Arya Samaj

niranjan

Here is an excerpt from the Indian spiritual genius and savant Swami Vivekananda’s (1863-1902) book ‘ Raja Yoga’.

" We find , in studying history, one fact held in common by all the great teachers of religion the world ever had . They all claim to have got their truths from beyond, only many of them did not know where they got them from. For instance, one would say that an angel came down in the form of a human being, with wings, and said to him, “Hear, O man, this is the message”.Another says that a Deva, a bright being, appeared to him. A third says he dreamed that his ancestor came and told him certain things. He did not know anything beyond that .But this is common that all claim that this knowledge has come to them from beyond, not through their reasoning power. What does the science of Yoga teach? It teaches that they were right in claiming that all this knowledge came to them from beyond reasoning, but that it came from within themselves.

The Yogi teaches that the mind itself has a higher state of existence, beyond reason, a superconscious state, and when the mind gets to that higher state,then this knowledge, beyond reasoning, comes to man . Metaphysical and transcendental knowledge comes to that man .This state of going beyond reason, transcending ordinary human nature, may sometimes come by chance to a man who does not understand its science; he , as it were, stumbles upon it. When he stumbles upon it, he generally interprets it as coming from outside. So this explains why an inspiration, or transcendental knowledge, may be the same in different countries, but in one country it will seem to come through an angel, and in another through a Deva, and in a third through God. What does it mean? It means that the mind brought the knowledge by its own nature, and that the finding of the knowledge was interpreted according to the belief and education of the person through whom it came. The real fact is that these various men, as it were, stumbled upon this superconscious state.

The Yogi says there is a great danger in stumbling upon this state. In a good many cases there is the danger of the brain being deranged, and , as a rule, you will find that all those men, however great they were, who had stumbled upon this superconscious state, without understanding it, groped in the dark, and generally had, along with their knowledge, some quaint superstition. They opened themselves to hallucinations. Mohammed claimed that the Angel Gabriel came to him in a cave one day and took him on the heavenly horse, Harak, and he visited the heavens. But with all that , Mohammed spoke some wonderful truths. If you read the Koran, you find the most wonderful truths mixed with superstitions. How will you explain it? That man was inspired, no doubt, but that inspiration was, as it were, stumbled upon. He was not a trained Yogi, and did not know the reason of what he was doing. Think of the good Mohammed did to the world, and think of the great evil that has been done through his fanaticism! Think of the millions massacred through his teachings, mothers bereft of their children, children made orphans, whole countries destroyed, millions upon millions of people killed!

So we see this danger by studying the lives of great teachers like Mohammed and others. Yet we find, at the same time , that they were all inspired. Whenever a prophet got into the superconscious state by heightening his emotional nature, he brought away from it not only some truths, but some fanaticism also, some superstition which injured the world as much as the greatness of the teaching helped. To get any reason out of the mass of incongruity we call human life, we have to transcend our reason, but we must do it scientifically , slowly, by regular practice, and we must cast off all superstition .We must take up the study of the superconscious state just as any other science. On reason we must have to lay our foundation, we must follow reason as far as it leads, and when reason fails, reason itself will show us the way to the highest plane. When you hear a man say, “I am inspired” , and then talk irrationally, reject it. Why? Because these three states-instinct, reason, and superconsciousness , or the unconscious, conscious, and superconscious states-belong to one and the same mind. There are not three minds in one man, but one state of it develops into the others. Instinct develops into reason, and reason into the transcendental consciousness; therefore, not one of the states contradicts the others. Real inspiration never contradicts reason, but fulfils it. Just as you find the great prophets saying, “ I come not to destroy but to fulfil” , so inspiration always comes to fulfil reason, and is in harmony with it."

niranjan · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:29 pm Post subject: superconsciousness

Here is an another excerpt from Swami Vivekananda's 'Raja Yoga' dealing with the subject of superconsciousness or enlightenment.

"When I eat food, I do it consciously; when I assimilate it, I do it unconsciously. When the food is manufactured into blood, it is done unconsciously.When out of the blood all the different parts of my body are strengthened , it is done unconsciously. And yet it is I who am doing all this; there cannot be twenty people in this one body. How do I know that I do it, and nobody else?It may be urged that my business is only in eating and assimilating the food, and that strengthening the body by the food is done for me by somebody else. That cannot be, because it can be demonstrated that almost every action of which we are now unconscious can be brought up to the plane of consciousness. The heart is beating apparently without our control. None of us here can control the heart; it goes on its own way. But by practice men can bring even the heart under control, until it will beat at will, slowly, or quickly, or almost stop. Nearly every part of the body can be brought under control. What does this show? That the functions which are beneath consciousness are also performed by us, only we are doing it unconsciously.

