by Rachel Perry There was a moment when I was 18 when I first discovered the power of the present moment. I was suffering from post-traumatic stress after having been raped by my boyfriend several months prior and couldn’t seem to escape the blast from panic attacks and intense fear of something bad happening again. [...]

by Rachel Perry

There was a moment when I was 18 when I first discovered the power of the present moment. I was suffering from post-traumatic stress after having been raped by my boyfriend several months prior and couldn’t seem to escape the blast from panic attacks and intense fear of something bad happening again. A counsellor at the sexual abuse crisis centre taught me a few strategies to “become present.” She told me about feeling the ground beneath the soles of my feet. She told me about breathing deeply and reassuring myself that the traumatic moment was in the past and I am safe now. These strategies reminded me of the relaxing way I had felt when doing pre-show meditations with my drama class 3 years prior, in which we would listen to relaxing music (Pachelbel’s Canon) and visualize white light surrounding us and all darkness and stress leaving us.

The powerful moment which I remember when I was 18 was in a bathroom. I had just had a panic attack that was so severe it had me laying on the ground feeling paralyzed as though I were pinned by an elephant and suffocating. But the idea came to my mind “You can become “grounded” in the present moment and you can feel safe now.” So I started breathing deeply. I started taking notice of my surroundings. I slowly could sit up. I sat on the edge of the tub and looked at my feet, wiggled them around in my socks. “I am safe,” I told myself. And I filled up with a gratitude of the present moment which was safe. And I started to feel free from the past. I calmed myself down and that was when I had the powerful realization that to be completely free from the past I need to be completely aware of the present. And a whole world opened up for me.

It took me several years to break free from the addictive cycle of using alcohol to numb the pain. But by the time I was 21 I was experiencing the victory of my attentive focus to living in the moment. I enrolled in Journalism, got my own apartment, and was dedicating all my free time to reading the Sacred Bahá’í texts and serving and volunteering in the community.

Becoming Present became the most important door to me to escape every trial, ordeal, and tribulation that I encountered after that. And now, more than a decade later, I have found there are even more divine bounties and gifts available in the present moment. Books such as “The Power of Now” have made this mantra mainstream and have given us a glimpse into the possibilities available to the seeker who desires to live deeply, and live truly.

Living in the moment, going with the flow, “being aware” is a very important step on the journey to our inner selves. Awareness is the key – but we need not to be aware of the past or the future, we need only to be aware of the moment. So we do ourselves an injustice if we desire healing by re-visiting the painful memories looking for clues and answers. We will actually heal in a more true and empowering way when we put our focus instead in becoming “experts” of our own present moment. We begin by being aware of our outer surroundings and being at peace with that as we notice our breath, notice the sights and sounds around us, notice the sensations of our bodies – but this is only the beginning. Awareness of our inner world, our inner space, is where we will discover the great treasures that await us if we desire to discover them.

The difficulty is that we have been trained to not pay much attention to our inner selves, our inner lives, our inner beings. And in fact, our feelings – which are a great clue as to the condition of our inner world – have been made out to be the “enemy.” So we have become disconnected from our inner self, our spirit, our soul, that when we do become aware of a prompting from our True Selves, which may come as a “gut feeling” or an intuition or even as a “coincidence” we find ourselves confused and we may even shrug it off as non-sense. We have been so trained not to trust ourselves we feel confused at the beginning when we are letting go of the old learning and trusting in a new way of being – A Way of Being True To Ourselves.

But I feel really strongly that the very beginning of a path of happiness and True Well-being begins with first an awareness of the outer world at the moment and then of the inner world in the moment. And when we will sit quietly and silently for a few moments we are sending a message to our spirit that we are “listening” and once we are listening you can bet there is a lot to be heard.

Awareness and Awakening will happen slowly, slowly, slowly if we are viewing it in a way that measures time and years and this is the great joy of life. However, a person with a mind practiced in sitting and listening will find themselves becoming aware of a part of the human condition which is not bound by time and that awareness generates patience to tolerate the seemingly slow outer progress.

