On An Appreciation of Iranian Culture: The View from Mumbai (with Recollections of State College)

"The ancient feast of "Naw-Ruz". Naw-Ruz is celebrated in Iran and related cultures, but also by Bahá'is all over the world.This is our "Haft cin". It is a tradition to put up 7 things that start with a "c" (in Persian, like hyacinths, vinegar, coins and apples among others) for good fortune as well as other symbolic things (eggs, fish, mirror)." Uploaded on March 20, 2005 by NataschaM on flickr

In her personal reflection, Moi offers a look at Iran from the perspective of the Indian subcontinent. To her, Iran is more than fanatic mullahs. -gw

"Evening in the city [of Mumbai]"
Uploaded on August 12, 2005 by Tan.Sid on flickr

In India, Iran has been a strong influence on popular culture for centuries. In that perspective, the Islamic Revolution seems like a hiccup, or possibly a bad cold. For me, and for many of my compatriots, I'm sure, Iran is far more than fanatic mullahs (although there are unfortunately many of those at the helm there). Iranian classical and folk traditions have heavily influenced Indian ones, especially in painting, poetry, music, and architecture. Iran in the popular Indian imagination is not an Islamic pilgrimage site (unlike Najaf / Karbala in Iraq, or Mecca / Madina in Saudi Arabia), but rather a country of orchards and high culture.

"Sweet and tasty"

Uploaded on October 24, 2006

by isa13 on flickr

Together with Afghanistan, Iran was famous in the India of my grandmother's generation for figs, raisins, nuts, apples, berries, etc. Itinerant vendors sold the dried fruit and nuts from door to door. As a child, I imagined Iran to be a bit like Kashmir before terrorism (beautiful and rich land that yielded exotic things like saffron, walnuts and chestnuts; beautiful people; snow in the mountains; and exquisite art). Looking back now, I don't think I was far off the mark, although Kashmiri cities today are far less developed than Iranian ones (Kashmir being a less peaceful place than Iran). A substantial portion of most modern Indian languages consists of Farsi words (and it's not because of writing alone -- I include my own language, which has no script). These are words for ordinary things like salt and sugar, not just arcane literary or architectural forms.

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"This piece which is definately persian of a Zoroastrian tradition

is very similar in many regards to the type of art done in India"
Uploaded on May 10, 2006 by mykgerard on flickr

I think this strong and rich cultural relationship between Iran and the Indian subcontinent may be in part what has kept Indians from becoming ideologically opposed to Iran in these days of popular anti-Islamic sentiment. Remarkable, because India is home to two persecuted Iranian religious minorities -- Zoroastrians and Baha'is. ...

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"Old Main, Penn State"

Uploaded on March 4, 2007
by sokref1 on flickr

Thanks to my Iranian roommate of two years in State College, at one point I knew just about every Iranian in State College -- Shi'a, Sunni, and Baha'i. Most of them were very attached to Iranian culture, loved science, had a terrific sense of fun. My roommate herself was quite batty about volleyball. She and the other women all loved beautiful clothes (western style).

Moi, "More Than Mullahs," Misanthrope ...parce qu'en général l'enfant comme l'homme, et l'homme comme l'enfant aime mieux s'amuser que s'instruire -- Diderot (Le neveu de Rameau, c. 1761)

{Reposted with permission}

On Baha'i Blogger News from Central America: One Fast Update

Here is one fast update from Central America. -gw

The Bahá'í House of Worship in Panama City, Panama. Baha'i Media Bank
I love the period of the Baha'i Fast! It's a great time to think about spiritual matters and reflect on why we are making this effort to purify ourselves, physically and spiritually.
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Jere, "No Posts? It's Fasting Time!" BumpaStuff

it's really hot. we had some fires at the temple property, and no water for a week, but we have water now, just not enough to do laundry. we're in the middle of the baha'i fast, and also in the middle of the height of summer, but it's going pretty well. as to be expected, the thirst is the hardest part.
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Elahe, "fast," Elahe in Panama: My adventures during my year of service in Panama

On Visiting the Baha'i House of Worship: May the power of positive energy be with all of us

The Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, is an energy-restorer for those who, like slackerQueen below and Ashley, are privileged to be able to be physically present in this remarkable edifice. -gw

I was energetically assaulted earlier today. This man walked into my office and stood brooding in front of my desk, ... because he had received a 24-hour notice about his rent, when he had actually mailed it in and it just never showed up. Long story short, as i was handling some business on a phone call, i barely looked up at him when i felt daggers of his negative energy impaled into me. It actually physically hurt! I fully understand it was not personal, nor intentional, but this guy had no idea what his thoughts were doing to me. I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my gut that lasted until just about 15 minutes ago. I had to actually leave the office in order to escape this lingering attack.

