Artist takes spiritual approach
Peters woman finds inspiration in Baha'i faith
Thursday, May 24, 2007By Dave ZuchowskiBarbara Curry started her professional career as a commercial artist afterattending Ferris State University. But in 1985, when her older son, Ryan,was born, she underwent a period of soul-searching that not only changed herart but also her life."Soon after Ryan was born, I decided that I'd be a good mother and changesome of my more irresponsible ways," said Mrs. Curry, of Peters. That led to an outlook on life that translated to a more spiritual approachto her painting and the selection of subjects for her artwork. "To get on the right path, I started searching for spiritual meaning in mylife by attending different churches," she said. "However, they all seemedto focus mostly on Sunday services, and I wanted a religion that would giveme daily guidance rather than just a weekly Sunday morning event."Living in Dallas at the time with her husband, Joe, a pilot for US Airways,she decided as part of her quest to study fine art and philosophy at theUniversity of North Texas. There, one of her professors who taught a courseon introduction to world religions made a huge impact on her life with hisknowledge of the subject and the way he treated all religions with respect."Eventually, when I discovered that he was a member of the Baha'i faith, Istarted to attend the Baha'i Center in Dallas," she said. "Four years afterRyan was born, I became a member of that faith."Influenced by the sheer volume of Baha'i literature that addresses the valueof art and how it can touch people's lives, Mrs. Curry has since developed aspiritual connection with her art. One particularly influential book, "ThePurpose of Spiritual Reality" by John S. Hatcher gave rise to her beliefthat the world is a classroom designed by God to instigate and nurturemental and spiritual growth."My goal as an artist is to observe nature and meditate on the lessons ithas to offer, then connect what I learn and see to the spiritual world inthe hope it will touch people's lives through my work," said Mrs. Curry, whomoved to Peters with her family in 1995.As an example, she refers to a recent painting titled "Sundust Road," alandscape she photographed one morning after jumping into a Jeep with herhusband and setting off for the back roads around the Eighty Four area ofWashington County."I must have taken at least 50 photos on our outing that morning, but thisone really struck me," she said.Mrs. Curry sees the road that grabbed her attention as a metaphor forhumanity's search for the meaning of life. Standing at a crossroads the roadran through, she was reminded of her son, 21 at the time, who had gone tocollege for a couple of years before deciding it wasn't for him."Wanting to do something with his life, he decided to enlist in the Navy,"she said. "I took the photo just after he talked to the recruiter but beforehe went off to boot camp, when he was at a crossroads in his own life."Another metaphor that struck her as particularly poignant was the way theshadows of the trees in the fields darkened portions of the road, givingrise to the thought that, without shadow, the light wouldn't seem as bright."If you compare the light, which gives form and color to objects, to God, hecan be seen as that which gives humans spiritual life, hope, understandingand compassion," she said.Some of Mrs. Curry's recent paintings, along with the works of eight otherartists will be included in a pastel exhibit that opens Saturday at Gallery200 on North Main Street in Washington. The exhibit opens with a receptionfrom 6 to 9 p.m. and will continue through June 30. At least three of her exhibited works focus on what she sees as the purposeof life -- the development of virtue."Painting, I believe, helps acquire virtue, such as humility," she said."For example, I'm usually happy with my paintings after I finish them, butthen have second thoughts later on when I see their flaws or someone pointsthem out to me. However, I feel humbled by the thought that my mistakes area means by which I can continue to grow as a person and an artist."A member of the Pittsburgh Pastel Artists League and the South Hills ArtLeague, Mrs. Curry has attended workshops with nationally andinternationally renowned artists such as Zoltan Szabo and Hong Tat Foo.Besides being featured at Gallery 200 in Washington, her work can be seen atPlanet Art Gallery in Mt. Lebanon, Farmhouse Coffee and the Fast FrameGallery in Peters, and at the World West Gallery in Washington.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Rainn Wilson talks about Hollywood, his family and the Baha'i Faith
LOS ANGELES, United States, 24 May 2007 (BWNS) -- Actor Rainn Wilson is used to talking to the media - he is part of the award-winning cast of the U.S. television series "The Office," and his recent role in the movie "The Last Mimzy" brought a flurry of new interviews. Time magazine, TV talk-show hosts and others came calling.
A member of the Baha'i Faith, he seems just as comfortable discussing his spiritual beliefs as he does shooting the breeze about Dwight Schrute, the pompous assistant manager he plays on "The Office," the American version of a popular British TV show of the same name.
His show, seen weekly by 8 million people in the U.S. alone, also airs in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, parts of continental Europe, Australia, Saudi Arabia, parts of Latin America, Singapore, and several other countries.
His other acting credits include the character of Arthur Martin in the series "Six Feet Under" and a one-episode stint in "Entourage," both on the U.S. cable network HBO; guest hosting "Saturday Night Live" on U.S. television; and movie roles in "Almost Famous," "America's Sweethearts," "Galaxy Quest," "House of 1000 Corpses," "Sahara," and "My Super Ex-Girlfriend."
In a recent interview with U.S. Baha'i News, he talked about Hollywood, his family, his life and his beliefs. Here is that interview, reprinted with permission:
Rainn Wilson with wife, Holiday Reinhorn, and their son, Walter.
Q: Rainn, what was it like to grow up in the Baha'i Faith?
A: When you grow up with a spiritual foundation that asks you to be conscious of the fact that all races are created equal, that men and women are equal and that all religions worship the same (God), it helps you see the world as one family and not get lost in the traps of political, social, and economic belief systems that can lead you astray. I always think of myself as a world citizen. It's a powerful thing.
Q: You stepped away from the Baha'i Faith in your 20s and returned to it 10 years later. What happened in that decade?
A: I was in New York City, going to acting school, and I was going through a rebellious phase. I didn't want anyone telling me what to do. I was disenchanted with things that were organized. It was a spiritual journey I was on. And this is reflected in and supported by one of the central tenets of the Baha'i Faith, which obliges every spiritual seeker to undertake an individual investigation of truth.
I started at ground zero. I decided I didn't know if there was even a God. I read religious books of the world. I asked myself, "If there is a God, how do we know what He wants us to do and what He wants for us? Do we read books? Do we buy crystals? Do we follow certain gurus? Do we sit under a tree? Because surely this omniscient creator has some kind of plan in store for mankind."
Q: And that line of thinking led you back to the Baha'i Faith?
A: Yes, it brought me back to the Baha'i way of viewing things. I came to realize I did believe in God. I couldn't conceive of a universe without someone overseeing it in a compassionate way. It just made the most sense to me that God gradually is unfolding a plan for humankind. That there is progressive revelation -- the Baha'i belief that God sends Messengers for each day and age. I re-read books about the Baha'i Faith. And I came back to believing that Baha'u'llah was the Promised One and Messenger for this day and age. My quest took me from age 21 to 31. I'm 41 now.
Q: Your wife (author Holiday Reinhorn) recently became a Baha'i. How did that come about?
A: She wasn't a Baha'i when we got married in a Baha'i ceremony almost 12 years ago. I never pressured her to join the faith. But she started attending Ruhi (a curriculum based on the Baha'i Writings) classes in the L.A. area and became interested. And the birth of our son, Walter, now 2 1/2, was such a miracle that she found herself saying prayers and spiritually connecting to the faith. She became a Baha'i in 2004. We pray with Walter every night before he goes to bed.
Q: What is it like being a Baha'i in Hollywood?
A: There's a predisposition to link corruption and Hollywood. ... Shoghi Effendi (Guardian of the Baha'i Faith) wrote about this. The problem is that everything you hear in the news is about the superficiality, immorality, and degradation of Hollywood. But that is just not the case. Only a certain percent of the population is like that. It's probably the same percentage as for doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers, any profession. Some of the most morally conscious, kindest, most compassionate people are in the entertainment industry, people who want to affect the world and make it a better place through telling human, heartfelt stories.
Most people in Hollywood haven't heard of the Baha'i Faith, so they ask questions. I've had the opportunity to mention it in several articles and TV interviews, such as on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson."
For years Holly and I hosted a belief night -- a devotional gathering where we invited people of different religious beliefs to our home. We asked them to bring something to share about their spiritual path. Belief in God was not required. We had atheists, Christian Scientists, Buddhist monks. ...
Recently I've been asked to speak a lot more about the Baha'i Faith. And I'll be working as a spokesperson with the Mona Foundation, a Baha'i-inspired not-for-profit organization that tries to provide quality education to all children, raise the status of women and girls, and build community.
Q: How does the Baha'i Faith figure in your life now?
A: My feeling about the faith is that it provides a practical guideline for living one's life. So much about religion has to do with rigid, sacrosanct preciousness. I don't live my life that way, and I don't feel that's what Baha'u'llah teaches. He wants us to live rich, full, loving lives in service to God's will and the human family.
I like being a Baha'i who has an out-there sense of humor. God gives us talents and faculties, and making people laugh is one of mine. I don't have to be digging latrines in Honduras to serve humanity. 'Abdu'l-Baha and Baha'u'llah talk a lot about using the arts to uplift people. When 'Abdu'l-Baha was with the early believers, nine times out of 10 he would make a joke.
