Twelfth Day day of Ridvan
On this May day in 1863 Baha'u'llah and his family and friends left the Garden of Ridvan in Baghdad, banished to the Ottoman capital of Istanbul (Constantinople).
One of the tablets Baha'u'llah wrote at this time was Nightingale of Separation. It is a lament at Baha'u'llah's parting and separation from the believers in Baghdad. Only a selected few could travel with him; the rest were instructed to stay in Baghdad or go elsewhere to teach the Faith.
The tablet begins with a poem of lament:
The bird of loyalty sings upon the tree of eternity
with the strains of this parting, you who are filled with yearning;As does the dove of the two seas upon the twigs of the lote-tree of separation--
that the departure is imminent, you who are filled with yearning.Say: the time of union has been fulfilled, and by virtue of the decree
that of absence has begun through this parting, you who are filled with yearning;Tears have flowed from the eyes of the immortals in the concourse
on high because of this farewell, you who are filled with yearning;The breezes of joy that blew from the paradise of splendor
have been stilled by this departure, you who are filled with yearning.By God, the faces of the celestial maidens in their chambers
have paled at the prospect of this absence, you who are filled with yearning;The houris rouge their cheeks blood red, for they have heard
about this leave-taking, you who are filled with yearning;And will never adorn their bodies with the silks of eternity
after learning of this departure, you who are filled with yearning:No sorrow shall ever compare to this grief in the realm of the unknowable essence,
for the wind of separation is blowing, you who are filled with yearning!
+++++++++++++++++Natalie Merchant - Last King of May
OR
"Farewell today
Travel on now
Be on Your way
Go safely there
And never worry never care
Beyond this day
Farewell tonight
To all joy and to all the life
Go on go peacefully
We can't keep Your Majesty
Be on Your way
Make way for the last King of May...And make your voices one...."
| Web Site: | www.tacomainvaders.com |
| Next Game: | Sat, May 8 vs Snohomish Co. Thunder |
| Last Game: | Win (26-6) May 1 vs Washington Caviliers |
Dear AllHad an opportunity to conduct a youth workshop themed "Earth is but one country" , it was designed to be fun filled /activity based/ creative/musical Learning experience and we are now planning to have it every month for our colleagues in various companies. We did the following activities :
- Ice Breaker games
- Study on Baha'i Quotations on Oneness
- Poster making to capture the learning
- Played Music on the theme.
- Discussion on the Faith.
- Celebrated Ridvan 12th Day!!
Please find some pictures below.
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'Abdu'l-Baha warns that reform cannot be achieved through the application of technical formulas. Advancements in public consciousness are necessary if these instruments are to be wielded effectively by the nation. "It is inconceivable that any nation should achieve prosperity and success unless this paramount, this fundamental concern [education] is carried forward." (SDC p. 109) And in another place:"The publication of high thoughts is the dynamic power in the arteries of life; it is the very soul of the world." (ibid) Forums for public discussion are of little use if they are not accompanied by a vigorous process of capacity-building among those destined to use them. Baha'is were involved in this process then. And Baha'is are involved in it now.
http://www.bahai.us/2010_ConventionThe National Convention will continue through May 2 and is the continuation of a process that began last October when Baha’is at Unit Conventions throughout the nation elected delegates.
Related items:
- Listen to 2008 Chicago Public Radio story on Baha'i elections
- Read stories about previous National Conventions and Baha'i elections: http://www.bahai.us/elections
- Following the proceedings on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BahaiUS and Twitter: www.twitter.com/BahaiUS
- Members of the American Baha'i community can logon to http://natcon2010.usbnc.org/ for more details
- Watch the following video on the Baha'i election process, which includes no campaigning, no nominations and no electioneering:
LisaMarie Chilcote Miller on Facebook: 2 Childrens Classes, 1 Jr Youth Class, a Study Circle, and a Devotional --- a beautiful way to off-set the 12 broken up fights- 3 lost kid searches- 2 school lock-downs a jumped Son and a kicked-in back Door - IT IS ONE TRIBE
the school said that in the past decade 946 students have graduated from Nations 6th Form College. They have written a total of 2,468 Cambridge University Advanced Level examinations with a pass rate of 74.8% and with 18.6% of all the examinations written were given an ‘A’ or ‘B’ grade by Cambridge. Several students have gone on to universities in North America and Europe and many have now completed their Masters and PHD degrees.