So, whatever the goal, whatever the aim, whatever the crisis, whatever the fear – the first answer is always to “sit and listen.” Become Aware. When you can bring with you a prayer into that moment of sitting and listening you will increase your receptivity to the answers that are all available to you. When you can use the Divinely Inspired Words from a Divine Messenger of God then you will heighten your receptivity even more so. But the key to unlocking the door to awareness is to sit and listen. Because when we do that, we are taking a stand against the waves of crisis which want us to believe there is terror and hopelessness. When we sit and listen despite the appearances of crisis we are showing ourselves we are ready to acknowledge the victory in that moment –  and there is always, always a victory. All that is required is our little willingness to see it.

By Rachel Perry   Storms blowing from all sides, Winds so strong breath is stolen, Left gasping for air, Hanging on to life with a hope, Emerging Happiness from Despair.   Fierce storms with ancient winds, Tearing down the land, Not bike, nor tree, nor house does stand, People cower, afraid, afraid, afraid When will [...]

By Rachel Perry

 

Storms blowing from all sides,

Winds so strong breath is stolen,

Left gasping for air,

Hanging on to life with a hope,

Emerging Happiness from Despair.

 

Fierce storms with ancient winds,

Tearing down the land,

Not bike, nor tree, nor house does stand,

People cower, afraid, afraid, afraid

When will it end.

 

On my bare arms winds beat,

Hair strewn across face and eyes

Whipping like the ancient whips

Which have whipped slaves and

Prisoners for ages and ages and ages.

 

I love you and accept you storm

Without fear or pain or worry.

I thank you storm for clearing away the

Illusions and ghosts that I have danced with in the night.

 

I take you storm, whether wrong or right

And know you are mine, you are me, you are all in me.

I take you storm and dance with your wind,

Free me from the ancient night

With your Eternal Gaze of Serenity.

Here, now, and always,

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Divine Creator let me live

In this storm with peace.

Make of me a Divine Storm Chaser then

Make of me an instrument that

Transforms mighty winds of night

Into powerful streams of light.

 

I’ll stand here, on this broken ground,

With blood and broken homes around,

I’ll stand here smiling with arms outstretched

Free from harm and pain and hex

I’ll stand here a mighty Tree

Giving thanks to the Almighty.

 

 

By Rachel Perry with research by Susan Gammage This greatness within me, an awareness of Divine Light, a whisper and a knocking within me, asking me, pleading with me to overcome these feelings of inadequacy so that I may Shine with the Light of God – this greatness within me, greets me each morning and [...]

By Rachel Perry with research by Susan Gammage

This greatness within me, an awareness of Divine Light, a whisper and a knocking within me, asking me, pleading with me to overcome these feelings of inadequacy so that I may Shine with the Light of God – this greatness within me, greets me each morning and tempts me to smile despite the sense of confusion which dominates every cell in my being.  I pray:

O Lord! Have pity on my weakness and strengthen me with Thy power. O Lord! Have pity on my impotence and assist me with Thy might and majesty. O Lord! Should the breath of the Holy Spirit confirm the weakest of creatures, he would attain all to which he aspireth and would possess anything he desireth. Indeed, Thou host assisted Thy servants in the past and, though they were the weakest of Thy creatures, the lowliest of Thy servants and the most insignificant of those who lived upon the earth, through Thy sanction and potency they took precedence over the most glorious of Thy people and the most noble of mankind. Whereas formerly they were as moths, they became as royal falcons, and whereas before they were as brooks, they became as seas, through Thy bestowal and Thy mercy. They became, through Thy most great favor, stars shining on the horizon of guidance, birds singing in the rose-gardens of immortality, lions roaring in the forests of knowledge and wisdom, and whales swimming in the oceans of life. Verily, Thou art the Clement, the Powerful, the Mighty, and the Most Merciful of the merciful.  (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 95)

When a someone writes from their hearts, there is Power in those words that reaches into the crevasses of people’s Minds and Hearts and it takes hold of a thought they thought was private and says “I see you!” and once seen it cannot hide and once seen it becomes part of the Universal Mind and once seen it transforms from a ghost to a spirit and once transformed it becomes alive with the fragrance of Divine Light – bounding from obscurity into the endless meadow of recognition, the boundless field of True Life.

What a power is love! It is the most wonderful, the greatest of all living powers.  Love gives life to the lifeless. Love lights a flame in the heart that is cold. Love brings hope to the hopeless and gladdens the hearts of the sorrowful.  (Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 179)

The space between my Divinity and my Poverty was so great a divide it seemed I was two people, torn apart by the cutting of violent words and disillusioned purposelessness.

As reality is one and cannot admit of multiplicity, therefore different opinions must ultimately become fused into one.  (Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha’i World Faith, p. 285)

It was Divine Love Who held me in Her Angel Arms and said “You are One” and gave me the hope to try just one more day. Just one more day, just one more day, just one more day, just one more day.

Florence Khanum relates two sayings she heard from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. On one occasion He said to her ‘”Sabr kun; mithl-i-Man bash” – be patient, be as I am. The other was when someone expressed discouragement to Him, saying they could not possibly acquire all the qualities and virtues that Baha’is are directed to possess, and the Master replied, “Kam Kam. Ruz bih ruz” – little by little; day by day.’  (Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

Then I arrived here. In this moment, where there is union now between my Divinity and my Poverty. Where I am both Rich and Poor at the same time, both Exalted and Humble, both Powerful and Weak, both Mighty and Minute, both Great and Insignificant.

[Life] brings each one of us crises as well as victories. Our own lives and even the lives of the central Figures of the Faith have been fraught with agony as well as blessing, with failure and frustration and grief, as frequently as with progress. This is the nature of life.  (Universal House of Justice, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 117)

This union was the path for me to freedom, freedom from the trappings of a world that will have me think I am in a race to have a great house-a great car-a great family-and a great reputation in the community.

Some men’s lives are solely occupied with the things of this world; their minds are so circumscribed by exterior manners and traditional interests that they are blind to any other realm of existence, to the spiritual significance of all things! They think and dream of earthly fame, of material progress. Sensuous delights and comfortable surroundings bound their horizon, their highest ambitions centre in successes of worldly conditions and circumstances! They curb not their lower propensities; they eat, drink, and sleep! Like the animal, they have no thought beyond their own physical well-being. It is true that these necessities must be despatched. Life is a load which must be carried on while we are on earth, but the cares of the lower things of life should not be allowed to monopolize all the thoughts and aspirations of a human being. The heart’s ambitions should ascend to a more glorious goal, mental activity should rise to higher levels! Men should hold in their souls the vision of celestial perfection, and there prepare a dwelling-place for the inexhaustible bounty of the Divine Spirit.      (Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 98)

But all that is being torn down now. Without the American Dream what will the world set its sights on?

You see all round you proofs of the inadequacy of material things — how joy, comfort, peace and consolation are not to be found in the transitory things of the world. Is it not then foolishness to refuse to seek these treasures where they may be found? The doors of the spiritual Kingdom are open to all, and without is absolute darkness.  (Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 110)

I wish it would ascend above these selfish aims and reach into its own Soul and find Divine Generosity and with that begin to share everything, without hesitation with everyone in the world.

He, verily, shall recompense the charitable, and doubly repay them for what they have bestowed.  (Baha’u'llah, Gleanings, CXXVIII)

Imagine we just did that? Imagine we walked away from our jobs, or even better, that our jobs paid us to make resolving these issues of poverty, of education, of violence and made it so important that we could just devote our EVERYTHING to this Divine Cause? What would that look like?

Consider a pearl which shineth by virtue of its inherent nature. If it be covered with silk, its luster and beauty will be concealed. Likewise, man’s distinction lieth in the excellence of his conduct and in the pursuit of that which beseemeth his station, not in childish play and pastimes. Know that thy true adornment consisteth in the love of God and in thy detachment from all save Him, and not in the luxuries thou dost possess. Abandon them unto those who seek after them and turn unto God, He Who causeth the rivers to flow.  (Baha’u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 62)

Everyone turned towards One Goal? Feed the children, Educate the Mothers, Stop the Violence! What would that look like? Putting egos aside, putting the race towards wealth at the bottom of the list of priorities and making the end goal accomplished only when we are all no longer hungry.

How many kings have flourished in luxury and in a brief moment all has disappeared! Their glory and their honor are forgotten. Where are all these sovereigns now? But those who have been servants of the divine beauty are never forgotten. The result of their works is everywhere visible. What king is there of two thousand years ago whose kingdom has lived in the hearts? But those disciples who were devoted to God – poor people who had neither fortune nor position – are to-day trees bearing fruit. Their banner is raised higher every day.  (Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 137)

These children, their hunger is my hunger. Their pain is my pain. Their suffering is my suffering. How can I eat a good dinner, watch TV, and tuck myself into a warm bed without thinking of the children who do not have enough to eat, who are cold, who sleep in beds that are neither comfortable or dignified? How can I awake to my world, filled with the luxuries of the engine of Canada’s economy and how can I not think of those who are waking up without the basic necessities of life?

