Baha’i Perspectives

Baha'i Perspectives June 27th, 2008

One of our readers, Samah Tokmachi, recently attended Pangea Day, an event whose aim is to bring the world together through the medium of film. Samah, himself a filmmaker, shares with us some of his experiences and observations from this historic event in a 2-part report. Thank you, Samah!

[Continued from Part I]

The next talk we heard was from Deborah Scranton, Matthew Modine and Lee Daniels on finding hope in telling terror tales. I very much appreciated this talk. Deborah has made a documentary on soldiers in Iraq called “War Tapes” and when she spoke of the need for her to remain non-political in her work, in order for people to listen to her, it resonated with me as a Bahá’í’. Matthew Modine addressed the tremendous changes wrought in the world since the American nation came into being, and how with less technology than is in your cell phone, we had landed on the moon. The theme he really brought home, which again resonated with my understanding of the Baha’i Faith, was how we as a species had been pulled together through technology. He added that the overriding narrative of our time is a global narrative. One thing in particular that Matthew said stays with me: “Your dreams as filmmakers can alter the way we live on this planet.”

Duncan North (”The Tao of Steve”) and Ondi Timoner (”Dig”) spoke about finding truth in a story. I was struck by Ondi’s comment that “Truth is achieved through a prism.” It reminded me of the Baha’i conception of consultation:

The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions.

(Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 87)

Following this was a talk by Udi Aloni (”Forgiveness”), Haile Gerima (”Sankofa”) and Marco Williams (”Banished”), who spoke on the subject of “Who tells the Story of the Other?” There was a lot of anger at the injustices in the world, as well as their lack of representation in the film industry. Haile, a Somali filmmaker, spoke at length on the difficulties faced by filmmakers of color. What impressed me greatly was her unifying statement that — while it is true that there is injustice — she had been touched by filmmakers of every hue and race, and that many different voices had empowered her as a filmmaker.

The last panel discussion was by Caroline Baron (”Capote”) and Alex Gibney (”Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”). Together they spoke of the impact of film on our society. To that end, Alex cited an example he learned of in making “Taxi to the Dark Side”. He told the story of how the U.S. military begged the producers of the show “24″ to change the hardball tactics of Jack Bauer, since it was giving new recruits the wrong idea about how to conduct interrogations. That was interesting I thought, and spoke of the complexity of the world we live in.

The last activity we did in our groups: shoot little films with these new and very high quality camera phones. So now I can honestly say I made and co-starred in a film with Matthew Modine!

The next day was the Pangea Day event itself, pulled off with tremendous aplomb. Everywhere I looked, everything I saw, seemed to embody a world-embracing vision. I won’t bother describing the remarkable program of inspiring short films, world music and edifying talks, but I do encourage you to check it out at www.pangeaday.org. I felt deeply humbled to attend both the Pangea Day Filmmakers Retreat and Pangea Day itself, and to be in the company of so many visionary individuals. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to teach the Baha’i Faith in a few instances.

I left inspired and aware of my solidarity with those likeminded groups and individuals who also see the world as a single homeland and all of humanity its citizens. And as a result, I felt a greater sense of empowerment and obligation in my work as a filmmaker. A great yearning came to me. A yearning to see more work from Bahá’ís, both infused with spiritual vitality and made for a global audience. The world is waiting for us and doesn’t even know it…

Tags: film, unity

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Baha'i Perspectives June 22nd, 2008

One of our readers, Samah Tokmachi, recently attended Pangea Day, an event whose aim is to bring the world together through the medium of film. Samah, himself a filmmaker, shares with us some of his experiences and observations from this historic event in a 2-part report. Thank you, Samah!

A number of you may have heard of Pangea Day (www.pangeaday.org), the event that recently took place around the world and was billed as the Earth’s first global campfire.

But you may not have known about the Pangea Day Filmmaker’s Retreat — an event which only certain selected filmmakers were invited to participate in. Fortunately, there were three Bahá’í filmmakers in attendance: Bita Haidarian, Josh Homnick and myself.

The following is summary of my experiences at this phenomenal and historically unprecedented event:

In the evening of Friday May 8^th, there was a poolside reception for all of the filmmakers. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails were served, and it was a very impressive display indeed. Actually, I must add, the filmmakers were very well treated and well fed for the duration of the event. When I entered the reception area, I felt very much at home, surrounded as I was by filmmakers from all over the planet, and over the next few hours I met many more filmmakers, talking to them about their projects. I was deeply humbled to be in the company of so many accomplished film artists, all of whom were passionately committed to serving humanity in some way.