Q: Speaking of delicate sensibility: Have you had to turn down roles because they conflicted with what's taught in the Baha'i Faith?
A: I've turned down many roles because they're morally repugnant. I have chosen to play spiritually lost characters, but only because I feel doing so served the greater good. In "My Super Ex-Girlfriend," my character was so preposterous and ludicrous in his sexism that it was clear the message was not about degrading women. In fact, the women characters are the most together, courageous and strong people in the movie.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of the Baha'i Faith?
A: I love how democratic the faith is, that it has no clergy, no people telling us how to interpret the word of God. In this day and age we see how corrupt clergy can lead mankind down so many bad roads.
My favorite quote from the Baha'i Faith is from 'Abdu'l-Baha: "If religion be the cause of disunity, then irreligion is surely to be preferred." For the disenfranchised to know that 'Abdu'l-Baha is a proponent of having no religion if there's disunity. ... And for those who say they don't like "organized religion," don't worry: The Baha'i Faith is one of the most disorganized religions on the planet - NOT!
USB-USB-07 05 24 -1-RAINNWILSON-548-N
A member of the Baha'i Faith, he seems just as comfortable discussing his spiritual beliefs as he does shooting the breeze about Dwight Schrute, the pompous assistant manager he plays on "The Office," the American version of a popular British TV show of the same name.
His show, seen weekly by 8 million people in the U.S. alone, also airs in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, parts of continental Europe, Australia, Saudi Arabia, parts of Latin America, Singapore, and several other countries.
His other acting credits include the character of Arthur Martin in the series "Six Feet Under" and a one-episode stint in "Entourage," both on the U.S. cable network HBO; guest hosting "Saturday Night Live" on U.S. television; and movie roles in "Almost Famous," "America's Sweethearts," "Galaxy Quest," "House of 1000 Corpses," "Sahara," and "My Super Ex-Girlfriend."
In a recent interview with U.S. Baha'i News, he talked about Hollywood, his family, his life and his beliefs. Here is that interview, reprinted with permission:
Rainn Wilson with wife, Holiday Reinhorn, and their son, Walter.
Q: Rainn, what was it like to grow up in the Baha'i Faith?
A: When you grow up with a spiritual foundation that asks you to be conscious of the fact that all races are created equal, that men and women are equal and that all religions worship the same (God), it helps you see the world as one family and not get lost in the traps of political, social, and economic belief systems that can lead you astray. I always think of myself as a world citizen. It's a powerful thing.
Q: You stepped away from the Baha'i Faith in your 20s and returned to it 10 years later. What happened in that decade?
A: I was in New York City, going to acting school, and I was going through a rebellious phase. I didn't want anyone telling me what to do. I was disenchanted with things that were organized. It was a spiritual journey I was on. And this is reflected in and supported by one of the central tenets of the Baha'i Faith, which obliges every spiritual seeker to undertake an individual investigation of truth.
I started at ground zero. I decided I didn't know if there was even a God. I read religious books of the world. I asked myself, "If there is a God, how do we know what He wants us to do and what He wants for us? Do we read books? Do we buy crystals? Do we follow certain gurus? Do we sit under a tree? Because surely this omniscient creator has some kind of plan in store for mankind."
Q: And that line of thinking led you back to the Baha'i Faith?
A: Yes, it brought me back to the Baha'i way of viewing things. I came to realize I did believe in God. I couldn't conceive of a universe without someone overseeing it in a compassionate way. It just made the most sense to me that God gradually is unfolding a plan for humankind. That there is progressive revelation -- the Baha'i belief that God sends Messengers for each day and age. I re-read books about the Baha'i Faith. And I came back to believing that Baha'u'llah was the Promised One and Messenger for this day and age. My quest took me from age 21 to 31. I'm 41 now.
Q: Your wife (author Holiday Reinhorn) recently became a Baha'i. How did that come about?
A: She wasn't a Baha'i when we got married in a Baha'i ceremony almost 12 years ago. I never pressured her to join the faith. But she started attending Ruhi (a curriculum based on the Baha'i Writings) classes in the L.A. area and became interested. And the birth of our son, Walter, now 2 1/2, was such a miracle that she found herself saying prayers and spiritually connecting to the faith. She became a Baha'i in 2004. We pray with Walter every night before he goes to bed.
Q: What is it like being a Baha'i in Hollywood?
A: There's a predisposition to link corruption and Hollywood. ... Shoghi Effendi (Guardian of the Baha'i Faith) wrote about this. The problem is that everything you hear in the news is about the superficiality, immorality, and degradation of Hollywood. But that is just not the case. Only a certain percent of the population is like that. It's probably the same percentage as for doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers, any profession. Some of the most morally conscious, kindest, most compassionate people are in the entertainment industry, people who want to affect the world and make it a better place through telling human, heartfelt stories.
Most people in Hollywood haven't heard of the Baha'i Faith, so they ask questions. I've had the opportunity to mention it in several articles and TV interviews, such as on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson."
For years Holly and I hosted a belief night -- a devotional gathering where we invited people of different religious beliefs to our home. We asked them to bring something to share about their spiritual path. Belief in God was not required. We had atheists, Christian Scientists, Buddhist monks. ...
Recently I've been asked to speak a lot more about the Baha'i Faith. And I'll be working as a spokesperson with the Mona Foundation, a Baha'i-inspired not-for-profit organization that tries to provide quality education to all children, raise the status of women and girls, and build community.
Q: How does the Baha'i Faith figure in your life now?
A: My feeling about the faith is that it provides a practical guideline for living one's life. So much about religion has to do with rigid, sacrosanct preciousness. I don't live my life that way, and I don't feel that's what Baha'u'llah teaches. He wants us to live rich, full, loving lives in service to God's will and the human family.
I like being a Baha'i who has an out-there sense of humor. God gives us talents and faculties, and making people laugh is one of mine. I don't have to be digging latrines in Honduras to serve humanity. 'Abdu'l-Baha and Baha'u'llah talk a lot about using the arts to uplift people. When 'Abdu'l-Baha was with the early believers, nine times out of 10 he would make a joke.
Q: Speaking of delicate sensibility: Have you had to turn down roles because they conflicted with what's taught in the Baha'i Faith?
A: I've turned down many roles because they're morally repugnant. I have chosen to play spiritually lost characters, but only because I feel doing so served the greater good. In "My Super Ex-Girlfriend," my character was so preposterous and ludicrous in his sexism that it was clear the message was not about degrading women. In fact, the women characters are the most together, courageous and strong people in the movie.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of the Baha'i Faith?
A: I love how democratic the faith is, that it has no clergy, no people telling us how to interpret the word of God. In this day and age we see how corrupt clergy can lead mankind down so many bad roads.
My favorite quote from the Baha'i Faith is from 'Abdu'l-Baha: "If religion be the cause of disunity, then irreligion is surely to be preferred." For the disenfranchised to know that 'Abdu'l-Baha is a proponent of having no religion if there's disunity. ... And for those who say they don't like "organized religion," don't worry: The Baha'i Faith is one of the most disorganized religions on the planet - NOT!
USB-USB-07 05 24 -1-RAINNWILSON-548-N
Monday, May 21, 2007
Baha'is celebrate anniversary of their faith
The house of the Bab in Shiraz, Iran, where the Bab announced that He had come to herald a new age for humanity, was destroyed by Revolutionary Guardsmen in 1979. It was one of the most holy sites to Baha'is.
The house of the Bab in Shiraz, Iran, where the Bab announced that He had come to herald a new age for humanity, was destroyed by Revolutionary Guardsmen in 1979. It was one of the most holy sites to Baha'is.
HAIFA, Israel, 21 May 2007 (BWNS) -- May 23 marks the anniversary of the night in 1844 when a young man in Persia named Siyyid Ali-Muhammad quietly announced that He was a Messenger of God, come to herald a new age for the world of humanity that would fulfill prophecy for Christians, Muslims, and followers of other religions.
For the people who are now Baha'is, it was the birth of their religion.
Baha'i communities around the world celebrate the anniversary with special devotional programs and gatherings on the evening of May 22. Believers suspend work, and children and youth take off from school.
A 25-year-old merchant at the time of His declaration in 1844, Siyyid Ali-Muhammad became known as the Bab, which is Arabic for "gate." He said His mission was to prepare the way for a universal Messenger of God who would soon appear, as predicted in the scriptures of the world's major religions. One of the followers of the Bab, later known as Baha'u'llah, announced in 1863 that He was that Messenger.
Baha'is consider both the Bab and Baha'u'llah to be founders of their faith.
The Bab's declaration of His station was made in the city of Shiraz in what is now Iran. He almost immediately attracted a large following, which governmental and religious authorities found threatening. Some 20,000 of His followers were killed, and the Bab Himself was executed by firing squad in 1850 in the northern Iranian city of Tabriz. His remains are entombed in Haifa in a beautiful, golden-domed shrine surrounded by gardens on the side of Mount Carmel.
BWN-SW-07 05 21 -1-DECLARATIONOFTHEBAB07-547-N
For the people who are now Baha'is, it was the birth of their religion.
Baha'i communities around the world celebrate the anniversary with special devotional programs and gatherings on the evening of May 22. Believers suspend work, and children and youth take off from school.
A 25-year-old merchant at the time of His declaration in 1844, Siyyid Ali-Muhammad became known as the Bab, which is Arabic for "gate." He said His mission was to prepare the way for a universal Messenger of God who would soon appear, as predicted in the scriptures of the world's major religions. One of the followers of the Bab, later known as Baha'u'llah, announced in 1863 that He was that Messenger.
Baha'is consider both the Bab and Baha'u'llah to be founders of their faith.
The Bab's declaration of His station was made in the city of Shiraz in what is now Iran. He almost immediately attracted a large following, which governmental and religious authorities found threatening. Some 20,000 of His followers were killed, and the Bab Himself was executed by firing squad in 1850 in the northern Iranian city of Tabriz. His remains are entombed in Haifa in a beautiful, golden-domed shrine surrounded by gardens on the side of Mount Carmel.
BWN-SW-07 05 21 -1-DECLARATIONOFTHEBAB07-547-N
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Bahaism
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3835
The article lists the Baha'i Faith as the second-fastest-growing religion in the world, after Islam, with the following comment:
Bahaism
Growth rate: 1.70 percent
Adherents: 7.7 million
Behind the trend: High birthrates in India
Areas to watch: Bahais are spread throughout the world, but a good chunk—around 1.8 million—live in India. The Bahai faith, an offshoot of Islam, was founded in 1863 in Iran by Bahá’u’lláh, who claimed to be the latest in a line of prophets stretching from Abraham to Jesus Christ to Mohammed. Today, Bahais often suffer persecution in the Middle East; it probably doesn’t help matters that the world headquarters of the Bahai faith are in Haifa, Israel.
It is based on a Christian project:
*Growth rates over the period from 2000 to 2005; all figures from the nondenominational World Christian Database, a project of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3835
The article lists the Baha'i Faith as the second-fastest-growing religion in the world, after Islam, with the following comment:
Bahaism
Growth rate: 1.70 percent
Adherents: 7.7 million
Behind the trend: High birthrates in India
Areas to watch: Bahais are spread throughout the world, but a good chunk—around 1.8 million—live in India. The Bahai faith, an offshoot of Islam, was founded in 1863 in Iran by Bahá’u’lláh, who claimed to be the latest in a line of prophets stretching from Abraham to Jesus Christ to Mohammed. Today, Bahais often suffer persecution in the Middle East; it probably doesn’t help matters that the world headquarters of the Bahai faith are in Haifa, Israel.
It is based on a Christian project:
*Growth rates over the period from 2000 to 2005; all figures from the nondenominational World Christian Database, a project of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
BAHA'IS ELECT NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES
GIZO, Solomon Islands, 16 May 2007 (BWNS) -- Surrounded by a tent community
of refugees from the recent earthquake and tsunami, the Baha'is of the
Solomon Islands forged ahead with their annual convention where they elected
the nine members of the national governing council of their faith.
When the earthquake hit the South Pacific on April 2 and the resulting
tsunami crashed into the Solomon Islands, a number of people from the area
were at a meeting at the Baha'i center in Gizo, a small provincial capital.
The Baha'i center there happens to be on a mountain -- the highest point on
that particular island -- so no one at the meeting was hurt, but a number of
participants returned home to find their villages destroyed. The young
granddaughter of a Baha'i couple was among the 28 people who died.
Since then, families have camped on the property of the Baha'i center --
which had already been designated the venue for the annual national Baha'i
convention April 27-29. Delegates to the convention said that far from
dampening the spirit of the meeting, the presence of the refugees created a
warm and loving atmosphere for the gathering.
"The friends have manifested nobility, patience, and radiant acquiescence in
enduring their hardship," the delegates wrote in a message from the
convention. The refugees -- who are receiving aid from their national Baha'i
organization, from the government and from international relief agencies --
are now in the process of rebuilding their homes or looking to relocate.
The newly elected governing council, called the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Baha'is of the Solomon Islands, was one of 178 similar institutions
formed in nations and territories around the world in recent weeks. Baha'i
annual conventions are traditionally held in late April during the period
known as Ridvan, commemorating Baha'u'llah's declaration of His mission in
1863.
At national conventions in other countries:
-- In Auckland, New Zealand, Baha'is marked the 50th anniversary of the
establishment of their National Spiritual Assembly. At a special event held
at the Auckland Museum, 600 people - including a number of international
visitors and guests - heard congratulatory remarks by the governor general,
Anand Satyanand, and a keynote address by a Baha'i speaker, Murray Smith.
-- In Paraguay, special note was made that some of the elected delegates
were very young; similarly, a message from the convention in Venezuela said
their new National Assembly "shines for the diversity of the age and
ethnicity of its members."
-- Delegates at a number of the conventions sent messages conveying support
for Baha'is in Iran and Egypt, where government persecution is resulting in
the denial of education and other rights of citizenship to followers of the
Baha'i Faith.
At virtually all the conventions around the globe, participants read and
consulted about the annual message from the Universal House of Justice, the
international governing body of the Baha'i Faith. Referred to as the Ridvan
2007 message, it stressed the importance of teaching the Baha'i Faith and of
systematic grassroots programs that involve increasing numbers of people in
study circles, devotional programs, and activities for children and young
teenagers.
Individuals in each country who this year were elected to their Baha'i
National Assembly will serve next year as delegates to the International
Convention, held every five years in Haifa, Israel, where the world
headquarters of the Baha'i Faith is located. The purpose of that gathering
is to elect the nine members of the Universal House of Justice and to
consult on the affairs of the Baha'i Faith.
To view the photos and additional features click here:
http://news.bahai.org
--
3-sw-070516-1-CONVENTION-544-S
----------------------------------------------------------
--
Advance release: Please check our website for the final version of this
article.
----------------------------------------------------------
--
Copyright 2007 by the Baha'i World News Service. All stories and photographs
produced by the Baha'i World News Service may be freely reprinted,
re-emailed, re-posted to the World Wide Web and otherwise reproduced by any
individual or organization as long as they are attributed to the Baha'i
World News Service. For more information, visit http://news.bahai.org.
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
--
GIZO, Solomon Islands, 16 May 2007 (BWNS) -- Surrounded by a tent community
of refugees from the recent earthquake and tsunami, the Baha'is of the
Solomon Islands forged ahead with their annual convention where they elected
the nine members of the national governing council of their faith.
When the earthquake hit the South Pacific on April 2 and the resulting
tsunami crashed into the Solomon Islands, a number of people from the area
were at a meeting at the Baha'i center in Gizo, a small provincial capital.
The Baha'i center there happens to be on a mountain -- the highest point on
that particular island -- so no one at the meeting was hurt, but a number of
participants returned home to find their villages destroyed. The young
granddaughter of a Baha'i couple was among the 28 people who died.
Since then, families have camped on the property of the Baha'i center --
which had already been designated the venue for the annual national Baha'i
convention April 27-29. Delegates to the convention said that far from
dampening the spirit of the meeting, the presence of the refugees created a
warm and loving atmosphere for the gathering.
"The friends have manifested nobility, patience, and radiant acquiescence in
enduring their hardship," the delegates wrote in a message from the
convention. The refugees -- who are receiving aid from their national Baha'i
organization, from the government and from international relief agencies --
are now in the process of rebuilding their homes or looking to relocate.
The newly elected governing council, called the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Baha'is of the Solomon Islands, was one of 178 similar institutions
formed in nations and territories around the world in recent weeks. Baha'i
annual conventions are traditionally held in late April during the period
known as Ridvan, commemorating Baha'u'llah's declaration of His mission in
1863.
At national conventions in other countries:
-- In Auckland, New Zealand, Baha'is marked the 50th anniversary of the
establishment of their National Spiritual Assembly. At a special event held
at the Auckland Museum, 600 people - including a number of international
visitors and guests - heard congratulatory remarks by the governor general,
Anand Satyanand, and a keynote address by a Baha'i speaker, Murray Smith.
-- In Paraguay, special note was made that some of the elected delegates
were very young; similarly, a message from the convention in Venezuela said
their new National Assembly "shines for the diversity of the age and
ethnicity of its members."
-- Delegates at a number of the conventions sent messages conveying support
for Baha'is in Iran and Egypt, where government persecution is resulting in
the denial of education and other rights of citizenship to followers of the
Baha'i Faith.
At virtually all the conventions around the globe, participants read and
consulted about the annual message from the Universal House of Justice, the
international governing body of the Baha'i Faith. Referred to as the Ridvan
2007 message, it stressed the importance of teaching the Baha'i Faith and of
systematic grassroots programs that involve increasing numbers of people in
study circles, devotional programs, and activities for children and young
teenagers.
