A Spiritual Quandary

So, there exists video footage of Abdu'l-Baha.

Not only does it exist, but was incorporated into a full length movie called The Quiet Revolution in 1985.

I need this footage/this movie. I mean, it's ABDU'L-BAHA chanting and rejoicing the dawn of a new day!

Moreover, it says in my book Abdu'l-Baha in New York, The City of the Covenant, that people warned Him that it would be scattered across the country and "used in movie houses. He responded, "Most good!" So He WANTED it to be spread across the nation!!!!

But WHERE is it? And why can't I seem to find it anywhere?

I will just about smother with hugs and love the person who is able to find it or explain how to go about finding it or provide any other information on it at all.

To actually see Him, moving, see Him in action! It would just... be so very amazing!

Totally awesome how quickly I got responses on that Covenant Breaking post. I need to get back on this journal more frequently.

Thank you for your guidance. It's sad to see it so blatantly out there on You Tube-- I suggest Baha'is make lots and lots and LOTS of You Tube videos so seekers don't get lost on their way (And so my coworkers and so forth don't think I'm a member of some insane cult when they 'you tube' the Faith)..

I'll try to get more frequent on my questions. For now, much thanks, and Allah-u-Abha.

I'm in the last week of the Fast, and started my period. So, I certainly have questions.

Well, first of all, I really, really want to fast through this period. I've already read that it is permissible to stop fasting and repeat "Glorified by God, the Lord of Splendor and Beauty" 95 times after ablutions instead.

But I really want to fast! I know it's not downright forbidden to fast with your period, like in Ramadan. But does anyone know if health wise it's inadvisable to fast while menstruating? Because if it's going to wear me down or dehydrate me or make me sick or anything like that, I'll reconsider and maybe drink a little water or something and repeat that verse as instructed.. but if I can fast through it, that would be preferable.

Advice?

I haven't updated this in forever! Well, I'm almost finished the Kitab-i-Iqan, which I'm absolutely loving! But a question came to mind the other day, so, if you know the answer, I'd greatly appreciate your wisdom!!

"...it symbolizes the nine great world religions of which we have any definite historical knowledge, including the Babi and Baha'i revelations..."
Lights of Guidance, Page 415

OK, so if these nine are as follows: Zoroaster (SP), Krishna, Buddha, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab, Baha'u'llah...

...then why does Baha'u'llah use the following language in regards to Noah in the Kitab-I-Iqan:

For instance, consider that among the Prophets was Noah. When He was invested with the robe of Prophethood, and was moved by the Spirit of God to arise and proclaim His Cause, whoever believed in Him and acknowledged His Faith, was endowed with the grace of a new life. Of him it could be truly said that he was reborn and revived, inasmuch as previous to his belief in God and his acceptance of His Manifestation...

Page 154


So, I'm essentially confused. Shoghi Effendi is credited for that first quotation. If there are only nine Manifestations... I don't get it. Hmmmm...

My wonderful roommate Jen had this fantastic question! I'm really hoping someone has an answer to it!

She was wondering what the Baha'i take is on the Dalai Lama. Since we don't believe in reincarnation, do we reject the concept that it is one spirit of compassion being reincarnated? Do we believe the Dalai Lama to be a true spiritual teacher? Each Dalai Lama has certainly had very witty and beautiful teachings, and just recently I was reading through the current 14th Dalai Lama's advice for this coming year, and it was very inspirational. She oversaw me reading it and said, "Well, it's not one of the Prophets you consider legit, is it?" I tried to explain that there are Prophets and Spiritual Teachers (like Confucius) but once she brought up reincarnation I was tongue tied.

It seems like a long stretch to say that every single Dalai Lama just was naturally very spiritual and uplifting by coincidence alone, don't you think?

It's got me thinking. My roommate has had some of the most insightful questions. To give you a little background on her, she comes from a Catholic family, and although she isn't currently practicing, she still believes in Catholic principles. She has really taken away my negative stigma towards her religion by having such an open mind in learning about my own. Actually, a lot of her thoughts are in line with Baha'i teachings. She's a true inspiration to me. So if you know of a decent answer that I could give her, please let me know. Thanks!

