The Master … ate little food. He was known to begin His day with tea, goat’s milk cheese and wheat bread. And at the evening meal a cup of milk and a piece of bread might suffice. He considered the latter a healthy meal. Had not Bahá’u’lláh, while at Sullaymaniyyih, subsisted mostly on milk? (Sometimes Bahá’u’lláh ate rice and milk cooked together.) ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s sparse diet also included herbs and olives – it rarely included meat. (Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Recipe For Pilau
Lamb-cut in very small pieces-cutting away all fat, bone, gristle. Put butter in frying pan and when it bubbles, stir in the meat and continue to stir constantly until the meat is done. Season with salt. Raisins-look them over and wash them. Cook with equal amount of Syrian pine nuts-in another frying pan in same manner as lamb-in butter-stir nuts and raisins constantly. When ready to serve, mix most of nuts and raisins with the meat, using more meat than nuts and raisins. Place this mixture in the center of a serving platter and arrange a border of cooked rice around it, using the remaining nuts and raisins as decoration, according to taste. (Julia M Grundy, Ten Days in the Light of Akka)
Lord! Pitiful are we, grant us Thy favor; poor, bestow upon us a share from the ocean of Thy wealth; needy, do Thou satisfy us; abased, give us Thy glory. The fowls of the air and the beasts of the field receive their meat each day from Thee, and all beings partake of Thy care and loving-kindness. Deprive not this feeble one of Thy wondrous grace and vouchsafe by Thy might unto this helpless soul Thy bounty. Give us our daily bread, and grant Thine increase in the necessities of life, that we may be dependent on none other but Thee, may commune wholly with Thee, may walk in Thy ways and declare Thy mysteries. Thou art the almighty and the Loving and the Provider of all mankind. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í Prayers, p. 21-22)
The Western Bahá’i world may never have heard of Khalil Fong before, but he has millions of fans and concerts that pack the stadiums in China, Singapore and Taiwan. He has six albums and approximately 180 music awards to his credit.
Khalil has been praised by the media for his upright character and for being such a positive role model for young people, and he is not afraid to share his Faith.
"What will be the food of the future? Fruit and grains. The time will come when meat will no longer be eaten. Medical science is only in its infancy, yet it has shown that our natural diet is that which grows out of the ground. The people will gradually develop up to the condition of this natural food." (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Lights of Guidance, p. 296)
Victoria Leith came across this intriguing statement of Abdu l-Bahá, while investigating different ways to improve her own health. This prompted her to look carefully at what the Bahá’í teachings say about keeping a healthy body and mind. What she found was so exciting that she wanted to share with everyone interested in cultivating a healthier life style.
This book is about making inspired choices which will eventually lead us down the path to optimum health and well-being. With her light-hearted approach, Victoria Leith considers the role of food, sleep, simplicity and moderation in achieving a healthy life and she provides a tempting selection of recipes for family meals, snacks and entertaining. Of special interest is the provisional translation of an excerpt from Baha'u'llah's Tablet to a Physician.
In this book she asks us to consider: How important is the type of food we eat? Are we drinking enough water? Are we getting enough exercise, fresh air, sleep? Are we working too late and too long hours?
In this very easy-to-read book the author uses a friendly conversational style with a good deal of humour, to inspire and encourage us to consider healthier ways of eating and living.
This book is not just about being careful in what we eat today, to prevent many illnesses tomorrow, it also provides good advice about a well balanced approach to life - how to exercise our free will, how to exercise moderation and courtesy in our lives, and how to make wise choices. By changing ourselves we can help to change society.
• How to lose weight – permanently.
• How to adopt healthy lifestyle changes.
• How to incorporate simple exercises into your daily routines.
• How to avoid degenerative diseases.
• How to slow down ageing and look younger.
• How to change bad habits into good habits.
• How to eat lots of food and still lose weight
• Understand the link between your mind and body.
• How to stop smoking and/or drinking – permanently.
• Learn about alternative treatments for illness.
• Which foods should you avoid?
• Which foods and drinks should you have regularly?
• Learn how to feel great and have more energy.
• And much, much more….
The Mona Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting grassroots educational initiatives, increasing opportunities and raising the status of girls and women worldwide. Since 1999, Mona has awarded more than $7 million to 34 projects in 18 countries, providing access to quality education for hundreds of thousands of children, women and their families.
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They ensure that 100% of all designated donations and 97% of donations to their general fund go directly to the educational projects they support. They can pool your donation with 500 other donors, which creates a more significant and meaningful contribution for the educational programs they support, while giving you the flexibility to donate where you want. And, with their unique funding model, the Mona Foundation has a track record of selecting viable, effective educational programs. They are vetted and trusted so you know your money is really going where you want it to.
Last month’s issue (on the Bahá’i Fund) went out with a picture of my ebook “Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness” at the top of the page, and one of my readers wrote:
Why is there a pic of letting go of "Anger and Bitterness"?
I replied: I'm featuring one of my books!
She wrote: Hi Susan - I thought it was something to do with giving to the fund. Now true giving should be sacrificial but not angry or bitter. smile emoticon
I replied: LOL! That's funny! I wish you were here to proof-read for me! Thanks for the good laugh, Grace Main!
Another reader wrote:
Thank you, Susan, for such a thoughtful write-up. Your words touch my heart, so very deeply. Thank you. (Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons)
Thanks to all who write in! Your encouragement really keeps me going!
By the way, I accept donations! If you like the materials in these newsletters and on my website, please consider making a donation. Your help and feedback is GREATLY appreciated, to defray the costs of making these available to you!!! There’s a PayPal “Donate” Button at the bottom ofevery page on my website. Thank you!!!
See you next month! Hope it's a month filled with inspiration from your celebration of the Martyrdom of the Bab!
Susan Gammage, MA, is a Baha'i-Inspired author, educator, researcher and life coach whose work focuses on applying Bahá'í principles to day-to-day situations.
She is the author of Violence and Abuse: Reasons and Remedies, a compilation of quotes from the Bahá'í Writings and 13 ebookswhich can be downloaded for free. Three of her books, including "A Baha'i Perspective on Anxiety and Depression"; "The Baha'i Marriage Manual" and "The Courage to be Chaste in a Sexual World" have been sent to George Ronald Publishers, and are awaiting approval.
To find out what insights and guidance Susan shares about your particular questions, go to her blog and scroll down to the category that interests you; click on the link; read the articles and add your comments.
