Just in the Mail—Meditations of Mine Featured in a Canadian Journal
Below, is a selection of my literary, spiritual and philosophical reflections in the latest print issue of the Journal of Baha'i Studies a peer-reviewed, academic journal published in Canada:
A poem should be flesh-warm, scented Spirit.
All languages are rough translations of our native tongue: the Spirit.
As we make peace with ourselves, we become more tolerant of our faults — in others.
The only real borders are those of our compassion.
Wars are only possible when people are united by what they hate rather than what they love: Peace.
Between comedy and tragedy, a hairline — the depth of an abyss.
True artists disturb the false peace, also known as complacency.
The path to Peace is littered with dead selves.
Self-peace: our first step towards world peace.
The divided self is spiritually immature. Divine union begins with self unity.
The inspiration for all our art? Mortality.
A cluttered mind makes for a poor mirror.
40's: when our bodies begin to prepare us for dying.
Turning 40: When the fruit that is our body starts to spoil, and the rose tree of our soul begins to bloom.
Turning 40: When we begin to repeat ourselves and, hopefully, to hear ourselves, as well.
Getting older is realizing that we've been repeating ourselves all along.
Certain silences are more damning than words; they are actions.
Certain silences are hard to take back.
Spiritual fast food leads to spiritual indigestion.
Aphorisms respect the wisdom of silence by disturbing it, briefly.
Talk is cheap, because it is the language of the body; silence golden, since it's the native tongue of the spirit.
As protection from your lower soul, surround yourself with reminders of your higher soul.
Said a poem to a poet: can I trust you? Is your heart pure to carry me; are your hands clean to pass can lessen suffering and also save lives.
Numbness is a spiritual malady, true detachment its opposite.
The pursuit of Art and Spirituality is not a refuge from the world. We return from such exalted regions of the soul revitalized, with renewed care for one another.
When we behave unbeautifully, we give others permission to do so.
Unlike prose, poetry can keep its secrets.
Aphorisms are the marriage of heaven and hell: poetry and philosophy.
While the number of celebrities mounts, that of saints remains constant throughout the ages.
Know your Muse, and its diet.
Attention: a tension.
The highest function of literature is transformational.
One never becomes a poet, except when they are writing a poem.
What we love in the next world, we begin by loving here, first.
If religions are understood as organized Love then, by definition, hate is heresy.
An angry prayer is a contradiction in terms.
First, seek to become a luminous example — lastly, you may speak of religion and G_d.
Before you blaspheme, declaring yourself an agent of light acting in His Name, make sure that you stand clear of your own shadow.
Contradiction: the cloak preferred by profound truths.
Paradox: where truth hides in plain view. The paradox of enlightenment: to see our reflection in everything, and not to see our reflection in everything.
© Yahia Lababidi
The Bahá’í Faith, its followers believe, is “divine in origin, all-embracing in scope, broad in its outlook, scientific in its method, humanitarian in its principles and dynamic in the influence it exerts on the hearts and minds of men.” The mission of the Bahá’í Faith is “to proclaim that religious truth is not absolute but relative, that Divine Revelation is continuous and progressive, that the Founders of all past religions, though different in the non-essential aspects of their teachings, “abide in the same Tabernacle, soar in the same heaven, are seated upon the same throne, utter the same speech and proclaim the same Faith” (Shoghi Effendi).
Congratulations. This is a great reflection. And yes... it does have a Proverbs feel.
Thank you 🙏🏼 As a young man, I inhaled proverbs, maxims, epigrams, any witty-wise saying (from my tradition & elsewhere).
Now, I not only write aphorisms, I think in them!
Glad you enjoyed these 🤓
This is fantastic, what a beautiful feature--thank you for sharing--not only the journal and its story, but the words within as well. :) Resteemed and see you around. @thenewalchemists
Really grateful for your warm encouragement & support, thank you!
By the way, thought of you guys this morning as I posted this article, about Racism in America #BLM ✊🏿@thenewalchemists
Of course, our pleasure to support your amazing work. Will check out the other article too. :)
In the afterlife, we will be with the one we love most here... We should befriend with the pure soul and be a good one ourselves..!!
~ Tennis Girl 🎾🎾
That's a romantic notion, dear Christina. Maybe the one will be the One... Happy Sunday 🙏🏼
happy Sunday to u too....!!! 🙌
good motivation sir for everyone.
every steem user needed motivation and you make this motivation and post us .
you are great man..carry on and take many best wish from us.
Thank you, for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed these (you are a very fast reader!)
The Bahai Religion was originated in Iran If I am not wrong.
Bahá'í Faith is the second-largest religion, in Iran, after Islam and the birthplace of the three central figures of the religion – The Báb, Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá.
Could you please explain are these three persons the same?
I am not Baha'i, but you can read more about the faith, here: http://www.bahai.org/the-bab/articles-resources/the-bab-words-bahaullah-abdul-baha