The next day was the Pangea Day Filmmakers retreat. To begin with, documentarian Jehane Noujaim and Chris Anderson, curator of the TED foundation, addressed us. It was highly significant to hear from these two individuals. Jehane’s work as a filmmaker was launched into the public’s consciousness with her documentary “Control Room“.

Soon after this newfound renown, Jehane won the TED Prize from its namesake foundation which gives winners $100,000 — and the opportunity to fulfill a wish. In Jehane’s case, her wish for world peace is a bit beyond TED’s mandate, so instead she chose to work towards it with Pangea Day — a live, global event simultaneously broadcasting from locations on every continent. The idea behind Pangea Day, Jehane explained, was to bring people from around the world together, through the universal language of film.

Chris Anderson reinforced this idea, sharing a thought I’ve really only heard articulated in depth in the literature of the Bahá’í’ Faith: “Whenever we look at the big problems we face, we see that they are global in nature. Therefore their solutions also need to be global. But in order to adequately meet these challenges we must unite humanity.”

He then said he regarded us as founding members of a movement of global filmmakers whose purpose is to build bridges into a new world.

After this stirring address, we were broken up into various groups with our own group leaders, all of who were accomplished in the world of cinema in some way. My group leader was Matthew Modine, the actor probably most known for his role in Full Metal Jacket. Matthew proved to be a truly lovely human being. Surprisingly, he had never heard of the Bahá’í’ Faith, but he seemed very interested upon hearing about it. We introduced ourselves and spoke about culture and how it informed our storytelling, as well as addressing the question of whether or not there was a universal narrative that connects us all…

[to be continued]

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shadi May 11th, 2008

It is now eight whole months that I have left the United States for Kenya and have not seen my parents — the longest separation we have experienced from one another thus far. As an only child, I tend to think this must be harder for our family in particular. Perhaps if I had a sister or brother, my parents would not miss me quite so much, and maybe I would not have received the incredible amount of attention that I did growing up, and would find the separation not as painful… perhaps.

This time apart has caused much reflection on my part. Growing up in the States, there were many times that my parents and I did not see eye to eye. I, for instance, did not understand why the hour one came home on the weekends should matter or why one had to do certain household chores everyday. And being a strong-willed and opinionated teenager in my day, I made sure to voice my opposition and disappointment to my parents’ decrees quite often.

Going even further back into the past, I think about my parents’ decision to escape Iran in 1985 and how the main factor, as I was to learn in my adult years, was my father’s fear that I would be deprived of the educational opportunities given the restrictions placed on Baha’i children in Iran that exist to this day. My parents left their jobs, home, family, and every sense of familiarity and stability to leave Iran and seek a better environment to raise their daughter.

Abdu’l-Bahá, in His Tablets, not only calls attention to the responsibility of parents to educate all their children, but He also clearly specifies that the “training and culture of daughters is more necessary than that of sons”, for girls will one day be mothers, and mothers are the first educators of the new generation. If it is not possible, therefore, for a family to educate all the children, preference is to be accorded to daughters since, through educated mothers, the benefits of knowledge can be most effectively and rapidly diffused throughout society.

A decade has passed since my teenage years, and all I feel towards my parents is pure love and gratitude. Often I wonder whether I’ll be able to sufficiently thank them for all the sacrifice that they went through raising and nurturing me to become independent, confident, and instilling in me a great sense of self worth as a woman in the 21st century.

Also a father and mother endure the greatest troubles and hardships for their children… Therefore, the children, in return for this care and trouble, must show forth charity and beneficence…

(Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith, p. 329)

What a beautiful concept. To show forth ‘charity and beneficence’ in return for the service my parents have showered on me. The station of parents in the Baha’i Faith is incredibly lofty.

The fruits that best befit the tree of human life are trustworthiness and godliness, truthfulness and sincerity; but greater than all, after recognition of the unity of God, praised and glorified be He, is regard for the rights that are due to one’s parents. This teaching hath been mentioned in all the Books of God, and reaffirmed by the Most Exalted Pen. Consider that which the Merciful Lord hath revealed in the Qur’án, exalted are His words: “Worship ye God, join with Him no peer or likeness; and show forth kindliness and charity towards your parents…” Observe how loving-kindness to one’s parents hath been linked to recognition of the one true God!”

(Baha’u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 139)

And so, as I continue my work in Kenya, I strive daily to honor my parents through good work, compassion to others, and continuous self-reflection. I know that any fruits born from my efforts are a direct result and sign of the loving sacrifice and wisdom of my parents who, to this day, continue to guide and nurture me.

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iman May 2nd, 2008

It seems that whenever the name of the Tigris River is mentioned in the news nowadays, it is connected to another sad incident in the ongoing Iraqi conflict. Just last week I came across this Reuters FACTBOX article mentioning the killing of a fisherman as he was fishing on the Tigris, in Mosul. This was just one of some fifteen deadly incidents reported in this article, all on a single day of this conflict — a depressing statistic for a land that is mentioned with such regularity in the Holy Scriptures of the world’s major Faiths.

Baha’i history, too, is interwoven with this land. One hundred and forty-five years ago, in 1863, the banks of the Tigris River witnessed the Festival of Ridvan at which Bahá’u'lláh fulfilled the prophecies of earlier religions. It was here that Bahá’u'lláh, the Promised One of all ages, declared Himself to mankind.

Prior to this, around the year 1857, this same river set the scene for the revelation of The Hidden Words, described by Shoghi Effendi as a “marvelous collection of gem-like utterances…with which Bahá’u'lláh was inspired, as He paced, wrapped in His meditations, the banks of the Tigris. Revealed in the year 1274 A.H., partly in Persian, partly in Arabic…the significance of this dynamic spiritual leaven cast into the life of the world for the reorientation of the minds of men, the edification of their souls and the rectification of their conduct can best be judged by the description of its character given in the opening passage by its Author:

This is that which hath descended from the Realm of Glory, uttered by the tongue of power and might, and revealed unto the Prophets of old. We have taken the inner essence thereof and clothed it in the garment of brevity, as a token of grace unto the righteous, that they may stand faithful unto the Covenant of God, may fulfill in their lives His trust, and in the realm of spirit obtain the gem of Divine virtue.

Today, Baha’is celebrate the last day of the Festival of Ridvan. They reflect on the momentous happenings that occurred on the banks of that famous river, and eagerly try to inform friends and colleagues of their world-changing significance.

I will conclude this piece with some passages from The Hidden Words:

1. O SON OF SPIRIT!
My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting.

9. O SON OF BEING!
My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein is safe and secure, and he that turneth away shall surely stray and perish.

28. O SON OF SPIRIT!
Know thou of a truth: He that biddeth men be just and himself committeth iniquity is not of Me, even though he bear My name.

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

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Baha'i Perspectives April 30th, 2008

The results of the election of the governing council of the Baha’i Faith, the Universal House of Justice, were announced in a moving ceremony held today in Haifa, Israel.

Following yesterday’s dignified and joyous election procedure, in which national delegates from across the globe — many of whom were dressed in their cultural attire — filed on stage to cast their votes, the results were announced by the chairperson early this afternoon.

The beautifully-redesigned Baha’i World News Service carries the full story, in addition to a flurry of other reports and multimedia related to the Tenth International Baha’i Convention. To date these include:

• A report and slideshow of the delegates’ visits to Baha’i Holy Places prior to the start of the Convention.
• A report and slideshow of the election process held on Day 1 of the Convention, including an explanation of the unique nature of these elections.
• A report and slideshow of the celebration of the festival of Ridvan held following the election.
• A report on the election results announced this morning.

For those who have had the privilege to attend this year’s Convention, this has undoubtedly been a week that will live long in their memories.

Many delegates wore their native dress — from Western business suits to the colorful garb of specific regions of South America, Africa, and Asia.

Tags: elections

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Baha'i Perspectives April 27th, 2008

As delegates begin arriving in Haifa, Israel for an event that occurs once every five years, the excitement builds.

“A thousand delegates from 153 countries have arrived – from the southern tip of Africa, to Siberia, to the Americas, to remote Pacific islands – to participate in the 10th International Bahá’í Convention.

On Tuesday, 29 April, they will gather to elect the nine members of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith, a task that delegates view as both a sacred duty and a supreme privilege…”

Read the full story on the Baha’i World News Service or view a brief slide show of photos on the same site.

Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo register on 26 April for the
International Baha’i Convention in Haifa, Israel.

Tags: elections

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nooshin April 24th, 2008

There have been various sets of elections in the headlines lately, and most of it not good news. Most people have become cynical about the electoral process, and the institutions they establish. As a Baha’i, however, I have just taken part in the election of my city’s Local Spiritual Assembly and eagerly await the start of the process for the election of the Universal House of Justice, which will begin shortly.

