And now, he will be chatting with Oprah Winfrey on her “Soul Series” webcast. Some details of the upcoming interview, taken from

http://www.oprah.com/article/spirit/inspiration/pkgoprahssoulserieswebcast/20080915_oaf_oss_guest :

Rainn Wilson
Actor and creator of a website that aims to connect people and offer a place to discuss life’s big questions. 

Coming Up: March 9

Ayatollah Qorban-Ali Dorri-Najafabadi
Prosecutor General
Islamic Republic of Iran

Your Honor,

Your recent announcement regarding the administrative affairs of the Bahá’ís of Iran has
brought to the arena of public debate issues which not only affect the safety and livelihood of
the members of that community but also have profound implications for the future of every
citizen of that esteemed nation. The steps that have been taken to formulate the response of
the Iranian Bahá’í community to your announcement have surely been communicated to you.
The Yaran and the Khademin, the small groups that have been attending to the spiritual and
social needs of the several hundred thousand Bahá’ís of Iran, the former at the national level
and the latter at the local, have expressed their willingness to bring to a close their collective
functioning. This decision has been made for no other reason than to demonstrate yet again
the goodwill that the Bahá’ís have consistently shown to the government of the Islamic
Republic of Iran for the past thirty years.

Read the rest of the letter here: http://bic.org/areas-of-work/persecution/prosecutor-general-iran-en.pdf

It clearly explains the situation of the Baha'is in Iran and their intentions.

I hope this is allowed, if not, feel free to delete. I have just been introduced to the baha'i faith, I am very limited in knowledge of the baha'i but am incredibly interested in it and feel it is a religion I can actually incorporate into my life after being an agnostic for awhile. I was wondering what the best books were for "beginners" of the faith so to speak, and also i was wondering if there was somewhere where i could read about the practices or "events" of the faith such as the recent fast? I looked on bahai.org but couldnt seem to find it. Also, one question, I read somewhere that homosexuality is looked down upon? Is this correct? Thank you!

Very interesting timeline starting with the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

I enjoyed reading  lunaesia 's post about what happened at the Feast of 'Ala in her community. I hosted Feast this time as well (along with one of my children), and I'd like to share what I did - since people here seemed to really enjoy it. 

I printed up 1 sheet with 5 medium length selections from the Writings.  I made a mix CD containing 8 or so  Baha'i-themed songs that varied widely in genre and style, and that I was pretty sure no one else in the community had heard before, and I came up with a list of at least 10 songs that I know and/or could lead everyone in singing together. 

Then I printed up a page that said in large, colorful letters:

1. READ  or
2. SING  or 
3. PLAY CD  or
4. PRAY  or
5. PASS


The friends could choose to do any one of those things, and every option was chosen at least once by someone.  I've done something similar before (for devotionals where we go around the room twice at least) without printing up an options page, but then every time someone else came in late, I'd have to stop and explain again what the choices were. The printed page worked much better. Next time I will put at the top of the paper -  "Choose one".

I've also learned from the other times I've tried this:

1) No matter how many readings are on the piece of paper, the friends somehow feel that unless we've read them all, we are not "done", so 5 is a good number.

2) When given a choice, the friends here will sing twice as much as any other option, so I'd better be prepared to lead a LOT of songs.  I just write down the first line.  If I'm teaching something unfamiliar, I sing it at least 3 times in a row.

3) The mix CD makes a nice gift for a new Baha'i or any Baha'i that doesn't have a lot of Baha'i theme music.

I would love to have others try this and hear back how it works in your community, and if there is interest, I will post some tips here on songleading...for those of you that might not be very confident.  :o)

I also wanted to share with you something about the lovely Feast I went to last night. A representative from each family reached into a bag and pulled out a slip of paper. People could trade if they wanted to. Then each family (or individual, but there are a fair number of kids in this community) took a turn doing what it said on the paper. The papers said things like

Tell a story of one time you taught the Faith.
Chant a prayer.
Share your favorite story from Baha'i history.
Tell a funny Baha'i story.
Recite a Baha'i quotation you know from memory.
Say a prayer in a different language.
Share your favorite memory of the Baha'i community.

It was really lovely, and set the perfect mood for a joyful Feast!