Individuals in each country who this year were elected to their Baha'i
National Assembly will serve next year as delegates to the International
Convention, held every five years in Haifa, Israel, where the world
headquarters of the Baha'i Faith is located. The purpose of that gathering
is to elect the nine members of the Universal House of Justice and to
consult on the affairs of the Baha'i Faith.
To view the photos and additional features click here:
http://news.bahai.org
--
3-sw-070516-1-CONVENTION-544-S
----------------------------------------------------------
--
Advance release: Please check our website for the final version of this
article.
----------------------------------------------------------
--
Copyright 2007 by the Baha'i World News Service. All stories and photographs
produced by the Baha'i World News Service may be freely reprinted,
re-emailed, re-posted to the World Wide Web and otherwise reproduced by any
individual or organization as long as they are attributed to the Baha'i
World News Service. For more information, visit http://news.bahai.org.
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Tuesday, May 15, 2007
His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, center, head of state of Samoa, died on 11 May 2007. He is pictured at the dedication in 1984 of the Baha'i House of Worship in his country. At right is his wife, Lili Tunu, and at left, Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani.
APIA, Samoa, 14 May 2007 (BWNS) -- A state funeral is planned for 18 May for the Samoan head of state, His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, to be followed on 20 May by a memorial service at the Baha'i House of Worship near Apia. He passed away on the evening of 11 May in a hospital in Apia.
A follower of the Baha'i Faith, he was one of the longest reigning monarchs in the world. He was 94 years old.
"His service to the people of Samoa as Head of State was distinguished by the high principles, genuine compassion and personal humility that characterized the constancy of his concern for the welfare of all," the Universal House of Justice, the international Baha'i governing body, said in a statement to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Samoa.
"As the first reigning sovereign to accept the Message of Baha'u'llah, he set a record that will forever illumine the annals of our Faith, one that future generations will increasingly extol," the House of Justice said. "His great interest for well-nigh four decades in the Faith's progress was reflected in the enthusiastic affirmation of his belief whenever the opportunity presented itself and in the abiding joy with which he regarded the construction in 1984 of the Mother Temple of the Pacific Islands in Samoa...."
.He himself participated in the dedication of that temple, one of only seven such Baha'i houses of worship in the world. The other six, located in Australia, India, Germany, Uganda, the United States, and Panama, will also hold services in his memory.
He had been head of state since the country gained independence from New Zealand in 1962.
The state funeral will be at 10 a.m. on 18 May in front of the Parliament Building, with a government-organized prayer service the day before. Entombment will be in the Malietoa Family crypt a few meters from the Parliament building.
The memorial service at the Baha'i House of Worship near Apia will be on 20 May, organized by the Baha'i assembly. Earlier, on 13 May, a prayer service was held, attended by more than 200 Baha'is, family, friends, government officials, and representatives of churches and the diplomatic community.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark was one of the first to offer condolences. "Throughout his long reign as Head of State, Malietoa represented Samoa with wisdom, humor, and insight," she said in comments published in the New Zealand Herald.
His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II was born on 4 January 1913. His wife, Lili Tunu, died in 1986. They have two sons and two daughters.
Samoa comprises several islands in the South Pacific about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. The population is about 200,000.
bwn-sw-07 05 14 -1-SAMOAMONARCH-543-N
APIA, Samoa, 14 May 2007 (BWNS) -- A state funeral is planned for 18 May for the Samoan head of state, His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, to be followed on 20 May by a memorial service at the Baha'i House of Worship near Apia. He passed away on the evening of 11 May in a hospital in Apia.
A follower of the Baha'i Faith, he was one of the longest reigning monarchs in the world. He was 94 years old.
"His service to the people of Samoa as Head of State was distinguished by the high principles, genuine compassion and personal humility that characterized the constancy of his concern for the welfare of all," the Universal House of Justice, the international Baha'i governing body, said in a statement to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Samoa.
"As the first reigning sovereign to accept the Message of Baha'u'llah, he set a record that will forever illumine the annals of our Faith, one that future generations will increasingly extol," the House of Justice said. "His great interest for well-nigh four decades in the Faith's progress was reflected in the enthusiastic affirmation of his belief whenever the opportunity presented itself and in the abiding joy with which he regarded the construction in 1984 of the Mother Temple of the Pacific Islands in Samoa...."
.He himself participated in the dedication of that temple, one of only seven such Baha'i houses of worship in the world. The other six, located in Australia, India, Germany, Uganda, the United States, and Panama, will also hold services in his memory.
He had been head of state since the country gained independence from New Zealand in 1962.
The state funeral will be at 10 a.m. on 18 May in front of the Parliament Building, with a government-organized prayer service the day before. Entombment will be in the Malietoa Family crypt a few meters from the Parliament building.
The memorial service at the Baha'i House of Worship near Apia will be on 20 May, organized by the Baha'i assembly. Earlier, on 13 May, a prayer service was held, attended by more than 200 Baha'is, family, friends, government officials, and representatives of churches and the diplomatic community.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark was one of the first to offer condolences. "Throughout his long reign as Head of State, Malietoa represented Samoa with wisdom, humor, and insight," she said in comments published in the New Zealand Herald.
His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II was born on 4 January 1913. His wife, Lili Tunu, died in 1986. They have two sons and two daughters.
Samoa comprises several islands in the South Pacific about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. The population is about 200,000.
bwn-sw-07 05 14 -1-SAMOAMONARCH-543-N
Monday, May 14, 2007
Please offer “Prayers for the departed” for this valiant soul of Baha’u’llah.
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Samoa Announces the Passing of Esteemed Baha'i, The Malietoa Tanumafili II, the King of Samoa
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA’IS OF SAMOA
11 May 2007
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
With grieving hearts we inform you that His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II has passed away around 8.20pm tonight Friday 11 May, 2007 at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital Apia Samoa.
We kindly request your prayers for the progress of his soul.
Warmest Bahá’í greetings,The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Samoa
His Majesty The Malietoa Tanumafili II was born on the 4th January 1913 and became the King of Western Samoa in 1939. In 1962 Samoa gained independence from New Zealand and he became Samoa's joint Head of State with Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole, who passed away the following year leaving Malietoa as the sole head of state up until his own passing.
He was the oldest serving head of state in the world, and also the only living monarch who was a member of the Bahá'í Faith. He visited the grave of the beloved Guardian in London in 1976, and dedicated the Baha'i House of Worship in Tiapapata, Samoa, in 1984.
TV ONENews NZ carried a story on the passing of the Malietoa, which included a moving 2-minute video review of his life by commentators, family and fellow Samoans. As was characteristic of his gentle, humble nature, when asked why he didn't call himself a king, he replied, "Because in Samoa everyone's a king." His membership as a Baha'i was noted in the video.
The story and video, available at http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488120/1120039, reports: The oldest serving leader in the world, Samoa's head of state, has died at the age of 94 after leading the country for 45 years.
Malietoa Tanumafili II died in hospital where he was admitted about a week ago.
Malietoa became the joint head of state when Samoa gained independence in 1962. He strode the world stage but always saw himself as a servant of his people.
"We haven't any big problems under his watch...and I think that says a lot about him...gentle in his speech...gentle in demeanour...and the country loved him," says family elder Papali'i Pita Taouma.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark says Malietoa has been a father figure to his people and "there will be great sorrow in Samoa today". She says his legacy will mean the Samoan people will be mourning for a while to come.
National Party leader John Key says New Zealand and Samoa have continued to enjoy strong ties during Tanumafili's reign and he was no stranger to our shores. Key says the statesman visited many times, including at the invitation of the late Maori Queen, and his passing will be mourned throughout the Pacific.
A spokesman for Samoan Advisory Council, Tino Pareira, says his death is being felt in Samoan communities around the world and especially in New Zealand. Pareira says the Samoan government has 30 days to vote on his successor.
News of Malietoa's death came as a shock to many Samoans attending Sunday church services in Auckland.
Malietoa was well known as a follower of the Baha'i faith. He attended St Stephens and Wesley colleges in New Zealand.
Taouma says Malietoa's door was always open for the smallest child to the eldest person in Samoa. "He was able to relate to them in a simple, humble way."
Malietoa's death is another changing of the old guard in the Pacific.
Actor/writer Oscar Knightley says it's a huge passing on top of so many recent leaders such as the Maori Queen and the King of Tonga.
"We're losing that generation of leaders...it's a sad thing... a real passing of a generation."
Another news outlet in New Zealand has reported the passing of Samoa’s Head of State as well http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10439457
LONG TENURE: Samoa's Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II has died aged 94.
For at least the last decade Samoans have always offered a quiet prayer when word came that Malietoa Tanumafili II was ill.
Samoa is a young nation and no one under the age of 45 had ever known the country without the fatherly leadership of Malietoa.
Now he is dead and the question of succession arrives for the first time in the history of the Independent State of Samoa.
But three years ago quiet measures were put in place to prepare for the inevitable when two men were sworn in as members of Samoa's Council of Deputies. One was former prime minister Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, and the other, Tuimaleali'ifano Sualauvi II.
