I am very aware of the abhorred conditions of the average Iraqi woman today. My husband has many Iraqi friends so we are very aware of the woman and childern caught in the cross-fire of this war. Yes, in Saddam Secular Iraqi woman had a fuller range of human rights. Now they have taken a step back due to the American Invasion. The positive centers of social reconstruction within Iraqi is happening under the media radar. If the media would due a few indepth stories on the Iraqi Baha’i Community, it would bring the situation into full contexts.

We have a new super Wal-Mart near us. It replaced a smaller storer. I find the Super Store prices very high comparison to the former store. And it is a very unfriendly store. Next door to the Wal-Mart is a Dollar Store. It sells many of the same products for a third of the price. Being a member of the Baha’i Community, Christmas is not a holiday. So all this battle between K-Mart and Wal-Mart is lost on us. I look forward to the day when those stores cut prices during our, the Baha’i Holidays, during the spring of the year. I look forward to the day when there is 10x times the Baha’is in the U.S. as there is today. Perhaps the new movie by Mel Gibson, Mona’s Dream, will speed that blessed day.

this Pope or for that matter any Pope last 50 years is being forced whether they like it or not to accept the Message of Baha’u’llah. I know this must come hard for the poor informed. Anyone with an open mind can see the ever growing influence the Revelation of Baha’u’llah is have not just the Catholic Church but the world. As Baha’u’ llah Letter to the Pope starts out,”O Pope! Rend the veils asunder” .The Leaders of The Vatican since Pope John,XXIII, have felt the ringing of this New Spirit operating in the World. The Pacem in Terris that Pope John delivered to the United Nations in April, 1963, was a straight ‘lifting’ from the Revelation of Baha’u’llah. As for the Pope travelling out from the Vatican Palace is this not what Baha’u’llah told him to do,” O Supreme Pontiff! Incline thine ear unto that which the Fashioner of mouldering bones counselleth thee, as voiced by Him Who is His Most Great Name. Sell all the embellished ornaments thou dost possess, and expend them in the path of God, Who causeth the night to return upon the day, and the day to return upon the night. Abandon thy kingdom unto the kings, and emerge from thy habitation…” To those readers of this post that desire to read the Letter to the Pope, you can at this site: http://www.bahai-library.org/writings/bahaullah/pb/13.html

Dear Seekers, I just recalled an online book that I came across years ago dealing with the issues of ‘light after death’ . I offer it here for those that might be interested in exploring it: http://home.arcor.de/unity9/Introduction.htm

