Posts from — March 2007

I’ve been sitting on this post for several days now, partly because I’ve been so busy, but partly because the issue is such a sensitive one and I wanted time to reflect on it before I committed myself to writing about it.

I had the honour of representing our National Spiritual Assembly and the UK Baha’i community at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday 27 March. The occasion was the national service to commemorate the bicentenary of the Act of Parliament that abolished the Transatlantic slave trade.

The Queen and Prince Philip were there, as were the Prime Minister and Mrs Blair, many members of the government, David Cameron MP (Leader of the Opposition), Sir Menzies Campbell (Leader of the Liberal Democrats), many High Commissioners and Ambassadors, and representatives of the major faiths.

It was a most moving service, which expressed national penitence for the atrocity of the slave trade, commemorated the work of the abolitionists, black and white, and reminded all of us that, despite the illegality of slavery, this abhorrent and utterly inhuman practice still continues in many forms and in many countries.

This extract from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus VAssa, the African, read out during the service, gives us a sense of what the Africans who were packed tightly into ships and hauled across the Atlantic experienced.

I was not long suffered to indulge my grief; I was soon put down under the decks, and there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I had never experienced in my life: so that with the loathsomeness of the stench and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat, nor had I the least desire to taste anything. I now wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me; but soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered me eatables, and on my refusing to eat, one of the held me fast by the hands and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely. I had never experienced anything of this kind before, and although, not being used to the water, I naturally feared that element the first time I saw it, yet nevertheless could I have got over the nettings I would have jumped over the side, but I could not; (and besides, the crew used to watch us very closely who were not chained down to the decks, lest we should leap into the water.

Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797) was born in what is now Nigeria. He was captured when he was 11 and transported to Barbados and then to Virginia. He was sold again and brought to London, where he was baptized in 1759. Equiano was an enterprising character and must have been incredibly tough-minded. He learned English, he learned to read and write and developed skills that made him too useful to his owners to be put to work in the sugar cane fields. He kept going despite many setbacks and was the victim of the fear that the whites had that black slaves would get educated and “above themselves”. He purchased his freedom in 1766 and settled in London. His autobiography, which became a bestseller, made a great contribution to public awareness of the horrors of slavery.

There were other Africans who resisted slavery, amongst them some, such as Ottobah Cugoano and Ignatius Sancho, who lived in England and contributed to the abolitionist movement. The first whites to denounce slavery in Europe and the European colonies were the Quakers (the Religious Society of Friends). British Quakers played a leading role in the establishment of the London Committee to Abolish the Slave Trade, a group that invented much of the repertoire of actions that are still used to day by activists and protest groups.

Perhaps the best known abolitionist in England was William Wilberforce, an evangelical Christian and a Member of Parliament. His great-great-great-granddaughter read an extract from a speech he made in the House of Commons on 12 May 1789:

I mean not to accuse anyone but to take the shame upon myself, in common indeed with the whole Parliament of Great Britain, for having suffered this horrid trade to be carried on under their authority. We are all guilty - we all ought to plead guilty, and not to exculpate ourselves by throwing the blame on others.

… And, sir, when we think of eternity, and of the future consequences of all human conduct, what is there in this life that should make any man contradict the dictates of his conscience, the principles of justice, the laws of religion, and of God? Sir, the nature and all the circumstances of this trade are now laid open to us; we can no longer plead ignorance, we cannot evade it; it is now an object placed before us, we cannot pass it; we may spurn it, we may kick it out of our way, but we cannot turn aside so as to avoid seeing it; for it is brought now so directly before our eyes that this House must decide, and must justify to all the world, and to their own consciences, the rectitude of the grounds and principles of their decision.

Born in 1759, Wilberforce was no saint. He lived a hedonistic life in his early years, spent

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I can highly recommend this fascinating video about the situations of the Baha’is in Iran and Egypt. It explains what the Baha’is in Iran and Egypt are suffering as a result of the persecutions their respective countries; it shows the terrible (il)logic of the denial of ID cards to the Egyptian Baha’is; and it explains the work of the US National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of External Affairs in defending the human rights of the Baha’is.

