Freedom from estrangement

One of my biggest challenges now, in practicing freedom from estrangement, is learning to see some good in global corporations, and in governments I see revolving around global corporate interests.

The swords of wisdom and of utterance

I'd like to try studying and practicing what Baha'u'llah says to the people of Baha. I'll be searching for passages addressed to the people of Baha. I'm starting with The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, because I've been wanting to read that.

"O people of Baha! Subdue the citadels of men's hearts with the swords of wisdom and of utterance.

(Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 78)

That's from a letter to Napoleon III. It's in a series of paragraphs addressed to the people, following some words addressed to the King, and followed by some words addressed to priests and monks.

I never noticed this before:

"On other than these four consummate days, engage ye in your daily occupations, and withhold yourselves not from the pursuit of your trades and crafts."

Just before these paragraphs addressed to the people, Baha'u'llah says to the King:

"Adorn the body of Thy kingdom with the raiment of My name, and arise, then, to teach My Cause."

In the next paragraph after that He writes:

Say: He from whom, in this day, the sweet savours of the remembrance of His Lord, the All-Merciful, have not been diffused, is indeed unworthy of the station of man. He, verily, is of them that have followed their own desires, and shall erelong find himself in grievous loss. Doth it behove you to relate yourselves to Him Who is the God of mercy, and yet commit the things which the Evil One hath committed? Nay, by the Beauty of Him Who is the All-Glorified! could ye but know it. Purge your hearts from love of the world, and your tongues from calumny, and your limbs from whatsoever may withhold you from drawing nigh unto God, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Say: By the world is meant that which turneth you aside from Him Who is the Dawning-Place of Revelation, and inclineth you unto that which is unprofitable unto you. Verily, the thing that deterreth you, in this day, from God is worldliness in its essence. Eschew it, and approach the Most Sublime Vision, this shining and resplendent Seat. Blessed is he who alloweth nothing whatsoever to intervene between him and his Lord. No harm, assuredly, can befall him if he partaketh with justice of the benefits of this world, inasmuch as We have created all things for such of Our servants as truly believe in God.

After I read the whole letter, I'd like to consider this section addressed to the people, one sentence at a time, and look for ways to improve my practice of what Baha'u'llah is saying.

Comments

I just discovered that there were some restrictions on comments in this blog. Sorry! I've fixed that now.

Building a harmonious society

One of my interests is to participate somehow in China's initiatives for building a harmonious society, so I've been looking for articles on that subject. Here's an example, from China Daily:

Deciphering 'harmonious society'
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/21/content_426617.htm

"Xiao Zhuoji, professor of the School of Economics of Peking University and vice-chairman of the Social and Legal Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, believes that a harmonious society is one that puts people first."

"What are the main characteristics of a harmonious society? It will put people first and make all social activities beneficial to people's subsistence, enjoyment and development. In a harmonious society, the political environment is stable, the economy is prosperous, people live in peace and work in comfort and social welfare improves."

"A harmonious society should also see great improvements in morals and education."

"All people should co-exist harmoniously, love and help each other, encourage each other and make an effort to contribute to the building of a harmonious society."

Links

Bahá'í Internet Agency
http://www.bcca.org/bia/

The Bahá’í Internet Agency assists the global Bahá’í community in its use of the Internet, providing technical support to Bahá’í institutions and supporting promising initiatives of individuals. Established in 2004 by the Universal House of Justice, the Bahá’í Internet Agency operates under the guidance of the International Teaching Centre. The Agency can be contacted at: info at bia.bahai.org

Resources:

* Individual Initiative on the Internet
* Participation and the Internet
* Blogging and the Baha'i Faith
* Podcasting
* Guidelines for Internet Communication
* Basics of Search Engine Optimization
* Building Internet Communities
* Baha'i Blog Survey - Pheonix Conference (M. Naeimi)
* Cultivating the Roots Presentation
* NEBY Fest Presentation
* The Internet Perspective

Getting help from the person I'm trying to follow

As part of practicing and promoting blog reading for purposes of learning and encouragement and support, I've read a few of one person's posts on performance art, and posted some thoughts that came to me. That led to some friendly exchanges that I've enjoyed. Now I've read a post and came up with a blank. Of course I don't need to respond to every post, but the thought came to me that I could ask her for help in getting more out of her posts.

Temptations to respond contentiously to some posts

In reading some blogs, I'm often tempted to respond contentiously, in posts in my own blog. I want to learn not to do that. I want to practice reading those posts to learn from people and to encourage and support them in whatever good I can see them doing. I want to learn to turn my contentious impulses in other directions, which I will discuss some time in relation to responding to campaigns against the House of Justice, and responding to defects in the Baha'i community.

Reading blogs

I want to practice and promote reading people's blogs to learn to encourage and support them, and inform them about resources that might interest them. I've been reading a few blogs at random, but I've chosen one blog to read systematically over a long period of time. I'm continually tempted to respond to everything with my opinions, rather than trying to get to know the person better and learn how to encourage and support her.

Reading people's blogs

I'm reading some people's blogs at random, but I've chosen one person for special efforts to consistently read and ponder her posts.

Learning from people

I want to practice and promote reading people's blogs as a way of getting closer to them, learning from them, and learning how to serve their interests. I just read a post on "Love's Labors Lost" which mentioned the "4th wall." I didn't know what that meant, so I googled "fourth wall" with "theater" and found a Wikipedia article on it, and had lots of fun reading it.