Unit 3: Life and Death

Section 1:

"...the spirit is connected with the body, as this light is with this mirror.  When the mirror is clear and perfect, the light of the lamp will be apparent in it, and when the mirror becomes covered with dust or breaks, the light will disappear."

Have a round mirror available and point it towards the ceiling to reflect the ceiling light; let the participants see; then have a plate of dirt and cover the mirror with dirt, then direct it towards the ceiling light and see if you can see any reflection; discuss activity with participants

Materials suggested:  A round mirror, Ceiling light, Dirt (such as soil from a house plant), A plate, A towel for cleaning your hands after putting dirt on mirror

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Section 2:

At the end of the section, after participants have shared what they have learned so far about the soul, you can invite them to use art materials to express their understanding of the soul; if there is doubt about the reality of the soul in the participants, you can instead do two drawings: one representing the participants feelings about life believing that there is no soul, the other representing their feelings about life believing that there is a soul

Materials suggested:  Construction paper, Markers, Watercolor paper, Watercolors, Paint brushes, Water and containers to hold water, Scissors, Glue, Glitter

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Section 9:

"Ye are even as the bird which soareth..."

You can study outside in a park and during a break fly a kite in the shape of a bird (can get in market) and discuss meaning of quotation

Materials suggested:  Bird kite, Wind

Also, Nancy Ward's CD (from Canada) of the Writings of Baha'u'llah and ‘Abdu'l-Baha has part of this quotation set to music

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Section 11:

After the quotation and answers related to it, you can have a beautiful lamp that is not plugged into the wall and discuss whether or not it is serving it's true purpose; then can talk about how it can't connect by itself into the wall to access the invisible power of electricity- it has to have the cord to that.  Then plug it into the wall so that the light comes on and talk about how the cord is like the Manifestation of God and God is like the invisible source of electricity which you can't see but whose effects are clearly manifest

Materials suggested:  Beautiful lamp with plug

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Section 12:

After the quotation which says, "Every one of them is the Way of God that connecteth this world with the realms above..." you can show the ringstone symbol and discuss it's meaning

Materials suggested:  Ringstone symbol big enough to see easily

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Section 13:

After last quotation is read, "Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value..." you can play the song from Julie Rosser's Beloved CD which has put this whole quotation to music

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Section 17:

This quotation has been put to music by Matthew Levine on his CD "A Sacrifice to Thee"; it is very beautiful and you could play it after having read it one time

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At the end of this Unit, you can have them write a paragraph on each of the questions and then express at least one of their answers through art

Materials suggested:  Various mediums of art such as watercolor, pastels, markers, pencils, clay, collage, etc.

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Upon completion of the book, ask participants how they would like to celebrate.  Ideas include:

Going out to dinner, Picnic in the park, Ice skating, Bowling, Etc.