Bahaikipedia:Reference desk

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Contents 1 Translation of Writings 2 A dream someone had ... 3 History of the "Long Healing Prayer" 4 ethnic healers 5 new guardian in the future 6 world wide NSAs#161 or more

[edit] Translation of Writings

The main page, today, has the following beside a photograph: "Built in the third stage of the building of the Arc, the Centre for the Study of the Sacred Texts is the base of the scholars and translators who study and translate the Bahá’í texts to assist the Universal House of Justice."

How can the present administration translate the sacred texts without the infallibility of a Guardian to interpret the writings? Any "interpretation" done now can only be a guess! - User:Baha'sManServant

Hi, there is no longer any interpretation of the Writings. The present work of translation involves, to my understanding, the arduous task of finding an example of how Shoghi Effendi translated [insert whatever you're trying to translate]. So for particular words or phrases the translators will look to see how Shoghi Effendi translated those things in other places and use those translations. David 20:13, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

Shoghi Effendi had so much to do...he answered every letter written to him. He managed the entire faith. He restored properties. He designed gardens. We are told that the Holy writings of the Baha'i Faith are more than a hundred volumes, including those of The Bab, Baha'u'llah, and Abdul-Baha. Shoghi Effendi could not, possibly, have translated enough things to have every possible word or phrase available to modern translators...so what do we Do in the case of an, as yet, untranslated tablet which does not contain words already interpreted by Shoghi Effendi?

Yes, you're right. And perhaps that is part of the reason we don't have more of the original writings available to us in English. I don't have an answer for you but if you are still curious you can try asking at the bahai-library.com forum. Best, David 23:32, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

[edit] A dream someone had ...

Hello -

I'm looking for a story of a dream one of the Friends had of the Master - it's likely in one of the older books. I don't have much to go by, but here's the scenario:

The author <dreamer> and the Master are on a hill of some sort. All around, there is mud and humanity struggling to get to where they are, pleading for some kind of rescue, any sort of help. The dreamer turns to the Master, and pleads with Him, asking why these poor souls cannot be aided. The Master replies <gist> 'But we are helping - we are building a world in which this suffering will no longer be happening ...' Something to that affect.

Since my information is so sketchy, it's been a difficult slog through the 'index' sections of several books, including Balyuzi's book. Any help would be appreciated ...

Marty Flick San Mateo, CA

Hi Marty,

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for but the theme is similar:

“

Ruhiyyih Khanum said she had a dream one night: she dreamed that the dam had burst and that there was a great flood, She rushed down to the water's edge to try to save someone, but the current swept them past. She reached out to try to grasp and save another. She grasped one by the hair, and, with great effort, brought that one to shore. Then she tried to reach another, but the current swept him by. She looked up at the side of the mountain, and there she saw 'Abdu'l-Baha, who looked like a Prophet of God, with his white turban and flowing beard, with his back to the flood, working very hard. She rushed up the mountain side, grasped His sleeves and said, "Oh, 'Abdu'l-Baha, come and help me save some of these people who are drowning in the flood." 'Abdu'l-Baha went right on, working very rapidly and said nothing. She grasped his sleeve again and said, "Oh 'Abdu'l-Baha, these people are drowning, come help me save some of these people who are drowning in the flood." 'Abdu'l-Baha, without stopping his work turned to her with a smile and Said, "'Abdu'l-Baha is building the machine to stop the flood."

”

source cached page by google

Let me know if it isn't it and I'll ask around for you.

Warm regards,

David 06:59, 3 April 2009 (UTC)

[edit] History of the "Long Healing Prayer"

My wife is teaching a youth class and the question of some of the history of the Long Healing Prayer came up. I tried looking in the Revelation of Baha'u'llah but was unable to find info. Also checked through Ocean. Any other Ideas?

BTW found out that 'Abdul Baha had a profession of making rugs. (from Star of the West)

 Thanks for the effort.

[edit] ethnic healers

want numbers of ethnic healers around the world and boat builders where do i find the number of bahai's in australiasia

[edit] new guardian in the future

a friend told me about the reference in the gleanings about this quote. a nsa member told me that the writtings of the guardian represented the guardian that seems very logical. then there is only one guardian.

[edit] world wide NSAs#161 or more

do we know the maximum # that can be established in the future?