The Kitab-i-Aqdas in Colloquial English

practicingsecularist · 05-19-2009, 12:01 AM

I'm finding the linguistic style of the Kitab-i-Aqdas really laborious to plow through, so I'm paraphrasing it as I go in order to make it easier to process and remember. I'll be posting my 'translations' of the verses to this here blog:

kitabiaqdas[dot]
wordpress[dot]
com

Enjoy,
Your friendly neighborhood secularist

arthra · 05-19-2009, 07:23 AM

Hey welcome to the Baha'i Forum..

A few questions..

What is a "practicing secularist"?

and why do you think the language of the Aqdas is "laboriuous"?

and why do you think you in particular need to paraphrase it?

- Art

CK9 · 05-21-2009, 05:57 PM

The Kitab-i-Aqdas has inspired countless souls with the Love of God. It instructed the formation of the world's only united and international administrative system. It has inspired innumerable service projects aimed at alleviating the suffering of people in developing countries. It has inspired the building of schools and the appearance of self-sacrificing souls who give up their own interests to develop the spiritual and material capacity of communities around the world. It has prompted countless projects, all over the world, for the education of children. It has inspired countless people to live selflessly and to develop spiritual qualities like compassion, kindness, mercy, forbearance and unconditional love. The Kitab-i-Aqdas is a Book of such scope and unparalleled significance that no human being on Earth can ever adequately appraise its import, or hope to envisage the Most Great Peace which it at once promises and forms the foundation of.

Your exercise in quasi-Jacobian-to-Colloquial translation has failed to accurately communicate the intention of the Author - the very purpose of translation. The Kitab-i-Aqdas has contributed so much to humanity even at its most embryonic stage, but your version does what exactly?

triksel · 06-15-2009, 11:10 PM

The linguistic style of Kitab-i-Aqdas is already very simple. I don't know why someone would have trouble with processing or remembering it, therefore I think it would be such a waste of time to paraphrase it.

Jafar · 12-14-2009, 10:00 PM

hello triksel

adib · 02-25-2010, 03:09 PM

I can see why the Kitab-i-Aqdas can be difficult for some people to read if they aren't aware of how to use the notes and Q&A section. You may find this site makes the process easier:

Kitab-i-Aqdas

There are links directly from the Kitab-i-Aqdas to the related notes etc.

Enjoy.

beansbaxter · 02-25-2010, 05:36 PM

umm what exactly is a practicing secularist?

BruceDLimber · 03-17-2010, 06:04 AM

Greetings, PS!

Since you're finding the Aqdas tough going, another resource you may want to look into is this site:

The Bah' Study Center

(BTW, since something seems to be screwing up the format above, the correct site name is:

www (dot) bahaistudy (dot) org

Aren't computers FUN?!)

In addition to videos and more, it has an audio section featuring many Baha'i books, including the Kitab-i-Aqdas; and if you go there, you can have the site read the book to you out loud!

Best, :-)

Bruce

sas · 03-23-2010, 08:31 AM

Dear friendly neighborhood secularist,
First of all, I would like to commend you on your desire to read and fully understand the Kitabi-Aqdas. I believe this is a very noble pursuit that will inspire you and challenge you! I feel that caution should be taken when paraphrasing and publicly posting excerpts from our most holy book. The writings are very sacred and should be viewed in their purest form. We have to be very careful that we do not lose or incorrectly translate anything.The best way to do this is to only use exact quotes from the writings. This is why the Universal House of Justice is very diligent in their review of all released material. It is too easy, as we have seen in history with other religious texts to lose precious passages or have them miss interpreted.
When I first read the Aqdas I was 15. I had much trouble with it! Then I discovered 'Some Answered Questions' and 'Lights of Guidance'. Together with a dictionary I proceeded to tackle the Aqdas. SAQ and Lights gave me great insight into the Aqdas and helped me to understand our Most Holy Book.

sas · 03-23-2010, 08:39 AM

P.S. I should add that I am still 'understanding' the Aqdas. The Most Holy Book is of coarse not something to be immediately understood. It's depths should be deeply pondered and reflected on

Vice · 03-24-2010, 11:13 AM

i found the Aqdas as the most well write it holly book.. in the Aqdas you can't take any meaning for the one it is... like on the bible... some writings for catholics and Protestants can mean a lot of things

05-19-2009, 12:01 AM	#1
practicingsecularist Junior Member Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1 From: Canada	The Kitab-i-Aqdas in Colloquial English I'm finding the linguistic style of the Kitab-i-Aqdas really laborious to plow through, so I'm paraphrasing it as I go in order to make it easier to process and remember. I'll be posting my 'translations' of the verses to this here blog: kitabiaqdas[dot] wordpress[dot] com Enjoy, Your friendly neighborhood secularist __________________ Follow Baha'i Forums on Twitter and Facebook

