Letters from Our Viewers

Letters from Our Viewers

 

Dear Friends,

Our Community’s new website, or blog, has been online for over two months. We have endeavored to share with you the beliefs and values of the followers of Baha’u’llah and do so in a way that will attract your interest. Happily, we have come to the attention of surfers on the world wide web. We would like to share with you some of their letters.

The Webmaster

 

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Dear Sir,

I have been examining your website. Pyuck! I cannot believe that you have concocted such an abomination of a website. A more pitiful excuse for the use of the ether that makes up the web I have not seen before nor can scarcely imagine. I hardly know where to begin. Who chose the color scheme? Farm animals? Circus clowns? And how could you use a photograph in the banner with such insipid flowers? And how are those themes chosen? By having an inebriate throw darts blindfolded at your library? You call your website a blog? A blog? Really?? No, your [expletive deleted] website is no blog, it’s a blaahg. Blaah Blaah Blaah Blaah Blaahg!  But not to worry. Nothing is wasted. I have found an excellent use for your blaahg. I print it out and place the paper on the bottom of my bird cage. Outstanding! I am so irritated and offended by your blaahg that I am determined to figure out how to run toilet paper through my printer. Then I can print it out and make the best possible use of it. Your blaahg is so obnoxious and unimaginative that I bet your day job is working for the government. I could go on, but you are not worth any more of my time. Please do me and the world a favor and remove it forever.

Sincerely, James M.

 

Dear James M.

Thank you for your very kind letter. “Unity in Diversity” is the watchword of the Baha’i Faith. That phrase, in a nutshell, explains what we are all about. Only when we all come together can we then gather together our joint resources and collective wisdom and apply ourselves to solving the multitude of the common problems of humanity. Not only is such a course of action practical, but it is also one of the fundamental purposes of religion. As the Forerunner of Baha’u’llah, the Bab, has said, “Please God, that we avoid the land of denial, and advance into the ocean of acceptance, so that we may perceive, with an eye purged from all conflicting elements, the worlds of unity and diversity, of variation and oneness, of limitation and detachment, and wing our flight unto the highest and innermost sanctuary of the inner meaning of the Word of God.” Our beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Baha,  made the same point even more clearly when he told us, “In reality all are members of one human family — children of one Heavenly Father. Humanity may be likened unto the vari-colored flowers of one garden. There is unity in diversity. Each sets off and enhances the other’s beauty.”

 

But, first, of course, we must all come together! People of diverse views must meet and talk. Your fine letter, lucidly expressing your point of view, provides us with an excellent opportunity to practice this fundamental reality. I feel that we are really bonding! Diverse points of view have come together in conversation. Unity, of course, does not come easily. Real effort is required. The truth is that working together in peaceful consultation, with the head-butting that so often goes on, is so much more difficult, and requires so much more courage and effort than the simple expedient of war, with its terrible consequences.

 

On a side note, may I recommend to you consideration of the virtue of courtesy? It is the prince of virtues. Baha’u’llah Himself has said of courtesy, “O people of God! I admonish you to observe courtesy, for above all else it is the prince of virtues. Well is it with him who is illumined with the light of courtesy and is attired with the vesture of uprightness. Whoso is endued with courtesy hath indeed attained a sublime station. It is hoped that this Wronged One and everyone else may be enabled to acquire it, hold fast unto it, observe it, and fix our gaze upon it.”

 

As an expression of our appreciation for your letter, we have attached an audio message that we hope you will enjoy.

With loving greetings, The Webmaster

 

Appreciation Gift

 

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Dear Baha’i Blog-Person,

I have been looking at your blog and I do enjoy the photos and ideas. Indeed, they are interesting and sometimes even fascinating! While I recognize that there is a place in the world for this God stuff, I have a suggestion to offer: use your valuable time and resources with your website instead to pursue the truth about UFOs. This is the most important discovery in history. All of the TV shows on the subject agree that there are aliens from outer space visiting our world and checking up on us! Meanwhile, the government denies everything. Every effort really must be made to uncover the truth. You could also promote other worthwhile investigations such as Bigfoot. And, here is a great idea for you. You know that TV show where they look for ghosts? You could have your own TV show investigating reports of spontaneous human combustion! It would be a great success. No one is doing a show on that. Once again, you have a very nice site, but you could put your resources to better use.

Yours very truly, Lee R.

