Without getting into an academic analysis of what scripture says, I’m just going to suggest a little thought experiment – or do it for real if you prefer. Imagine yourself on the phone with someone whose picture is in the same room as you. How much of the time speaking do you think you will spend actually looking at their picture? I’ve tried this, and I actually find it hard to not face the picture. To me this simply points to a natural human instinct to face a person who we are talking to. It’s such a strong instinct that even in without their physical presence we still try to do it. How much stronger then must that instinct when we are trying to get in touch with God?!

Many people are unaware that like the Muslims, the Bahá’ís also face a certain direction when saying their daily prayers. Whereas the Muslim practice is to face Mecca, and Jewish and Christian tradition focuses on Jerusalem, Bahá’ís face a point called the Qiblih. During his lifetime, the Qiblih was the location of Bahá’u'llah. When he died, this point became fixed at a place called Bahjí, north-east of Acre, Israel where He was buried.

So what makes me bring this up here and now? Well, given my well known preoccupation with maps, GPS, and the wonders of the internet, I just wanted to let you know about a super useful website for those Bahá’ís who are particularly fastidious about getting that direction right – or for anyone who is simply curious. Its called “Direction to Bahjí – Qiblih, Point of Adoration.” and it can be found at http://qiblih.com/.

Here’s a screen shot of what might be for some a little surprising at first. The site does a good job, I think, of explaining why Los Angelenos might face the Hollywood hills to the north even though Israel appears to be a straight shot East.

To Bahjí via Hollywood.

No related posts.

How interesting it is to see that contradictions are boiling in Iran in all matters.

Bahá’ís are the largest religious minority in Iran with an official population of 300,000 members and many many more who have become Bahá’ís but, for their own safety, have not registered.  In other words, any individual who believes Baha’u'llah is the Manifestation of God for today and believes in all the other past religions and believes that the teachings that Baha’u'llah has brought to humanity are the healing message to the world is actually a Bahá’í.

The concept of Human Rights is a vague one in Iran and is hardly being practiced in any aspect of lives of the people in society.  Because of this Bahá’ís suffer – as do others.  Others such as the those who want to bring knowledge to the minds of the people, be it journalists, university students and teachers, women who have realized they have rights which have been hidden from them, and many others.

Bahá’ís all around the world, with the population of 5 and half million, are trying hard to see how they can, based on the teachings of Baha’u'llah, learn to live and make the world a better place.  Their motto is as Baha’u'llah said: “All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.”  Elsewhere we learn that for that to be realized by all of us we need education - spiritual education, material education, and human education.  This is beautifully exemplified in a series of courses which Bahá’ís worldwide are going through and inviting others to participate in.  These are the so called “Ruhi courses”.  In the very first of the series one learns that “The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds“.  This is the very first quotation that a group of people who decides to go through the course discuss with each other.  Later they learn “Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues.” and then they discuss what other virtues there are and why truthfulness is the foundation.  Later in this course there is a section about what prayer actually is.  And we learn that according to the Baha’i writings it is a loving conversation with God, the sweetest state in the whole creation and quoting the Prophet Mohammad:  ”it is a ladder with which soul ascends to the spiritual world.”

Two days ago another Baha’i cemetery was desecrated by ignorant men in Iran, they also scribbled some graffiti: “Down to Bahá’ís, down to Ruhi courses!”

To them I have a kind invitation to just learn what the Ruhi courses are about.  To those men who are so full of fear that they cannot even see the grave of a Bahá’í, I reach out my hand and ask you to sit down and be calm for a few moments and reflect on what you are doing.  Have you ever sat down to reflect?  Are you Muslims who recite your obligatory prayers 3 times every day?  Are you people who wash your faces and hands before your prayers?  I suggest that you look in the mirror right above the water basin and look into your own eyes and connect to your soul….and let your prayer be a real one such as that one in the scriptures of Islam which Bahá’ís also quote from.  We love the Prophet Mohammad.  We love Islam.  Do you?

[View with PicLens]

No related posts.