We have, then,two planes in which the human mind works. First is the conscious plane , in which all work is always accompanied with the feeling of egoism. Next comes the unconscious plane, where all work is unaccompanied by the feeling of egoism. That part of mind-work which is unaccompanied with the feeling of egoism is unconscious work, and that part which is accompanied with the feeling of egoism is conscious work. In the lower animals this unconscious work is called instinct. In higher animals, and in the highest of all animals, man, what is called conscious work prevails.

But it does not end here. There is a still higher plane upon which the mind can work. It can go beyond consciousness. Just as, unconscious work is beneath consciousnes, so there is another work which is above consciousness and which also is not accompanied with the feeling of egoism. The feeling of egoism is only on the middle plane. When the mind is above or below that plane, there is no feeling of "I", and yet the mind works. When the mind goes beyond this line of self-consciousness, it is called Samadhi, or superconsciousness. How , for instance, do we know that a man in Samadhi has not gone below consciousness, has not degenerated instead of going higher?In both cases the works are unaccompanied with egoism. The answer is, by the effects, by the results of the work, we know that which is below, and that which is above. When a man goes into deep sleep, he enters a plane beneath consciousness. He works the body all the time, he breathes , he moves the body, perhaps , in his sleep, without any unaccompanying feeling of ego; he is unconscious, and when he returns from his sleep, he is the same man who went into it. The sum total of the knowledge which he had before he went into the sleep remains the same; it does not increase at all. No enlightenment comes. But when a man goes into Samadhi, if he goes into it a fool, he comes out a sage.

What makes the difference? From one state a man comes out the very same man that he went in , and from another state the man comes out enlightened, a sage, a prophet, a saint, his whole character changed, his life changed, illumined. These are the two effects. Now the effects being different, the causes must be different. As this illumination with which a man comes back from Samadhi is much higher than can be got by reasoning in a conscious state, it must , therefore, be superconsciousness, and Samadhi is called the superconscious state."

niranjan · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:31 pm Post subject: superconsciousness

These prophets were not unique; they were men as you or I. They were great Yogis. They had gained this superconsciousness, and you and I can get the same. They were not peculiar people. The very fact that one man ever reached that state proves that it is possible for every man to do so. Not only is it possible, but every man must, eventually, get to that state, and that is religion.

--Swami Vivekananda

niranjan · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:32 pm Post subject: Islamic verses related to terror

Here are a few verses from the Quran that deals with terror.

1. (Koran 8:12) "Remember Thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the believers, I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, Smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger tips of them."

2. (Koran 2:216) "Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you and it may happen that you love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knoweth, you knew not."

3. (Koran 69:30-37) "It is not for any Prophet to have captives until he hath made slaughter in the land. You desire the lure of this world and Allah desires for you the hereafter and Allah is Mighty, Wise.. Now enjoy what you have won as lawful and good and keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is forgiving, merciful."

4. (Koran 69:30-37) "(It will be said) Take him and fetter him and expose him to hell fire. And then insert him in a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits. Lo! he used not to believe in God the tremendous, and urged not on the feeding of the wretched. Therefore hath he no lover hear this day nor any food save filth which none but sinners eat."

5. (Koran 5: 33-34) "The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet and alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom; Save those who repent before ye overpower them. For know that Allah is forgiving, merciful."

6. (Koran 22: 19-22) "These twain (the believers and the disbelievers) are two opponents who contend concerning their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling fluid will be poured down their heads. Whereby that which is in their bellies, and their skins too, will be melted; And for them are hooked rods of iron. Whenever, in their anguish, they would go forth from thence they are driven back therein and (it is said unto them): Taste the doom of burning."

7. (Koran 76: 4) "Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers chains, yokes and a blazing fire."

8. So when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters, wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush…. (Koran 9:5)

The only punishment of those that wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is that they should be murdered, or crucified, or their hands and their feet should be cut-off on opposite sides, or they should be imprisoned…. (Koran 5:33)

9."Let not the believers take the disbelievers for friends rather than believers. And whoever does this has no connection with Allah unless it is done to guard (Takeyya) yourselves against them, guarding carefully. And Allah cautions you against His retribution. And to Allah is the eventual coming." (Koran 3:27)

10.Sura 47:4-6,15 "Therefore, when ye meet the unbelievers (in fight), smite them at their necks.At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them).

11.Sura 61:4,11-13 "Truly God loves those who fight in His cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure ... that ye believe in God and His Apostle, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the cause of God, with your property and your persons. That will be best for you, if ye but knew! He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in gardens of eternity. That is indeed the supreme achievement. And another (favour will He bestow), which ye do love - help from God and a speedy victory. So give the glad tidings to the believers."

