THE INTERNATIONAL BAHAI CONVENTION A PLACE WHERE NONE EXIST EXCEPT LOVE AND UNITY

BAHA'IS ELECT UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

HAIFA Israel, 30 April 2008 (BWNS) --








The results of the election of the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the governing body of the Baha'i Faith, have been announced.
Delegates to the Tenth International Baha'i Convention cast ballots yesterday for membership in the council that serves as the head of the religion.
Those elected are Farzam Arbab, Kiser Barnes, Peter Khan, Hooper Dunbar, Firaydoun Javaheri, Paul Lample, Payman Mohajer, Shahriar Razavi, and Gustavo Correa.
Members are elected for five-year terms.
The Universal House of Justice has its permanent seat at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel. Membership requires residence in Haifa.
Any Baha'i male age 21 and over is eligible for election. Both women and men are eligible for election or appointment to all other Baha'i institutions.
In His teachings, Baha'u'llah provided for the elected institution of the Universal House of Justice, which gives a continuing source of divine authority to guide the worldwide Baha'i community and to legislate on matters not spelled out in the Baha'i sacred writings.
The delegates that voted in the election are themselves members of national Baha'i governing bodies from around the world. They were chosen in earlier elections in their own countries.
The Baha'i Faith, which has more than 5 million followers, is established in almost every nation.
The members of the Universal House of Justice are, from left to right, Farzam Arbab, Kiser Barnes, Peter Khan, Hooper Dunbar, Firaydoun Javaheri, Paul Lample, Payman Mohajer, Shahriar Razavi, and Gustavo Correa. They were elected by delegates to the 10th International Baha’i Convention in Haifa. Election results were announced on 30 April.
To view the photos and additional features click here:http://news.bahai.org
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BAHA'IS ELECT UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
HAIFA, Israel, 30 April 2008 (BWNS) -- The results of the election of the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the governing body of the Baha'i Faith, have been announced.
Delegates to the Tenth International Baha'i Convention cast ballots yesterday for membership in the council that serves as the head of the religion.
Those elected are Farzam Arbab, Kiser Barnes, Peter Khan, Hooper Dunbar, Firaydoun Javaheri, Paul Lample, Payman Mohajer, Shahriar Razavi, and Gustavo Correa.
Members are elected for five-year terms.
The Universal House of Justice has its permanent seat at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel. Membership requires residence in Haifa.
Any Baha'i male age 21 and over is eligible for election. Both women and men are eligible for election or appointment to all other Baha'i institutions.
In His teachings, Baha'u'llah provided for the elected institution of the Universal House of Justice, which gives a continuing source of divine authority to guide the worldwide Baha'i community and to legislate on matters not spelled out in the Baha'i sacred writings.
The delegates that voted in the election are themselves members of national Baha'i governing bodies from around the world. They were chosen in earlier elections in their own countries.
The Baha'i Faith, which has more than 5 million followers, is established in almost every nation.
The members of the Universal House of Justice are, from left to right, Farzam Arbab, Kiser Barnes, Peter Khan, Hooper Dunbar, Firaydoun Javaheri, Paul Lample, Payman Mohajer, Shahriar Razavi, and Gustavo Correa. They were elected by delegates to the 10th International Baha’i Convention in Haifa. Election results were announced on 30 April.
To view the photos and additional features click here:http://news.bahai.org/
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BAHA'IS CELEBRATE MOST IMPORTANT FESTIVAL AT MOST HOLY SITE
ACRE, Israel, 30 April 2008 (BWNS) --
Followers of Baha'u'llah from more than 150 countries gathered yesterday at what for them is the holiest spot on earth - the tomb of Baha'u'llah - to celebrate Ridvan, their most important festival.
This year's celebration at Bahji, outside Acre in northern Israel, was special because it came during the 10th International Baha'i Convention, currently under way in nearby Haifa.
A thousand delegates from around the world - a true representation of the global community of five million Baha'is - joined with nearly a thousand other Baha'is for a program of prayers and readings and to circumambulate together the Shrine of Baha'u'llah.
With 2,000 people in attendance, the stream of Baha'is making their way through the beautiful gardens of Bahji stretched more than half a kilometer as they walked together around the sacred tomb, where in 1892 the earthly remains of Baha'u'llah were laid to rest.
The nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith, led the procession. Many of the convention delegates came in distinctive native dress, highlighting the diversity and international character of the Baha'i community.
Gerda Haug, a delegate from Germany who was participating in such an event for the first time, said circumambulating the Shrine of Baha'u'llah with Baha'is from around the world was a memorable experience.
"It was a symbol to me," she said, "not just something spiritual but more than that: We were all walking together in one direction, devoted to what Baha'u'llah taught, guided by the Universal House of Justice - it was a great moment."
Ridvan - Arabic for "paradise" - is a 12-day festival commemorating the 12 days in 1863 that Baha'u'llah spent in the Garden of Ridvan in Baghdad. It was during that period that He announced publicly for the first time that He was God's Messenger for this age, the latest in a line of divine teachers that includes Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, and others.
The Festival of Ridvan goes from 21 April to 2 May, and the first, ninth, and 12th days of the period are marked as specific holy days. Yesterday's commemoration was for the ninth day of Ridvan.
To view the photos and additional features click here:http://news.bahai.org
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IN A GLOBAL PROCESSION, BALLOTS ARE CAST FOR THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

