jupitermadcat

I don't know if anyone of you know about this but this is a site where you can obtain free books for your Kindle.

Bahá

arthra

Thanks for sharing that! Yes we have posted that here before but it doesn't hurt to remind the friends! I have the free Baha'i e books on my Kindle!

MichaelAW

I didn't know, I have a new BlackBerry PlayBook and hope I can download books on it. Thank you!

jupitermadcat

How are you liking the playbook? and why did you pick it over the other tablets

mrjapilz

http://Reference.bahai.org is another great website to access all of the Writings for free.

You can also download the pdfs and/or the word documents from there too.

MichaelAW

I like it a lot! I had a Motorola xoom running android, 10 inch screen. It was too heavy to hold for more than a few months minute's.

When the bb PlayBook went on sale I bought two for what I paid for one xoom.
I sold the xoom on Amazon.
The size is perfect for me, the battery life is great, it did have operating system short comings but a major operating system release is due out the middle of this month which fixes everything, ( android wasn't perfect either).

Playbook has flash, android doesn't. I also have a blackberry phone and I can connect the two, I can use the phones cellular connection to browse the web any time or wifi, so I don't pay for two cellular plans!!

tonybahaiforums

Yes, I like my kindle touch very much.
It can store so many Baha'i readings.
"Send to kindle" is a great function !

jupitermadcat

I received my copy of Gleanings in the mail yesterday looking forward to reading it.

cire perdue

Sitting down and reading GLEANINGS would seem to me to be an a difficult task, not to be confused with impossible. I have read Gleanings I guesstimate 4- 5 times but a paragraph at the time evey a.m. and p.m. I think HIDDEN WORDS can be read in a sitting or two, as well as THE SEVEN VALLEYS. GLEANINGS is actually a compilation and was very welcome in its time and still just as important. SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS is important. GOD PASSES BY is the book that the friends are told to read when going to work at the World Centre (Haifa). GLEANINGS was translations by Shoghi Effendi.
More than to be discouraging, I want to be encouraging if you find it difficult, because it is. Now having read the Writings for more than 35 years I find more sense than I ever thought I could, and started laughing the other night at something I am pretty sure I had never seen as funny before that Baha'u'llah wrote about his enemies near the end of his life.

HOWEVER I am slowly finishing CALL TO REMEMBRANCE (come to think of it) and have really really liked it, because it is all Baha'u'llah's Writings interdispersed between the history, so that the quotes correspond with the history, are written at the time. It is now a favorite of mine and I do reccommend it. It's only $7 from the Baha'i Distribution Service. I think this would be an excellent starter book!!!! It is a compilation, I have the first edition from '92 as it was compiled for the centenary.

Rani

I don't have an ebook reader as yet, but will look into it.. So many options, I wonder if people have recommendations.

I like the fact that Kindle has the e-ink, as I find it softer /kinder to the eyes than the kind of ink and light on an iPad. Although I wonder if a six-inch screen is a bit small?

Any suggestions? There are so many options one sometimes doesn't know where to start.

jupitermadcat

Thank you i will keep that in mind, I picked Gleanings because i had a lot of recomendations

Rani

I think it's important to remember however, that books like 'God Passes By' and 'Some Answered Questions' , although highly valuable and important in themselves, are not an equivalent, to books like 'Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah' or 'Call to Remembrance'.

As the latter two are compilations of Baha'u'llah Writings, and it is His Writings that are considered the most pure, and we're meant to read a bit from Him (or the Bab?) every day.