Editor’s Note: Earlier today, Iran’s Prosecutor-General declared that the seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders have confessed to the charges brought against them. This blatant lie and utter misrepresentation is the latest in what is fast becoming a long line of dubious statements made by the Prosecutor-General. Meanwhile, the seven detained Baha’is continue to be deprived of due process and the opportunity to meet with their attorney.

Responding to the public outcry from western nations [against Iran] for the plight of seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders, Iran’s Prosecutor-General stated, “These individuals have accepted the charges [brought against them.]”

On Friday (27 February 2009), Qorban-Ali Dorri-Najafabadi, Iran’s Prosecutor General, labeled criticisms raised by the European Union and the United States as a “tired old” tactic, stating, “Despite the fact that these individuals have accepted the charges [brought against them], the West – including the United States – claims that Iran is bent on suppressing them by violating human rights laws.”
Source: Iran Press Watch

This is bad. Very, very bad.

Happy Ayyam-i-Ha everyone! I hope it's been a wonderful celebration for you so far. It's been great for me to date. Tomorrow our extended community is having a huge cookout/party. It looks like we might be getting some severe weather, but we're not going to let a little lightning and hail stop us! :)

I wanted to remind everyone of a great link to use while you're fasting. http://www.sunrisesunset.com can tell you local sunup and sundown times for your locality by month. I use this site every year to print out those times on a calendar and it is immensely useful. (For those of you who are html-savvy, it's also easy to go into the calendar source code and remove sunrise/sunset times from the non-fasting days.)

Good day Friends,

The Pittsburgh, PA LSA has initiated a new way to participate in collective efforts on behalf on the imprisoned Baha'i leaders in Iran: you can join Pittsburgh's prayer campaign by signing up online to say a prayer individually at a scheduled time of your choosing!

I invite you to participate in a prayer campaign, with the goal of bringing people of diverse Faith backgrounds together to pray for the safety of the 7 Bahá'í leaders in Iran who have been in prison since early 2008.

Please join us in prayer for the safety of these individuals and for the protection of religious freedom throughout the world. Visit http://www.mysignup .com/pray_ for_imprisoned_ bahais and pick a time when you can say a prayer, alone or with others.

Collectively, we will strive for a continuous stream of prayers on behalf of these friends. Thank you!

From http://iran.bahai.us/:
The trial of the seven leaders of the Baha’i Faith in Iran could take place as early as this Saturday, Sunday or Monday. They have been charged with spying for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic republic. These charges are unfounded and no evidence against them has been brought to light. The Baha’i leaders have been held for nearly a year in Evin prison, denied access to their attorney, the Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi.
( U.S. State Dept statement regarding persecution of religious minorities in Iran )

(Edited to reflect guidance about not disseminating publicly the letters from the NSA.)

If you are as puzzled, mystified, maybe horrified as I am about why the persecution of Iran's Baha'i community is never covered as news in the U.S., you can now ask a real, live news anchor tomorrow during the NPR Live Chat on How Iranians view Iran at noon EST tomorrow, Friday the 13th. I will be working, but I did ask my question on the comment section of the page. If you see it, please hit "recommend" at the bottom of my comment so it is more likely to be aired.

If anyone from this list does call in or listen, please report back afterwards for the benefit of those who can't listen live.

http://www.freedomforazizsamandari.org/

This site created by the family of a Baha'i currently detained by Iranian authorities.

Several years ago I ran across a website that provided audio recordings of native Persian pronunciation of Baha'i terms, notably "Baha'i" and "Baha'u'llah". I've since lost it...was wondering if anyone else has ever stumbled across such a site and if so, could you kindly provide the link? I thought maybe ljbahai had been the source which originally provided the information, but i went back a couple hundred posts and had no luck searching.

Thanks in advance...

Zia Mohajerjasbi, who does all of the music videos for Common Market and the groups on our label - did this video, in memory of Becky Murphy - a Bahai counselor for the NW region - who passed away suddenly a few months ago from a heart attack. She will be missed so much - but Zia does SUCH a good job of making us laugh and also reminding us how fun and loving she was.

Becky would LOVE this video and I am sure is laughing along with it....

You don't have to be a Baha'i to enter, just a person with a commitment to justice. The deadline is March 21st. So who wants to make a movie? :)

For guidelines, see:

http://www.youtube.com/group/bahaistudentsiran

 I pretty much know the Faith's position on homosexuality, I'm just wondering more about the administration side of it. 

If somebody is gay, the LSA or NSA can take their declaration card away? And therefor prohibit them from going to Feast, etc? 