12.Sura 9:29-31 "Fight those who believe not in God nor the last day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of truth, (even if they are) of the people of the Book, until they pay the jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

13.Sura 5:54 "O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors. They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily God guideth not a people unjust."

niranjan · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:34 pm Post subject:

By my earlier posts , I am not preaching hatred against any religion. However fundamentalism, dogmatism and fanaticism in all its forms anywhere ought to be despised and eradicated . And I hope my posts will help to achieve that .

In this context , I wish to quote this teaching of Buddha...

Believe nothing, merely because you have been told it, or because it is traditional or because you yourselves have imagined it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for your teacher. But whatever after due consideration and analysis you find to be conducive to the good , the benefit, the welfare of all beings, that doctrine , believe and cling to and take it as your guide.
- Buddha

savitri · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:52 pm Post subject:

Sufis preach love for all human beings. Only fanatic muslims attack because we are suspicious of them.
_________________
Love is god & god is love.

niranjan · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 2:46 pm Post subject:

niranjan · Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:11 pm Post subject:

The Assyrian empire was not destroyed by the muslims. It is the Assyrian christians who are the victims of Islamic terrorism and they have been exterminated in large numbers almost to the point of extinction.
I apologize for the mistake.

niranjan · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 3:26 pm Post subject: The three levels of consciousness

The Three Levels of Consciousness

From Intuition for Starters by Swami Kriyananda ( J. Donald Walters ,a direct disciple of Paramahamsa Yogananda, the author of 'Autobiography of a Yogi' )

The totality of our consciousness is comprised of three levels: the subconscious, the conscious, and the superconscious. These levels of consciousness represent differing degrees of intensity of awareness…

The first level, the subconscious, is relatively dim in awareness: it is the stuff of which dreams are made. We may think of it as the repository of all remembered experiences, impressions left on the mind by those experiences, and tendencies awakened or reinforced by those impressions. Every experience we've ever had, every thought, every impression of loss or gain, resides in the subconscious mind and determines our patterns of thought and behavior far more than we realize.

The subconscious, being unrestricted by the rigid demands of logic, permits a certain flow of ideas. This flow may border on intuition, but if the ideas are too circumscribed by subjectivity, they won't correspond with the external world around us. When we dream at night, we are mainly operating on the subconscious level...

The subconscious mind can all too easily intrude itself on our conscious awareness, tricking us into thinking we're getting intuitive guidance, when actually we're merely being influenced by past impressions and unfulfilled desires. The subconscious mind is in some ways close to the superconscious, where real intuition resides. Both represent a flow of awareness without logical obstructions. The subconscious is therefore more open to the intuitions of the superconscious, and sometimes receives them, though usually mixed with confusing imagery. To be really clear in the guidance we receive is difficult, but very important. Calamitous decisions have been make in the belief that one was drawing on higher guidance, when in fact one was responding only to subconscious preconditioning.

The next level of consciousness from which we receive guidance is the conscious state, the rational awareness that usually guides our daily decisions. When we receive input from the senses, analyze the facts, and makes decisions based on this information, we are using this conscious level of guidance. This process is also strongly affected by the opinions of others, which can cloud our ability to draw true guidance.

Dividing and separating the world into either/or categories, the conscious level of awareness is problem-oriented. It's difficult to be completely certain of decisions drawn from this level, because the analytical mind can see all the possible solutions. But ultimately it doesn't have the ability to distinguish which one is best. If we rely exclusively on the conscious mind, we may find ourselves lacking in certainty and slipping into a state of perpetual indecision…

Intuition and heightened mental clarity flow from superconscious awareness. The conscious mind is limited by its analytical nature, and therefore sees all things as separate and distinct. We may be puzzled by a certain situation, but because it seems unrelated to other events, it's difficult to draw a clear course of action. By contrast, because the superconscious mind is unitive and sees all things as part of a whole, it can readily draw solutions. In superconsciousness the problem and the solution are seen as one, as though the solution was a natural outgrowth from the problem.

Arya Putra · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 3:32 am Post subject: Terrorism

The Number One Terrorist

The number one terrorist is our own ego. I know this might sound repetitive and over simplified to some people, but those same people have become very accustomed to accommodating their own little ego. Maybe that’s why they find it hard to consider the simple truth.

