"Meditation is the key for opening the doors of mysteries. In that state man abstracts himself: in that state man withdraws himself from all outside objects; in that subjective mood he is immersed in the ocean of spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of things-in-themselves. To illustrate this, think of man as endowed with two kinds of sight; when the power of insight is being used the outward power of vision does not see."
-Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks
Thursday, September 24, 2009
God's Breath
In planning a yoga class for a weekend session at Bosch this weekend that will focus on The Seven Valleys and other mystical writings of Bahá'u'lláh, I came across the following quote:
O Son of the Wondrous Vision!
I have breathed within thee a breath of My own Spirit, that thou mayest be My lover. Why hast thou forsaken Me and sought a beloved other than Me?
-Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words
O Son of the Wondrous Vision!
I have breathed within thee a breath of My own Spirit, that thou mayest be My lover. Why hast thou forsaken Me and sought a beloved other than Me?
-Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Strange Indeed
I'm currently reading Cannery Row, a novel by one of California's greatest writers, John Steinbeck. I'm finding it to be quite philosophical at times, chock full of interesting commentary on society. I was particularly struck by the following dialogue today.
"It has always seemed strange to me," said Doc. "The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest are the traits of success. And while mean admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second."
"Who wants to be good if he has to be hungry too?" said Richard Frost.
"Oh, it isn't a matter of hunger. It's something quite different. The sale of souls to gain the whole world is completely voluntary and almost unanimous--but not quite."
I must agree with Steinbeck that it is sadly true that we seem to say we value certain kinds of virtues in men and then define "success" in society by opposing traits. I wonder if it's always been this way. Should we change our definition of success, society must needs not always be this way. Though this passage paints a rather pessimistic picture, there's also a ray of optimism at the end.
"It has always seemed strange to me," said Doc. "The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest are the traits of success. And while mean admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second."
"Who wants to be good if he has to be hungry too?" said Richard Frost.
"Oh, it isn't a matter of hunger. It's something quite different. The sale of souls to gain the whole world is completely voluntary and almost unanimous--but not quite."
I must agree with Steinbeck that it is sadly true that we seem to say we value certain kinds of virtues in men and then define "success" in society by opposing traits. I wonder if it's always been this way. Should we change our definition of success, society must needs not always be this way. Though this passage paints a rather pessimistic picture, there's also a ray of optimism at the end.
Sculpi
If I had sculpi tonight, I would create a dolphin. (sculpi, for those of you who don't know, is very vibrantly colored sculpt-able dough that you can bake to harden into the form of your creation)
Interesting how that's the vision I got after clearing my mind in yoga class this evening.
Interesting how that's the vision I got after clearing my mind in yoga class this evening.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Daily Miracles
"People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize; a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle."
- Thich Nath Hahn
Thanks to J for emailing me this quote, which I just read this evening catching up on email. Earlier today in the early evening I was walking along the beach to unwind after several long days of work. I walked along awhile, clearing my thoughts. I was starting to feel cold from the wind and thinking of turning back soon. Then I looked over my shoulder to fix my gaze and attention on the Monterrey Bay and at just exactly that moment I saw a dolphin jump out of the water incredibly close to the shore. My heart leaped up and praised God at the beautiful timing of this moment and my good fortune. This was certainly my miracle today. I had hoped to see a dolphin, but this was the closest and most clearly I've ever seen one from the shore.
- Thich Nath Hahn
Thanks to J for emailing me this quote, which I just read this evening catching up on email. Earlier today in the early evening I was walking along the beach to unwind after several long days of work. I walked along awhile, clearing my thoughts. I was starting to feel cold from the wind and thinking of turning back soon. Then I looked over my shoulder to fix my gaze and attention on the Monterrey Bay and at just exactly that moment I saw a dolphin jump out of the water incredibly close to the shore. My heart leaped up and praised God at the beautiful timing of this moment and my good fortune. This was certainly my miracle today. I had hoped to see a dolphin, but this was the closest and most clearly I've ever seen one from the shore.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Photos of Delhi
Friday, September 11, 2009
On Asceticism
This quote came to mind this evening as I was chatting with C and thinking about how attachment to ritual can hamper us from living joyfully, and that asceticism should not be confused with spiritual truth.
It must be remembered, however, that the maintenance of such a high standard of moral conduct is not to be associated or confused with any form of asceticism, or of excessive and bigoted puritanism. The standard inculcated by Bahá’u’lláh seeks, under no circumstances, to deny anyone the legitimate right and privilege to derive the fullest advantage and benefit from the manifold joys, beauties, and pleasures with which the world has been so plentifully enriched by an All-Loving Creator. “Should a man,” Bahá’u’lláh Himself reassures us, “wish to adorn himself with the ornaments of the earth, to wear its apparels, or partake of the benefits it can bestow, no harm can befall him, if he alloweth nothing whatever to intervene between him and God, for God hath ordained every good thing, whether created in the heavens or in the earth, for such of His servants as truly believe in Him. Eat ye, O people, of the good things which God hath allowed you, and deprive not yourselves from His wondrous bounties. Render thanks and praise unto Him, and be of them that are truly thankful.”
-Shoghi Effendi
It must be remembered, however, that the maintenance of such a high standard of moral conduct is not to be associated or confused with any form of asceticism, or of excessive and bigoted puritanism. The standard inculcated by Bahá’u’lláh seeks, under no circumstances, to deny anyone the legitimate right and privilege to derive the fullest advantage and benefit from the manifold joys, beauties, and pleasures with which the world has been so plentifully enriched by an All-Loving Creator. “Should a man,” Bahá’u’lláh Himself reassures us, “wish to adorn himself with the ornaments of the earth, to wear its apparels, or partake of the benefits it can bestow, no harm can befall him, if he alloweth nothing whatever to intervene between him and God, for God hath ordained every good thing, whether created in the heavens or in the earth, for such of His servants as truly believe in Him. Eat ye, O people, of the good things which God hath allowed you, and deprive not yourselves from His wondrous bounties. Render thanks and praise unto Him, and be of them that are truly thankful.”
-Shoghi Effendi
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Mehendi
Here is another one of Nikhil's albums that documents the mehendi (henna) that Nithya (Nikhil's sister) and I had done on our hands on a Sunday afternoon at the beauty parlor. This is traditionally done in the north prior to a wedding, so you can imagine that as I was traveling around India I got a few comments, mostly from nice ladies at airports wondering if I was just married.
The guy who applied the mehendi did so using a paper cone like you'd use to frost a cake. He was seated, as was I, and bent over my arm and carefully created his own design in "Arabic" style on both my hands and in traditional Indian style on Nithya's. It took at least 30 - 60 min per arm.
The guy who applied the mehendi did so using a paper cone like you'd use to frost a cake. He was seated, as was I, and bent over my arm and carefully created his own design in "Arabic" style on both my hands and in traditional Indian style on Nithya's. It took at least 30 - 60 min per arm.
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