Yahyay 19: 2015

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Questions

Month, Day: 172, Questions, Grandeur (Grace)

Important month. Basis of science. ... Quora plus.

Remarks: 12/15/2015

12/15/2015 --

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Month, Day: 172, Power, Splendour (Justice)

Gleanings, CXXVIII: Know ye that by “the world” is meant your unawareness of Him Who is your Maker, and your absorption in aught else but Him. The “life to come,” on the other hand, signifieth the things that give you a safe approach to God, the All-Glorious, the Incomparable. Whatsoever deterreth you, in this Day, from loving God is nothing but the world. Flee it, that ye may be numbered with the blest. Should a man wish to adorn himself with the ornaments of the earth, to wear its apparels, or partake of the benefits it can bestow, no harm can befall him, if he alloweth nothing whatever to intervene between him and God, for God hath ordained every good thing, whether created in the heavens or in the earth, for such of His servants as truly believe in Him. Eat ye, O people, of the good things which God hath allowed you, and deprive not yourselves from His wondrous bounties. Render thanks and praise unto Him, and be of them that are truly thankful.

Remarks: 11/04/2015

11/04/2015 --

Friday, October 23, 2015

Alone and not

Month, Day: 172, Knowledge, Perfection (Independence)

Gleanings, CXXIV: It is for this reason that, in those days, no man shall ever stand in need of his neighbor. It hath already been abundantly demonstrated that in that divinely-appointed Day the majority of them that have sought and attained His holy court have revealed such knowledge and wisdom, a drop of which none else besides these holy and sanctified souls, however long he may have taught or studied, hath grasped or will ever comprehend. It is by virtue of this power that the beloved of God have, in the days of the Manifestation of the Day Star of Truth, been exalted above, and made independent of, all human learning. Nay, from their hearts and the springs of their innate powers hath gushed out unceasingly the inmost essence of human learning and wisdom.

This resonates with the modern dilemmas several ways: the individual and truth versus groups being necessary; humans and their learning versus that accessible to the believers; and more.

Remarks: 10/23/2015

10/23/2015 --

Friday, August 7, 2015

Green Acre, 1912

Month, Day: 172, Perfection, Words (Independence)

The Bahai World, Vol. VII (1936-1938) had photos taken at Green Acre in the summer of 1912. I ran across this blog page (Worldwide Community) that provided names of the attendees with the photos. On seeing this mapping (individuals are numbered) of names to the photos, a couple of things came to mind. For one, some of those there have descendants. It would be nice to identify web stuff that might relate to these descendants (disclosure: the blogger knows families that were there). Then, we could talk about the ancestry of some attendees as they are descendants of old American families.

In the blog post, there are four photos which are shown below in order by panels. Also, in the post, the people are numbered; names are provided where someone is known. The Master is in Panel 3.

Below, I took the names and separated them by the panels (pick Panel name to see the image). In Panel 1 are (1) Fred Mortenson, (2) Charles Mason Remey, and (87) Alfred Eastman Lunt.

I put in a link to a blog about Henry Lunt who is the arriving ancestor (1634) of Alfred E. Lunt. This will be an on-going effort.

Remarks: 06/08/2020

08/09/2015 -- Alfred Eastman Lunt is a descendant of Henry Lunt (1634), as is Thornton Chase who was not present.

05/27/2019 -- Changed the link for Alfred Eastman Lunt to point to his findagrave record. This week, I worked on his mother's family after seeing that her findagrave had been updated improperly. Still working to get those changes done (don't manage the records, updates have been requested). His mother was Elizabeth A. (Blake) Lunt. Her findagrave record now points to the appropriate mother and father for her, John Blake and Ruth S. Ladd. Too, their records point to work on WikiTree where information is being shown as we research.

06/08/2020 --For more on AE Lunt, see Hierarchy, bahaipedia, Green Acre, New Englanders, and more.

Friday, July 24, 2015

What are we?

Month, Day: 172, Words, Will (Majesty)

Good question, but we can ask. Questions are the gift that leads science.

I ran across two blogs this week and will remark about one post of each.

