American Sufi

Month, Day: 178, Light, Might (Beauty)

Of the Levi Strauss and Rothschild association and lineage, respectively. 

• Samuel L. Lewis
• Tablet - How Jews Helped Introduce America to a Mystical Form of Islam

Light --> Questions. 

Remarks: 06/13/2021 

06/13/2021 --  

Monthly reflect

 Month, Day: 178, Grandeur, Power (Independence)

We introduced this subject due an interest in cycles. And, both Judaism and Islam use monthly modes for the year. Those seem to influence natural phenomenon, as well. Our benefit is a year starting with Spring where by Summer's fullness, we see Perfection which maps to Knowledge with this slight adjustment made this year. 

Motivation? Writings, of course. Technically? A deep dive (in the real sense) into mathematics and its lack of a proper philosophical basis that has been going on for a few years which relates to what we see with the misunderstanding evidenced in 'deep' learning. At the core of that, 100-year old thinking of a nature that is limited. Many advances have come from other directions with far more consequences. 

How to discuss this? 

Well, in time. For now, each month gives us another look. So, that is a blessing as it allows a revisit from which one can establish more insight. 

Names --> Might --> Will is a sweep of intensive energy related to intent. 

Quran, The Cow:  Give freely for the cause of God, and throw not yourselves with your own hands into ruin; and do good, for God loveth those who do good.

Comment (editorial): This shows that Muhammad inculcated the doctrine of entire freedom of the will.

Remarks: 05/28/2021 

05/28/2021 --  

Crafts and respect

 Month, Day: 178, Beauty, Beauty (Majesty)

BWF, page 167: 

THE FIRST TARAZ

and the First Tajalli, which has risen from the horizon of the Mother-Book, is that man should know his own self, and know those things which lead to loftiness or to baseness, to shame or to honor, to affluence or to poverty. After man has realized his own being and become mature, then for him wealth is needed. If this wealth is acquired through a craft and profession, it is approvable and worthy of praise to men of wisdom, especially to those servants who arise to train the world and beautify the souls of nations. These are the cup-bearers of the kawther of knowledge and the guides to the ideal path. They direct the people of the whole world unto the right path, and instruct them in that which is conducive to the elevation and progress of being.

The right path is a path which leads man to the day spring of perception and dawning-place of knowledge and directs him to that which is the cause of honor and glory and greatness. We hope that, by the providence of the wise Physician, the dust will be removed from his eyes and the clearness of his sight will increase; so that he may discover that for which he has been created. In this day that which will decrease blindness and increase sight is worthy of attention. To the possessors of wisdom this spiritual sight is the minister and guide of knowledge. The apprehension of knowledge is due to the power of insight. The people of Bahá must, in all cases, act and advise people in that which is worthy.

Lots involved here. First, refer back to the AELunt letter. Then, consider that 'laborer' is a craft; one uses one's body for a purpose. Deserves lots of respect due to this type of job, many times, being dangerous. But, caregiver, too, is a type of craft.

Why this? Not sure that others than the esteemed Drs get any attention. These are not the people that get things done. Whereas, in my time amongst the working class, I met many smart people. Too, we all face God alone when it's our time. Too, even the lowliest can know. Now, back to the letter and note 'do not yield' said the Master.

Methinks, He was noting the long history of Lunt's family (my in-laws) in the torturous long history of the U.S. that is so misunderstood by so many. Again, more to look at.  

Note: Sundown day start. 

Remarks: 04/28/2021 

04/28/2021 --  

Reflective point

 Month, Day: 178, Glory, Honour (Glory)

Groups work, as does the symmetry model. To be explained further. 

Meanwhile, reviewing Bourbaki's little look back with an attempt to notice changes related to 1844. At the same time, doing more than a cursory view of the particularities which they address. 

Bourbaki was a collective attempt at describing the history of mathematics. Worked for some. Generally, ignored nowadays. But, remarkedly good given the timeframe, almost a century ago. 

Basic motivation? Explain the appeal of AI and why the recent version is so seductive to the populace. 

