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Let us thank God who
has drawn us together this evening. It gives me great joy, for I see that
you are seekers after truth. You are not held in bondage by the chains
of prejudice, and your greatest longing is to know the truth. Truth may
be likened to the sun! The sun is the luminous body that disperses all
shadows; in the same way does truth scatter the shadows of our imagination.
As the sun gives life to the body of humanity so does truth give life
to their souls.
People rest in the shade of a tree as they wait their turn for a medical examination by volunteer doctors from the United States and Canada. The visitors were only able to stay for a week but hope to return periodically to provide ongoing assistance. 
Truth is a sun that
rises from different points on the horizon. Sometimes the sun rises from
the centre of the horizon, then in summer it rises farther north, in winter
farther south - but it is always the self-same sun, however different
are the points of its rising.
In like manner truth
is one, although its manifestations may be very different. Some men have
eyes and see. These worship the sun, no matter from which point on the
horizon it may dawn; and when the sun has left the winter sky to appear
in the summer one, they know how to find it again. Others there are who
worship only the spot from which the sun arose, and when it arises in
its glory from another place they remain in contemplation before the spot
of its former rising. Alas! these men are deprived of the blessings of
the sun. Those who in truth adore the sun itself will recognize it from
whatsoever dawning-place it may appear, and will straightway turn their
faces towards its radiance.
The Mansion at Bahji, Akka, Israel
We must adore the sun
itself and not merely the place of its appearance. In the same way men
of enlightened heart worship truth on whatever horizon it appears. They
are not bound by personality, but they follow the truth, and are able
to recognize it no matter from whence it may come. It is this same truth
which helps humanity to progress, which gives life to all created beings,
for it is the Tree of Life!
('Abdu'l-Bahá:
Paris Talks, Pages: 127--134)
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LIMASSOL, Cyprus — The Cyprus Arts and Music Festival planned for June will feature Baha'i musicians, actors, visual artists and speakers at a venue on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
The event -- which will include a film festival -- will be held from 23 to 29 June 2007 at a hotel in Limassol on the island nation of Cyprus.
"The festival is a multidimensional cultural event focusing on the performing and graphic arts, music, films, literature and drama," said Khosrow Afkhampour, program director for the event. "It aims to provide a platform for the proclamation of Baha'i ideas through artistic expression."
Performers will include violinist Bijan Khadem-Missagh, actress Beverly Evans, pianists Nancy Lee Harper and Alfredo Matera, and singers Ahdieh Bahiee and Ranzie Mensah, among others. Ariana Economous, artistic director of a modern dance company on Cyprus, will perform a solo act.
Read the entire story.
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