I can't believe how incredibly sensitive and in tune I've become with the world around me. I guess I've always been this way, only it's becoming more and more apparent after studying energy psychiatry recently. I'm reading Positive Energy, which is so on point it makes me wonder where I've been all this time. Then i started watching this movie The Secret last night, which apparently my brother has been telling me about for the past 3 months but I apparently haven't been paying any attention. Then my friend Mike burned the DVD for me, and i haven't gotten through the whole thing yet, but i fully understand already what the message is. ... I am so blown away by how true this all is and how important it is in life altogether. It's not just a concept or phenomenon, ENERGY IS REAL. It's the only thing that is real.

Baha'i Media Bank

Last week i went to the Baha'i Temple, which i haven't been able to do in a while since i don't have a car, but that's all changed now since I've signed up with i-Go Cars- but i digress. I went up to the Temple and got there around 6:00 after having had one of the most hectic weeks thus far. There were only about 1 or 2 people inside and only a few others came and went as i was sitting there meditating. After about an hour, i looked up and noticed that i was the only person in this massive temple. So i went and sat right in the center and looked up at the skylight, which is like 10 stories high and felt like i was in the center of the universe. It was so incredibly quiet and peaceful and when i returned home later that night i felt a renewed sense of inner strength that wasn't with me when i arrived. There are only 8 Houses of Worship in the world, and this being the only one on the North American continent, so you can imagine how incredibly lucky I felt to have this place all to myself, even if for just a moment. I'm going again tonight and I think I'm going to make this a weekly ritual. I always feel so much better once i leave this place, and i need to have somewhere to retreat when my energy is feeling diminished. Given the fact that this is non-denominational, non-traditional and open to everyone of all faiths and religions, i feel kind of like i belong without actually associating with a particular set of beliefs.

Thoughts are energy, and they affect our daily lives more than we know it. May the power of positive energy be with all of us.

Kelly, "Energy," slackerQueen on MySpace

About me: Chicago-American born into the Royal family of Poverty/Spoon-fed the thrill of living lies/Descendant of middle-class thieves and truth on the rise/Queen of all not seen by the eyes/raised in the center of the Universe/to think like the Sun/remembering my memory doesn't have one/living on the edge of tomorrow and somewhere/blurred like the peripheries of imagination's hemisphere/memory shot blank/tough like an army tank/caught beneath bridges while going through tunnels/I come from somewhere nine galaxies away...

slackerQueen, "Profile," MySpace
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{Re-posted with permission}

On Baha'i Blogs: Bahainine.com Update

It's no secret. Baha'i blogs have taken off. For the latest on the Baha'i Blogs Project (now Bahai Top 9), including a screenshot of the current design for the Bahainine.com website, go to Kevin's Blog. gw

On the Baha'i Calendar: A Calendar for the Ages

From Gary, our devoted Assembly secretary for the community in which I am blessed to reside, comes this emailed item. To save you a few clicks, here is the Baha'i calendar link. -gw

Dear Friends,

As the Fast begins, some of your friends may express some curiosity about the Baha'i calendar. And, you may also be interested in knowing, for yourself, a convenient place to check this information on the internet. Where to refer them for information? No better place than - an official website of the United States Government.

How to get there? Type in the search field the key words "official time." The first hit should be "official US time", the government website (www.time.gov). From there, follow the cues: "time exhibits" to "calendars through the ages" to "various calendars" to "others" to (drum roll, ta-dah!) Baha'i. Besides calendar information, it also refers to Ayyam-i-Ha, the Fast, and Naw Ruz.

This website is also a good place to go for the accurate time.

