In 1911, ‘Abdu’l-Baha visited London and is recorded as saying upon arrival: “Heaven has blessed this day. It was said that London should be a place for a great proclamation of the Faith. I was tired when I went on board the steamer, but when I reached London and beheld the faces of the friends my fatigue left me. Your great love refreshes me.” [1]

During talks in London, ‘Abdu’l-Baha extolled women.

“The woman is indeed of the greater importance to the race. She has the greater burden and the greater work. Look at the vegetable and the animal worlds. The palm which carries the fruit is the tree most prized by the date grower. The Arab knows that for a long journey the mare has the longest wind. For her greater strength and fierceness, the lioness is more feared by the hunter than the lion.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 102)

Upon another occasion ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said to a group of friends around him: “Taken in general, women today have a stronger sense of religion than men. The woman’s intuition is more correct; she is more receptive and her intelligence is quicker. The day is coming when woman will claim her superiority to man.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 103)

Alia Sabur has demonstrated superior intelligence, becoming at age 18 the youngest college professor in the history of the world [2]. She started reading and talking when eight months old, matriculated in college at age ten, and has received an M.S. and Ph.D. in the materials science and engineering. Professor Sabur teaches at Konkuk University in Seoul, Korea, and a video with an interview with Alia is below.

[2] “Woman, 19, becomes youngest college professor” MSNBC Interactive (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24273418/ accessed April 27, 2008)

With 1.6 million people currently in jail in the United States, one out of every hundred persons are incarcerated, which is the highest percentage in the history of the nation. Seven percent of state budgets, $44 billion in total, are allocated to corrections. The prison system of Texas is the largest of the U.S.A., and there is new legislation that introduces changes to the system, including expanded drug treatment programs. The chairman of the state senate’s criminal justice committee, John Whitmire, stated that “the problem was that we weren’t smart about nonviolent offenders. The legislature finally caught up with the public.”[1]  “We have 5,500 D.W.I offenders in prison,” Mr. Whitmire said. “They’re in the general population. As serious as drinking and driving is, we should segregate them and give them treatment.” Mr. Whitmire reported that the state was cycling individuals who committed nonviolent crime repeatedly through the system.

Crime rate has been reduced in New York by imposing criminal sanctions other than incarceration. A focus on rehabilitation is in accord with Baha’i teachings, and ‘Abdu’l-Baha spoke about the ineffectiveness of relying upon punitive measures to rehabilitate criminal offenders.

“Observe how many penal institutions, houses of detention and places of torture are made ready to receive the sons of men, the purpose being to prevent them, by punitive measures, from committing terrible crimes — whereas this very torment and punishment only increaseth depravity, and by such means the desired aim cannot be properly achieved.”

(The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 262)

In order to reduce the level of crime man must develop the habit of striving to achieve excellence.

“Therefore must the individual be trained from his infancy in such a way that he will never undertake to commit a crime, will, rather, direct all his energies to the acquisition of excellence, and will look upon the very commission of an evil deed as in itself the harshest of all punishments, considering the sinful act itself to be far more grievous than any prison sentence. For it is possible so to train the individual that, although crime may not be completely done away with, still it will become very rare.

“The purport is this, that to train the character of humankind is one of the weightiest commandments of God, and the influence of such training is the same as that which the sun exerteth over tree and fruit.”

(Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 263)

A New York Times article in 1996, “Fighting Crime with Education” reported that success in school is a predictor of crime. [3]

“One key predictor of youthful criminal behavior is failure in school. A 1991 Justice Department survey of state prisoners found that only 22 percent were high school graduates, while an additional 12 percent had attended college…The lack of education can help send many ex-offenders back to a life of crime.” [3]

Baha’is believe that education is a means to reveal the gems of inestimable value in the mine of man. A sense of human dignity and pride is developed with a sound and real relationship with his Lord.

“The root cause of wrongdoing is ignorance, and we must therefore hold fast to the tools of perception and knowledge. Good character must be taught. Light must be spread afar, so that, in the school of humanity, all may acquire the heavenly characteristics of the spirit, and see for themselves beyond any doubt that there is no fiercer Hell, no more fiery abyss, than to possess a character that is evil and unsound; no more darksome pit nor loathsome torment than to show forth qualities which deserve to be condemned.

“The individual must be educated to such a high degree that he would rather have his throat cut than tell a lie, and would think it easier to be slashed with a sword or pierced with a spear than to utter calumny or be carried away by wrath.

“Thus will be kindled the sense of human dignity and pride, to burn away the reapings of lustful appetites. Then will each one of God’s beloved shine out as a bright moon with qualities of the spirit, and the relationship of each to the Sacred Threshold of his Lord will be not illusory but sound and real, will be as the very foundation of the building, not some embellishment on its facade.”

(Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 263)

[1] “1 in 100 U.S. Adults Behind Bars, New Study Says” The New York Times, February 28, 2008

[2] “Prison Nation” The New York Times, March 10, 2008

[3] “Fighting Crime with Education” The New York Times, December 1, 1996

Images:

[1] “USA.Prisoners” Wikipedia Commons (accessed March 10, 2008) This image is a work of a United States Department of Justice employee, taken or made during the course of an employee’s official duties.

[2] “Citrus Fruits” Wikipedia Commons (accessed March 10, 2008) This image is in the public domain because it contains materials that originally came from the Agricultural Research Service, the research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture.

[3] “Gem.pebbles” Wikipedia Commons (accessed March 10, 2008) This image has been released into the public domain by its author

In the Baha’i Writings we are asked to ponder teachings in our heart.

“The merciful outpourings of that Divine Essence, however, are vouchsafed unto all beings and it is incumbent upon man to ponder in his heart upon the effusions of the Divine Grace.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith - Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 347)

Although unreliable, the heart is an avenue to knowledge.

“What is inspiration? It is the influx of the human heart. But what are satanic promptings which afflict mankind? They are the influx of the heart also.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith - Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 253)

“…Satan or whatever is interpreted as evil, refers to the lower nature in man.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 77)

“It is evident that human personality appears in two aspects, — the image or likeness of God and the aspect of Satan. The human reality stands between these two, — the divine and the satanic. It is manifest that beyond this material body, man is endowed with another reality which is the world of exemplars constituting the heavenly body of man.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 108-9)

The lights of the Word of God illumine “the realm of thought” and “are the cause of the education of souls and the source of the enlightenment of hearts.” [1]

“When asked for a definition of a pure heart, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, ‘The pure heart is one that is entirely cut away from self. To be selfless is to be pure.’”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 107)

“That which God desires from men is the heart.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 68)

“The most important thing is to polish the mirrors of hearts in order that they may become illumined and receptive of the divine light…Our duty lies in seeking to polish the mirrors of our hearts in order that we shall become reflectors of that light and recipients of the divine bounties which may be fully revealed through them. This means the oneness of the world of humanity. That is to say, when this human body-politic reaches a state of absolute unity, the effulgence of the eternal Sun will make its fullest light and heat manifest.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith - Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 218)

Through detachment and the fear of God, love is possible.

“Love is a light that never dwelleth in a heart possessed by fear.”

(Baha’u'llah, The Four Valleys, p. 58)

“Verily, the wayfarer who journeyeth unto God, unto the Crimson Pillar in the snow-white path, will never reach unto his heavenly goal unless he abandoneth all that men possess: “And if he feareth not God, God will make him to fear all things; whereas all things fear him who feareth God.”

(Baha’u'llah, The Four Valleys, p. 58)

“He saith: “And there shall appear upon the tablet of thine heart a writing of the subtle mysteries of ‘Fear God and God will give you knowledge’; and the bird of thy soul shall recall the holy sanctuaries of preexistence and soar on the wings of longing in the heaven of ‘walk the beaten paths of thy Lord’, and gather the fruits of communion in the gardens of ‘Then feed on every kind of fruit.’”

“By My life, O friend, wert thou to taste of these fruits, from the green garden of these blossoms which grow in the lands of knowledge, beside the orient lights of the Essence in the mirrors of names and attributes — yearning would seize the reins of patience and reserve from out thy hand, and make thy soul to shake with the flashing light, and draw thee from the earthly homeland to the first, heavenly abode in the Center of Realities, and lift thee to a plane wherein thou wouldst soar in the air even as thou walkest upon the earth, and move over the water as thou runnest on the land. Wherefore, may it rejoice Me, and thee, and whosoever mounteth into the heaven of knowledge, and whose heart is refreshed by this, that the wind of certitude hath blown over the garden of his being, from the Sheba of the All-Merciful.”

“Peace be upon him who followeth the Right Path!”

(Baha’u'llah, The Seven Valleys, p. 3-4)

Images of flowers, fruits, and cities are used to describe the heart.

“In the fields and meadows of human hearts variegated flowers of inner significance were blooming and the good fruits of the kingdom of God became manifest.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith - Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 219)

“In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love.”

(Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, No. 3)

“…What is well-pleasing is that the cities of [men’s] hearts, which are under the dominion of the hosts of selfishness and lust, should be subdued by the sword of the Word, of Wisdom, and of Exhortation. Everyone, then, who desireth “victory” must first subdue the city of his own heart with the sword of spiritual truth and of the Word, and must protect it from remembering aught beside God: afterwards let him turn his regards towards the cities of [others’] hearts.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, A Traveller’s Narrative, p. 64)

Man is one, and hearts communicate.

“The sea of the unity of mankind is lifting up its waves with joy, for there is real communication between the hearts and minds of men…This is a new cycle of human power.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 19)

“…Qualities of spirit and heart are extremely contagious.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith - Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 319)

“My hope is that through the zeal and ardour of the pure of heart…this world shall become a new world…Human hearts shall meet and embrace each other.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 38)

Reference:

[1] Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith - Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 254

Images:

[1] Sacred Heart and Roses. Wikimedia Commons. (accessed February 25, 2008) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation

[2] Paths and gardens around the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh and the Bahjí Pilgrim House. Baha’i Media Bank (accessed February 25, 2008) Reprinted with permission of the Bahá’í International Community

[3] The Israel Northern Symphony Haifa with the Transylvania State Choir on the entrance plaza of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel, 22 May 2001. Baha’i Media Bank (accessed February 25, 2008) Reprinted with permission of the Bahá’í International Community

In the Baha’i Writings, the world is compared to a tree, and the fruits of the tree are the divine worlds. The fruit is also compared to a state of being:

“This is the fruit of the tree of creation - to be freed from the darkness of the planet in order to enter the worlds of light. This is the object of existence.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 123)

Being “in touch with the celestial world” and overlooking “this transitory life” is a goal of life.

“…Some there are who have found divine intelligence and have obtained spiritual understanding. They have the real sight. They know of the other worlds…If not for this fruition, what is the purpose of the tree?”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 123)

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In 1996, Carl Sagan wrote that current evidence “strongly suggests that stars like our own Sun frequently, if not invariably, are accompanied by planets.” [1] In the 19th century, Baha’u'llah responded to a question about “the nature of the celestial spheres”:

“To comprehend their nature, it would be necessary to inquire into the meaning of the allusions that have been made in the Books of old to the celestial spheres and the heavens, and to discover the character of their relationship to this physical world, and the influence which they exert upon it…Know thou that every fixed star hath its own planets, and every planet its own creatures, whose number no man can compute.”

(Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 163)

By the detection of wobbles in the orbit of a nearby star, 51 Pegasi, the first “extrasolar” planet was discovered in October 1995. [2] The star is 50.1 light years from Earth. [3]

At least 271 exoplanets have been detected as of February 2008, and there is a recent article in the New York Times, “Scientists Find Solar System Like Ours“, that includes a report of a solar system that is an analogue to the one in which we live. [4] Scott Gaudi of Ohio State University said that “it looks like a scale model of our solar system.” [5]

Astronomers used gravitational microlensing to find the planet. On March 28, 2006, a star 5,000 light years from earth passed in front of a star 21,000 light years further away, resulting in a flash. The force of gravity resulting from the nearer star caused the light from the more distant star to bend and be magnified. Planets revolving around the nearer star cause small changes in the light from the further star, and there was a worldwide call to continually observe OGLE-2006-BLG-109L in March. [5]