Archive for August, 2007

On his blog Iguana focuses on the intersect of economic development and spirituality in a fascinating post on what has been termed the Grameen methodology, or micro-credit programs, which aim at alleviating poverty. -gw

I became interested in the Grameen methodology through research into complementary or social currencies and later in community banking methods practiced by the Baha’i international community. …

As I ask and look for answers to many new questions about economic development, I find that many older questions are sprouting up anew. Foremost among them are concerns about focusing a development strategy entirely on humanity’s material nature, relegating our spiritual yearnings to the realm of personal, emotional fulfillment. There is of course, nothing wrong with development strategies that aim at generating material prosperity. In fact if a development strategy didn’t have this aim, it would be guilty of the opposite, and equally imbalanced, offence.

The obvious dangers involved in integrating traditional and dogmatic religious concepts into development strategies have distanced most of those interested in creating and increasing prosperity from discussions about the role of spirituality in development. Rightly so, as traditional religious discourse too often only fans differences and generates discord. It is easier to focus on issues we all agree upon, especially when they are also the most visible and cause the most immediate impact.

Giving up this easily on spirituality, and on the human spirit, however leads us to visualize development within a context that equates prosperity with material well-being. It also equates prosperity with properly conceived and functioning public, private and social structures taking socialism as its model, either consciously, or more likely, unconsciously. It has also led us to a tragically flawed economic order that celebrates material comfort of a few at the expense of monumental suffering of the masses of humanity. Simplistic answers to questions about generating prosperity thus generate hasty and ultimately shallow results.

Even though it implies a more complex planning and execution process, the “powers of the human spirit responsible for some of the greatest accomplishments of humanity’s past such as the power of unity, of humble service, of noble deeds, of love, and the power of truth” can be released only when development efforts are “formulated and carried out in the context of an emerging world civilization.” Indeed, this is a great and complex process that needs carry humanity into the next stage of its evolution defined by “a dual cry … heard everywhere rising from the heart of the great masses of humanity … that demands the extension of the fruits of material progress to all peoples and, at the same time, it calls out for the values of spiritual civilization.”

Defining the hallmark of this civilization occurs when universally shared values are elevated to principle. The overriding principle that contextualizes and provides a practical aspect to this effort is the oneness of humankind. A collective life that foments dignity, justice, participation and joy, as exemplified by the harmonious integration of a huge variety of cells in the human body, happens as a “result of a gradual unfoldment of the potentialities of the human spirit,” as these spiritual notions touch the very depths of human motivation. This evolutionary process “will attain a stage of fulfillment when humanity is at last able to undertake the task of laying foundations for a unified and advanced civilization. Progress towards such a goal demands rapid and organic change in the very structure of society, accompanied by an equally profound change in human consciousness.”

*All quotes taken from “Science, Religion and Development”, pages 83 – 86, Dr. Farzam Arbab, FUNDAEC, 2001.

Iguana, “Grameen and Spirituality,” Iguana Journal: Exploring the world as it is and might be…

{Re-posted with permission}

Uploaded on March 22, 2006 by Skip The Budgie on flickr
+
I am thrilled to come across a blog by J.A. Mclean, scholar of Baha’i theology. We have a neat book of essays by him on our shelf downstairs. Since I started blogging, I’ve thought those essays in blog form would be a natural fit. This post takes on the subject of religious dissidents, noting as part of his discussion the following. -gw

People, generally, do not object to organized government, to an organized judiciary, to organized political parties, to organized education, to organized medicine, clubs, associations and societies. But except for official members, the religious “organization” in a secular age has become definitely suspect. And for good reason. …
+
J.A. Mclean, “DISSIDENTS AND THE BAHA’I FAITH,” Pilgrim Notes
+
{Photo licensed by Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0}

Coercion has no place in religion. -gw

I find different groups and religions interesting. One day you will see me reading the bible, read on buddaism to the Baha’i religion because I think it is important to learn about others beliefs so you can make your own desicions on what you believe. It all falls under love, basic religions basically say the same thing, they all pray and fills our hearts with peace. If people stopped focusing on other people and forcing others to believe what others believe than I think this world would be a happier place PEace and Love.

http://www.myspace.com/Jenni1z

We Baha’is today should ask ourselves, do we want the Baha’i Faith to be just a select club or a spiritual community of the masses? This line of questioning has been posed to us in recent years by the Continental Counselors.

I had sent another email to Mary Ellen to invite her to our devotional meeting yesterday, but she didn’t make it. As I learned this evening, Mary Ellen received instead a home visit from Counselor Murphy, our Auxiliary Board member Shawn, and our Assembly Chairperson Lori.

Our counselors, auxiliary board members, and local spiritual assembly members all make home visits, setting an example for us all. That’s how important is teaching the Cause, given the urgency of the hour. Because Baha’u'llah did not intend for the Faith to be just a club.

