#Bahá'u'lláh

[allah-u-abha]

[notasfilosoficas]

“El mundo de la humanidad tiene dos alas: una es la mujer y la otra es el hombre. Hasta que ambas alas no se hayan desarrollado igualmente, el pájaro no podrá volar. [.. ] Hasta que el mundo de la mujer no llegue a ser igual al mundo del hombre en la adquisición de virtudes y perfecciones, no se podrá alcanzar el éxito y la prosperidad como debiera ser“

Abdu’l-Bahá

Abbás Effendi, conocido como Abdu’l-Bahá, fue un líder religioso nacido en Teherán en mayo de 1844, nombrado comendador de la Orden del Imperio Británico y cofundador junto con su padre del bahaísmo.

Durante su juventud adquirió cierta influencia del babismo un movimiento religioso que se consolidó en Persia de 1844 a 1852 y del que su padre era un miembro prominente.

Bahá Allah  padre de Abbàs Effendi, escindió el babismo en dos sectas al morir su fundador el religioso persa Bab, quien fue ejecutado en Tabriz en 1850.

Bahá Allah fue encarcelado por declararse defensor de la fé del Bab.

La aprehensión de Bahá Allah, marcó fuertemente la niñez de Abbàs y su familia, pues significó para ellos una vida condenada a la miseria y al desprecio como consecuencia. 

Durante algunos años el padre de Abbás es liberado y obligado a permanecer en el exilio y es en ese tiempo durante el año 1853 que Abbás y su padre emprenden el viaje obligado hacia Bagdad, y es durante ese viaje Abbás entra en contacto con textos babistas y el Corán.

En 1863, Bahá'u'lláh padre de Abbás es expulsado y movido a Constantinopla hoy Estambul, y mas tarde, ya como jefe segundo del bahaísmo, son expulsados a Edirne en Turquía y a Akka en la ahora Israel.

Es la gente de Akka quienes les ofrecen apoyo y les permiten rondar libremente las ciudades vecinas.

Al morir su padre, surgen conflictos con su hermano y Abbás viaja a Europa, Egipto y a los Estados Unidos para proclamar las enseñanzas de su padre e impulsar el desarrollo de las escasas comunidades que habían surgido en esas localidades.

Al adoptar el liderazgo del grupo religioso, Abbás adopta el nombre de Abdu’l-Bahá que significa “Sirviente de la Gloria”.

Abdu’l-Bahá dedicó su ministerio al avance de la Fé de su padre, y a la promoción de los ideales de paz y unidad, alentó el establecimiento de instituciones bahaís locales y guió las iniciativas educativas, sociales y económicas.

Muchas de sus conferencias fueron grabadas y publicadas en libros bajo los títulos de “la Sabiduría de Abdu’l-Bahá” y “La promulgación de La Paz universal”, mismas que sirvieron de base para la promulgación y consolidación de la comunidad mundial bahaí.

Durante la Primera Guerra Mundial Abdu’l-Bahá fue galardonado con la Orden del Imperio Británico por sus esfuerzos por disminuir la hambruna que sufría Palestina por medio de la repartición de su propio almacenamiento de grano.

En 1872, Abdu’l-Bahá se casa y tiene 5 hijos y 4 hijas de las cuales la mayor, se convertiría en la madre del futuro heredero de Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi.

Abdu’l-Bahá muere en noviembre de 1921, y sus restos descansan en las faldas del Monte Carmelo, en el santuario de Babi. En su testamento es en donde nombra a su nieto Shoghi Effendi como el guardian mundial de la fe Bahaí.

Fuente: Wikipedia, biografiasyvidas.com, bahai.org

[inadvertently-writing]

bahá'u'lláh-allah-dharma-karma-charma...

The window to my world is getting foggy...

I can sense the change in the atmosphere;

Literally…

The walls around me are coming closer

A perpetual culmination of being trapped with no escape is in sight...

***Tickets are on sale now! (Seats are limited)***

(welcome to my...uh..our universe)

By@inadvertently-writing ©

[neostriatum]

Every soul its particular aspiration

[AO3] [Dreamwidth]

-

"Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration." - Proclamation of Bahá'u'lláh, by Bahá'u'lláh

-

The scratching of the charcoal grated on her ears. It wasn’t, per se, the sound itself. No, what made her teeth gnash and pulse thrum in frustration was the abject knowledge that such a noise was the product of an inferior product. Her teeth pulled back, An inferior product for an inferior person.

Sokka, offensive person that he was, took no notice of her snarling thoughts as he doodled on his sketchpad, tongue sticking out in concentration. Unfortunately for her, he was much more versed in big brother behaviours than Zuzu, and so needling him into compliance wouldn’t work.

She frowned at him, picking through her observations to figure out what sort of pressure would get him to bend to her will. The answer would come to her eventually, try as the healers might to dissuade Azula from her natural talents. They hadn’t succeeded in several years, and she was loathe to let anyone take away such a core tenet of her personality.

Humming interrupted her, a catchy jangle interspersed with words too quiet to be discerned. Her resolve broke into splintery fragments as she snapped, “Will you stop that.”

The Watertribesman stopped with an abrasive scratch of charcoal on paper, a baffled look on his face. “Drawing?”

“That too.” She was not pouting, she was not.

His idiotic look only strengthened, and Azula dug her nails into her crossed arms to resist lashing out. The bars of her so-called residence would be only a minor impediment, she was sure.

There was a beat of blessed silence. Then, “... Do you want to see?”

“No.”

“Aw.” He looked dejected, but she was feeling too churlish to smirk about it. Shaking the paper out, and releasing a fume of dust that made her frown some more, Sokka continued, “I mean, I kind of wanted to know what you thought.”

Azula blinked. What. “What?”

Indescribably, Sokka brightened, “Yeah! You’re like… scarily smart, and none of the others can figure out what I’m drawing.”

“I’m sure that’s because of your impeccable skills,” She drawled, but loosened her posture anyway in curiosity, squinting at the horrific mess the boy was making. Sokka helpfully displayed his creation to her, a hopeful grin on his face. Harrumphing, she arched a brow, “Perhaps it would be more useful if you drew intelligibly.”

“Hey, I’m intelligent!”

Azula drew in a deep breath, closing her eyes and counting to ten. Exhaling, and disgruntled on an entirely different level that no flames came with it, she said, “Idiot. I meant that you have no skill in accurately depicting what you’re thinking.”

There, that was helpful, yes? It followed the stringent instructions of her healers precisely.

Sokka frowned, and glanced down at his paper in doubt. Perhaps not, she thought, eyeing him warily. Zuzu was predictable when his fragile ego took a blow, but this insolent boy was relatively unknown. It irked her, idly, incessantly, that she didn’t have enough data to predict him.

“Oh.” A response that gave her absolutely zero information, and why couldn’t he be useful? Azula gritted her teeth, even as Sokka looked back up at her. “What should I fix?”

And that- that was unexpected. She huffed, lunging forward and grabbing the paper held tantalizingly loosely in the other’s hands, “Give me that.”

Obligingly, he handed over his charcoal too, watching her curiously. Azula laid the paper onto the floor, grumbling to herself that the miniature-sized desk was nevertheless too heavy to drag over, and smoothed it out over the strip of stone that laid between her cell’s bars and the plush rug Zuzu had graciously ordered to be installed. It was flat enough to be serviceable, at any rate – it’s not like Sokka’s drawings could get any worse.

She made a test scratch on one corner, making a disgusted noise at how unevenly the line was drawn. “What is this garbage?”

“Hey, I made that myself!”

“And you suck at it,” Was Azula’s tart reply as she practically threw it back at him, “What did you use to bind this, a little airbender’s hopes and dreams?”

Sokka frowned, but it was more petulant than truly offended – a part of her breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn’t hollering loud enough to bring the healers running. He squinted at the charcoal for a moment, before copying her test marks. “Well, I did make this by myself…” He murmured thoughtfully, rubbing his chin, “Usually I just nab a few off Zuko’s desk, but he’s making me buy my own because they’re for official purposes or something.”

He waved the charcoal at her, “The good ones are so expensive! Did you know that? I’m not going to waste my money when I can do it myself just fine.”

Azula leaned against the bars, bemused, “You bought the cheap binder, didn’t you.”

Sokka raised a brow at her, “Well duh. Budgeting master here, I’d rather not blow my entire budget on charcoal with how much I use it. Guilting Zuko into buying me ink blocks is enough work already.”

Despite her best efforts, Azula felt a laugh bubble up. “Zuzu’s so gullible, isn’t he?”

The boy nodded vigorously, “Oh absolutely. I have to not do it too often or Katara notices and makes me return them.”

They shared a commiserative silence. Azula used it to ruminate on precisely which face her brother would have made, and it was mildly entertaining to imagine how the waterbender would react. “Hm.”

“Hm?” Sokka blinked at her, looking away from the charcoal he had been staring so contemplatively at.

“You have too much air in your fire,” She said, instead of reminiscing aloud, “The grains are too coarse, and aren’t binding well to whatever wax or resin you’re buying.”

The resulting bout of silence was long enough to make her glance in the boy’s direction, only to see the consideration with which he peered at her.

“What?” It was more defensive than she would have liked, but she assuaged herself with the haughty curiosity filtering over it.

Sokka squinted, and she frowned. When he hummed, she huffed. Right as she was envisioning her revenge in the form of a singed and properly-offended Water Tribesman, he astonished her with the simple question of, “Is that why your fire is blue?”

Azula blinked, “Well. Yes.”

He nodded, as if that answered several problems at once. She paused, and saw in her mind’s eye the path his thoughts made – yes, it probably did. Impressive.

Sokka held out his charcoal, grinning, “Wanna show me how an Azula-made charcoal writes?”

-

It took several trials and errors, but between the two of them, the perfect stick of charcoal was made. Azula peered over his shoulder as he leaned against the bars barricading her room, a peculiar feeling of peace swelling at the sight of the smooth, liquid marks being drawn on the paper.

“Success!” Sokka crowed, quietly in deference to her proximity, and she felt a matching grin tug at her lips.

“Success,” She confirmed, then leaned to the side, “Now. What was that atrocious thing you were attempting to show me?”