Gary

On Safeguards of the Baha'i Faith: No sects, no sex, no way

The Baha'i Faith is protected from division by the Covenant Baha'u'llah has with his followers. His followers protect themselves from difficulties when they abide by the laws Baha'u'llah revealed, among them the ones that govern the sexual impulse. Yodanut's post brings together two aspects of the Faith in one humorous story. -gw

So I was sitting in on my Human Wellness Seminar during the week where we were discussing spiritual wellness. The coordinator manages to put together a panel of ppl from several different religions for us to discuss about their faiths and learn more about it. Some students came in representing a religion called Bahai.

Girl: Unlike other religions there are no sects in Bahai. There is only one Bahai with an administrative board.

Me: What do you mean there is no sex is Bahai?

Girl: I mean exactly that...there are no sects in Bahai, there is only one Bahai. Sects... S-E-C-T-S.

Me: OHHHHH....

As you can clearly see, I should have asked her to spell glamorous while she was at it. ... But for that moment I thought that Bahai was some wierd crackpot religion where all their followers are asexual and can manage to suppress all their natural desires.

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Benjamin, Saturday, March 03, 2007, Xanga

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{Re-posted with permission}

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Bahá’ís believe that the distinctive unity of the Bahá’í Faith stems from a promise from God to humanity that assures His continuing guidance after the passing of Bahá’u’lláh. This promise is referred to as the Covenant. (The Baha'is:The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh)

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While recognizing the Divine origin and force of the sex impulse in man, religion teaches that it must be controlled, and Bahá’u’lláh’s Law confines its expression to the marriage relationship. (Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 366, on BNASAA)

On the Baha'i Order of Business: Intensive Ruhi, yummy lunch, more intensive, party, Baha'i teaching, bubbles and drumming

A Saturday in the life of a Baha'i. -gw

Saturday morning we had intensive at Pania's house (white shirt) Jessica and her husband sirous (who could not come) and Pania and I have been doing ruhi book 6 and it has really been a wonderful experience... and Pania made super yummy lunch....

After the intensive I went to an Ayyam-i-Ha party at kat and Shannon's apartment, I gave a small presentation on the Baha'i Faith as there were many people who had not heard much about the Faith and we had lots of games and bubbles and drumming... so much fun!

Sonja, "photos - week-end - life," ...sjowing love.... you are my sweetest downfall

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{Re-posted with permission}

On Baha'u'llah's World Order: Slowly and imperceptibly rising amid the welter and chaos of present-day civilization

Call to the Nations

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Leaders of religion, exponents of political theories, governors of human institutions, who at present are witnessing with perplexity and dismay the bankruptcy of their ideas, and the disintegration of their handiwork, would do well to turn their gaze to the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, and to meditate upon the World Order which, lying enshrined in His teachings, is slowly and imperceptibly rising amid the welter and chaos of present-day civilization. More > http://bahai.org

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The nature of Baha'i governance never ceases to amaze me. -gw

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"asamblea nacional bahá'í de bolivia 2006," uploaded on May 16, 2006 by Steve Pulley on flickr

The Baha'i Commonwealth of the future, of which this vast Administrative Order is the sole framework, is, both in theory and practice, not only unique in the entire history of political institutions, but can find no parallel in the annals of any of the world's recognized religious systems. No form of democratic government; no system of autocracy or of dictatorship, whether monarchical or repulblican; no intermediary scheme of a purely aristocractic order; nor even any of the recognized types of theocracy, whether it be the Hebrew Commonwealth, or the various Christian eccelesiastical organizations, or the Imamate or the Caliphate in Islam - none of these can be identified or be said to conform with the Administrative Order which the master hand of its perfect Archtiect has fashioned.

This new-born Administrative Order incorporates within its structure certain elements which are to be found in each of the three recognized forms of secular government, without being in any sense a mere replica of any one of them, and without introducing within its machinery any of the objectionable features which they inherently possess. It blends and harmonizes, as no government fashioned by mortal hands has as yet accomplished, the salutary truths which each of these systems undoubtedly contains without vitiating the integrity of those God-given verities on which it is ultimately founded.

Shoghi Effendi, "The Adminstrative Order," in Adib Taherzadeh, The Child of the Covenant, pp. 408-409.

