Community Blog

If you took a trip down to Tisch School of the Arts to watch dance classes, you might be surprised to find a red head teaching Chinese dance to a class of mostly Asians. Aly Rose is a well known dancer and choreographer based in New York who honed her skills in China. Having lived there for over 12 years, is fluent in Mandarin. She is also the first Westerner to graduate from the Beijing Dance Academy, Asia's finest dance institution. 

Her art is called "human architecture" and her most recent piece is called ONE.Thirty harnessed dancers, suspended by pencil thin, moving, computer operated cables, perform in mid-air. Together, the dancers create one immense - and constantly shifting shape in the sky. Yet, as Rose points out, "There's never one person who's moving the same as another. It's a symbol of the relationship between the individual and the collective. Just as we are on this planet, together. Not only are we interdependent, but also our actions and beliefs affect others. As a Baha'i, the concept of oneness is something I wanted to explore."

ONE is scheduled to have its premier this July, at the Shanghai Expo.

A second instance of this Ruhi group's "arising to serve" was on a more intimate scale, but was equally significant.  In Book 2, the group had learned that one important path of service is to visit the homes of brand-new Baha'is and lovingly engage them in conversations about various Baha'i topics.  The group had been discussing several of these in their Book 2 course – for example, the principle of unity, the life of Baha'u'llah, the Covenant established by Baha'u'llah with His followers, and the Nineteen Day Feast. 

Thus, in September 2009, at the suggestion of Scott Walters, who was one of their group's facilitators, Book 2 members Dave J. and Arvid N. agreed to accompany Scott to the home of a new Baha'i living in Queens for a few hours of conversation.  The Baha'i in question was Liling H., who graciously welcomed her three guests on a Tuesday evening.  Rather to the guests' surprise, however, Liling had prepared a dinner, which the four of them enjoyed over light conversation. 

Then, over dessert, the friends shared their thoughts on the Faith.  Dave went first, giving a short presentation on the life of Baha'u'llah.  He focused on the sufferings and hardships that Baha'u'llah had undergone throughout His life, and on the spiritual impact His suffered could have on others.  Dave noted how ordinary mortals might have succumbed to such persecutions, and contrasted this with how Baha'u'llah had, for the sake of God and for spiritual principle, endured them.  It was clear that Dave was not simply recounting historical fact, but was speaking from the heart, and Liling listened attentively in silence. 

After some discussion on ideas brought up by Dave's short presentation, Arvid then spoke briefly about two different ways of dealing with conflict in the world.   That is, the old, adversarial and "Western" idea of conflict resolution -- in which one side wins and the other side loses -- versus the Bahá'í idea of resolving differences through
unity, consensus building, and mutual respect.  This presentation also engendered some good discussion among the four friends. 

As the conversation wound to a close, Liling was asked her impressions of the evening.  She thought a moment, and said that she had appreciated the discussions very much, as they had taught her things about the Baha'i Faith that she had not known, and gave her much food for thought. 

The evening ended with the three guests offering to clean up the dining area and Liling's kitchen.  This was somewhat over the protests of the hostess – although the unusual sight of three men cleaning up a kitchen (possibly inspired by the Baha'i principle of equality) was perhaps an idea whose time had come, and thus, Liling acquiesced.  The guests then thanked their host and took their leave. 

The above episodes illustrate two possible ways that people – Baha'is or non-Baha'is – might creatively apply insights gleaned from joint study of the Creative Word in study-circle gatherings.  Innumerable other ways of "arising to serve" are, of course, possible. 

 Scott

[Please join us. more...]

Meeting weekly at a home in Richmond Hill, Queens, Jack C., Eric R., Dave J., and Scott W. had over several months progressed through Book 1 of the Ruhi Institute, which had dealt with themes such as "Understanding the Baha'i Writings" and "Prayer."  Recently, they had proceeded to Book 2, and new member Arvid N. had joined the Ruhi group.  Book 2 was entitled Arising to Serve.  The general focus of that book was on how to appropriately introduce Baha'i topics to others. 

In June 2009, as the group was about midway through the book, Jack mentioned an upcoming Baha'i holy day gathering on July 9, which commemorated the 1850 martyrdom of the Bab, the prophetic forerunner of Baha'u'llah.  After a brief discussion, the group enthusiastically decided to take on the task of planning and presenting the devotional program for that Holy Day event at the NYC Baha'i Center in Manhattan.  It was a timely suggestion, coming as it did while the members were in their Ruhi course already studying ways of teaching various historical and spiritual topics pertaining to the Baha'i Faith.

Thus, over the next few weeks, the five Baha'is divided up the labor, did research at home, and at their study-circle meetings pooled their ideas and different talents, eventually crafting a tentative program.  Naturally, prayer played a part in the preparations at various points.  Then, on a night shortly before the scheduled day of the devotional gathering, the Ruhi group members convened in the Gillespie Auditorium at the Baha'i Center, and spent several hours rehearsing that program, making changes as needed.  For the members of group, this was the first time they had organized such an event – most, moreover, having little or no experience with staging, sound systems, or lighting.  Happily, Jordan, co-caretaker of the Baha'i Center and handyperson sine qua non, provided some technical advice to the group. 

At noon on the day of the Martyrdom of the Bab, the auditorium was filled with Baha'is and their guests.  The lights were dimmed to virtually complete darkness, and ethereal-sounding, orchestral music began to whisper from the hall speakers:  Charles Ives's classic The Unanswered Question, overlaid with brief quotations from the writings of the Bab, intoned via microphone from offstage.

This musical meditation ended, nine men and women, each carrying a candle, quietly came onstage one by one, and recited a prayer in one of several languages – Bulgarian, Spanish, English, Malaysian, Korean, Amharic, Russian, Farsi.  Setting their candles on a table onstage, they each then took a seat in the front row. 

After a short welcome, Arvid N. proceeded to give an account of the life of the Bab, using a text he had written for the occasion and illustrated by an engaging slideshow, controlled by Jack in the auditorium's control room, and projected onto a screen onstage.  This presentation alternated with a recitation by Eric, who intoned portions of the discourse of the Bab addressed to His disciples, the Letters of the Living, as He sent them out to teach the Faith in 19^th-century Persia. 

Arvid then took the podium again and gave a dramatic account, again with slideshow illustrations, of the martyrdom of the Bab.   The presentation seemed crafted not only to be of spiritual service to local Baha'is, but also to provide an engaging, accessible account of this remarkable historical event for any non-Baha'i guests who happened to be in attendance.  This concluded, Eric then movingly intoned the final portion of the Bab's address to the Letters of the Living.  The Holy Day presentation then finished with a recitation of the Tablet of Visitation, while those in attendance stood and faced the Qiblih, the resting place of Baha'u'llah, in Bahji, Israel.  Attendees and presenters alike then congregated in the basement of the Baha'i Center for refreshments and fellowship.

Scott

[Please join us. more...]

Another type of core activity is called a "study circle."  Study circles are small, usually weekly, gatherings of adults (or sometimes older youths) who engage in joint study and discussion of short selections from the Baha'i Writings.  Weekly immersion in even small portions of the Writings can have a powerful effect on a person, as they deepen their understanding of the Baha'i approach to life, which involves service to humanity. 

At the present time, study circles in New York City are using a series of books called the Ruhi Institute.  Right now there are seven books in the series.  This blog entry tells two brief stories about one of these "Ruhi groups," and their efforts along the path of service.

Our next two blog entries each tell a story about one of these 'Ruhi groups,' and their efforts along the path of service.

Scott

[Please join us at a study circle near you. more...]

The situation for Bahá’ís in Iran is still dire, but you can make a difference. A resolution condemning the Islamic Republic for its treatment of Bahá’ís just passed the House of Representatives, and The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is currently reviewing a related bill. One of our senators, Kirsten Gillibrand, is a member of the this committee.

Please write her a letter, urging her to pass the resolution. A sample letter, recognizable by most word processing programs, is available for download right HERE.

Feel free to alter the text – the more individualized and personal your letter is, the more impact it will have. Just keep in mind it’s always more effective.

Most guests on Oprah Winfrey’s shows leave the questions to their famous host. Not Rainn Wilson, the actor famous for playing the eccentric paper salesman, Dwight Schrute, on NBC’s hit comedy “The Office.” During his recent spot on Winfrey’s Soul Series radio show, Wilson pulled a list of questions from his back pocket and started interviewing his host.

His questions for Oprah included these:

• What does your soul look like?
• If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

They’re the sort of questions – “life’s big questions” – that Wilson, a longtime Baha’i, posts on his new website, Soul Pancake. Anyone who visits the site can post an answer – or questions of their own. Winfrey’s favorite question of Wilson’s was, “What do you miss most about being five years old?”

“I like that,” she said, and promised she’d eventually come up with a response.

When she does, she can post it on Soul Pancake, a place where she – and the rest of us – can share our own answers to life’s big questions with people from all over the world.

A weekend for connecting college youth to their spiritual heritage and mission in life, while also striving for academic excellence.

The Regional Council invites all college age youth, Baha’is and friends, to register today for an inspiring program for college students being held at Green Acre Bahá’í School in Eliot, Maine, the weekend of September 26-28, 2008. The program will be diverse and dynamic. Some scholarships may be available.

Car-pooling may help everyone attend.

We will have an exciting weekend of learning, sharing, personal growth, campus growth, planning ahead. There will be consultation, break-out groups, devotions, presentations, Sacred Writings, and the arts. We will discuss our campuses and our clusters, as well as juggling teaching, service, and studying.

Meet new and old friends. Bring musical instruments and talents.

Please share this message with your friends of college age. And this is a great atmosphere for Bahá’ís and friends of the Faith to catch the spirit.

Call 1-800-894-9715, or register on line at:

On May 19th, [1912,] ‘Abdu’l-Bahá addressed the congregation of the Brotherhood Church, at Jersey City, New Jersey. The pastor of that church, Howard Colby Ives, relates the story: ‘It was an impressive, even to me a thrilling sight when the majestic figure of the Master strode up the aisle of the Brotherhood Church leading the little company of believers from various parts of the world. As memory now takes its backward look I realize how little I understood at that time the full significance of that memorable scene. Here, in a setting of Western civilization, almost two thousand years from the dawn of Christian teaching, stood One whose Life and Word were the very embodiment of the essence of the message of good-will to all peoples which those nations which bear His name had seemingly forgotten.

Here stood the living proof of the falsity of the assumption that East and West can never meet. Here was martyrdom for Truth and Love speaking lovingly and humbly to souls engrossed with self and who knew it not . . .

The Queens Baha’i Fundraising Picnic was held on the afternoon of Saturday, August 23, in Forest Park. The picnic, organized by the Queens Feast Area Committee over the past several summers, had this year been scheduled for early August, but had been postponed due to the collective-teaching project begun this summer in Elmhurst, Flatbush, Jackson Heights, and Washington Heights.

The purpose of the picnic was to provide a venue for fellowship and fun among the friends, in particular Baha’i families; and to raise money for the New York City Baha’i Fund. Accordingly, the Sector Committee organized the preparation of delicious food, donated by several of the friends – barbecued chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, Persian rice with vegetables, spicy pasta salad, watermelon, flan, chocolate brownies, and coconut pastries. The servings were “all you can eat,” with a minimum charge of $15 per person. Funds were also raised through the sale of “gently used” items donated by some of the friends and sold toward the end of the picnic. The amount raised for the local Baha’i fund was $660. The picnic got into full swing at about 2 pm, and ended at 8:30. Aside from enjoying the food and one another’s company, time was spent by some in animated discussion, one group of adults engaging in an exploration of topics from the Writings for example, a meditation on the destiny of the soul, over brownies). In contrast, several others were engaged in more vigorous fellowship at the volleyball net, about which event there were unconfirmed reports of creative application of the official rules.

While most of the attendees were residents of Queens, there were also visitors from the Bronx, China, Iran, and Korea. In all, the picnic was attended by forty people, eight of whom were adult non-Baha’is, and including eight young children, the youngest being four-month-old Mateen Pourjafar, who could not be reached for comment.