I have been thinking lately about sort of the funny problem with the love that binds Baha'is together. It's the first thing I really noticed in the community that moved me. But I've started to wonder lately if this all-encompassing love gets misinterpreted often. If we love everyone so passionately, and see so many virtues in every Baha'i, how do we tell the difference between Baha'i love and romantic love? Justice St. Rain talks about it in Falling Into Grace, how many new Baha'is feel like they're basically falling in love with someone all the time, and get confused by that, but I guess I was just curious if anyone else has ever found that to be a problem.

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Also, I started writing this novel long before I became a Baha'i, and someone mentioned how difficult it will be to continue writing it with my new world view. And so I started to think about it. There is some very explicit material in it, but it's not like my main character is a Baha'i, and the book isn't really about spirituality, although I'm hoping to ease some spirituality into it. But Lights of Guidance talks about only writing inspirational things, or something like that. Does that only apply to Baha'i specific books? My book isn't about explicit material, but is it somehow wrong for me to include it? Just general concerns, I suppose. I hope its alright, because unfortuantely the explicit scenes are sort of necessary to the development of this character.

I'm pretty sure everyone by now has noticed that the majority of my blogging material falls under my personal blog, melodicharmony. I originally, before becoming a Baha'i, was planning on keeping all religious material here, but I didn't know then just how integrated "religious material" would become with my life!! Anyway, I still plan on keeping this for questions, but if you are checking both accounts, I will be crossposting any questions I ask here on my personal blog from now on.

That's all!

Allah-u-Abha my friends,
Ashley

I know, I know, I know, there are much more important things for me to be doing than preparing a will. But, as my organized, overly logical self, I find myself interested in putting together this document. Please do not tell me I'm too young to be thinking about this. After all, I found the faith when a seventeen year old girl died in the blink of an eye. So, you just never know.

I've been researching the laws on Oceans and it seems that Baha'u'llah highly encouraged followers to write up wills, but that the layout of exactly how many shares go where is just a set of guidelines that will be followed if a Believer dies and does not have a will. Is that true?

If so, I would certainly prefer to put down my brother and my sisters for equal shares, rather than giving more to my little brother. It just doesn't make sense to me. But if I researched incorrectly and I do have to follow that law literally, I'm going to have to take a different route and try for the life of me to figure out how that detail agrees with the Baha'i belief in gender equality......

I know this is probably the least interesting topic of conversation possible, but I truly feel like Baha'is need to consider all the things written down in the Most Holy Book and other Writings... it applies to our lives, and therefore is of utmost significance, even though it may be a little more tedious than just discussing the transformative power of Baha'u'llah all the time.

Another thing on my mind is the concept of a "teacher." In the inheritance laws a share is set aside for one's spiritual teacher. Do I get to decide who I believe that person is? If so, I mean, I obviously already know exactly who it would be, but I haven't been able to find anything saying whether or not that is my decision to make.

Thanks for helping with these kind of mundane questions.

I still have questions! I wonder if anyone is reading this anymore. Questions don't stop post declaration.

In fact, now that I'm a Baha'i... the questions multiply.

First of all, I'm investigating the PURPOSE behind some of the laws which will now always be attached to my life, like, for instance, inheritance laws!

I mean... OK, so there's a part of the Kitab-I-Aqdas that lays out exactly how much you give to each member of your family when you die. The share that goes to your brothers is greater than the share that goes to your sisters. Seems a little... I mean... I don't know. There has to be a reason for it, but it eludes me. Suggestions appreciated.

There's also something about dowry.......... hmm.

EDIT! I am so silly to not have understood this. Talk about trying to read way too deep into things. Stephanie was like, "Umm... you know, be, as in, BE... you know, to be..." Silly.
Second of all, this is rather silly, because I've been saying the long obligatory prayer fairly often, but I still don't know what this one part means, and every time I get to it it throws me off a bit: "Whom the letters B and E (Be) have been joined and knit together." I bet the answer is so simple but for some reason I just don't get it.

Anyone know anything about the law concerning the type of wood used on your coffin? I don't know if this applies in the West yet, but it is definitely in effect for Persian Baha'is. They also are required to wrap the body in white cotton or silk, and place a burial ring on the deceased's finger. If it's not in effect in the West, anyone know why not? It doesn't seem like a very difficult detail to add in- I think us Americans can handle it. Sorry... I get a little sarcastic over the "laws that are not yet laws" stuff.

Well, I have a lot more, but that's enough for now.

My suitemate Katie would like to know what the Baha'i Faith's opinion, if there is one, is on abortion, and also on birth control.

I like that I'm seeking to answer someone else's questions. But I'm curious, too, I must admit.