• All Faiths Public Gathering for Prayer and Devotions ~ April 2^nd, 3^rd, 17^th, 24^th.
• Informational Talks ~ April 17^th, 30^th.
• First Day of Ridvan ~ April 21st

~ Bahá'u'lláh

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.

Saturday, April 19^th , 7:30 PM
Come share your thoughts on a variety of topics~
Quick Residence, 984-1222

Friday, April 25^th, 7:30 PM
Tuman Residence, 984-1222

Life After Death
By Gloria Faizi, from El Ruisenor
 
The good things of this life are here for us to enjoy, and we will be no closer to God if we shun the joys of life. We should realize, however, that we were not created to live the life of an animal on earth and be only concerned with our material welfare. We are here for a purpose.

Our life on earth may be compared to the life of the child in its mother’s womb. Although in that stage the child is only concerned with absorbing nourishment, it is developing eyes and ears, lungs and limbs in preparation for life in the world. We, too, are here to prepare for another life as different from this one as the life of this world is different from that in the womb.

To enjoy life on this earth in all its fullness the child needs to develop its limbs before it is born. Otherwise, its progress here will be slow, sometimes almost nil. In the world to come, we shall need our spiritual faculties without which we too shall suffer.

But there is a main difference between the child preparing itself for this world, and a thinking human being preparing for the next stage of his journey.

The child has no control over its development and is therefore not responsible for the healthy growth of its limbs, whereas in this life we can, and must, consciously prepare ourselves for the next world.

Our bodies are given to us so that we may be able to live on earth while we prepare for another state of existence. When this truth is recognized, we shall stop behaving as though our physical pleasures were all that mattered.

The body will not be needed in the next stage of our development, and we discard it on leaving this life as a traveler discards the vehicle which has taken him to his destination.

The only thing which will then matter to us will be the condition of our soul which will continue its existence. If we have managed to care for it, we shall be able to enjoy the next world, and our progress there will be healthy and rapid.

This is what is meant by going to "heaven", gaining "eternal life," and reaching a state of utter bliss. On the other hand, if we have neglected the necessary preparation while in this life, our progress will be greatly retarded, and we shall be in that unhappy state which has been symbolized as "hell", especially as we shall know that we were given the chance of getting ready for that life, and we refused to do anything about it.

We should therefore pay constant attention to our spiritual growth now because it will be too late when our life here is over, and any blessings which we may then receive will be dependent on the grace of God alone rather than on what we could have earned by our own efforts in this life. Continued next month.

Bahá'u'lláh acclaimed Ridvan as the Most Great Festival, and has referred to it as the Day whereon ‘the breezes of forgiveness were wafted over the entire creation".

"Of the exact circumstances attending that epoch-making Declaration we, alas, are but scantily informed. The words Bahá'u'lláh actually uttered, on that occasion, the manner of His Declaration, the reaction it produced, its impact on Mirza Yahya, the identity of those who were privileged to hear Him, are shrouded in an obscurity which future historians will find it difficult to penetrate."

The first, ninth, and twelfth days of Ridvan are celebrated as Holy Days on which work is suspended. Local spiritual assemblies are elected annually on the first day of Ridvan while national spiritual assemblies are elected during the Ridvan period. The Universal House of Justice is elected every five years during the Ridvan period.

You are invited to join in the First Day of Ridvan observance on April 21, 3:00 pm at the home of Barbara Esposito. Call 648-1222 for more information.

All Faiths Public Gathering for Prayer and Devotions

Fillmore CommUnity

1^st Saturday of the Month, April 2^nd Call Luanne at 524-0683 for details

Oxnard CommUnity

1st Sunday of the Month, April 3^rd 10:30 AM. Locations April vary. Call Barbara at 984-4390

Camarillo CommUnity

3^rd Sunday of the Month, April 17^th Call Renee at 383-3904 for details.

Ventura CommUnity

4^th Sunday of the Month, April 24^th 10:00 a.m. at the Clubhouse, 3700 Dean Drive.

To learn more about the Bahá’í Faith, contact the Bahá’í House of Worship or the Bahá’í community in your area. Further information is also available at www.us.bahai.org and www.bahai.org.