So, I understand this is obvious to many baha'is, but I thought it important to clarify. 'God Passes By' for example, will be important to understand history and something of the Covenant, but it cannot be a replacement to reading the pure Word of Baha'u'llah. It would be more of an adjunct I think.

jupitermadcat

A couple of years ago i read In the Glory of the Father: The Bahai Faith and Christianity which i found interesting coming from a Christian Background and i have a copy of the Hidden Words which i have read some.

cire perdue

...that you will realize what context to put things in. However Rani has an important point. Only Bahah'u'llah's Writings and those of the Bab plus previous Manifestations of God are considered the Word of God, and Baha'is have been taught that this is what makes a new religion and changres the hearts of men, but also is the true test of a religion. Because of this an obscure TINY group of men and women became Christianity, not from political powere, oh no, but by the spiritual power that changed their hearts and provided them their faith. Man may accomplish things by faith which they fail by to do by moral or volitional means. I'm not up to recounting the Christian examples of this from THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY by Rodney Stark. Maybe later if there is interest, but it is moving to me, very. Maybe I have already mentioned the Rome plagues...........

jupitermadcat

Right now I'm in the Middle of Baha'u'llah and the New Era: An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith. After i will start reading Gleanings. a little at a time

BruceDLimber

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rani I think it's important to remember however, that books like 'God Passes By' and 'Some Answered Questions' , although highly valuable and important in themselves, are not an equivalent, to books like 'Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah' or 'Call to Remembrance'.

I agree that God Passes By is more adjunct, but you seem to overlook the fact that 'Abdu'l-Baha's work--including Some Answered Questions--is part of the Baha'i scriptures and therefore equally valuable!

Peace,

Bruce

BruceDLimber

[QUOTE=cire perdue;29331Only Bahah'u'llah's Writings and those of the Bab plus previous Manifestations of God are considered the Word of God.[/QUOTE]

WRONG!

'Abdu'l-Baha's works are also Baha'i scripture--and hence, the Word of God--, as I just pointed out!

Peace,

Bruce

cire perdue

Sorry that is not my understanding. Abdul'baha's work is not the WORD. It is scripture, but not the Word. I cannot provide a reference at this time. IF you can that would be great.

cire perdue

The corrosion of ungodliness is eating into the vitals of human society; what else but the Elixir of His potent Revelation can cleanse and revive it? Is it within human power, O Hakim, to effect in the constituent elements of any of the minute and indivisible particles of matter so complete a transformation as to transmute it into purest gold? Perplexing and difficult as this may appear, the still greater task of converting satanic strength into heavenly power is one that We have been empowered to accomplish. The Force capable of such a transformation transcendeth the potency of the Elixir itself. The Word of God, alone, can claim the distinction of being endowed with the capacity required for so great and far-reaching a change.

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 199)

It is not my understanding that Abdul'baha is considered to be revealing a revelation from God, that the Master's work is the Elixir. I believe there are even more specific instructions regarding this in LIGHTS OF GUIDANCE, but I do not know a word to use to find them. I would like to see a reference which indicates I am incorrect. I believe this has been a common misunderstanding. That is why Abdul'baha's work is part of our Feast readings, because it IS scripture, and we have been asked not to read The Guardian's, because The Guardian instructed us not to. I still can't find the reference. I hope someone else can.

cire perdue

I have never read BAHA'U'LLAH AND THE NEW ERA. Good for you, putting me to shame and all.

jupitermadcat

Also when I hear conversion stories the book "A Thrift in the night"comes up alot as a deciding factor which I found odd as opposed to reading the writings. I downloaded the book just out of curiosity.

cire perdue

I became a Baha'i after reading THE HIDDEN WORDS and THE SEVEN VALLEYS. I had rejected Christianity years before. I had to re-accept Jesus. It was like coming home, but it was years before I read Thrift in the Night. That is the story of me walking to Wal Mart for a chocolate fix at 2 am. right? Oops, sorry, I would rather have ice cream than chocolate. (pardon my silliness) We are a nation of Christians.

Intellectual approaches find the Faith, but the best recognition is by the heart. Ultimately that is what I think has to be developed. It does not matter if you can read the texts in the original language, have a phd in oriental studies, and can lecture at length on Baha'i subjects, if you are not connected by the heart, then it is all for naught. The most humble follower who will give his life for this Faith is the most important of all of us, and this is still happening.

