‘The Donkey is the Greatest Scientist and the Cow an Accomplished Naturalist’

‘Abdu’l-Bahá was famed for his sense of humour and I find his observation on the folly of materialism both amusing and insightful.

…all their thoughts are directed to material things; day and night they are devoted to the attractions of this world, without aspiration beyond the life that is vanishing and mortal. In schools and temples of learning knowledge of the sciences acquired is based upon material observations only; there is no realization of Divinity in their methods and conclusions—all have reference to the world of matter. They are not interested in attaining knowledge of the mysteries of God or understanding the secrets of the heavenly Kingdom; what they acquire is based altogether upon visible and tangible evidences. Beyond these evidences they are without susceptibilities; they have no idea of the world of inner significances and are utterly out of touch with God, considering this an indication of reasonable attitude and philosophical judgement whereof they are self-sufficient and proud. As a matter of fact, this supposed excellence is possessed in its superlative degree by the animals. The animals are without knowledge of God; so to speak, they are deniers of Divinity and understand nothing of the Kingdom and its heavenly mysteries. As deniers of the Kingdom, they are utterly ignorant of spiritual things and uninformed of the supernatural world. Therefore, if it be a perfection and virtue to be without knowledge of God and His Kingdom, the animals have attained the highest degree of excellence and proficiency. Then the donkey is the greatest scientist and the cow an accomplished naturalist, for they have obtained what they know without schooling and years of laborious study in colleges, trusting implicitly to the evidence of the senses and relying solely upon intuitive virtues. The cow, for instance, is a lover of the visible and a believer in the tangible, contented and happy when pasture is plenty, perfectly serene, a blissful exponent of the transcendental school of philosophy. Such is the status of the material philosophers, who glory in sharing the condition of the cow, imagining themselves in a lofty station.

Source: The Promulgation of Universal Peace

Iran- Where Education Is ‘Conspiracy’

The paranoid attitude of the Iranian authorities towards members of the Baha’i Faith in Iran is evident in the latest news reported by BWNS

Some nine weeks after they were arrested, 11 Iranian Baha’is – associated with an initiative offering higher education to young community members barred from university – are now reportedly facing charges. The Baha’i International Community has learned that, by establishing the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education, the 11 are accused of “conspiracy against national security” and “conspiracy against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”"What could possibly motivate the Islamic Republic to make such a charge?” asks Diane Ala’i, representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva.A widespread international outcry has followed the latest attack on the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), in which some 39 homes were raided at the end of May. Of the 19 BIHE staff or faculty members who were originally detained in connection with the raids, 11 remain in prison.

Baha’is In Iran: Cultural Genocide

A poster published by human rights supporters depicting BIHE staff members detained in Iran

I am shocked by the campaign of cultural genocide pursued by Iranian authorities against the Baha’i community in Iran. The latest phase is an attempt to destroy community educational programmes set up because Baha’i youth are excluded from state-run institutions. BWNS reported on the 22^nd May that

A coordinated series of raids have been carried out on the homes of several Iranian Baha’is, active in a community initiative to provide a higher education programme for young members who are barred from university. Initial reports indicate that raids took place yesterday on houses in Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, and Shiraz. As many as 30 people may already have been arrested…All of the targets were homes of individuals closely involved with the operations of the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education…The Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) was established in 1987 as a community initiative to meet the educational needs of young Baha’is who have been systematically denied access to higher education by the Iranian government. The BIHE has been described by the New York Times as “an elaborate act of communal self-preservation.”

Source: http://news.bahai.org/story/825

Silver Jubilee Of ‘Lotus Temple’

I am interested to learn that this year marks the silver jubilee of the Baha’i House of Worship in New Delhi, India which was opened in 1986. Popularly called the ‘Lotus Temple’ the edifice receives an amazing 4.3 million visitors every year- both from India and around the globe…

‘Abdu’l-Bahá And The Theosophists

On his journey to the West ‘Abdu’l-Bahá addressed diverse meetings and groups-

in the city of New York alone He delivered public addresses in, and made formal visits to, no less than fifty-five different places. Peace societies, Christian and Jewish congregations, colleges and universities, welfare and charitable organizations, members of ethical cults, New Thought centers, metaphysical groups, Women’s clubs, scientific associations, gatherings of Esperantists, Theosophists, Mormons and agnostics, institutions for the advancement of the colored people, representatives of the Syrian, the Armenian, the Greek, the Chinese, and Japanese communities…

