Thoughts on Family Literacy Day

Today, the first day of November is Family Literacy Day. I thought I would write about how Abdu'-Baha played a part in developing the literacy abilities within my family. In October of 1994, I was preparing for the second of three Reading Is Fundamental Programs. The program was going to take place at the Baha'i Center in Los Angeles.

I needed to purchase books for the children who would be coming to the schduled event. My husband bought the required number of books. One of those books caught the interest of my younger son, who talked my husband into reading it to him. This was one of the few times that my husband sat down a read a book to one of my sons.

Today I am reading to the daughter of that same son. She loves to color the pictures in what she calls "Book 3." It is a book that contains a number of stories for children, a few of which are about something that happened to Abdu'l-Baha.


Sue Chehrenegar

Thoughts on "God in America"

I did not get a chance to watch the PBS series on God in America, but I found an interesting quote from Abdu'l-Baha, one that relates to the subject of religious gatherings in the United States. Here is that quote:

"If a small number of people gather lovingly together, with absolute purity and sanctity, with their hearts free of the world, experiencing the emotions of the Kingdom and the powerful magnetic forces of the Divine, and being at one in their happy fellowship, that gathering will exert its influence over all the earth."-Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha

Thoughts on a TV Series

I just read an email about the new PBS series called "God in America." It is designed to help viewers better understand the part that religion and spirituality has played in their country's history. I hope that it makes some mention of the visit that Abdul-baha made to the United States.

Sue Chehrenegar

Thoughts on Learning about Religion

Just before noon today, Ali Velshi, a correpondent on CNN posed this question: Should Americans be learing more about the various religions? I was pondering a similar question in my head all morning. That inquisitive attitude toward the teaching of religion had been inspired by the viewing of a YouTube clip, one made about one year ago.

In that clip, a reporter asks Iran's leader about the treatment of the Baha'is in Iran. He responds with another question. He asks the reporter if anyone in the audience can name the prophet associated with the Baha'i Faith. He knew that Americans were generally unfamiliar with that prophet, and indeed with the principles of the Baha'i Faith.

Now it so happens that Abdu'l-Baha's father was the founder of the Baha'i Faith. I would like to see more people becoming aware of that fact. Their awareness would force the leader of Iran to frame a more respectable answer to any question about the treatment of Baha'is imprisoned in Iran.


Sue C.

Thoughts on Treatment for a Criminal Act

Yesterday they executed a woman in the State of Virginia. The last time that a woman was executed in Virginia it was the year 1912, and Abdu'l-Baha was here in the United States. I was wondering what Abdu'l-Baha might have said about such an act.

I decided to look at the prayers for the departed that had been written by Abdu'l-Baha. I have decided to post one of those prayers in this blog:

O Thou forgiving Lord!
Although some souls have spent the days of their lives in ignorance, and became estranged and contumacious, yet, with one wave from the ocean of forgiveness, all those encompassed by sin will be set free. Whomsoever thou willest thou makest a confidant, and whosoever is not the object of Thy choice is accounted a transgressor. Shouldst thou deal with us with Thy justice, we are all naught but sinners and deserving to be shut out from Thee, but shouldst Thou uphold mercy, every sinner every sinner would be made pure and every stranger a friend. Bestow then Thy forgiveness and pardon and grant Thy mercy unto all.
Thou art the Forgiver, the Lightgiver and the Omnipotent.
--Abdu'l-Baha

Thoughts on the Life of a Small Child

I have not written in my blog recently. I have been busy watching a new serial on one of the Persian satellite TV stations. It takes place during the time when Abdu'l-Baha was a small boy.

I do not know too much about his life at that time, before his father was put in prison, and then banished from Persia. I have read one story about a time when Abdu'l-Baha was asked to guard the family's sheep, while his father was attending to more important matters. According to that story someone told Abdu'l-Baha that his father always gave the shepherds a gift, whenever he checked on the condition of his flock.

Abdu'l-Baha did not have any gift, so he thouhgt hard about what he could give them. He decided to give them the sheep. His father was a bit amazed at his son's generosity, but he did not indicate any note of displeasure. He simply remarked jokingly that his son was apt to give away just about anything to those who deserved it.


Sue Chehrenegar

Thoughts Concerning an Important Anniversary

On the eve of the ninth Anniverasary for Sept 11, 2001, I would like to quote a passage written by Abdu'l-Baha. It can be found in the book Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha Abbas.


"My only joy in this swiftly passing world was to tread the stony path of God and to endure hard tests and all material strife. For otherwise this earthly life would prove barren and vain; and better would be death. The tree of being would produce no fruit; the sown field of this existence would yield no harvest. Thus it is my hope that once again some circulstances will make my cup of anguish to brim over and that beauteous Love, that Slayer of souls, will dazzle the beholders again. Then will this heart be blissful; this soul be blessed."

posted by Sue Chehrenegar

Thoughts on Sharing Information

This morning I got an email that related to the sharing of information. There was a quote from Abdu'l-Baha in that email. I would like to share it with the readers of this blog:

Follow thou the way of thy Lord, and say not that which the ears cannot bear to hear, for such speech is like luscious food given to small children. However palatable, rare and rich the food may be, it cannot be assimilated by the digestive organs of a suckling child. Therefore unto every one who hath a right, let his settled measure be given.'Not everything that a man knoweth can be disclosed, nor can everything that he can disclose be regarded as timely, nor can every timely utterance be considered as suited to the capacity of those who hear it.' Such is the consummate wisdom to be observed in thy pursuits. Be not oblivious thereof, if thou wishest to be a man of action under all conditions. First diagnose the disease and identify the malady, then prescribe the remedy, for such is the perfect method of the skilful physician. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 269)

Thooughts on an Anniversary

Today, the 47th anniversary of the speech given by Martin Luther King Jr., certain members of the media are talking about anger at a different speech. I wanted to see if Abdu'l-Baha had made a speech on August 28, 1912. He was traveling on that day, but he did give a talk on August 29, 1912. I think what he says provides important food for thought, in light of today's ongoing controversy.

Here are two paragraphs from his talk:


"When the man who is spiritually sagacious and possessed of insight views the world of humanity, he will observe that the lights of the divine bounty are flooding all mankind, just as the lights of the sun shed their splendor upon all existing things. All phenomena of material existence are revealed through the ray emanating from the sun. Without light nothing would be visible. Similarly, all phenomena in the inner world of reality receive the bounties of God from the source of divine bestowal. This human plane, or kingdom, is one creation, and all souls are the signs and traces of the divine bounty. In this plane there are no exceptions; all have been recipients of their bestowals through the heavenly bounty. Can you find a soul bereft of the nearness of God? Can you find one whom God has deprived of its daily sustenance? This is impossible. God is kind and loving to all, and all are manifestations of the divine bounty. This is the oneness of the world of humanity. "

"Prejudices of all kinds—whether religious, racial, patriotic or political—are destructive of divine foundations in man. All the warfare and bloodshed in human history have been the outcome of prejudice. This earth is one home and native land. God has created mankind with equal endowment and right to live upon the earth. As a city is the home of all its inhabitants although each may have his individual place of residence therein, so the earth’s surface is one wide native land or home for all races of humankind. Racial prejudice or separation into nations such as French, German, American and so on is unnatural and proceeds from human motive and ignorance. All are the children and servants of God. Why should we be separated by artificial and imaginary boundaries? In the animal kingdom the doves flock together in harmony and agreement. They have no prejudices. We are human and superior in intelligence. Is it befitting that lower creatures should manifest virtues which lack expression in man?"

The above quotes were taken from the book "The Promulgation of Universal Peace."

blog entry presented by Sue Chehrenegar

Thoughts on Power and Feebleness

This past weekend, I was with an entire group of people who are familiar with the writings of Abdu'l-Baha. As I waited for our meeting to begin, I reveiwed the papers in my folder. I found a statement made by Adu'l-Baha while he was traveling across Europe and North America. Here is the statement that I discovered:

"Look at me. I am so feeble, yet I have had the strength given me to come amongst you, a poor servant of God, who has been enabled to give you this message! I shall not be with you long! One must never consider one's own feebleness;...The thought of our own weakness could only bring despair. We must look higher than all earthly thoughts, detach ourselves from every material idea, crave for the things of the spirit, fix our eyes on the everlasting bountiful Mercy fo the Almighty, who will fill our souls with the gladness of joyful service to his command, 'Love one Another.' "

Thoughts on Power and Feebleness

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Thougts on Trust

Tonight I am going to look at the final question regarding my main character, Abdu'l-Baha. I plan to study how he would decide whether or not to trust someone. When someone first made a promise to Abdu'l-Baha, he would trust them to carry out their promise. However, if later they kept breaking any promise that they had made, then Abdu'l-Baha would not keep trusting them.

