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The Sun of Reality
05/03/2008
by Dale E. Lehman
In the Bahá'í Writings, the sun appears frequently as an image for many things ranging from God to a goodly character. When we ponder the characteristics of the physical sun and other stars, we can gain a new appreciation for such allusions.
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A Day in the Garden
04/26/2008
by Dale E. Lehman
Springtime is gardening time. Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá both loved gardens, and gardens appear in their Writings as an image for many wonderful things. Let's enjoy a spiritual tour through the garden and see what we might find.
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Grandmothers
04/19/2008
by Kathleen Kettler Lehman
With Mother's Day approaching, we offer some reflections on a special set of mothers, namely grandmothers, and the role they play not only in our own families but in the Holy Family.
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The Mother of all Books
04/12/2008
by Dale E. Lehman
Recently we received a request for an explanation of the term "Mother Book", which appears in the Qur'án and the Bahá'í Writings. It's actually a fairly simple term, but with some far-reaching implications.
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"My Parrot Swallowed My Watch—"
04/05/2008
by Kathleen Kettler Lehman
In the U.S., the presidential campaigns are in full swing. Bahá'ís avoid involvement in partisan politics, yet on another level some of the aims of their religion do involve politics in the largest sense. Where is the line drawn?
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The Meaning of Easter
03/22/2008
by Dale E. Lehman
In the Christian tradition, the holiest day of the year is Easter Sunday, the day that commemorates the most astounding event recounted in the Gospels: the rising of Christ Jesus from the dead. How do Bahá'ís view this event?
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The Tablets of the Divine Plan
03/08/2008
by Dale E. Lehman
Written in 1916 and 1917, 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablets of the Divine Plan provide the foundation for the spread of the Bahá'í Faith around the world. In their details, these Tablets go to the core of all religious belief.
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How Not To Spend Ayyám-i-Há
02/23/2008
by Kathleen Kettler Lehman
For Bahá'ís Ayyám-i-Há is a time of joy and celebration, but like any other time of the year things can still go a bit awry. Then again, what would life be without a little adventure?
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Is It You, Lord?
02/16/2008
by Kathleen Kettler Lehman
The miracles related in the Gospels have many meanings. In one, themes of recognition and faith are intertwined, themes also reflected in the Bahá'í Writings. Care to go for a walk on the water?
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Where Should We Go?
02/09/2008
by Dale E. Lehman
An email from the editor of The American Bahá'í got us thinking about future developments at Planet Bahá'í. We'd like to extend you an invitation to help us. Here's how you can help...
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The Forest or the Trees?
02/02/2008
by Dale E. Lehman
Why do so many people regard one particular divine Messenger as superior to all others? Perhaps it has something to do with a very common pheonomenon: not being able to see the forest for the trees.
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The Bible and Shoghi Effendi
01/26/2008
by Kathleen Kettler Lehman
We are often asked why Shoghi Effendi chose to translate Bahá'u'lláh's Writings in a style similar to the King James Bible instead of a more modern form of English. Reading such translations can be challenging, but there are things you can do to make it easier. Here are some suggestions.
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Saying Grace
01/19/2008
by Kathleen Kettler Lehman
Saying grace before a meal is custom found throughout Christianity and in various forms in other religions, too. What about the Bahá'í Faith? Does it maintain this practice? The answer is a bit more complicated than one might think.
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God as Friend
01/11/2008
by Dale E. Lehman
Our relationship with God is portrayed in many ways in religious Scriptures. Although often overlooked, friendship is one such relationship, and a very important one at that. God often addresses us as friends, and has given us a true Friend: the Manifestation of God.
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The Salvation Process
01/04/2008
by Dale E. Lehman
Salvation is a key subject for Christians, but Bahá'ís don't seem to talk about it much. Nevertheless, salvation is presented in the Bahá'í Writings in much the same terms as in the Bible. Both portray it as a process rather than a one-time event.
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