HAIFA, Israel, 29 April 2008 (BWNS) --

In a ceremony that combined spiritual dignity with global diversity, a thousand Baha'cs from 153 countries cast ballots today in an election to choose the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith.
For nearly three hours, delegates to the 10th International Baha'i Convention filed decorously, one by one, onto a majestically adorned stage, each dropping a ballot into a simple wooden box.
The votes will be tallied overnight and the results announced here tomorrow.
The event was a study in globalism, a hallmark of the Baha'i Faith, which has some five million followers and is established in virtually every nation.
Delegates were called by name, in alphabetical order by country. Many proudly wore traditional or native dress, an acknowledgment of their belief in the concept of unity in diversity.
The result was colorful and joyous, as women in bright ethnic dresses or simple pantsuits mixed with men in Western business suits or gaily decorated tribal costumes.
The balloting process began with prayers, followed by brief remarks from Penny Walker, chairman of the convention.
"We gather together here with hearts full of excitement at the achievements of the Baha'i world in the last year, and with hearts full of gratitude to Baha'u'llah for making it possible that this extraordinary assembly of His followers, from every corner of the earth, could come together in the Holy Land, to elect the Universal House of Justice, the supreme body of our Faith," said Dr. Walker.
Dr. Walker, who holds the position of International Counsellor in the Baha'i Faith, outlined the voting procedure, in which the delegates write down the names of nine men they feel are most qualified to serve on the Universal House of Justice.
"As you know, the Baha'i electoral process is finally spiritual in character, a unique feature of our divinely ordained administration," she said. "Let us remember the words of Shoghi Effendi, which urged us to approach this task of election with selflessness and detachment, ... 'with a purity of motive, a freedom of spirit and a sanctity of heart.'"
The delegates to the convention are the members of the Baha'i National Spiritual Assemblies of the world, who were themselves elected by delegates chosen at the grassroots level in their own countries. Thus virtually every adult Baha'i in the world had the opportunity to participate in the election of their supreme body, an event that occurs every five years.
About 500 of the 1494 delegates could not be present for voting, for personal or other reasons. Those who could not attend sent ballots by mail, and there were numerous pauses in the procession as tellers brought forward absentee ballots, removed an identifying outer envelope, and dropped the inner contents into the ballot box.
In the case of Iran, where 300,000 Baha'is face intense persecution and Baha'i administration has been outlawed, the absence of delegates was noted by the placement of 95 red roses at the front of the stage and the reading of a message from Iranian Baha'is.
"Even though circumstances deprive us of the bounty of attending this luminous gathering, we are nonetheless with you in spirit, and present to you this bouquet of flowers as a token of our love and affection," the message said.
The nature of Baha'i elections
Today's balloting reflected a unique election process that emphasizes qualifications over promises, and inclusiveness over money or other barriers to office.
There are no parties or platforms, all forms of campaigning are strictly avoided, and no nominations are made. Rather, after prayer and reflection, each delegate simply writes down the names of nine individuals who he or she feels are best qualified to serve.
These instructions are followed in all Baha'i elections, guided by the statement in the Baha'i writings that electors should vote for people who posses qualities "of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience."
At the local and national levels, any adult Baha'i is eligible for election. For the Universal House of Justice, any adult male Baha'i from anywhere in the world is eligible for election. Membership is limited to men because of a specific stipulation in the Baha'i sacred writings, the wisdom of which will become clear in the future.
While some observers have asked how it is possible to manage an election without parties, campaigning or nominations, Baha'is believe their system helps protect against divisiveness and such things as vote-mongering, campaign debts, or factionalism.
"Because there is no nomination process -- there are no 'candidates' per se -- and therefore no campaign," said Susanne Tamas, a delegate from Canada.
"As a result, there is no opportunity for individuals to be encouraging others to vote for them, whether by magnifying their own qualities or finding fault with other candidates.
"Underlying this whole process is reliance on prayer and efforts of the delegates to keep themselves informed of the activities of the Baha'i community worldwide," she said.
Ballot integrity
During the voting, a number of procedures were taken to ensure the integrity of the balloting process - some of which were visible and others less so.
Foremost, the current Universal House of Justice was seated as a body, front and center, as obvious observers to the process.
Then, as vote casting began, the ballot box was tipped towards the assembled delegates, to show that it was empty. And when the voting was completed, it was sealed with tape bearing the signature of the chief teller, Thelma Khalghati, a delegate from Guinea.
Ms. Khelghati was assisted by three other tellers on stage, who carefully checked voters and absentee ballots against a master list of delegates and observed to be sure that ballots were carefully placed in the box.
There were 19 tellers plus the chief head teller and an assistant, and the names of all were announced. They had been selected by the Universal House of Justice, receiving notification of their role upon arrival in Haifa.
"The tellers come from all parts of the world, from different backgrounds, so they are there to witness and vouch for the process," said Baharieh Rouhani Ma'ani, the ballot officer for the convention.
This year, delegates from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Taiwan, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vanuatu, and Zambia were selected as tellers.
The tellers will be sequestered in a counting room at the Seat of the Universal House of Justice until the ballots are counted and cross-checked, a process that in some past years has taken well beyond midnight.
"The electoral process actually began last year, with the election of the National Spiritual Assemblies, ... when the process of verifying those names began," said Ms. Ma'ani. Members of those national councils serve as delegates to the International Convention.
"Then, when the ballots come in by mail, every name is checked against a database to be sure that the person sending the ballot is indeed a member of the National Spiritual Assembly," she said.
The ballots themselves are sheets of paper printed with blank rectangular fields for nine names (and another field for the country or other identifying term as may be needed). The ballots are perforated between each name, and once in the counting room, the tellers separate each ballot into nine strips, yielding more than 13,000 individual votes.
The tellers work in teams of two, said Ms. Ma'ani, under the supervision of the head tellers, cross checking and then sorting the paper strips into a series of alphabetized boxes to complete the tally.
"The process is completely manual," said Ms. Ma'ani. "There is no doubt."
No one leaves until the counting is done. Meals, as necessary, are brought in once the ballot box is unsealed. When finished, the tellers all sign the results and they are presented to the Universal House of Justice for approval.
To view the photos and additional features click here:http://news.bahai.org/
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CONVENTION DELEGATES PRAY AT HOLY PLACES