Abdu'l-Baha understood that the spiritual development of a person can not proceed as it should, if he or she is allowed to act in an untrustworthy manner. Therefore, he would put his greatest trust in those who he knew to be trustworthy.

Naturally, Abdu'l-Baha put a tremendous amount of trust in God. In fact, his grandson, who grew up seeing the trust of his grandfather, offered some advice about prayer and trust. He said that whenever someone arises from a moment of prayer, then he or she should trust in God to answer that prayer.

Sue Chehrenegar

Thoughts on a Deliberate Message

I have been looking at how the main character in my anthology story, Abdu'l-Baha would have answered certain questions. I am nearing the end of that list of questions. I find this next question hard to answer.

I am supposed to consider whether or not my main character is a deliberate speaker. I know that Abdu'l-Baha had pointed answers for the reporters who asked him why he had come to this country. He also made clear the sort of requests that he felt should be included in a prayer.

Here is a prayer of his that I received from a friend yesterday. It was suggested as a prayer for those Baha'is that are imprisoned in Iran:

"Alas! Alas! And again alas! Our hearts are burning! Our breasts are filled with sorrow and grief! The cry of lamentation is raised high and the shriek of mourning heard in all directions!..." Abdu’l-Baha’

I leave to my readers the job of deciding whether of not Abdu'l-Baha was a deliberate speaker.

Sue Chehrenegar

Thoughts on the Focus of My Character

Abdu'l-Baha, the main character in my anthology story does not focus on the past, although he does refer in his talks to past events. He does not focus on the present, although he is eager to hear what is happening in the here and now. Abdu'l-Baha was concerned about what would take place in the future. He wanted to help society move in the right direction.

The things he uttered almost 100 years ago have great relevance today. His actions as well can serve as a helpful guide. In fact, I pointed to those actions this past week, when I responded to a request from CNN. They wanted viewers to state what they thought should be discussed in a national conversation about race relations. I made reference to the attitude taken by Abdu'l-Baha, whenever he tackled that topic.


Sue Chehrenegar

Thoughts on the

Thoughts on a Personal Outlook

The writer of a piece of fiction should consider the personal outlook of the piece's main character. When I wrote my anthology story, I made Abdu'l-Baha my main character. Therefore, I should know how he would answer this question: "Are you an optimist of a pessimist?"

I have learned, from studying the writings of Adu'l-Baha that he always had an optimistic outlook towards every issue. Last week, there was much discussion about racial issues here in the United States. Abdu'l-Baha addressed some of those issues back in 1912, when he spoke at the fourth annual meeting of the NAACP.

Now he did not throw up his arms and claim that the existence of prejudice would keep the U.S. from arriving at a solution to the ongoing racial problems. Instead, he spoke about how differences in skin color were of no importance in the eyes of God. In that way, he sought to encourage any attempts to overcome racial prejudice.

Abdu'l-Baha realized that if people are reminded of the fact that we are all God's creatures, then they find it easier to view each man and woman as a child of God. Once they have done that, then they find it easier to act accordingly. That was the optimistic outlook that sustained Abdu'l-Baha throughout his life.


Sue Chehrengar

Thoughts about Problems and Solutions

I have been answering suggested questions about Abdu'l-Baha, the main character in my anthology story. This is the next question: Do you usually notice problems around you?

Abdu'l-Baha certainly made note of the problems he saw in American society. He spoke out against the obvious racial prejudice, which prevailed throughout America in the year 1912. He spoke at the fourth meeting of the NAACP.

Still, Abdu'l-Baha admired many things about the United States. He never hesitated to praise those aspects of the American culture that he looked upon favorably. While Abdu'l-Baha had come grown up in a country with an eastern culture, he did not condemn every aspect of the western lifestyle.

Sue Chehrengar

Thoughts and the Senses

Today I am going to examine the answer to this question, as it applies to Abdu'l-Baha: "Is one sense more highly developed than others?"

Yes, Abdu'l-Baha had a strong sense of God's presence in the beauty here on earth. He did not grown impatient when asked to remain still. Instead, he would use that as an opportunity to listen to his heart. In that way, he managed to stay tuned to the meaning of life.


Sue Chehrenegar

Thoughts and the Senses