“Huh? Oh, that-” There was a rustle of paper, charcoal stuck unerringly behind his ear and leaving a long smudge that amused Azula immensely, before the original piece of… artistry was unceremoniously shoved back into her direction, “How much of this is from the charcoal, do you think?”

She grabbed the drawings clumsily, the angle off and her complete reticence to ruin her robes with the sub-par material creasing the paper before she could maintain a proper grip on it. Grumbling, she opened the creased mass of papers, turning it a few times before it was at the orientation she vaguely remembered.

The effort made little difference, and Azula stared uncomprehendingly at what laid before her, tongue stilled only by the hopeful look on her co-conspirator’s face. He reminded her unerringly of Ty Lee, all buoyant airs reaching for the stars, and because of that her gaze was applied a bit more ruthlessly upon Sokka’s work in an attempt to glean value from what laid before her.

Pointing at a series of miniature, delicate lines in the assumption that this was some forming blueprint, she asked, “What’s this?”

“Oh! That’s the gear shaft!” He exclaimed, quickly reaching through the bars to grab one of the other papers, holding it up with a flourish, “I drew it in better detail here, the Mechanist at the Northern Air Temple told me it’s good to have separate pages for complex things.”

“Smart man,” She muttered, mind already ticking away as she saw the array of pages in a new light. It was quick work to put them into order, Sokka intuiting what sort of big picture she was going for. “Hmm. What is this, some sort of flying machine?”

He waved the charcoal at her exuberantly, pouting only for the dramatics when she glanced up and plucked it straight from his hand, “Exactly! See, I knew that scary brainy-ness could be used for the purposes of good!”

Azula raised an eyebrow, tone dry despite the notes she was amending in the margins of the designs, “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

“Fine, fine,” He waved his hand, settling down so he could watch her work. It was flattering, really.

She preoccupies herself with the sketches, giving them a discerning eye while she shuffles them around. The niggle of inspiration is just out of reach, but it’s invigorating, the same spark Agni shows her when the air shifts to make way for her lightning strike- “Paper,” She demands, finger poised still over a path of least resistance, “And charcoal.”

It’s hurriedly shoved into the gaps of her cell, and she wastes no time in flattening out a couple of sheets, redrawing entire sections with quick strokes, words spilling into the margins as she notes design flaws gleaned from her own knowledge of the Mechanic’s work process. Sokka has a particular approach, but it’s obscured by his dubious technical artistry.

Winnowing out the core of his ideas is exhilarating, the flow of ideas evolving from curt questions to more involved conversations as they distilled the truth of this new goal.

It was… good. After Sokka left, promising to bring more reams of paper for the both of them, it was an easy thing to slip into the jetstreams of meditation.

-

The model in her hands is rough, the wood granted only a cursory polish to not prick her skin. Oiled paper imitated windows, allowing a glossy glance into the interior. Sokka had proudly displayed a cross-section, but it was a unique perspective to view the whole.

A packet of sweets rested between the sundry spoils of their work, and the nostalgia of watching Ran-Cha fold caramelized ash bananas into a dough to make that evening’s dessert made her sigh between shuffling pages, the candied coconut a delicate crunch to the pillowy softness of the bread. Sokka echoed her sentiment, lounging against the bars of her cell with a slice in his own hand, dragon-lychee juice in his other a cool complement to the still-steaming treat.

She settled the scale model to an unoccupied corner of floor, rearranging things so that the cross-section model was aligned to the papers that borne the idea to the world. In this, Sokka’s skill shone through, for the model was a precise replica of the drawings.

“How would it look if we angled the wings, hm-” Azula tilted her head, taking an idle sip of the juice Zuko had insisted Sokka pack (it was, admittedly, her favourite, so she wouldn’t complain too much), “Fifteen degrees? Not twenty, that’s too much.”

Sokka poked his head into the gap to better see the hinge her nail was tapping on. She tilted the paper a little, not minding the perpetual chalk dust any more that indicated impromptu revisions, so the other could see what she meant. He hummed thoughtfully, pulling away to rummage into his satchel for the compass that always accompanied him.

He tweezed the angle of the instrument, squinting at the paper through its gap. “Sixteen? Seventeen, maybe?”

Azula studied the hinge briefly, taking another bite of her bread, “We’ll try sixteen, and see about the pinion.”

“Absolutely,” Sokka agreed easily, pinching the compass to the requested degree and handing it to her to chalk up the new measurement. She sketched the revision quickly, picking up the first model with its articulated wings.

“We’ll need to make a lot of these,” She mused, wondering how it would look if- when they finished this project. A blimp that followed the air to reduce its fuel requirements was surely the next step in air technology.

“I’ll bring my kit,” Sokka promised.

-

It should be odd, to be allowed not only outside, but into the palace courtyards. It should, but it wasn’t, the sight of her and Sokka’s first full-scale model taking her breath away.

She paced around it, too preoccupied with observing how the light shone through the structured, thin metal of the wings and the actual glass windows that could open on their own, so different from the oiled paper of their scale models – the glimmer of Zuko’s dragonlike qi at the edges of the courtyard was overcome by the calculations she was already running in her mind about air pressure and currents and durability.