ACRE, Israel, 28 April 2008 (BWNS) --

Less than a kilometer outside thisfortified medieval city in northern Israel is a whitewashed mansion,
surrounded by elaborate gardens, known as Bahji.
For Baha'is, it is the holiest place on earth.
Beneath one of the buildings in the garden, the earthly remains ofBaha'u'llah were laid to rest in 1892 - and today that
structure is known as the Shrine of Baha'u'llah.
It is understandable, then, that delegates arriving from 153 countries forthe 10th International Baha'i Convention are
streaming to Bahji as part of the process to prepare themselves fortomorrow's election of the Universal House of Justice,
the supreme governing body of the Baha'i Faith.
"We came out Saturday night, on the last bus, at 11 p.m." said BahiaEttehadieh, 53, a delegate from Austria, "and it was
amazing to see so many friends still here at midnight.
"They had come from the remotest places on earth, and many had beentraveling for 24 hours or more, very tired, but they were
so full of spirit and happiness," she said.
The Baha'i writings offer explicit instructions about how Baha'i electionsare to be conducted - and the first and foremost
prerequisite is that they be held in an atmosphere of prayer and reflection.
The 1,000 some delegates gathered here followed those instructions byvisiting not only Bahji but many of the other Baha'i
holy sites in the Acre-Haifa area in northern Israel.
Dashan Fox of the Bahamas visited the House of Abbud in Acre Sunday morning.It was there, in 1873, that Baha'u'llah revealed
the Kitab-i-Aqdas, "the Most Holy Book," which outlines the main principlesand laws of the Baha'i Faith.
"Ultimately, what Baha'is get out of the experience of going to these holyplaces is a centering," said Mr. Fox, a young
civil engineer who like other delegates is a member of the NationalSpiritual Assembly of the Baha'is in his home nation.
"We all take away a little of that experience into the election process. Itreminds us of the sacrifice others have gone
through for the Faith," he said.
Polin Rafat of Norway was deeply moved after visiting the prison cell inAcre where Baha'u'llah was incarcerated for two
years after His arrival in the holy land in 1868.
"Baha'u'llah suffered in that cell so that we could stand here today in thisbeauty and prepare to elect the House of
Justice," said Ms. Rafat, referring to the beauty of the gardens at Bahjiand elsewhere in the Acre-Haifa area that Baha'is
have since adorned their holy places with.
For some of the delegates, it was their first time in the holy land - andthey were overwhelmed.
"I was in seventh heaven," Agim Kotoni, 56, of Albania, said after his visitto Bahji. "I was looking so much forward to
seeing something like this, and Baha'u'llah has fulfilled my wish."
For Mr. Kotoni and others, an added feature of the experience was visitingthe shrines and holy places in the presence such a
diversity of Baha'is from all parts of the world.
"The Baha'is in my city, it is like we are a family," said Mr. Kotoni, whois a police officer in Kabaja. "But now, here, I
see that we are also a single family all over the world.
"Everyone you meet, it is not like I am meeting them for the first time -it's like I have known them for years," he said.
"They offer so much love and respect and spirituality. I am uplifted andfull of emotions."
Hilda Abelinti, 41, of Suriname, was likewise struck by the sense ofcommunity she felt with other Baha'is from around the
globe.
"Every time I meet a new person, I believe more what Baha'u'llah says - thatwe are 'one people,'" she said.
"Everyone may speak a different language, but we all believe the same thing- we try to do what Baha'u'llah teaches - to live
in unity and respect."
To view the photos and additional features click here:http://news.bahai.org/
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------------------------------------------------------------Advance release: Please check our website for the final version of thisarticle.------------------------------------------------------------Copyright 2008 by the Baha'i World News Service. All stories and photographsproduced by the Baha'i World News Service may be freely reprinted,re-emailed, re-posted to the World Wide Web and otherwise reproduced by anyindividual or organization as long as they are attributed to the Baha'iWorld News Service. For more information, visit http://news.bahai.org/.------------------------------------------------------------If you have questions about this list or wish to unsubscribe, contactsubscribe@bahai.org



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DELEGATES ARRIVE IN HAIFA FOR INTERNATIONAL BAHA I CONVENTION

HAIFA, Israel, 27 April 2008 (BWNS) -
- A thousand delegates from 153countries have arrived from the southern tip of Africa, to Siberia, to theAmericas, to remote Pacific islands to participate in the 10thInternational Bah Convention.
On Tuesday, 29 April, they will gather to elect the nine members of theUniversal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bah Faith, a task that delegates view as both a sacred duty and a supremeprivilege.
I ve been preparing myself since November, when I got the ballot, saidBakary Bojang, 31, a delegate from Gambia. I give praise that I have theopportunity and the health to be here.
The convention, held every five years, runs from 29 April to 2 May at theHaifa International Convention Center. In addition to the election, it willinclude consultation on issues and concerns facing the worldwide Baha icommunity.
The delegates are all members of the National Spiritual Assembly of theBaha is of their countries, elected councils that oversee Baha i activity ina particular jurisdiction. The balloting process to elect the UniversalHouse of Justice is unlike any other election system in the world.
There are no nominations and no campaigning, said Erica Toussaint, 61, adelegate from the United States. Rather, each elector writes down the namesof nine people they feel are the most qualified to serve.
The process is free from the constraints that I ve seen in other electoralprocesses around the world, which for me makes it very profound and moving, she said.
Preparing for the four-day convention presented a number of logisticalhurdles, said Anja Nicke, project manager of the International ConventionOffice.
One of the biggest challenges was just communications with NationalSpiritual Assemblies, said Ms. Nicke, 35, who was a schoolteacher beforecoming to the Bah World Centre as a volunteer in September 2004.
For us, it is a simple matter to send an e-mail or make a telephone call, she said. But some National Assemblies are in countries that are torn bywar or poverty, and such types of communications are not always so easy.
In one case, she said, a National Assembly was out of contact for two weeksbecause someone had stolen the wires that connected them to the Internet andtelephone system.
For delegates, the importance of prayer was foremost in their minds as theydiscussed how they would prepare themselves for voting.
We have many things to pray for, said Francis Reimers, 65, from theMarshall Islands, explaining the process by which he decides who to votefor. I come and I mix with people and I pray about who I am going to votefor and I try to reflect on the people I know.
The Baha i writings say that in all Bah elections, which take placeannually at the local and national levels and every five yearsinternationally, the emphasis is on choosing individuals with qualities ofselfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and matureexperience.
Thelma Khelghati, a delegate from Guinea, said Bah elections differ fromtraditional electoral systems where aggressive, ambitious individuals withinfluence and financial means, or at least the ability to mobilize financialmeans, end up being the ones we elect.
Rather, she said, Bah elections are a spiritual process where thedelegates or voters reflect on the demonstrated qualities and experience ofall whom they know, and then vote for those whom they feel best combine theneeded qualities for a given post.
Lise Raben, a delegate from Denmark who has participated in fiveinternational Baha i conventions, said the entire process is a greatexperience. The feeling of unity is very strong when you see hundreds ofpeople gathered to elect our supreme institution that governs the Bah world. The feeling of love and unity makes an International Convention veryspecial and absolutely different from political elections, where thedifferent candidates often try to exhibit their opposites in a bad light.
The Universal House of Justice has its permanent seat on Mount Carmel inHaifa. Situated in the Akka/Haifa area are many holy sites of the Baha iFaith, including its holiest, the burial place of Baha u llah, the founderof the religion.
The Universal House of Justice is the international governing council of theBah Faith. It guides the worldwide Bah community in its development and inits response to changing world conditions.
To view the photos and additional features click here:http://news.bahai.org
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------------------------------------------------------------Advance release: Please check our website for the final version of thisarticle.------------------------------------------------------------Copyright 2008 by the Baha'i World News Service. All stories and photographsproduced by the Baha'i World News Service may be freely reprinted,re-emailed, re-posted to the World Wide Web and otherwise reproduced by anyindividual or organization as long as they are attributed to the Baha'iWorld News Service. For more information, visit http://news.bahai.org/.------------------------------------------------------------If you have questions about this list or wish to unsubscribe, contactsubscribe@bahai.org

