Who has guided you on your spiritual journey?

 

Who has encouraged you towards greater mystical heights? 

 

 

 

 

What master, teacher or Divine being has been the source of your understanding, your compassion, your peace, your want for the exploration of truth?

 

 

 

 

 

Who has been a source of illumination promoting divine love in your life?  

 

 

 

Who has shown you hope in times of defeat? 

 

 

 

Who is it that has guided you on your spiritual journey? How has your guide radiated compassion and humility in order to show you the way? 

 

 

 

 

Who is it that has guided you on your spiritual journey? In what way has your teacher helped you to 'come home'?

 

 

 

 

Who is it that has guided you on your spiritual journey? How has this being/Being shown purity in their own thoughts, words and action? 

 

 

 

 

Who is it that has guided you on your spiritual journey? In what way has this teacher been mirrors of your own true Self? 

 

Spiritual Response to Change

Whether it's an unwanted circumstance or something that we choose, we're often introduced to some kind of change in our lives.  Change is usually an invitation.  It can invite us to mine the gems of compassion that lie within or build barriers against it.  It can invite us to opt for becoming a fuller human or a lesser one.  It can invite us to show a greater measure of the divine (inwardly and outwardly) or not. The invitation is always there and the choices are always ours. Will your change invitation be an initiation into the journey of your soul? If so, how?

How do you know when something has changed inside of you? How does it manifest itself outwardly?

What is the change you wish to see in the world?

How are you the change you wish to see in the world?

What change has brought most meaning into your life?

How has a particular change in your life triggered new aspirations or inspired you?

What do you feel needs to change for our society to become more awakened, more caring, more peaceful and just?

How can we be happy in times of difficult transition?

How can the agonizing actions and horrific events in the world help us in any way to bring about more spirit, soul and life-enhancing changes? 

What needs to change for people to become more mindful of others and let go of selfishness?

How are the spiritual senses (intuition, emotion, imagination, inspiration) impacted in times of change? 

How can change help enhance creativity in the world?

What in your life has triggered greater levels of authenticity?

What changes have helped you reconnect with your true self, your higher self?

How have your personal life choices changed due to achieving higher understanding of yourself and the world?

How can we call on the assistance of divine power to help us change ourselves and the world for the better?

Could religious and spiritual teachings affect a change in human character? If so, how?

Unity in Diversity

“There is perfect brotherhood underlying humanity, for all are servants of one God and belong to one family under the protection of divine providence.”

— ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

-Psalm 133:1

“If you desire with all your heart, friendship with every race on earth, your thought, spiritual and positive, will spread; it will become the desire of others, growing stronger and stronger, until it reaches the minds of all men.”

— ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

“Christian, Jew, Muslim, shaman, Zoroastrian, stone, ground, mountain, river, each has a secret way of being with the mystery, unique and not to be judged.”

-Rumi

“O Children of Men! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory.”

-Baha’u’llah

“So powerful is the light of unity, that it can illuminate the whole earth.” 

-Baha’u’llah

“Like a sculptor, if necessary, carve a friend out of stone. Realize that your inner sight is blind and try to see a treasure in everyone.”

-Rumi

“The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

“He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.”

-Buddha

‘’If we are lovers of the light we adore it in whatever lamp it may become manifest, but if we love the lamp itself and the light is transferred to another lamp we will neither accept nor sanction it. Therefore we must follow and adore the virtues revealed in the messengers of God whether in Abraham, Moses, Jesus or other prophets but we must not adhere to and adore the lamp.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

“The peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly source and are the subjects of one God.”

-Baha’u’llah

“Religion must be conducive to love and unity among mankind; for if it be the cause of enmity and strife, the absence of religion is preferable.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

“The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”

-Baha’u’llah

“Speak not of peoples and laws and kingdoms, for the whole earth is My birthplace and all humans are my brothers.”

-Gibran

“Religions are different roads converging upon the same point. What does it matter that we take different roads, so long as we reach the same goal?”

-Gandhi

“The believers, in their mutual love, mercy and compassion, are like one body: if one organ complained, the rest of the body develops a fever.”

-Prophet Muhammad

“Let them look not upon a man’s colour but upon his heart.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

“O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home. May they all love together in perfect harmony.”

-Baha’u’llah

“Close your eyes to racial differences, and welcome all with the light of oneness.”

