Baha'i Sifter of Dust

In its truest form, religion is intended to release human potential and bring unity to the human family. In the last Tea House discussion, Suzan and David Gould explored what  form of education will enable each and all of the human family to realize their potential- “as mines rich in gems of inestimable value"- and how such a process contributes to the advancement of  communities  and our world. You can watch the discussion on YouTube or listen to the audio below, or on the Sifter of Dust podcast stream at the various podcast outlets.  

In this Tea House discussion, Monette Van Lith led a discussion on how we can make our families the building blocks of a just and peaceful society. The family unit, the nucleus of human society, provides an environment within which essential capacities and world-embracing principles can be taught and nurtured. In her presentation and discussion, Monette explored some of the Baha'i Teachings on spiritual principles, as well as the habits and patterns of conduct that can contribute to building a just society. You can listen to it below or by finding the Sifter of Dust podcast on the various podcast outlets. A YouTube video version may be found here.

In a recent Tea House session, Chitra Golestani-Maghzi joined to present on the "Interconnected Elements of Social Change"- the idea that real change occurs with holistic changes in both human hearts and external conditions. We then discussed some of the elements of how religion is so critical in creating this kind of change. Please enjoy the YouTube video here or find the audio link below. The audio may also be found through our the Sifter of Dust podcast through the various podcast outlets.

Enjoy our recent Tea House discussion with Karen Eshraghi on "Consultation- A Tool for Creative Problem Solving".  As the world becomes more complex, we need tools to help humans solve problems collaboratively and peacefully. Consultation- as outlined by Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha'- is one of the most potent of those tools. In this presentation, Karen Eshraghi introduced the major elements of Baha'i consultation The YouTube video may be found here, or listen to the audio version below. The audio is also available through podcast outlets under "Baha'i Sifter of Dust", where you can listen to previous and future sessions.

In this Tea House discussion, we were joined by Mr Mark Jolly to discuss the Baha'i concept of the independent investigation of truth- a fundamental and far-reaching concept. Please watch the full presentation on YouTube or link to the audio below. You can enjoy both past and future discussions on the Sifter of Dust podcast channel. Enjoy!

What is spiritual growth?  What does it mean when we say that the purpose of life is to grow "spiritually"? We tackled this question in our most recent Tea House discussion. Have a listen and please join us for our future Tea House discussions. That recording is now available in audio format below as well as on our podcast through the various podcast outlets (search "sifter of dust Baha'i"). You can watch the youtube video here. Please join us this Thursday evening when we address the question of the investigation of the search for truth with Mr Mark Jolly.  For more on that event, click here.

In our last Tea House, Peter Gyulay joined us from Australia and discuss the nature of spiritual life and how we can follow a spiritual path. Peter is a Baha'i author, novelist, and teacher who has written several articles on bahaiteachings.org on spiritual growth and development as well as his own book- "Walking the Spiritual Path with Practical Feet". He studied philosophy academically and has a wide-knowledge of the great religions of humanity and how they relate to the Baha'i teachings. We had a wide ranging and enriching discussion. You may find the youtube version on the Sifter of Dust YouTube site and the audio attached, or you can subscribe to the Sifter of Dust podcast. We hope you enjoy it!  

Early mathematicians like Pythagoras were fascinated with the mystery of numbers and believed that they were the basis of the world, revering them with an almost mystical significance. As we have learned more about the world, the truths of this idea has become more prominent- the world is based on mathematical principles.  In thisTea House session, Vahid Houston Ranjbar presented on how the nature of the world can best be understood, not as material objects, but the relations between things, relations that are themselves eternal. We then discussed some of the implications of this idea in light of the Baha'i teachings. No firm conclusions were drawn, but an enlightening discussion was shared by all. The video has been uploaded to youtube at this link and the audio is below and on the sifterofdust podcast.  Enjoy!

As part the Tea House, we did three separate sessions introducing the major sources of the Baha'i Writings so that people new to those writings could have a road map to exploring them. The final introduction we did was on the writings of Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice.  In this presentation, Dr Williams gave a brief presentation on who Shoghi Effendi was and his major writings, punctuated with discussion from among the friends present. We then reviewed the Universal House of Justice and highlighted some of the letters of the House of Justice. These presentations and discussion were intended to be informative and help people new to the Baha'i Faith get oriented to some of the major sources of the Baha'i Writings. We hope you find them helpful in your exploration!