Remarks: 04/24/2021 

04/24/2021 --  

Technology and civilization

 Month, Day: 178, Splendour, Might (Perfection)

While browsing posts on FB (Group titled "Stories of the Hands of the Cause"), Dorothy Baker was mentioned. The post was dated 3 Nov 2020 and included three images: a portrait of Dorothy, a photo of a plane, and a snapshot at Akka's view of the Mediterranean. 

Per usual, I went to look for information as I do when I learn about a person. One can find information in various places, such as a FindAGrave profile: Dorothy Beecher Baker (1898-1954). Then I saw that there had been a plane crash (more below). Before going further, I followed some links, such as this profile on Bahaipedia: Dorothy Beecher Baker. There we have a brief look at her family history plus there is a reference to the infamous crash (again, below). However, there is also a quote from Dorothy: “If I could really have my choice, I would be buried at sea. “And if I could choose the sea, then it would be the Mediterranean, whose waves will lap eternally on the shores of ‘Akká.” 

The significance still didn't ring. So, I continued looking and found out that her grandmother (Ellen Tuller Beecher) had an OBE when she was younger in which she saw the Master Who she met when He was in the U.S. in 1912. I like that the site that reported on the 100th celebration of this momentous occasion, by blogging back, in 2012 (centenary.bahai.us), is still around. 

Of particular interest, at the time, was the New England ancestry/history of many of the folks in the area (such as Thornton Chase). Too, it was interesting to see a Quaker influence which was quite influential in the area, starting a few centuries earlier. 

That brief overview is full of potential future research which overlaps the interest related to the start of the U.S. from the beginning 400 years ago. Pertinent will be studies related to families 250 years ago when there was a split between the patriots and the loyalists both of which groups have modern descendants. However, an area of rich mining potential would be the western expansion of 200 years ago when remnants of New England, New Spain, and New France meet up and when the country fills in. 

The theme? Civilization requires people to advance both from the station control and guidance and from that of those upon whose back things get done. A reminder in this regard is the letter sent by the Master to Alfred Eastman Lunt (Crush the mind). And progress in Civilization requires technology, which again has various stations involved.  

Myself, I have seen all of the levels, personally, hence my viewpoints on various matters. Some of those have been expressed in this blog; albeit, on-going research is the mode that is imperative. 

Dorothy was on the plane that demonstrated the new requirements for air travel. Some talk, test by death. Of late, we might have seen spiritual death from the propagation of those silly devices that are so addictive to people without anyone, that I can see, trying to understand. But, that's the responsibility fo the station that drives things awry, eventually.  Much to discuss there. 

Speaking of engineering, though, Boeing had made another decision through their analysis. In fact, the company had several decades of success with one model not having any performance failures of the major catastrophic type which is phenomenally important. Mostly, this is due to the processes put into place through a collaborative effort across stations. 

Why use stations? Good point. We'll get to that, eventually. But, about a decade later, I had a high-school friend go down in the Mediterranean on a U.S. Navy fighter jet. Not knowing the specifics, I can surmise that some parameter set was exceeded due to our always having limited understanding. This has to do, in part, with the Science and Religion dynamic which is of such difficulty. We can observe things being pushed out earlier than they ought with the people bearing the consequences. Too, we can observe a more conservative approach, yet even with that our control is not absolute. And, those of the BWF will be influential, some day. I have not seen this, yet. 

Given that the post mentioned dreams, I can talk of one type that I have had over the years that relate to my friend. Two things come to mind beyond the fact that these instances occur: 1) there seems to be some parallel development, 2) they have it better than do we. 

Be that as it may, we can say that it's too bad that DeHavilland was the one; it went defunct in 1963. Plenty of other companies have been responsible for much worse and are still around. Wait, that type of economic/ethical surmising is out of line? 

Well, recently, we had two instances much like we saw with that 1954 crash. These two resulted in the plane being grounded for a long while during a period of analysis, fixing and testing. It is about to go back to the sky. Methinks that people just take for granted the little miracles that are required for a flight to go to and arrive at some destination. Perhaps, we might find appropriate metaphors in the Quran that would help us paint a picture that really needs some attention. 

In any case, one of our tasks might be a taming of STEM which can present us with beasts of various natures, such as we might be seeing with types of AI presentations. My role? These are very hard issues that we face, as the Master alluded to with His counsel to Alfred. 

Remarks: 03/29/2021 

03/29/2021 --