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| Oxnard-Ventura Bahá'í |
Newsletter of the Oxnard and Ventura Bahá’í
Communities
September 2006 |
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“A new life is, in this age, stirring within all the
peoples of the earth; and yet none hath discovered its cause or perceived its
motive." ~ Bahá’u’llah |
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The purpose of the
Oxnard-Ventura Bahá'í News is to provide information about the Bahá'í Faith
and activities of the Bahá'í’s to those who wish to learn more or attend Bahá'í
devotional gatherings. If you have comments or do not want to receive the Bahá'í
News, write PO Box 7344, Oxnard, CA 93031, call 648-1222. No donations requested
or accepted. Informational
Talks A
brief talk on a general topic about the Bahá'í Faith is followed by
discussion. A time to bring up any question in your heart about spiritual
topics. Reflections on the Life of the Spirit classes Monday nights in Ventura. This discussion based interactive class covers the
acquisition of Virtues, Prayer, and Life after Death.
Probably starting around 6 and going until 8 or 8:30 p.m. Come join the fun. Call
Arnold Stein 653-3179 or Pete Quick 659-4660 to sign up. “Swimming
in the Ocean” by Dale E. Lehman Appeared:
08/11/2006! Among
Bahá'u'lláh’s exhortations we find the following: “Immerse
yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and
discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths.” |
The analogy between His Writings and an ocean is an
interesting one. Among the more obvious characteristics of the ocean are its
breadth and depth. The same can be said of Bahá'u'lláh’s Writings.
Comprised of thousands of documents covering a vast range of subjects, they have
considerable breadth. Their depth is testified to by His own words: “It is evident unto thee that the Birds of Heaven and
Doves of Eternity speak a twofold language. One language, the outward language,
is devoid of allusions, is unconcealed and unveiled; that it may be a guiding
lamp and a beaconing light whereby wayfarers may attain the heights of holiness,
and seekers may advance into the realm of eternal reunion. Such are the unveiled traditions and the evident verses
already mentioned. The other language is veiled and concealed, so that whatever
lieth hidden in the heart of the malevolent may be made manifest and their
innermost being be disclosed. Thus hath Sadiq, son of Muhammad, spoken: |
None apprehendeth the meaning of these utterances except
them whose hearts are assured, whose souls have found favour with God, and whose
minds are detached from all else but Him. In such utterances, the literal
meaning, as generally understood by the people, is not what hath been intended.
Thus it is recorded: ‘Every knowledge hath seventy meanings, of which one only
is known amongst the people. And when the Qá'im shall arise, He shall reveal
unto men all that which remaineth.’ He also saith: ‘We speak one word, and
by it we intend one and seventy meanings; each one of these meanings we can
explain.’” (Baha'u'llah,
Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 254-255) ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
indicated that other Holy Writings had similar depth. For example, in offering
an interpretation of the Garden of Eden story in the book of Genesis, He said, “This
is one of the meanings of the biblical story of Adam. Reflect until you discover
the others.” (‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 125) |
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