Sokka was beside her, equally as fascinated, holding up the plans to compare the model. He drew to a stop near the passenger door, the smoothly-oiled swing of it opening its own allure. “Hey, come look at this,” He said, gesturing her to look at the footwell, “Do you think this is enough room for the pedals?”

They had calculated for a conservation of weight, but she grimaced at the cramped space, withdrawing the charcoal behind her own ear to annotate the sheet Sokka handed her. It left a smudge of charcoal blending into her hair, but it goes unnoticed in favour of discussing scaffolding to increase space.

-

Azula’s breath fogs in the crisp, early-winter air, a parallel to the slumbering coals of her qi as Sokka pulls her toward the tarpaulin-covered model that – they hope – is fully operational.

The metal of the engine is cold, but that doesn’t deter them from debating the exact seconds needed between lighting it and turning the propellers for a full start, though they manage to hop onto the aeroplane before it takes off without them, barely missing one of the spiked towers as Sokka frantically pulls on the levers for steering.

The climb to the horizon is slow, Agni still climbing to full ascent despite the fog gathered in the dips of the caldera. It’s quiet for several tense heartbeats, but as they break past the minimum height their calculations call for, Sokka whoops in excitement.

It’s startling, freeing in a way that makes the war balloons feel hindering, and Azula can’t help her own unbidden yell of happiness when they successfully climb to their own ascent amid the noisily puttering engine.

“We did it! We did it!”

-

Author's Notes

Take one prodigy and heir apparent of a nation that flung themselves at least two epochs forward in terms of technological advancement and had a fall from grace that was frankly needed, add another prodigy and potential heir apparent of a war-torn set of inter-connected tribes with zero actual resources but his imagination, and shake the bottle until a friendship comes out. Two completely (and, I argue, complementary) different sets of genius in one room ought to come up with something extraordinary, no?

Every time I think too hard about the fact that the Fire Nation has a navy made of alloyed metals with furnaces, and a burgeoning air force also with alloyed metals with furnaces, I'm blown away by how much and how complex of math they need to accomplish this. Really, how does the ATLA-verse look like, knowing algebra and the concept of zero (and possibly negative numbers!) exists alongside metaphysics such as bending and the Spirit World and a literal, physical bridge between realities in the form of a reincarnated person?

[irunevenus]

Baha'ism: The Religion of Unity and World Peace

Baha'ism, one of the world's newest religions, was founded in the 19th century and is based on the belief in the essential unity of all religions and the promotion of global peace and social justice. Originating in Iran, Baha'ism is a faith that has attracted attention for its inclusive and progressive vision, seeking to unify humanity and promote spiritual and social development. This article explores the origins of Baha'ism, its fundamental principles, and its impact on the contemporary world.

The Origins of Baha'ism: The Emergence of a New Revelation Baha'ism emerged in Iran (then Persia) in the 19th century with the emergence of the Báb, whose real name was Sayyid `Alí Muhammad Shírází. Born in 1819, the Báb proclaimed himself to be the harbinger of a new bearer of divine revelation, paving the way for a new cycle of spirituality. He announced the coming of a “Manifestation of God” who would establish a new global order.

In 1850, the Báb was executed by Persian authorities for his teachings, which he considered a threat to the religious and political status quo. His followers faced severe persecution, but his message influenced the founding of Bahá’ísm.

The Founder of Bahá’ísm: Bahá’u’lláh Bahá’u’lláh, whose real name was Mírzá Ḥusayn-`Alí Núrí, is the founder of Bahá’ísm. Born in 1817, he was one of the earliest followers of the Báb and later claimed to be the Manifestation of God whom he had foretold. In 1863, Bahá’u’lláh revealed his mission as the prophet of a new religion and laid the foundations of Bahá’ísm.

Bahá'u'lláh's revelation emphasized the unity of all religions, the equality of all human beings, and the need for a unified world government to promote peace and justice. His writings, which include the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book), serve as the basis of Bahá'í law and practice.

Fundamental Principles of Bahá'íism Bahá'ism is founded on several core principles that reflect its commitment to unity and justice. These principles include:

Unity of God: The belief that there is one God, who is the creator of all that exists. God is transcendent and incomprehensible, but His attributes are manifest in creation.

Unity of Religion: The idea that all the world's great religions are manifestations of a single divine truth, revealed by God through different prophets and founders throughout history. Bahá'ís believe that Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Krishna, and other prophets are part of a continuous divine revelation.

Unity of Humanity: The belief in the equality of all human beings, regardless of race, religion, gender, or nationality. Bahá'ís advocate the elimination of prejudice and the promotion of equality and social justice.

Unity of Religious Fundamentals: Bahá'ís emphasize the need for a single system of values ​​and principles to guide individual and collective life. The practice of religion should contribute to the progress and well-being of society.

Universal Education: The promotion of education as a universal right and essential for personal and social development. Bahá'ís view education as a tool for promoting justice and equality.

World Peace and Global Governance: The belief in the need for a unified world government that promotes global peace, security, and well-being. Bahá'ís work to build structures of governance that transcend national and religious divisions.