-Baha’u’llah

“O Thou kind Lord!  Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock.  Thou hast decreed that all shall belong to the same household.  In Thy Holy Presence they are all Thy servants, and all mankind are sheltered beneath Thy Tabernacle; all have gathered together at Thy Table of Bounty; all are illumined through the light of Thy Providence.” 

-Baha’u’llah

Healing Through the Spirit

Zoroastrianism: Love endows the sick body of man with firmness and health.

Hinduism:         Enricher, Healer of disease, be a good friend to us.

Buddhism:        To keep the body in good health is a duty – otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.

Judaism:          O Lord, my God, I cried to you for help and you have healed me.

Christianity:      The prayer of faith shall heal the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.

Islam:             The Lord of the worlds created me – and when I am sick, He heals me.

Sikhism:            God is Creator of all, the remover of sickness, the giver of health.

Baha’i:            All true healing comes from God. –  

There are two ways of healing sickness, material means and spiritual means.  The first is by treatment of physicians; the second consisteth in prayers offered by the spiritual ones to God and in turning to Him.  Both means would be used and practised.  Illnesses which occur by reason of physical causes should be treated by doctors with medical remedies; those which are due to spiritual causes disappear through spiritual means.  –  Abdu’l-Baha

Disease is of two kinds, material and spiritual.  For instance, a cut on the hand – if you pray for the cut to be healed, and do not stop its bleeding, you will not do much good; this needs a material remedy.  Sometimes, if the nervous system is paralysed through fear, a spiritual remedy is necessary … It often happens that sorrow makes one ill.  That illness can be cured by spiritual means.  –  Abdu’l-Baha 

In a large measure happiness keeps our health while depression of spirit begets disease.  –  Abdu’l-Baha

Verily the most necessary thing is contentment under all circumstances; by this one is preserved from morbid conditions and from lassitude.  Yield not to grief and sorrow; they cause the greatest misery.  –  Baha’u’llah

We should all visit the sick.  When they are in sorrow or suffering it is a real help and benefit to have a friend come.  Happiness is a great healer to those who are ill.  – Abdu’l-Baha

Matters relating to man’s spirit have a great effect on his bodily condition.  – Abdu’l-Baha

Jealousy consumeth the body and anger doth burn the liver: avoid these two as you would a lion. -Baha’u’llah

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name!  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfied your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.  –  Psalm 103:1-

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.  –  James 5: 14-15

When thou wishest to treat nervous pains turn thy whole being to the realm on high with thine heart detached from aught else besides Him and thy soul enraptured by the love of God.  Then seek confirmation of the Holy Spirit from the Abha Kingdom, while touching the affected part with utmost love, tenderness and attraction to God.  When all these things are combined, be assured that healing will take place.  –  Abdu’l-Baha

As you know, Baha’u’llah has ordained that in case of illness we should always consult the most competent physicians … for prayer alone is not sufficient.  To render it more effective we have to make use of all the physical and material advantages which God has given us.  Healing through purely spiritual forces is undoubtedly as inadequate as that which materialist physicians and thinkers vainly seek to obtain by resorting entirely to mechanical devices and methods.  The best result can be obtained by combining the two processes: spiritual and physical.  –  Shoghi Effendi

Often physical sickness draws man nearer to his Maker, suffers his heart to be made empty from all worldly desires until it becomes tender and sympathetic towards all sufferers and compassionate to all creatures.  –  Abdu’l-Baha

Service is prayer.  A physician ministering to the sick, gently, tenderly, free from prejudice and believing in the solidarity of the human race, he is giving praise.  – Abdu’l-Baha

O thou distinguished physician! … Praise be to God that thou hast two powers: one to undertake physical healing and the other spiritual healing.  Matters related to man’s spirit have a great effect on his bodily condition.  For instance, thou shouldst impart gladness to thy patient, give him comfort and joy, and bring him to ecstasy and exultation.  How often hath it occurred that this hath caused early recovery.  Therefore, treat thou the sick with both powers.  Spiritual feelings have a surprising effect on healing nervous ailments.  – Abdu’l-Baha

When the science of medicine reaches perfection, treatment will be given by foods, aliments, fragrant fruits, and vegetables, and by various waters, hot and cold in temperature.  – Abdu’l-Baha

Glory be to Thee, O Lord my God!  I beg of Thee by Thy Name through which He Who is Thy Beauty hath been stablished upon the throne of Thy Cause, and by Thy Name through which Thou changest all things, and gatherest together all things, and callest to account all things, and rewardest all things, and preservest all things, and sustainest all things – I beg of Thee to guard this handmaiden who hath fled for refuge to Thee, and hath sought the shelter of Him in Whom Thou Thyself art manifest, and hath put her whole trust and confidence in Thee.