The first I ran across while searching for material about age and retirement. Some of us had a lot of our heads, and a lot more, wrapped around work (which is a widely varied set of activities - not just those related to corporatism - one bane of the modern world). I, fortunately, was able to retire (in the traditional sense) and find purposeful activities. ... But, while the post dealt with age, the main theme was young and old: Can elders find a place ...? I left a comment (that has not appeared). Too, see Remarks 07/20/2015 - We are not idempotent? (The comment, in essence, related things seen in my long years - verbiage different than that of the Remarks entry.) ... I had run across this blog before and will be getting back to it, now and then.
Today, I found another blog, but on a different topic: The Bab - as a Merchant. There looks to be an interesting selection of commentaries. The blogger wants to understand the Faith better which is an admirable goal.
...

Blogs abound. Whether this is boon or bane depends upon a lot of things which bear some discussion. Our topic of audacity needs a little more work, even after all of this time. The constructive mode being applied is a polar opposite to Revelation's Reality. That we cannot speed things up is our, meaning human, bailiwick.

Remarks: 07/23/2015

07/23/2015 --

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Light flashed by

Month, Day: 172, Mercy, Glory (Majesty)

As we have said before, audacity is a requirement. For some reason, I didn't get around to posting during the, just past, month of Light. This is one important attribute (not that they all are not). In the typical parts of northern hemisphere, we have the start of summer, with the day of the longest amount of sunlight. In the extreme northern regions, we have almost endless light.

Genesis has this: Let there be Light. Sight comes from light. But, given the phenomena of e-m (too many to list) and our understanding of it, we now have the web/cloud and computation in general with its exploitation of applied mathematics. Yes, technology exploits, essentially.

Now, that phenomena mentioned above has spiritual aspects, as we can see from last month. Say what?

So much to discuss with this topic. For one, the Master was not incorrect nor misstating. ... Just the other day, in reference to discussion of Nash's work, the author, perhaps being silly, mentioned "ethereal" (let's say magic, okay?).

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Consider. Just as the accumulation of entropy gallops along (and the thought of this gives some joy), so, too, does injustice. In fact, the common refrain, thoughtless as it is, is such: well, who said that life is fair. But, we know that Justice (all sorts of things to discuss here, too) is beloved by the Creator. How can this be? Mere nature versus spiritual?

Ah, parallels abound that are worthy of our attention, albeit the work needs to be done somewhat audaciously, at this point.

Remarks: 06/27/2015

06/26/2015 -- Light and sight. Gleanings CLII: Thine eye is My trust, suffer not the dust of vain desires to becloud its luster.

06/27/2015 -- HW #40: O SON OF MAN! Wert thou to speed through the immensity of space and traverse the expanse of heaven, yet thou wouldst find no rest save in submission to Our command and humbleness before Our Face.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

John Forbes Nash, Jr.

Month, Day: 172, Grandeur, Perfection (Beauty)

Blessings. He had an impact far beyond what he knew; we will have a series about this under the theme that has been labeled audacity.

GWU: In man there are two expressions, one is the expression of nature, the other the expression of the spiritual realm.

Nash's work has been highjacked/kidnapped in order to support the former, as in, making gaming as the basis from which we get natural outcomes like "dwarinian" methods and views.

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Wikipedia has a very good listing of types of games. Nash, of course, dealt with equilibria conditions, assuming that such were pertinent. Why say that? We need to describe a "sucker"game (actually, Blaise started this - we need to update with modern parlance).

Remarks: 06/18/2015

06/18/2015 -- It's too bad that "game" was chosen by the other John, von Neumann. As our friend, Albert E said, God does not play dice with the universe. Except, we might add: only to the extent to keep us humble and to insure that we cannot go past our bounds (whatever it/they might be). So, Nash's thoughts, though couched in the game theoretic senses, apply to optimization (there might be a better way to phrase, but the thing is sub-optimal - as in, only near (approximate) - I like "near zero" - implying, of course, residue, always).

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Understanding

Month, Day: 172, Beauty, Names (Justice)

Gleanings XCV: First and foremost among these favors, which the Almighty hath conferred upon man, is the gift of understanding. His purpose in conferring such a gift is none other except to enable His creature to know and recognize the one true God—exalted be His glory. This gift giveth man the power to discern the truth in all things, leadeth him to that which is right, and helpeth him to discover the secrets of creation.