No one would publicly say that the appointment of these two men - who would serve as deputy head of state - was about succession and Tupua's family was deeply critical of a media report that suggested this. At the time Tupua was refusing to join the Council but a curious double-standard was involved.
Samoa's high chiefs do not like talk of succession and titles. But they themselves over a lifetime fight through the Lands and Titles Court in a manner that is barely polite.
As it is, the issue of who comes after Malietoa and how, carries important historical significance while defining the way ahead for Samoa.
One has to go back to the 19th century to see the last such battle, not least because the combined longevity of the Tanumafili puts succession beyond the living memory of any person now. Samoa has four tama-a-aiga or royal titles, heads of extended families:
Malietoa, Tamasese and Tuimaleali'ifano. The fourth, Mata'afa, has been vacant since 1997.
When Samoa was negotiating with New Zealand for independence and drafting a constitution, the question of head of state, or the 'O le Ao o le Malo', was potentially vexatious. But they came up with a joint life-term Head of State. One was Malietoa, the other was Tupua Tamasese Meole, the father of the current holder.
Under the constitution, the Fale Fono or Legislative Assembly, will elect the next head of state for a five year term.
The presumption, not stated in the constitution, is that the post will go to a 'tama-a-aiga' and a member of the Council of Deputies. But it has never been tested.
Independence came in 1962 and a year later, Tupua Tamasese died. Malietoa lived on as a very much-loved man, incorruptible, humble and funny. With his death, his most likely successor as Head of State will be Tupua Tamasese Efi. In the 1970s he served as prime minister, under the Tupuola Efi title.
He has collected a slew of paramount titles-some following protracted and unedifying legal battles. Although he says he does not want the job, he is not his own man: he must serve the thousands who eventually bestowed the royal title on him.
As a politician, Tupua enjoyed the cut-and-thrust of party politics and political debate. He is also a stickler for fa'a Samoa (or Samoan culture) and the Samoan language.
The various extended families under his titles though made no secret they did not enjoy the vision of their prince engaged in the political trenches, feeling he should be above the fray. An additional factor for Tupua has been the problem that once a politician, always a politician.
He lost his premiership to the Human Rights Protection Party, which continues to reign in Samoa, and his personal animosity for the late Prime Minister Tofilau Eti was strong.
In fact electing a new Head of State will be the easy part; head of state is a ceremonial title in which the holder must act on the advice of government.
Not so the next Malietoa, awesomely powerful with control of much of Samoa's land. The title came about nearly a thousand years ago when Samoa was under Tonga's suzerainty.
Led by two chiefs, Samoans were able to drive the occupiers off, who left with a shouted chant across the waters: 'Malie tau, malie toa' (splendidly fought, brave warriors!).
As a result, it became one of the central titles and when Europeans showed up later, it was perhaps the most interfered with of them all. The appointment of a new Malietoa will be a two-stage process. The first will involve defining those who have the pule or authority within the Sa Malietoa, the extended family, to name a successor.
By tradition, authority rests with the nine senior matai or chiefs in the village of Malie, west of Apia, in the district of Tuamasaga, on the island of Upolu. In theory, they must also consult the district of Safotulafai in Savai'i and the island of Manono.
But it will not be simple as the Sa Malietoa is large and diverse, and those excluded can be counted on going to the Lands and Titles Court at Mulinu'u, on the western side of Apia harbour. There, some brave judge will make the decision on who can make the next decision.
Thus empowered, the matai will go off and consider who will be so blessed.
Nothing is automatic, and titles do not always pass to the first born of the next generation. It will, however, take many years.
Also see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malietoa
Sunday, May 13, 2007
SLOVAK GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES BAHA'I FAITH
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, 13 May 2007 (BWNS) -- The government of Slovakia has
officially registered the Baha'i Faith as a religious community,
guaranteeing the group the right to own property, observe holy days,
disseminate literature and engage in a host of other activities.
The recognition was the result of an application submitted by the Baha'is
which was supported by signatures of some 28,000 residents of the country.
"The registration will enable us to more effectively help and serve all
Slovak residents and make our programs more accessible to both children and
adults," Jitka Spillerova, a spokeswoman for the Slovakian Baha'is, said.
"The state guarantees registered churches and religious communities the
legal status and possibility of functioning in public life."
Recognition by the state also allows a religion to request government funds,
but Mrs. Spillerova said the Baha'is will not request such money now or in
the future because their activities are financed strictly through voluntary
contributions of enrolled members.
"We would like to thank the thousands of people who supported our
registration," Mrs. Spillerova said.
The law governing the recognition of a religious community bestows the right
to become a legal corporation; for adherents to teach their faith to others,
including as religious education in schools; to have their own schools and
universities; to hold meetings without informing the authorities; to operate
certain social or cultural establishments, including hospitals; to publish
literature; and generally to carry out activities throughout the greater
society.
Jan Juran, part of the government office involved in reviewing applications
for recognition, said factors include not only whether a religious group is
law-abiding and promotes good health and morality but also whether the
religion supports humanitarian principles and tolerance of others.
Mrs. Spillerova noted that Baha'i belief includes respect for other
religions and appreciation of diverse cultures. She said activities of the
Slovakian Baha'i community include programs of moral education for children
and youth, study courses for adults, and devotional meetings for people of
every belief.
"Our intention is to create an opportunity for people to pause in their
daily rush and think about the timeless truths that are taught by all the
world's religions and how people can apply these truths in their life," she
said.
The Baha'i Faith has had followers in what is now Slovakia since the early
20th century. It joins 17 other religious communities - the others are
Christian or Jewish - currently recognized by the government.
To view the photos and additional features click here:
http://news.bahai.org
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, 13 May 2007 (BWNS) -- The government of Slovakia has
officially registered the Baha'i Faith as a religious community,
guaranteeing the group the right to own property, observe holy days,
disseminate literature and engage in a host of other activities.
The recognition was the result of an application submitted by the Baha'is
which was supported by signatures of some 28,000 residents of the country.
"The registration will enable us to more effectively help and serve all
Slovak residents and make our programs more accessible to both children and
adults," Jitka Spillerova, a spokeswoman for the Slovakian Baha'is, said.
"The state guarantees registered churches and religious communities the
legal status and possibility of functioning in public life."
Recognition by the state also allows a religion to request government funds,
but Mrs. Spillerova said the Baha'is will not request such money now or in
the future because their activities are financed strictly through voluntary
contributions of enrolled members.
"We would like to thank the thousands of people who supported our
registration," Mrs. Spillerova said.
The law governing the recognition of a religious community bestows the right
to become a legal corporation; for adherents to teach their faith to others,
including as religious education in schools; to have their own schools and
universities; to hold meetings without informing the authorities; to operate
certain social or cultural establishments, including hospitals; to publish
literature; and generally to carry out activities throughout the greater
society.
Jan Juran, part of the government office involved in reviewing applications
for recognition, said factors include not only whether a religious group is
law-abiding and promotes good health and morality but also whether the
religion supports humanitarian principles and tolerance of others.
Mrs. Spillerova noted that Baha'i belief includes respect for other
religions and appreciation of diverse cultures. She said activities of the
Slovakian Baha'i community include programs of moral education for children
and youth, study courses for adults, and devotional meetings for people of
every belief.
"Our intention is to create an opportunity for people to pause in their
daily rush and think about the timeless truths that are taught by all the
world's religions and how people can apply these truths in their life," she
said.
The Baha'i Faith has had followers in what is now Slovakia since the early
20th century. It joins 17 other religious communities - the others are
Christian or Jewish - currently recognized by the government.
To view the photos and additional features click here:
http://news.bahai.org
The Passing of Malietoa Tanumafili II
His Majesty Malietoa Tanumafili II, Samoa's Head of State, died in hospital on the evening of 11th May at the aged of 95.He was the oldest serving head of state in the world, and also the only living monarch who was a member of the Bahá'í Faith.Malietoa Tanumafili II was born on the 4th January 1913 and became the King of Western Samoa in 1939.In 1962 Samoa gained independence from New Zealand and he became Samoa's joint Head of State with Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole, who passed away the following year leaving Malietoa as the sole head of state up until his own passing.
Samoa's king, one of world's longest reigning monarchs, dies
The Associated Press
Sunday, May 13, 2007
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa: King Malietoa Tanumafili II, one of the world's longest reigning monarchs, passed away at a hospital in Samoa, the prime minister's office said. He was 94.
Malietoa sat on the Samoan throne ever since the country, which lies west of the U.S. territory of American Samoa, gained independence from New Zealand in 1962.
That made him the world's third longest reining living monarch after Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has reigned since 1946 and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who ascended to the throne in 1952.
The king died Friday night at Tupua Tamasese National Hospital in Apia where he had been staying for about a week. Details on the cause of death were not immediately available.
Vaasatia Poloma Komiti, chief executive officer of the prime minister's office, announced the king's passing Saturday on state-run television.
The king will lay in state in Apia, the capital, on Thursday. A church service, to be lead by the National Council of Churches, is planned for Friday morning, Komiti said.
In American Samoa, the governor said Malietoa's passing was a loss not only for Samoa but for the U.S. territory.
"His faith and love for his people helped light the flame of independence for Samoa and maintained a peaceful transition for Samoa from her difficult beginning," said Gov. Togiola T.A. Tulafono. "He was an icon of Samoan leadership, Samoan democracy, and Samoan compassion."
Many American Samoans considered the king to be the father of the two Samoas and he was a frequent visitor to the territory's annual Flag Day Festivities.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark expressed her nation's sorrow at the death of Malietoa, noting he helped frame Samoa's constitution prior to independence.
"Through his long reign as Head of State, Malietoa represented Samoa with wisdom, humor and insight," she said in a statement.
New Zealand was given responsibility for Samoa in 1917 by the then League of Nations, after the islands were seized from its colonial power, Germany, during WWI.
The king succeeded to the Malietoa title in 1940, when his father passed away. He was appointed an advisor to the New Zealand governor in Samoa the same year.
Malietoa was made the joint head of state with Tupua Tamasese Meaole when Samoa gained independence in 1962 and he became sole head of state a year later when Tupua Tamasese passed away.
He held the post for life. His successor, however, will be elected by the legislature to a five year term as stipulated in the Samoan constitution.
Malietoa was educated in Samoa at the government run Leififi School and attended St. Stephens College and Wesley College in New Zealand.
Malietoa visited China on a state visit in 1976, and traveled to West Germany, South Korea, Japan and the United Kingdom. He also traveled to Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, and Hawaii, and attended the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
He was among the foreign dignitaries that attended the funeral service of Japanese Emperor Hirohito.
In 1977, Queen Elizabeth II visited Samoa on the Royal Yacht Britannia for one day and presented Malietoa with the Collar Badge and Star of the G.C.M.G., the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George.
Malietoa is survived by two sons and two daughters. His wife Lili Tunu passed away in 1986.
Samoa is a group of islands in the South Pacific about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand. Home to 200,000 people, its total land area is slightly smaller than Rhode Island.
It lies to the west of American Samoa, which became a U.S. territory in 1900.
Copyright © 2007 The International Herald Tribune www.iht.com
Friday, May 04, 2007
============================
Nouvelle incroyable.
Par Rochan MAVADDAT (France)
Vendredi 4 Mai 2007.
Ainsi que vous le savez, actuellement en Iran, tout livre ou photographie, concernant la Foi Bahà'ie, est banni.
C'est ainsi que les Forces de l'Ordre de ce pays, ont obligé certains Bahà'is iraniens à déchirer les photos de 'Abdu'l-Bahà, ou à marcher ou s'asseoir dessus (de même pour les photos des Lieux Saints Bahà'is et de la calligraphie du "Plus Grand Nom") !
[ Remarquer quelle dure épreuve doit être pour un croyant d'être forcé de s'asseoir ou de marcher sur ce qu'il a de plus sacré ! ]
Or, à l'occasion de la "Journée de l'Architecture", il a été organisée à Kâchân (Kàshàn - IRAN), ville située à 250 km au sud de Téhéran , non loin de la ville sainte de Ghom (Qom), le 23 Avril 2007, une :
.
"Commémoration à la mémoire de Shaykh Bahà'i"
Pionnier de l'Architecture traditionnelle de Kâchân.
A cette occasion, les organisateurs ont publié la photo de 'Abdu'l-Bahà sur l'affiche de cette Manifestation culturelle, croyant que c'est l'effigie de Sheikh Bahà'i, célèbre architecte, penseur et médecin iranien du 15ème siècle !
Cette affiche (voir au-dessus) est placardée dans toute la Ville de Kâchân et, ainsi, ceux qui voulaient cacher et détruire la photo de 'Abdu'l-Bahà l'ont eux-mêmes mise sous les yeux de tout le monde !
Remarquons que, en réalité, à la place de Shaykh Bahà'i, c'est 'Abdu'l-Bahà qui est présenté comme l'un des meilleurs architecte de l'Iran : ce qui est absolument vrai, puisque pour reconstruire ce pays le seul plan valable est le Plan qu'Abdu'l-Bahà donne dans ses ouvrages concernant les réformes nécessaires pour l'Iran !...
Maintenant, pourquoi cette personnalité porte le nom de " Bahà'i " ?
J'ai appris que ce savant, de son nom complet "Mohammad Shaykh Bahà-ed-Din", avait trouvé que le 100ème Nom ou Attribut de Dieu, appelé "Esm-é 'Azam" (le Plus Grand Nom), que les Musulmans attendent de connaître à la "Fin des Temps" -- les 99 premiers Noms de Dieu ayant été dévoilés par l'Islam -- a pressenti que ce Nom est "Bahà", c'est pourquoi il a choisi le nom de "Bahâ-ed-Din" et, ainsi, il est connu sous le nom de Shaykh Bahà'i.
Justement, dans la Ville d'Ispahan ou ce savant et architecte a construit quelques édifices, il y a une imprtante artère nommée : "Avenue Shaykh Bahà'i".
De même, dans le Mausolée de Imàm Rézà, situé dans la Ville sainte de Mash-had, l'un des plus grands Sanctuaires pour les Musulmans chiites iraniens, il y a un "Bast" (aire de refuge inviolable même par les Forces de l'Ordre) appelé "Bast-é Shaykh Bahà'i".
[ Je suppose que si les Autorités actuelles de l'Iran pouvaient débaptiser cette avenue et cette aire, ce serait avec joie qu'elles le feraient : imaginez le nom de "Bahà'i" en plein sanctuaire chiite !...
Il faut dire que le nom de "Bahà'i" n'est pas un nom commun et répandu en Iran : à part les disciples de Bahà'u'llàh et ce Shaykh, je n'ai jamais entendu quelqu'un d'autre porter ce nom. ]
Nouvelle incroyable.
Par Rochan MAVADDAT (France)
Vendredi 4 Mai 2007.
Ainsi que vous le savez, actuellement en Iran, tout livre ou photographie, concernant la Foi Bahà'ie, est banni.
C'est ainsi que les Forces de l'Ordre de ce pays, ont obligé certains Bahà'is iraniens à déchirer les photos de 'Abdu'l-Bahà, ou à marcher ou s'asseoir dessus (de même pour les photos des Lieux Saints Bahà'is et de la calligraphie du "Plus Grand Nom") !
[ Remarquer quelle dure épreuve doit être pour un croyant d'être forcé de s'asseoir ou de marcher sur ce qu'il a de plus sacré ! ]
Or, à l'occasion de la "Journée de l'Architecture", il a été organisée à Kâchân (Kàshàn - IRAN), ville située à 250 km au sud de Téhéran , non loin de la ville sainte de Ghom (Qom), le 23 Avril 2007, une :
.
"Commémoration à la mémoire de Shaykh Bahà'i"
Pionnier de l'Architecture traditionnelle de Kâchân.
A cette occasion, les organisateurs ont publié la photo de 'Abdu'l-Bahà sur l'affiche de cette Manifestation culturelle, croyant que c'est l'effigie de Sheikh Bahà'i, célèbre architecte, penseur et médecin iranien du 15ème siècle !
Cette affiche (voir au-dessus) est placardée dans toute la Ville de Kâchân et, ainsi, ceux qui voulaient cacher et détruire la photo de 'Abdu'l-Bahà l'ont eux-mêmes mise sous les yeux de tout le monde !
Remarquons que, en réalité, à la place de Shaykh Bahà'i, c'est 'Abdu'l-Bahà qui est présenté comme l'un des meilleurs architecte de l'Iran : ce qui est absolument vrai, puisque pour reconstruire ce pays le seul plan valable est le Plan qu'Abdu'l-Bahà donne dans ses ouvrages concernant les réformes nécessaires pour l'Iran !...
Maintenant, pourquoi cette personnalité porte le nom de " Bahà'i " ?
J'ai appris que ce savant, de son nom complet "Mohammad Shaykh Bahà-ed-Din", avait trouvé que le 100ème Nom ou Attribut de Dieu, appelé "Esm-é 'Azam" (le Plus Grand Nom), que les Musulmans attendent de connaître à la "Fin des Temps" -- les 99 premiers Noms de Dieu ayant été dévoilés par l'Islam -- a pressenti que ce Nom est "Bahà", c'est pourquoi il a choisi le nom de "Bahâ-ed-Din" et, ainsi, il est connu sous le nom de Shaykh Bahà'i.
Justement, dans la Ville d'Ispahan ou ce savant et architecte a construit quelques édifices, il y a une imprtante artère nommée : "Avenue Shaykh Bahà'i".
De même, dans le Mausolée de Imàm Rézà, situé dans la Ville sainte de Mash-had, l'un des plus grands Sanctuaires pour les Musulmans chiites iraniens, il y a un "Bast" (aire de refuge inviolable même par les Forces de l'Ordre) appelé "Bast-é Shaykh Bahà'i".
[ Je suppose que si les Autorités actuelles de l'Iran pouvaient débaptiser cette avenue et cette aire, ce serait avec joie qu'elles le feraient : imaginez le nom de "Bahà'i" en plein sanctuaire chiite !...
Il faut dire que le nom de "Bahà'i" n'est pas un nom commun et répandu en Iran : à part les disciples de Bahà'u'llàh et ce Shaykh, je n'ai jamais entendu quelqu'un d'autre porter ce nom. ]
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
On the banks of the Tigris
by Druzelle Cederquist
Guest Commentary online at
http://www.religionandspirituality.com/morebeliefs/view.php?StoryID=20070501-071722-4420r
http://www.ReligionAndSpirituality.com
May 1, 2007
My thoughts have held very different images of Baghdad this past week, and different truths from those of the current news. Even as I join Baha'is around the globe to celebrate the Festival of Ridvan, the holiest period among Baha'i holy days, I take pause to wonder why Baha'u'llah chose Baghdad in which to make His greatest announcement. Baghdad was for Baha'u'llah a place of exile and hardship. But it was also in Baghdad that Baha'u'llah began to reveal the Word of God, which He called "the master key for the whole world," for with this key, He wrote, "[T]he doors of the hearts of men, which in reality are the doors of heaven, are unlocked." Let me share with you a handful of images from Baghdad that you will never see on the nightly news, and the story that goes with them. It was an April afternoon in Baghdad, 1863, when Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, left His home and made His way through the press of people gathered to see Him one last time. Men, women and children crowded close to catch a glimpse of Him. Some climbed to rooftops to see Baha'u'llah, Who even now gave out coins to the poor and spoke words of comfort as He passed. Many wept openly. Who now would comfort the orphaned, the outcast and the poor He had befriended? Who would speak on their behalf for justice? Muslims, Christians and Jews, those with rank and learning and those with none — Baha'u'llah had touched the lives of so many who lived in Baghdad, and their encounters with Him had left none of them the same. This outpouring of respect and affection was not at all what Baha'u'llah's enemies had envisioned. Their schemes and lies had brought them an apparent victory over Baha'u'llah: an order from the sultan of the Ottoman Empire for Baha'u'llah to leave Baghdad. But they had forgotten the truth in their Koran: "They plotted — but God plotted: and of plotters is God the best!" Even now, as Baha'u'llah reached the banks of the Tigris River, and was ferried by the boatman to a garden on the other side, He would soon transform this day of intended disgrace into a day of abiding joy. For Baha'u'llah was not simply Mirza Husayn-'Ali, a Persian noble who had suffered torture and unjust imprisonment in Tehran; not merely a man who had endured, with his family, a mountainous winter journey into exile; not simply the one who had faced down an assassin in Baghdad and stood up to the challenge of mullahs bent on waging holy war. Now in a garden on the Tigris, the air rich with the scent of roses, Baha'u'llah announced to a few what so many had longed to hear. He, Baha'u'llah, was a Messenger from God in that rank of Holy Messengers before Him — Abraham and Moses, Krishna, Buddha and Zoroaster, Christ, Muhammad and the Bab. But the whole truth, the greater joy, opened from this: With Baha'u'llah the ancient promises of God were fulfilled. Baha'u'llah — "the Glory of God" — was the Promised One whose advent the faithful of every Faith had prayed to witness. Through Him God would shower humankind with so great a measure of guidance that the kingdoms of men would mirror the divine kingdom, and the peace for which humanity longed would become reality. "The Divine Springtime is come," declared Baha'u'llah, and those who were with Him for His Announcement named the garden on the Tigris "Ridvan," which means Paradise. Surely there could be no greater bliss than to stand in this spot, at this Hour, with the Promised One of God! Baha'u'llah linked His greatest Announcement to a law. He forbade the use of force in spreading the Word of God. The mightiest sword is the tongue, He said, for speech can remove the veils of ignorance from the human heart. Every one of the 5 million Baha'is in today's world, who come from the peoples of every land, also honors this truth laid out by Baha'u'llah: The religions called by different names are, in reality, one religion unfolding over time, their separate Prophets inspired by one Source, their sacred guidance flowing together into one divine purpose — the upliftment of the human spirit and the evolution of human consciousness. "Human tongue can never befittingly sing their praise," Baha'u'llah wrote of those Divine Educators, "and human speech can never unfold their mystery." It was in Baghdad that He first opened up, in His Book of Certitude, this profound shift of perspective on the religions we thought we knew. Still, we are jaded by what we see in the name of religion, and it is hard to believe that Baghdad was called "the Abode of Peace" by its founder or "the City of God" by Baha'u'llah. That Baghdad, and the world, is so far removed from this reality reflects not the inadequacy of the Divine, but the slowness of humanity to pay attention. "For were men to abide by and observe the divine teachings," wrote Baha'u'llah, "every trace of evil would be banished from the face of the earth." To turn away from the light of divine guidance, however, is to be filled with darkness. The hearts that are portals to heaven can become the pathway to hell, for the Evil One is not an outside enemy, said Baha'u'llah, but the unbridled lower nature within us. "The actions of man himself breed a profusion of satanic power. ... The prevalence of sedition, contention, conflict and the like ... provoke the appearance of the satanic spirit," wrote Baha'u'llah. "Yet the Holy Spirit hath ever shunned such matters." Nonetheless, "It is Our purpose," Baha'u'llah further wrote, "through the loving providence of God ... to abolish ... all disputes, war, and bloodshed, from the face of the earth." It was not an empty promise. In over 100 volumes Baha'u'llah provided the tools to do the work, and called on the world's peoples and their nations to take the future in their hands. Already Baha'is who come from peoples at war are learning how to create communities of peace. Baha'u'llah made it clear that there can be no peace without unity, no paradise without justice. "The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established," He wrote and stated. "The light of men is Justice. ... The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men." "No radiance can compare with that of justice," Baha'u'llah declared. "The organization of the world and the tranquility of mankind depend upon it." Our noble task is to transform our societies and ourselves, and lest we be discouraged, Baha'u'llah assures us that we will meet the challenge. "Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away," He promised, "and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come." This is not a vision supplied by the nightly news, but by the newest Messenger of God. — — — Druzelle Cederquistis a poet and author of "The Story of Baha'u'llah." Visit her author's blog at Luminous Realities. Email her at DruCeder@yahoo.com. © copyright 2007 by Druzelle Cederquist
http://www.religionandspirituality.com/morebeliefs/view.php?StoryID=20070501-071722-4420r
by Druzelle Cederquist
Guest Commentary online at
http://www.religionandspirituality.com/morebeliefs/view.php?StoryID=20070501-071722-4420r
http://www.ReligionAndSpirituality.com
May 1, 2007
My thoughts have held very different images of Baghdad this past week, and different truths from those of the current news. Even as I join Baha'is around the globe to celebrate the Festival of Ridvan, the holiest period among Baha'i holy days, I take pause to wonder why Baha'u'llah chose Baghdad in which to make His greatest announcement. Baghdad was for Baha'u'llah a place of exile and hardship. But it was also in Baghdad that Baha'u'llah began to reveal the Word of God, which He called "the master key for the whole world," for with this key, He wrote, "[T]he doors of the hearts of men, which in reality are the doors of heaven, are unlocked." Let me share with you a handful of images from Baghdad that you will never see on the nightly news, and the story that goes with them. It was an April afternoon in Baghdad, 1863, when Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, left His home and made His way through the press of people gathered to see Him one last time. Men, women and children crowded close to catch a glimpse of Him. Some climbed to rooftops to see Baha'u'llah, Who even now gave out coins to the poor and spoke words of comfort as He passed. Many wept openly. Who now would comfort the orphaned, the outcast and the poor He had befriended? Who would speak on their behalf for justice? Muslims, Christians and Jews, those with rank and learning and those with none — Baha'u'llah had touched the lives of so many who lived in Baghdad, and their encounters with Him had left none of them the same. This outpouring of respect and affection was not at all what Baha'u'llah's enemies had envisioned. Their schemes and lies had brought them an apparent victory over Baha'u'llah: an order from the sultan of the Ottoman Empire for Baha'u'llah to leave Baghdad. But they had forgotten the truth in their Koran: "They plotted — but God plotted: and of plotters is God the best!" Even now, as Baha'u'llah reached the banks of the Tigris River, and was ferried by the boatman to a garden on the other side, He would soon transform this day of intended disgrace into a day of abiding joy. For Baha'u'llah was not simply Mirza Husayn-'Ali, a Persian noble who had suffered torture and unjust imprisonment in Tehran; not merely a man who had endured, with his family, a mountainous winter journey into exile; not simply the one who had faced down an assassin in Baghdad and stood up to the challenge of mullahs bent on waging holy war. Now in a garden on the Tigris, the air rich with the scent of roses, Baha'u'llah announced to a few what so many had longed to hear. He, Baha'u'llah, was a Messenger from God in that rank of Holy Messengers before Him — Abraham and Moses, Krishna, Buddha and Zoroaster, Christ, Muhammad and the Bab. But the whole truth, the greater joy, opened from this: With Baha'u'llah the ancient promises of God were fulfilled. Baha'u'llah — "the Glory of God" — was the Promised One whose advent the faithful of every Faith had prayed to witness. Through Him God would shower humankind with so great a measure of guidance that the kingdoms of men would mirror the divine kingdom, and the peace for which humanity longed would become reality. "The Divine Springtime is come," declared Baha'u'llah, and those who were with Him for His Announcement named the garden on the Tigris "Ridvan," which means Paradise. Surely there could be no greater bliss than to stand in this spot, at this Hour, with the Promised One of God! Baha'u'llah linked His greatest Announcement to a law. He forbade the use of force in spreading the Word of God. The mightiest sword is the tongue, He said, for speech can remove the veils of ignorance from the human heart. Every one of the 5 million Baha'is in today's world, who come from the peoples of every land, also honors this truth laid out by Baha'u'llah: The religions called by different names are, in reality, one religion unfolding over time, their separate Prophets inspired by one Source, their sacred guidance flowing together into one divine purpose — the upliftment of the human spirit and the evolution of human consciousness. "Human tongue can never befittingly sing their praise," Baha'u'llah wrote of those Divine Educators, "and human speech can never unfold their mystery." It was in Baghdad that He first opened up, in His Book of Certitude, this profound shift of perspective on the religions we thought we knew. Still, we are jaded by what we see in the name of religion, and it is hard to believe that Baghdad was called "the Abode of Peace" by its founder or "the City of God" by Baha'u'llah. That Baghdad, and the world, is so far removed from this reality reflects not the inadequacy of the Divine, but the slowness of humanity to pay attention. "For were men to abide by and observe the divine teachings," wrote Baha'u'llah, "every trace of evil would be banished from the face of the earth." To turn away from the light of divine guidance, however, is to be filled with darkness. The hearts that are portals to heaven can become the pathway to hell, for the Evil One is not an outside enemy, said Baha'u'llah, but the unbridled lower nature within us. "The actions of man himself breed a profusion of satanic power. ... The prevalence of sedition, contention, conflict and the like ... provoke the appearance of the satanic spirit," wrote Baha'u'llah. "Yet the Holy Spirit hath ever shunned such matters." Nonetheless, "It is Our purpose," Baha'u'llah further wrote, "through the loving providence of God ... to abolish ... all disputes, war, and bloodshed, from the face of the earth." It was not an empty promise. In over 100 volumes Baha'u'llah provided the tools to do the work, and called on the world's peoples and their nations to take the future in their hands. Already Baha'is who come from peoples at war are learning how to create communities of peace. Baha'u'llah made it clear that there can be no peace without unity, no paradise without justice. "The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established," He wrote and stated. "The light of men is Justice. ... The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men." "No radiance can compare with that of justice," Baha'u'llah declared. "The organization of the world and the tranquility of mankind depend upon it." Our noble task is to transform our societies and ourselves, and lest we be discouraged, Baha'u'llah assures us that we will meet the challenge. "Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away," He promised, "and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come." This is not a vision supplied by the nightly news, but by the newest Messenger of God. — — — Druzelle Cederquistis a poet and author of "The Story of Baha'u'llah." Visit her author's blog at Luminous Realities. Email her at DruCeder@yahoo.com. © copyright 2007 by Druzelle Cederquist
http://www.religionandspirituality.com/morebeliefs/view.php?StoryID=20070501-071722-4420r
Festival of Ridvan marks beginning of Baha'i Faith
Posted : April 20, 2007 - 4:55pm Terms : News Human Interest
From April 21 to May 2, Baha'is observe the Festival of Ridvan. This most holy day commemorates the anniversary of Baha'u'llah's declaration in 1863 that He was the Promised One of all earlier religions.
Baha'u'llah's declaration that He was "Him Whom God shall make manifest" and a Manifestation of God forms the beginning of the Baha'i Faith.
Ridvan (Rizwahn) was a bittersweet time, as Baha'u'llah was soon to be exiled to Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). This was the latest in His series of exiles by the Persian government, which considered Him to be a heretic.
Baha'u'llah spent 12 days in a garden in Baghdad visiting with His followers. He named the garden Ridvan, which means "Paradise" or "good pleasure" in Arabic. The exact circumstances of the Declaration are not known. According to Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the faith: “The fragmentary description left to posterity by His chronicler Nabil is one of the very few authentic records we possess of the memorable days He spent in that garden. “Every day,” Nabil has related, “ere the hour of dawn, the gardeners would pick the roses which lined the four avenues of the garden, and would pile them in the center of the floor of His blessed tent. So great would be the heap that when His companions gathered to drink their morning tea in His presence, they would be unable to see each other across it. All these roses Baha’u’llah would, with His own hands, entrust to those whom He dismissed from His presence every morning to be delivered, on His behalf, to His Arab and Persian friends in the city.”
Baha'u'llah called Ridvan the Most Great Festival and the King of Festivals. He said:
Call ye to mind, O people, the bounty which God hath conferred upon you. Ye were sunk in slumber, and lo! He aroused you by the reviving breezes of His Revelation, and made known unto you His manifest and undeviating Path.
When He entered the garden, Baha'u'llah proclaimed the Festival of Ridvan and made three announcements:
*He forbade His followers to fight to advance or defend the Faith (religious war had been permitted under past religions).
*He declared there would not be another prophet for another 1,000 years.
*He proclaimed that all the names of God were inherent in all things at that moment.
Baha'is suspend work on the holiest days of Ridvan-the first (April 21), ninth (April 29) and twelfth (May 2). These mark the day of Baha'u'llah's arrival in the garden, the arrival of His family and the group's departure for Constantinople.
Throughout Ridvan, Baha'is gather for devotions and attend social gatherings.
At Ridvan, Baha'is annually elect members of local and national administrative bodies, called Spiritual Assemblies. Baha'u'llah taught that in an age of universal education, there was no longer a need for a special class of clergy. Instead, he provided a framework for administering the affairs of the Faith through a system of elected councils at the local, national and international levels.
Baha'i elections occur through secret ballot and plurality vote, without candidacies, nominations or campaigning.
Most Baha'i elections are held during Ridvan, a practice which started in Abdu'l-Baha's lifetime. The Universal House of Justice, the international Baha'i governing body, writes a letter to the Baha'i community each Ridvan, summarizing the year's progress and setting future challenges.
Posted : April 20, 2007 - 4:55pm Terms : News Human Interest
From April 21 to May 2, Baha'is observe the Festival of Ridvan. This most holy day commemorates the anniversary of Baha'u'llah's declaration in 1863 that He was the Promised One of all earlier religions.
Baha'u'llah's declaration that He was "Him Whom God shall make manifest" and a Manifestation of God forms the beginning of the Baha'i Faith.
Ridvan (Rizwahn) was a bittersweet time, as Baha'u'llah was soon to be exiled to Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). This was the latest in His series of exiles by the Persian government, which considered Him to be a heretic.
Baha'u'llah spent 12 days in a garden in Baghdad visiting with His followers. He named the garden Ridvan, which means "Paradise" or "good pleasure" in Arabic. The exact circumstances of the Declaration are not known. According to Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the faith: “The fragmentary description left to posterity by His chronicler Nabil is one of the very few authentic records we possess of the memorable days He spent in that garden. “Every day,” Nabil has related, “ere the hour of dawn, the gardeners would pick the roses which lined the four avenues of the garden, and would pile them in the center of the floor of His blessed tent. So great would be the heap that when His companions gathered to drink their morning tea in His presence, they would be unable to see each other across it. All these roses Baha’u’llah would, with His own hands, entrust to those whom He dismissed from His presence every morning to be delivered, on His behalf, to His Arab and Persian friends in the city.”
Baha'u'llah called Ridvan the Most Great Festival and the King of Festivals. He said:
Call ye to mind, O people, the bounty which God hath conferred upon you. Ye were sunk in slumber, and lo! He aroused you by the reviving breezes of His Revelation, and made known unto you His manifest and undeviating Path.
When He entered the garden, Baha'u'llah proclaimed the Festival of Ridvan and made three announcements:
*He forbade His followers to fight to advance or defend the Faith (religious war had been permitted under past religions).
*He declared there would not be another prophet for another 1,000 years.
*He proclaimed that all the names of God were inherent in all things at that moment.
Baha'is suspend work on the holiest days of Ridvan-the first (April 21), ninth (April 29) and twelfth (May 2). These mark the day of Baha'u'llah's arrival in the garden, the arrival of His family and the group's departure for Constantinople.
Throughout Ridvan, Baha'is gather for devotions and attend social gatherings.
At Ridvan, Baha'is annually elect members of local and national administrative bodies, called Spiritual Assemblies. Baha'u'llah taught that in an age of universal education, there was no longer a need for a special class of clergy. Instead, he provided a framework for administering the affairs of the Faith through a system of elected councils at the local, national and international levels.
Baha'i elections occur through secret ballot and plurality vote, without candidacies, nominations or campaigning.
Most Baha'i elections are held during Ridvan, a practice which started in Abdu'l-Baha's lifetime. The Universal House of Justice, the international Baha'i governing body, writes a letter to the Baha'i community each Ridvan, summarizing the year's progress and setting future challenges.
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