Clethass (1009)
unity (50)
funny (43)
Shafeek (18)
Ardavan (16)
PariGol (14)
afnan (12)
jamal9 (12)Blogs
Family opens its home to spiritual unity
By NIYAZ PIRANI
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Story Highlights
The Yazdi family, of Mission Viejo, hosts devotional gatherings as part of its Baha'i faith.
MISSION VIEJO - Heads down and eyes closed, the people gathered in the Yazdi family living room are listening intently.
"These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of thy glad-tidings," a woman reads from a small prayer book. "Oh, God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees, even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious."
Shiva Yazdi, left, hugs Seena Taravati, 14, and makes his mom Sasha cry when Yazdi tells the youngster he'll be successful at anything he does. Yazdi holds a monthly devotional in her Mission Viejo. The Bah' followers are accepting of all religions.
Baha'i prayer
Blessed is the spot, and the house
And the place, and the city
And the heart, and the mountain
And the refuge, and the cave
And the valley, and the land
And the sea, and the island
And the meadow where mention
Of God hath been made,
And His praise glorified.
-Baha'u'llah
They've come together to pray – to Jesus, to Allah, to Vishnu – and regardless of the doctrine of their personal faiths, all are connected by the unity taught in Baha'i – a 160-year-old Persian religion that focuses on the acceptance of all beliefs.
The Baha'i faith, Badi Yazdi explained, is built on the idea that religion is progressive. The messengers of other religions are manifestations of God, according to Baha'i beliefs, that were meant to bring spirituality to the people of their time.
The Baha'i message was revealed, Badi Yazdi said, because religions that are thousands of years old are difficult to adapt to modern life.
In that vein, the Baha'i message, brought by founder Baha'u'llah, teaches spiritual unity because that is what the world needs now, Badi Yazdi said. Baha'is see their religion as an extension of other faiths, he said, and believe that new religions may come after theirs.
With unity in mind, the Yazdi family – mother Shiva, father Badi, daughter Jenny and son Kevin – have welcomed friends and acquaintances into their Stoneridge home to foster an environment where religions coexist instead of clash.
"We see on the news how much hatred there is between all the different sects and religions and nationalities," Badi Yazdi said. "We thought, if we leave it like that, it's going to get worse."
"There are going to be some people that should take action," he added. "If I don't do it, if 10 of us, 15 of us, don't do it – who's going to do it?"
The Yazdi family took action, inviting Baha'is, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Jews and nonbelievers into a prayer group in their home.
Travis Williams, a Las Flores resident who was raised Baha'i, started attending the monthly gathering six months ago.
"Regardless of your faith, I think just coming together to pray, there's a spirit that's created and uplifts anybody," he said. "You can be at home and pray on your own, but in a group environment there is greater energy. You give something, and you get something at the same time."
On a recent Saturday, Mission Viejo resident Steve Montour – a neighbor of the Yazdis – attended the gathering with his wife, Sheryl, and their 1-year-old daughter, Megan.
Montour, whose father was Christian and mother Buddhist, said experiences in his life have made him inactive in organized religion.
He chose to attend the meeting because of the Yazdis' hospitality, and a desire to expose his daughter to all walks of life.
"I don't want her to go through life without realizing there are different faiths and spiritualities," he said. "I want her to develop her own opinions; I don't want to force her into anything."
Montour said the invitation came at a good time, allowing him and his wife to reconnect with their personal beliefs in an open environment.
"It wasn't uncomfortable in any way," he said. "The format – where you can just sit and listen if you want – I thought it was very inviting and welcoming. I didn't feel like I was an outsider."
Montour's feelings are what Shiva Yazdi hoped for.
"My goal is to bring people together ... not to bring people to the Baha'i faith," she said. "They can investigate on their own, but I want to turn on the light in people's hearts so they can see the beauty in other people's cultures and religions."
Today nothing but the power of the Word of God which encompasses the realities of things can bring the thoughts, minds, hearts and spirits under the shade of one Tree. He is the potent in all things, the vivifier of souls, the preserver and the controller of the world of mankind. Praise be to God, in this day the light of the Word of God has shone forth upon all regions; and from all sects, communities, nations, tribes, peoples, religions and denominations, souls have gathered together under the shadow of the Word of Oneness, and have in the utmost fellowship united and harmonized!
Abdu'l-Baha
Foundations of World Unity, p. 10
Praise, thanks in wake of Baha’i Center fire
Posted by britta on December 31, 2009 at 2:06 am
The American Baha’i for January and February had an article inside of it about the Orlando Baha’i Center and I wanted to post it sort of as a ‘follow up’ to my earlier posts about the fire:
“With prayer, drumming and song, Baha’is in Orlando, Florida, celebrated the Anniversary of the Birth of Baha’u'llah the evening of Nov. 11.
But where their beloved Baha’i Center once stood was a tent erected by the Orlando Spiritual Assembly.
The Center, a community fixture since 1974, was destroyed in a series of fires that began early Oct. 25.
A homeless man had been arrested on three counts of second-degree arson in connection with the fires.
Praise and thanks were uppermost in mind, however, as about 60 people gathered Nov. 11 to observe the Holy Day.
Praise to God for giving humanity Baha’u'llah. Thanks for the firefighters’ efforts to save the Center.
Thanks, too, for the even greater unity enjoyed by area Baha’is since the Center burned.
“it’s brought people together,” an Orlando Sentinel article on the celebration quoted Kelsey Vargas, the Assembly’s corresponding secretary, as saying. “You become stronger.”
Two people made immediate inquiries about the Faith after viewing news coverage of the fires, according to the National Teaching Office.
One seeker said she was “so impressed by how the Baha’i responded in the news about this terrible event. She seemed so calm and grateful.” The woman said she and her husband went online to learn more about the Faith and she immediately identified with it’s teachings. “I have believed these things all my life, and I had no idea there were others who believed like I do,” she related. “I want to attend some activities in my area.”
The Assembly’s main goal in response to the fire, Vargas told The Assembly’s main goal in response to the fire, Vargas told The American Baha’i, was to “just help the friends feel comforted and united.”
Just as important, she said, the Assembly wants the friends to know “that the physical structure burning down is in no way going to impede our teaching. It can only help us feel more engaged and charged up.”"
Consort with all men ... in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship ... A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men.
Baha'u'llah
Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 289
Banderan becomes gov of Kiwanis Texas-Oklahoma District
www.bccourier.com 2009-10-15
William M. Bishop, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Bandera County, was installed as governor of the Texas-Oklahoma District Kiwanis International on Thursday, Oct. 1. He will serve until 30 September 2010.
Bishop joined Kiwanis in 1990 in Derby, Kansas, where he lived while working for the Boeing Company. He and his wife Ann Gay moved to the Bandera area in 2002 where he joined the Kiwanis Club of Bandera County. He has served as president, secretary, treasurer and director of the club. In addition, he was a lieutenant governor of the Texas-Oklahoma District in 2004-2005.
After arriving in the area, the Bishops quickly became a part of the Bandera community. Bill Bishop served as co-chairman of Celebrate Bandera in 2005 and 2006 and as president of the Bandera Community Foundation in 2007. Ann Gay Bishop recently retired as executive director of the Silver Sage Corral Senior Activity Center. Both he and his wife remain active in the community. Bishop is a retired officer in the United States Air Force.
“Governor Bill” – as he is referred to in the Kiwanis world – noted, “We must all work together to make our community and our world a better place to live. There are several other community service organizations in Bandera and all work for the common good. I am committed to making sure Kiwanis does its share.”
As a Baha’i, he said his favorite Baha’i quotation is “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizen.”
Today nothing but the power of the Word of God which encompasses the realities of things can bring the thoughts, the minds, the hearts and the spirits under the shade of one Tree. He is the potent in all things, the vivifier of souls, the preserver and the controller of the world of mankind. Praise be to God, in this day the light of the Word of God has shone forth upon all regions, and from all sects, communities, nations, tribes, peoples, religions and denominations, souls have gathered under the shadow of the Word of Oneness and have in the most intimate fellowship united and harmonized!
Abdu'l-Baha
Divine Philosophy, p. 184
3. THƯỢNG ĐẾ L ĐẤNG ĐẠI LƯƠNG Y ĐẦY LNG TỪ BI, NGI L
Koijam Ahenleima
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009
The English has an unusual cadence to it. I don't recognize the place names mentioned in the article. Kangla, Manipur. I go to Google maps. Aha, the story is out of India, but the extreme eastern portion, on the other side of Bangladesh, close to the Myanmar border. -gw
"Along with academic education, the education to help one become successful, spiritual or moral education should also be imparted. Our present leadership is a failure, in my opinion, due to absence of spiritual education. I think if the young students take out time to inculcate spiritual education along with the academic education, we will have a more focused generation of youths.”
These are words coming from Koijam Ahenleima. She is studying in class XI at Herbert School, Changangei. Ahenleima is going to represent Manipur at the 51st session of the CSW – Commission on Status of Women at the United Nations which will be held from February 26th to March 9th. Among other things, Ahenleima is going to make a presentation on elimination of discrimination on the girl child with special reference to Manipur.
“The Baha’i International Community through the national spiritual assembly of the Baha’i faith recommended my name to represent the adolescent of India at UN. Luckily for me, I was selected,” said the soft-spoken Ahenleima.
When many of her counterparts are enjoying the best part of their teenager days, Ahenleima takes spiritual classes for children every Sunday for one to two hours. She has been taking these classes since she was in class eight! She said, “I take spiritual classes for students between 5 to 12 years. These children are collectively termed as Baha’i children. I had taken classes of 34 Baha’i children and at present there are 12 students under me. These classes are community-based.”
It is hard to believe when a sixteen years old girl talks about spiritualism instead of clothes, movies, music, and guys. What made her so strongly inclined to an ism at such a tender age which many fail to understand even at ripe age? She said that her parents’ belief in the Baha’i faith attuned her towards spiritualism along with her regular studies from a very young age.
Reflecting on the recent cases of crime against children in the state, Ahenleima said, “There is no saying that what happened to other children will not happen to me. Manipur has become very unsafe for us.” On being asked if criminal activities would reduced if the people are given spiritual education, she said that even if a person is given in-depth spiritual education if that education is not applied crime will not come down.
Lamenting the absence of facilities for children in Manipur, Ahenleima said, “To my knowledge, at present, there is nothing for children in Manipur – whether books, comics, or movies.” She said that the people, especially the grown ups seem to have forgotten that there are children too in this society.
Her hobbies include reading and singing. Apart from the Baha’i faith books, she reads Charles Dickens’ short stories and other novels. “But I enjoy spending time with children the most,” said Ahenleima. Speaking about her aim, she said she wants to excel in the field of homeopathy.
Born on 27th February 1991 to Dr Koijam Tomba and Koijam Sanatombi, Ahenleima is the second child among five siblings. Though she takes spiritual classes and talk about youth power, Ahenleima revealed a side that is hardly known. She said, “As a child I used to be very naughty. My friends comprised my younger brother’s friends since we grew up together. I grew up climbing trees and catching dragon-flies running among the tall grasses which adults used to stay away from fear of snakes.”
What can the youths and the adolescents do to change the society? “Lots, but nothing can be done overnight,” said Ahenleima. She said that the children as well as adolescents can work on preparing a good foundation so that “when we reach an age where we can have access to power, we will have the ability to remember their mistakes and not to repeat them. We should strive to become role models for the next generation and not a subject of ridicule.”
She said that if children can imbibe the best of academic and spiritual education, they can surprise the elders by giving meaningful suggestions in decision making. Ahenleima emphatically observed, “Youths’ energy is very powerful. We can start by giving an impact from now on to enable a better society.”
http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?
Love is a light of guidance in the dark night! Love is a bond between the Creator and the creature in the inner world! Love is the cause of development to every enlightened man! Love is the greatest law in this vast universe of God! Love is the one law which causeth and controlleth order among the existing atoms! Love is the universal magnetic power between the planets and stars shining in the lofty firmament! Love is the cause of unfoldment to a searching mind, of the secrets deposited in the universe by the Infinite! Love is the spirit of life in the bountiful body of the world! Love is the cause of the civilization of nations in this mortal world! Love is the highest honor to every righteous nation!
Abdu'l-Baha
Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v3, p. 524
