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Handmaidens

Published February 11, 2020 by admin

Did you know that God ordained the equality of men and women? In the statement above, Baha’u’llah declared that men and women were not only equal before God, but should be given equal opportunities in society as well. This became a fundamental social principle of His Revelation. Both men and women must be educated equally, and indeed ‘Abdu’l-Baha’ even said that educating women was more important than educating men, because through that means, knowledge more effectively spread throughout a society. Educated women would ensure the education of their children and the whole society would be uplifted. Work on social and economic development over the last 100 years has consistently demonstrated this to be the case. The health of a society, it’s social and economic stability, and a host of other positive factors are improved if the women are educated. ‘Abdu’l-Baha’ stated that the equality of men and women was necessary to have world peace, as women would bring different insights into the political realm, leading to greater peace among nations. He explained that, whereas in the past, humanity was ruled by force, the potent force in the future would be the intellect and spiritual and moral development, qualities in which women were often superior to men.

Just a quick note on the terminology in the passage above. The word Baha’u’llah used for women in Arabic or Persian is often translated into English as “handmaidens”. It is often used when men are referred to as “servants”. The sense in both cases is that they are both serving God. Baha’u’llah also states that the “Pen of the Most High” has removed distinctions. That refers to His own words- as the Word of God- revealed by the “Pen” of God, the “Most High”. In this case, the idea of men being superior to women is being cast as an untrue and invaluable idea- a “vain imagining” or an “idle fancy” that God has now “broken the back of” with the “sword of utterance”- the Word of God itself. This and other statements of Baha’u’llah are very important. God is telling us that it is no longer correct to use a religious argument to support a superiority of men over women, if it ever was.

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Unity

Unity

Published February 4, 2020 by admin

The main reason people look at the world and feel hopeless is because of its disunity. We see that we need to do something about global warming, but how can we get people to come together and tackle the problem honestly and collaboratively? We see endless conflicts in the Middle East and it seems that no progress is ever made, with each government change often simply unmasking further divides. When you sit back and look at the issues that divide people, they are often very superficial. One group may harken its identity back to an older religion, one that they only superficially practice and no longer really believe. But it defines who they are in some conflict with another group, who also is clinging to an identity that has no real reality.

The situation is the same the world over. Humans are naturally “tribal” in our outlook. If we don’t have a real tribe, if we are a “melting pot”, we make up tribes- calling them “Democrat” and “Republican”- and then we make our decisions based on what our tribe has chosen as its particular policy of the moment- usually itself crafted to maintain the party in power, and only loosely tied to any firm principles. The situation is frankly ridiculous. It would even be funny if it weren’t so devastating.

Here’s the reality- humanity has no chance to progress as a civilization without collaboration and mutual effort. We may not even survive. But how do we build unity?

In one of His Tablets to the Kings, Baha’u’llah gave a simple analogy that helps us to understand our role in building a peaceful world. He told us to regard the world as being like the human body. Our bodies are composed of 37 trillion cells, all working cooperatively and selflessly to sustain the organism. The entirety of nature is like this. Cooperation and unity are life, disunity and disintegration cause death. It’s baked into the nature of things.

But how do we get billions of autonomous people, with free will and individual rationality, to cooperate? At the heart of the answer is a shared commitment to common ideals- abstract ideals that we then work to manifest increasingly in our families and societies. Human societies are only as good as their shared ideals- and the more sublime and virtuous their ideals, the better the society. Human unity is fundamentally related to human virtue. And the more unity you seek to achieve- like unity of the whole world- the more virtuous people must be to attain it.

Baha’u’llah’s revelation is replete with guidance and examples to demonstrate what virtues can lead to unity. Some of them may surprise you. For instance, Baha’u’llah taught us that each person has a responsibility to investigate truth for themselves- calling this true justice. “Look into all things with a searching eye”. Why is this important? Because the reality of a situation is often not as complicated if people look at it with unbiased and open minds. Then people unite around the reality, and begin to collaboratively solve problems. Baha’u’llah laid great emphasis on wisdom and fair-mindedness, seemingly for the same reason.

A major personal virtue Baha’u’llah praised is detachment. Detachment is an amazing quality with many nuances, but fundamentally it is about basing your identity on what is truly real and not the superficial transient elements of life. If we look at other people and see them with spiritual eyes, and not focus on their superficial features, we can create greater levels of unity. We can start to see the whole world as one reality, and not as tribes with superficial and transient identities.

Religion- and specifically the Revelations of God- have been the force that has taught humanity to unite around common virtuous ideals. Baha’u’llah told us to honor and protect religion. This may seem strange because- at least superficially- it seems that religion is part of the problem. But religion itself is not the problem- its the stubborn clinging to the superficial aspects of religion- creating a “religious tribe”- that is the problem. The virtues and ideals that flow out of the Revelations of God are the living water for the body of humanity. We need those virtues and ideals in order to survive as a species. That’s what Baha’u’llah means by “religion”. He Himself was persecuted for his entire life because of people’s stubborn clinging to superficial religion. He knew all about that, but His incredible wisdom saw through that to the essence of religion- and that is what He taught us.

