Differential, Integral, and Spiritual Calculus

Last night, I was a party, trying to explain to a girl the spiritual reality of integral calculus and I couldn't. I was trying to tell her a story about my experience taking the course after having been away from school for two years. I didn't review differential calculus and in fact I was late for the first lecture. As I stood in the back of what was on that first day a very crowded room, trying desperately to decipher the mathematics being spoken by the eager professor my mind translated the concepts into passages from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh. And yet because I did not take any notes I cannot for the life of me remember what those passages were.

If anyone out there is familiar with calculus could you please help me out. I think the passages were from many sources, perhaps primarily the Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh and His Tablet, The Seven Valleys. The topic was the fundamental theorem of calculus which relates Integral and Differential Calculus. A simplified explanation would be that on the one hand the rate of change of a subject encompasses it's current reality. On the other hand, the reality encompassed by a subject changes at a rate equal to properties of that reality, which is the reverse of the first part. This is written:

Reflections from Class

I take the weirdest notes in Class, especially in the beginning when I am trying to contextualize the reality of the class. Below are some notes from my second day of classes, which is the first day subjects are actually treated. I hand wrote the note in green and red pen, and I'm trying to preserve that here. The black is commentary I'm adding now.

8/26/09

soo, here I am, back in school. I am trying to date my Journals so that I can look back and understand where the entries fit. (in my early morning class 1st week of school)

I Journal. It's not something I try to do. It is something I do. Simple.

I am in a dark place. I have been for long time. I find it difficult to know more than that.

School and work are great if I just immerse myself in it, because they pull me out of my insistent self. They stimulate my mind and spirit.

systems of education must be regionally applied and adapted from the grass roots.

My professor in my engineering entrepreneurship class was talking at this point about regional opportunities.

What are you trying to do?

My professor asked this. And the following is me trying to answer using the mission statement I wrote years ago.

The purpose of My Life is to make everymoment a loving Sacrifice for Bahá'u'lláh and a benediction for mankind.

I will use:

- intuitive perception - open eyes

- see patterns - unassuming

- devotion and zeal – appreciate others

humility in learning

- learning } these 4 actions

- teaching } serve and fulfill

- serving } the four attri-

- helping others} butes above

travel – supports all others

I want to help others serve more than anything else but this is only one activity.

I need to remember to take my time and make the most of my opportunities to learn, teach and serve. I cannot force others to serve. We must each choose our own paths in life. This is a right and responsi-bility placed upon us by our Creator which none may infringe upon. Growing into our freewill both individually and collectively is an feature of maturation.

By harnessing my powers as an individual through learning and serving and if the opprotunity arises teaching, I will create the greatest change because I will be contributing to a shift in the habits that shape my and the collective habits of my community.

_______________________

Entrepreneurship in life

“What is a new way to approach my

community } How can I

daily habits } systematically

my heart } and continuously

my Lord } improve my life

my family }

“If people want to I'll do it”

~the IE answer for yes

this is something my professor said that I think fits me well.

Pure Poison

The Great Being saith: Human utterance is an essence which aspireth to exert its influence and needeth moderation. As to its influence, this is conditional upon refinement which in turn is dependent upon hearts which are detached and pure. As to its moderation, this hath to be combined with tact and wisdom as prescribed in the Holy Scriptures and Tablets.

Now of course I know that if I have a pure heart my words will have great effect. This is why Baha'i teachers are always counseled to have a pure heart. And yet I have so often forgotten the second half, which is that this purity needs to be exercised with tact and wisdom.

The thing about purity is that something need not be beneficial to be pure. Especially since what is beneficial at one stage or in one instance can be harmful in another. And even water, which is absolutely necessary to life, if too pure, will destroy living cells. In fact I would go so far as to say, the times when I have done the most damage are times when I have acted with purity, detachment, independence, courage, resolution and magnanimity.

Consider human will. I would suppose that there is almost no limit to what we can do with our will-- note this does mean there is not limit to what we can accomplish, but rather what we can make out of it, especially regarding our wants and desires but also our beliefs, thoughts, and emotions. That is to say that we are under our own control. Of course there are forces which affect our beings, society and tradition, habit and history, the promptings of our hearts and our fellow human beings. But like the captain of a ship we can can choose what to make of the forces affecting our vessel.

