Day 10 - Self Study
“Man must seek reality himself, forsaking imitations and adherence to mere hereditary forms. As the nations of the world are following imitations in lieu of truth and as imitations are many and various, differences of belief have been productive of strife and warfare. So long as these imitations remain, the oneness of the world of humanity is impossible. Therefore, we must investigate reality in order that by its light the clouds and darkness may be dispelled. Reality is one reality; it does not admit multiplicity or division. If the nations of the world investigate reality, they will agree and become united.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Although this quote refers to the nations and laudable global ideas such as the oneness of humanity, all of this begins within the individual.
Without investigating your own truth, diving deep within yourself, will make you unable to fish out your own needed wisdom for your own path and that which is to serve others - remember that portal, express highway or hotline that is made just between you and the divine?
Without independent investigation, it makes it difficult to mirror forth and show to others, like your friends, family, neighbors, community, nations and ultimately the world, what this reality is - because you don’t know what it is yourself.
Without the investigation of truth within the self, we are a bunch of fragmented imitation pieces passed down from generation to generation.
“every man must be an investigator for himself. Ideas and beliefs left by his fathers and ancestors as a heritage will not suffice, for adherence to these are but imitations, and imitations have ever been a cause of disappointment and misguidance. Be investigators of reality that you may attain the verity of truth and life.” - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
“Another new principle revealed by Bahá’u’lláh is the injunction to investigate truth—that is to say, no man should blindly follow his ancestors and forefathers. Nay, each must see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears and investigate the truth himself in order that he may follow the truth instead of blind acquiescence and imitation of ancestral beliefs.” - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
If we’re not suppose to blindly follow our families, that means seeking truth outside of it. No one else can do this work for us, I mean who else can you turn to around you, who could give you this description of reality that your heart so desires? Everyone else’s thoughts would be an imitation from their own ancestors, unless independently investigated of course!
“It is the duty of everyone to investigate reality, and investigation of reality by another will not do for us.” - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
“God has created man and endowed him with the power of reason whereby he may arrive at valid conclusions. Therefore, man must endeavor in all things to investigate the fundamental reality. If he does not independently investigate, he has failed to utilize the talent God has bestowed upon him.” - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Curiosity of the searching for self reality and greater reality is a key factor in investigating the truth. I believe that self and greater reality are one and exactly the same, the investigation of one with lead to the other, since reality is but one, and we influence everything around us and are indivisible with it.
Self reality is the only aspect that we have total and complete control over to change at any moment, available to change within us in any time.
But how exactly do you be curious?
“we should not belittle anyone and call him ignorant, saying: “You know not, but I know.” Rather, we should look upon others with respect, and when attempting to explain and demonstrate, we should speak as if we are investigating the truth, saying: “Here these things are before us. Let us investigate to determine where and in what form the truth can be found.” - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
To self-discover, self-inquire, means to find all the parts of your self and reunite with yourself, in order words, you are conquering yourself, you are championing your self.
“Canst Thou see any who have championed Thy Self, or who ponder on what hath befallen Him in the pathway of Thy love? Now doth My pen halt, O Beloved of the worlds. ”
- Bahá’u’lláh (Excerpt from The Fire Tablet)
Meditation
Guided Meditation on Self Inquiry
The link above directs you to the library of last years meditations during the Baha’i Fast, you are most welcome to listen to any and all of the podcasts and meditation practices! The specific one that is relevant to this topic can be found with the title below - however this link may likely be disabled once the fast is over so do jump on this one before March 26th)
In addition, Yoga Avec Moi has dedicated the year October 2019 - October 2020 to celebrate the Bicentenary Birth of The Báb with the Bicentenary Meditation Project, aiming at 365 meditations throughout the year to 'open the heart of a person for His sake' through a meditation or to 'strengthen faith in Him and certitude in His Reality' - Him referring to either The Báb or Bahá'u'lláh.
“For indeed if though dost open the heart of a person for His sake, better will it be for thee than every virtuous deed; since deeds are secondary to faith in Him and certitude in His Reality.” - The Báb
***Two audios are currently uploaded, the last one was uploaded on March 14th.
Follow us on The Bicentenary Meditation Project Apple iTunes Podcast with the live link below, you can also find the recent update on Facebook @bicentenarymeditations (also our instagram name)
Read more about the Bicentenary Meditation Project HERE
The Bicentenary Meditation Project Apple iTunes Podcast
Reflection Questions
What are some core beliefs that are different from what your family believes in, and what you have been taught to simply accept?
What are some things that you have noticed since time immemorial?
When you were a kid, what were you interested in and what did you like? List them all out.
How well do you know your self? Write out everything you know to be true about your self and what you have learned over time.
Prayer
“O seeker of Truth! If thou desirest that God may open thine eye, thou must supplicate unto God, pray to and commune with Him at midnight, saying:
O Lord, I have turned my face unto Thy kingdom of oneness and am immersed in the sea of Thy mercy. O Lord, enlighten my sight by beholding Thy lights in this dark night, and make me happy by the wine of Thy love in this wonderful age. O Lord, make me hear Thy call, and open before my face the doors of Thy heaven, so that I may see the light of Thy glory and become attracted to Thy beauty.
Verily, Thou art the Giver, the Generous, the Merciful, the Forgiving.”
—‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Tomorrow’s Day 11/19 purification series will be focusing on fortitude and steadfastness.
Share the link below if you have friends that might enjoy these purification series and be interested in receiving updates about the Bicentenary Meditation Project.
Remainder of the 19 Days of Purifications Theme Topics
The Three Kriyas
11. Fortitude [NEXT]
12. Surrender
The Five Koshas
13. Physical
14. Energetic
15. Mental/Emotional
16. The Witness
17. Bliss Body
18. Summary
19. Maintaining purification
To receive personal updates on classes, workshops of Nahal that she doesn't share anywhere else, get on her mailing list on her website www.yogaavecmoi.com/subscribe
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Introduction to the Author
作者简介
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Nahal Haghbin's Chinese name is Chen Nana, a Canadian-born foreigner who grew up in Tianjin, China. She is an Integrative Yoga Therapist (IAYT) in training. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences from the University of British Columbia and a Master's degree in Control of Infectious Diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In 2014, Nahal worked with the World Health Organization on the H7N9, MERS-CoV and Ebola global outbreaks whilst serving in the Assistant Director General's Office Taskforce. It was her teenage experience of SARS in 2003, that led her to choose her eventual profession and future career in the control of infectious disease outbreaks.
作者简介：Nahal Haghbin 中文名字：陈娜娜，出生于加拿大，在中国天津长大的外籍人士。她是一名在训的综合瑜伽理疗师（IAYT），她拥有英国哥伦比亚大学生命科学学士学位和伦敦卫生及热带医学院传染病控制科学硕士学位。2014年，Nahal与世界卫生组织合作处理H7N9、MERS-CoV和埃博拉全球疫情，同时在助理总干事办公室工作组任职。正是2003年她十几岁时的非典经历，让她最终选择了她未来的职业方向：控制传染病的爆发
Nahal has found that she can best be of service to mankind by combining her passions of global health and integrative yoga therapy. To her, both serve as complementary systems of knowledge to interpret the world around her. Nahal has found that by bridging the two disciplines, it broadens the availability of language and understanding that she can access, to share her interpretations of various health conditions.
Nahal发现她能结合自己对全球健康和综合瑜伽理疗的热情，为人类提供最好的服务。对她来说两者是互为补充的知识系统，可以用来帮她解读周围的世界。Nahal发现连接这两个学科拓宽了语言和理解的可用性，使她能够分享她对不同疾病的理解.