The video is a copyright production by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Egypt, Iran, persecution, ID cards

One reader has objected to the Naw-Ruz messages to the UK Baha’i community from Prime Minister Blair and Leader of the Opposition David Cameron MP. Fair enough!

So he posted a comment that was gratuitously derogatory to both these gentleman. Not fair enough!

I deleted the comment, so the same reader posted another comment accusing me of double standards. I think he also accused me of lacking the courage to post his first comment. I didn’t post this second comment comment either.

A few reflections on this episode:

1. I support freedom of speech - otherwise I would not write this blog and I would not read other blogs and sometimes leave comments on them.

2. This blog is a personal diary - as the blog’s strapline makes clear. However, I open it to comments. It’s confirming to know that someone is reading and cares enough to leave a comment. It’s in the spirit of the blogosphere, and there’s always the hope of learning from the comments - as I have done on a number of occasions.

3. I’m happy to allow comments that disagree with what I’ve written, especially if they are well written, well reasoned, witty or amusing.

4. But, because the blog is personal, I’m free to accept or reject comments as I choose without giving any reasons.

5. I don’t accept comments that are gratuitously insulting to me or to others. This has nothing to do with denying freedom of speech. Anyone can set up a blog, write to the press, write and publish a book, stand on a street corner and shout. I’m not preventing people from expressing their views in the myriad outlets that now exist. Nor has it anything to do with lacking courage to allow comments that disagree with my viewpoint. I just don’t choose to be insulted for no good reason on my own blog.

The Baha’i writings are very clear about the importance of freedom of speech and about the power of utterance. They are also clear about the need for moderation in speech and action.

Baha’u'llah warns us that “the tongue is a smouldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison”. “Material fire consumeth the body,” He says in elaborating the point, “whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endureth a century.” In tracing the framework of free speech, He again advises “moderation”. “Human utterance is an essence which aspireth to exert its influence and needeth moderation”, He states, adding, “As to its influence, this is conditional upon refinement which in turn is dependent upon hearts which are detached and pure. As to its moderation, this hath to be combined with tact and wisdom as prescribed in the Holy Scriptures and Tablets.” [Universal House of Justice, Individual Rights and Freedoms in the World Order of Baha'u'llah, 29 December 1988

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, blogging, freedom of speech

Our National Spiritual Assembly has just received greetings messages for Naw-Ruz from our Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. Tony Blair MP:

Naw-Ruz greetings from the Prime Minister (Rt Hon Tony Blair MP).

March 2007

It gives me great pleasure, once again, to send my best wishes to the Baha’i community in the UK as you celebrate Naw Ruz. The United Kingdom deeply values the presence of the Baha’i community and the unique contribution you make.

The words of your founder, that “the earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens”, have perhaps an even greater resonance in 2007 than ever before. The universal challenges of climate change, and its potentially disastrous impact on millions of people across the globe, remind us forcefully that we are all fellow citizens of the world, all sharing in its destiny. As we confront these challenges I have no doubt that you, and your fellow Baha’is in other countries, have much to contribute to the debate and the pursuit of possible solutions, drawing on the tradition of working for social justice of which Baha’is can rightly be so proud.

With my best wishes to you all for the forthcoming year.

[Signed] Tony Blair

The Rt Hon. David Cameron MP, the Leader of the Opposition, has also sent a message:

March 2007

Happy Naw-Ruz

I am delighted to send all members of the Baha’i community my best wishes for a Happy New Year.

The principles which the Baha’i community hold dear - in particular unity and also the promotion of social justice, a belief in the importance of family life, and a concern for the environment - are of central importance to our society today.

The fact that so much work has been carried out to put these values into practice, through development projects around the world does great credit to your faith.

I know also that you will have in your thoughts at this time those communities elsewhere who face persecution because of their faith. Freedom to worship and to hold religious belief is a fundamental right which we must always cherish.

