The concept of âUnity in Diversityâ is a given in the BahĂĄ’Ă Faith and a term thatâs been bandied around so often, that weâre now seeing it in the non-BahĂĄ’Ă world too. The best known usage inside the Faith, is around the concept of the oneness of humanity, being likened to a garden, but recently I came across this quote (which Iâve broken in 3 parts) and had an entirely different understanding of what it means:
A unity in diversity of actions is called for, a condition in which different individuals will concentrate on different activities, appreciating the salutary effect of the aggregate on the growth and development of the Faith . . .
Think of the human body â a beautiful example of unity in diversity in action! We need big toenails just as much as we need eyeballs and kneecaps and thumbs. The big toenail doesnât feel guilty it canât see. The kneecap isnât depressed because it canât pick things up. Each part is important to the functioning of the whole (have you ever had a sore big toe nail? The whole body suffers!). Each part has a role to play, which is different from every other part. We accept it without giving it any thought, because typically, the body functions without any conscious effort on our part.
Thatâs what our BahĂĄ’Ă life needs to be like.
. . . because each person cannot do everything and all persons cannot do the same thing . . .
The Universal House of Justice has asked us to concentrate on 4 core activities:Â Study Circles, Devotional Gatherings, Childrenâs Classes and Junior Youth programs, but that doesnât mean that everyone has to do one or more of these activities the same as anyone else.
If youâre a big toenail, perhaps you will tutor a study circle, or put together the devotions, or teach the childrenâs classes and junior youth programs.
If youâre a kneecap, you might organize the activities (find the tutors, teachers and animators, order the books, call the students, parents etc.)
If youâre the eyeball, you might host the events or bake the cookies.
If youâre the thumb, you might provide transportation or child care.
If youâre the eyelash, you might pray for the success of the event.
If youâre the elbow, you might serve on the institutions that do the planning.
But how many of us try to do everything and either burn out or become inactive because they feel that what they have to offer isnât appreciated, or isnât what others are doing etc?
. . . This understanding is important to the maturity which, by the many demands being made upon it, the community is being forced to attain. (Compilations, Promoting Entry by Troops, p. 17)
So the next time you are tempted to do it all, remember that itâs a sign of maturity to know which part of the whole youâre best at, recognize that you are a big toe nail, and leave the work of the eyeball to the eyeball.
Tonight, at 3:00, Baha’is around the world will say prayers to commemorate the passing of Baha’llah, the founder of their Faith. What would make them get out of bed at that time of day? The following article, by Dale E. Lehman, from: http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=36 may give us some clues.
JinĂĄb-i-MĂrzĂĄ IsmĂĄ’Ăl, a believer present in that last audience with BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, has recorded: “Tears flowed from my eyes and I was overcome with feelings of grief and sorrow after hearing these words. At this moment the Blessed Perfection bade me come close to Him, and I obeyed. Using a handkerchief which was in His hand, BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh wiped the tears from my cheeks. As He did so, the words of Isaiah [25:8], ‘and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces…’, involuntarily came to my mind.” (’AlĂ-Akbar FurĂștan, Stories of BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, p. 109)
Considering all that had happened in the 48 years beginning with the declaration of the BĂĄb in 1844, BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh’s passing on May 29, 1892 at about 3:00 A.M. might seem anticlimactic. He died quietly at the age of 75, still marginally a prisoner but permitted to live outside the walls of AkkĂĄ in a mansion known as BahjĂ. The relative tranquility of His final days on Earth stand in marked contrast to the tumult that had surrounded Him for much of His life, yet it proved to be merely the calm before another storm for ‘Abdu’l-BahĂĄ, His oldest son and appointed successor.
Even a quick review of BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh’s life shows Him to be remarkable. Born to a noble family in Persia, He might have lived a life of relative ease. He was generally held to be a wise and good man whose charity had earned Him the nickname “Father of the poor.” But when word of the BĂĄb reached Him, He embraced the new religion and became one of its staunchest supporters, jeopardizing everything He had. Over the next few years He was briefly imprisoned twice, tortured on one occasion and narrowly escaped an official death sentence when MuhammĂĄd ShĂĄh passed away before issuing the order.
BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh’s imprisonment in August, 1852 on trumped-up charges connected with an attempt by two deranged BĂĄbĂs to assassinate NĂĄsiri’d-DĂn ShĂĄh set the stage for the rest of His life. In that prison (SĂyĂĄh-ChĂĄl, literally “the Black Pit”) He experienced a revelation from God telling Him that He was the Promised One whose coming the BĂĄb had foretold. This revelation was born while He was surrounded by the worst of criminals and weighed down by a chain so heavy that He would bear scars from it for the rest of His life. A far cry from the life He had until that time known! And it was just the beginning.
Released from prison in November, BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh was stripped of wealth and property and banished to BaghdĂĄd, the first of four banishments He would suffer. In each place to which He was sent, His wisdom and character earned Him the admiration of people from all walks of life, but in each case the authorities, fearful of His influence, sent Him further into exile. Thus He was moved from BaghdĂĄd to Constantinople, Adrianople, and finally the prison city of AkkĂĄ in the Holy Land. While the authorities plotted to be rid of Him, His own half-brother, MirzĂĄ YahyĂĄ, who the BĂĄb had appointed as head of the Faith until the Promised One arose, grew increasingly jealous of BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh’s influence among the BĂĄbĂs. YahyĂĄ attempted to claim the station of the Promised One for Himself and plotted BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh’s death, once smearing poison on His teacup. BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh nearly died, and suffered from a hand tremor for the rest of his life.
Although despised and threatened on all sides, He never once ceased to proclaim the message God had entrusted to Him. His Writings amount to some 100 volumes and were addressed to kings and commoners, friends and enemies, believers and deniers. For 40 years He proclaimed this Message in words such as these:
This is the Day in which God’s most excellent favors have been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty grace hath been infused into all created things. It is incumbent upon all the peoples of the world to reconcile their differences, and, with perfect unity and peace, abide beneath the shadow of the Tree of His care and loving-kindness. It behoveth them to cleave to whatsoever will, in this Day, be conducive to the exaltation of their stations, and to the promotion of their best interests…. Beseech ye the one true God to grant that all men may be graciously assisted to fulfil that which is acceptable in Our sight. Soon will the present-day order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead. Verily, thy Lord speaketh the truth, and is the Knower of things unseen.
(Gleanings from the Writings of BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, IV, p. 6-7)
What are we, over a century after His death, to make of all this? We live in an increasingly cynical age, an age that has seen faith stand in opposition to reason while self-proclaimed prophets lead scores of followers to pointless deaths and religious fanaticism fuels acts of terrorism. Were not the BĂĄb and BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh just more of the same?
Clearly not. Both gave up everything to proclaim their Messages. They gained nothing in this world, nor could they have hoped to gain anything. From the start they were surrounded by bitter enemies whose one object was to destroy them. They were both known for their knowledge, wisdom and kindness. They asked nothing for themselves while exhorting their followers to the highest standards of belief and behavior, standards they upheld in their own lives. Indeed, the only true parallel in history to the BĂĄb’s mission is that of Jesus, while BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh’s mission stands unparalleled. Their followers suffered every manner of persecution and died by the thousands at the hands of their oppressors even though they didn’t oppose either the government or the clergy. Rather, BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh made obedience to the government a requirement for His followers. Thus these persecutions and deaths were not akin to the armed standoffs and suicide pacts we’ve seen in this century. They are, rather, akin to the Roman persecution of the early Christian community.
Moreover, consider the sheer influence wielded by two men who were stripped of position and possesions, whose deaths were sought by the most powerful people of their time and place, and whose claims were rejected by the majority of the people. Think of all the self-proclaimed prophets who have arisen since that time. Where are they now? Where are their followers? What good have they done in the world? Meanwhile, BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh has over six million followers around the world, drawn from every national, racial, ethnic and religious background. His religion is among the fastest-growing in the world and His teachings are being put into practice not only by BahĂĄ’Ăs, but by humanity generally. The world is evolving rapidly toward that state of unity that He promised, whether it realizes it or not, whether it wants to or not. Jim Jones, David Koresh and their ilk are mere footnotes to history, but BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh is everywhere.
I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to stand in BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh’s presence, to hear His voice, to ask Him a question. There are many stories of such encounters. Some people recount the awe they felt when they were near Him, others how he intuitively knew what was on their minds. The stories that tend to pop into my mind, though, are the ones that show His humor and His love for His followers, such as this one about a young boy who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, so to speak:
ĂqĂĄ Muhammad-i-TabrĂzĂ has recounted how, as a child of four or five, he would go with his family to the Mansion of BahjĂ each Friday, as was customary among the believers at that time, to attain the presence of the Blessed Beauty. They would stay all day, using the rooms on the lower floor of the Mansion.
