The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Realizations
4.1 Psychic powers arise by birth, drugs, incantations, purificatory acts or concentrated insight.
4.2 Transformation into another state is by the directed flow of creative nature.
4.3 Creative nature is not moved into action by any incidental cause, but by the removal of obstacles, as in the case of a farmer clearing his field of stones for irrigation.
4.4 Created minds arise from egoism alone.
4.5 There being difference of interest, one mind is the director of many minds.
4.6 Of these, the mind born of concentrated insight is free from the impressions.
4.7 The impressions of unitive cognition are neither good nor bad. In the case of the others, there are three kinds of impressions.
4.8 From them proceed the development of the tendencies which bring about the fruition of actions.
4.9 Because of the magnetic qualities of habitual mental patterns and memory, a relationship of cause and effect clings even though there may be a change of embodiment by class, space and time.
4.10 The desire to live is eternal, and the thought-clusters prompting a sense of identity are beginningless.
4.11 Being held together by cause and effect, substratum and object- the tendencies themselves disappear on the dissolution of these bases.
4.12 The past and the future exist in the object itself as form and expression, there being difference in the conditions of the properties.
4.13 Whether manifested or unmanifested they are of the nature of the attributes.
4.14 Things assume reality because of the unity maintained within that modification.
4.15 Even though the external object is the same, there is a difference of cognition in regard to the object because of the difference in mentality.
4.16 And if an object known only to a single mind were not cognized by that mind, would it then exist?
4.17 An object is known or not known by the mind, depending on whether or not the mind is colored by the object.
4.18 The mutations of awareness are always known on account of the changelessness of its Lord, the indweller.
4.19 Nor is the mind self-luminous, as it can be known.
4.20 It is not possible for the mind to be both the perceived and the perceiver simultaneously.
4.21 In the case of cognition of one mind by another, we would have to assume cognition of cognition, and there would be confusion of memories.
4.22 Consciousness appears to the mind itself as intellect when in that form in which it does not pass from place to place.
4.23 The mind is said to perceive when it reflects both the indweller (the knower) and the objects of perception (the known).
4.24 Though variegated by innumerable tendencies, the mind acts not for itself but for another, for the mind is of compound substance.
4.25 For one who sees the distinction, there is no further confusing of the mind with the self.
4.26 Then the awareness begins to discriminate, and gravitates towards liberation.
4.27 Distractions arise from habitual thought patterns when practice is intermittent.
4.28 The removal of the habitual thought patterns is similar to that of the afflictions already described.
4.29 To one who remains undistracted in even the highest intellection there comes the equalminded realization known as The Cloud of Virtue. This is a result of discriminative discernment.
4.30 From this there follows freedom from cause and effect and afflictions.
4.31 The infinity of knowledge available to such a mind freed of all obscuration and property makes the universe of sensory perception seem small.
4.32 Then the sequence of change in the three attributes comes to an end, for they have fulfilled their function.
4.33 The sequence of mutation occurs in every second, yet is comprehensible only at the end of a series.
4.34 When the attributes cease mutative association with awarenessness, they resolve into dormancy in Nature, and the indweller shines forth as pure consciousness. This is absolute freedom.

Signet Ring of Abdul Baha

Signet Ring of the Bab

One of those ‘unspiritual people’ was at that moment a member of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s party, Dr. Amin Fareed, who had already tried to fraudulently get money out of her [Phoebe Hearst]. It was probably during ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s stay at the Hearst residence that His signet ring disappeared. That theft and some of other activities of Dr. Fareed were described by Marzieh Gail in her book, “Arches of the Years": 

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s signet ring disappeared during his Western journey. The Master had confided His loss to Florence and Khan, and named the thief but He did not wish them to speak of it. We in the family always thought that it took place during his stay at the Hacienda … Thereafter the Master signed all his tablets instead of using a seal, capitalizing neither abdu’l nor abbas but only Bahá.