On Love of Baha'i Fasting: Jungle Fast

Harsh and Nysa have a blog called ... Chutney Butt. (I'm sure there is a story there somewhere.) It's a jungle down in equatorial Ecuador. But the two of them make living in a jungle look like great fun. -gw

The Fast is upon us and we send our love to everyone. I hope the Fast treats you well, spiritually and the-crazy-ginormous-tasty-dinners, whether you’re fasting or not. It would be arrogant for me to assume that everyone who reads this blog is Baha’i. Just a quick explanation about the Fast for anyone who is unfamiliar with it. The Baha’I Fast is from March 2nd to the 21st and we celebrate our New Year (Naw-Ruz) on the 21st. The Fast basically is a time of the year when Baha’i’s are spiritually indulgent and it is a time of serious personal introspection. We don’t eat or drink from sunrise to sunset and abstaining from food is just a physical metaphor for focusing on our spiritual needs. There are various exemptions and we are asked to use our judgement to determine if we were to exercise such exemptions. For e.g. people who do hard physical labour are exempt from the Fast. They can choose to fast if they want to, but they also have the option of not fasting as their jobs are physically taxing.

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"The men at the dinner table eating armadillo, crab, fish, snails,

yuka, platano"

It is really strange to observe the Fast in the jungle. I am really happy to be somewhere new for this but at the same time you really miss the community aspect of this important part of the year. It is fabulous making dinner with Nysa and sharing our first Fast together, but you start reminiscing about your past Fast experiences. I really think of all the wonderful dinners we made in Victoria and breaking the Fast with all my friends. I know that we couldn’t do it everyday because of our crazy uni schedules, but those couplea times a week was something I’d look forward to. Makes me think of the Fast when Joey was around and how we had so many people at Nabz & Camz house and we all used to cook together. So many good times and thinking about these times makes me miss my Victoria crew so much. You’re all in my thoughts and prayers and I hope you’re getting the opportunity to break the Fast together a few times this year around. Have some food on my behalf.

Spending my Fast with Nysa has been a real blessing. All my friends know that I am not a morning person and I don’t really eat breakfast during the Fast (I know you’re with me on this Abtin). I just wait it out and have my dinner. Nysa was telling me about how her family wakes up in the morning and they all have breakfast together (sounds like the Cardin breakfast). We plan out what we want to eat for dinner and we’ve been cooking some good food (mad props to mom for haulin spices for us). I made my signature chickpea dish (thought of you Max) the other day and we demolished it with rice and yogurt. We were in Quito on business last week and on the last day we went to this huge supermarket and bought all kindsa food stuff. We made macaroni and cheese one night and pasta with pesto another night. I miss cooking with my boys but I gotta say, cooking with Nysa has been pretty cool as well.

harsh(il), "A Bird-Flew-Over-Harsh's-Head!!!" Chutney Butt
Baha'i/Indian/Somewhat Canadian/Somewhat Italian at heart/Anthropologist/World Citizen/Food eating specialist/Nocturnal/etc etc....

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{Re-posted with permission}

On Baha'i "Firesides": Pleasant People, Nice Religion and a Social Evening

interloper n. One that interferes with the affairs of others, often for selfish reasons; a meddler. www.answers.com/topic/interloper

I must admit, I wasn't sure I knew what an interloper was so I looked it up. Not an interloper, not an interloper, Mambolica, you're not! -gw

Tonight I am going to a Baha'i "Fireside" with my neighbour. That should be nice. I feel sort of like an interloper, but they're pleasant and I learn about another religion (and one that is rather nice, at that), and have a social evening.

Mambolica, "Happy Video Goodness !," Meandotherthings: Not quite the real thing

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"Fireside on Hinduism," uploaded on March 7, 2007 by Dr Phil on flickr
Some rights reserved.

On Being Kicked Out for Being a Baha'i: An act of ignorance more than malice

Mithskrike was featured previously back when he became a Baha'i. Here is an update. -gw

Well, the month of 'Ala is upon us. This is my first fast, and I'm finding it a little difficult not to eat/drink/smoke between sunrise and sunset. I'll get used to it I'm sure. Although I do find myself fantasizing about what I'm going to eat or smoke once Naw-Ruz comes.