Because of this there is an infinite variation in the realities of individuals. This means that we must take great care and caution in our speech. Speaking only after we come to some understanding of the one to whom we speak and never making assumptions-- overextending that understanding.

Every word is endowed with a spirit, therefore the speaker or expounder should carefully deliver his words at the appropriate time and place, for the impression which each word maketh is clearly evident and perceptible. The Great Being saith: One word may be likened unto fire, another unto light, and the influence which both exert is manifest in the world. Therefore an enlightened man of wisdom should primarily speak with words as mild as milk, that the children of men may be nurtured and edified thereby and may attain the ultimate goal of human existence which is the station of true understanding and nobility. And likewise He saith: One word is like unto springtime causing the tender saplings of the rose-garden of knowledge to become verdant and flourishing, while another word is even as a deadly poison. It behoveth a prudent man of wisdom to speak with utmost leniency and forbearance so that the sweetness of his words may induce everyone to attain that which befitteth man's station.

Rehabilitation

I am currently on a path of spiritual rehabilitation. This is like a path of healing, except it is not only about removing disease or pain. It is about creating healthy patterns: patterns of love and encouragement, patterns of selflessness and detachment, patterns of joy and heavenly radiance.

There have been many wounds in my life and these have given rise to various illnesses. Yet to dwell on them in this public forum would not be conducive to health, nobility, and development. I will say that what I have experienced is no different than what others have experienced. We are all suffering; we are all part of the ailing organism that is mankind.

Praised be to God that I am healing! When I was on Pilgrimage I laid all of my weaknesses at the Sacred Threshold of Baha'u'llah! Would that I had noble qualities to give up to my Beloved! But I am earthly and all I have to give are earthly things. Haply I may develop such spiritual susceptibilities as would make a more worthy sacrifice.

Consider the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:

I am very happy to greet you here today. This is the second time the breeze of God has wafted over Boston. I am expecting results from this visit and hope that my coming may not be fruitless. The results I expect are these: that the individual soul shall be released from self and desire and freed from the bondage of satanic suggestions. May the mirrors of hearts be cleansed from dust in order that the Sun of Truth may be reflected therein.

Man possesses two kinds of susceptibilities: the natural emotions, which are like dust upon the mirror, and spiritual susceptibilities, which are merciful and heavenly characteristics.

There is a power which purifies the mirror from dust and transforms its reflection into intense brilliancy and radiance so that spiritual susceptibilities may chasten the hearts and heavenly bestowals sanctify them. What is the dust which obscures the mirror? It is attachment to the world, avarice, envy, love of luxury and comfort, haughtiness and self-desire; this is the dust which prevents reflection of the rays of the Sun of Reality in the mirror. The natural emotions are blameworthy and are like rust which deprives the heart of the bounties of God. But sincerity, justice, humility, severance, and love for the believers of God will purify the mirror and make it radiant with reflected rays from the Sun of Truth.

It is my hope that you may consider this matter, that you may search out your own imperfections and not think of the imperfections of anybody else. Strive with all your power to be free from imperfections. Heedless souls are always seeking faults in others. What can the hypocrite know of others' faults when he is blind to his own? This is the meaning of the words in the Seven Valleys. It is a guide for human conduct. As long as a man does not find his own faults, he can never become perfect. Nothing is more fruitful for man than the knowledge of his own shortcomings. The Blessed Perfection says, "I wonder at the man who does not find his own imperfections."

It is not enough to simply to face the illness within. It is not simply enough to cry out in pain. It is not simply enough to expose myself to love and compassion and forgiveness. It is not enough to heal. I must become strong. We must become strong. We must work together day by day to establish between each other spiritual development and collective health, that is eternal love and unity.

In the past I have healed greatly, yet I remained weak. When I say my friends and spoke of the joys of my healing they did not believe me. A weak body may at one time be ill and at another healthy, but because it is weak it's health is transitory. But a healthy body is resistant to disease. That which burdens a weak body only serves to strengthen a healthy one. And I suspect that the way to develop strength is to endure such hardships, and this "little by little, day by day."

Know that I am doing all this so that I can be like Vahid who gave all that he possessed. Just as he amassed material treasures to give, so am I seeking to garner spiritual treasures. I am sharing with the world the steps along my journey so that there can be no doubt that whatever success I achieve is of my Lord. And when, by my weaknesses, I fall short, take heed and do something different. Because it's not really about me, my success or my failure, it's about the Beloved-- our Beloved.