‘Tis within the pulse of silence
that mine timid heart doth dance
‘Tis in these times of solitude
my thoughts within the Trance
That space so long forgotten
whose name once bore my home
whose song was sung between the notes
That pulse, that steady drone
I recently spent a few days in Vancouver with a dear mentor and friend of mine, Don Streets, and an amazing and incredibly diverse group of individuals. The event was put on by Lee Brown, a Cherokee gentleman who got his Master’s degree in education 25 years ago through Don’s program at National University in San Diego, California and has since completed his doctorate in education. Lee is a faculty member in the College of Education at UBC and has been asked by the University to begin a doctoral program for First Nation students which is already underway.
The event was a conference for tribal leaders and educators from all over Canada, including a couple Maori representatives from the University of Aukland, New Zealand. The conference was one of the most amazing processes to witness and participate in that I have ever experienced. No parading of credentials, no blasting of hot air and pontificating, no evidence of ego, none of the trappings that often stymie discussions and consultation, especially in academia, no interrupting of those speaking, etc., but rather the kind of humility and rapt attention, respect, and consideration one only experiences among those of the highest sensibilities.
I am enclosing here the transcript of a conversation (to date) between myself and a very precious human being whom I love dearly and who happens to be 11…
Hey sweetheart! Good! I miss you too baby…I think its maybe because I love you so much!!! Hey, are you on facebook? Couldn’t remember if I’d added you or not. You should hop on there if you are. Hey baby, I was reading the first Hidden Word, and Tara and I wanted to do an arts project, where we all read the first Hidden Word and then we all express it in some artistic form, whether it be music, drawing, or whatever else you choose to express it with. It is…
This blog post is a response to a friend of mine who, upon hearing criticisms of the Baha’i Faith from his friends, decided to investigate matters for himself and join a Ruhi Study Circle. I have copied my response below:
Great to hear from you too. I think you are quite wise in discovering the truth of any matter with your own eyes and ears. That is actually the nature of a study circle. Far from being a forum whereby someone with an agenda attempts to impose a belief upon another, it is a loving and trusting environment wherein we all embark on a collaborative quest for truth and understanding. Questioning is an integral part of the independent investigation of truth, yet we must always be so careful to avoid imposing our opinion upon another, either in the form of a criticism or that of praise. Though often well-meaning, this is essentially an arrogant act since it fails to acknowledge the sovereignty of the individual’s will through the operation of his own mind and soul. You have a soul that is of God, you are a child of God, and one of the tools the All-Mighty has blessed you with is a sound mind. This allows you to form your own opinions and as such I look forward to learning from you as much as I do to sharing with you my humble understanding of the Baha’i Writings.