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LEAVING AFTER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE HOLY LAND
HAIFA, Israel, 23 April 2008 (BWNS) --
Two members of the Universal House ofJustice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith, are leavingafter many years of service in the Holy Land.
The Universal House of Justice announced in November 2007 that it had givenpermission to Mr. Hartmut Grossmann and Mr. Glenford E. Mitchell torelinquish their membership, but they will continue serving until the nextelection of the body, scheduled for next week.
Mr. Mitchell was first elected as a member of the Universal House of Justicein 1982 and after that to successive five-year terms. Mr. Grossmann waselected in 2003. The Seat of the Universal House of Justice is located atthe Baha'i World Centre in Haifa.
All nine members of the Universal House of Justice are elected at theInternational Baha'i Convention, which is held every five years. The 10thsuch convention is scheduled for 29 April to 2 May in Haifa, with anexpected attendance of more than 1,000 delegates.
Mr. Mitchell, 73, was born in Jamaica and has worked in the United States asan assistant editorial director for a publishing company, a magazine editorand a managing editor. He taught English and journalism at HowardUniversity. He served as the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly ofthe United States from 1968 until his 1982 election to the Universal Houseof Justice. He and his wife, Bahia, will be returning to the United States.
Mr. Grossmann, 74, who was born in Germany, was a lecturer and head of theGerman Department at Joensuu University in Finland. He has served on theNational Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is of Germany and of Finland andwas a member of the Baha'i Continental Board of Counsellors for Europe. In1988, he was appointed to serve on the Baha'i International Teaching Centrein Haifa. He and his wife, Ursula, will be moving to Finland when they leaveHaifa next month.
To view the photos and additional features click here:http://news.bahai.org/
--2-sw-080423-1-RETIREMENTOFUHJMEMBERS-622-S
------------------------------------------------------------Advance release: Please check our website for the final version of thisarticle.------------------------------------------------------------Copyright 2008 by the Baha'i World News Service. All stories and photographsproduced by the Baha'i World News Service may be freely reprinted,re-emailed, re-posted to the World Wide Web and otherwise reproduced by anyindividual or organization as long as they are attributed to the Baha'iWorld News Service. For more information, visit http://news.bahai.org/.------------------------------------------------------------If you have questions about this list or wish to unsubscribe, contactsubscribe@bahai.org----------------------------------------------------------

Baha'i] Ridvan Greetings from Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Leader of the Liberal Democrats








--National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdomnsa@bahai.org.uk
Dearly loved friends - The National Spiritual Assembly is pleased to be able to share with you Ridvan greetings it has received from the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Liberal Democrats. Their messages have been sent on the occasion of the annual reception of the All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is group, being held at the House of Commons on Tuesday 22 April. "I would like to express my respect and admiration to those attendingthis reception, and the wider Baha’í community which makes an importantcontribution to British life. I very much recognise and welcome thoseof the Baha’í faith as a distinguished and valuable part of our rich andmulti-cultural society. The Baha’í community has a long, proud and respected tradition andcontributes much to today’s Britain. Your faith includes a clear obligationto work towards religious tolerance and respect for other faiths, anaim shared by both myself and a wide range of different communitiesacross Britain. I commend you for promoting and understanding and explorations of yourfaith to wider British society. The Baha’í community can be proud ofits success in working to foster cohesive and integrated communities." The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, the Prime Minister "I am delighted to send my best wishes to everyone attending the AllParty Parliamentary Friends of the Baha’is Group reception to mark thefestival of Ridvan. I would like to take this opportunity to also send mybest wishes to the wider Baha’í community in the UK. Not only is Ridvan an important time for communal prayers andcelebration, and for electing local governing councils, but it can also be atime for reflection on the principles which the Baha’í community holdsdear. These principles include unity, the promotion of social justice, abelief in the importance of family life, and a concern for theenvironment. I know that you will also be thinking of your co-religionistselsewhere who may be facing persecution because of their beliefs. May I once again send my good wishes to you and your families at thistime." The Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Leader of the Opposition "I would like to take this opportunity to wish the Baha’í community inthe United Kingdom and your guests a very happy Ridvan. I am sure thatthis celebration will help raise awareness of the issues facing theBaha’í community and that you will have a wonderful evening." The Rt Hon Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats With loving Baha'i greetings National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United KingdomDr Kishan Manocha, Secretary

President Pervez Musharraf greets Ridvan: President greets Bahai community

Tuesday, April 22, 2008ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Bahai Community of Pakistan on the occasion of Eid-e-Rizwan festival being observed today (Tuesday).
The president said the government of Pakistan was committed to preserving for equal rights of all minority communities as enshrined in the Constitution. "Minorities are a sacred trust for Pakistan. The founder of the nation had affirmed this pledge on the creation of Pakistan that the policy of equality, freedom and security for all communities shall be ensured," the president said in a message on the occasion of Eid-e-Rizwan festival.
The president said all religions teach high values like equality, social justice and human rights, as Islam also strongly preaches fair, equal and just treatment for all. The president said: "Eid-e-Rizwan is also an opportunity to remind us and to reaffirm our commitment to work hard for betterment of humanity. I wish a very happy Eid-e-Rizwan to the Bahai community, especially those who live in Pakistan."

in quest of a study circle
the work of a regional institute coordinator is pretty hard…

Connection between racism and mass atrocities addressed by panel

Mark Weitzman of the Simon Weisenthal Center and Yvette Rugasaguhunga, a survivor of the Rwanda genocide of 1994, were among nine speakers at a discussion titled "Eliminate Racism: Prevent Mass Atrocities." Two United Nations ambassadors and representatives of the U.N. human rights office also spoke.

NEW YORK
7 April 2008 (BWNS)

The relationship between racism and mass atrocities was the focus of a panel discussion co-sponsored by the Baha'i International Community to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

"Genocide is not a natural disaster," said Payam Akhavan, an associate professor of law at McGill University, whose appearance was sponsored by the Baha'is. "It is a man-made disaster, an instrument through which ruthless leaders exercise power at the expense of millions."

Professor Akhavan and eight others spoke on 27 March 2008 at the Church Center at United Nations Plaza in New York.

The event, titled "Eliminate Racism: Prevent Mass Atrocities," was sponsored by the Sub-Committee for the Elimination of Racism of the NGO Committee on Human Rights at the United Nations, in cooperation with the Dutch and Jamaican U.N. missions and the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Nine other organizations were co-sponsors.

Craig Mokhiber of the U.N. human rights office in New York had a somber assessment: "The struggle against racism is unfortunately not on the forward path many of us thought it was on a decade ago."

Racism is a global phenomenon, he said, made worse by impunity for the perpetrators of atrocities committed under its influence. The concept of "the other" is what perpetuates racism, he said.

Payam Akhavan of McGill University said governments sometimes turn a blind eye to events that lead up to atrocities against groups of people.

Mr. Mokhiber suggested that racism is the result of "us," plus "the other," added to an unequal power structure and hatred inflamed by politicians and the media.

"Defeating this paradigm is the central struggle against racism today," he said.

The Dutch ambassador to the United Nations, Piet de Klerk, agreed that racism is alive in many forms and that making a connection between racism and atrocities is "very appropriate."

Reducing individuals to representatives of specific groups makes it easy to perpetrate mass atrocities, he said.

Among the others who spoke at the event were Raymond O. Wolfe, the Jamaican ambassador to the United Nations; Yvette Rugasaguhunga, a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan massacre; and Mark Weitzman of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The discussion was moderated by Tahirih Naylor, a representative to the United Nations of the Baha'i International Community.

More details

Realizing Dr. King’s dream, Baha'i style

Realizing Dr. King’s dream, Baha'i style

January 17, 2008 - 6:28pm

If you’re a member of a minority, and you’re not involved in decision-making at an administrative level, then society is still far from realizing the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., says Phillipe Copeland, a Baha'i in Boston who examines social issues from an African-American perspective on his blog, Baha'i Thought.

Reflecting on the Jan. 21 observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Mr. Copeland says Dr. King envisioned “a multiracial democratic community, which means more than people of different races simply being in the same physical space at the same time.”

Mr. Copeland says it’s “rare in our society to see communities in which racial diversity is reflected in administrative structure and governance.”

Rare, but not non-existent. Mr. Copeland points to the administrative structure of the Baha'i Faith as an example of what Dr. King had in mind: Members elected by other members to serve on councils at the local, national and international level.

And because of the Baha'i Faith core beliefs in the oneness of humanity and the elimination of prejudice, among others, Baha'i communities tend to be made up of an unusually diverse population.

Indeed, the Faith not only approves of interracial marriage, it encourages and supports it.


Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.“Baha'is in the United States and other countries are raising multiracial families in intentionally diverse communities. That’s a “significant contribution in helping to erase prejudice,” Mr. Copeland says. “Maybe I’m just really proud of the Baha'i Faith, but I challenge people to find other institutions where this happens regularly.”

Mr. Copeland, who became a Baha'i 11 years ago, is married to Maura, a Caucasian woman whose family of origin includes Russian Jews, German Lutherans, a sister adopted from India and a sister-in law from China. As a lifelong Baha'i, she fully expected to marry a man of another “race.”

Although the Copelands and other Baha’is take interracial unions for granted, society doesn’t, Mr. Copeland says.

“There’s still a big gap in what Dr. King hoped for and what is. He’s still way ahead of his time. Segregation is everywhere. The oneness of humanity is still considered optional,” says Mr. Copeland, who has a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. “A lot of people subscribe to it, but don’t feel morally compelled to act on it. They don’t measure themselves on it in their daily life.”

Mr. Copeland says he believes the idealism of Dr. King can be put into action by following the precepts revealed by Baha’u’llah, Founder of the Faith.

“The Baha'i Faith addresses the needs of all people,” he says. “We all just need to build the system that Baha’u’llah has created and the rest takes care of itself

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God as Friend

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by Dale E. Lehman Appeared: 01/11/2008

Bahá'u'lláh’s The Hidden Words consists of 153 brief exhortations, 71 in Arabic and 82 in Persian. Each which begins with a salutation:

O son of spirit!

O son of being!

O ye people that have minds to know and ears to hear!

O son of earth!

O my children!

Some of these appear only once, while others are repeated a number of times. Some appear only in the Arabic section, others only in the Persian section. Nine of the Persian exhortations, for example, refer to the reader as “friend”.

That’s an interesting statistic. In nine of 82, just over one-tenth of them, God calls us His friends. This relationship is not mentioned at all in the Arabic section but forms a significant part of the Persian, wherein God not only names us friend but challenges us to be as true a friend to Him as He is to us.

O My friend in word! Ponder awhile. Hast thou ever heard that friend and foe should abide in one heart? Cast out then the stranger, that the Friend may enter His home.
(Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words, Persian 26)

O children of negligence and passion! Ye have suffered My enemy to enter My house and have cast out My friend, for ye have enshrined the love of another than Me in your hearts. Give ear to the sayings of the Friend and turn towards His paradise. Worldly friends, seeking their own good, appear to love one the other, whereas the true Friend hath loved and doth love you for your own sakes; indeed He hath suffered for your guidance countless afflictions. Be not disloyal to such a Friend, nay rather hasten unto Him. Such is the daystar of the word of truth and faithfulness, that hath dawned above the horizon of the pen of the Lord of all names. Open your ears that ye may hearken unto the word of God, the Help in peril, the Self-existent.
(Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words, Persian 52)

A special Friend is often mentioned in these passages, one whose love is pure and true, who has suffered for our sakes, and who gives us the best counsel. This is the Manifestation of God, and His portrayal as a true Friend is nothing new. Abraham is called “the Friend of God” in the Bible, the Qur’án, and the Bahá’í Holy Writings, while Jesus spoke of His followers as friends:

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:12-15, KJV)

Muhammad, too, spoke of the friendship between God, His Manifestation, and humanity:

Your (real) friends are (no less than) Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers, those who establish regular prayers and regular charity, and they bow down humbly (in worship).
(Qur'án 5:55, Yusuf Ali’s translation; some translations give “protector” instead of “friend”)

Finally, as we have seen, Bahá'u'lláh spoke frequently of these friendships, and they are powerful indeed. Friendship is one of the most fundamental of human relationships, a relationship with which everyone has at least some experience, no matter how imperfectly. We all at least know the spirit of true friendship and recognize true friends by their actions. Our friends are concerned for our well-being, are willing to lend a helping hand even when doing so calls for sacrifice. Selfish motives don’t interpose themselves between friends.

Now if we recognize all this from our human friendships, which after all have a tendency to be imperfect over the long haul, the infinite friendship of the Manifestations of God and of God Himself should be as clear as the noonday sun. Overwhelming, certainly, and unfathomable, but no less clear for that. For instance, Bahá'u'lláh wrote this of the sacrifices He had made on our behalf:

The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with gladness. This is of the mercy of your Lord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We have accepted to be abased, O believers in the Unity of God, that ye may be exalted, and have suffered manifold afflictions, that ye might prosper and flourish. He Who hath come to build anew the whole world, behold, how they that have joined partners with God have forced Him to dwell within the most desolate of cities!
(Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, XLV, p. 99-100)

The events of His life—the loss of all material wealth; forty years of imprisonment and exile, the extreme hardships He faced when forced to move from place to place, repeated tortures and attempts on His life, and betrayal by members of His own family, to name the most significant—are accurately reflected in this passage. It would have been so easy for Him to avoid all that and remain what He had once been: a wealthy man liked and respected by high and low alike.

But when God’s summons came, He was God’s true Friend and ours. He gave up everything to bring God’s new Message to us, not so as to gain anything for Himself but solely to give us a chance to approach God and build a better world.

That’s true friendship, to a degree we can’t fully comprehend. But we surely know it when we see it. The question then becomes, having seen it what do we do about it?

Friendship, after all, is a two-way street.

Planet Bahá'í

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Lose the prejudice and find fairness in our hearts

Lose the prejudice and find fairness in our hearts

February 29, 2008 - 1:56pm

As I listened to the news today, Los Angelista writes, “I found myself thinking specifically about how as a nation we have not addressed our religious prejudices against Muslims. In fact, we are guilty of a great deal of religious prejudice toward our Muslim brothers and sisters.”

On Handing Tests the Media Deliver: Guidance received Baha'i Views: On a World Citizen: de George Wesley Dannells

Papijoon

I understand your concern. This is a severe test for you to be detached from all this garbage that is in the media and the stupid things that are being said. If you can remember what 'Abdu'l-Baha went through with the Covenant Breakers, His own family, turned against Him and did everything they could to get Him killed... you may be able to begin to learn how to deal with this sort of thing. Of course you are angry, but as a Baha'i you need to take a higher position of detachment from this. It has been predicted that the world will go through great turmoil before we can ever come to the realization that we have to work together. Education is needed, but it isn't easy when so many people think they already know it all.

But then there are the more silent ones, who are disturbed as well, but don't know what to think. This is the time for you to be strong, not angry, not take sides, not be defensive, not be consumed with the challenges of the media who are happy to have a big story to promote. Surely you can get together with the other friends in your community for support. In this world at this time, there is nothing that is in balance. The last thing we Baha'is should do is take sides in political or other divisive issues.

I can't say much more. But I will be in the USA as of May 1, until mid June. It is my plan to try to use the fact that I live in China to help diffuse, to educate others. The only answer is unity. We have to work for that." If a thought of war comes, destroy it with a more powerful thought of peace". If a person has ten bad qualities and one good, focus on the one good. Look for a point of unity - reason - when speaking with others. Understand that the last thing the people have is knowledge of China in the west. There is nothing that is clearly right for one group of people and clearly wrong for the others. Unless we work together and open our minds and hearts to others, be patient in teaching them, learning from them, we can never come to unity or harmony.

2008年4月15日-一些回复

http://yiyiyaya8.blogspot.com/2008/04/2008415.html

巴哈伊世界 * 巴哈伊祷文 * 巴哈伊资料

{Photo: Chinese bowl at the Baha'i World Centre, Haifa, Israel. Uploaded on February 12, 2007 by .leila on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic}

A Yale Baha'i looks at his world through the lens of his Faith. -gw

The historical Darius
My column, “Daft Like Dar,” has been my attempt to engender dialogue inconspicuously. My pieces are an extension of the conversations that have enriched my life at Yale, forced me to reckon with the formerly unknown and hopefully shown others a perspective and a lifestyle they hadn’t yet encountered. When I wrote about Internet neutrality, I drew on the Baha’i principle of independent investigation of the truth; my thoughts on the presidential election reflected the Baha’i admonition that partisan politics are inherently divisive. Every column began with a news item and a Baha’i principle. If these columns spoke to you, I recommend you look into both.

18 months later, a voice of the Bahá’í Faith signs off
Dariush Nothaft
Daft Like Dar
Published Tuesday, April 15, 2008
I can only hope that the combination of sincere dialogues and an unfailing sense of moral rectitude in politicians can take its effect sooner rather than later. The world faces many challenges today; to overcome them, we must first overcome our own divisions and prejudices. As is written in Baha’i scripture, “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”

Candidates’ loyalties should lie with all humanity
By Dariush Nothaft
Presidential candidates should ideally appeal to a loyalty to humanity, rather than one to party. Only then will we unlock the true capacity of American loyalty. Only then will we witness the American dream fulfilled.

Shifting focus from anti-terror to pro-

Shifting focus from anti-terror to pro-allianceBy Dariush NothaftAmerica can be the ethical leader we imagine it to be; I’m sure many people like my grandfather are just waiting to be convinced.
Emphasis on The Canon glorifies Us vs. ThemBy Dariush NothaftThe question is not which philosophy is read, but rather how the ideals of each — most of which are unfulfilled — can be used to realize their promises in a way that benefits everyone.
Advice for America: Align by ethics, not policyBy Dariush NothaftAlliances between democracies can be more difficult at times, because other countries may disagree with the American agenda. But in today’s world, an ongoing conversation is infinitely better than a schoolyard posse.
Vigil-goers express solidarity, open conversation on raceBy Dariush NothaftI am proud to have gone to the vigil, and was profoundly touched by the words I heard strangers and friends speak. I hope that if any of you shared the sentiment of the News, you ask your friends, neighbors or colleagues about the vigil. Be ready to listen. This is an ongoing conversation.
Iran should not deny education to Baha’iBy Dariush NothaftThe case of the Baha’is in Iran reminds us that we must sharpen our wits when dealing with repressive regimes, lest they take our trust as naivete and use our good intent against those they repress. We must use the avenues of international diplomacy to remind Iran that what they are doing is wrong, so that these avenues can become well worn, and can be more easily used for future issues. This would benefit all minorities worldwide, not only Baha’is.
'Virtual' religion raises interesting questionsBy Dariush NothaftThe concept of Internet-administered religion merits further scrutiny.
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Views: On a World Citizen: Papijoon

8:43 AM (42 minutes ago) On a Pilot Project in the Phillips Neighborhood: A lil about the Baha'i Faith from Baha'i Views: On a World Citizen: Papijoon by George Wesley Dannells Tags: phillips minneapolis, Uploaded on March 1, 2007 by oh estelle on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.0 Generic This guy has the outward orientation of a Baha'i teacher. And I love the fact that he really mixes up the type sizes and typefaces on his blog. -gw Phillips Jr. Youth Class #2 Reflections on Teaching with Anna's Presentation II Phillips Jr youth class #1 Beginning a Jr Youth class is amazing. It can be so intimidating, but once action takes place, the momentum is really driving.A friend and I just had the bounty of helping to start a new Jr. Youth class in Minneapolis in the Phillips neighborhood. How fun. Seriously! We met with the parents last week and they were all excited. We taught them a lil about the Baha'i Faith, they all seemed relatively interested, and signed all the kids up.Total kids- 6 Total time-7wks (pilot project) Reflections on Teaching with Anna's Presentation I Have you counted your b-lessons today? Where I spell out realizations, events, epiphanies which I believe are both lessons of life that are helping me progress, as well as blessings of God in my life. Peace on that. + Tags: Minneapolis Phillips Ventura Park neighborhood snow thawing. Uploaded on March 18, 2007 by Transguyjay on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.0 Generic

RIDVAN

The First Day of Ridvan Holy Day ... marks the end of the dispensation of the Bab and of the first epoch of the Heroic or Apostolic Age of the Baha’i dispensation (BBD 72-79 cited in Campbell and Momen 1996: 69).

“On the same day Baha’u'llah [made] three important statements to His followers:

1. He [forbade] the use of the sword.
2. He [stated] that no other Manifestation will appear before one thousand years. This is later reiterated in the Kitab-i-Badi and the Kitab-i-Aqdas.
3. He [stated] that from [that] moment, all the names and attributes of God are manifested within all created things, implying the advent of a new Day" [RB1 278-80] cited in Campbell and Momen (1996: 70).

Maureen Flynn-Burhoe

a student of Faith

by George Wesley Dannells

Arsinoe is a student of faith, the Baha'i Faith, but not yet declared. -gw

Officially, I am not yet a Baha'i as I have yet to declare. However, I have been studying the faith for a year or so now and have known about it a bit longer. Believe it or not, i first heard of the faith on a chat show. One of the participants mentioned that she was Baha'i and as I had not heard the word before I began to investigate. At the time I was studying both Religious Studies and Religious Education at GCSE level and thought it important that I learn what I can about the different pathways of Belief. But it was only ever the Baha'i teachings that stayed with me and intrigued me in years to come. I know no one else who is a Baha'i. My Parents are from a C of E and Jehovahs Witness background respectively and there was little discussion in our household in regards to other cultures and ways of being. One of the things I have come to love about the faith is its acceptance of all people and its recognition of our essential unity. It allows for exploration and demands very little of you other than your individuality and world embracing vision. I also love how the Baha'i faith is very much rooted in practicality. It allows you to live your faith and contribute actively in the world powered by your belief. These were two aspects I had been looking for in a religion and the Baha'i way has provided me with both :)

+
http://www.experienceproject.com/uw.php?e=191592
Arsinoe,"Be The Change That You Wish To See In The World - Ghandi"

Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Studies

On Blessings upon Blessings: Pilgrimage dates received

from Baha'i Views: On a World Citizen: Papijoon by George Wesley Dannells

"19 April 2007. you can't imagine how fragrant, how beautiful, how comforting, how divine the scenes and breezes are."
Uploaded on April 19, 2007 by .leila on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Letter received. Blessings upon blessings. -gw

Dear Baha’i Friends,

In response to your letter indicating your preferences for pilgrimage dates, we would like to inform you that you have been scheduled to come to Haifa for pilgrimage starting 13 April 2009 and finishing in the evening of 22 April 2009.

During this time, the celebration of the First Day of Ridvan will be commemorated on 21 April. To allow for the attendance at this Holy Day observance, the House of Justice has decided to extend the period of this pilgrimage by one day.

With loving Baha'i greetings,
The Department of Pilgrimage

On Ridvan Links: Sources of inspiration for reaching and teaching

On Ridvan Links: Sources of inspiration for reaching and teaching

"Detail of the benches in the Ridván Garden, ‘Akká, Israel"
Baha'i Media Bank

With the Baha'i Holy Day of Ridvan in mind, Jeanette and Vahid call our attention to more great sources of inspiration they have gathered together on their website, Reaching and Teaching Efforts. -gw

Dear Friends,

Happy Ridván

"Upon Our arrival, We were welcomed with banners of light, whereupon the Voice of the Spirit cried out saying: 'Soon will all that dwell on earth be enlisted under these banners.'" Bahá’u’lláh

To see different Ridván videos and the video of Israelis and Palestinians together singing songs of Love and Peace and witness a glimmer of that Great Spirit, please go to http://teachingandprojects.com/ then,
1) Click on " Art and Music " on the left hand side of the page
2) Scroll down to Happy Ridván

Also in the same page you will find the Arabic chanting of the Tablet of Ahmad that hopefully will be a source of inspiration and help to you as much as it has been to us.