May I once again send my good wishes to you and your families at this time.

[Signed] David Cameron

They’re very good messages and they will be read out at our official Naw-Ruz reception in the House of Commons this evening.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Blair, Cameron, Naw-Ruz, House of Commons

Our Baha’i community (Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England) has been running a series of public meditation classes in a local community centre for the past few weeks. The classes, using the excellent CALM course, designed by Paul Profaska and published by George Ronald, have attracted a number of friends of Baha’is, all of whom have said how much they’re getting out of the course.

We’ve had as many as 15 in the class some nights, but last night there were just seven of us. The theme of the class was dhikr (or zikr), the remembrance of God. In simple practical terms, this can mean inward repetition of one of the names of God, although participants chose (privately) a word or phrase for repetition that suited their particular and heartfelt need. These classes do not enforce a particular practice or system of meditation - there is no set Baha’i meditation practice and we strenuously avoid pushing people in any particular direction - but introduce people to various possibilities and help them gently build up their skills in meditation practice.

We start each session by sharing (if we want to) anything from our week just gone, any stresses, any joys, any meditation practice we’ve been able to do. We then go into around 15 or 20 minutes of quieting down, physical relaxation, and moving into the meditation proper. The meditation period closes with the reading of a quotation from the Baha’i scriptures. Last night’s quote was:

…give thy best attention to the remembrance of God, that thy heart may at all times be animated with His Spirit, and not be shut out as by a veil from thy Best Beloved. Let not thy tongue pay lip service in praise of God while thy heart be not attuned to the exalted Summit of Glory and the Focal Point of communion. [The B

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. Thus hath the Day-Star of Utterance shone forth above the horizon of the Book as decreed by Him Who is the Lord of the beginning and the end.

Thus revealed Baha’u'llah in the Kitab-i-Aqdas.

We had a wonderful Naw-Ruz celebration last night. Forty or fifty friends from our community and neighbouring communities gathered in one of the larger homes for prayers, food and fun. Our hosts, Iranians, had a Haft Sin table and provided generous quantities of beautiful food. We talked at high volume and laughed and shared our joy at the beginning of the Baha’i year 164.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Naw-Ruz, Navroze, festival, prayer, celebration

A very happy Naw-Ruz to all

The Baha’i festival of Naw-Ruz really falls on the Spring Equinox, but we celebrate it on 21st March each year, even if the equinox falls a day earlier or later. From tomorrow it will be the year 164 of the Baha’i Era.

Let’s hope it won’t be long before we see this year’s blossom.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Naw-Ruz, New Year

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Every morning I read something from the Baha’i sacred writings. I do this in obedience to Baha’u'llah’s command. It’s my obligation. But, more than that, this reading is food for my soul.

The odes of Jalaluddin Rumi have been a kind spiritual dessert to the main course of Baha’u'llah’s writings during this Fast. Here’s ode 3050 (in the version by Coleman Barks from Rumi: Like This, published in 1990 by Maypop Books):

The Lord of Beauty enters the soul
as a man walks into an orchard
in Spring.
xxxxxxxxxCome into me
that way again!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxLight the lamp
in the eye of Joseph. Cure Jacob’s
sadness. Though you never left,
come and sit down here and ask,
“Why are you so confused?”

Like a fresh idea in an artist’s mind,
you fashion things before they come into being.

You sweep the floor like the man
who keeps the doorway:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxWhen you brush
a form clean, it becomes
what it truly is.

You guard Your Silence perfectly
like a waterbag that doesn’t leak.

You live where Shams lives,
because your heart-donkey was strong enough
to take you there.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, spirituality, fasting, poetry, mysticism, Rumi

Back in February 2005 I gave a paper at a conference at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies in London on the theme: Does God Believe in Human Rights? I was very pleased a few days ago when the edited volume of the papers from the conference (published by Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands) dropped through my letterbox.