Since I last posted, my mom kicked me out of her house for being Baha'i. I was having a difficult time finding a job, I think that's a factor as well. That really hurt that she gave my religion as the reason for me to leave but I don't hold it against her. It's an act of ignorance more than malice.

mithshrike, "A lot of things to discuss," LiveJournal

On the World Religion Day Program: Valuable Links

"World Religion Day Crowd," uploaded on 21 January 2007 by dragfyre on flickr

Dear friend,

It is with much interest that I perused through the pages of your blog. Very interesting.

I write to ask you if you would link the following websites to your’s.

http://www.worldreligionday.org/

http://www.spiritual-education.org/

With best and my personal regards,

Lal Fernando
Director-General
WORLD RELIGION DAY PROGRAM
http://www.worldreligionday.org
12614 N. 28 Street
Phoenix, AZ 85032
USA
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Mr Fernando, I'm happy to. -gw

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"World religion day activity," uploaded on 21 January 2007 by dragfyre on flickr

On Baha'i Fasting Impressions: Briefly Noted

There is a slew of posts inspired by the Baha'i fast in the blogosphere. -gw

Poem written during the Baha'i fast March 2007.
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June Perkins, "Virtue Hands," Pearlzocreativity (new home)

Sandy and I thought it was time to invite some Baha'i youth over to break the fast with us. The invitation list went from 9 people to 15 people overnight. Totally crazy. This was one of the most amazing nights I've had in a long time.
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adekoay, "Dinner at our place last night," Put us on the same page please? You are where you are not by accident but by the design of your creator, for your own development or the development of those around you.

We're in the middle of the fast for the Baha'i calendar. Joined Liz in it today.
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beth-a-roo, [07 Mar 200705:12pm], ob la di ob la da...

i applied for a job at the golf course down the street. i hope i get it because i need a second job. i shortly thereafter gave up fast. i was only doing it for moral support for my baha'i girlfriend.
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Wyatt, "Deprivation and My Faith Walk," Wyatt

Lancaster PA, uiploaded on January 20, 2007 by ChrissyJ on flickr

On a Wikipedia Rampage: I must find out what the Baha'i Faith is

Okay I'm on a Wikipedia rampage now. I must find out what the Baha'i faith is.

Sleepykid -^^-, "Posted on Feb. 16th, 2007 at 08:01 pm," Sleepy Kid


New Zealand Baha'i youth, uploaded on January 4, 2006 by Roman Reyhani on flickr

On Baha'i Blogs: Bahainine.com's Count

Plaque at the "Old Post Office Bldg, 7th Sts between F and G NW," Washsington DC.

"Samuel Finley Breese Morse (April 27, 1791 – April 2, 1872) was an American,

the inventor of the Morse Code and a painter of portraits and historic scenes."

Uploaded on November 1, 2006 by dbking on flickr
What did we do before the Internet? It is more revolutionary than the telegraph was in its day. Check out how many Baha'i blogs there are on the web by Bahainine.com's accounting.
What hath God wrought! -gw

On Having a Baha'i-like Belief System: The Light of Christ comes to people through many channels

Anna-Maria sees all people as praying to the same God. -gw

...[E]ven though religion occupies a large percentage of my brain, I have shied away from joining a particular group.

Some religions I have looked at fail to engage me on their own merits. And no, I won’t cite specific examples because if you are of that religion, and you had a different experience, I don’t want to insult your thinking and your choices. Moreover, I am profoundly aware that one person’s vehicle to access their best self may not work at all for someone else. Monastic life could make one person bitter at the deprivation even as it allows another to strip away everything that’s unimportant and see God clearly, just to give one general example.

However, what it often comes down to, regardless of the particular religion, is that I can’t see limiting myself to one perspective for life. The support of my LDS friends after my Dad died was considerable. In the long run, it wasn’t the best fit for me, but it was right, then. I have drifted toward and away from various meditative practices several times, and the longest and strongest was the Zen Buddhism that I studied relatively seriously until shortly before I gave birth to Eliza. It started as a way to strengthen my concentration during karate but became something I did for its own sake.

Paradoxically, the simple beauty of the practice allowed me to step out of a fairly anti-Christian, specifically anti-Catholic, phase in my life, and to recognize that there are some really beautiful things at the heart of that belief system, too. I started describing myself as a Catholic Buddhist, although even that, ultimately, was too narrow a definition.

In some ways, I suppose that I have a Baha’i-like belief system in that I think we are all praying to the same God* and that religions build on each other chronologically as societies progress.