What happens to us after we die is quite a topic! I read for over an hour and one conclusion I drew was how confused people have become either thru commission or by omission. I have had not the opportunity to talk about Wowowow.com with any of my Baha’i women friends but since I did not come across any “Baha’i Feedback” in the 20 pages I can concluded that I am the only one that has stumbled across this website. The Manifestation of God, Baha’u’llah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is very clear on the question of ‘life after life’ on this earth. The Baha’i Writtings (Baha’i Scriptures) is full of gems regarding the journey of the human soul. this should an important topic that I have taken a few excepts from The Writtings so the reader may enjoy and be refreshed in her quest for answers. Thou hast asked Me whether man, as apart from the Prophets of God and His chosen ones, will retain, after his physical death, the self-same individuality, personality, consciousness, and understanding that characterize his life in this world. If this should be the case, how is it, thou hast observed, that whereas such slight injuries to his mental faculties as fainting and severe illness deprive him of his understanding and consciousness, his death, which must involve the decomposition of his body and the dissolution of its elements, is powerless to destroy that understanding and extinguish that consciousness? How can any one imagine that man’s consciousness and personality will be maintained, when the very instruments necessary to their existence and function will have completely disintegrated? Know thou that the soul of man is exalted above, and is independent of all infirmities of body or mind. That a sick person showeth signs of weakness is due to the hindrances that interpose themselves between his soul and his body, for the soul itself remaineth unaffected by any bodily ailments. Consider the light of the lamp. Though an external object may interfere with its radiance, the light itself continueth to shine with undiminished power. In like manner, every malady afflicting the body of man is an impediment that preventeth the soul from manifesting its inherent might and power. When it leaveth the body, however, it will evince such ascendency, and reveal such influence as no force on earth can equal. Every pure, every refined and sanctified soul will be endowed with tremendous power, and shall rejoice with exceeding gladness. Consider the lamp which is hidden under a bushel. Though its light be shining, yet its radiance is concealed from men. Likewise, consider the sun which hath been obscured by the clouds. Observe how its splendor appeareth to have diminished, when in reality the source of that light hath remained unchanged. The soul of man should be likened unto this sun, and all things on earth should be regarded as his body. So long as no external impediment interveneth between them, the body will, in its entirety, continue to reflect the light of the soul, and to be sustained by its power. As    soon as, however, a veil interposeth itself between them, the brightness of that light seemeth to lessen. Consider again the sun when it is completely hidden behind the clouds. Though the earth is still illumined with its light, yet the measure of light which it receiveth is considerably reduced. Not until the clouds have dispersed, can the sun shine again in the plenitude of its glory. Neither the presence of the cloud nor its absence can, in any way, affect the inherent splendor of the sun. The soul of man is the sun by which his body is illumined, and from which it draweth its sustenance, and should be so regarded. Consider, moreover, how the fruit, ere it is formed, lieth potentially within the tree. Were the tree to be cut into pieces, no sign nor any part of the fruit, however small, could be detected. When it appeareth, however, it manifesteth itself, as thou hast observed, in its wondrous beauty and glorious perfection. Certain fruits, indeed, attain their fullest development only after being severed from the tree. (Compilations, Baha’i World Faith, p. 119) When Abdu’l-Baha (Son of Our Lord Baha’u’llah) was in London a question regarding ‘life after death’ was asked Him from a Believer: “Mrs. S. asked some questions with reference to the conditions of existence in the next world, and the life after death; she said that having recently lost a very near relative, she had given much thought to this subject. Many thought that re-union with those we had loved, and who had passed on to the future life, would only take place after a long period of time had elapsed. She wished to know whether one would be re-united with those who had gone before immediately after death. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá answered that this would depend upon the respective stations of the two. If both had the same degree of development, they would be re-united immediately after death. The questioner then said, how could this state of development be acquired? ‘Abdu’l-Bahá replied, by unceasing effort, striving to do right, and to attain spiritual qualities. The questioner remarked that many differing opinions were held as to the conditions of the future life. Some thought that all would have exactly the same perfections and virtues; that all would be equal and alike. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said there would be variety, and differing degrees of attainment, as in this world. The question was then asked as to how it would be possible with no material bodies or environment to recognize different entities and characters, when all would be in the same conditions and on the same plane of existence.   ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said if several people look into a mirror at the same moment, they behold all the different personalities, their characteristics and movements; the glass of the mirror into which they look is one. In your mind you have a variety of thoughts, but all these thoughts are separate and distinct. Also you may perhaps have hundreds of friends; but when you call them before your memory you do not confuse them one with another: each one is separate and distinct, having their own individualities and characteristics.” (Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 73) The last except is from the Lady Blomfield’s book ‘Chosen Highway’. “he Master answered her: If you have a bed of lilies-of-the-valley that you love and tenderly care for, they cannot see you, nor can they understand your care, nevertheless, because of that tender care, they flourish. So it is with your husband. You cannot see him, but his loving influence surrounds you, cares for you, watches over you. They, who have passed into the Divine Garden, pray for us there, as we pray for them here.” Another day a woman came to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and told Him of a dream. Last night, Master, I dreamed that I was in a garden of such  216  beauty that it seemed beyond the power of the most perfect human gardener to have created it. In this garden I saw a beautiful girl, about nineteen, who was caressing the flowers. As I came into the garden she lifted her lovely head and came towards me with outstretched arms, as though in great love and joy at my visit. I look at her amazed, and then I saw a startling resemblance to the tiny daughter I lost many years before.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá smiled His miraculous smile: “My child, you have been permitted to see your daughter as she is now, walking in the sacred garden of one of the worlds of God. This is a bounty of God to you. Rejoice and be happy.” Ridvaniyyih Khanum related that when her child was ill, the Master came and gave two pink roses to the little one, then, turning to the mother, He said in His musical voice so full of love: “Be patient.” That evening the child passed away. “Ridvaniyyih,” said the Master, “there is a Garden of God. Human beings are trees growing therein. The Gardener is Our Father. When He sees a little tree in a place too small for her development, He prepares a suitable and more beautiful place, where she may grow and bear fruit. Then He transplants that little tree. The other trees marvel, saying: ‘This is a lovely little tree. For what reason does the Gardener uproot it?” (Lady Blomfield, The Chosen Highway, p. 215) I hope these several selections from the Baha’i Writtings has shed some small light for those searching for answers on the subject of what happens to a person upon death. My personal favorite verses from Baha’i Writtings can be found in the Hidden Words,”O SON OF THE SUPREME! I have made death a messenger of joy to thee. Wherefore dost thou grieve? I made the light to shed on thee its splendor. Why dost thou veil thyself therefrom? ” Two days after my father-in-laws death, he came to my son in a dream. In that dream he told his grandson that he was find and asked him,” Do you want to come with me?” And according to my son his grandfather walked away down the garden path and disappeared in the pines.

