1 / 28

A Fortress & A Bicycle

A Fortress & A Bicycle. Marriage in the Baha’i Faith. Two metaphors. What it is The law of marriage is like a fortress How to live it Being in a marriage is like riding a bicycle Maintenance. A fortress. A Fortress.

zev
Download Presentation

A Fortress & A Bicycle

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. A Fortress &A Bicycle • Marriage in the Baha’i Faith

  2. Two metaphors • What it is • The law of marriage is like a fortress • How to live it • Being in a marriage is like riding a bicycle • Maintenance

  3. A fortress

  4. A Fortress... • He established the law of marriage, made it as a fortress for well-being and salvation, and enjoined it upon us in that which was sent down out of the heaven of sanctity in His Most Holy Book. ...

  5. Not a castle

  6. Not a palace

  7. A Fortress... • When subsequently He was incarcerated in the fortress of Mah-Ku, in the province of Adhirbayjan, ...

  8. A Fortress... • According to the descriptions which I have heard, the fortress erected by Mulla Husayn soon became a very strong building. Its walls made of large stones reached a height of ten meters. On this base, they raised a construction made of enormous tree trunks in the middle of which they arranged a number of loopholes; they then surrounded it entirely with a deep ditch. In fact it was a kind of great tower having stones for the foundation while the higher stories were of wood ….

  9. A Fortress... • … They made openings for many doors and postern gates in order to facilitate entrance and exit. They dug wells, thus securing an abundance of water; underground passages were excavated in order to provide refuge in case of need; storehouses were built and filled with all sorts of provisions either bought, or perhaps taken in the neighboring villages. Finally, they manned the fortress with the most energetic Babis, the most devoted, and the most dependable available among them.

  10. A Fortress... • But in the fortress (Akka) He reared a spiritual palace and from the darkness of His prison He sent out a great light to the world.

  11. A Fortress... • Therefore His Holiness Baha'u'llah fifty years ago, expounded this question of Universal Peace at a time when he was confined in the fortress of Akka and was wronged and imprisoned.

  12. A Fortress...

  13. A Fortress...

  14. A Fortress...

  15. A Fortress... • … preserve and shelter me in the strongly fortified fortress of Thy Covenant and Testament. ....

  16. A Fortress... • Say: By God! His Law is a fortress unto you, could ye but understand. ....

  17. A Fortress... • A truly Baha'i home is a true fortress upon which the Cause can rely while planning its campaigns...

  18. Characteristics of a Fortress... • Well-built • Solid foundations • Defensive • Protects from expected attacks • Secure • Offensive • A place to plan campaigns • Prepared to do battle • Nested defences • When one wall is breached, others are still standing

  19. Characteristics of a Fortress... • Self-sufficient • Wells, granaries, armories • Inner sanctum • Unassailable protected area • Functional • Not necessarily pretty like a palace • Manned by the best • “the most energetic …, the most devoted, and the most dependable”

  20. Daily living • We can expect our marriages to be attacked • By outside forces such as material concerns, societal tests • Periods of great difficulty • The fortress will be damaged • Periods of tranquility • During which we can repair our defences • We can enjoy each other • But in the fortress (Akka) He reared a spiritual palace and from the darkness of His prison He sent out a great light to the world. • During an attack, where do you turn?

  21. Riding a Bicycle Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving. Albert Einstein

  22. Riding a bicycle • Learning to ride • Driving around • Steering • Avoiding obstacles • Maintaining direction

  23. Learning to ride • Practice skills in a safe area • The community, the 19 Day Feast • Training wheels • Marriage workshops • Falling is part of life • Learn how to fall • Wear protective clothing • If injured, turn to your “father”: “In caring for its community, a Spiritual Assembly should act as a loving father …”

  24. Driving around • Keep your mouth closed • So you don’t swallow flies • To not exaggerate your problems • Maintain your balance • Focus on where you are going • Know where you are going • Steering is a constant state of adjustment, and helps keep the bicycle from falling over

  25. Maintenance

  26. Maintenance • When the fortress is demolished it is hard to rebuild • When a bicycle is broken it is hard to repair, and it is tempting to simply buy a new one

  27. Maintenance • Maintaining a fortress • Keep well-stocked with provisions • Rebuild the walls after an attack • Check the foundations • Maintaining a bicycle • Adjust the steering • Adjust the brakes • Oil and grease where necessary • Tighten everything

  28. Maintenance • Do it yourself … • Consultation • Daily prayers • Active communication • Or go to a specialist • Local spiritual assembly (counselling committee) • The loving father • Professional counselor • Take the time to do it properly • Year of waiting

More Related