 

 

Dear Lee R.,

Thank you for your very kind letter. Baha’is can think of no better use of their resources and time than service to their Creator. All of God’s Manifestations throughout recorded history have taught us that our primary duty is to recognize God, through His Messenger, and to be obedient to His teachings. God’s Messenger today is Baha’u’llah. This duty includes both the life-long endeavor at personal improvement and transformation, and the effort to have all mankind recognize that we are one people from one planet with one God and that we all need to work together to improve the quality of everyone’s lives. Other activities may be interesting, but they are of secondary importance. ‘Abdu’l-Baha tells us that “in this great century the most important of all subjects is the oneness of the world of humankind.” The number of Baha’is in the world, at this juncture in history, is few, and we are determined to focus on what is most important for us. We are pursuing the most important subject. We are most appreciative of your attention to our website and hope that you continue to enjoy it.

With loving greetings, The Webmaster

 

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Dear Tacoma Baha’i Community.

Congratulations! You may have just won $10,000,000! That’s TEN MILLION DOLLARS! Imagine how your life will be transformed. No more work – live in luxurious retirement. Travel: Las Vegas, New York, Paris.  Your possibilities are endless. Yes, Tacoma Baha’i Community, the opportunity of a lifetime stands before you. You need take just a few minutes of your time. And it costs you nothing! There is no obligation! Go to the web link below and follow the cues. Nothing is easier. Only a few lucky persons will receive this priceless opportunity. Don’t delay! Click on the link NOW and ACT! You may never have this chance again. As the winner, you will be the source of unending happiness for your family. Don’t let someone else beat you to it. What would your loved ones think of you if you let this once in a lifetime opportunity slip between your fingers? Go there NOW for $10,000,000!

Greg T. for Nothing to Chance Promotions

 

 

Dear Greg T.,

Thank you for your very kind letter.  Material wealth has its importance in the world, but sadly, far too many people attach themselves to its acquisition and forget that their true wealth lies within themselves and their connection to God. The material wealth that you offer is something that no ones needs. Every soul is, in fact, already born rich. Baha’u’llah tells us, “O Son of Spirit! I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself?”   The wealth that really matters comes from God. Again, Baha’u’llah tells us, “Thou art He, O God, Who hath proclaimed Himself as the Lord of Wealth, and characterized all that serve Him as poor and needy.” All humankind are the poor and needy, and they receive their portion of God’s wealth by turning to Him through His Manifestation, Baha’u’llah: “This is a Revelation that infuseth strength into the feeble, and crowneth with wealth the destitute.” Our Lord has counseled us that it would be better to avoid even possessing the vast wealth that you offer. Once again, Baha’u’llah advises us, “O Son of Man! Thou dost wish for gold and I desire thy freedom from it. Thou thinkest thyself rich in its possession, and I recognize thy wealth in thy sanctity therefrom.”

 

You refer to work and suggest that life would be better without it. No one should think that their life would be better without work. It is one of our great benefits. Baha’u’llah tells us that work is worship: “O people of Baha! It is incumbent upon each one of you to engage in some occupation — such as a craft, a trade or the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One.”  And again He says, “Thus it is incumbent on every one to engage in crafts and professions, for therein lies the secret of wealth, O men of understanding!”

 

Everyone should turn to God. They can only benefit. And it costs nothing but some of their time. There is no obligation. Everyone receives this priceless opportunity, and it can only bestow blessings upon their families. They should do it now, without delay. Please click one of the links in our sidebar and begin your spiritual journey, a journey that will bestow upon you endless blessings both in this world and the world to come.

With loving greetings, The Webmaster

 

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Dear Santa,

I have been very good this year. I want a bicycle, a foosball table, baseballs, a bat and glove, a computer and lots of cool computer games to go with it (see attached list), a big screen TV for my bedroom, an iPod, a trip to Disneyland, and many different action toys (see attached list). My Mom asks me to include my sister. Just get her another doll. Thank you.

Billy

 

 

Dear Billy,

Thank you for your very kind letter. Your interests are wide-ranging and very commendable. It is apparent that you are highly motivated to improve yourself in so many ways that are vital to one’s spiritual development. Your interests include education, physical conditioning, appreciation of the arts, and travel. Along with spiritual and moral education, these things will be of benefit to yourself and others for a lifetime. Knowledge gives you the skills to earn a living and to support your family. Physical conditioning contributes to good health and enables you be happy and productive. Appreciation of the arts imbues you with a sense of the beauty that exists in all of God’s creation. And travel sharpens your insight into the realization of the oneness of humanity.

 

Your thoughtfulness of your dear sister was the nicest part of your letter. It shows that you are a caring person and that you are blessed to belong to a loving family. That is more important than all of the gifts that you will ever receive. It reveals the spirit of God’s love reflecting from your soul. May you and your family have a blessed and happy holiday season.

With loving greetings, The Webmaster

 

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The letters from viewers are works of fiction and not actual letters received from viewers. The views expressed in the letters of reply are the opinions of the webmaster and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any institutions of the Baha’i Faith. The quotes from the Baha’i Writings are authentic.

 

Photo: springtime flowers in the gardens just north of the Collins Gate at Bahji

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