Lori said, “It was a pretty amazing visit. Mary Ellen is reading the Gleanings that Shawn gave her at Chris and Shadi’s, and she is talking like a Baha’i.” -gw
+
“Ye are even as the bird which soareth, with the full force of its mighty wings and with complete and joyous confidence, through the immensity of the heavens, until, impelled to satisfy its hunger, it turneth longingly to the water and clay of the earth below it, and, having been entrapped in the mesh of its desire, findeth itself impotent to resume its flight to the realms whence it came. Powerless to shake off the burden weighing on its sullied wings, that bird, hitherto an inmate of the heavens, is now forced to seek a dwelling-place upon the dust. Wherefore, O My servants, defile not your wings with the clay of waywardness and vain desires, and suffer them not to be stained with the dust of envy and hate, that ye may not be hindered from soaring in the heavens of My divine knowledge.(Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 327) “ Uploaded on August 22, 2006 by prema on flickr

{Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0}

This is long, but worth it. This Baha’i blogger writes of a teaching experience and, in so doing, exemplifies the passion and the love for all humanity with which Baha’is are called upon to approach the responsibility to teach, especially given the needs of the current Plan. -gw

Autistic Psycho
life has been so intense. from dawn prayers in the city, to morning prayers on a mountain. from teaching door to door in spanish to teaching 4 year olds holy scripture in the park. from singing the long healing prayer as an ambulance carried my near dead neighbor out of her home to forming a gospel hip hop band.

i just want to share this short story, perhaps not as powerful as the countless transformative moments alluded to above. but, now i am alone. i am not meeting with my San Francisco teaching team at the break of dawn, nor am i surrounded by all the joyous souls from the 9 day teaching project called, the Tree of Life. nonetheless, this story i must share before i sleep. i cannot pray enough for these things, so i strive through writing that my blogs become beautiful prayers.

pbo31

at the ticket counter i was told that my flight is not until tomorrow. this made me feel very alone. suddenly my expectations went from getting on a plane and waking up in michigan and seeing my mom, to shivering through the cold dark city all alone from a lonely airport of strangers to a cold desolate, late night, end of the line, BART station, to the spooky civic center station ghetto, to the actual ghetto, to my home, where no one is expecting my return, not even my cat. it was nearly 11pm and i felt nothing but desolation and dissapointment as i wheeled my things to the elevator and got on the air train to journey back to my sad life.

“An approaching train in the Civic Center BART station,” uploaded on February 11, 2007 by Jeremy Brooks on flickr

we had the greatest discussion. and i felt so lucky to have the things that i had with me. i had wanted to go to the book store and get materials to help teach my christian best friend in michigan. but i ran out of time, so just before leaving the bahai center i grabed a flyer called, “the Rumor of Christ’s Return”. i also had the book “Preparing for Christ’s new Name” and i even had printed out the Lawhi Aqdas, the Most Holy Tablet aka the Tablet for the Christians. but i didn’t have all the pages, so he gave me his email address to get the whole thing by email.

To quote Stanley Black in “Os Quindos de Ya Ya” on the Something for Everybody sampler CD, these days “It’s all video, video, video,” and that’s a good thing. All for YouTube stand up and holler! Good for teaching. Good for getting out the Baha’i message. Good for global communication. How powerful are the messages in the videos linked below? Thanks to John Conkling for bringing to my attention “Bahai Faith - A Way Forward” and Marco of Povo de Baha for “Egypt Tourism Ad.” -gw
+
BAHAI FAITH - A WAY FORWARD

EGYPT TOURISM AD

My morning all-Baha’i artists ipod shuffle. -gw
.
Kiskadee
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
“No Stopping Us Now,” Kiskadee, Don’t Look Back
“Call to Nations,” Russ Salton, Hearts on Fire
“We Are the People,” Khoshmashrab, Hatami, Ferdowsi, Sharing Circles Songs for Kids (Ruhi 3)
“Chahar Midrab,” Rahmotallah Badiyi, Zamaneh (Era)
“As I Am,” Suzy K, As I Am
“Sufi Mali,” XCultures, One World One People
Masnavi,” Amir Haghighi, Temple of Light, Volume 1
“Amame,” Lenor Dely, Amame
“Prayer,” Ali Akbar Furutan, Melodies from the City of the Covenant
“Hollow Reed,” BMG, Voices from the Black Men’s Gathering
“Kraing Chapey,” Daran Kravanh, Music Through the Dark
“Lightning Tree,” The Pearl Divers, Destiny
“Canto,” KC Porter, Embrace the World
“Don’t Be Foolish,” Doug, Baha’u'llah’s Way
“Audio Track #2,” Chanchai Baran & Jack, Thai & Lao Baha’i Songs
“Ya-Baha’u'l-Abha, Ya-Ali’u'l-Allah,” Baha’i Chorale, Songs of the Ancient Beauty

Uploaded on March 9, 2007 by andropolis on flickr

Sunday morning I had occasion to visit a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints church and observe youth and young adults among those at the 9 a.m. sacrament service. Today I note a fascinating discussion involving dozens of comments to a post on a blog called By Common Consent which addresses what might be called religious diversity issues affecting LDS youth. The 52nd commenter is Portia who had this observation to share among others. -gw

As far as sharing similar values, one of my closest friends was Persian and Baha’i. We had interesting discussions about our respective religions, and she had very good morals as far as modesty, drinking/drugs, sex, etc., and she wasn’t Christian, let alone Mormon.

Comment on “Teenagers and Mormon friends” by Portia, By Common Consent

{Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0}