Changing Times Blog

A Guide to Writing your Will – More than Possessions

You never thought about writing a will? You are too young to die? Well, you never know, “for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee”. And apart from that, Baha’u’llah has clearly said that “unto everyone hath been enjoined the writing of a will” (Kitáb-i-Aqdas, K109). Everyone – not just the elderly, or the sick, or the fast drivers.

You think of a will as a paper containing provisions about your possessions, but you don’t really possess anything? That’s fine, because there is much more about the will: “The testator should head this document with the adornment of the Greatest Name, bear witness therein unto the oneness of God in the Dayspring of His Revelation, and make mention, as he may wish, of that which is praiseworthy, so that it may be a testimony for him in the kingdoms of Revelation and Creation and a treasure with his Lord, the Supreme Protector, the Faithful.”

Continue reading, even if you’re not planning to die soon

Postcards for Iran

Under the guise of protecting its “national security”, the Iranian government has orchestrated a crackdown on rights activists, outspoken critics and ethnic and religious minorities. To stand in solidarity with our fellow human beings in Iran, and to call on the Iranian government to uphold its commitment to protecting the rights of its citizens, Mideast Youth is launching a new campaign – “Postcards for Iran“. You can send two types of postcards to Iran:

• to Iranian officials, urging them to bring an end to the violations occurring within Iran.
• Imprisoned prisoners of conscience as well. We wish to send them a message that we are aware of their plight and supports them in their struggle. (You can choose a specific prisoner too)

Combined with pressure from governments and human rights bodies and unabated media attention, grassroots initiatives such as “Postcards for Iran” have proven to be effective. Furthermore, former detainees have testified that prisoners receiving mail received better treatment, as authorities were aware that the world is monitoring their situation.

GET INVOLVED NOW. We’re looking to send hundreds of Postcards. Do your small part and send a postcard free of charge by filling out the form online at: http://www.postcards-for-iran.org/

Baha’i Gardens launch website

To celebrate UNESCO’s decision to recognize the Baha’i Shrines as a World Heritage Site, a new website has been launched and a range of activities will take place in the coming weeks. The celebration is marked by Open Days in Haifa and ‘Akko for the general public.

(Haifa) You and your family are invited to explore the gardens between the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb and the Haifa Germany Colony. You will be able to go up or down at your own pace and to interact with the gardeners while they carry out their work. You can also view a variety of exhibits and take part in creative children’s activities.

Definitely check out the website at http://www.ganbahai.org.il/en which includes fascinating information about the design and management of the Gardens, visited by over half a million people a year.

How does being a UNESCO World Heritage Site benefit the Baha’is? Continue here…

Brand New Robert Gillies EP

The Milkhouse Sessions is the latest result of Rob’s brilliant musical genius. The EP is packed with seven tracks recorded in Boston, Massachusetts where Rob’s planning his crusade of the music world (and our ears) and in Moffat, Scotland where Rob first put strings to fingers.

He recorded the album recreating the live experience with studio quality recording. Just what we wanted after his brilliant performances at Changing Times this year. Two of the songs on this EP have already been critically acclaimed. In case you still don’t know who Rob is: Gillies is a singer-songwriter with a original style spanning pop, folk and hip-hop.

Now available on iTunes US, Canada and UK/EU. Enjoy the teaser:

8 Details from the Guardian’s Life

“Like a cloud-break in a stormy sky these words [Salutation and praise..rest upon..the Primal Branch], even as a mighty shaft of sunlight, broke through the gloom and tempest of dangerous years and shone from on high upon a small boy.” – Priceless Pearl