Additionally in a room of scholars in Baha'i consultation the least educated of them all has equal voice and decisions are made by concensus. So your feelings about something can be just as or more important that the President of the Corporation. That little old lady across the room could shoot down some fabulous idea with a simple statement.

jupitermadcat

Can't believe I typod Thief lol

cire perdue

I had GRATE fun with it. Sorry. I'm that way at times.....

Rani

Where I was coming from Bruce is that Shoghi Effendi did make it clear that while Abdu'l-Baha's Writings are considered as Scripture, they are not to be included in what is accepted as the 'verses of God'.

This is the quote I refer to:

165. Recite ye the verses of God every morn and
eventide. #149.

... With regard to the definition of "verses of God",
Bahá'u'lláh states that it refers to "all that hath been sent down
from the Heaven of Divine Utterance". Shoghi Effendi, in a
letter written to one of the believers in the East, has clarified
that the term "verses of God" does not include the writings of
Abdu'l-Bahá; he has likewise indicated that this term does
not apply to his own writings.

(The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 236)


Even when it comes to reading the Writings in the Spiritual portion at Feast, Shoghi Effendi still advises us to give priority to Baha'u'llah's and the Bab's Writings over Abdu'l-Baha's although they are included.

819. Writings Which Can be Read in Spiritual Part of Feast

"The Writings of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh can certainly be read any time at any place; likewise the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá are read freely during the spiritual part of the Feast. The Guardian has instructed that during the spiritual part of the Feast, his own writings should not be read. In other words, during the spiritual part of the Feast, readings should be confined to the Writings of the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh and to a lesser extent of the Master; but during the part of the Feast the Guardian's writings should not be read. During the of administrative discussion of the Feast, then the Guardian's writings may be read. Of course, during the administrative part of the Feast there can be no objection to the reading of the writings of the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh or 'Abdu'l-Bahá."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, April 27, 1956: Ibid: p. 9)

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 245)

I don't like using bold print much, sorry, but just for ease of reference I did this time.

I love Abdu'l-Baha's Writings of course, and they are easy to read when one is a new baha'i especially , but based on what Shoghi Effendi says, if we only read / recite them alone for our devotions, we are not satisfying the requirement to recite the verses of God.

jupitermadcat

So how soon after reading the two books did you choose to declare? And how did you come to your decision?

cire perdue

I had 4 episodes of exposure to the Faith. The last one got my attention, that episode has details not for now, but there was a groupof peope from 17-22 or so and they got my attention that Baha'u'llah was not just an avatar, but the Avatar for the age. I had very good "references" with the Baha'is. It was then in a couple of months that I did the reading and decided to become a Baha'i. However it was a 4 year process you could say. I was 18 when I first heard of the Faith and the teacher impressed me, then made friends with a Baha'i, an older lady, who was not active, then heard a very dignified lady, Thelma Khelgatti, talk about the Faith. However I think reading Hidden Words was the spark. I had had the copy for 3 years and never read it.

One hopes that he/she becomes as sure as they can be. It is sad when people think the Faith is something it is not and then leave especially after focusing on just the social teachings. I think the best decision is based on believing that Baha'u'llah is the Promised One and the return of Christ, and to follow the Institutions. One then is willing to be able to suspend issues if they occur, one says there is an answer to this even if I do not like what this appears to be or mean, or I can wait for an answer even if years. To be able to do that by faith is the key to being a Baha'i. There are for instance some terrible sites out there, but I don't have to go there. I don't have to solve those problems. I have looked some over, enough to know they are not important to me. I have been able to wait for answers and they have come. We are also instructed to stay out of those sites for our sakes as they are spiritually corrosive. I don't get into conspiracy sites either! Hope this helps..........

jupitermadcat

Yes it does thank you.

Lonemedic

Thanks for posting the original link!!