Audacity (in regard to understanding) will talk of the Master's model plus comprehension and symmetry.

Remarks: 05/06/2015

05/06/2015 --

Friday, April 3, 2015

NDEers

Month, Day: 172, Splendour, Speech (Independence)

"The Science of Near-Death Experiences" Yes, The Atlantic, April, 2015. At a conference, there are badges: Speaker, Panelist, Volunteer, Experiencer.

Gosh, how to get people to realize that they can have one in a dream? Valley of Wonderment.

Nowhere have I run into some Baha'i driven worldview that is operationally effective in science. Well, first of all, what is science? What? Afraid to step on the toes of the materialists (or Brights)?

I have often wanted to hear from the staunch deniers after they stepped over. Well, Hitchens responded, for one. After I wrote that original post, my brother passed over. Those two never got together, but my college roommate did. All of these were about the same time frame (birth cohort and terminus loci - we have to get back to symmetry and its use).

Anyway, back to NDEers, many of whom take grief from those with their super-powered microscopes (all types, now mostly of software - ah, opening up things to the genies) who want to see (even if their sense if many levels and filters away from whatever is associated with phenomena): enjoy and learn from your experience even if positive or negative.

Our view is that being far from God is hell (paraphrasing, okay?). Now, one way for that to happen is to be wrapped (now, again, all sorts of world views are talking this).

So, that brings up a question: Can one not know on the other side, as in, not even be aware of the transition? Of course. But, we're not going there, now (the focus is how to bolster science to be as it ought to be).

Remarks: 06/05/2015

04/03/2015 -- We are in the first group by month (Transcendent) and fourth group by day (Motivational).

06/05/2015 -- Reactions to some dreams can be NDE-like in the sense of not wanting to leave. Actually, the aura of a real, grok, type can carry over for long period of time, occupying the mind.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

2nd, Teleological

Month, Day: 172, Splendour, Light (Justice)

We just completed the Transcendent group of the 1st month, right after the yearly measure.

Splendour, Glory, Beauty, Grandeur.

Now, we are into the Teleological which may be more in our grasp.

Light, Mercy, Words, Perfection.

Then, we get to what we can do, namely Operational.

Remarks: 03/25/2015

03/25/2015 --

Friday, March 20, 2015

Essence and prayer

Month, Day: 171, Loftiness, Dominion (Majesty)

Long Obligatory Prayer

O Thou in separation from Whom hearts and souls have melted, and by the fire of Whose love the whole world hath been set aflame! I implore Thee by Thy Name through which Thou hast subdued the whole creation, not to withhold from me that which is with Thee, O Thou Who rulest over all men! Thou seest, O my Lord, this stranger hastening to his most exalted home beneath the canopy of Thy majesty and within the precincts of Thy mercy; and this transgressor seeking the ocean of Thy forgiveness; and this lowly one the court of Thy glory; and this poor creature the orient of Thy wealth. Thine is the authority to command whatsoever Thou willest. I bear witness that Thou art to be praised in Thy doings, and to be obeyed in Thy behests, and to remain unconstrained in Thy bidding.

There is no God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful. There is no God but Thee, the Ordainer, both in the beginning and in the end. O God, my God! Thy forgiveness hath emboldened me, and Thy mercy hath strengthened me and Thy call hath awakened me, and Thy grace hath raised me up and led me unto Thee. Who, otherwise, am I that I should dare to stand at the gate of the city of Thy nearness, or set my face toward the lights that are shining from the heaven of Thy will? Thou seest, O my Lord, this wretched creature knocking at the door of Thy grace, and this evanescent soul seeking the river of everlasting life from the hands of Thy bounty. Thine is the command at all times, O Thou Who art the Lord of all names; and mine is resignation and willing submission to Thy will, O Creator of the heavens!

