Celebrating the two hundredth Anniversaries of The Birth of Baha'u'llah and The Bab |
Introduction In 2017 Baha'is around the world will celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah. Then in 2019 they will celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of the Birth of the Bab. This journal will contain poems and prose inspired by these two anniversaries. In addition, I will include thoughts and poems inspired by the scriptures revealed by Baha'u'llah and the Bab. Before Naw-Ruz of 2015, the Baha'i or Badi calendar "was synchronized to the Gregorian calendar".1 After Naw-Ruz of 2015, the date of the vernal equinox was established as the birthplace of Baha'u'llah which unlocked the Baha'i calendar from the Gregorian calendar.2 Because of this the dates of the celebrations are now calculated according to the Baha'i/Badi calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar which was the case before Naw-Ruz 2015. Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh Bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha Twin Holy Days Celebrated on the fist and second day following the eight new moon after Naw-Ruz The Celebration of the Birth of the Báb occurred on October 21, 2017. The Bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb will occur on October 29, 2019 Born: 1 Muharram 1235 AH - 20 October 1819 The Bicentenary Celebration of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh occurred on October 22, 2017 The Celebration of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh will occur on October 30, 2019 Born: 2 Muharram 1233 AH - 12 November 1817 Centenary of the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha More information as 2021 progresses. Links to Articles Articles in the Huffington Post Baha’is Prepare for Bicentennial in 2017 By Shastri Purushotma (December 30, 2016) Baha’is To Celebrate “Twin Holy Days” For First Time Worldwide By Shastri Purushotma (November 5, 2015) 200 Years Since His Birth: Who Is Bahá’u’lláh? by Genevieve Seri (September 9. 2017) Articles in Baha'i Chronicles http://bahaichronicles.org/ Articles in Beyond Foreignness 200 Articles in 200 Days for the 200th Anniversary of Bahá’u’lláh’s Birth by Michael Curtotti The Short Obligatory Prayer Revealed by Bahá'u'lláh "I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify, at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth. There is none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting." Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh, CLXXXI The Remover of Difficulties Revealed by The Bab "Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants and all abide by His bidding!" Selections from the Writings of the Báb Prayer for America Revealed by 'Abdu'l-Baha "O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad-tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal." Baha'i Prayers Footnotes |
‘Ilm August 19, 2017 at 3:24pm ‘Ilm{footnote:#}Knowledge :
To The Blessed Beauty
The Blessed Beauty
intoned the verses of divine unity,
glorified the preexistent Creator,
and revealed to humanity
the fruit of the rose of knowledge.
I meditate on the wisdom
of the Gracious Lord,
and give thanks
in sending the Blessed Beauty
to humanity.
He is the mirror of
divine knowledge,
and His revelation unifies
the planet.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 128 of 200 Dedicated to The Bless... [Read more] Day of the Lord August 20, 2017 at 2:26pm Day of the Lord:
To The Blessed Beauty
"This is the day in which the testimony of the Lord hath been fulfilled, the day in which the Word of God hath been made manifest, and His evidence firmly established. His voice is calling you unto that which shall profit you, and enjoineth you to observe that which shall draw you nigh unto God, the Lord of Revelation."
Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán , Frontispiece
This is the Day of the Lord,
when out of Zion God... [Read more] Mashíyyat August 18, 2017 at 2:44pm Mashíyyat{footnote:#}Will :
To The Blessed Beauty
Guided by the will of the Most Holy,
and keeping our eyes focused
on the purpose of the Most Exalted,
we proclaim the Blessed Beauty
to humanity.
Unknowingly
obeying the primal will,
kings exiled
the Blessed Beauty
from his birthplace in Iran
to Baghdad,
and eventually
to the prison city
of Akka, Israel.
Obeying the will of God,
the Blessed Beauty
suffered
imprisonment and exile
for humanity.
{dropnote:"Po... [Read more] Salvation August 15, 2017 at 7:44pm Salvation:
To The Blessed Beauty
Source of redemption for the planet,
promised one of all past religions,
and sent by the Almighty to mankind.
I contemplate the love of the Self-Sufficient,
who revealed to us the Mirrors of His attributes,
I meditate on the miracle of salvation,
and give thanks for the birth of the Blessed Beauty.
Source of salvation for the planet,
who came to unite humanity,
within the ark of the Almighty.
I ponder my feeble attempts to proclaim,
the... [Read more] ‘Izzat August 17, 2017 at 3:12pm ‘Izzat{footnote:#}Might :
To The Blessed Beauty
Oh, Thou Blessed Beauty,
it is only through the might
of the Omniscient
that I can create rhythm and rhyme,
or inscribe stanza and line
to proclaim the glory
of Your revelation.
