one evening, we were all sitting around after prayers, and we started talking about forming a teaching team, and addressing some of the needs we saw among our friends and in the community.

one of the families we know is very interested in the teachings of the baha’i faith, and wanted to be involved in core activities.  they have 3 sons – two are junior youth and one is a child.  so we decided that one of us would tutor a ruhi book 1, another would teach a children’s class, and a third would animate a junior youth (jy) group.  we started about a month ago, but it was hard to gather the boys at first, and encouraging them to invite their friends to the group and class has not yet been effective.  and then it became apparent that the two junior youth could not be in the same group together – their questions and stages of growth are completely different.

last night was my first night with the middle brother, jamal.  i thought i would start our group by trying to get to know him better.  i decided that we could start by doing an activity and asking each other questions – basically, to have a conversation.

it went about as well as i could expect… he isn’t very used to actual conversation, so it was odd and involved a lot of outbursts of random craziness (which i find hilarious), but, on reflection i realized i had learned a few really important things.

the most significant is that he hasn’t really thought about what he would like to do in the future.  his ideas about travelling, careers, etc are very limited, and the more i probed, the more i realized that he hasn’t ever been exposed to many ideas.  he’s currently interested in medicine and cooking (as careers), so i thought i would start there, and i want to also show him different places and cultures in the world – thank God for the internet!

from there, we need to start building a jy group! but, so far, so good!!!

we went out.  within a few short minutes it became apparent that i had a choice.  amal was not interested in giving anything of herself to a conversation, but she expected that i would ask her questions and try to get to know her.  probably this is the angle that most people would take, but i was impatient – hey, my time is valuable, alright!!! (really… it is! …)

so instead, i told her that i would not ask her any questions, and that she could ask me whatever she wanted.   i guess young people enjoy the power they think such games give them, because she dove right in.  asking me questions about my family, my career, my friendships, my relationships… the list goes on.  that first meeting was possible one of the most awkward few hours of my life.  and the most exhausting.  and i still knew nothing tangible about her except her first name.

however, her questions told me a lot about where she was at in life.  at her age i was asking the same questions, considering the same options, and annoying the same types of people!  i decided that i was in.  amal would be my friend.

O DWELLERS OF MY PARADISE!

With the hands of loving-kindness I have planted in the holy garden of paradise the young tree of your love and friendship, and have watered it with the goodly showers of My tender grace; now that the hour of its fruiting is come, strive that it may be protected, and be not consumed with the flame of desire and passion.

(Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

or maybe not, maybe you really won’t care, but i’m still writing up my reflections on this topic.

about a month ago, i met two people (separately) who have, for reasons i do and do not understand, become my friends.  i think i’d like to spend the next few weeks writing about my experiences with them.  (i’ve changed their names and won’t be sharing personal details – what i do share i am likely altering for effect)

but… before i start on the stories.  a quotation that has shaped my interaction with them and altered the very nature of my life.

Love the creatures for the sake of God and not for themselves. You will never become angry or impatient if you love them for the sake of God. Humanity is not perfect. There are imperfections in every human being, and you will always become unhappy if you look toward the people themselves. But if you look toward God, you will love them and be kind to them, for the world of God is the world of perfection and complete mercy. Therefore, do not look at the shortcomings of anybody; see with the sight of forgiveness. The imperfect eye beholds imperfections. The eye that covers faults looks toward the Creator of souls.
(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 92)

till tomorrow, then…

wikipedia gives a general overview of the history of naturopathy, regulations, etc

kosmix gives a more you-might-want-to-know response, which i always favor (i recommend kosmixing most things!)

the canadian association of naturopathic medicine – going to the source may not be a bad plan! (and a very well done, and easy to navigate website, might i add)

so, i should say a couple of things first:

1. i’m a firm believer in using what works and discarding what doesn’t work.  the issue with that sort of perspective when considering individuals is that what works for each person is typically different.

2. not all doctors are the same.  i’ve seen some terrible MD’s and some wonderful MD’s.  i’ve also seen some terrible acupuncturists and some great ones. you just have to find the right one.

i like to think of medicine as that system which keeps me spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy.  so to that end, i have a lot more than just my GP treating me.  i have my optometrist, dentist, counselor, and the odd jar of herbal remedies appears in my mailbox from a few of my more naturopathically inclined physicians (and of course, the Baha’i Faith!) …i have to add that i have yet to find a decent naturopathic doctor where i live – so when i say shop around, i really mean it…  in any case, it’s the combination of these people that keeps me healthy (relatively).  others might add a nutritionist to their list as well (i don’t have one), or  a masseuse, etc, you get the idea.

well, that’s all for today!  hope you are all healthy and happy!

- CJ

then i went over to my parents, to see that my brother has my dream life.  i smile and laugh, and actually, lately, i no longer feel things.  i’m just sorta numb and there.   nevertheless, it does bug me a bit to see what he gets and what i pay for.

part of it is also probably the fact that i’m listening to the soundtrack to the holiday right now (brilliant cd by the way).  but!  it is nostalgic… in a happy, detached sorta way.

anyway – here’s a Writing that i should probably be thinking about right now… and maybe you might like

52. O SON OF MAN!
Should prosperity befall thee, rejoice not, and should abasement come upon thee, grieve not, for both shall pass away and be no more.

(Baha’u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

what i find interesting is that it talks about how affected we are, as individuals, by an abundance or lack of information on a topic.  in other words – it states that being bombarded by information in the media makes us more anxious about those things, rather than things that might actually cause us more harm, but isn’t widely acknowledged/known.

it reminded me of the following Writing from Baha’u'llah:

What “oppression” is more grievous than that a soul seeking the truth, and wishing to attain unto the knowledge of God, should know not where to go for it and from whom to seek it? For opinions have sorely differed, and the ways unto the attainment of God have multiplied. This “oppression” is the essential feature of every Revelation. Unless it cometh to pass, the Sun of Truth will not be made manifest. For the break of the morn of divine guidance must needs follow the darkness of the night of error. For this reason, in all chronicles and traditions reference hath been made unto these things, namely that iniquity shall cover the surface of the earth and darkness shall envelop mankind.

(Baha’u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 31)

in a sense, this imposition of confusion on our society (and it’s not just by the media, and it’s not just the media’s fault) is a form of oppression.  ‘Abdu’l-Baha tells us that “When thou lookest about thee with a perceptive eye, thou wilt note that on this dusty earth all humankind are suffering.” (Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 184)  there’s various forms of suffering, of course, and i don’t mean to diminish what anyone is going through.  the reality is simply this: that in one form or another, every individual on this planet is hindered from finding truth.

you might read that and say “well, not everyone wants to look for truth”.  and i would respond: they’re all looking for something real, in some form.  and from there we would get into a discussion of conscious and unconscious search… which is a whole series of posts… and discussions, really.  because, at the end of the day, i don’t really know what i’m saying – i’m just sharing some thoughts and hoping that it creates a dialogue – somewhere, somehow.

just had to tell you about an awesome site that i just found.  believe it or not, there is actually a www.bahaullah.org.  it’s a photographic narrative of the life of Baha’u'llah, Prophet Founder of the Baha’i Faith.  and for the skeptics in this audience – this narrative even taught me things, and has pictures of places i had never seen.  (and that’s sayin something!)  i highly recommend it.

-CJ

(these are in no particular order)

1. call/email/msg a close friend. or two.  actually, two is usually better, because usually if one can’t cheer you up, the other can.  make sure this person isn’t someone who can’t joke – you’ll need humor to lighten the situation after you discuss your situation.

2. eat ice cream.

3. go for a walk, and get ice cream.

4. watch a funny movie.  (or watch something like the latest star trek – action AND comedy, all rolled into one)

5. find the nearest Baha’i gathering with happy people in attendance, and GO!  (take ice cream with you )

6. (can you tell that i like ice cream?) read the Baha’i Writings about love and joy and unity.  or just read through some stories about ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (eg. the ones in Ruhi 3 – those are bound to cheer you up!)

7. watch old episodes of the muppets or sesame street.  or…. madtv’s stewart.  (i’ve linked some to start you off)

ok, so i only have 7 ideas – the only other thing i would add is that if your situation is one that comes back to you, counselling is always a great option, and sometimes, you can find it at an affordable rate.  i used to always think that it was for pussies, but it’s actually a very helpful way to reflect on your life and understand what forces are acting on you, and how to resolve those with who you want to be.  maybe i’ll write more on that later.

star trek really was a GREAT movie.  i highly recommend that everyone see it.  it was witty and action packed – but not without a plot!  i’d totally go back to see it in theaters… and i think i will actually pay for the blu ray disc. 

3D Logic

Strong hold of sage

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are the horizontal lines parallel or do they slope?

Perception is everything.  It is remarkable that reality exists, given that we are all subject to our own ability to understand and interact with it.  That is to say, our limitations govern our definitions of reality.

Recently, a friend of my mom’s had an ear infection that she was unaware of.  For the past year (she doesn’t believe in doctors, as you can see) she has been missing steps (or adding them) as she goes up and down the stairs at work.  She is young, perhaps in her 20′s and my mom has beent telling her, for months, to see a doctor.  Last week, she finally went.  The diagnosis: ear infection.  She is now on medication, and should be able to go up and down stairs, without falling, within 10 days.  The infection in this young woman’s ear was causing her perception of reality to be skewed.  She was unable to clearly define/interpret where the steps started and ended, and as a result, she was constantly falling.

In a sense, we’re all doing this.   We’re all stumbling around to some degree or another, struggling against vertigo.  In the process, we’re likely doing harm to ourselves and others.  Some of us realize that we’re feeling the effects of vertigo, and do things to actively fight it… others, though, are either satisfied with where they’re at (maybe they don’t realize that it’s not normal), or they think that the room is actually no longer spinning (they’re clearly lying to themselves).

In any case – living in such a state is clearly damaging.  Why would you want to do that?  And, as an individual watching others do this to themselves – what possible reason could I have to not get involved?

These are the questions that are plaguing my mind.  When we all seem to be lost, why not work together through the maze?  Why do we constantly fight with each other?  And if others fight with me, should I still try to work with them?