O Lord of all being and Possessor of all things visible and invisible! Thou dost perceive my tears and the sighs I utter, and hearest my groaning, and my wailing, and the lamentation of my heart. By Thy might! My trespasses have kept me back from drawing nigh unto Thee; and my sins have held me far from the court of Thy holiness. Thy love, O my Lord, hath enriched me, and separation from Thee hath destroyed me, and remoteness from Thee hath consumed me. I entreat Thee by Thy footsteps in this wilderness, and by the words “Here am I. Here am I” which Thy chosen Ones have uttered in this immensity, and by the breaths of Thy Revelation, and the gentle winds of the Dawn of thy Manifestation, to ordain that I may gaze on Thy beauty and observe whatsoever is in Thy Book.

O God, my God! My back is bowed by the burden of my sins, and my heedlessness hath destroyed me. Whenever I ponder my evil doings and Thy benevolence, my heart melteth within me, and my blood boileth in my veins. By Thy Beauty, O Thou the Desire of the world! I blush to lift up my face to Thee, and my longing hands are ashamed to stretch forth toward the heaven of Thy bounty. Thou seest, O my God, how my tears prevent me from remembering Thee and from extolling Thy virtues, O Thou the Lord of the Throne on high and of earth below! I implore Thee by the signs of Thy Kingdom and the mysteries of Thy Dominion to do with Thy loved ones as becometh Thy bounty, O Lord of all being, and is worthy of Thy grace, O King of the seen and the unseen!

Remarks: 03/19/2015

03/19/2015

Monday, March 16, 2015

Questions and answers

Month, Day: 171, Loftiness, Questions (Perfection)

Our best gift? Questions without which there would be no answers. Of course, we may have answers all around us; do (can) we know or recognize them without the filter of Questions?

Groups and their cusps

Remarks: 03/16/2015

03/16/2015

Monday, March 2, 2015

approaching 50 years

Month, Day: 171, Intercalary, #4 (Beauty)

It was fifty years ago, this time of the year, that I first heard of the Glory (of God - BASIS). The time frame was spring break, college campus. Being not of the 1%, I worked through the break. However, at the same time, I took the remaining leisure period to read Tolstoy's War and Peace (unabridged). In English, even though at the time I was taking Russian.

So, there is a story before and after this time, however, we're just doing a little snapshot. On the before, the key thing would be apple of the Bab's eye. The after? Let's just say that we'll continue these signets for as long as we're on the planet.

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My older brother said, here, you might be interested in this and handed me an invitation to a talk that was taking place at the Student Union that afternoon. Why, given that he was not leaning toward anything? The talk? Someone was giving a presentation on their trip to Israel.

I went. Why not? Slides (photos) and yakking. Typical. The speaker mentioned God. And I was out of the room like a shot out of a cannon (yes, the before included a stint in the military - not exactly peacetime, let's say, in between war time). Then, on that day, agnostic (I was never stupid enough to be atheistic - or, perhaps, I ought to give credit to the characteristics of that before picture) would be a good modifier for my state of mind.

In short, the introduction to the Faith was brief. Was that the end of it? Evidently not. Look, if you would, at the tone of this blog. But, that's the rest of the story (no such thing, as we all know).

Remarks: 04/03/2015

03/07/2015 -- That spring, my brother, with some peers, went south to support the voter registration efforts. Too, they took over the Admin building and were, subsequently, clink'd. ... Does anyone remember, fondly, en loco parentis?

04/03/2015 -- Still within the 50 years and two years prior finding the Glory. Applying a little logic to the reflection, the time may have been during Ridvan as I recall the weather being warmer, with more blooms about, than one finds in March. ... This brother passed on about the same time as Hitchens.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Dominion then Loftiness

Month, Day: 171, Dominion, Beauty (Perfection)

Missed Sovereignty. The time of the yearly measure approaches.

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From Baha'i World Faith (page 81): THE ETERNITY OF THY MAJESTY --- How marvelous, then, are the manifold tokens of Thy might and how great are the diverse evidences of Thy power!

learned

mighty

rich

worldly wise

exalted

authority

Remarks:

02/09/2015 --

Monday, January 12, 2015

Calendar

Month, Day: 171, Honour, Power (Perfection)

Earlier, we mentioned the Twin Festivals (twin days) which were October 20th and November 12th of each year and which celebrated the births.

A change in 2015 will bring these days together based upon a lunar calendar. The main calendar will be based upon the solar year with Teheran, Iran being the meridian.

Remarks:

01/12/2015 --

Yahyay 19

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