• The Greatest Holy Leaf would take Shoghi Effendi’s hands into hers and remark: “These are like the hands of my father [Baha'u'llah].”
• As a child, he had memorized some touching passages written by ‘Abdu’l-Baha after the Ascension of Baha’u'llah and when he chanted these, the tears would roll down the earnest little face.
• During his 1922 stay in Switzerland, the Guardian bought a bicycle and cycled over many passes and although he had “a lack of mechanical sense”, he always arrived home safe.
• Queen Marie of Rumania and her daughter had already docked with their boat in Haifa, when she was informed her visit was impolitic and not permissible, was put in a car and whisked away to another country.
• During World War II, the Guardian, Ruhiyyih Khanum and Sutherland Maxwell left Haifa to seek safety in England. They passed through Italy just three days before Italy declared war on the Allies. They took a train through France amongst thousands of refugees and were finally stranded for two weeks in the coastal town of St.Malo until they caught the last ship to England, only hours before the Germans captured St. Malo.
• Although he never travelled across the Atlantic, the Guardian travelled twice through Africa from South through to Palestine. Once during his studies in Oxford, the other time when returning from England during World War II. On the way, they made excursions into the jungles and took a boat up the Nile
• In spite of the commotion caused by the seizure of the keys to the Shrine of Baha’u'llah by the Covenant-breakers, Shoghi Effendi gave instructions calmly as to where the lights should be placed inside and outside the Shrine, as it was in process of being illuminated.
• “He is extraordinarily unidirectional. His persistence is irresistible, there is no dissipation of his forces. He only wants one thing, he wants it passionately, immediately, completely, perfectly. He descends on it like a hurricane and never lets up until its done.” – Ruhiyyih Khanum

From Ruhiyyih Rabbani’s Priceless Pearl

Debunking the Myths: Conspiracy Theories

Vladimir Lenin once said that a lie told often enough becomes truth. If one takes a look at the way Baha’is have been viewed and treated by their adversaries, particularly Muslim clerics and Iranian leaders, they will see an unfortunate truth to Lenin’s assertion. Several baseless claims have been put forth as truth in public forums and media.  For instance, the Baha’is were created by the British AND Russians in the 19th-century (while both were actually competing for influence in Persia!). Or that we held positions of power in the Pahlavi regime and were also agents of Israel, international Zionism, and American Imperialism. During the Iran-Iraqi war, some Baha’is were even labeled as Iraqi agents!

Just as the Protocols of the Elders of Zion has been proven a farce, so must the Dolgorukov Memoirs and other fabrications be exposed, once and for all. Adib Masumian, an 18-year old (!!!) youth discredits these in his new 89-page book: “Debunking the Myths: Conspiracy Theories on the Genesis and Mission of the Baha’i Faith”.

He provides an analysis of the most widespread anti-Bahá’í allegations raised by clerics and Iranian polemicists over the past century or so. These include such myths as Prince Dolgorukov of Russia acting as the prime motivator of the Báb, the British General, Arthur Conolly, as the one who persuaded Mulla Husayn to push the Báb into starting his religion, or considering `Abdu’l-Bahá’s knighthood in 1920 as irrefutable evidence of Bahá’í ties to British imperialism.

People! Get this book. This book contains invaluable information. Adib is brilliant!

Black and White for only $9.95/€7.37. Your investment of the year.
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback_book/debunking_the_myths/6430166

This book is self-published and has been approved by the NSA of the United States.

Rainn Wilson on Oprah Radio

Rainn Wilson introduces SoulPancake.com on Oprah Radio. A great webcast you should not miss!

Rainn speaks about the objectives of his web-initiative “SoulPancake.com” and gives a great introduction to the Baha’i Faith. SoulPancake.com looks very promising and we encourage you to get involved and join discussing lifes big questions. Enjoy!

Solomon Coal – “Got You” Video

Solomon Coal is a tight raps artist, kindergarten teacher and botanist to the stars. His music has been influenced by the streets of LA, his travels, the Baha’i writings, community elders, his students and various painters such as Van Gough, Justin Farmer, and Modigliani. He has just completed his debut album “From the Metropolis of the Owl”. He has a B.A. in Sociology, a M.A. in Education.

Text by Crimson World; Video by Bobby Aazami