Oh, Thou Blessed Beauty,
if not for the power of the Almighty,
I would be unable
to proclaim Your name
to humanity.
Oh, Thou Blessed Beauty,
I intone my exaltation
to the All-Possessing
each time I chant
"Alláh-u-Abhá!"
Oh, Thou ... [Read more] Holy Scriptures August 11, 2017 at 11:57pm Holy Scriptures:
To The Blessed Beauty
Quotations from
the sacred scriptures
guide the wayfarer home.
Divine light
shining through the prism
of God's Manifestations
create the rainbow
of His sacred scriptures.
Earth was illuminated through
the Reg-Veda,
the Torah,
the Gospel,
the Qur'an,
the Katib-i-Aqdas,
etc.
All revealing
in the the language
of the time
the Golden Rule.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 123 if 200 Dedicated to Th... [Read more] Asmá’ August 14, 2017 at 11:23pm Asmá’{footnote:#}Names :
To The Blessed Beauty
Oh, Thou All-Glorious,
I cannot list Thy billion plus Names
in a single journal
or document.
Almighty God,
Creator of the universe,
whose catalog of titles
cause the pens of poets to run dry;
I give you thanks
for guiding me
to the Blessed Beauty.
Oh, Thou All-Possessing,
whose attributes
are reflected
to humanity
through the Mirrors of Thy Manifestations;
I ask Thy mercy
and forgiveness of my sins.
All-Powerful,... [Read more] Contemplations on Reality August 11, 2017 at 11:52pm Contemplations on Reality:
To The Blessed Beauty
"Reality is the same,
People call it by different names."
Buddhist Saying
I
Labels
focus the mind
on the events of the moment,
as we watch the world
from inside our own cubicles.
II
A mountain,
rising above the plain,
that we approach
by a winding path.
From the path
we catch fleeting glimpses
of the summit.
III
Our souls journey
from reality to reality
without pausing
or taking a deep... [Read more] Kamál August 14, 2017 at 7:28pm Kamál{footnote:#}Perfection :
To The Blessed Beauty
The Blessed Beauty,
the Blessed Perfection,
both title of Baha'u'llah,
the Glory of God.
O my Beloved,
I beseech forgives
for my in ability to express
the excellence of Your revelation
through metaphor or simile in stanza and line.
I read passages from The Kitáb-i-Aqdas ,
The Most Holy Book,
and realize that
in the fullness of Divine love
God has revealed
the wine of the Tree of Life.
O my Beloved,
... [Read more] Servitude August 11, 2017 at 11:48pm Servitude:
To The Blessed Beauty
Creation of Divinity!
Cheval glasses reflecting the Manifestations of God!
In the station of servitude,
to believe
or not to believe
is freewill's choice.
In the station of servitude,
the soul,
through the fires of tests,
ascends the ranks of perfection.
Soul's limitation
is the station of servitude.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 119 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Kalimát August 14, 2017 at 5:28pm Kalimát{footnote:#}Words :
To The Blessed Beauty
Words of the Blessed Beauty
reverberate through my mind
inspiring me
to be loving and kind,
to intone prayer for forgiveness,
and to write stanza and line.
The utterances
of the Blessed Beauty
come directly
from the Godhead
through the Holy Spirit.
The Blessed Beauty
reveals the word of God
for today.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 118 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Free will August 14, 2017 at 5:21pm Free will:
To The Blessed Beauty
What is free will?
To believe or deny
the existence
of the Divine Creator.
What is free will?
To accept or reject
the mirror of God's attributes,
the Manifestation
of Divinity,
the Revealer
of the Divine Creator.
This is free wills choice,
it is the decision of the individual
whether to believe or deny,
to accept or reject.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 117 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Raḥmat August 14, 2017 at 5:11pm Raḥmat{footnote:#}Mercy :
To The Blessed Beauty
A sinner ask forgiveness,
supplicates divine mercy
either indirectly,
though one of God's prophet-manifestations,
or directly,
begging clemency from God.
Divine blessing
touch every continent
and island on Earth,
because one of God's names
is mentioned every minute
of the day or night.
God gives humanity His grace
because He loves us,
not because we deserve.
The favor of God
is shed upon humanity
through t... [Read more] Sweet Tea August 11, 2017 at 11:37pm Sweet Tea:
To The Blessed Beauty
Beloved,
Your scriptures
are like sweet tea
on a hot summer day
refreshing mind and soul.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 115 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Núr August 14, 2017 at 4:19pm Núr{footnote:#}Light :
To The Blessed Beauty
White light{footnote:#}http://www.thefreedictionary.com/white+light :
equal amounts
of all the frequencies
of the visible color spectrum.
Color spectrum{footnote:#}http://www.thefreedictionary.com/color+spectrum :
the distribution of
white light, by a prism,
into all the color frequencies.
Radiance
of divine love
penetrates the heart
of darkness and distributes light.
Brightness
of God's Word
penetrating the clouds
... [Read more] Why I Believe August 11, 2017 at 11:14pm Why I Believe:
To The Blessed Beauty
Why do I believe?
I read the scripture revealed
by Baha'u'llah,
and I feel the Holy Spirit
flowing from paragraph to paragraph.
Why do I believe?
Two dreams
encouraged my search,
and confirm my belief.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 113 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] ‘Aẓamat August 11, 2017 at 11:12pm ‘Aẓamat{footnote:#}Grandeur :
To The Blessed Beauty
When I read the sacred scriptures
revealed by the Blessed Beauty,
I hear the voice of God's Nightingale
singing in the Tree of Life,
and see the grandeur of the Abha realm
spread before my spirit's eyes.
As the splendor of morning
spreads across the firmament,
I intone God's Greatest Name:
“O Thou Glory of Glories!”
I meditation upon majesty
of the supreme Manifestation of God,
pick up my pen,
and ... [Read more] By Faith August 11, 2017 at 11:10pm By Faith:
To The Blessed Beauty
I walk by faith,
through the valley of the shadow of death,
through the smoke of Armageddon,
following the footsteps
of the Blessed Beauty
toward a New Heaven
and a New Earth.
I live by faith,
attempting to obey
the laws revealed by
The Blessed Beauty
for the salvation
of the planet.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 111 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Jamál August 11, 2017 at 11:08pm Jamál{footnote:#}Beauty :
To The Blessed Beauty
The Blessed Beauty
walked through the Garden of Ridvan inhaling
the charm of the rose
scented dawn
and listening
to the elegant songs
of nightingales.
The Blessed Beauty's presence
attracted divine blessing
to the believers
who joined him
in the Garden of Paradise.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 110 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Encounters With the Sacred August 11, 2017 at 11:06pm Encounters With the Sacred:
To The Blessed Beauty
Encounters with the sacred,
the heart of the spiritual experience,
engages both religious tradition
and The Mystery.
They unify
diverse cultural backgrounds
and sacred practices,
while revealing
a fundamental reality
that is larger than the ego-self,
and more inclusive
than personal concepts of Divinity.
Intimate encounters with the sacred
expose the Self that hides
behind the veils of opposites,
while revealing
a ge... [Read more] Jalál August 11, 2017 at 11:03pm Jalál{footnote:#}Glory :
To The Blessed Beauty
As I contemplating the brand new day,
dawn's glory glistens like morning dew,
and its majesty awakens
my soul to the seraphim's songs
that in this new age
greeted God's Promised One.
The glory of the new born day,
reveals to my despondent spirit
the brilliance of the Blessed Beauty
rising above the horizon
of God's ancient covenant.
{dropnote:"Poet's Notes:"}This is Poem 108 of 200 Dedicated to ... [Read more] Tongues of Poets August 11, 2017 at 11:01pm Tongues of Poets:
To The Blessed Beauty
"Treasures lie hidden beneath the throne of God; the key to those treasures is the tongue of poets."
A Tradition Quoted by the Bab
God's hands plays the melody,
that the tongues of poets sing,
the Holy Spirit strums the chords,
that give the scriptures harmony,
inspiring poets' odes.
The tongues of poets are their pens,
that reveal the hidden treasures
beneath the Throne of God.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:... [Read more] Bahá August 11, 2017 at 10:58pm Bahá{footnote:#}Splendour :
To The Blessed Beauty
The splendor of the lamp
lit by the power of Thy love
outshines the glory of the noonday sun,
and the light it cast
across the souls of Thy lovers
guides them to the Throne of Thine excellence.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}This is Poem 106 of 200 Dedicated to The Blessed Beauty.
... [Read more] Trinity of Healing August 11, 2017 at 10:55pm Trinity of Healing:
To The Blessed Beauty
"Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."
Bahá’u’lláh, Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh
CLXX: “Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my…... [Read more] Got Peace? August 11, 2017 at 10:53pm Got Peace?
To The Blessed Beauty
We have world peace
within reach
if we would only
stretch forth our hands
and grasp it.
The sacred scriptures,
revealed by The Blessed Beauty,
gives us the prerequisites
for peace and unity.
Peace requires us
to let go of our prejudices,
superstitions,
illusions,
vain imaginings,
and dogma.
It requires us
to find the common ground
upon which
the religions
of Earth are founded.
To grasp peace
we must
see with our own eyes
a... [Read more] |