Pasadena Bahai Community: Commemoration of Abdul-Baha’s Visit to Pasadena, Oct. 21

Put your trust in the Blessed Beauty. Every momentous work that one undertakes has difficulties in the beginning. One should withstand such difficulties with the utmost steadfastness.
— Attributed to `Abdu’l-Bahá, from Mahmud´s Diary

`Abdu’l-Bahá, son of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, was imprisoned with his father in Persia for 40 years. Miraculously, upon his liberation from prison, he embarked upon an historic, 239-day journey to the United States and Canada from April to December, 1912 in the last decade of his life. While based in San Francisco in early October, `Abdu’l-Bahá spoke before the entire faculty and student body of Stanford University on October 8, 1912. In addition, he visited the gravesite of Thornton Chase, the first known American Baha’i, at the Inglewood Cemetery on October 19, 1912.

Coincidentally, `Abdu’l-Bahá also visited Pasadena and the Busch Gardens the following day, because his American Baha’i friends wanted to share with Him some local natural beauty. The Bahá’ís throughout the United States are presently commemorating the centenary of `Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to North America with a year-long celebration, including day-by-day descriptions, diary entries and photos of his journey on-line. (You can follow his journey at these two sites: www.239days.com and www.centenary.bahai.us.

Meeting `Abdu’l-Bahá in person must have been quite an event, as all those who met him reported being moved and overcome with deep emotion. Even those who were skeptical in the beginning, after experiencing his imposing presence, characterized by forthrightness and deep wisdom across all subject matters, combined with his humility, kindness and extremely loving disposition, were won over in the end. Mahmud, one of the Persian chroniclers of `Abdu’l-Bahá’s journey, writes in his diary entry from August 20, 1912 at Green Acres, Maine that when Mrs. Farmer, the owner of Green Acres (a nondenominational spiritual retreat center), laid eyes on `Abdu’l-Bahá, “she fell into such a state of rapture that every heart was moved.” Such was the typical reaction of all who met him, regardless of background, race or station.

The 100-year commemoration of `Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to my hometown of Pasadena will be celebrated on October 21, 2012. As fate would have it, I will no longer be here. I am somewhat disappointed, but also filled with joy over the privilege of being able to serve the Baha’i Faith as a pioneer to Santiago de Chile, under the imposing shadow of the Baha’i House of Worship which is due to be completed in 2016. I “ship out” on October 7th!

You see, I became a Baha’i on Thanksgiving Eve, November, 2010. Throughout the course of this year of commemoration of `Abdu’l-Bahá’s historic travels in North America, I had been searching for the most meaningful way to show my gratitude for this priceless gift. With that query left initially unanswered, I went about my life, doing nothing more than the minimum expected of any modern-day Baha’i – attending gatherings, reading the Baha’i writings, praying every morning and evening, and studying with Baha’i friends. I believe that this is how my decision to move to Santiago finally came about, and now the blessings have already begun, as I down-size my worldly possessions at midlife, in honor of `Abdu’l-Bahá’s example of humility and simplicity, to two suitcases and a backpack! In addition, as I explain my plans to friends and family, I get to talk about Baha’u’llah’s teachings on the Oneness of Humankind. I feel unworthy of such blessings, yet humbly grateful for the opportunity to do my part in sharing Bahá’u’lláh’s Message for this New Era.

My own personal hope is to be of service wherever needed once I get to Santiago – devotionals, children’s classes, Jr. Youth, etc. – I am physically strong and healthy, a musician, an experienced primary teacher and speak Spanish! All of my knowledge, education and skills are coming together, and I see how I will be able to use them to serve the Faith in South America. I feel that the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh are the truth, that He has brought the latest message of peace and unity for our era; I genuinely feel that I am passing along the greatest gift that I have ever been given – Bahá’u’lláh’s message of Unity in Diversity.

I will be reading from afar about the commemoration of `Abdu’l-Bahá’s travels to this coast 100 years ago, but I will be in a state of wonderment, gratitude and compassion for all of the Baha’i pioneers who have come before me. I believe that this letter that `Abdu’l-Bahá sent to Harriet Wise, an early Baha’i, in 1905, beautifully encapsulates the true focal point of human existence, regardless of the secondary characteristics of geography, culture, religion, race or nationality:

O thou who has turned thy face toward the Kingdom!

I read what thou hast written. Know thou that there is in the world of existence a Center, for each great matter, and bounties shower from that Center. For instance, in the circle of the sun, the sun is the center of the light. Likewise there is a real Center for Pure Love and now that Center is manifest in this world, from which the Lights of Love reflect to all parts of the Universe. If thou partake but one ray of that Center, thou wouldst become self-sufficient from the world, finding a new condition and witnessing an exaltation which overshadows all the existence. Pray God that thou mayest catch with all thy exertion the Lights of the Love from that Center.

Upon thee be greetings and praise!

(Signed) Abdul-Baha Abbas
September 5, 1905 (Reprinted in Star of the West, 1913)

Pasadena Bahai Community, P.O. Box 91668, Pasadena, (626) 607-1844 or visit pasadenabahai.org.