At your request, we will enumerate some of the additions and updates to the above site since we last posted it here, as follows:

1) In the “Home” Page
· Multimedia: Audio, Video, Images, Blogs and Podcasts
2) Children and pre-youth
· Spiritual Education Lesson Plans

3) In the “Art and Music” page
· “Happy and joyous Naw-Rúz and Ridván” Slide shows
· Happy Ridván - Persian Tar and Poetry
· “Happy Naw-Rúz “From Radio Nasim Persian
· Chant of Tablet of Ahmad in Arabic
· Bahá’í Short Obligatory Prayer in English and Arabic
· “O GOD” PRAYER IN ENGLISH AND ARABIC
· DOUG CAMERON MONA WITH THE CHILDREN
· Universal peace brotherhood video
· A tribute to Bahá’í artists around the world
4) In the “Other Religions” page
· “World Religion Day” Interfaith understanding and harmony site
· Teaching Christians Effectively Seminar 10 hour seminar by Dr. David Young
· Prophecy Fulfilled Planet Bahá'í
5) In the “Other sites” page
· “Radio Nasim” Persian radio site
· Arabic Bahá’í Dialogue Room for Religions and Faiths
· Gathered information on the postal stamps and material related to the Baha'i Faith
· “DivineNotes” Collection of Baha'i-inspired music in various languages
· A Bahá'í Faith Page
· Bahá'í Faith Index
· The Wilmette Institute on-line courses on the Bahá’í Faith
· True Seeker, various Writings website
· Bahá’í videos available from around the world, about 586 different videos or 72 hours of videos

With best wishes for all,
Vahid and Jeanette Hedayati

http://teachingandprojects.com/

from Baha'i Views: On a World Citizen: Papijoon by George Wesley Dannells

Three dear souls, two adults and one young child, visit a new believer, one of three from Tacoma's recent door-to-door campaign. -gw

We visited with her this morning and presented the first of the Book 2 deepening themes to her, on The Eternal Covenant of God. We felt a little awkward at first, not having met her before (and this being our first time doing the practice of Book 2) but we launched right in and soon were having a warm dialogue as we worked through the material. We used the quote cards "á la Anna's presentation" which worked well, and we left her with those five quotes. Also I took a cd from our children's classes which has about 7 tracks on it of prayers and quotes the kids have been working on learning this year, and a flier about our children's classes. Her husband was cleaning up the kitchen as we were talking and although we introduced ourselves and he smiled, he kept on doing his work but at one point very deliberately came into the living room to turn down the tv volume for us.

She is married and has two daughters, age 6 and age 3 and two cats. She is from the Tacoma area originally and has 2 sisters and 1 brother. Her sister is currently serving in Iraq and will be there until January. Prayers for her protection please. She currently works at a plastics factory, but is trying to get a job at Walmart where she previously worked.

We told her about Feast, but she's working this evening, and we mentioned study circles and encouraged her to bring the kids to children's classes. We exchanged phone numbers and asked if it would be okay for us to come back next Wednesday and she said that would be great.

Thank you for your prayers and this wonderful opportunity to practice our skills acquired from Ruhi. We really enjoyed our morning.
With much love...

by George Wesley Dannells

Consolidation Story #2. Chris does a home visit to the woman who was our very first declarant in the first 90 minutes of teaching in the Hilltop neighborhood, Tacoma, the day after Naw Ruz. -gw

I went to visit D today. I called before going to her Grandmother's where D is a care-provider. D sounded very low. She said she was having a confusing day. I suggested that our visit might lift her spirit so she said to come up. When she opened the door she was crying. We went off to a quiet courtyard and said prayers. We said prayers for the departed (her friend died this past weekend), prayers for assistance, for healing and remover of difficulties. We talked, she emptied, I listened and then I offered to share more on Baha'u'llah....it was getting colder sitting outside so D offered to go into the apartment. Her mother K was there and D introduced me as her Baha'i Counselor!! Yikes!

I shared that i was a Baha'i and asked K if she knew about the Baha'i Faith. K shared that D was being pressured by friends who said the Faith was a Cult. Okay.......i pulled out our trusted Anna and we went in there! We made it through the sufferings and influence of Baha'u'llah and the teachings on Unity....and K starts bobbing her head agreeing with everything. When we finished the quotation on the circle of Unity she was crying.......I asked her if she also believed that Baha'u'llah is the Manifestation for this New Day and she said Yes!! (OH George I needed to be smooth and start filling in her name but alas i didn't bring a card!!)

Then the phone rings and D starts crying too. Her friend's husband was just put in jail for driving without a license and he has 4 little girls at home. I suggested we offer a powerful prayer revealed by the Bab...Is there any remover of difficulties........ everything suddenly quiets and in we are hugging! These are difficult times but there is a power beyond our understanding when we walk in prayer..... remember Baha'u'llah's imprisonment, banishment and sufferings...... all because He loves us. You will get through this. Before parting D's Grandmother comes in (she has Alzheimer's and Cancer) she want's to know why I am in her apartment. D and K introduced me as the Baha'i Counselor and laugh!

Apr 11, 2008 (4 days ago) On Being Prepared: I am going to put some declaration cards in my purse right now from Baha'i Views: On a World Citizen: Papijoon by George Wesley Dannells "Be prepared to move fast when opportunities present themselves." Uploaded on December 30, 2006 by wildphotons on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.0 Generic. Consolidation story #3. A conversation between two Beloved of God after their consolidation efforts. -gw Chris: This is so amazing!!!! Helen: Amazing is right! And brought to mind that part of the long Healing Prayer "I call on Thee O Unfastener, O Counselor, O Deliverer! Thou the Sufficing, Thou the Healing, Thou the Abiding, O Thou Abiding One!" It really sounds as though you were able to offer Baha'u'llah's healing medicine at just the right time Counselor Chris. And a valuable learning too, we need to make like the boy scouts and "Be Prepared." I'm going to put some declaration cards in my purse right now. Chris: Not Chris at all............. Oh..... Counselor Baha'u'llah........... It is so true He is the Healer,the All Suficing...... In tears we beseech Him saying...... Gosh you really get the learnings, Helen!! I left my prayer book at home that is stuffed with declaration cards. The one in hand was not as prepared! Yes to Scouts! Yes to being prepared!!! Let's stuff our purses!

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