O’Toole said service has been the high priority of Nations since it started, recalling that in the early years the children did service projects such as working along with senior citizens’ homes and with children who are differently-abled. He said the move to the Tiger Bay area seemed ideal because they realized the impact they could have on the children through new programmes.
O’Toole revealed that he was advised against moving to Tiger Bay because “people said it is dangerous.” Though a bit concerned he decided to make the move. According to him, some of the views on the area were based on prejudices from many years ago.
Currently, the school is targeting two groups: children under 11 years and children between the ages of 11 and 14 years. Significantly, he said the mothers from Tiger Bay have been very involved in the project, showing up regularly every week and in the case of one batch, every two weeks to follow up on the progress of their children and to discuss the critical supporting roles they play in the programme.
I am white, my husband is black and we have children so we aren't "just friends". People could still hate that, but now days they rarely stare and never spit openly. I used to be a Christian, but now I'm a Baha'i. People have warned me I will burn in Hell for this one. Even so they will still smile. They just avoid eye contact so I won't steal their souls. But what most people really hate is that I am a mime.
Sharon Nesbit-Davis is Education/Outreach Director of the Rockford Area Arts Council. -gw
Today saw the release of the U.S. Commission on International
Religious Freedom’s Eleventh Annual Report on Religious Freedom in the
WorldThe report includes this chilling assessment:"..... In early 2008, the Iranian parliament began considering a new law that would impose serious punishments, including the death penalty, on converts from Islam. In September 2008, a committee in the Majlis approved advancing the amended language on apostasy, which could be passed by the full Majlis in the near future. Although the Iranian government has in the past applied the death penalty for apostasy under Islamic law, it has not been explicitly codified. If the proposed law is passed, it would further endanger the lives of all converts from Islam, particularly members of the Baha’i faith, who are already considered apostates, even if they are fourth- or fifth-generation Baha’i adherents."
The full report is here: http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3051&Itemid=1
From: Northwest BahaiLibrary
Ninth Day of Ridvan (April 29) A Family Reunited!
Is the day when Baha’u’llah’s family joined him at the Najibiyyih
Garden, Baghdad (Garden of Ridvan).
"For twelve days Bahá'u'lláh stayed in the Garden, and would be found
each day in the utmost joy, walking majestically in the flower-lined
avenues and amongst the trees. The friends living in Baghdad would
come during the day and return home each night, whilst others would be
engaged in service to those in the Garden.Eminent rulers, clergy and jurists would come continuously to
Bahá'u'lláh's tent with their insoluble problems, and take their leave
satisfied with their dilemmas entirely solved."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++Natalie Merchant - Wonder (This Child will be Gifted) Doctors have come
From distant cities
Just to see Me...They say I must be one of the Wonders,
God's own creation,
And as far as they see they can offer
No explanation....Newspapers ask
Intimate questions,
What confessions;
They reach into My head
To steal the Glory
Of My story......
I know that religion was never meant to cause segregation. And it has, right here in this little state of Utah. There is much segregation, prejudice and dis-unity due to the Mormon church. My beliefs differ in that I believe there is One God - yet many different paths to him. I believe that we are in the New World Order and that there is a process of a new civilation being built. I believe that Science and Religion can absolutely be in harmony with another. I don't believe we need the use of priesthood or bishops anymore...I feel that served it purpose for a time, but we no longer NEED it as we did before. Humanity is ever advancing, and at times people become too attached to the customs and rituals of the past thinking it is the only way.
Dear Friends: How often did the Beloved Master express the hope that the hearts of the believers would overflow with love for one another, that they would abide no lines of separation but would regard all of humanity as one family. "See ye no strangers," is His exhortation; "rather see all men as friends, for love and unity come hard when ye fix your gaze on otherness."