All of this is, I guess, a VERY long way of saying that I agree with Bon that I think that what she calls the Light of Christ is something that comes to people through many channels.

Anna-Maria, "Answer: Light," Elizasmom.com
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{Re-posted with permission}

On the Year of Faith Project: Following the Practices of the Baha'i Faith

Below is the background that the blog Year of Faith uses currently on its masthead. It is a picture of the gardens surrounding the Baha'i World Center in Haifa, Israel. The three persons participating in the activities of the project and contributing to this blog are devoting the month of March to following the practices of the Baha'i Faith. -gw

Welcome to the Year of Faith. This is a project in which three very different people are going to follow the practices and beliefs of twelve religions, one each month, for one year.

Michael, "About," Year of Faith

For the month of March we will be observing the following practices:
We will recite one of three obligatory prayers each day, after washing the hands and face, while standing and facing east towards the Shrine of Baha’u'llah. The prayer should also be said in private, between the hours of noon and sunset.
We will be observing the prohibition on gossip.
We will be observing a nineteen-day sunrise-to-sunset fast for the holy month of Ala from March 2 through March 20. This is going to be the hard one.
We will be celebrating Naw-rúz, the Baha’i New Year on March 21st.
We will not drink alcohol or take drugs, unless by prescription.
We will be observing a ban on gambling, although I think really I’m the only gambler.
The nineteen-day fast is already causing interesting changes in our daily behaviour. Over the course of the month I hope to post short articles on items from my research into the religion as well as my reactions to how things are going.

Andrew, "An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith," Year of Faith

{Re-posted with permission}

On What Religious Tradition to Rear the Bebbehs In: The Baha'i Faith or Catholicism, with the occasional ancestor-worship

Wandering Apricot has been comtemplating marriage and bebbehs. -gw

"Long live the laptop"

Spent some time talking to Laura about faith and family the other night. It was such a..nourishing conversation. A question that stuck with me was: what kind of faith will I raise my children in? For me, it’s not a matter of whether to introduce my kids to faith or not. I definitely will; I do think children need it. Even if they go away from it as they get older, at least they’ll know what they’re talking about. As one lit prof told me: it doesn’t have to have literally happened to be true. In any case, if God exists (I believe she does), she is fearless. No mythology or science or ideology can destroy her, and no contradiction is too enormous for God to rise above. I suppose I do agree with Richard Dawkins that highly dogmatic religions are probably too parochial about their view of God, though I’m not so virulent in my repugnance towards them as he is. Evolution does not contradict the existence of God; saying that God can’t create evolution sorta limits the old gal, right? I think all religions have something to offer to human development.

So the question on that front is which religious tradition I’d want to rear kids in. Probably the Baha’i faith, or maybe even Catholicism…? Obviously I plan to continue with the occasional ancestor-worship traditions (Buddhist, technically?) in any case. I like burning paper and bowing.

Wandering Apricot, "Marriage and bebbehs," Wandering Apricot

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{Re-posted with permission}

On Layouts, Codes and Comments: Help for Baha'is on MySpace

Pssst! Baha'i? Got MySpace? -gw

Hello,
I have just launched a site for Myspace users offering free layouts, codes, comments, etc.

We just uploaded our first Bahá'í Myspace layout.
http://www.cleanupmyspace.com/?view=cat&cat_id=59

And are uploading a bunch of Bahá'í comments:
http://www.cleanupmyspace.com/?view=code_list&id=14

As far as I know its the only place on the web to get Bahá'í stuff for Myspace. Let us know if you have any requests at all, please spread the word - Thanks!

Happy Fasting,

Chad

http://www.cleanupmyspace.com/?view=cat&cat_id=59

On Fasting with Rachel: Tonight We'll All Go Out Dancing

In West Africa Ray Ray's friend Rachel is fasting. -gw

Because Rachel is Baha'i, and this is her holiday this month (Ayyam-i-Ha), we are celebrating and fasting with her for solidarity. (It was Mariema's idea first, because Rachel fasted with our Muslim colleagues during Ramadam.) For the past four days we've been pigging out and today we are giving small cakes to the little Talibe and fasting. Fasting means that you can't let anything pass your lips after sunrise and before sundown.

Ray-Ray, "Lip Plumper," I Am Here Only

Ray-Ray with friends

Rachel began her Baha'i fasting today and twice this morning (before lunch even!!!) P brought in snacks for the whole office!!! Then he made attaya (traditional sugary tea) for everyone. Rachel, of course, is convinced he did this all on purpose. I think it's hilarious if he really did do it on purpose. It's not a bad bit of passive-aggression! M said that she was going to fast with Rachel, in solidarity, and then did not. Madame Fall told me to return in a demi-heure and then had closed up shop. I gave lots of little gateau to Talibe who were so adorable and heartbreaking. Giving them gateau makes them smile and you feel awful because it is such a tiny thing and they are so needy. I'm going to start shaking their hands. I think that is a good thing. Respect from an adult. (Unless they are being taught by their marabouts to not shake hands with women. Sigh.) I am fasting in solidarity with Rachel but I'm drinking and I forgot earlier and ate some peanuts. I'm only fasting for today. I think fasting is dumb, all things considered. And I sure don't believe in any god who would advocate it. Rachel's reasoning is respectable, though. K and A are fasting as well, today. We're going to break the fast with cheesy garlic bread and vanilla milkshakes. Tonight we're all going out dancing.

Ray-Ray, "Gossip (or La Sucre dans Mon Sange est Petite. Je Suis Pas Gentil Maintenant,)"
♥♥ I Am Here Only ♥♥ ~ a record of ideas, thoughts, facts, fictions, books, clothing, shots, lists, embassies, weather reports, airport info., foreign languages and issues lost in translation ~ ... as I prepare to move -- and then move -- to West Africa...

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{Re-posted with permission}

On the Ruhi Process in Columbia: An Army of Peace Changing the World

EjércitoDePaz: cambiando el mundo (Army of Peace: Changing the World) is a five-person blog in Spanish that explores the subject of service to the Faith and the Baha'i Faith in general. A recent post provides a fascinating description of the Ruhi Institute process as it proceeds in Columbia, the land of its birth. For a translation, use the "Language Tools," or equivalent, available on your search engine. -gw

Tras una primera toma de contacto durante aquellos 10 días, nos disponemos a dar comienzo al que iba a ser el tiempo de servicio propiamente dicho. Para lanzarnos a ello, nos dividieron en dos grupos, de este modo, podríamos abarcar un mayor campo de acción. Keivan Massarrat y Nikka, fueron destinados a la agrupación del Quindío en la zona del Eje Cafetero, en el interior del país. Una zona montañosa de un intenso verde, con increibles paisajes, la cual tuve el enorme placer de conocer en mi penúltimo día en Colombia. Por otra parte, Keyvan Fuster y yo fuimos a una zona muy distinta del país: La Costa Caribe, concretamente estuvimos en el Instituto Ruhí de Cartagena de Indias. Al igual que la zona era físicamente muy distinta al eje cafetero, el servicio que dimos fué también muy distinto, y por consiguiente las experiencias, emociones y aprendizajes.

Dicho brevemente, y con la información que tengo (tampoco sé muy bien todo lo que hicieron) Keivan y Nikka se concentraron en una pequeña Comunidad llamada Tebaida, en la que trabajaban con un grupo relativamente reducido de personas. Se dedicaron a la consolidación y profundización. Esto fué así, porque estaban en una agrupación de categoría ‘C’, en las cuales, el objetivo principal es establecer un proceso de Instituto que sea lo suficientemente fuerte como para retroalimentarse, es decir, que “pueda crecer solito”. Esto se consigue formando una cantidad de RRHH (Recursos Humanos) que ejerzca de tutor de círculos de estudio (en total son necesarias unas 15 ó 20 personas con la Secuencia Completa para avanzar a categoria ‘B’) Por ello, su objetivo era hacer avanzar un pequeño grupo por la Secuencia rápidamente, más que enseñar la Fe a grandes números, aunque, aún así, siempre debe haber algo de enseñanza.

Nosotros, por nuestra parte, estuvimos también viviendo en una agrupación ‘C’, la ciudad de Cartagena, pero el departamento (provincia en España) en que esta ciudad estaba (llamada El Bolívar) era de categoría ‘A’, con ya varios PICs (Programas Intensivos de Crecimiento) llevados a cabo con diferentes resultados (tenían unos 100-200 ingresos trimestrales por PIC) En total la agrupación posee unos 3000 bahá’ís (no todos activos) 1300 niños en las clases de niños (a penas 200 de ellos eran bahá’ís) y un proceso de Instituto que había cobrado un vigor bastante fuerte, y se había enraizado en la Comunidad tan fuertemente como las Fiestas de 19 días. Incluso, esta agrupación disponía de un equipo de la secuencia, formado por 5 jóvenes dedicados a tiempo completo al servicio en la secuencia (y apoyo a otras actividades) una de ellas, solía tener unos 5 círculos de estudio diarios…

Nuestro trabajo se centró en 3 áreas: estas 2 agrupaciones antes mencionadas, y una pequeña Comunidad más: Molineros situada en una agrupación vecina por el norte, también de categoría ‘C’, y de la cual pudimos obtener muchos aprendizajes. No sólo por las condiciones en las que teníamos que vivir los días que nos alojábamos allí, sino por la enorme experiencia que esta comunidad tiene. En un tiempo estuvo muy avanzada, tenían muchas actividades y con una enorme asistencia por parte del pueblo, pero tuvieron que pasar por una crisis, y ahora son a penas los suficientes para reunir una Asamblea Local.

RubênJM, "Servicio en Colombia: El campo de acción (2)," EjércitoDePaz: cambiando el mundo

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{Re-posted with permission}

On Baha'i-Inspired Schools: Tonga's Ocean of Light

From her remarkable post, we see that Clare played a role as a pioneer in education, having worked for a remarkable school in Tonga during its infancy, the Ocean of Light International School, featured here in a 2003 article from the Baha'i World News Service. -gw

When you live on a small island, far from even other small islands, life takes on unusual dimensions, and challenges.

One of those challenges is getting a quality education. There are schools of course- a primary school in each village, and a secondary or high school in the large towns, but the standard is low, class sizes large and resources limited. This makes for some frustrated brains.

However, ten years ago, the founders of the Ocean of Light Primary School, decided to take on the challenge and in doing so are raising the educational bar in Tonga.

Back when I was last in Tonga, on a gap volunteer year after school, I worked for a some time at the then infant Ocean of Light Primary School. It has just 27 pupils and was very much still trying to find its feet. Ten years later, with new school buildings and a pupil intake of about 340, it’s feet are clearly found. There is now a kindergarten and a secondary school, and plans for more buildings. Last year the school opted for the Cambridge International School certificate, and now students can take A levels and compete for university places in whatever part of the globe they wish. The exams are tough, the standard high- and given the relative shortage of local teachers who are available to teach at A level standard, it’s hard to get staff.

But still the school continues, believing the just because you may live in an isolated place, it doesn’t mean opportunities have to be isolated too.

Interstingly too, and I dare say unique to Tonga, the school takes moral education and pastoral care as a very high priority. Although inspired by the principles of the Bahai’i Faith, the school uses ‘The Virtues Guide’ which a methodology for teaching social and moral behaviour across the religious and cultural spectrum. The principle of the secondary school, Nick Flegg, told me that about one third of the current pupils are Baha’i while the remainder are from the many other denominations which make up the Tongan population- Methodist, Baptist, Seven day Adventist, Mormon, all seeing advantage in the methodology.


Ten years on, it was fantastic to see the growth of the school. The challenges are still there (funding, staff, resources), but the school is committed to tackling them, and keeping the bar high. I hear too that other schools that other schools on the islands are sitting up and taking note… which is a good sign for educational opportunity but at bad sign for frustrated brains. I’m on the side of the good sign.

Clare Mulvany, "The Tongan Ocean of Light," Exceptional Lives

I am currently embarking on a ten month journey around the globe to interview 'people who change our world' about their life stories. I'll be meeting 'social entrepreneurs' working in a range of fields from education to business, dedicating their lives to making the world a better place for us all to live in. Nairobi is the first port of call, and from there I'll travel overland to Capetown. It is then on to India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa and the USA. I invite you to read about the journey and people I meet along the way. Enjoy the ride!

Clare Mulvaney, "About Me," Exceptional Lives

{Re-posted with permission}

First photo above from Exceptional Lives. The rest from BWNS.