Fear the sighs of the poor and of the upright in heart who, at every break of day, bewail their plight, and be unto them a benignant sovereign. They, verily, are thy treasures on earth. It behoveth thee, therefore, to safeguard thy treasures from the assaults of them who wish to rob thee. Inquire into their affairs, and ascertain, every year, nay every month, their condition, and be not of them that are careless of their duty.  (Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 236)

So imagine if everyone, all at once, realized it was over – the gig was up – and the purpose of life was not to collect the most “stuff” but that the meaning we find in life is in the meaning we give life . . .

One must remember that the purpose of this life is to prepare the soul for the next.  (Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, p. 359)

. . . and it is when we are Compassionate and Loving to others that we truly begin to discover who we REALLY are.

You must have infinite love for each other, each preferring the other before himself. The people must be so attracted to you that they will exclaim, “What happiness exists among you!” and will see in your faces the lights of the Kingdom; …You must love your friend better than yourself; yes, be willing to sacrifice yourself . . . I desire that you be ready to sacrifice everything for each other, even life itself.  (‘Abdul-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 218)

We must focus all our energies on uplifting the human condition.

They must concentrate every ounce of their energy, and focus their entire attention, on the tasks immediately ahead, resolved to work unremittingly and unflinchingly until the goals of the present Plan are achieved.  (Shoghi Effendi, Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand, p. 72)

Humanity is asleep and we must awake our friends and our families and our loved ones and the strangers and our friends.

The people in general are all asleep; they are all inadvertent; they are all slumbering, because their thoughts are confined to materialism; they are not at all thoughtful of God’s thoughts.   (Compilations, Baha’i Scriptures, p. 372-373)

We must give a thought not to what we can do for our own comfort and entertainment but what we can do to transform the lives of someone who is disadvantaged by the physical conditions of their worldly experience.

The poor in your midst are My trust; guard ye My trust, and be not intent only on your own ease.  (Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 54)

We are given a choice in this life. Our choice is to focus on the betterment of ourselves (by which we accumulate greater wealth or power) or to work towards the betterment of the world. This is really at the core of all of our other choices. From this core, all other choices will stem.

Aim high, choose noble ends . . .  (Abdu’l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 104-105)

If we choose to focus on the betterment of the world, then we have an important task ahead of us that will seem daunting and terrible and will challenge the very fibre of our being.

These are the immutable laws of God, from which there is no escape: ‘For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.’  (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 135)

If you experience this horrible excruciating pain then you are doing the right thing!

[Life] brings each one of us crises as well as victories. Our own lives and even the lives of the central Figures of the Faith have been fraught with agony as well as blessing, with failure and frustration and grief, as frequently as with progress. This is the nature of life.  (Universal House of Justice, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 117)

That is because those who are NOT feeling pain are trapped in the old institutions of “numbing” – we numb with prescription drugs, we numb with TV, we numb with alcohol, we numb with an obsession for self-gratification, we numb with work-a-holic approach to life, etc.

Food, drink, shelter and a degree of material comfort are essential, but human beings cannot and never will find fulfillment in these necessities. Nor is contentment to be found in the somewhat more intangible material attainments such as social recognition or political power. Ultimately, not even intellectual achievement satisfies our deepest needs.  (Baha’i International Community, 1995 Oct, Turning Point For All Nations)

If you are feeling pain, then you are NOT numb and that in itself is worth celebrating! Feeling the pain will show you a light on a path free from all pain. But we must travel through the pain to experience True Painlessness – It is the only way to truly discover who we are.

Grief and sorrow do not come to us by chance, they are sent to us by the Divine Mercy for our own perfecting.  (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 50)

Suffering is both a reminder and a guide. It stimulates us better to adapt ourselves to our environmental conditions, and thus leads the way to self improvement. (Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny, p. 434)

Once we know Who We Are – Truly – then we will know exactly the right way for us to be the most Compassionate and Loving towards others.