Fareed’s efforts to destroy the Master (who had seen to his education from childhood) make a page of triple darkness … Fareed was capable of whispering to the rich in the United States that although ‘Abdu’l-Bahá needed funds He would not openly accept them, but if they would pass over the money to him, Fareed, he would deliver it to the Master … After returning to the Holy Land ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent Dr. Baghdadi a Tablet, and directed that copies be distributed to every community so that all could read it. 

The Master wrote here that during His stay in America He had forgiven a certain member of His suite four times, but that He would forgive the man’s misdeeds no longer. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá returned to Haifa, He proceeded directly to the room with 
His wife, Munirih Khanum, and said in a feeble voice, “Dr. Fareed has ground me down!”

(Earl Redman, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Their Midst, p. 228)

How To Pray?

Abdu’l-Baha, the role model for Baha’is, traveled to New York early in the 20th century. 

One day he invited an eager follower to his quarters to teach the man to pray.  His guest arrived at 6:00 a.m. and found Abdu’l-Baha deep in prayer at his bedside. He knelt opposite Abdu’l-Baha and began to pray. He ticked off every priority on his prayer list, then he became distracted by cracks in the wall, birds outside, and his aching back. 

After two hours, he finally gazed at Abdu’l-Baha’s face and saw it shining with the radiance of deep communion with the divine. He suddenly longed for a prayer “beyond the murmur of syllables and sounds” as the Baha’i prayers describe this state. 

He longed to feel the sense of devotion he had witnessed. He received an immediate answer to his request, and enjoyed a few moments of exquisite prayer, grateful for this sweet lesson on “how to pray.”

Baha'i Month - Mashiyyat

Commentary on the Will & Testament of Abdul-baha

This Commentary by Joel B. Marangella sheds light on both the text and the tragic historic events surrounding this Sacred Document of the Baha'i Faith. The book recounts the intrigue that took place at the Baha'i World Center in 1957 that stifled the growth of this infant Faith, threatened to permanently diminish its prestige in the eyes of the world and destroyed the very safeguard built into the Faith that was to prevent it from falling into false leadership. 

Despite the darkness that has befallen this most recent revelation from God, this brilliant Commentary reveals the truth of what remains alive and well today, the true sign of God on earth who alone maintains the spirit and meaning of the Baha'i teachings. The Will and Testament of Abdul-BahÃ, is the vital and eternal link between Baha'u'llah and the sacred Administrative Order that is the true channel of the spirit. 

This book by Mr. Marangella clearly illuminates important passages within it that have been misunderstood, overlooked or intentionally distorted.The question may well be asked, what is so threatening about this book that millions of Baha'is around the world won't be allowed by their leadership to read it? 

Surely, all Baha'is must recognize the fundamental principle of Baha'u'llah, the Prophet Founder of the Baha'i Faith, to exercise their human right of an unfettered, independent investigation of truth.Mr. Marangella's book also includes the complete Will and Testament of Abdul- Baha, which can be read along with the Commentary, as well as a Summary of the Baha'i Faith by the author, recognized by Orthodox Baha'is as the third Guardian of Baha'i Faith. 

This Summary gives the uninitiated an authoritative treatise on the history and teachings of the Baha'i Faith.

Bahá’í Calendar Associated with a Lunar Calendar

The friends in the West had always known, through books such as God Passes By and The Dawn-Breakers, that many Bahá’í historical dates were recorded and mentioned based on the lunar calendar of Islam. They had been also aware that a few Bahá’í anniversaries were being observed in some countries in the East in accordance with the lunar calendar, while the rest adhered to the dates of the solar calendar.

The Writings and Utterances of Bahá’u’lláh, such as those published in ‘Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh’, clearly stipulate that Tehran was indeed the “mother of the world,” “the source of the joy of all mankind,” “the holy and shining city” and “the land of resplendent glory.” What other city had been so praised by the Blessed Beauty? It seems Tehran was destined to be the meridian of the future World Order. To an Oriental pilgrim Shoghi Effendi once said that the Prophet Muhammad had called Mecca “the mother of villages,” but Bahá’u’lláh had conferred the title “mother of the world” to His native city.

As to the question of the observances of the Twin Birthdays, as indicated in Note 138 of The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (pages 224–225), what Bahá’u’lláh meant by the two birthdays being as one day (in Questions and Answers #2) was that they should fall on two consecutive days. This is confirmed in a letter written on behalf of the Guardian. To explain fully this provision in the Aqdas, I will quote the following passage from Note 138 mentioned above:

“In the Muslim lunar calendar these [i.e. the anniversaries of the Births of Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb] fall on consecutive days, the birth of Bahá’u’lláh on the second day of the month of Muharram 1233 A.H. (12 November 1817), and the birth of the Báb on the first day of the same month 1235 A.H. (20 October 1819), respectively. They are thus referred to as the ‘Twin Birthdays’ and Bahá’u’lláh states that these two days are accounted as one in the sight of God (Q&A 2).”

Whoso Rejects You, Him Will God Reject

The Bab addressed Mulla Husayn these words: 

"Grieve not that you have not been chosen to accompany Me on My pilgrimage to Hijaz. I shall, instead, direct your steps to that city which enshrines a Mystery of such transcendent holiness as neither Hijaz nor Shiraz can hope to rival. My hope is that you may, by the aid of God, be enabled to remove the veils from the eyes of the wayward and to cleanse the minds of the malevolent. Visit, on your way, Isfahan, Kashan, Tihran, and Khurasan. Proceed thence to Iraq, and there await the summons of your Lord, who will keep watch over you and will direct you to whatsoever is His will and desire. As to Myself, I shall, accompanied by Quddus and My Ethiopian servant, proceed on My pilgrimage to Hijaz. I shall join the company of the pilgrims of Fars, who will shortly be sailing for that land. I shall visit Mecca and Medina, and there fulfil the mission with which God has entrusted Me. God willing, I shall return hither by the way of Kufih, in which place I hope to meet you. If it be decreed otherwise, I shall ask you to join Me in Shiraz. The hosts of the invisible Kingdom, be assured, will sustain and reinforce your efforts. The essence of power is now dwelling in you, and the company of His chosen angels revolves around you. His almighty arms will surround you, and His unfailing Spirit will ever continue to guide your steps. He that loves you, loves God; and whoever opposes you, has opposed God. Whoso befriends you, him will God befriend; and whoso rejects you, him will God reject."

(Dawn Breakers)

The List of Nineteen Letters of Living

First                         Mullá Husayn-i-Bushrú’í
Second                    Muhammad Hasan (His Brother)
Third                       Muhammad-Báqir (His Nephew)
Fourth                    Mullá ‘Alíy-i-Bastamí
Fifth                       Mullá Khudá-Bakhsh-i-Quchání (later named Mullá ’Ali)
Sixth                     Mullá Hasan-i-Bajistání
Seventh                  Siyyid Husayn-i-Yazdí
Eighth                    Mírzá Muhammad Rawdih-Khán-i-Yazdí
Ninth                    Sa’íd-i-Hindí
Tenth                   Mullá Mahmúd-i-Khú’í
Eleventh                Mullá Jalíl-i-Urúmí
Twelfth                 Mullá Ahmad-i-Ibdal-i-Marághi’í
Thirteenth             Mullá Báqir-i-Tabrízí
Fourteenth            Mullá Yusif-i-Ardibílí
Fifteenth              Mírzá Hádí (Son of Mullá ‘Abdu’l-Vahháb-i-Qazvíní)
Sixteenth      Mírzá Muhammad-i ‘Alíy-i-Qazvíní
Seventeenth         Táhirih
Eighteenth      Quddús
Nineteenth            The Báb Himself

Tablet to Mr. Charles Mason Remey

STAR OF THE WEST, Vol III, No. 7,  07/13/1912, page 16-17

Charles Mason Remey

Heartiest Greetings to the Baha'i World

Grand Celebration of the Birth of Baha’u’llah

Birth Date   : 12^th November 1817 AD (2^nd Moharram 1233 AH)

Name         : Mirza Husain Ali Nuri

Father        : Mirza Abbas Nuri (Mirza Buzurg)

Mother       : Khadijih Khanum

“All of the Manifestations have prophesied the coming of the "Day of God," a Day when mankind would be united in one Fold with one Shepherd under the Fatherhood of the one God, a Day in which God's Kingdom would be established on earth as it is in Heaven.

The Bahá'í Faith proclaims that God has fulfilled His ancient promise and that this great Day dawned with the coming of Bahá'u'lláh, the Promised one of all ages.

Bahá'ís recognize Bahá'u'lláh as the mouthpiece of the Laws of God for this Day and the Revealer of Precepts which they believe will recreate and unite mankind spiritually and establish God's long-promised Kingdom on earth – a world civilization, representing the culminating stage and most glorious age of mankind's ordered life on this planet”. (A summary of the aims, teachings and history of the Baha’i Faith by Joel Bray Marangella)
Orthodox Baha’i Community of India congratulates to all the Bahai’s of the world on this very joyous occasion and announces to celebrate the birth of the Baha’u’llah on 12 November 2014 at Tungareshwar.

We extend our heartiest greetings to the living guardian of Baha’i Faith NOSRAT’U’LLAH BAHREMAND.

Behold the Evidences of His Power and Paramount Influence

"Consider at all times the sovereignty exercised by the Ideal King, and behold the evidences of His power and paramount influence.
Sanctify your ears from the idle talk of them that are the symbols of denial and the exponents of violence and anger. The hour is approaching when ye will witness the power of the one true God triumphing over all created things and the signs of His sovereignty encompassing all creation. On that day ye will discover how all else besides Him will have been forgotten and come to be regarded as utter nothingness.

It should, however, be borne in mind that God and His Manifestation can, under no circumstances, be dissociated from the loftiness and sublimity which They inherently possess. Nay, loftiness and sublimity
are themselves the creations of His Word, if ye choose to see with My sight not with yours.

(-- Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 72 - 73)

To Live............The Life

"To be no cause of grief to anyone.

To be kind to all people and to love them with a pure spirit.

Should opposition or injury happen to us, to bear it, to be as kind as ever can be, and through all, to love the people.   Should calamity exist in the greatest degree, to rejoice, for these things are the gifts and favors of God.

To be silent concerning the faults of others, to pray for them, and to help them, through kindness, to correct their faults.

To look always at the good and not at the bad.  If a man has ten good qualities and one bad one, look at the ten and forget the one. And if a man has ten bad qualities and one good one, to look at the one and forget the ten.

Never to allow ourselves to speak one unkind word about another, even though that other be our enemy.

To do all of our deeds in kindness.

To cut our hearts from ourselves and from the world.

To be humble.

To be servants of each other, and to know that we are less than anyone else.

To be as one soul in many bodies, for the more we love each other, the nearer we shall be to God; but to know that our love, our unity, our obedience must not be by confession, but of reality.

To act with cautiousness and wisdom.

To be truthful.

To be hospitable.

To be reverent.

To be the cause of healing for every sick one,
          a comforter for every sorrowful one,
          a pleasant water for every thirsty one.
          a heavenly table for every hungry one,
          a star to every horizon,
          a light for every lamp,
          a herald to everyone who yearns for the kingdom of God"

Abdu'l-Baha

Birth of Baha’u’llah

We congratulate you on this auspicious occasion and invite to you to pay attention to the following as sincere Baha’i and true seeker of truths.

They say:

“The covenant of Baha’u’llah , explores two interwoven themes:

One is the concept of a center to which all must turn,

 And the other concerns the standard of conduct that Baha’u’llah expects us to follow when we accept Him and enter into the Tabernacle of His Covenant”.

And they explain the above as under:

“Of course we know that the centre to which all Baha’is turn today is the Universal House of Justice. Baha’u’llah Himself ordained the institution of the Universal House of justice in the Kitab-i-Aqdas and Abdu’l’Baha confirms its authority in His will and Testament”.

We say:

Of course you don’t know that:

 The Headless Universal House of Justice is not the centre to which all Baha’is should turn.

The entity currently to be a Universal House of Justice cannot be an “authoritative” source of guidance for true Bahá’ís because the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha grants the following authority to the Guardian with respect to the UHJ, an authority that is totally lacking in his absence from the so called UHJ.

At the end:

Pay attention to the Will of beloved Master Abdu’l Baha:

“The mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the guardian of the Cause of God. It is incumbent upon the members of the House of Justice, upon all the Aghsán, the Afnán, the Hands of the Cause of God to show their obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto the guardian of the Cause of God, to turn unto him and be lowly before him. He that opposeth him hath opposed the True One, will make a breach in the Cause of God, will subvert His word and will become a manifestation of the Center of Sedition”.

Dr. A. Parikh,

Hand of the Cause of God,

Member of the Third International Baha’i Council,

The secretary of National Baha’i Council of India.

International Conference of the Orthodox Baha'is

An international conference of the Orthodox Bahais of the world held at Albuquerque, New Mexico on 9th and 10th June 2012.
Conference opened with the reciting of several prayers by the friends including the Healing Prayer for all of those who are currently facing health problems.
The friends were delighted to welcome Hand of the Cause, Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand, from Australia, to share their conference experience. He is the Vice President of the Third International Baha’i Council and the appointed successor of the Third Guardian.

Deepening
This conference was a very successful gathering with the view point of devotionals and deepening. The following subjects discussed by the friends present in the conference:
The Necessity for a Mediator.
Prayer Indispensable and Obligatory.
Prayer the Language of Love.
Love, Jewels from the Words of Abdu’l-Baha.
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Prayer and Natural Law.
The Seven Mouths of God.
Seven major faiths Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Islam and Bahai’ism must be united from around the world. 
The History of the Tablet of Ahmad. Who was Ahmad?  What was happening historically when this tablet was revealed?
Khalil Gibran and the Baha’i Faith.
The Creative Power of the Word of God.

Administration & Future Vision
Publishing and Feast activities of Orthodox Baha’i’ Community of Roswell discussed. Same will continue to invite people to the Baha’i Topics. As the Feast is the bedrock of the community and the main purpose of feasts is consultation, will continue in Roswell and in Indian Community of Orthodox Baha’is.
As per the directives of Guardian, as far as possible new technologies will be utilized to deliver the message of guardianship. Video-conferencing, possibly using ‘Hang-out’ on Google+ and… will be encouraged everyone to use social networking sites, such as Google+, where you can distinguish groups of people through ‘circles. All friends are encouraged to develop a personal page or blog.
The topic Suggested for future conferences are:  Love, the Will and Testament of Baha’u’llah (Kitab-I-‘Ahd or the Book of the Covenant). Review of part I of the Seven Valleys, Tahirih, more from the New Era such as Science and Religion, a discussion of The Bible  Code. The Orthodox Baha’is of Colorado offered to host the summer 2013 conference in Colorado Springs.
The appointed successor of the Third Guardian, the Vice President of the Third International Baha’i Council the Hand of Cause of God Mr. Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand delivered a message of Third Guardian Joel Bray Marangella that: “the Guardian has asked us to create a presence on the internet.  He said everyone can have a blog, or get onto Facebook, Google+ or any social networking site.
Conference ended with the prayer by Mr. Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand.