Paris Talks: The Last Meeting
Upon thinking about this talk, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s last talk in Paris, I am inclined to think about nature. His understanding of the grand architecture of life itself is evident as all attending are gently consoled and encouraged. It feels like the […]
Paris Talks: The Perfect Human Sentiments and Virtues
The Heavenly Father gave the priceless gift of intelligence to man so that he might become a spiritual light, piercing the darkness of materiality, and bringing goodness and truth into the world. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá made this striking remark in a talk […]
2011
Paris Talks: Pain and Sorrow
“Take thou the step of the spirit,” Bahá’u’lláh wrote in 1861, “so that, swift as the twinkling of an eye, thou mayest flash through the wilds of remoteness and bereavement …” (The Book of Certitude, p.43). Fifty years later, on […]
2011
Paris Talks: Working for the Betterment of the World
This talk by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, given on November 19, 1911, emphasizes and further defines the purpose of a Bahá’í, and provides a general recipe for the time designated and known by Bahá’ís as the Most Great Peace. He lays out an […]
Paris Talks: Spiritual Aspiration in the West
In the West, we aspire for many things. A young child aspires to grow up to be an astronaut, doctor, lawyer, or a professional athlete. A mother aspires to raise her children to be strong contributing members of society. A […]
Podcast 8: The Evolution of Spirit
On November 10, 1911, ‘Abdul-Bahá gave a talk on the evolution of the spirit. He said that “all things either make progress or lose ground. Everything moves forward or backward, nothing is without motion.” Full talk available here. Production […]
2011
Paris Talks: True Meaning of Baptism
I was asked to write a few words about the imagery in this short video and expand on what moved me to explore ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s talk titled The True Meaning of Baptism by Water and Fire. Simply put, the principle […]
2011
Paris Talks: The Sufferings of Bahá’u’lláh
One hundred years ago today ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave a short talk about His Illustrious Father and spoke primarily of the sufferings of Bahá’u’lláh. The details described by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá of the manner in which Bahá’u’lláh was treated are agonizing to read. In reflecting […]
2011
Paris Talks: Development of the Soul
Full Article available here. We do not need a near-death-experience in order to catch a glimpse of the world to come. In His talk “The Evolution of Matter and Development of the Soul” on the 3rd of November 1911 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá speaks […]
Podcast 7: Two Natures of Man
On November 1, 1911 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave a talk on the two natures of man, explaining that “In man there are two natures; his spiritual or higher nature and his material or lower nature. In one he approaches God, in the […]