The video below highlights the efforts of the Baha’is in the Democratic Republic of Congo to help the people overcome their various tribal prejudices and come together as unity. It is just one example of what Baha’is are working to do the world over. Sifter of Dust will continue to highlight these ideals, taught to us by Baha’u’llah, and share them liberally as we work to build a new civilization.

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The Language of Revelation

The Language of Revelation

Published January 30, 2020 by admin

In the Foundations of the Revelation presentations, we are about to begin discussing the Writings of Baha’u’llah by focusing on the major texts He revealed in Baghdad. It’s a remarkable period to study. Consider that after Christ left the earth, his early followers were left wondering about His exact nature- Was He God? What do we make of His claims to be God?. They then developed theories about Christ’s relationship to God that were then crystalized into formal church doctrines that extended over centuries.

With Baha’u’llah’s revelation, we have a very different situation. Not only did we have a Manifestation of God- the Bab- spend a considerable amount of time explaining the nature of the “Manifestations of God” in preparation for Baha’u’llah, we also have a 10 year period in in Baghdad in which Baha’u’llah Himself explains these same concepts to humanity. This He did through such works as the “Book of Certitude (The Kitab-i-qan)” and others, which we will begin to explore shortly. This was all before His formal declaration, so we don’t have to then try and figure out who He was after he left the earth. He tells us all beforehand.

But first, before getting to those ideas, it’s valuable to explore some elements of Baha’u’llah’s words more generally.

Baha’u’llah’s language in His Tablets is magnificent. Even though the ones from the “Baghdad period” are before His formal declaration, they are majestic, beautiful, and spoken with an authority that is not of this world. Baha’u’llah revealed these and other texts in either Persian or Arabic. They are completely different languages. Though Baha’u’llah’s native language was Persian, He explained that He used Arabic because it was more expansive and able to express a broader range of ideas and imagery. Arabic is well-known to be one of the most complex and expansive languages in the world, if not the most expansive.

Baha’u’llah’s language was so majestic that it is sometimes described as not fully translatable. Shoghi Effendi- who set the standard for translation into English- used the style of the King James Version of the Bible as the form of expression of Baha’u’llah’s words into English. That is why you see so many words like “Thee”, “Thou”, or words that end in “th” in the Baha’i Writings- as in “He doeth what He willeth”. The King James Bible was for centuries considered the peak of scriptural eloquence in English, even if we aren’t quite accustomed to it in the modern day. To the modern reader, the style takes a little getting used to, but after a while, you wouldn’t have it any other way! You come to appreciate that the Word of God should not sound like plain speech. It has its own character.

The song below is a short prayer Baha’u’llah revealed, sung in Arabic. It gives you an opportunity to hear the words of the Manifestation of God in the original language. Many thanks to Baha’i Blog for sharing this video. Enjoy!

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The Abode of Peace

The Abode of Peace

Published January 28, 2020 by admin

At the peak of the Islamic civilization, the city of Baghdad was known as the “Abode of Peace”. The photo shows a picture of Baghdad from space. In 1853, the city received Baha’u’llah as an exile from Persia, and He would make Baghdad His home for the next 10 years. These were challenging but amazing times, as Baha’u’llah continued to prepare the community for His own declaration as the Messenger of God to modern humanity. Most of His Tablets and Writings during this period- including the Book of Certitude and the Seven Valleys- were revealed in answer to questions, the same kind of questions we still ask about religion and how God interacts with the world. In these texts, Baha’u’llah unfolds amazing vistas of spirituality and revives our understanding of the true nature and purpose of religion itself. He also revealed the Hidden Words, giving a hint of His coming Revelation and its teachings in seed form. As part of the 200th anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s life, Westwind pictures produced a series of short videos about the life of Baha’u’llah. A wonderful story about His impact on the city of Baghdad is linked here. Enjoy!

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Introducing Baha’u’llah

Introducing Baha’u’llah

Published January 25, 2020 by admin

In this latest presentation of the Foundations of the Revelation course, Dr Williams describes the early life of Baha’u’llah in Persia and his eventual imprisonment and exile from his native land. As the sun of the Bab’s revelation set, Baha’u’llah’s began to rise, eventually illuminating hearts all over the world. This lecture sets the stage for the discussion of Baha’u’llah’s early Writings, including the magnificent Hidden Words

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Quenching the Fire

Quenching the Fire

Published January 23, 2020 by admin

As we reflect on issue of climate change, and the fires in Australia and California, one is struck by the fact that the solution requires coordination and cooperative action among nations and peoples. It is not just a matter of quenching physical fires, but quenching the behavior and attitudes that inhibit our ability to deal with these challenges.Time and again in Baha’u’llah’s Revelation, He exhorts His followers to be sources of unity in the world and to use their words- their “utterance”- to promote knowledge and understanding among people. These sublime principles are the source of life for the world.