She is sick, O my God, and hath entered beneath the shadow of the Tree of Thy healing; afflicted, and hath fled to the City of Thy protection; diseased, and hath sought the Fountainhead of Thy favours; sorely vexed, and hath hasted to attain the Wellspring of Thy tranquillity; burdened with sin, and hath set her face toward the court of Thy forgiveness.

Attire her, by Thy sovereignty and Thy loving-kindness, O my God and my Beloved, with the raiment of Thy balm and Thy healing, and make her quaff of the cup of Thy mercy and Thy favours.  Protect her, moreover, from every affliction and ailment, from all pain and sickness, and from whatsoever may be abhorrent unto Thee.  Thou, in truth, art immensely exalted above all else except Thyself.  Thou art, verily, the Healer, the All-Sufficing, the Preserver, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.  –  Baha’u’llah

Reflection, Renewal and Rebirth:

The New 3R's

In the depths of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.
Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

-Kahlil Gibran

God!  Refresh and gladden my spirit.  Purify my heart.  Illumine my powers.  I lay all my affairs in Thy hand.  Thou art my Guide and my Refuge.  I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being.  O God!  I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me.  I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.  O God!  Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself.  I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.

-‘Abdu’l-Bahá

"O friends! It behoveth you to refresh and revive your souls through the gracious favors which in this Divine, this soul-stirring Springtime are being showered upon you."

– Baha’i Writings

“If we are not happy and joyous at this season, for what other season shall we wait and for what other time shall we look?

-Baha’i Writings

The divine religions are like the progression of the seasons of the year. When the earth becomes dead and desolate and because of frost and cold no trace of vanished spring remains, the springtime dawns again and clothes everything with a new garment of life.

– Baha’i Writings

The divine Prophets are as the coming of spring, each renewing and quickening the teachings of the Prophet Who came before Him. Just as all seasons of spring are essentially one as to newness of life, vernal showers and beauty, so the essence of the mission and accomplishment of all the Prophets is one and the same. Now the people of religion have lost sight of the essential reality of the spiritual springtime. They have held tenaciously to ancestral forms and imitations, and because of this there is variance, strife and altercation among them. Therefore, we must now abandon these imitations and seek the foundation of the divine teachings; and inasmuch as the foundation is one reality, the divergent religionists must agree in it so that love and unity will be established among all people and denominations.

– Baha’i Writing

When the Sun of Reality returns to quicken the world of mankind a divine bounty descends from the heaven of generosity. The realm of thoughts and ideals is set in motion and blessed with new life. Minds are developed, hopes brighten, aspirations become spiritual, the virtues of the human world appear with freshened power of growth and the image and likeness of God become visible in man. It is the springtime of the inner world.

– Baha’i Writings

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.

– Buddha

May you become as growing plants. May the trees of your hearts bring forth new leaves and variegated blossoms. May ideal fruits appear from them in order that the world of humanity, which has grown and developed in material civilization, may be quickened in the bringing forth of spiritual ideals.

Baha’i Writings

"Sow the seeds of wisdom and knowledge in the pure soil of the heart, and keep them hidden, till the hyacinths of divine wisdom spring from the heart and not from mire and clay.

– Baha’i Writings

In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness.

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.

– Buddha

Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness,

A joy to the sorrowful,

a sea for the thirsty,

a haven for the distressed,

an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression.

-Baha’i Writings

The more difficulties one sees in the world the more perfect one becomes. The more you plough and dig the ground the more fertile it becomes. The more you cut the branches of a tree the higher and stronger it grows. The more you put the gold in the fire the purer it becomes.

– Abdu’l-Baha

And a woman spoke, saying, "Tell us of Pain."

And he said:

Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.

Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.

And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;

And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.

And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.

Much of your pain is self-chosen.

It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.

Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility:

For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,

And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.

- Khalil Gibran 


“Tests are benefits from God, for which we should thank Him. Grief and sorrow do not come to us by chance, they are sent to us by the Divine Mercy for our own perfecting.”

-Baha’i Writings

The earth is in motion and growth; the mountains, hills and prairies are green and pleasant; the bounty is overflowing; the mercy universal; the rain is descending from the cloud of mercy; the brilliant Sun is shining; the full moon is ornamenting the horizon of ether; the great ocean-tide is flooding every little stream; the gifts are successive…

– Baha’i Writings