The Structure of the Bahá’í Community The Bahá’í community is uniquely organized, with an administrative system that reflects its principles of democracy and consultation. There is no clergy in Bahá’íism; instead, leadership is exercised through a system of elected councils:

Local Spiritual Assemblies: Elected by community members at the local level, they deal with spiritual and administrative matters of the local community.

National Spiritual Assemblies: Coordinate Bahá’í activities in a specific country and represent the national community.

The Universal House of Justice: The supreme governing body of the Bahá’í Faith, located in Haifa, Israel. The Universal House of Justice is responsible for guiding and coordinating the Bahá’í community globally.

Impact and Global Presence of Bahá’íism Bahá’ism has a significant global presence, with communities established in virtually every country in the world. The religion is known for its commitment to social justice, the promotion of human rights, and building bridges between different communities and cultures.

In terms of social impact, Bahá'ís have been involved in a number of initiatives in community development, education, and peacemaking. Projects related to girls' education and community health are just a few examples of the work the Bahá'í community does globally.

In addition, Baha’ism promotes interfaith dialogue and cooperation, seeking to build a culture of mutual understanding and respect among different religious traditions. In many parts of the world, Baha’is are known for their work for peace and unity, often collaborating with other communities and organizations to promote social welfare and justice.

Challenges and Persecution

Although Baha’ism has contributed significantly to society in many areas, its followers have faced and continue to face challenges and persecution in some countries. In Iran, the origin of the religion, Baha’is have faced severe discrimination and repression since the movement’s inception. The Iranian government does not recognize the Baha’i Faith as a legitimate religion, and many Baha’is face difficulties such as lack of access to education and employment, as well as imprisonment and persecution.

The Future of Baha’i

As the world faces complex challenges such as religious conflict, social injustice, and economic inequality, Baha’i religion offers a message of hope and unity. With its principles of equality, justice, and peace, the religion continues to inspire its followers and positively influence communities around the world.

Baha’ism is also a religion of hope and vision for the future, promoting a global vision of unity and cooperation among all peoples. As the Baha’i community grows and spreads, its impact on the contemporary world can serve as a beacon for building a more just and unified society.

Baha’ism, with its message of unity and justice, represents hope for a more harmonious and collaborative future. With its innovative principles and commitment to global peace, Baha’ism continues to offer an inspiring vision for meeting the challenges of the modern world and promoting a world of equity and understanding.

[jartita-me-teneis]

El Santuario del Bab es un lugar sagrado para los seguidores de la Fe Bahá'í, y está ubicado en la ciudad de Haifa, Israel. Este santuario es el lugar de descanso final de Siyyid `Alí Muhammad Shirazi, conocido como el Báb, quien fue el fundador del Bábismo, una religión que precedió a la Fe Bahá'í.

El Báb es considerado como uno de los precursores de Bahá'u'lláh, el fundador de la Fe Bahá'í. El Santuario del Bab en el Monte Carmelo en Haifa es un sitio de peregrinación para los seguidores de la Fe Bahá'í y también es reconocido como Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO. El santuario y sus jardines son conocidos por su belleza y por simbolizar la paz y la unidad espiritual.

La Fe Bahá'í considera al Santuario del Bab como un lugar sagrado que representa la espiritualidad, la unidad y la conexión con lo divino, y es un destino de peregrinación importante para los seguidores de esta religión en todo el mundo.

[big-mawi]

Bahá'u'lláh

En sus enseñanzas enfatizan la importancia de la búsqueda independiente de la verdad y el conocimiento.

Principios clave del bahaísmo que apoyan esta idea:

Investigación independiente: Bahá'u'lláh anima a sus seguidores a no aceptar ciegamente las creencias de otros, sino a investigar por sí mismos y buscar la verdad con un corazón abierto y una mente libre.

Búsqueda de la verdad: Se considera que la verdad es un bien supremo, y cada persona tiene el deber de buscarla con diligencia y sinceridad.

Razonamiento y reflexión: El bahaísmo pone un gran énfasis en el uso del razonamiento y la reflexión para evaluar las ideas y llegar a conclusiones propias.

Estudio y aprendizaje: Se alienta a los bahá'ís a estudiar, aprender y ampliar su conocimiento sobre diversos temas, incluyendo la ciencia, la historia, la filosofía y la religión.

Consulta y diálogo: El bahaísmo promueve la consulta y el diálogo como medios para llegar a una comprensión más profunda de la verdad.

Citas de Bahá'u'lláh que reflejan estas ideas:

"No sigáis ciegamente las huellas de vuestros antepasados. Buscad por vosotros mismos la verdad con antorcha de la razón."

"El hombre debe buscar la verdad con sinceridad. Una vez que la haya encontrado, debe aferrarse a ella con firmeza."

"No es aceptable que un hombre acepte ciegamente las creencias de sus antepasados. Debe investigar por sí mismo y llegar a sus propias conclusiones."

"El conocimiento es luz. La ignorancia es oscuridad. Buscad la luz del conocimiento para que podáis disipar la oscuridad de la ignorancia."

"Consultad unos con otros para que podáis llegar a una comprensión más profunda de la verdad."

