Here & Now

Before I begin, I want to thank all of you who have commented publicly or privately on my posts. I'm overwhelmed by the generosity of spirit I'm being shown in my first week with this blog! Thank you.

I'm a fairly flexible person and not married to many unchangeable opinions, but when I learned that Bahai's do not believe in reincarnation, I'll admit my heart sank. I've always believed and in fact...it's one of the few unwavering beliefs I've had in my life.

I decided to set it aside for awhile. To not look at it too closely and to focus on other aspects of the faith. To focus more on what resonates and to take a little attention off of what doesn't...just for awhile.

After all, I feel at home learning about this religion for a reason...the draw is there and the peace that comes with the discoveries is there too, so why start pulling it all apart?

This worked for a few weeks, but over the course of the past few days I've found myself wondering more about it. I went to the resource library and found this. I understand it (to a point), but found myself becoming defensive while reading it.

When I was a trainer in a customer service call center, I worked with many people who learned in just as many ways. I remember comforting nervous new employees who feared they weren't catching on as fast as their classmates by sharing with them my belief that if they weren't getting the material, that it was my responsibility to find a way to reach them differently...to find a way to speak their individual learning language. I'd try different things and eventually most of them made it through just fine. It made me feel good, they felt understood (and less nervous about losing a much needed job) and the company benefited as well. A win for all of us.

I decided to set aside my defensiveness and I prayed that I'd be shown another way of looking at this. Another way of learning. I wanted to give myself and the faith a break by being open to the fact that there had to be a different way to approach this. Suddenly, I remembered Eckhart Tolle.

A few years ago, I read some of his books and realized I had a real problem (and still do to a lessor degree) staying in the present moment. Being in the "Now" is a fairly foreign concept to me. I'm always fantasizing about the future and reliving the past. I recognize this and do try to nip it in the bud when I'm imagining the dress I'll wear when I win my Tony award or lose a lot of weight, but let's just say I have a wild imagination and well, I go there...a lot. Not as much as I used to, but still...a lot.

I decided to see what Eckhart has to say in the subject of reincarnation and did a little searching. How surprised I was to find that he believes that our most important reincarnations happen now...in this life. And that we can get stuck in them or evolve with them. In fact, he doesn't believe that spending much time contemplating what happens after we die is all that beneficial.

Here is a quote:

"When you think, feel, perceive, and experience, consciousness is born into form. It is reincarnating - into a thought, a feeling, a sense perception, an experience. The cycle of rebirths that Buddhists hope to get out of eventually is happening continuously, and it is only at this moment - through the power of Now (being present)-that you can get out of it."
Eckhart Tolle

I looked at my habit of not staying in the present moment and of how I've long wanted to change this so that I can immerse myself more fully in this realm and not miss out on my real life because I've spent it off in an imaginary town in France opening a little chocolate shop Vianne Rocher style! (You have to admit it isn't a bad fantasy!)

I also realized that while I've always believed in reincarnation, I've never placed much importance on getting to know my past lives, so it's not as if I have to give up my identity as an Irish fisherman or a Messai warrior. There's no real attachment to the idea of who I was or will be.

I then did some reading and found this:

"To consider that after the death of the body the spirit perishes, is like imagining that a bird in a cage will be destroyed if the cage is broken, though the bird has nothing to fear from the destruction of the cage. Our body is like the cage, and the spirit is like the bird. We see that without the cage, this bird flies in the world of sleep; therefore if the cage becomes broken, the bird will continue and exist: its feelings will be even more powerful, its perceptions greater, and its happiness increased. In truth, from hell it reaches a paradise of delights, because for the thankful birds there is no paradise greater than freedom from the cage."
Abdu'l Baha

I have no problem believing that our spirits can evolve in joyful ways unimaginable to us after we die. In fact, I already believe this, so really, my only conflicting belief is that some of us reincarnate into human bodies instead of staying in the spirit realm. Yet, if I desire to be a present person and live this life fully, then in way, it doesn't matter, because it isn't my desire or goal to lose time speculating about what happens in the distant future.

This isn't to say that the Bahai belief or the words of Baha'u'llah don't matter, they do, but my point is that the issue matters less to me. I know over time and as I learn more, I may develop other feelings about the subject, but for now I feel remarkably peaceful about the whole thing.

I'm redefining some of my beliefs and finding that in the whole big scheme of things, some are less important than I thought. And, I love getting out my magnifying glass and having a good look around, so it's all fun anyway!

p.s. the picture above is from this site.

Thanksgiving

This is my favorite holiday of the year. I've always used it to mark progress in my life. It's been a challenging year, but I'm thankful for so much. Not the least of which is my introduction to the Baha'i Faith. I'm excited because the year ahead will be filled with so much exploration.

I love ritual and at first I was disappointed to read that there is very little ritual in the Baha'i faith...but, when I started exploring people's personal blogs and reading articles about how families celebrate various holidays, I realized there may not be ritual, but there are certainly customs and traditions.

I can't wait to run through a cycle of Baha'i holy days and celebrations. I'm already planning my Ayyam-i-Ha cookies and unique gifts! Even the fast is exciting to me. Hey, I once went for ten days with no food at all, so I think I can make it.

Of course, as I write this, I realize there are more important things to discover about a faith (things other than cookies and gift giving traditions), and the reasons behind these celebrations are equally important to me, but I'm a celebratory kind of person and holidays/holy days are meant to be special.

So, here I am, on Thanksgiving and already excited about how much more I'll know and feel by this time next year. I'm so grateful for this...so grateful to have found something that interests me so much and so very grateful to already feel welcomed. It's heartwarming. Thank you.

Here are the words of Abdu’l-Baha on giving thanks.

Note: Isn't the pie spectacular? It was just about to go into the oven.

Weighing The Information

One of the many appealing things about the Baha'i Faith is that social issues are an integral part of it.

This is the "official statement" of the expected social principals.

• abandonment of all forms of prejudice
• assurance to women of full equality of opportunity with men
• recognition of the unity and relativity of religious truth
• the elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth
• the realization of universal education
• the responsibility of each person to independently search for truth
• the establishment of a global commonwealth of nations
• recognition that true religion is in harmony with reason and the pursuit of scientific knowledge (this is one of my favorites!)
  

What's not to get behind?

However, I recently learned that while women are treated as equals to men and when it comes to education as more important (If a Baha'i family can only educate one child it must be a daughter before a son) at this time, no woman may serve in the Universal House of Justice which is, for lack of a better phrase, the governing body of the Baha'i Faith. The faith has no clergy and is instead organized by local assemblies (women can serve and lead assemblies), but the clarifications needed on mandates (again, for lack of a better word-the terminology is new to me) of the faith are decided upon by the Universal House of Justice.

This doesn't sit well with me and yet, unlike the way I would be in other times of my life...I'm still here with an open mind. I've been told and read that there are many who question this, but more who accept it. I guess I understand...in a way. If you are a believer and you trust a religion that feels as if it belongs to you, then occasionally you have to accept that there are mysteries not ready to be revealed, but even so, it troubles me.

I've read that eventually the reason will be revealed and will most likey be considered plausible by members of the faith. It will make sense. I've guessed at what it is (believe me!) and come up with some good ones, but still would like to know.

This in itself isn't enough to turn me away from the Baha'i Faith...but it makes me need to understand more and do more reading in order to feel comfortable with it. I mean, this is a faith that dictates equality of the sexes, yet women can't serve in the highest leadership...so, do you get mad, say it's like the Catholics and priests? Or do you look at the way women are revered in all other areas of the faith including education and just trust that the reason must be a good one?

Just one of my many questions.

Here's a video you might enjoy...Many people know that Rainn Wilson is a Baha'i (was raised one and is very open about his faith), but there are many others.



P.S. I wanted to include a link to this article because someday someone may read this blog and want to know more about the topic of why women are denied the right to serve at/on the Universal House of Justice. This is one woman's essay and offers a different perspective, but an important one...I like knowing all sides of an issue before making decisions and all views are helpful...

Refresh And Gladden My Spirit

Artwork courtesy of Gary E. Stewart

I have so much to share of what I've discovered about the Baha'i Faith that I barely know where to begin or even when to begin since I'm kind of busy preparing for what should be a busy time of year in the studio.

I do want to write this quick post about how the Baha'i Faith doesn't have any food mandates or rules about food.

The idea being that food mandates such as, "Well, we don't eat this or that ..." create separation from one another. Of course, there is respect for religions that do have mandates, but in the Baha'i Faith they (we?) work to create a sense of oneness and avoid things which simply by their nature cause separateness, even if they seem benign.

It goes much deeper than this, but I find this one aspect interesting because one of the first things I wondered when I learned of the faith was what rules regarding diet might I have to follow if I become a Baha'i.

There aren't any (other than the fasting times).

Interestingly enough, there's also guidance on how sleeping and resting is absolutely essential. I'm notorious for making sleep a low priority and kind of like the idea of having to rest because "Hey, I'm got orders from God!" However, in all seriousness, the guidance is less about your health as an individual and more about needing to be rested and stay clear for God.

I'm not seeking religion as a means to be guilted into caring for my physical body, but I like that there are teachings (still not sure what to call them) about tending the body. I have neglected my body and frankly, need a little extra encouragement on why self-care is important.

I wrote something to a friend awhile ago about how I'm unsure about various aspects of the faith, but how I want to understand and yet, I also want to be understood. I don't know if I mean by the people in faith or by God. I'm seeing that this may not (at my early stages) be the perfect religion (view of God), but I'm giving it a fair shot and I want to be given a fair shot in return even though I'm not a perfect follower...Odd, I don't want to be judged just as I don't want to pass judgment on something I don't fully understand yet. I almost don't know what that means.

Before I close...this is my favorite Baha'i prayer...I say it three times a day.

Oh God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my power. I lay all my affairs in thy hand. Thou art my guide and refuge. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to thee, O Lord.

Abdu'l-Bahá

I'm not in a twelve-step program, but know the lingo and this reminds me of when I've heard people say, "turn it over to God" or "let go and let God".

At least that's what I get out of this line, "I lay all my affairs in thy hand"...though it's deeper to me because it isn't just about resting troubles in God's hands and hoping for a good outcome, it's about putting all affairs (good, bad or ugly) in God's hand or the hand of the Universe and being peaceful in doing so.

I like the line, "Thou art my guide and refuge" because it makes me feel like no one is asking me to give up control...just to come in and be part of the team. That there is guidance to be offered, but it's a creative partnership. Plus, I love the word refuge...it makes me think of safety and peace. Kind of like comfort is available too. Like suddenly realizing you have a best friend you never knew you had before and this friend has nothing personal in his or her way that could ever interfere with wanting the best for you...no matter what.

The First Step, Start From Where You Are...

This is a journal of my exploration of The Baha'i faith. I’m still investigating. I've always been spiritual and even perhaps sort of New Agey. Until recently, I enjoyed my own spiritual practice drawing from many religions, but was never interested in declaring myself a member of any one faith.

Several months ago, I found myself yearning for more than a solo spiritual practice or an open religion. I also felt lonely for some sort of spiritual community. In many of the gatherings I've attended, we've all been openminded and while a Buddhist might share of her faith or a Christian might share of his, we've all accepted that that God/Goddesses/The Universe can be worshiped and interpreted in many ways. I've liked the openness and the respect, but inside of me something has emerged that wants more. I want community and a path of study.

I recently discovered the Baha'i Faith and am intrigued enough to want to learn more. I've explored other faiths, but have never considered joining one. Something about the Baha'i faith feels right, but I'm cautious, having never been a member of any religion. This is as close to home as I have ever felt, but I want to know more.

There are many things about the faith that are comforting to me, yet there are contradictions too. I want to take my time and make a decision based on the true belief that I can be a Baha’i full heartedly as opposed to one who ignores the rules that don’t appeal to me. I don’t have to understand the whole faith, but I have to understand more than I do now.

It’s odd, this is less about my faith in God (though I usually say Universe instead of God) than it is about my faith in myself. I’ve somehow picked up the idea that smart people don’t fall for organized religion. Of course, I know this isn’t true (right?), but I feel the need to learn for myself. To immerse myself in this is less about finding God and more about finding my path to God. I’ve been on it, yet I don’t stay on it…or rather, sometimes it’s illuminated and sometimes it isn’t.

In the end, I may have learned a lot from my study and it will simply add new understanding to the other experiences that I believe make me a spiritual person (whether I belong to a faith or not). Or I could decide to declare myself as a Baha’i.

We shall see.