I had almost given up hope of seeing my paper in print. Now, my pleasure in seeing my paper in print is absurd and perhaps a tad fraudulent, because most of the other contributors are genuine academics, some quite eminent in the fields of religion and human rights, which I am not. I only crept in because one of the conference organizers is a friend of mine and thought there should be a Baha’i perspective.

Anyway, for what it’s worth, my paper is entitled: A More Constructive Encounter: A Baha’i View of Religion and Human Rights. I have written under my full name, John Barnabas Leith. This is the editors’ outline of the paper, from the volume’s foreword:

In this chapter, John Barnabas Leith elaborates the clear theological foundations and commitment of the Baha’i Faith to universal human-rights values. He draws on both the Baha’i sacred writiings and the practice of the Baha’i International Community, a UN non-governmental organisation, in support of his position. Baha’i sacred writings are centrally concerned with questions of good governance and judicial, social and economic justice. This is rooted, at least in part, in the concern that all individuals should be allowed to develop their qualities and capacities for their own good and the good of society as a whole. It is further developed, Leith argues, in the principle of the oneness of humankind which lies at the core of Baha’i teachings. This has wide-ranging implications for societal justice, from the abandonment of prejudice to the embracing of diversity. Each and every human being, in Baha’i perspective, is worthy of moral protection and the holder of inalienable human rights; each human being is a trust of the whole of humankind. These principles are explored further in relation to the freedom of all individuals to investigate reality for themselves, the freedom of religion and belief, human dignity, and in the development of a peaceful and united global civilisation. These principles are then examined in relation to a number of Baha’i human rights activities - particularly the defence of the human rights of the Baha’is in Iran.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, religion, human rights, religious freedom, human dignity

Well, yesterday was a marathon. Erica and I both serve on the executive committee for Baha’i Books UK, formerly known as the Baha’i Publishing Trust. Two other members of the five-member committee live in our neighbouring Baha’i community and we all left together just after 8 a.m. for the two-hour drive to Birmingham, where Helena, one of the Auxiliary Board members, had invited us to use her home as a meeting place.

We started meeting just after 10 a.m. and ploughed on (with a short break) until just before 4 p.m., when we went for a walk in the sun. We did well in the morning, getting through the agenda very well. But as time went on faces began to get pale, people started yawning, some even started micro-sleeping. The quality of the consultation declined, the speed of the consultation declined, our capacity to reach any decisions at all (let alone sensible decisions) declined. Between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. we might as well not have been meeting.

We were scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. with two families of highly successful and long-sustained Baha’i community book agents. Actually, they are really all one family: the Auxiliary Board member’s parents (Paddy and Ann) and her uncle (Steve), all of whom have been selling Baha’i books for around 30 years.

Refreshed from our walk, we engaged energetically in consultation with these dedicated and thoughtful souls, we learned a great deal, and then we had a wonderful dinner together - pasta, bolognese sauce, pizza, fruit, nut cake, eve’s pudding - lovingly prepared by the Auxiliary Board member. Much laughter, great conversation, fun and food. Oh, and did I mention food?

Erica and I have known Paddy and Ann for over 30 years, but haven’t had an opportunity for a good chinwag for quite some time now. It really took me (I don’t know about Erica) back in memory to the days of my Baha’i youth. We learned that the home we were meeting in had a family history. Ann had been born in that house, and Paddy and Ann had had their Baha’i wedding in the house. Helena and husband Mark have extended it and are refurbishing it. They’ve made a really nice kitchen/dining room with lovely fixtures and furniture.

Of course, this prompted us old-timers to recall the days when we had very little money and no furniture, other than what had been handed down to us by our parents. When Erica and I bought our first house, only our bed and the kitchen table were new. My parents gave us what other relatively few sticks of furniture we had. When we pioneered to the Shetland Islands, all we had could fit into half a removal lorry. We’d bought a fully furnished house in Shetland, and when we left we took that furniture with us!

So, dinner finished, we piled back into the car and arrived home around 10 p.m. Fourteen hours, all told, away from home, much of it trying to use our brains. The take-home message is: this kind of thing really doesn’t work during the Fast!

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, fasting, books, friendship