[bookwyrminspiration]

hi curious baha'i anon again !! I got busy w school and didn't get a chance to properly look at Tumblr until recently 😅

I would LOVE to know about the music though, and what the children's classes were like/what was generally taught. I've always thought the religious education my family's church and grandparents (separate) church provided was lackluster and actually taught very little so I'm curious if that differs in other religions.

you mentioned feast days and other specific worship days, idk if you know about Catholic holy days of obligation but it's basically there's a ton of feast and celebration and worship days but there's a specific list that's the Most Important and you Have to attend mass on those days if you're physically able otherwise it's considered a sin (Xmas + Easter being the biggest, but technically every Sunday is also an obligation), is there something like that in bahá'í with the feast days and worship days? like certain ones are "lower stakes" compared to others? And along that same line of thinking, is it viewed (socially or religiously) as bad and/or a sin (unsure if the concept of sin is even prominent tbh) to miss days?

also I want to reiterate that it's totally fine if you don't want to answer these asks ^^ I don't want to burden you or anything

You're good! I'm also a little busy currently--gonna write an entire essay tomorrow so, fun. and don't worry, I answer and offer because I'm entirely willing to talk and share about it :)

To answer your question, music would be done a few different ways. Frequently it'd be on CDs, which people would bring to feasts (my family has a few), or it would be sung live. If it was a children's class, it'd usually be a song in English, often the adaptation of a prayer to make it more memorable for kids (sometimes with made up dances, too). Then, on holy days during the equivalent of mass, there'd frequently be singing/chanting live in Farsi (because the faith originated in Persia/that area). Just community members--and they were always great at it, too

This isn't one of those, but this song in particular is ingrained in my memory, because they'd play it on the big projecter every single time the Martyrdom of the Báb came around. And since I don't speak Farsi I can't recall any specific ones of those, but here's an example chant. Also in looking through YouTube playlists, I found this song, Strive, and we 100% watched this video and sang this song at some point. Same with this one. So those are a few examples, but there's a lot more.

As for children's classes, they'd go something like this: everyone shows up, mingles until the hour starts, then all the kids get together in a circle in the big room at the back. There, this one old lady who's been there as long as I can remember (who I won't name) would lead us in a few prayers, those prayers turned into songs I mentioned--maybe full songs from time to time if the adults joined in. Chatting a little, touching base. Then the littlest kids (under 5) would go with their teacher to mostly do crafts with some stories told about the faith, mostly just keeping them occupied.

Those 5-10 would go to the actual children's classes, where what you learn depends on who you're with. That lovely old lady was my teacher from 5-10, and every week she'd prepare these worksheets for us to read through. usually it would be about different prophets (abraham, mohammad, etc) and different important events in the faith's history (e.g. what is Ridván and why do we celebrate? who was martyred and why?). An emphasis on Bahá'u'lláh and the people closest to him (like his son 'Abdú'l-Bahá), as he's the main figure of the faith. She'd tell us stories with the handmade worksheets as references to take home. And every week she'd have some kind of craft for us to do (suncatchers, making pillows, etc.) while we talked about the topic of the week. I might have the worksheets buried somewhere in my house. Ah, here's a couple photos:

Then there's 11-14, which is Junior Youth classes; these are much smaller because there's fewer people in that age range. My classes were held at the center (same place as the children's classes), but there would be other groups that would meet at people's houses or other places. Once again, depends on who's teaching what you learn, but in mine we went off this series of workbooks. They were basically about practicing virtues (patience, generosity, etc.) in one's life. They'd present a scenario and ways it could be handled, and then we'd do little written exercises discussing the choices made--which were virtuous, how others could be better, what we would do, etc. Lot of discussion. There would also be different prayers/writings to memorize or read. I unfortunately don't think I have these still to take pictures, so you'll have to imagine.

Then when you hit 15 you're an adult in the faith, and until you're 30 you're considered a Youth. There are Youth groups and such where you continue this kind of thing, just with other Youths as a full. equal participant instead of being taught. I never did that, but I do think I would've been adequately prepared; I've forgotten a bit since, but I had a pretty thorough understanding of the foundation when I turned 15. Of course there's always more to learn, but it was solid--in my opinion

As for obligation, based on my experience, I wouldn't say it was ever like you HAVE to attend or you're sinning. The concept of sin...exists, I suppose? Like the word appears in some writings, but not like what I've seen of Catholic and Christian sin--and we don't have a hell or damnation. It's less that you're sinning and more like it's a poor choice/action to make, and you should stop and reflect on it and the distance this puts between yourself and God. And then make better choices that bring you closer to God. Because in the afterlife there's no heaven/hell, it's more just how close you are to God. if that makes sense. I'd never hear the word sin spoken, the closest thing we'd have was talked about in terms of having an absence of God

And there's no one way to measure how close you are, so not attending the celebrations of certain Holy Days doesn't solely determine that. Some are more important than others--e.g. the Bicenntenial of the Twin's births was within the last decade, which was really really big, so people really wanted to attend. But people missed children's classes all the time. And feasts. No one was ever pressed about someone missing--unless you were a kid looking forward to seeing someone your age who turned out to be absent. Attend when you can, but you can be incredibly close to God even if you don't, which is between you and him, so there was no judgement I saw (again, reminder. this is all my personal experience raised Baha'i in America). Though often the most devout people attended more often--not because it's sinning not to, but because they wanted to attend more. If that distinction makes sense.

Anyway, that's a little snapshot of what it was like--I'd be happy to answer further questions from anyone if there are any. I could go through the children's class workbooks and share some of the people covered, explain some of the holy days (like Ridvan), share some of the prayers, etc. hope this helps :)

[ryandanielsworld]

"He will never deal unjustly with any one, neither will He task a soul beyond its power. He, verily, is the Compassionate, the All-Merciful."

Bahá'u'lláh

Gleanings from the writings of Bahá'u'lláh (p.105)

[allah-u-abha]

[dmcblue]

Excerpt from Bahá'u'lláh's Hidden Words that I set to music a few years ago.

O Fleeting Shadow! Pass beyond the baser stages of doubt and rise to the exalted heights of certainty. Open the eye of truth, that thou mayest behold the veilless Beauty and exclaim: Hallowed be the Lord, the most excellent of all creators!

(The Hidden Words) www.bahai.org/r/484615704 

[irunevenus]

O Bahá'ísmo: A Religião da Unidade e da Paz Mundial

O Bahá'ísmo, uma das religiões mais recentes do mundo, foi fundado no século XIX e se baseia na crença na unidade essencial de todas as religiões e na promoção da paz global e da justiça social. Originado no Irã, o Bahá'ísmo é uma fé que tem atraído a atenção por sua visão inclusiva e progressista, buscando unificar a humanidade e promover o desenvolvimento espiritual e social. Este artigo explora as origens do Bahá'ísmo, seus princípios fundamentais e seu impacto no mundo contemporâneo.

As Origens do Bahá'ísmo: O Surgimento de uma Nova Revelação

O Bahá'ísmo surgiu no Irã (então Pérsia) no século XIX com o surgimento do Báb, cujo nome verdadeiro era Sayyid `Alí Muhammad Shírází. Nascido em 1819, o Báb proclamou ser o precursor de um novo portador da revelação divina, preparando o caminho para um novo ciclo de espiritualidade. Ele anunciou a vinda de um "Manifestante de Deus" que viria para estabelecer uma nova ordem global.

Em 1850, o Báb foi executado pelas autoridades persas por suas ensinamentos considerados uma ameaça ao status quo religioso e político. Seus seguidores enfrentaram perseguições severas, mas sua mensagem influenciou a fundação do Bahá'ísmo.

O Fundador do Bahá'ísmo: Bahá'u'lláh

Bahá'u'lláh, cujo nome verdadeiro era Mírzá Ḥusayn-`Alí Núrí, é o fundador do Bahá'ísmo. Nascido em 1817, ele foi um dos primeiros seguidores do Báb e posteriormente declarou ser o Manifestante de Deus anunciado por ele. Em 1863, Bahá'u'lláh revelou sua missão como o profeta de uma nova religião e estabeleceu as bases do Bahá'ísmo.

A revelação de Bahá'u'lláh enfatizou a unidade de todas as religiões, a igualdade de todos os seres humanos e a necessidade de um governo mundial unificado para promover a paz e a justiça. Seus escritos, que incluem o "Kitáb-i-Aqdas" (O Livro Mais Sagrado), servem como a base da lei e da prática bahá'í.

Princípios Fundamentais do Bahá'ísmo

O Bahá'ísmo é fundamentado em vários princípios centrais que refletem seu compromisso com a unidade e a justiça. Estes princípios incluem:

Unidade de Deus: A crença de que há um único Deus, que é o criador de tudo o que existe. Deus é transcendente e incompreensível, mas seus atributos são manifestos na criação.

Unidade da Religião: A ideia de que todas as grandes religiões do mundo são manifestações de uma única verdade divina, revelada por Deus através de diferentes profetas e fundadores ao longo da história. Bahá'ís acreditam que Moisés, Jesus, Maomé, Buda, Krishna e outros profetas são parte de uma contínua revelação divina.

Unidade da Humanidade: A crença na igualdade de todos os seres humanos, independentemente de raça, religião, gênero ou nacionalidade. O Bahá'ísmo defende a eliminação dos preconceitos e a promoção da igualdade e da justiça social.

Unidade dos Fundamentos Religiosos: O Bahá'ísmo enfatiza a necessidade de um sistema único de valores e princípios para orientar a vida individual e coletiva. A prática da religião deve contribuir para o progresso e bem-estar da sociedade.

Educação Universal: A promoção da educação como um direito universal e essencial para o desenvolvimento pessoal e social. O Bahá'ísmo vê a educação como uma ferramenta para promover a justiça e a igualdade.

Paz Mundial e Governo Global: A crença na necessidade de um governo mundial unificado que promova a paz, a segurança e o bem-estar global. Bahá'ís trabalham para a construção de estruturas de governança que superem divisões nacionais e religiosas.

A Estrutura da Comunidade Bahá'í

A comunidade bahá'í é organizada de maneira única, com um sistema administrativo que reflete seus princípios de democracia e consulta. Não há clérigos no Bahá'ísmo; em vez disso, a liderança é exercida por meio de um sistema de conselhos eletivos:

Assembléias Espirituais Locais: Eleitas por membros da comunidade em nível local, elas lidam com questões espirituais e administrativas da comunidade local.

Assembléias Espirituais Nacionais: Coordenam as atividades bahá'ís em um país específico e representam a comunidade nacional.

A Casa Universal de Justiça: O corpo governante supremo da Fé Bahá'í, localizado em Haifa, Israel. A Casa Universal de Justiça é responsável por orientar e coordenar a comunidade bahá'í globalmente.

Impacto e Presença Global do Bahá'ísmo

O Bahá'ísmo tem uma presença global significativa, com comunidades estabelecidas em praticamente todos os países do mundo. A religião é conhecida por seu compromisso com a justiça social, a promoção dos direitos humanos e a construção de pontes entre diferentes comunidades e culturas.

Em termos de impacto social, os bahá'ís têm se envolvido em diversas iniciativas de desenvolvimento comunitário, educação e promoção da paz. Projetos relacionados à educação para meninas e à saúde comunitária são apenas alguns exemplos do trabalho que a comunidade bahá'í realiza globalmente.

Além disso, o Bahá'ísmo promove o diálogo inter-religioso e a cooperação, buscando construir uma cultura de compreensão mútua e respeito entre diferentes tradições religiosas. Em muitas partes do mundo, os bahá'ís são conhecidos por seu trabalho em favor da paz e da unidade, frequentemente colaborando com outras comunidades e organizações para promover o bem-estar social e a justiça.

Desafios e Perseguições

Embora o Bahá'ísmo tenha contribuído significativamente para a sociedade em várias áreas, seus seguidores enfrentaram e ainda enfrentam desafios e perseguições em alguns países. No Irã, a origem da religião, os bahá'ís têm enfrentado discriminação e repressão severas desde o início do movimento. O governo iraniano não reconhece a Fé Bahá'í como uma religião legítima, e muitos bahá'ís enfrentam dificuldades como falta de acesso a educação e emprego, além de prisões e perseguições.

O Futuro do Bahá'ísmo

À medida que o mundo enfrenta desafios complexos como conflitos religiosos, injustiças sociais e desigualdades econômicas, o Bahá'ísmo oferece uma mensagem de esperança e unidade. Com seus princípios de igualdade, justiça e paz, a religião continua a inspirar seus seguidores e a influenciar positivamente as comunidades ao redor do mundo.

O Bahá'ísmo também é uma religião de esperança e visão para o futuro, promovendo uma visão global de unidade e cooperação entre todos os povos. Como a comunidade bahá'í cresce e se espalha, seu impacto no mundo contemporâneo pode servir como um farol para a construção de uma sociedade mais justa e unificada.

O Bahá'ísmo, com sua mensagem de unidade e justiça, representa uma esperança para um futuro mais harmonioso e colaborativo. Com seus princípios inovadores e seu compromisso com a paz global, o Bahá'ísmo continua a oferecer uma visão inspiradora para enfrentar os desafios do mundo moderno e promover um mundo de equidade e compreensão.

[big-mawi]

Ciertamente digo: El mundo es como un vapor en un desierto; el sediento sueña que es agua y lucha por alcanzarlo con todas sus fuerzas, hasta que cuando llega a él, encuentra que es sólo una mera ilusión.

- Bahá'u'lláh

[silentambassadors]

روحش شاد, Bahá'u'lláh.  Born Mírzá Ḥusayn-`Alí Núrí in Persia in 1817, Bahá'u'lláh’s teachings focus on the unity of God and mankind, with the hopeful mission of spiritually unifying the entire planet through the eventual eradication of racism and nationalism.  Needless to say (alas, alas), he was imprisoned by the Ottomans and his followers have been persecuted and sometimes executed for their beliefs (particularly in Iran, but also in other predominately Muslim countries, where the Bahá'í faith is considered an apostasy from Islam).  Bahá'u'lláh died on this date in 1892 at the age of 74.

Stamp details: Left stamp: Issued on: April 21, 1992 From: Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago SC #548

Right stamp: Issued on: February 16, 1993 From: Tel Aviv, Israel MC #1255

[lightofhome]

"And since He hath ordained heat to be the source of motion and ascent and the cause of attainment to the desired goal, He hath therefore kindled with the mystic hand that Fire that dieth not and sent it forth into the world, that this divine Fire might, by the heat of the love of God, guide and attract all mankind to the abode of the incomparable Friend. This is the mystery enshrined in your Book that was sent down aforetime, a mystery which hath until now remained concealed from the eyes and hearts of men. That primal Fire hath in this Day appeared with a new radiance and with immeasurable heat. This divine Fire burneth of itself, with neither fuel nor fume, that it might draw away such excess moisture and cold as are the cause of torpor and weariness, of lethargy and despondency, and lead the entire creation to the court of the presence of the All-Merciful. Whoso hath approached this Fire hath been set aflame and attained the desired goal, and whoso hath removed himself therefrom hath remained deprived."

Bahá'u'lláh, The Tabernacle of Unity