In a letter dated 25 March 2007, the Universal House of Justice, addressing the Baha’is of the world, make mention of this very topic. They begin with a description of the present electoral systems in the world:

One of the signs of the breakdown of society in all parts of the world is the erosion of trust and collaboration between the individual and the institutions of governance. In many nations, the electoral process has become discredited because of endemic corruption. Contributing to the widening distrust of so vital a process are the influence on the the outcome from vested interests having access to lavish funds, the restrictions on freedom of choice inherent in the party system, and the distortion in public perception of the candidates by the bias expressed in the media.

Having described what ails the system, the House of Justice explains what ails the individuals in the system:

Apathy, alienation, and disillusionment are a consequence, too, as is a growing sense of despair of the unlikelihood that the most capable citizens will emerge to deal with the manifold problems of a defective social order. Evident everywhere is a yearning for institutions which will dispense justice, dispel oppression, and foster an enduring unity between the disparate elements of society.

Shoghi Effendi describes the manner in which Baha’is should participate in Baha’i elections:

When called upon to vote in a Baha’i election, believers should be aware that they are carrying out a sacred task unique to this Dispensation. They should approach this duty in a prayerful attitude, seeking divine guidance and confirmation. As Shoghi Effendi has advised “they must turn completely to God, and with a purity of motive, a freedom of spirit and a sanctity of heart, participate in the elections.

The Baha’i Administrative system comprises of elected institutions as local, national and international levels. Baha’u'llah describes them as follows:

It behoveth them to be the trusted ones of the Merciful among men and to regard themselves as the guardians appointed of God for all that dwell on earth. It is incumbent upon them to take counsel together and to have regard for the interests of the servants of God, for His sake, even as they regard their own interests, and to choose that which is meet and seemly.

The rights and responsibilities of these elected institutions are expressed in the following excerpt from a letter by Shoghi Effendi:

Their function is not to dictate, but to consult, and consult not only among themselves, but as much as possible with the Friends whom they represent… They should approach their task with extreme humility, and endeavour, by their openmindedness, their high sense of justice and duty, their candour, their modesty, their entire devotion to the welfare and interests of the Friends, the Cause, and humanity, to win, not only the confidence and the genuine support and respect of those whom they serve, but also their esteem and real affection.

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Baha'i Perspectives April 15th, 2008

As summer approaches in Europe, a number of national Baha’i communities are preparing for their annual youth conferences and summer schools, many of which will have special guest speakers in attendance.

At www.europeanbahai.org, you can find information on how to register as well as links to event-specific web sites. All are invited to attend.

Here are a few brief snippets taken from the site:

• Polish Summer School 2008 — The Polish Summer School will take place this year from the 25th to 30th of July in Serock, approx. 50km away from Warsaw. The venue is a beautiful old palace, recently refurbished and renovated and located in a peaceful area (kind of forest) nearby a lake. (more information: http://www.owjadwisin.pl/eng.shtml)… The theme for the summer school will be ‘Christianity and the Baha’i Faith’ and we are privileged to have two outstanding speakers for this topic - Mr. Jeremy Fox and Dr. Khazeh Fananapazir - coming to our school.
• Hungarian Summer School 2008 — The Hungarian Bahá’í Summer School will be held in Fadd-Dombori, 20 kms to the South of Dunaujvaros, on the Danube. Date of the Summer School is from 27 July to 2 August 2008. Guest speakers will be Mr. Hartmut and Mrs. Ursula Grossman.
• Welsh Baha’i Summer School — You and your family are warmly invited to the Welsh Baha’i Summer School; a school that promises to nurture hearts and to raise spirits through devotion, study and recreation. This year’s summer school will be held near the heart of city of Cardiff.
• Revival: a Forum for Young Adults 2008 (United Kingdom) — County Durham, UK. 22nd – 25th August 2008. This event offers participants the opportunity to discover how they can integrate their lives spiritually and practically, and to meet and socialise with like-minded people.
• Arts Week - Summer 2008 (The Netherlands) — Location: The Netherlands, Conference Centre de Poort (www.depoort.org). Dates: 13 July - 18 July 2008.
• Sicilian Youth Conference — In San Michele di Ganzaria. Minimum age: 14. Language: Italian. Dates: 19-23 August, 2008.

…and plenty more.

All in all, it looks like an exciting summer of activity ahead!

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