During one of these visits the grown-ups were resting in their rooms at noontime; as it was a warm day, he left his room and wandered to the upper floor of the Mansion where he entered the large hall. Ambling about he eventually came to the room where food was stored, and here he noticed a bag filled with sugar. Instinctively he took a handful, put it in his mouth, then filled both hands before leaving the storeroom. Back in the hall, he froze in his tracks upon seeing the Blessed Beauty pacing to and fro there. Slowly and in a gentle manner, BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh came towards him, cast a loving glance at his hands and then led the little boy towards a large table in the middle of the hall. Picking up a plate of candies, He offered one to the child who, with closed fist, accepted it. “It seems you like sweets,” BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh said. “Eat well! Goodbye. And may God protect you.”
(’AlĂ-Akbar FurĂștan, Stories of BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, p. 69-70)
God singled out BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh to be the revealer of His names and attributes, to be the channel through which the Word was transmitted to us. For this He became the object of the hatred, jealousy, and wrath of kings and their ministers, of priests and even of some of His own family. For forty years He suffered under their hatred, yet love and laughter remained two of His most precious gifts to humanity. I find great comfort in that.
What’s your favorite memory of this Holy Day? Post your comments here:
The greatest of BahĂĄ’Ă festivals, the Festival of RidvĂĄn, is here. For a period of 12 days starting on April 21st, BahĂĄ’Ăs around the world will celebrate BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh’s public declaration of His mission, an event which took place on the eve of His departure from BaghdĂĄd for Constantinople. No less than three Holy Days are celebrated in the course of this time period, and elections for Local and National Spiritual Assemblies take place.
The significance of RidvĂĄn for BahĂĄ’Ăs can’t be overstated. In 1844, the BĂĄb had arisen to proclaim the coming of a great Messenger from God, the Promised One of all religions. During His six-year ministry, which culminated in His public execution on July 9, 1850, the BĂĄb called the people of Persia to purify themselves in preparation for the arrival of “He whom God shall make manifest.” BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, one of the BĂĄb’s foremost followers, was imprisoned in 1853 on false charges. While in prison, He experienced a revelation from God in which He learned that He was to be that Promised One. But upon His release from prison a few months later, He told no one of this experience. Indeed, for ten years, the entire duration of His exile in BaghdĂĄd, He kept silent on this matter. Even so, His character, wisdom, and deep spiritual insight affected all who came into contact with Him.
His growing influence prompted the authorities to seek to move Him to another place. BaghdĂĄd was an important crossroads at that time, and it was feared that the new religion might be spread far and wide if He were permitted to stay there, coming into contact with travelers from all quarters. Arrangements were therefore made to transfer BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh and His party to Constantinople.
On the eve of His departure, BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh took up residence in a garden which has since become known to BahĂĄ’Ăs as the Garden of RidvĂĄn. (Just to confuse matters, there is also a Garden of RidvĂĄn near Mazra’ih and BahjĂ, where BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh spent His last days.) He spent 12 days there in preparation for the long journey ahead. Guests flowed into the garden, rich and poor, powerful and lowly, all paying respects to the great Personage whose influence had touched them all. Sometime during the midst of all this activity, BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh declared to the gathered BĂĄbĂs that He was the Promised One spoken of by the BĂĄb.
“RidvĂĄn” means “Paradise”, from which we can gather something of what the atmosphere must have felt like during that 12-day period. In God Passes By, Shoghi Effendi recounts the tale thus:
Of the exact circumstances attending that epoch-making Declaration we, alas, are but scantily informed. The words BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh actually uttered on that occasion, the manner of His Declaration, the reaction it produced, its impact on MirzĂĄ YahyĂĄ [BahĂĄ'u'llĂĄh's half-brother, who later tried to usurp His position and made several attempts on His life], the identity of those who were privileged to hear Him, are shrouded in an obscurity which future historians will find it difficult to penetrate. The fragmentary description left to posterity by His chronicler NabĂl is one of the very few authentic records we possess of the memorable days He spent in that garden. “Every day,” NabĂl has related, “ere the hour of dawn, the gardeners would pick the roses which lined the four avenues of the garden, and would pile them in the center of the floor of His blessed tent. So great would be the heap that when His companions gathered to drink their morning tea in His presence, they would be unable to see each other across it. All these roses BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh would, with His own hands, entrust to those whom He dismissed from His presence every morning to be delivered, on His behalf, to His Arab and Persian friends in the city.” “One night,” he continues, “the ninth night of the waxing moon, I happened to be one of those who watched beside His blessed tent. As the hour of midnight approached, I saw Him issue from His tent, pass by the places where some of His companions were sleeping, and begin to pace up and down the moonlit, flower-bordered avenues of the garden. So loud was the singing of the nightingales on every side that only those who were near Him could hear distinctly His voice. He continued to walk until, pausing in the midst of one of these avenues, He observed: ‘Consider these nightingales. So great is their love for these roses, that sleepless from dusk till dawn, they warble their melodies and commune with burning passion with the object of their adoration. How then can those who claim to be afire with the rose-like beauty of the Beloved choose to sleep?’ For three successive nights I watched and circled round His blessed tent. Every time I passed by the couch whereon He lay, I would find Him wakeful, and every day, from morn till eventide, I would see Him ceaselessly engaged in conversing with the stream of visitors who kept flowing in from BaghdĂĄd. Not once could I discover in the words He spoke any trace of dissimulation.”
(p. 153)
Many years later, BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh would designate the Festival of RidvĂĄn “the Most Great Festival” and specify that the first, ninth, and twelfth days should be celebrated as Holy Days. The BahĂĄ’Ă administrative year now begins on the First Day of RidvĂĄn with the election of Local and National Spiritual Assemblies as prescribed by ‘Abdu’l-BahĂĄ and Shoghi Effendi. This is not accidental. The elections that renew the administrative order become part of the festivities.
The members of the BahĂĄ’Ă Faith celebrate their New Year (called âNaw Ruzâ) today, March 21, but did you know that itâs the only holiday celebrated by more than one religious group?
Some people claim that Naw-Ruz dates as far back as 15,000 years — before the last ice age, while others claim that it was founded by Zoroaster. Today, the festival is celebrated in many countries that were territories of, or influenced by, the Persian Empire: Iran, Kurdistan, parts of the Middle East, as well as in the former Soviet republics of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is also celebrated by Persians living in Pakistan, Zanzibar, Turkey, Iraq, Albania, northwestern China and parts of the Indian subcontinent. In Afghanistan during the reign of the Taliban, Naw Ruz was banned until 2001 where it came back as popular as it was before the Taliban. It is also a holy day for Ismailis, Alawites, and Alevis (branches of the Shiite Moslem religion). The Jewish festival of Purim is probably adopted from the Persian New Year. Naw-Ruz is celebrated rather like the Christian Easter, with many symbols indicating spring and renewal.
Persians believe that Naw Ruz marks the first day when the universe started its motion. Moslems believe itâs a day in which many events of great religious significance took place. Among them God’s first covenant with mankind, the first rising of the sun, the grounding of Noah’s ark on Ararat, Gabriel’s first appearance to Muhammad, the destruction of the idols in the holy Sanctuary at Mecca, Muhammad’s appointment of `Ali as His successor, the appearance of the Qa’im, and the final triumph of the Qa’im over the Antichrist. Such traditions echoed similar accounts of Naw-Ruz found in Zoroastrian literature. In the northern hemisphere Naw-RĂșz marks the coming of spring.
In the BahĂĄ’Ă Faith, the BĂĄb called the first day of his new calendar âthe Day of Godâ. The remaining eighteen days of the first month were associated with the eighteen Letters of the Living, hence the BĂĄb’s apostles imagined a celebration that would last nineteen days.
BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, adopted the new calendar proposed by the BĂĄb, and the use of Naw-RĂșz as a festival for those who observed the fast. Naw-RĂșz is one of nine BahĂĄ’Ă holy days where work is to be suspended (the only one that is not is not associated with an event in the lives of either the BĂĄb or BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh).
If we are not happy and joyous at this season, for what other season shall we wait and for what other time shall we look? This is the time for growing; the season for joyous gathering! Take the cup of the Testament in thy hand; leap and dance with ecstasy in the triumphal procession of the Covenant! Lay your confidence in the everlasting bounty, turn to the presence of the generous God; ask assistance from the Kingdom of Abha; seek confirmation from the Supreme World; turn thy vision to the horizon of eternal wealth; and pray for help from the Source of Mercy! (Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith, p. 351)
As with all BahĂĄ’Ă holy days, there are few fixed rules for observing Naw-RĂșz. BahĂĄ’Ăs all over the world celebrate it according to local custom.
During the time of the BĂĄb, throughout the night of Naw-Ruz each believer was to recite 361 times the verse: âGod beareth witness that there is no God but Him, the Ineffable, the Self-Subsistentâ, and during the day: âGod beareth witness that there is no God but Him, the Precious, the Belovedâ.
Persians start preparing for Naw Ruz with a major spring-cleaning of their houses, the purchase of new clothes and flowers (hyacinths and the tulips are popular). They believe that whatever a person does on Naw Ruz will affect the rest of the year. So, if a person is warm and kind to their relatives, friends and neighbors on that day, then the new year will be a good one. On the other hand, if there are fights and disagreements, the year will be a bad one.
The most joyful time for a Naw-Ruz celebration is at sunset on the last day of the Fast. It seems almost directed by Baha’u'llah that it should be this way:
O Pen of the Most High! Say: O people of the world! We have enjoined upon you fasting during a brief period, and at its close have designated for you Naw-Ruz as a feast. (Bahaâuâllah, Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 24)
`Abdu’l-BahĂĄ, explained the significance of Naw-RĂșz in terms of spring and the new life it brings. As the fast ended, he said, they could turn a new page in their lives, inspired to right action and spiritual excellence.
Soon the whole world, as in springtime, will change its garb. The turning and falling of the autumn leaves is past; the bleakness of the winter time is over. The new year hath appeared and the spiritual springtime is at hand. The black earth is becoming a verdant garden; the deserts and mountains are teeming with red flowers; from the borders of the wilderness the tall grasses are standing like advance guards before the cypress and jessamine trees; while the birds are singing among the rose branches like the angels in the highest heavens, announcing the glad-tidings of the approach of that spiritual spring, and the sweet music of their voices is causing the real essence of all things to move and quiver. (Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith, p. 351)
Hereâs a part of the Naw Ruz tablet, which we can say today:
Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-RĂșz as a festival unto those who have observed the fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto thee. Grant, O my Lord, that the fire of Thy love and the heat produced by the fast enjoined by Thee may inflame them in Thy Cause, and make them to be occupied with Thy praise and with remembrance of Thee. (BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, Prayers and Meditations, p. 67)
Whatâs your favorite Naw Ruz memory? Post your comment here:
I found this excerpt from a talk given I believe by Roger Nixon a number of years ago, and thought you’d enjoy it.
The last month of the Baha’i year is the month of fasting, when BahĂĄâĂs abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset.Many people ask why we fast and assume it is for health reasons, or in order to loose weight.Although fasting is, of course, beneficial to one’s health, the BahĂĄâĂ Fast is observed because it is a law prescribed for our spiritual development.Periods of fasting have been observed by people of different religions throughout the ages, and the BahĂĄâĂ Fast is a continuation of that tradition.The main purpose of a religious fast is to commemorate the “Act of Revelation”, the Act of God’s communion with His Holy Messengers, when He inspires Them with His laws and teachings.
We know that Moses did not eat or drink while He was on Mount Sinai to receive the commandments for the Jewish people;Buddha fasted for extended periods during the times of His “Enlightenment”; Jesus withdrew to Mount Tabor in the Holy Land, where He prayed and fasted for 40 days; and the Muslim Fast during the month of Ramadan commemorates the Revelation of the Holy Qu’ran by the Prophet Muhammad.
In this age we have the example of BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, Founder of the Baha’i Faith, Who revealed over 100 volumes of Holy Writings during the 40 years of His Ministry.Whenever a new Revelation from God descended upon Him, He, too, fasted.The Words of God came to Him like torrents of spring rain, and His secretaries had to develop a special style of shorthand, called “Revelation writing”, in order to record them.
When fasting, we are somehow linked to this divine process, as we not only commemorate the priceless gift of a new Revelation from God, but also meditate on the revealed Word of God, often called “the Bread of Life”.One can say that we are feasting on the Bread of Life during the Fast!Naw Ruz has been ordained as a Feast to follow the Fast and — happily — includes food and drink to keep body and soul together!
Here’s a prayer of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recently translated at the Baha’i World Centre:
O Divine Providence! As I am abstaining from bodily desires and not occupied with eating and drinking, even so purify and sanctify my heart from the love of anyone save Thyself, and shield and protect my soul from corrupt desires and satanic qualities so that my spirit may commune with the breaths of holiness, and fast from the mention of all else besides Thee.
What’s your experience with the fast? Post your comments here:
Below are 10 top tips for healthy eating during the Fast:
Donât gorge in the evenings: Large meals should be avoided because they can cause the digestive system to block after a long day of fasting. Therefore, break your fast with dates and water or juice as they contain simple sugars that can be absorbed easily by the body. Then try to have a balanced meal â soups are a good choice as they donât stress the stomach and hydrate the body.
Stay off the Salt: Salty foods should be avoided as they will retain water in the body and cause discomfort.
Hydrate Yourself: A lack of fluids makes the body prone to dehydration and more likely to retain fats and toxins. So, drink ample quantities of water and fresh juices.
Eat Yoghurt: Yogurt is recommended at both meals, as it contains friendly bacteria which benefit the digestive tract. Yoghurt also helps digestion and cleanses the intestines from harmful bacteria. Also, it is a good source of calcium and protein.
Avoid Sugar and Grease: Fried foods and sweets should be consumed in moderation as they are full of saturated fats which raise cholesterol and adversely affect your health.
Get Moving:Exercise is very important during the Fast as it helps you maintain your body weight by burning the extra-calories and eliminating stress. It also has an essential role in preventing constipation.
Donât Skip Breakfast: Many people tend to skip breakfast; however skipping meals will slow down your metabolism and lead to fatigue and distress. For Suhoor, try to choose foods that contain protein, complex carbohydrates and high-fibre foods such as wheat, oats, beans, whole grain bread, vegetables and seasonable fruits.Fibers and proteins take a long time to be digested so you wonât feel hungry.
Avoid Tea and Coffee: Tea, Coffee and carbonated beverages remove calcium from your body. It is therefore recommended that you avoid them especially at breakfast, as they increase salt and water excretion which your body needs during fasting.
Donât neglect Protein: Consumption of protein is important in order to prevent muscle wasting; vegetarians should consider this when choosing non-animal protein sources.
Finish with Fruit: Intake of fruits after a meal is highly beneficial and provides the body with nutrients. Fasting could be effective in treating of moderate (non-insulin) diabetes, obesity and hypertension as the process lowers the blood sugar levels, cholesterol and the systolic blood pressure.
Nathalie Haddad, leading Dietician and Managing Director of Right Bite cautions: “It is highly important to eat moderately and focus on well-balanced and low-fat meals during the Fast. A light, healthy breakfast, one that is high in complex carbohydrates and fiber, will help prevent tiredness, poor concentration, dizziness and headaches. At dinner, it is important to consume food from all five groups with minimum fat content and to control portion sizes in order to avoid weight gain.”
The BahĂĄ’Ă month of fasting is an excellent opportunity to assess our behavior and habits and to adjust to a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Through fasting, we learn how to control our manners and our eating habits. It is also a good chance for the stomach to have a break and allow the body to eliminate accumulated toxins.
Many of us wonder what is best to eat during the Fast and how to stay healthy and get the maximum benefit from the fasting process. A quick review of the physiological changes that occur during fasting will help us determine what should be consumed before dawn and after sunset.
What happens in our bodies during fasting?
When the body enters into a state of fasting (approximately twelve hours after the last meal), it draws upon the glucose stored in the liver and muscles as the main source of energy. Fat is used
next, as a source of energy once these stores of glucose are used up. This process promotes weight loss and also prevents muscle wasting.
After a few days of fasting, toxins stored in the body fat are broken down and hormones, such as endorphins, appear in the blood in higher levels, improving vigilance and inducing an overall feeling of well-being.
What to eat during the Fast?
A balanced nutritious diet containing adequate amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water is vital between fasts in order to ensure a healthy state of mind and body.
As the fast approaches, many of us wonder if fasting will be “too difficult to do.” Here is a practical guide of how we can make fasting both easier and more spiritually rewarding:
1.Make your intention to abide by the will of God:
It is important for the acceptance of any act of worship to do it solely for the pleasure of God. If you sincerely want to fast for Him, He will make it easy for you.
2.Stock up on groceries a week in advance:
Fasting requires two major meals each day. If you buy the food you’ll need for the week, you wonât waste time and energy shopping when temptation might be high to buy more than you need.
3.Prepare yourself:
Read the compilation The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting to understand more about this spiritual obligation.
Make sure you have a printed timetable of dawn and sunset times in your area for the entire month in a place where you can easily refer to it.
Youâll want to avoid caffeinated drinks such as coke, coffee or tea during the fast, because caffeine is a diuretic. Three to five days before the Fast, gradually reduce your intake of these drinks, since a sudden decrease in caffeine prompts headaches, mood swings and irritability, which youâll want to avoid when you are fasting.
If you are a smoker, you wonât be able to smoke during the daylight hours, so consider cutting down gradually starting a few weeks before the Fast starts. Smoking negatively affects the utilization of various vitamins, metabolites and enzyme systems in the body, so if you smoke, consider how you can replace these things during the Fast.
4.Prepare your family:
This is especially important if you have non-Bahaâi family members.Let them know how their lives might be affected while you are fasting and what you expect of them.
5.Go to bed early:
In order to wake up refreshed and on time for the pre-dawn meal, go to bed early during the Fast.
6.Eat Moderately:
Contrary to popular opinion, nutritionist and dieticians suggest that people tend to gain more weight during the Fast compared to the rest of the year, as a result of following incorrect and unplanned food practices. To avoid the widespread occurrence of digestive and stomach-related problems, there are many eating habits that should be followed during the Fast.
There is no need to consume excess food before dawn.Some Bahaâis eat more than usual at breakfast, thinking, “this is my last chance to get as much food into myself as I can, before having to starve till sunset”. Fasting is not the same as starving the body, so eat in moderation.
The body has regulatory mechanisms that activate during fasting. There is efficient utilization of body fat. Basal metabolism slows down during the Fast. A diet that is less than the normal amount of food intake, but contains all the required minerals and vitamins is sufficient to keep a person healthy and active during the Fast.
7.Donât skip breakfast:
Some people, hating to get up so early, prefer to eat till well after midnight and sleep late, skipping breakfast altogether. Eating breakfast minimizes the feeling of hunger during the day and provides the body with all its nutritional needs.
8.Go about your normal daily routine:
Some people assume that since they can not eat or drink till sunset, they should “sleep off” the fast and awaken only a few hours before the evening meal. They draw their curtains, pull their comforters over their heads or put on the air conditioner, and sleep till the evening. They get up to eat and then dive back into their beds. This is not the aim or spirit of the Fast. Fasting does not curb energy for productive work, except in the last two hours of the fast, so continue to work or study as usual till 2 or 3 hours before sunset. If you have a chance to lie down and rest for a while for an afternoon siesta, this will help you get through.
It is recommended that everyone engage in some kind of light exercise, such as stretching or walking. It’s important to follow good time management practices to ensure you have enough time for prayer, sleep, studies, job, and physical activities or exercise.
9.Breaking the fast:
The dinner meal is the high point of the day for everyone who fasts.This meal, unfortunately, is also the cause of most of the excess and extravagance that takes place during this month.
Muslims break their fast by eating three to five dates with a glass of water.Dates consist of 80 per cent sugar, while the remainder constitutes protein, fat and minerals, including copper, sulphur, iron, magnesium and fluoric acid.They are high in fiber and are an excellent source of potassium so they compensate for the sugar and other elements the body loses during the day.
After the dates and water, they offer prayers with a light stomach and a thankful, attentive heart, and then return to the table to eat in moderation, which prevents them from overeating as soon as the sun sets.Starting with a hot vegetable and lentil soup alerts the stomach, facilitates the digestive process and provides the body with needed energy from the fiber and vitamins.
The main meal should contain vegetables, proteins and carbohydrates to give the body the nutrition it needs. Meat, chicken and fish, should be provided to make up for the loss of nutrition while fasting. Itâs also important to eat small helpings of fruit for dessert, to give the body the required amounts of sugar.These should be eaten two hours after the main meal, to facilitate digestion and prevent gastrointestinal problems.
Fruits and mixed nuts may be eaten as a snack before going to bed, and make sure you drink sufficient water, to prevent dehydration.
The first week of fasting settles the body into fasting mode, and by the mid-point most of us have settled into a new routine.The second half of the fast can be used to intensify our focus on prayer and our spiritual connection with God. Consistent fasting does take its toll on the body, so during the last few days of the fast, you might find you need to spend a portion of these days sleeping or resting more than usual.
In summary, an intake of a balanced diet is critical to maintaining good health, sustaining an active lifestyle and attaining the full benefits of the Fast.
What would you like to share about eating during the Fast? Post your comments here:
Baha’is celebrate the festival of Ayyam-i-Ha each year from sunset on Feb. 25 to sunset of March 1 as a preparation for the Fast (March 2 â 20). During this time, BahĂĄ’Ăs perform acts of charity, give gifts to friends and family, and attend social gatherings.
Baha’u'llah has said of Ayyam-i-Ha:
It behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name. (BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, KitĂĄb-i-Aqdas, p. 25)
Because the Faith is so new (165 years old), and many of werenât born BahĂĄ’Ăs, each person must decide how to accomplish this lofty goal.Some people find this very stressful.
Battling and overcoming stress during the holidays can be a challenge to anyone. There are a number of things that can lead to this type of stress:
Having to establish new traditions instead of relying on old ones
Finding time and inspiration to perform acts of charity
Lack of other BahĂĄ’Ăs to celebrate with â so the four days are just like every other day
Planning menus and grocery shopping for the fast
And typical of non-BahĂĄ’Ă holiday stress comes:
Family gatherings
Gift buying
Conflicts
And more
You may also have high expectations of what you want the holidays to look like, which also adds to the stress of your holiday season.
Here are some methods you can use to battle and overcome stress during the holidays:
Are you overcommitted? Even though the rest of the world doesnât slow down at this time of year, itâs important to make time to both host and attend social gatherings.
Saying âno thank youâ to some less important obligations will help people understand and appreciate the unique rhythm of our Faith, and will free up more time for socializing and being of service.
Itâs important to honour and enjoy the spirit of the holidays. If it takes saying ânoâ to preserve some of your sanity, go for it! Others will be more understanding than you give them credit for.
Donât become so burdened that you secretly wish for Ayyam-i-Ha to pass quickly. Take time to be by yourself. Whether you take a walk in nature, retreat into the Writings, journal or have a bubble bath, allow yourself to do something enjoyable to prepare for the Fast.
Carrying on traditions. Growing up, we may have preconceived ideas of what âshouldâ be done. Maybe we watched our mothers cook a full course Christmas dinner. Perhaps it was routine to host a lavish holiday party. Maybe your family baked hundreds of Christmas cookies to give to friends and relatives.You donât have to re-create Christmas!
Rather than living up to the expectations of years past, start your own, easy-going traditions. Instead of throwing a lavish party, have fewer friends over for tea and cookies. Allow other family members to bring side dishes to the holiday meal rather than cooking it all yourself.
If you find that the routine you normally follow for the pure and simple sake of tradition is weighing on you and resulting in more stress than you can deal with, break away from it! You will be happier when youâre free from this stress.
Finding the perfect gift. Thereâs so much pressure to purchase the perfect gift for each person that it takes all the fun out of shopping. Remember, people are generally appreciative for whatever gift they receive. They donât expect you to go to every corner of the Earth to find them a spectacular gift.
Save time and money by skipping the wrapping! Creativity is the main focus. You can even give gifts that can be used throughout the year. For example, you may give a coupon in a card for a free night of babysitting, one day of yard work, or other special things.
Shopping online has made searching for gifts much easier. It might also be more cost effective to buy online because many stores offer special sales or free shipping near the holidays.
Be grateful!Hailey Tallman, a BahĂĄ’Ă from the London (Canada) Community reminds us:
During this happy time of Ayyam-i-ha, let us celebrate an astounding fact:
We as Baha’is know the meaning of this life! Â It has been revealed to us by Baha’u'llah and we repeat it everyday in our obligatory prayer:
“I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee. Â I testify at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth. Â There is none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.”
AND, because of Baha’u'llah, we have a hopeful vision of the future:
“These fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the ‘Most great Peace’ shall come…” (BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, Proclamation of BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, p. viii)
This is more than the average person alive today knows in their hearts. Â What an amazing bounty and joy we have in this knowledge!And what a gift we have to share with others! Â Let us not delay or shy away from any opportunity to spread this love and knowledge of the meaning of life!
As you can see, there are several effective ways to battle and overcome stress during the holidays. The key is to determine whatâs causing your stress so you can eliminate it. In the end, youâll see that most of the stress you experience is a result of the expectations you pose on yourself.
Happy Ayyam-i-Ha, everybody!
What do you do to make this holiday special and stress-free?Post your comments here:
The concept of âUnity in Diversityâ is a given in the BahĂĄ’Ă Faith and a term thatâs been bandied around so often, that weâre now seeing it in the non-BahĂĄ’Ă world too. The best known usage inside the Faith, is around the concept of the oneness of humanity, being likened to a garden, but recently I came across this quote (which Iâve broken in 3 parts) and had an entirely different understanding of what it means:
