The reality of man is his thought, not his material body. The thought force and the animal force are partners. Although man is part of the animal creation, he possesses a power of thought superior to all other created beings. – Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, pp. 17-18.

Why not material body?

In Europe I told the philosophers and scientists of materialism that the criterion of the senses is not reliable. For instance, consider a mirror and the images reflected in it. These images have no actual corporeal existence. Yet if you had never seen a mirror, you would firmly insist and believe that they were real. The eye sees a mirage upon the desert as a lake of water, but there is no reality in it. As we stand upon the deck of a steamer, the shore appears to be moving, yet we know the land is stationary and we are moving. The earth was believed to be fixed and the sun revolving about it, but although this appears to be so, the reverse is now known to be true. A whirling torch makes a circle of fire appear before the eye, yet we realize there is but one point of light. We behold a shadow moving upon the ground, but it has no material existence, no substance … In brief, the senses are continually deceived, and we are unable to separate that which is reality from that which is not. – Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 21.

How about the Human Brain or intelligence  

Like the animal, man possesses the faculties of the senses, is subject to heat, cold, hunger, thirst, etc.; unlike the animal, man has a rational soul, the human intelligence. This intelligence of man is the intermediary between his body and his spirit. – Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 96.

If a man’s thought is constantly aspiring towards heavenly subjects then does he become saintly: if on the other hand his thought does not soar, but is directed downwards to centre itself upon the things of this world, he grows more and more material until he arrives at a state little better than that of a mere animal. – Ibid., pp. 17-18

How to Grow Your Soul:
https://bahaiteachings.org/divine-common-sense-grow-soul?utm_source=BT+Subscribers&utm_campaign=16902785b2-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_NEW&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_22fe645b0d-16902785b2-114045481&mc_cid=16902785b2&mc_eid=a5e50159ab

How can one increase in faith?  You must strive. A child does not know, in learning he obtains knowledge. Search for Truth.

There are three kinds of Faith: 

first, that which is from tradition and birth. For example: a child is born of Muhammadan parents, he is a Muhammadan. This faith is weak traditional faith: 

second, that which comes from Knowledge, and is the faith of understanding. This is good,

but there is a better, the faith of practice. This is real faith.

We hear there is an invention, we believe it is good; then we come and see it. We hear that there is wealth, we see it; we work hard for it, and become rich ourselves and so help others. We know and we see the Light, we go close to it, are warmed by it, and reflect its rays on others; this is real faith, and thus we receive power to become the eternal sons of God. 

– Abdu’l-Baha in London, pp. 64

The light of a good character surpasseth the light of the sun and the radiance thereof. Whoso attaineth unto it is accounted as a jewel among men. The glory and the upliftment of the world must needs depend upon it. – Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 36.

Wonderful Song for all manifestations of God

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Baha'i Fast Mar 2 till 20th

The Basics of the Baha’i Fast

the Baha’i teachings recommend abstaining from food and drink during the daylight hours for 19 days prior to the vernal equinox every year:

… as the sun and moon constitute the brightest and most prominent luminaries in the heavens, similarly in the heaven of the religion of God two shining orbs have been ordained—fasting and prayer.                                     – Baha’u’llah, The Book of Certitude, p. 39.

… this material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and catching fire from the love of God.                                                             – Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 69.

for more details, follow the link below:
http://bahaiteachings.org/name-love-prayer-meditation-fasting?mc_cid=82d0591718&mc_eid=a5e50159ab

Sacrifice; The kingdom is attained by the one who forgets self.

The following parable is credited by Julia Grundy as having been told by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá..... As he was speaking to the assembled guests about sacrifice, he used a parable to illustrate His point.  ‘Abdu’l-Bahá introduced the story by saying, "Live up to the principles of sacrifice. The world will then become as nothing and be without power to attract you away from God. Sacrifice your will to the will of God. The kingdom is attained by the one who forgets self. Everything becomes yours by renunciation of everything" . . . and then he told this simple story:

DIVIDING THE SPOILS

A lion, a wolf, and a fox went hunting. They captured a wild donkey, a gazelle, and a hare. The lion said to the wolf, “Divide the spoils.” The wolf answered,

“That’s easy. The wild donkey is for you, the gazelle is for me, and the hare is for the fox.”

The lion told the wolf, “You are not a good divider.” And he bit off the wolf's head.

Then turning to the fox, he said, “You divide!” The fox answered, “The wild donkey, the gazelle, and the hare are yours!”

The lion, looking at him, said, “Because you have tried to save nothing for yourself, you may take all of them!”

     It's obvious from his choice of parable that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá not only had a point to make about sacrifice, he also had a sense of humor. Bahá’í storytelling, even the use of parable to teach Bahá’í principles, does not have to be didactic. It does not have to preclude the use of humor. Often humor conveys what moralizing does not and, as Bahá’ís are fond of saying, "God loves laughter".

Baha'is Believes

Here are few of our Believes:

what is Religon?

Can we Think Differently than what we used to?
Read the article below, Please:
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/news/details/1220509

Purpose of the story of Job

Those who declare a wish to suffer much …  must prove their sincerity; those who proclaim their longing to make great sacrifices can only prove their truth by their deeds. Job proved the fidelity of his love for God by being faithful through his great adversity, as well as during the prosperity of his life. – Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 51.

So the story of Job focuses not on justifying God’s ways to man, but on proclaiming forcefully that inasmuch as this life has the essential purpose of causing us to develop spiritually, even the righteous are tested. The Baha’i teachings explain the meaning of Job’s life in just such a context:

What trials, calamities and perplexities did he not endure! But these tests were like unto the fire and his holiness Job as like unto pure gold. Assuredly gold is purified by being submitted to the fire and if it contain any alloy or imperfection, it will disappear. That is the reason why violent tests become the cause of the everlasting glory of the righteous and are conducive to the destruction and disappearance of the unrighteous. – Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha, Volume 3, p. 655.

After Job’s passage through the fire of tests, he no longer acts blindly or unconsciously. His understanding, and therefore his faith as well, become firmly grounded in the lessons he has learned from his tests. He may not have a complete vision of God’s plan for himself or for humankind, but he does realize profoundly that the suffering he has endured has resulted in his own spiritual development. John S. Hatcher


http://bahaiteachings.org/deep-meaning-story-job

3 New Spiritual Truths that Rock the World

http://bahaiteachings.org/new-spiritual-truths-rock-world?mc_cid=a69746b2ea&mc_eid=a5e50159ab

Once a physical truth is discovered, it unavoidably spreads throughout the world. Different people are inspired by it and enabled to advance it to the next level; to use it to innovate new things that did not exist in the world before. In other words, the discovery of new truths always results in new inventions based on that discovery.

That discovery of new physical truths, and the innovations based on them, have been the source of the accelerating processes of technological change during the last two centuries, enabling us to turn silicon, which is elemental sand, into a means of communication with distant planets.

In the same way, the 19th century saw the discovery of three major spiritual truths that humanity was previously oblivious to:

• The earth is one country and humankind its citizens.
• Women and men have been created equal.
• There is only one race; that is the human race.

Please read the article.

Who are the Baha'is and why are they so persecuted?

http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Who-are-the-Baha-is-and-why-are-they-so-12396724.php


(THE CONVERSATION) 
The Baha'is are among the most persecuted religious minorities in the world.

On the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i faith, the question remains: What is the reason for their persecution?

A primary theme of Baha'u'llah’s teachings is achieving world peace through the establishment of unity, justice and equality. Therefore, Baha'u'llah’s teachings specifically advocate for racial unity, gender equality, universal education, and harmony of science and religion.

Please read the article.

Mentally Strong Kids Have Parents Who Refuse to Do These 13 Things

Give up the bad habits that rob your kids of mental strength.

by 
• Amy Morin
• https://www.thriveglobal.com/stories/15688-mentally-strong-kids-have-parents-who-refuse-to-do-these-13-things

raising a mentally strong kid requires parents to avoid the common--yet unhealthy--parenting practices that rob kids of mental strength. In my book, 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do, I identify 13 things to avoid if you want to raise a mentally strong kid who is equipped to tackle life's toughest challenges.

دعاء لطلب الشفاء

هو الابهی

أللّهمّ يا إلهي وسيّدي وسندي عليك اعتمادي واتّكالي وبحبل فضلك تـشبّـثي وبباب احديّـتك توسّلي وبنفحات قدسك حيات قلبي وبجذبات جمال وحدانيّـتك وله فؤادي وبالأنوار المشرقة من افق فردانيّـتك فرح روحي وبنسائم مهبّ عنايتك اهتزاز كينونتي وبتجلّيات ملكوت رحمانيّـتك انبعاث ذاتي وبتأييدات ملئك الأعلی نصرتي وعلو كلمتي وبتوفيقات ملكوتك الأبهی ظفري وسمو همّـتي وبحبّك نجاتي وبعرفانك حياتي وبعونك ثباتي وبفيض غمام جودك رواء غلّتي وبزلال عين فضلك برد لوعتي وبدرياق حكمتك شفاء علَّتي إلهي إلهي لا تخيّب آمالي ولا تـنظر الی اعمالي وسوء حالي وفرط هواني وشدّة حرماني وكثرة عصياني عاملني يا إلهي بما يليق لعلوّ كبريائك ولا تعاملني بما يليق لدنو ذلّي وفقري وخذلاني إلهي إلهي الأعين مترصّدة لنزول مواهبك إلهي إلهي القلوب منتظرة لظهور انوار عواطفك فاشدد أزري بقوّتك القاهرة علی الموجودات وقو ظهري بقدرتك الغالبة علی الممكنات ونوّر بصري بانوارك السّاطعة من مشرق الكلمات واشرح صدري بآياتك الباهرةِ من مطالع الظّهورات وقو جندي براياتك المرتفعة علی اتلال افئدة حقائق المقدّسة النّاطقة في الأرضين والسّموات إنّك أنت المقتدر علی ما تـشاء وإنّك أنت القويّ العزيز القدير. – عبدالبهاء

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