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The Word of God

The Word of God

Published January 20, 2020 by admin

One of the prominent themes in all the revelations of God has been the emphasis on the “Word of God”. Undoubtedly, the words of Christ in the Gospel, the Prophet Muhammad in the Quran, and the words of Baha’u’llah have a remarkable influence on people- creating new forms of civilization. Baha’u’llah taught that they have “creative” power in that they open up within people new perspective and feelings that lead to nobility and attachment to sublime truths. This is reflected by the quote in this image where Baha’u’llah tells us that the “verses” opens up treasures within us that we wouldn’t trade for all the wealth in the world. (“Sovereignty’ means kingship or power.). He tells us to “recite’ them in “the most melodious of tones” so that we will be drawn upwards to spiritual perspectives that are so beautiful they can’t even be adequately expressed. Many Baha’is have had this experience. Reciting the Word of God- and meditating on them- even small passages of just one line or a short paragraph, can have amazing effects on your heart. It is good to memorize a few passages that you can then call to mind at times during the day. You’ll notice that you begin to appreciate connections you didn’t see before.

Sifter of Dust will begin posting short passages that we encourage everyone to ponder and even memorize. Putting them to music is even better!

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True Liberalism

True Liberalism

Published January 11, 2020 by admin

A great source of inspiration and guidance for understanding the true meaning of Baha’u’llah’s teachings are the talks given by his son, ‘Abdu’l-Baha’ when he came to America and traveled throughout the country. In the presentation below, ‘Abdu’l-Baha’ addresses an American church congregation in Washington, DC. The year was 1912, but nothing ‘Abdu’l-Baha’ says in any of his talks is for that period of history only- their insights are equally important for understanding our time in history as we still deal with the same challenges. In this single paragraph, ‘Abdu’l-Baha’ makes a profound connection between the secular liberalism that has informed the American democracy, and the spiritual truth that all humanity receive the bounties of God. “Liberalism” therefore is a divine truth- a spiritual truth- and this forms the ultimate and true basis of liberalism in the modern day.

Praise be to God! The standard of liberty is held aloft in this land. You enjoy political liberty; you enjoy liberty of thought and speech, religious liberty, racial and personal liberty. Surely this is worthy of appreciation and thanksgiving. In this connection let me mention the freedom, hospitality and universal welcome extended to me during my recent travels throughout America. I wish also to reciprocate fully and completely the warm greeting and friendly attitude of the reverend doctor, pastor of this church, whose loving and quickened susceptibilities especially command acknowledgment. Surely men who are leaders of thought must conform to the example of his kindliness and goodwill. Liberalism is essential in this day—justness and equity toward all nations and people. Human attitudes must not be limited; for God is unlimited, and whosoever is the servant of the threshold of God must, likewise, be free from limitations. The world of existence is an emanation of the merciful attribute of God. God has shone forth upon the phenomena of being through His effulgence of mercy, and He is clement and kind to all His creation. Therefore, the world of humanity must ever be the recipient of bounties from His majesty, the eternal Lord, even as Christ has declared, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” For His bounties, like the light and heat of the sun in the material heavens, descend alike upon all mankind. Consequently, man must learn the lesson of kindness and beneficence from God Himself. Just as God is kind to all humanity, man also must be kind to his fellow creatures. If his attitude is just and loving toward his fellowmen, toward all creation, then indeed is he worthy of being pronounced the image and likeness of God.

The entire talk may be found here, click to talk 118. Enjoy!

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Enduring Unity

Enduring Unity

Published January 9, 2020 by admin

This passage says many things at the same time. The first thing to notice is to whom it is addressed- “O ye that dwell on earth”, which obviously includes everyone. The second element to notice- and it is a distinctive feature of Baha’u’llah’s words- is the majestic and authoritative tone with which He speaks. Baha’u’llah claimed to be the fulfillment of the revelations of the past- the Voice of God- and all His writings after His formal declaration have that tone. “God’s holy Book”‘ refers to, not just His own words, and not just the Bible and the Quran- but the sum of all of that. The Revelations of God are part of One Religion, so the “God’s holy Book” is a transcendent reality that includes all of the scriptures of humankind. Baha’u’llah is telling us that whatever is written in the Holy Books of the past has now been explicitly revised by God- to take out whatever might have been the source of disunity and division, as the fundamental purpose of God’s revelation in this day is unity. Only God can edit his own book, and Baha’u’llah is explicitly doing just that to ensure that religion now becomes a source of unity. Pretty amazing stuff!

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My Trust

My Trust

Published January 6, 2020 by admin

This passage is from Baha’u’llah’s “Hidden Words”, a majestic collection of short utterances that Baha’u’llah described as the “inner essence” of the Revelations of the past. They are spoken with the Voice of God. Many Baha’is work to memorize the collection of Hidden Words, and they are often set to music. The worlds they open up are indescribable.

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