Alborz

Meybodi completely bought...

May we be amongst those who are to bring about the transfiguration of the Earth - Yasna XXX 9

Fariborz Sahba - Architect...

... of the Baha'i House of Worship in India, details the construction of the Lotus of Bahapur.

Alborz

'Martijn

I have not appeared on every blog other than ones where you have obtained uncritical praise and are advancing pure propaganda needing to be exposed for what it is, especially to a silent readership needing the balanced appraisal of the status of nonsense you people put out there where they otherwise can't obtain it.

But just as you people feel obliged to cheerlead and propagandize on behalf of your cult, we are obliged to ensure that your cheerleading obtains the proper criticism and that the hot air of your balloon is adequately poked full of holes.

I trust you understand now.

-

May we be amongst those who are to bring about the transfiguration of the Earth - Yasna XXX 9

The soul stirring video...

... of the Baha'i youth in Shiraz, Souri Jaan, is one that I have watched numerous time and each time I am in awe of the nobility of their deeds. Three of these youth remain in prison to this day.

On a more upbeat note, here is an example of how the same principles and ideals are at work in another part of the world.

Every Iranian can be proud and joyous of these developments as the adversity faced by their brothers and sisters in Iran have not been in vain.

Alborz

Thank you dear Alborz

For this great video, a sign that humanity is still a very strong quality and power of the Iranians. Many thanks to the Bahai friends of Iran.

I enjoyed and shared that video with all my online friends.

Yes Roozbeh.

The Baha'is are enjoined not to engage in any activity which is divisive and, today, partisan politics pits one group against the other and the welfare of the masses is either compromised or sacrificed for selfish motives.

The Baha'i principles encourage independent thinking and questioning. While this is antithetical to the clerical order, there is no incitement to undermine this order.   Therefore, the threat that is felt by the clerical order is a response to the realities of these principles which have materialized in the modern society.  Fundamentalism has always been a reaction to change and fear of the loss of control.  What we see in Iran is no exception.

While we see these developments in Iran, the message of Baha'u'llah is resonating within the chambers of governance around the world. Here is but one example:

I share your hopes also and if we are lucky we will see it in our life times.   I also appreciate your motto! If only more people lived by it.

Alborz

Many thanks Alborz for detailed response and the link.

 One aspect of your note, about the shift in opinion in Iran about Bahaiis, I fully agree with. This I believe is all part of what happened since  2008 elections. In essence Regime's stance on every subject is doubted by a very large section of the public. That includes regime's hostile attitude towards bahaiis. This is positive...

Now my own take on Bahaism is that this is very much an apolitical faith. The hostility shown by the Shia  establishment (rembering this was the case even during the Pahlavis, albeit not official policy), is simply due to the fact that some of the fundemental aspects of Shia religion, especially affecting the power of the clregy is questioned or perceived to be questioned by the bahai faith.

My hope is for the day when all people of Iran regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds live, work and enjoy life side by side and with due respect and tolerance towards each other's religious and political beliefs.

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."

Just curious

Hi Aryana, you wrote below:

"You [Nadeem] and I both know this is all a joke and these people are the biggest
jokes of all! Other than their beknighted butt kissers on this site, who
have been assigned to that role for years, people are seeing through
this stuff and realizing it for what it is. Don't you worry.
"

Then why do you appear on every single blog or news item mentioning the bahai faith to denounce it? Just for fun?

Cheers, Martijn

Dear Roozbeh...

... much of the news you have heard in the recent years has been about the systematic nature of the persecutions in Iran.  During the past 30+ years the world community  has consistently highlighted and condemned these actions alongside other human right violations in Iran.

However, what is most heartening to the Baha'is around the world is that the citizens of Iran, have awakened to the realities of the attrocities committed to their neighbors, friends and family members who are Baha'is. They have known them personally and have seen their steadfastness to their principles which include serving Iran despite the rejection, deprivation and isolation which they face in many facets of life.  This has certainly played a role in their interest in the Faith and rejection of the diatribe and malicious attacks carried out by the governmental and religious institutions.  In fact the greater and pervasive the persecutions, the greater the interest. 

This has indeed led to the fact that more people have become "moheb" or sympathetic and of this group, some have indeed reached the stage of acceptance and belief. For obvious reasons, their belief has been in their heart and as Baha'i administration is banned in Iran, there is no means for them to integrate with other Baha'is.

The Baha'is are counseled in their Sacred Writings that "The essence of faith is fewness of words and an abundance of deeds...". Furthermore faith is defined as "Conscious knowledge and the practice of good deeds".  This is what Baha'is strive for and since we have no clergy the responsibility for our progress as a human being, which has both a physical and spiritual attributes, is entirely ours.

This personal responsibility alongside the recognition that accepting Baha'u'llah as the manifestation of God is not a denouncement of the past religious traditions opens the door to fulfilling our progress as individuals, as a society and as a human civilization.   This, I believe, is an empowering message for a generation that has seen nothing but conflict within and amongst religions and their institutions. 

The verities of this Faith are readily available on the following site for your independent investigation.  What I have shared with you is just my humble understanding.

//www.bahai.org/

Your questions are pointed and thoughtful. Should I be able to respond or provide additional information on a specific area, I would be happy to do so.

Alborz

Great architecture and a question if I may....

 I hear a lot about Bahais these days. They seem to be gaining followers all the time, specially in the united States, canada and Europe. We can not comment on Bahai growth or decline in Iran for obvious reasons. I was just wondering what is the cause of this growth in followship? What is the key message? and are muslims actually converting to this faith or per my observation the new converts are mostly non muslims. Any informed response would be most appreciated.

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."

Reverence, Devotion & Mindfulness...

....are practiced at the Baha'i House of Worship by children from the Australian public schools.

Alborz

Nadeem

They post this propaganda basically to reassure themselves in an attempt to project an image that they are important. You and I both know this is all a joke and these people are the biggest jokes of all! Other than their beknighted butt kissers on this site, who have been assigned to that role for years, people are seeing through this stuff and realizing it for what it is. Don't you worry.

-

May we be amongst those who are to bring about the transfiguration of the Earth - Yasna XXX 9

Visitors to the Chicago...

...Baha'i House of worship exceed 250K annually.  This landmark is registered on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiukG-rpPfk

Alborz 

Next...

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY2dsj9TMLA

Alborz

Dear Copy-Paster Alborz and others

Do you think anybody over here reads all that copy pasted lengthy post or any other Baha'i stuffs you haifan guys post here and there?

How many people are attracted by the wilmette temple? Do you have any statistics of daily visitors? Please post the stats (genuine) of daily visitors of all the temples. This will be really very informative.

I had read an article written by one Mr. Eric Stetson who is a renowned Universalist Unitarian Baha'i not believing in the Haifan House of Gods. It was also posted on Iranian.com.

Mr. Stetson visited the Wilemtte Temple and he says hardly there were a few people visiting these places in Europe. Some people are definately visiting the Indian Lotus Temple that was build to 'play' with the Indians and those 'bichareh' indians are coming to this temple to see those iranian beauties volunteering in the temples with body and soul.

Baha'is in India are totally corrupt. There are financial scams in the temple committee. Tell me if you want to read the news article that appeared in a prominent Indian news paper.

Are these temples that you guys are constructing, do you think will bring world peace? No temple can bring world peace when it is not visited by anybody. The empty temple are worthless crap. Not even the American baha'is are visiting the wilmette temple.Tell me if you want to read the article written by Mr. Stetson.

Very humbly I would suggest the Haifan Justice Body that is responsible to establish Justic in the world, "the Head office of Imam-i-zaman in Israel" that these money that is being wasted in these temples be used in uplifting those destitutes of Congo, Haiti, Chad, Iran, Iraq, Afghanestan etc.

A humble suggestion.

Allah'u'Abho

City of Love - Story of Ashkabad

The first Baha'i House of Worship was built in the city of Ashkhabad, the City of Love. Completed around 1908, the Ashkhabad House of Worship established the 9 sided design and incorporated two minarets out of consideration for the Muslim majority in the city.  It served the Bahá'í community of that region until 1938, when the site was appropriated by the Soviet Government. The building was demolished in 1962 after being damaged by an earthquake.

The story of how this House of Worship was allowed to be constructed in a predominantly Muslim community reveals how persecution even in the early days of this Faith was followed by recognition.

Ashkabad was part of the Persian Empire until the 1880s, when the Russians gained control of the area and selected Ashkhabad as the area's governmental seat. Ashkhabad was soon transformed from a village of a few scattered tents and mud huts into a thriving city. The construction of the Transcaspian Railway allowed the area also to develop into an important trade center.

The growing city attracted many immigrants, including large numbers of Bahá'is and Muslims. The Bahá'is became an integral part of the community, with many working as masons and construction workers. Many others became successful as importers.

Although the hatred of the Muslims for Bahá'ís never diminished, it did not affect the Bahá'í community of Ashkhabad until 1889. As the initial act of what was apparently intended to be a brutal and systematic attack on the entire Bahá'í community, a group of Shí'ah Muslims hired two assassins to murder a prominent Bahá'í, Hájí Muhammad-Ridáy-i Isfahání, in the middle of the bazaar. The brutal deed was cheered on by some five hundred Muslims. The Russian authorities responded swiftly, arresting all who were involved. A trial was conducted by a military commission, sent from Saint Petersburg by Czar Alexander III. The authorities found the two assassins and their four accomplices guilty of murder, sentenced the assassins to death, and ordered their accomplices to be taken to Siberia. Moments before the execution, a reprieve was granted the two assassins as a result of the intervention of the Bahá'ís. The incident gave the Bahá'ís a great deal of prestige and resulted in Russia's granting official recognition.

As a result the Ashkhabad House of Worship was allowed to be constructed and was in many ways ahead of its time. In addition to serving as a spiritual center for the thriving Bahá'í community in that region, it gave practical expression to the community's humanitarian ideas. Attached to it were a number of subsidiaries, including a hospital, a school, and a hostel for travelers.

Alborz

Alborz, I want to hire you

You would be great for some local tourism commercials targetted at a yuppy audience in Asia being planned at the moment. "The beauty and grace of...are inviting and inclusive"? That is a great advertising line straight out of a segment from the travel and holiday channel on cable TV. Now say it with a little jazzy elevator music playing in the background ;-)

How about those fires on Mt Carmel?

-

May we be amongst those who are to bring about the transfiguration of the Earth - Yasna XXX 9

Virtual Tours

The beauty and grace of Baha'i Houses of Worship are inviting and inclusive, providing an approachable and serene space for all to commune with God - no competition here!

Virtual Tour of Baha’i House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois (known by the locals as Baha’i Temple)

Virtual Tour of Baha’i House of Worship, Dehli, India (known by the locals as the Lotus of Bahapur)

Alborz

Envy at what?

At a crumpled piece of kleenex tissue masquerading as sacred architecture? Come on, Alborz. This Chilean house of worship would work as some art decor model in an architecture magazine, but that is about it. A Temple of Light (haykal-e-nur, a term stolen from Sohravardi) it certainly isn't.  Sorry, I'm merely telling you the truth and not sugar-coating or stroking your ego. These bahai houses of worship are not the Aya Sofias, Notre Dames, Masjid-e-Shah Abbas', etc, of the world. As far as sacred architecture goes, these bahai buildings are empty and bereft of real spirit, period, whether they be the ones in India or the grotesque meglomaniacal monstrosities on Mt Carmel. Given this, I believe you are projecting, brother, and the envy is all your own!

- 

May we be amongst those who are to bring about the transfiguration of the Earth - Yasna XXX 9

To those full of envy...

"Set thy trap for another bird,

                                   This is the Phoenix and it nests high"

Alborz

Nice Design

Souri, I agree. The design is very cool, especially how it fits so nicely with its environment and the Andes mountains.

One of the first profiles I saw on this building was in Wallpaper Magazine -- a great publication on design and architecture.

Congratulations to Mr. Hariri and his partners on a great design.

Take your own advice, Faryar

BTW anyone else notice how the model of this Chilean bahai house of worship looks like a crumpled kleenex tissue....

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May we be amongst those who are to bring about the transfiguration of the Earth - Yasna XXX 9

A Pure heart is as a mirror; cleanse it with the burnish of love

O My Brother! A pure heart is as a mirror; cleanse it with the burnish of love and severance from all save God, that the true sun may shine within it and the eternal morning dawn. Then wilt thou clearly see the meaning of "Neither doth My earth nor My heaven contain Me, but the heart of My faithful servant containeth Me." [8] And thou wilt take up thy life in thine hand, and with infinite longing cast it before the new Beloved One.

Whensoever the light of Manifestation of the King of Oneness settleth upon the throne of the heart and soul, His shining becometh visible in every limb and member. At that time the mystery of the famed tradition gleameth out of the darkness: "A servant is drawn unto Me in prayer until I answer him; and when I have answered him, I become the ear wherewith he heareth...." For thus the Master of the house hath appeared within His home, and all the pillars of the dwelling are ashine with His light. And the action and effect of the light are from the Light-Giver; so it is that all move through Him and arise by His will. And this is that spring whereof the near ones drink, as it is said: "A fount whereof the near unto God shall drink...."

It is ugly

And conveys nothing of the sacred. 

- 

May we be amongst those who are to bring about the transfiguration of the Earth - Yasna XXX 9

One more House of Deception

in Chile.

Thank you Alborz

This building is amazing! I'd heard about it but hadn't yet seen the actual pictures. What a great architecture! Congratulation to Mr Hariri and also congratulation to all Bahais around the world