'Abdu'l-Baha' is of indescribable importance to the Revelation of Baha'u'llah and one of the most remarkable humans to ever live.  For anyone interested in life's most important questions, 'Abdu'l-Baha' is a friend, a guide, and a loving father. He is beloved by everyone who has taken the opportunity to know him. As part of the Tea House program on Sifter of Dust, we hosted an introduction and orientation to the life and writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha'. A video version is available on the Sifter of Dust youtube site. We hope you enjoy the presentation and discussion!

In this second part of our discussion of the Baha'i concept of the oneness of religion, we further outline the concept of progressive revelation and discuss it with assembled guests. We then address the concern raised by Christians that Christ is the only way to God, and the Muslim belief that the Prophet Muhammad is the "Seal of the Prophets" and the last Prophet that will come. How can we understand the scriptural passages that led to those beliefs in light of Baha'u'llah's claim to be bringing a new Revelation to all humanity? You can watch it on YouTube or listen to it directly below. The Sifter of Dust Podcast may also be found on all your typical podcast outlets. Enjoy!  

In this first podcast of the weekly "Tea House" discussions hosted on Sifter of Dust, Dr Kendal Williams gives an informational presentation on the Baha'i concept of the Oneness of Religion. A primary theological concept in the Baha'i Faith is "progressive revelation", that the great religions of the world should be understood as part of one Faith that has unfolded throughout history as part of humanity's social and spiritual development. In this presentation, Dr Williams looks at the great religions of the world within their historical context and highlights how each built upon the teachings of those that came before. This sets the context to understand the Baha'i Faith as now representing the next step in the unfoldment of what is essentially one religion. The Sifter of Dust podcast may be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts and other outlets, or directly linked on Sifter of Dust. You can also watch the video version- with the accompanying slides- on YouTube.

In part 2 of the presentation of Baha'u'llah's foundational theological text- the Kitab-i-qan- Dr Williams describes how Baha'u'llah explained His theology within the context of the traditional beliefs of Christianity and Islam. Is Christ the last Revelation from God?  Is the Prophet Muhammad the last Prophet?  Is religion complete and fulfilled or are the Revelations of God progressive, dynamic, and ever-evolving?

As a preparation for His own claim as a Messenger of God, Baha'u'llah revealed a remarkable work known as the Kitab-i-qan or Book of Certitude. It lays out the central theology of His Revelation- that of the fundamental oneness of religion and the oneness of its various expressions in the revelations that have formed the great religions of humankind.  Dr Williams introduces this marvelous work in two parts. The first part is presented here, and it generally outlines the broad and universal theology of Baha'u'llah, which will act as an "eye to past ages and centuries", helping us understand the past and also our future. Part 1 is below and part 2 may be found here. (Unfortunately, due to a malfunction in our recording device, the part 1  recording has a fair amount of "pops" in it, low base noises.  Dr Williams will re-record it in due time, with a pop filter to eliminate this effect.  In the meantime, we are posting this copy.)

One of the most important and significant texts in all of Baha'u'llah's Revelation is the Hidden Words.  Spoken with the Voice of God directly to the human soul, it is spiritually intimate while conveying words of astonishing power and beauty.  In this next installment of the  Foundations of the Revelation series, Dr Williams provides an introduction the Hidden Words so that people otherwise unfamiliar with it can begin to explore it and use its wisdom in their lives.

In this latest presentation of the Foundations of the Revelation course, Dr Williams describes the early life of Baha'u'llah in Persia and his eventual imprisonment and exile from his native land. As the sun of the Bab's revelation set, Baha'u'llah's began to rise, eventually illuminating hearts all over the world.  This lecture sets the stage for the discussion of Baha'u'llah's early Writings, including the magnificent Hidden Words

In this final part of the discussion of the Writings and teachings of the Bab, Dr Williams highlights some of the very specific ways that the Bab prepared the people for the coming of Baha'u'llah.  Never in the history of humanity has a Messenger of God so clearly defined His intentions and carried out His mission. He was then executed in 1850 at the hands of the Persian authorities, ending His time on this earth. However, all His promises would ultimately be fulfilled in the coming of Baha'u'llah and His name would come to be celebrated as the personification of sacrifice and detachment by people all over the world.

In Part 2 of the presentations on the life and theology of the Bab, Dr Williams presents the basic theological ideas that are found in His Writings. If we think of ourselves and all creation being like a painting and envision ourselves living in that painting, we can more easily understand what the Bab meant by the Essence of God being unknowable and that we understand Him only by how He is manifest in the world we experience. The unique role of the Revelations of God in forming the great religions of humankind is then explained, as a reflection of the Will of God to the world, like the paintbrush reflects the Will of God to the painting.

As part of the Foundations of the Revelation course, we are posting the set of presentations delivered by Dr. Williams and focused on the history and teachings of the Bab.  The Bab's revelation is extraordinarily important, because He was the first Manifestation of God to explain so explicitly the nature of the revelations of God- how they are progressive, natural, suited to human societal and spiritual development and reflect a dynamic world.  He also performed the unique role of preparing Persian society for the appearance of the most universal revelation ever to come to humanity- that of Baha'u'llah.  The presentations are divided into three parts. Part 1 provides some of the history and basic course of the Bab's life and teachings. Part 2 introduces His theology and Part 3 continues the discussion of His theology but highlights the texts that are emblematic of the main purpose of His mission- to prepare the people for Baha'u'llah. Part 1 is below. Part 2 is in this post, and Part 3 in this one.

As part of the Foundation of the Revelation series, Dr. Williams presented two introductory lectures that explain the Baha'i teachings. In this second of the two- "How to Spread Your Religion"- Dr Williams highlights some of the unique features of Baha'u'llah's Faith, features that are different from how people normally think about religion. He explains that Baha'u'llah's teachings are not intended to belittle the great revelations of the past, but to build upon them.  He further explains, with reference directly to passages from Baha'u'llah Himself, how Baha'is seek to make people aware of Baha'u'llah's teachings- through love and understanding, and the avoidance of contention and conflict.

In this first presentation of core Foundations lectures, Dr Williams outlines some of the features of the "phenomenon of divine revelation".  Humanity has historically thought about the religions of humankind, and the revelations that formed them, in a disjointed and limited way.  This has led to an increasing belief that religion is incoherent and inconsistent with modern realities. The revelations of the Bab and Baha'u'llah teach us that the revelations of God are part of one process, one that is evolutionary, dynamic, and suited to human capacity at  the time they are revealed. This extraordinary idea- easily one of the most important ideas ever considered by human beings- allows us to see the interaction of God with humanity as a natural process, organic with the world and with history.  We can now talk about divine revelation as a recurring phenomenon, rather than a single event. The Baha'i writings will then use natural metaphors, like trees and the rising and setting of the sun, to describe the way revelations come to humanity. This presentation will explore these ideas as a prelude to studying the historical unfoldment of the revelations of the Bab and then Baha'u'llah. A supplementary post will present several quotes from the Baha'i writings that reflect the themes in the presentation. Enjoy! Running time- approximately 18 minutes. 

The Foundations of the Revelation course is an series of audio presentations that introduce Baha'u'llah's revelation, starting from scratch.  It is intended to provide theological and historical context to the Baha'i Writings, most prominently the Writings of Baha'u'llah. In the presentations, Dr Kendal Williams will take you on a tour of Baha'i history and highlight the major themes of the Tablets and major works that Baha'u'llah revealed, in the context of their revelation.  The series starts with an introductory talk- "What?!! A New Revelation?"- which presents the Baha'i Faith for what it claims to be- a new revelation from God to all humanity.   Most of the presentations in the series are about 20-30 minutes long, except this first talk, which runs over 40 minutes.  It is longer because Dr Williams sets the stage for understanding Baha'u'llah by first giving an overview of the great religions of Christianity and Islam, as these two revelations are a good example of what a new divine revelation can mean for the world.We hope you enjoy the series!