Become unlimited in your trust of God. It is in
this state of awareness that you are never given
anything you cannot handle.
- John Morton
Spiritual Director
Institute for Individual and World Peace®
Dear reader, tell me, do you feel this may be a prerequisite of inner peace? or perhaps just one of many causes of inner peace?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
On Educating Children
In preparing for a talk I'll be giving on the topic of education this weekend in Oakland, I came across this quote by Abdu'l-Bahá, which is an extract from one of his talks. I love its emphasis on the importance of learning beyond book-learning.
"Among these children many blessed souls will arise, if they be trained according to the Bahá’í Teachings. If a plant is carefully nurtured by a gardener, it will become good, and produce better fruit. These children must be given a good training from their earliest childhood. They must be given a systematic training which will further their development from day to day, in order that they may receive greater insight, so that their spiritual receptivity be broadened. Beginning in childhood they must receive instruction. They cannot be taught through books. Many elementary sciences must be made clear to them in the nursery; they must learn them in play, in amusement. Most ideas must be taught them through speech, not by book learning. One child must question the other concerning these things, and the other child must give the answer. In this way, they will make great progress. For example, mathematical problems must also be taught in the form of questions and answers. One of the children asks a question and the other must give the answer. Later on, the children will of their own accord speak with each other concerning these same subjects. The children who are at the head of the class must receive premiums. They must be encouraged and when any one of them shows good advancement, for the further development they must be praised and encouraged therein. Even so in Godlike affairs. Oral questions must be asked and the answers must be given orally. They must discuss with each other in this manner."
-Abdu'l-Bahá, “The Bahá’í World”, Vol. 9 (1940–1944) (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Committee, 1945), p. 543) [145]
"Among these children many blessed souls will arise, if they be trained according to the Bahá’í Teachings. If a plant is carefully nurtured by a gardener, it will become good, and produce better fruit. These children must be given a good training from their earliest childhood. They must be given a systematic training which will further their development from day to day, in order that they may receive greater insight, so that their spiritual receptivity be broadened. Beginning in childhood they must receive instruction. They cannot be taught through books. Many elementary sciences must be made clear to them in the nursery; they must learn them in play, in amusement. Most ideas must be taught them through speech, not by book learning. One child must question the other concerning these things, and the other child must give the answer. In this way, they will make great progress. For example, mathematical problems must also be taught in the form of questions and answers. One of the children asks a question and the other must give the answer. Later on, the children will of their own accord speak with each other concerning these same subjects. The children who are at the head of the class must receive premiums. They must be encouraged and when any one of them shows good advancement, for the further development they must be praised and encouraged therein. Even so in Godlike affairs. Oral questions must be asked and the answers must be given orally. They must discuss with each other in this manner."
-Abdu'l-Bahá, “The Bahá’í World”, Vol. 9 (1940–1944) (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Committee, 1945), p. 543) [145]
Monday, October 5, 2009
Portland
Flying into PDX is one of the most beautiful descents of air travel, in my opinion. One flies past Mt. Hood on the right, looking ever stately with snow capped perfectly pointed top, and then lowers down parallel to the majestic Columbia River, all the while with views of green hills and mountains all around, trees, lots and lots of trees, and the glimmering lights of a city I once called home.
Portland. Ahhhh. How I love you so. How is it possible to be so attached to a place? Will I ever live here again? Who knows. Yet, I felt my spirits soar as I landed in this familiar place tonight, discovered a joy and lightness that I haven't felt in awhile. And that's just from coming into the airport and passing through town in a rental car. When not near Portland I sigh whenever I hear someone speak of this place. And I love my home state of California. If only there were a Portland in the Bay Area... but, I suppose, we can't have it all.
Dear Reader, do you feel this way about any particular place?
Portland. Ahhhh. How I love you so. How is it possible to be so attached to a place? Will I ever live here again? Who knows. Yet, I felt my spirits soar as I landed in this familiar place tonight, discovered a joy and lightness that I haven't felt in awhile. And that's just from coming into the airport and passing through town in a rental car. When not near Portland I sigh whenever I hear someone speak of this place. And I love my home state of California. If only there were a Portland in the Bay Area... but, I suppose, we can't have it all.
Dear Reader, do you feel this way about any particular place?
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