Friday, March 21, 2008

New Year 165

Month, Day: Splendour, Splendour (Independence)
Naw-Rúz is not a working day but is a Holy Day. The US markets are out today, too. So, noone is chasing after riches there or gaming the system.
`Abdu'l-Bahá said that the bird is the prime example of freedom and wealth. See USA Today's photo of the gooney birds at Midway, for example, in what might be called an Eden.
Remarks:

03/21/2013 -- Add in Year 169 and Year 170.

03/21/2011 -- Year 165, Year 166, Year 167, Year 168

02/24/2010 -- Ascendant to Transcendent.

Modified: 03/21/2013

Monday, March 17, 2008

Patricius, et al

Month, Day: Loftiness, Honour (Perfection)

Born in 387 (thereabouts), Patricius carried the message of Christ to Ireland.

His life, and the contemplation thereupon, has meaning.

Promised Day is Come "As to the position of Christianity, let it be stated without any hesitation or equivocation that its divine origin is unconditionally acknowledged, that the Sonship and Divinity of Jesus Christ are fearlessly asserted, that the divine inspiration of the Gospel is fully recognized, that the reality of the mystery of the Immaculacy of the Virgin Mary is confessed, and the primacy of Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, is upheld and defended.”

Remarks:

03/17/2011 -- Just as St. Patrick carried the message, so too ought we act to bring forth a proper viewpoint.

03/19/2009 -- Science and knowing are key.

Modified: 03/16/2011

Friday, March 14, 2008

BASIS and sufficiency

Month, Day: Loftiness, Power (Independence)

The Writings, such as the Hidden Words and the Valleys (both the 7 and 4), are sufficient to found a strong operational basis for both science and spirituality. Getting to where 'science' and 'spirituality' are not mutually exclusive concepts will be one step that is necessary.

From The Four Valleys: 7V4V 1) "The Self of God standing within Him with laws", 7V4V 2) “Men whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of God….”, 7V4V 3) "On this plane, neither the reign of reason is sufficient nor the authority of self.", 7V4V 4) "... bottomless sea ... blackest of nights" BUT "O My Servant! Obey Me and I shall make thee like unto Myself. I say ‘Be,’ and it is, and thou shalt say ‘Be,’ and it shall be." ; ...,

Remarks:

08/31/2012 -- Names, Knowledge, Independence.

10/11/2009 -- Will, an operational imperative for science.

03/19/2009 -- Science and knowing are key.

Modified: 08/31/2012

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Fast times

Month, Day: Loftiness, Light (Majesty)

Once a year, there is a month, with a very appropriate name, during which we are told that fasting, prayer, and reflection can obtain greater than usual reward.

One focus of reflection might be the Attributes of God since we're to know God through Creation (science).

The first few days (Splendour, Glory, Beauty, Grandeur) can make one speechless as words fail. Later days go toward more operationally attuned affairs. This day, Light, has a lot of interest since the concept applies heavily in our technological progress yet we do not do (have not done) justice to the Reality behind the Attribute.

The study of man, in as complete sense as we can conceive, will be the means to further our understanding. For instance, we are told that the intellectual powers (SAQ #56) are spiritual gifts.

And, we know that the spiritual facilities tie with our physical powers; this can be through the 'common faculty' or otherwise.

SAQ #69: " It has been mentioned that the members and parts of man affect and influence one another. For example, the eye sees; the heart is affected. The ear hears; and the spirit is influenced. The heart is at rest; the thoughts become serene, and for all the members of man's body a pleasant condition is realized. What a connection and what an agreement is this! Since this connection, this spiritual effect and this influence, exists between the members of the body of man, who is only one of many finite beings, certainly between these universal and infinite beings there will also be a spiritual and material connection. Although by existing rules and actual science these connections cannot be discovered, nevertheless, their existence between all beings is certain and absolute."

One has to ask what benefits would there be to a scientific framework that is based upon a broader sense of knowledge.

Of course, there are other questions, to boot.
Remarks:

03/19/2009 -- Science and knowing are key.

Modified: 03/19/2009