He hath known God who hath known himself.  (Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 178)

Once we know exactly the best way for us to be Compassionate and Loving towards others we will discover that fulfilling this deep craving of our heart will bring us more Joy than we ever thought possible.

If you wish the joy, happiness and the composure of the spirit and the peace of the conscience of Abdul Bahá, strengthen the bonds of union and harmony amongst yourselves so that all of you may become the waves of one sea, the drops of one river, the flowers of one garden, the links of one cuirass, soaring in the atmosphere and breaking forth into one glad song.  (‘Abdul-Bahá, Baha’i Scriptures, p. 379)

We cannot choose how to be Loving and Compassionate until we know who we are really, and once we know who we are really, all other choices become very easy. When all other choices become easy we will be Giving of ourselves in every moment, exactly the way we should be, in a constant stream of Divine Life that improves the condition of humanity moment by moment.

… for any movement animated by love moveth from the periphery to the centre, from space to the Day-Star of the universe. Perchance thou deemest this to be difficult, but I tell thee that such cannot be the case, for when the motivating and guiding power is the divine force of magnetism it is possible, by its aid, to traverse time and space easily and swiftly. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 197)

that is because I shared with you, from my heart, from the Divine Light that shines in me, some reflections that the spirit asked me to share. And if you feel inspired, then that is your spirit asking you to do the same in this new moment that brings us to the end of this letter. With your inspiration, smile, from your lips to your heart to all the cells of your body, smile through the pain, smile through any illness, smile through any fear, smile through any discord and anxiety. Smile in gratitude that you are awake and aware.

A bright and happy face cheers people on their way. If you are sad, and pass a child who is laughing, the child, seeing your sad face, will cease to laugh, not knowing why. If the day be dark, how much a gleam of sunshine is prized; so let believers wear smiling happy faces, gleaming like sunshine in the darkness.  (Abdu’l-Bahá, Abdu’l-Bahá in London, p. 124-125)

Believe that you are better in this moment than you were a moment ago and will continue to experience increased conditions of being better in every moment that follows.

Let each morn be better than its eve and each morrow richer than its yesterday.  (Baha’u'llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 138)

The path to painless is only found through pain.

If adversity befall thee not in My path, how canst thou walk in the ways of them that are content with My pleasure? If trials afflict thee not in thy longing to meet Me, how wilt thou attain the light in thy love for My beauty?  (Baha’u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words 50)

The path to courage is only found through excruciating fear.

Whatever decreaseth fear increaseth courage.  (Baha’u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 32)

The path to joy is only found through horrific depression.

From the beginning of time sorrow and anxiety, regret and tribulation, have always been the lot of every loyal servant of God. Ponder this in thine heart and consider how very true it is. Wherefore, set thine heart on the tender mercies of the Ancient Beauty and be thou filled with abiding joy and intense gladness.  (Compilations, Bahiyyih Khanum, p. 5)

The path to enlightenment is only found through mind-boggling confusion.

Let not the clamour of a confused and distracted world deter you from contributing your uttermost to this spiritual enterprise.  (Universal House of Justice, 10 Jan 2009, to the Friends gathered at the two Regional Conferences in Canada)

So if you feel these things, at any time, somewhere in you, you may begin to be aware of a Divine Light that says it is okay.

I ask God to strengthen thee in comprehending the mysteries deposited in the reality of existence, to lift up the veil from before thee and thy sister, so that the concealed mystery and the hidden reality become manifest as the sun at noon, and to confirm thy sister and thy husband in entering the Kingdom of God, and heal thee from all physical and spiritual disease in the world of creation.  (Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 56)

And when you believe it is okay you will begin to be able to Celebrate through your personal suffering.

Buddha had disciples and he wished to send them out into the world to teach, so he asked them questions to see if they were prepared as he would have them be. “When you go to the East and to the West,” said the Buddha, “and the people shut their doors to you and refuse to speak to you, what will you do?” — The disciples answered and said: “We shall be very thankful that they do us no harm.” — “Then if they do you harm and mock, what will you do?” — “We shall be very thankful that they do not give us worse treatment.” — “If they throw you into prison?” — “We shall still be grateful that they do not kill us.” — “What if they were to kill you?” the Master asked for the last time. “Still,” answered the disciples, “we will be thankful, for they cause us to be martyrs. What more glorious fate is there than this, to die for the glory of God?” And the Buddha said: “Well done!”  (Abdu’l-Bahá, Abdu’l-Bahá in London, p. 63-64)

When you hold suffering and celebrating in your heart at once, you discover Divine Grace.

Only he who is severed from the world shall achieve this ultimate grace, he who is a captive of divine love, empty of passion and self, from every aspect true unto his God, humble, lowly, supplicating, in tears, submissive in the presence of the Lord.  (Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 242)

And when you discover Divine Grace, your destiny to being a deeply Compassionate and Loving human being will be the most easy thing for you to do and you will find yourself completely free from all suffering. Is this not the deepest longing of every heart? Is this not the goal which we all seek to achieve? The good news is, moment by moment, we are indeed achieving it.

 

by Rachel Perry In doing some research into the topic of veils that come between us and God, I found the following quote: “Love is a veil betwixt the lover and the beloved.”  (Baha’u’llah, The Four Valleys, p. 60) Since I’d been thinking about love between men and women lately, this struck me as an [...]

by Rachel Perry

In doing some research into the topic of veils that come between us and God, I found the following quote:

“Love is a veil betwixt the lover and the beloved.”  (Baha’u'llah, The Four Valleys, p. 60)

Since I’d been thinking about love between men and women lately, this struck me as an odd statement, and I sent it to my wise friend, Rachel Perry, to see what her take on it was.  What follows is her email to me.  I thought it was too good to let go, so I wanted to share it with you too.

To best understand the meanings in The Fourth Valley it is best to have read through all 7 of the Seven Valleys.  To understand this phrase we have to do 3 things:

1. Consider this phrase in the context of the paragraph:  At the beginning of the paragraph it says “This is the realm of full awareness, of utter self-effacement.” And “…longing hath no dwelling here.” So it is possible that one part of “love” that veils us is the feeling of longing. Let’s consider this idea of love and longing in more detail. To do that, we look back at The Valley of Love and Knowledge.

2.  Consider this reference to “Love” in light of what we know about Love from the study of The Valley of Love and the Valley of Knowledge.  In the first paragraph of the Valley of Love we find that “In this city the heaven of ecstasy is upraised and the world-illuming sun of yearning shineth”….you see the reference here to “yearning” and that is a synonym for “longing” which was mentioned in the paragraph in the Fourth Valley. So one part of “love” that is a veil is the “longing”….when the lover longs for his beloved this in fact becomes a veil.

Interestingly enough, in The Valley of Knowledge it refers to this “Love is a veil” idea again where is says “Love is a veil betwixt the lover and the loved one; More than this I am not permitted to tell.”

God knows that we are filled with longing, love, and desire – God knows we want to know more and that to tell us that Baha’u'llah is not permitted to tell us more would make our hearts cry out in frustration…so what does the next paragraph tell us that eases our sorrow? It tells us that “If thou be a man of communion and prayer, soar up on the wings of assistance from Holy Souls, that thou may best behold the mysteries of the Friend and attain to the lights of the Beloved.”

3.  So that brings us to the third thing we must do – commune/meditate and pray but before we do that we are going to consider “what shall we pray and meditate about?” and the answer to that is in the next sentence which reads…”After passing through the Valley of Knowledge, which is the last plane of limitation, the wayfarer cometh to The Valley of Unity and drinketh from the cup of the Absolute, and gazeth on the Manifestations of Oneness.”

The reason this statement is important is because if we consider back in The 4th Valley the paragraph we are exploring said “This is the realm of full awareness” and here again now we learn that when one passes through the Valley of Love, and then the Valley of Knowledge, then the wayfarer comes to the Valley of Unity where there is UNION with the beloved. I can’t write all the wonderful, wonderful things that are written about in the Valley of Union but you can read it and see it there and let the divine words fill your heart with pleasure and joy because of the possibilities that God guides our souls to consider.

When I consider how is love/longing a veil between me and my beloved in light of these valleys what I conclude is that when as there is longing there is a feeling of separation. And this becomes the very limitation which we seek to remove. In prayer and meditation we can feel ourselves become One with God and we can “gaze on the Manifestations of Oneness” that are all around us and in us. (Once we find it in meditation which is where God tells us we will find it…then we can enjoy it in the rest of our active lives as well.)

To reflect in our own hearts to what the meaning of longing/yearning has for us and how removing this veil can bring us into full awareness of the Unity of God.

On a separate but related note – something so funny happened while I was writing this! I had been in my room typing with the light on but it woke my 5 year old daughter Grace up and she asked me to turn it off. So I say “sure” and go out to the hall and there is one of my house-mates on her hands and knees looking at the floor. I ask her if everything is okay (it’s 1am in the morning!) and she tells me she has lost a part of her tongue ring. I hear the word “RING” and immediately think of that story in the Valley of Search when the woman is found on the other side of the wall just looking for a ring. I smiled at her and joined right in on the search for that ring. All the while smiling at the coincidence of the scenerio. (By the way – I did find it for her and could tell by the look on her face she was astonished as I think she was just about to give up when I had come out)

So I wanted to mention that scenario because maybe it happened for a reason and there is something in that story that I am supposed to share with you that may be a further light along the path.

Lastly, something that Abdu’l-Bahá has said has come to mind while I was writing this. He once said that at any given time God gives Him all the knowledge He needs for what is required at that moment. That statement has been something I consider often. I’m sorry I can’t even remember if it was something I read or someone told me. It’s been a part of me for so long I forget its origin. Are you familiar with it? Anyway, to me, in the light of what we are talking about here it seems relevant in that Abdu’l-Bahá was in the condition of not “searching” for answers or searching for anything. It seems He was at One with God…and this appears to be the condition that we are aiming for here. The statements in The Valley of Unity say more about this way of “seeing through the eyes of God, hearing through the ears of God, etc” and I believe this is the goal we are seeking.

I encourage you to reflect on these ideas during your meditation and not in journaling so that you can use your heart as your guide and not your head. This is a Valley to be felt and experienced and not written about…as it says “The tongue faileth in describing these three Valleys and speech falleth short.” (From the Valley of Contentment)

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to return to one of my favourite books, Susan.

by Rachel Perry Recently I was considering the possibility of short term pioneering, but was unable to fulfill my intent.  I was consulting with my dear friend and life coach Rachel Perry (yes, even life coaches need to be coached!).  She sent me the following email and it was so wise and filled with a [...]

by Rachel Perry

Recently I was considering the possibility of short term pioneering, but was unable to fulfill my intent.  I was consulting with my dear friend and life coach Rachel Perry (yes, even life coaches need to be coached!).  She sent me the following email and it was so wise and filled with a perspective on pioneering I hadn’t considered before, that I wanted to share it with my readers. Here is her email:

As you know from having met me, my desire to physically dwell in a location that is a benefit to the Cause is strong as well. So you can imagine that when I was given the opportunity recently to move across the country I thought it would be good to re-locate as a pioneer. In my prayers and meditations around this topic, my soul continued to prompt me to not travel as a pioneer. Instead, I was guided to focus on my health and well-being, to put my focus on being an effective parent, to put my attention on developing a strong co-parenting partnership with my ex-husband, and even…to enjoy the companionship of a new relationship. It didn’t make sense to me at the time. But I followed the “song of my heart” and gave up the role as pioneer in order to give my attention to my little divided family, and my health.

What I found when I got here was that everything was tested! In every way I was tested! My skills and character as a mother were tested because my daughter went into crisis that lasted several months and I had to be there for her as a parent in a way I had never done before. My skills and character as a co-parent were tested because I was forced to live temporarily with my ex-husband and I challenged myself to do so in a way that was peaceful and nourishing for my daughter. I was also tested as a Baha’i since I found that I was falling deeply, deeply in love with a person who was not a Baha’i and finding balance in this relationship was like trying to navigate a ship in a storm. Baha’u'llah’s plan for me, which I clearly see now, was internal spiritual development, and not community development – which is what I would have achieved if I would have been “pioneering.”

Having gone through these momentous tests, I find myself a new person. I find myself completely transformed. I find myself healthier, stronger, more balanced than I have ever been in my life. I find myself being the person I had always hoped I would be. This could not have been achieved if I had pioneered because when we pioneer externally, our focus is on sacrificing ourselves for the sake of our new community. In my situation, I see now that what was needed was careful consideration of myself because there were some very significant things about myself that I needed to learn about and develop. My sacrifice was that I surrendered the bounties that come to pioneers; however, I found that I was rewarded with tremendous insight into myself and my life path.

That being said, still there is this deep calling in my soul and it says to me “You are a pioneer. You are a pioneer. You are a pioneer.” How am I a pioneer? I know the answer now. I share this because maybe it will be meaningful for you too.

It starts with a dream I had when I got here – briefly, the dream was that I had a bone-deep wound on my left hand that went across the base of my middle finger and my ring finger. It was horrifically painful. At first no one would take me to the hospital, but finally I got there and then no doctor would help me. Finally a character from my favourite TV show approached me and he said he could help. He took me into a room and began applying a balm that eased the pain. Richard’s interpretation of this dream (which had more details which I have omitted for brevity’s sake) was that the wound represented the issue with my marriage – on the on one hand I have to cooperate with a man who I’m not married to anymore for the sake of raising our daughter well, and on the other hand I want to say “back off” because of the difficulties that we have. The dream is telling me that I am healed and healing is no longer needed, so now the next stage of development is actually in my character (thus an actor relieving the pain and not a doctor).

This makes so much sense to me! Yes, and it has given me a guiding light throughout the tests that I had in the 4 months after the dream.

So, how does all this relate to pioneering? It relates because:

1.    Not everyone is willing to sacrifice pleasure in order for character development (which is what happens when we choose to follow the Writings and the Law of God – we know it is good for our character development even though it may be difficult or hurt)

2.    Not everyone that tries is successful

3.    Not everyone that is successful is conscious of the whole process and why it is significant to the spiritual advancement of the human race

4.    Not everyone who is conscious of it’s significance to the human race has the passion and skills for talking and writing about it

5.    Not everyone who has the writing and speaking skills wants to use them in the promotion of character development or knows how to use them (for example, how the Internet can be of assistance in teaching the Faith)

THEREFORE…….It is my life path to keep making these sacrifices in order to develop my character so that I can continue writing about it and continue to teach other people how to do it too…and this is pioneering into the land of my inner self which is just as important as pioneering into the land of the earth because with the treasures that I find and bring to the surface I can empower an entire generation….

WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY SECOND POINT ….the question becomes this….”why is it so important to develop my character and tell people about it?” the answer is this…..not everyone knows that developing our character brings us closer to God, and not everyone knows that the closer we get to God the more receptive we become to discovering  Baha’u'llah,…..so this is a very important message to share…..but not only that….now we have the tools to use to share a message to a more far reaching demographic than ever, ever, ever before.

With the Internet, an entire generation is being transformed. We can share a message, easily, and within seconds it can be delivered to ANY ANY ANY place on the globe! That is just amazing. And when we share our message, via the Internet, we are “traveling” to that place and spreading our message. So, when we send our words to China, to Australia, to Japan, to India, to France, to Africa, via the Internet we are doing what Abud’l-Baha longed to do when He said He wanted to travel to every place on the globe to share the Message of the Baha’i Faith and when we do it for Him then we are fulfilling His wish.

In this time, Susan, everywhere we live on the globe matters. Being a Baha’i and living anywhere matters because we live in a time when the whole world is connected.

So to summarize – I am pioneering when:

• I chose to develop my character by following the Writings of Baha’u'llah and the promptings of my soul guiding me to manifesting my greatness – my True Self.

• I observe the process and write about it for sharing.

• I use the Internet to promote the experience for the benefit of others so that they too may become aware of the process and continue to make positive changes in themselves and their lives towards inner and outer peace.

So few have ever done this before because the Internet is just brand new and the opportunities before us are brand new too, as a woman, as a single mother, as a Baha’i. Never before in the history of the world have there ever been the opportunities available to Baha’is. We are on the forefront of a huge transformation and the Internet is an integral part of this evolution. Not the only part, but a big part.

When I accepted that this form of pioneering is just as important as physically moving somewhere I found a deeper level of acceptance with myself and my life path. And the thought occurred to me that if my writing is successful, and if my speaking becomes as motivational as I feel it can be, then I will indeed find opportunities to travel all over the globe and I can perform service when in these areas and I can choose to have short or long term pioneer posts at any time of my choice. But first, I have to develop my character, and write about it, and promote it…and then when I pioneer physically my message and my teaching efforts will be much more effective in transforming the hearts of men.

When the most recent Ridván message is read with this in mind, it becomes a very inspiring message to keep doing what we are doing.

How have you pioneered to the land of your inner self?  Post your comments here: