Thursday, October 20, 2011
Birth of the Bab
October 20, 2011 is the 192nd birthday of the Bab. There are several sites on the internet about His life. If you wish to read more about the Forerunner of the Baha'i Faith, check it out!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Poems
"Only I can hear it"
Thinking-thoughts.
They scream inside my ears: "That was a dumb thing to say!"
"You are such a clutz."
"You shouldn't, aughta not, don't do it!"
Reading to your self – I hear the story in my head.
"Oh Yes!"
"Beautiful job."
"I love you."
"I did it, I really did it!"
All of it - inside my head,
as loud and real as the noise in my ears when chewing celery.
Thinking-thoughts.
They scream inside my ears: "That was a dumb thing to say!"
"You are such a clutz."
"You shouldn't, aughta not, don't do it!"
Reading to your self – I hear the story in my head.
"Oh Yes!"
"Beautiful job."
"I love you."
"I did it, I really did it!"
All of it - inside my head,
as loud and real as the noise in my ears when chewing celery.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
My Time Management Teacher Asked: What is Time?
What is time?
Sunset, sunrise.
It’s the moments and passages
Through livable space.
What is time?
It’s acceleration divided
By velocity.
Gravity divided by growth.
What is time?
It’s velocity divided
By distance.
Growth divided by an experience.
What IS time?
It’s moments and emotions
And things we have lived.
It’s our steadfastness even as things change.
Elyce Nasseri-Stolp
What is time?
Sunset, sunrise.
It’s the moments and passages
Through livable space.
What is time?
It’s acceleration divided
By velocity.
Gravity divided by growth.
What is time?
It’s velocity divided
By distance.
Growth divided by an experience.
What IS time?
It’s moments and emotions
And things we have lived.
It’s our steadfastness even as things change.
Elyce Nasseri-Stolp
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Baha'i Faith - Unity
The Bahá'í Faith's progressive approach to
human society originates with Bahá'u'lláh's
emphasis on unity. Indeed, if one were to
characterize His teachings in a single word, that
word would be unity.
Throughout His writings, Bahá'u'lláh
emphasized the importance -- and the reality -- of
unity and oneness. First, God is one. All of the
world's great religions are also one. They
represent humanity's responses to the revelations
of the word and will of God for humanity by
successive Messengers from the one God. These
understandings lie at the heart of the concept of
unity in Bahá'u'lláh's teachings.
From this fundamental concept of Divine and
religious unity, other principles emerge.
Bahá'u'lláh teaches that all humans, as creations
of the one God, are also one people. Distinctions
of race, nation, class or ethnic origin are
ephemeral when understood in this context.
Likewise, any notions of individual, tribal,
provincial or national superiority are discarded in
the Bahá'í Faith. Speaking through Bahá'u'lláh,
the voice of God proclaims:
"Know ye not why We created you all from
the same dust? That no one should exalt himself
over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts
how ye were created. Since We have created you all
from one same substance it is incumbent on you to
be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet,
eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land,
that from your inmost being, by your deeds and
actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of
detachment may be made manifest "
(Baha'i International Community, 1992, Magazine - The Baha'is)
human society originates with Bahá'u'lláh's
emphasis on unity. Indeed, if one were to
characterize His teachings in a single word, that
word would be unity.
Throughout His writings, Bahá'u'lláh
emphasized the importance -- and the reality -- of
unity and oneness. First, God is one. All of the
world's great religions are also one. They
represent humanity's responses to the revelations
of the word and will of God for humanity by
successive Messengers from the one God. These
understandings lie at the heart of the concept of
unity in Bahá'u'lláh's teachings.
From this fundamental concept of Divine and
religious unity, other principles emerge.
Bahá'u'lláh teaches that all humans, as creations
of the one God, are also one people. Distinctions
of race, nation, class or ethnic origin are
ephemeral when understood in this context.
Likewise, any notions of individual, tribal,
provincial or national superiority are discarded in
the Bahá'í Faith. Speaking through Bahá'u'lláh,
the voice of God proclaims:
"Know ye not why We created you all from
the same dust? That no one should exalt himself
over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts
how ye were created. Since We have created you all
from one same substance it is incumbent on you to
be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet,
eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land,
that from your inmost being, by your deeds and
actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of
detachment may be made manifest "
(Baha'i International Community, 1992, Magazine - The Baha'is)
The Soul After Death
"And now concerning thy question regarding the soul of man and its
survival after death. Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its
separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth
the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the
revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this
world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of 156 God,
His sovereignty, His dominion and power will endure. It will manifest
the signs of God and His attributes, and will reveal His loving
kindness and bounty. The movement of My Pen is stilled when it
attempteth to befittingly describe the loftiness and glory of so
exalted a station. The honor with which the Hand of Mercy will invest
the soul is such as no tongue can adequately reveal, nor any other
earthly agency describe. Blessed is the soul which, at the hour of its
separation from the body, is sanctified from the vain imaginings of
the peoples of the world. Such a soul liveth and moveth in accordance
with the Will of its Creator, and entereth the all-highest Paradise.
The Maids of Heaven, inmates of the loftiest mansions, will circle
around it, and the Prophets of God and His chosen ones will seek its
companionship. With them that soul will freely converse, and will
recount unto them that which it hath been made to endure in the path
of God, the Lord of all worlds. If any man be told that which hath
been ordained for such a soul in the worlds of God, the Lord of the
throne on high and of earth below, his whole being will instantly
blaze out in his great longing to attain that most exalted, that
sanctified and resplendent station.... The nature of the soul after
death can never be described, nor is it meet and permissible to reveal
its whole character to the eyes of men. The Prophets and Messengers of
God have been sent down for the sole purpose of guiding mankind to the
straight Path of Truth. The purpose underlying Their revelation hath
been to educate all men, that they may, at the hour of death, ascend,
in the utmost purity and sanctity and with absolute detachment, to the
throne of the Most High."
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 154)
survival after death. Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its
separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth
the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the
revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this
world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of 156 God,
His sovereignty, His dominion and power will endure. It will manifest
the signs of God and His attributes, and will reveal His loving
kindness and bounty. The movement of My Pen is stilled when it
attempteth to befittingly describe the loftiness and glory of so
exalted a station. The honor with which the Hand of Mercy will invest
the soul is such as no tongue can adequately reveal, nor any other
earthly agency describe. Blessed is the soul which, at the hour of its
separation from the body, is sanctified from the vain imaginings of
the peoples of the world. Such a soul liveth and moveth in accordance
with the Will of its Creator, and entereth the all-highest Paradise.
The Maids of Heaven, inmates of the loftiest mansions, will circle
around it, and the Prophets of God and His chosen ones will seek its
companionship. With them that soul will freely converse, and will
recount unto them that which it hath been made to endure in the path
of God, the Lord of all worlds. If any man be told that which hath
been ordained for such a soul in the worlds of God, the Lord of the
throne on high and of earth below, his whole being will instantly
blaze out in his great longing to attain that most exalted, that
sanctified and resplendent station.... The nature of the soul after
death can never be described, nor is it meet and permissible to reveal
its whole character to the eyes of men. The Prophets and Messengers of
God have been sent down for the sole purpose of guiding mankind to the
straight Path of Truth. The purpose underlying Their revelation hath
been to educate all men, that they may, at the hour of death, ascend,
in the utmost purity and sanctity and with absolute detachment, to the
throne of the Most High."
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 154)
Saturday, October 27, 2007
This is a photo of the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, Israel. We have visited there several times and it is truly the most magnificant spot in the world! Haifa and Akka are the locations of the most holy places for the Baha'is. The teachings of Baha'u'llah are what we need most. If "the Earth is but one country and mankind its citizens" resounds in your heart, look it up at http://www.bahai.org/, research the spiritual and social teaching of Baha'u'llah, and then talk to me about it. You can also call 1-800-22-UNITE to get more information.
Our son-Nabil
Our son, Nabil, is doing his masters research on the human-elephant conflict and reptiles. Here he is with a 'people-raised' African elephant in Tanzania. I think he is having a good time!
Wow ! He finished this masters degree and went on to get a PhD at University of Vermont studying the relationship between ants and leaf hoppers on certain trees in Texas. He’s now a professor in WV. Way to go, Dr Nasseri!!!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Pottery Pieces
If you are interested in purchasing pottery pieces, please email me at elycen@gmail.com or call me (if you know me :-)). I hope to have photos of items for sale posted soon! I also will be have a pottery show/party in November.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Writing course
When I lived in Africa, I took a writing course by correspondence. I recommend it to anyone looking into some kind of self-enhancement project! Their web site is: http://www.institutechildrenslit.com/
Monday, July 23, 2007
"I Need to Can It"
What happens to all of that inspiriation you have in the deep, dark night?
Where is the energy and planning that you have while under the covers?
Do organizational skills and initiative dim when the lights go on?
How can I harness that optimism and energy that come after a deep sleep Saturday night?
Can I bottle it up for Monday morning?
Can I preserve it in a jelly jar for use on Thursday afternoons when I'm just about out of steam?
Oh the mysteries of sleep and lack thereof!
Where is the energy and planning that you have while under the covers?
Do organizational skills and initiative dim when the lights go on?
How can I harness that optimism and energy that come after a deep sleep Saturday night?
Can I bottle it up for Monday morning?
Can I preserve it in a jelly jar for use on Thursday afternoons when I'm just about out of steam?
Oh the mysteries of sleep and lack thereof!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
New Jersey, 1974
Jet sounds over head
Tanning in the blazing sun
A cool breeze, relief!
"Toko Zani" flute
Music declaring His Cause
Rejoice a new day!
A young blonde couple
Proclaim it: “Baha’u’llah”
A new life for them.
Sand between my toes
Ocean crashing, turquoise waves
Summer evening walk.
Thirty years later
Another generation
And still, He has come!
Tanning in the blazing sun
A cool breeze, relief!
"Toko Zani" flute
Music declaring His Cause
Rejoice a new day!
A young blonde couple
Proclaim it: “Baha’u’llah”
A new life for them.
Sand between my toes
Ocean crashing, turquoise waves
Summer evening walk.
Thirty years later
Another generation
And still, He has come!
Friday, July 20, 2007
Greetings!
WELCOME TO MY FIRST BLOG:
The reason I started this blog is to post inspirational and informational writings with the goal of sharing my experiences. Those of you who know me, know how fortunate I have been in my life.
Don't you ever wonder: How did we get here on planet Earth? Why are we here? Really! Why were we created and where are we going?
From other postings, I hope to share what I think about this.
12/21/2022
It’s been quite a few years since I wrote anything here. 6 grandchildren later I greet everyone with my good wishes for the upcoming year 2023!
My friend Ruth brought me half a dozen letters I’d sent her from Chad, RCA, Israel and Iran as well as our wedding invitation from December 1975! Yes, Naim and I have been married now for 47 years, and I happen to be 74 years old. How often does that happen. Another friend, Allison suggested that I scan those letters (along with other letters saved and given to me by family and dear friends, then put them on the blog. Let’s see if I can even post this message and then I’ll need to make time to add a few letters! What do you all think?
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