Yes! I do know when Baha’u’llah wrote . It was not that long ago. His Message is for our time. Anyone who investigates it with an open mind will see it is for our time. As William Sears wrote in his book > The Kings and The Prisoner: How One Man Changed The Course of History

If you really what to change the world. Take up Bahaullah’s challenge. The world is one country and mankind its citzens. http://www.bahaullah.org

Dear Suzanne , I read your post with great interest. I am very interested in what you call “Business of Mankind”. When I read your post the words of Bahaullah came to mind,” Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind. …” I am going to leave you with two sites that you may visit if your heart desires a better world. One is a Statement on Peace released by the Universal House of Justice: http://info.bahai.org/article-1-7-0-2.html . The second site is about the Mona Project:http://www.adressformona.org/. A good site to learn more about these woman that willingly gave their lives so that you and I and our childern might have a better world. Go to http://www.monasdream.com/

I read a number of these posted letters. Are they serious? They appear to be tunnel vision to me. In a sense what they do reveal is the bankruptcy of the ‘old world system’ ( the nation state approach) to problems. In this New Era of One World they are tribal at best. I believe the answers to our social problems can be found in the Words of Bahaullah,” Let you vision be world wide”. He went on to say,”The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.” The Baha’i Teachings are very clear,”The disease of our time is disunity. Only after humanity has overcome it will our social, economic, political, and other problems find solution. I know this sounds all very heavy, perhaps too much for Americans that what ‘instant fixes” to all problems. If those who read this what a read change and a better world for both themselves and their childern should seek our the Baha’i Community in their neighborhood. Just recently an individual running for President made this observeration. Every Sunday for at least an hour American is segerated. The white go to their white churchs; and black to the black churchs. In Baha’i Communities this is not the case. There is no segeration. There is only one race the human race within the Baha’i Community. At Baha’i gathers you find all the people that are no suppose to be (according to the non-Bahai World). Interracial marriages are very common within the Baha’i Community. ( mine included, I am Asian married into an old traditional English family) If you are looking for answers I encourage you to seek out the Healing Message of Baha’u’llah. You can start your search here > http://www.bahaullah.org Happy Naw-Ruz ( New Year) 20. March, to everyone.

As I read down the list of names offered. I see some of my own favorites like Queen Victoria, Lady Thatcher,Amelia Earhart and a famous woman hero known as Tahirih. I know that the story of Tahirih might not be familiar with the print media but her famous has echoed around the planet. In the U.S. you will find the Tahirih Justice Centers to help battered women. In the class room of schools across America teachers are finding young girls named after Tahirih popping up everywhere. Shoghi Effendi referred to her as “the first woman suffrage martyr.” Tahirih outstanding women who serve as models or paradigms of this “new womanhood.”

As a Baha’i we have a Fast. It is from sunrise to sunset. And it is for 19 days (our calendar has 19 day months) . The fasting period, which lasts nineteen days starting as a rule from the second of March every year and ending on the twentieth of the same month, involves complete abstention from food and drink from sunrise till sunset. It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer. Fasting is of two kinds, material and spiritual. The material fasting is abstaining from food or drink, that is, from the appetites of the body. But spiritual, ideal fasting is this, that man abstain from selfish passions, from negligence and from satanic animal traits. Therefore, material fasting is a token of the spiritual fasting.