05-19-2009, 07:23 AM	#2
arthra Senior Member Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 768 From: California	Hey welcome to the Baha'i Forum.. A few questions.. What is a "practicing secularist"? and why do you think the language of the Aqdas is "laboriuous"? and why do you think you in particular need to paraphrase it? - Art __________________ Follow Baha'i Forums on Twitter and Facebook

05-21-2009, 05:57 PM	#3
CK9 Junior Member Joined: May 2009 Posts: 19 From: UK	The Kitab-i-Aqdas has inspired countless souls with the Love of God. It instructed the formation of the world's only united and international administrative system. It has inspired innumerable service projects aimed at alleviating the suffering of people in developing countries. It has inspired the building of schools and the appearance of self-sacrificing souls who give up their own interests to develop the spiritual and material capacity of communities around the world. It has prompted countless projects, all over the world, for the education of children. It has inspired countless people to live selflessly and to develop spiritual qualities like compassion, kindness, mercy, forbearance and unconditional love. The Kitab-i-Aqdas is a Book of such scope and unparalleled significance that no human being on Earth can ever adequately appraise its import, or hope to envisage the Most Great Peace which it at once promises and forms the foundation of. Your exercise in quasi-Jacobian-to-Colloquial translation has failed to accurately communicate the intention of the Author - the very purpose of translation. The Kitab-i-Aqdas has contributed so much to humanity even at its most embryonic stage, but your version does what exactly? __________________ Follow Baha'i Forums on Twitter and Facebook Last edited by CK9; 05-21-2009 at 06:02 PM.

06-15-2009, 11:10 PM	#4
triksel Junior Member Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 28 From: Seattle	The linguistic style of Kitab-i-Aqdas is already very simple. I don't know why someone would have trouble with processing or remembering it, therefore I think it would be such a waste of time to paraphrase it. __________________ Follow Baha'i Forums on Twitter and Facebook

12-14-2009, 10:00 PM	#5
Jafar The Evil Visir Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 131 From: Chapel Hill	hello triksel __________________ Follow Baha'i Forums on Twitter and Facebook

02-25-2010, 03:09 PM	#6
adib Junior Member Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 1 From: Australia	I can see why the Kitab-i-Aqdas can be difficult for some people to read if they aren't aware of how to use the notes and Q&A section. You may find this site makes the process easier: Kitab-i-Aqdas There are links directly from the Kitab-i-Aqdas to the related notes etc. Enjoy. __________________ Follow Baha'i Forums on Twitter and Facebook

02-25-2010, 05:36 PM	#7
beansbaxter Member Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 68 From: Seattle, WA Blog Entries: 1	umm what exactly is a practicing secularist? __________________ Follow Baha'i Forums on Twitter and Facebook

03-17-2010, 06:04 AM	#8
BruceDLimber Member Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 82 From: Rockville, MD, USA	Greetings, PS! Since you're finding the Aqdas tough going, another resource you may want to look into is this site: The Bah' Study Center (BTW, since something seems to be screwing up the format above, the correct site name is: www (dot) bahaistudy (dot) org Aren't computers FUN?!) In addition to videos and more, it has an audio section featuring many Baha'i books, including the Kitab-i-Aqdas; and if you go there, you can have the site read the book to you out loud! Best, :-) Bruce __________________ Follow Baha'i Forums on Twitter and Facebook Last edited by BruceDLimber; 03-18-2010 at 10:00 AM.

03-23-2010, 08:31 AM	#9
sas Junior Member Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 12 From: Canada	Dear friendly neighborhood secularist, First of all, I would like to commend you on your desire to read and fully understand the Kitabi-Aqdas. I believe this is a very noble pursuit that will inspire you and challenge you! I feel that caution should be taken when paraphrasing and publicly posting excerpts from our most holy book. The writings are very sacred and should be viewed in their purest form. We have to be very careful that we do not lose or incorrectly translate anything.The best way to do this is to only use exact quotes from the writings. This is why the Universal House of Justice is very diligent in their review of all released material. It is too easy, as we have seen in history with other religious texts to lose precious passages or have them miss interpreted. When I first read the Aqdas I was 15. I had much trouble with it! Then I discovered 'Some Answered Questions' and 'Lights of Guidance'. Together with a dictionary I proceeded to tackle the Aqdas. SAQ and Lights gave me great insight into the Aqdas and helped me to understand our Most Holy Book. __________________ Follow Baha'i Forums on Twitter and Facebook

03-23-2010, 08:39 AM	#10
sas Junior Member Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 12 From: Canada	P.S. I should add that I am still 'understanding' the Aqdas. The Most Holy Book is of coarse not something to be immediately understood. It's depths should be deeply pondered and reflected on __________________ Follow Baha'i Forums on Twitter and Facebook

03-24-2010, 11:13 AM	#11
Vice Junior Member Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 17 From: La Vergne, TN	i found the Aqdas as the most well write it holly book.. in the Aqdas you can't take any meaning for the one it is... like on the bible... some writings for catholics and Protestants can mean a lot of things __________________ Follow Baha'i Forums on Twitter and Facebook

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