God Passes By, Pages 279-294: 289

During the course of these visits ‘Abdu’l-Bahá made a number of presentations to Theosophical societies in England, France, Austria and in the United States. He also made a presentation to Annie Besant, President of the Theosophical Society. His United States itinerary was particularly full in this regard-

25 April 1912 Talk to Theosophical Society Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

4 May 1912 Talk to Theosophical Society Northwestern University Hall, Evanston, Illinois

30 May 1912 Talk at Theosophical Lodge Broadway and Seventy-ninth Street, New York

24 July 1912 Talk to Theosophical SocietyThe Kensington Exeter and Boylston Streets, Boston, Massachusetts

4 December 1912 Talk to Theosophical Society 2228 Broadway, New York

During his presentations ‘Abdu’l-Bahá frequently highlighted the various principals held in common by Theosophists and Baha’is- for example the oneness of religion and the oneness of humanity.

Question.—(It was remarked, Theosophy teaches that truth in all the religions is the same): Does the task of unifying all religions have ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s sympathy?

Answer.—Surely.

Question.—Can ‘Abdu’l-Bahá suggest any lines on which it could best be worked out?

Answer.—Search for truth. Seek the realities in all religions. Put aside all superstitions. Many of us do not realize the Reality of all Religions.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London

Oneness of the world of humanity ensures the glorification of man. International peace is the assurance of the welfare of all humankind. There are no greater motives and purposes in the human soul. As we are agreed upon them, the certainty of unity and concord between Bahá’ís and Theosophists is most hopeful. Their purposes are one, their desires one, and spiritual susceptibilities are common to both. Their attention is devoted to the divine Kingdom; they partake alike of its bounty.

The Promulgation of Universal Peace

In addition to highlighting principals held in common, when asked to elucidate a point by his audience, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá also expressed philosophical differences with some Theosophical beliefs such as reincarnation .

…observe that in the sensible world appearances are not repeated, for no being in any respect is identical with, nor the same as, another being. The sign of singleness is visible and apparent in all things. If all the granaries of the world were full of grain, you would not find two grains absolutely alike, the same and identical without any distinction. It is certain that there will be differences and distinctions between them. As the proof of uniqueness exists in all things, and the Oneness and Unity of God is apparent in the reality of all things, the repetition of the same appearance is absolutely impossible. Therefore, reincarnation, which is the repeated appearance of the same spirit with its former essence and condition in this same world of appearance, is impossible and unrealizable.

Some Answered Questions, Pages 282-289: gr10

‘The Immortal Phoenix’

The firebird is a recurring motif in world mythology from the Phoenix of classical times referred to by the Roman poet Ovid to the mythical Garuda of Ancient India.

In Iranian legend the ‘Simurgh’ (or ‘Angha’) is a magical bird so long lived that it is considered to be the wisest of all God’s creatures. (The name ‘Simurgh’ has been seen as meaning ‘thirty birds’- perhaps a reference to it’s majesty). In one form of the legend the Simurgh is said to live for over a thousand years before being consumed by fire. I find this an interesting reversal of the legend of the Phoenix which finds it’s rebirth in fire instead.

The Simurgh is a common reference in both classical and contemporary Persian literature.  Arguably the most notable appearance is in Ferdowsi’s ‘Shahname’ (or ‘Book of Kings‘) where Prince Zal- cruelly abandoned on Mount Alborz -is raised by the kindly Simurgh.

In the poems of the Sufis the Simurgh is often used as a symbol for God. An example of this is the poem’ Conference of the Birds’ by the 12th Century poet Farid ud-Din Attar. This poem concerns the quest of a flock of birds for the wondrous Simurgh. The poet describes the Simurgh luring creatures siren-like to it’s nest  and consuming them (arguably a metaphor for Sufi ideal of being ‘consumed’ by the beloved).

This literary tradition continues in the writings of Bahá’u'lláh with a reference to the ‘immortal phoenix’ which can be read as a metaphor for the soul.

‘O immortal phoenix! dwell not save on the mount of faithfulness. Therein is thy habitation, if on the wings of thy soul thou soarest to the realm of the infinite and seekest to attain thy goal’.

‘O SON OF SPIRIT! Burst thy cage asunder, and even as the phoenix of love soar into the firmament of holiness. Renounce thyself and, filled with the spirit of mercy, abide in the realm of celestial sanctity‘.

I personally also see ‘the immortal phoenix’ and ‘the phoenix of love’ as references to Bahá’u'lláh’s station as a spiritual educator of humankind and was interested to find `Abdu’l-Bahá make this connection explicit when he wrote-

‘O phoenix of that immortal flame kindled in the sacred Tree! Bahá’u’lláh’

This is a particularly rich metaphor as the mythical Simurgh is pictured as an agent of purification and fertility; like the great spiritual educators the Simurgh is also described as uniting both ‘earth’ and  ‘heaven’ as a messenger.

‘The Sun And The Mirror’

I find Plotinus’ writings on the nature of God and the universe to be most intriguing. He taught that the universe emanated from a transcendent God (the One) unaffected or undiminished by Creation. Plotinus used the analogy of the rays of the sun or a reflection in a mirror to describe this relationship.

This Neo-Platonist concept of the universe emanating from God is reminiscent of the contemporary scientific theory of the ‘Big Bang’ with the universe exploding outwards from a single point. Where Plotinus differs is that current scientific theory suggests creation ex nihilo- a point of view that Plotinus disagreed with.

It is striking that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá uses similar Neo-Platonist arguments and imagery in ‘Some Answered Questions’ saying that

..there is the world of God, the world of the Kingdom, and the world of Creation: three things. The first emanation from God is the bounty of the Kingdom, which emanates and is reflected in the reality of the creatures, like the light which emanates from the sun..

‘The Spirit Of Cyrus’

I am interested to learn that an ancient treasure the Cyrus Cylinder is to be loaned to Iran from the British Museum.  It has been seen by some scholars as a kind of proto-declaration of human rights. If this is the case then hopefully some of this spirit will touch the Iranian authorities and they will allow the Baha’i Community to practice their faith in peace.

‘From The Heart Of Iran’

I am interested to hear of the publication of a major new Spanish langauage book  about the persecution of the Baha’i community in Iran.

When author Rafael Cerrato decided to pay a short visit to the north of Israel in 2006, little did he suspect that it would give rise to a new book. Passing through the city of Haifa, he was deeply impressed by the buildings and gardens of the Baha’i World Centre, situated on the slopes of Mount Carmel. “I was amazed,” said Mr. Cerrato. “I immediately thought I had to discover what lay behind that beauty.” Returning to Spain, the author – who is Roman Catholic and has written extensively about religion – started looking into the history and teachings of the Baha’i Faith and was fascinated by what he found out. “I discovered that the long-awaited bridge between East and West – which many politicians and intellectuals have tried to create with the Alliance of Civilizations and such – already exists,” he said. “Without losing any of the principles of previous religions, the Baha’i social teachings have it all – the need for supranational bodies, the equality between men and women, universal education… I believe in these principles and they attract me – so I have no problem in broadcasting them.”

During his research, Mr. Cerrato also became impressed by “the great faith and steadfastness” that the Baha’i community of Iran shows in the face of opposition.He decided to write a book charting the story of the Baha’i Faith, with an emphasis on the severe oppression its members have experienced at the instigation of the authorities in Iran – the land of the Faith’s birth – since its inception in the middle of the 19th century. The book, titled “Desde el corazon de Iran – Los baha’is: La esperanza oprimida” (“From the Heart of Iran – The Baha’is: Oppressed Hope”), has recently been published by Erasmus Ediciones. It is one of the first major works written in Spanish about the genesis and  persecution of the Baha’i community in Iran.Mr. Cerrato’s book has been described in one review as a “deftly handled, well-documented and panoramic journey.” The reviewer, Enrique Cordoba – a columnist for “El Nuevo Herald” – wrote, “I celebrate that Cerrato has published this book…for those who want to inform themselves of a doctrine that should be studied.” Miami-based radio journalist Ninoska Perez Castellon wrote that it is “a necessary book… It’s a call to the world to ensure that the abuses against the Baha’i community in Iran are not left to fall into obscurity.” “It is because of the integrity of writers like Rafael Cerrato that we can become deeply familiar with a subject that should be on the front page of newspapers,” she wrote.

Source: BWNS

‘Even As The Phoenix Of Love…’

O SON OF SPIRIT! Burst thy cage asunder, and even as the phoenix of love soar into the firmament of holiness. Renounce thyself and, filled with the spirit of mercy, abide in the realm of celestial sanctity.

Bahá’u’lláh

Imprisoned Baha’i Sentenced

The Human Right Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports another disturbing development in Iran-

Payam Fanaian, a Baha’i follower arrested in the wake of Ashura protests on December 27, 2009, has been sentenced to six years in prison by the Revolutionary Court. According to HRANA, Fanaian is a victim of the mass arrests conducted by security and intelligence agents against the Baha’i community in Iran. He was arrested in Tehran on January 3, 2010, along with ten other individuals. Although a written sentence has not been issued to him, his ruling has been communicated to his court-appointed lawyer.

Source: Iran Press Watch