Does anyone have a copy of this book, Stories about the Baha'i Funds? I'm looking for a particular story about someone who donated three eggs for the construction of one of the houses of worship. Can you help me?

Ever wondered about all the eight-pointed stars and other appearances of the number eight in the holy places? I have. I came across this and just had to share.

During my first visit to the Holy Land in 1952, Shoghi Effendi related to me that when 'Abdu'l-Bahá undertook construction of the original Shrine of the Báb in 1900-8, He wanted to have eight doors, but He could not achieve more than five. The Master's wish was finally fulfilled in 1929, when Shoghi Effendi added three rooms. Since the beginning of Shoghi Effendi's noble enterprise, when Mr. Maxwell brought to Rome his drawings of the superstructure and the photograph of the Shrine's model, I had observed that the number eight had a predominant part in the whole project. Without my asking the significance of that number in the structure and the surrounding grounds, Shoghi Effendi one day made reference to a verse of the Qur'án, which he first recited in Arabic and then in English: '... on that day eight shall bear up the throne of thy Lord'.[*] He then explained the sublime station of the Báb,[**] and how he guided Mr. Maxwell to incorporate the spiritual meaning of this Islamic prophecy in the project, to testify to His exalted station, to honour eternally the Martyr-Prophet enshrined in the Sepulchre, and to emphasize how closely the Báb's Revelation was connected with the expectations of the Islamic world. Shoghi Effendi further mentioned that 'Abdu'l-Bahá, on completing the initial six rooms, had named each of the five doors after one of the followers of the Faith, including those who had been associated with the construction of the Shrine, and that He always referred to the Shrine as the 'Throne of the Lord', and to the Casket of the Báb also as the 'Throne'. Even the Holy Dust was called by Him the 'Throne'.

* Sura LXIX, 'The Inevitable', verse 17, of Rodwell's translation. For Arberry's translation see last footnote * before p.97

** Rabb-i-A'la, literally: Lord the Most High.

(Ugo Giachery, Shoghi Effendi - Recollections)

Posting this with permission from sholeh. (thank you!)

I created a Baha'i group at gather.com and would like to invite you all to join our discussions.
Please visit http://bahai.gather.com ; it's free to join and as a bonus, the more you use the site, the more points you earn toward merchandise or gift cards!

Hope to see you there! If you join, let me know you're from LJ :)

I'm the only Baha'i in my family (including husband's family) and everyone else celebrates Christmas the traditional way with a tree and presents. Hubby's grandmother just asked me if we're getting our girls (2 years and 1 year) a Christmas tree. While I'm taking this opportunity to tell her about the Faith, I was curious as to what you all do around Christmastime.

Praveen
http://spraveenitpro.blogspot.com

Armed - Devon Gundry



This is a beautiful music video by my friend Devon Gundry.

www.devongundry.com

I thought for SURE I'd check ljbahai for updates during this momentous time and see everyone talking about the fact we are witnessing, FIRST HAND, Baha'u'llah's plan unfold. We are living in a time that the Ancient Prophets pine to witness. Am I the only one overwhelmingly touched by what is happening here? I mean, politics aside, we are quickly evolving into what God wants us to become...what we are destined to become. UNIFIED.

Spread the love you feel in your heart because love will conquer all :)

I'm an avid reader of poetry, and am looking for any Baha'i poets to hunt down. Either explicitly Baha'i-themed poetry or spiritual or "secular" poetry informed by the Baha'i principles would suit my purpose. Any language is okay, as long as I can find their work in English translation.

I've already read a fair bit of work by

Horace Holley
Michael Fitzgerald
Robert Hayden
Roger White
Tahirih (but new translations would be welcome, if they're out there)
Ruhiyyih Khanum

Excluding the Creative Word as a given, what is your favorite Baha'i-inspired poem?

I have just read in the UK Baha'i news about Betty.

She was one of the first Baha'is I met, and a great inspiration - full of energy, enthusiasm and love for the Faith.

I particularly remember a weekend course she ran at my Mother's home, when she not only organised and ran the sessions but also helped cook the meals at short notice! And the time she entertained some of us after a Convention in Scotland, when we had the honour of being served tea from her special teapot (it was used to serve tea to the first members of the Universal House of Justice when they were elected) and hearing the stories about her appointment and work as a Counsellor.