The clear and present danger is our own ego. When we are falsely identified with the stories of our mind we become fictional characters in the drama of this world. The friction or conflict is created when we hold on to our small self and fail to align our thinking with the macro-drama of the Universe. In other word, we MUST put everything in perspective by embracing Universality. Whoever we are, we are a very small piece of a much, much bigger puzzle. When we lose ourselves in the Abundant Life Force, we forget our little ‘piece’ (ego) and find true PEACE. One who is truly peaceful neither terrorizes himself nor anyone else. We cannot find true peace by appeasing our mind or following the dictates of our ego.

All dogmatism, fanaticism, narrow-mindedness, and sectarian violence are born out of Ignorance. Ignorance of what? --- Ignorance of our higher nature which is our Real Nature, our True Nature. Unless we really realize that we are souls, and that everyone else is a soul, and that our Essence is the All-pervading Supreme Self, we will never find lasting peace. In other words, as long as we are in conflict with our selves (as long as our mind is not in agreement with the divine), we are going to continue to be terrorized by own ego. Only by arming ourselves with divine wisdom can we conquer our own ego. Only divine wisdom can reveal our Real Nature and dispel our ignorance.

All religious traditions are the trappings of ego. Religious followers think they can be ‘real’ just by decorating their minds with images, memorizing slokas, or telling stories. It is all the play of mind and ego. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t build on the strong foundations already laid down by those who came before us. But what is that foundation? That foundation is the changeless Truth, without which there is no stability or certainty.

People want to be certain, to be secure, to ‘know’ without any doubt. For that, all we need to do is remove our images.

Muslims desecrated the Hindu temples and broke to pieces the idols; Jews and Christians declare that idol worship is a sin. Still, Muslims, Jews, Christians, and all other religious followers are prisoners of their own graven images which are nothing but the reflection of their own egos.

Again, I repeat: our own ego is the number one terrorist. Unless we break free of the stranglehold of ego-mentality, we are going to continue to terrorize ourselves with annoyances, bitterness, anger, anxiety, disgust and despair.

Namaste,
Arya Putra

niranjan · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:41 pm Post subject: Re: Terrorism

Arya Putra · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 12:31 am Post subject:

niranjan · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 11:56 am Post subject:

Arya Putra · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject:

Arya Putra · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 3:34 am Post subject:

Why Does Terrorism Exist?

Whenever we cling to our images, we invite feelings of insecurity. To counteract our insecurity, we collaborate with others who hold the same opinions and images. It is not a case of ‘kindred spirits’ but a case of co-conspiracy. For example, people adhering to various religious belief systems (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, etc.) are actually conspiring against themselves by remaining stuck in their images, superstitions, and intellectual suppositions.

It is ‘not this, not that.’ What else need be said? If one really understands, then there is nothing to clarify. But we can only understand when we “simplify, verify, and rectify.” Otherwise, we will remain in the quagmire of needless thinking. Over-thinking and under-doing will never get the ‘job’ done. Our ‘job’ is to purify our ‘mind’ (the fourfold inner organ) to such an extent that we are ‘in the know’ without ‘wondering’ whether we know, or without ‘guessing,’ and without over ‘thinking.’

When one makes it their mission to protect their mental images, one becomes the prisoner of one’s ego (false identification). People who falsely identify themselves with their religion, with their worldly status, with their false friends, false feelings, and false knowledge, eventually become violently ‘ill.’ This is where ‘terrorism’ originates: it begins with the marriage of mind and ego. The ego-infected mind creates havoc in people’s lives and makes them ‘sick’ (not well). Being ‘not well,’ in this sense, means being out of touch with our well-being (which is the same well-being of everyone). One who becomes violently ‘ill’ (in this sense) becomes a devil (an ill Dev, a sick god). In reality, we are all devs and devis, we are all gods and goddesses because we are the offspring of Purush (Spirit) and Prakriti (Nature). However, when we are caught up in unreality (the expression of Ignorance), we forget our real nature and behave ignorantly. If we do not nip the evil in the bud, we eventually become inimical to ourselves and others: in other words, we become our own worst enemy and the enemy of others too.

Terrorism is the behavior of devils, of those who have become violently ‘ill’ due to the infection of ego which has been brought on by Ignorance. The way to stop terrorism is to remove Ignorance.

niranjan · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:22 pm Post subject:

Shishya · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:29 pm Post subject:

Naranjan, I really don't understand why it is that you have taken such objection to Arya's comments. He has clarified his intention, and for you to continue to insinuate his having directed his comments at any one person is simply impolite. He said he meant it in a general sense and, judging by the style of his writing in this and other articles, I believe him. If you feel personally attacked by the comment, then it is not to Arya Ji that you should turn in anger. And please, disdain from making accusations of 'hypocricy' and the like. If you disagree with Arya, then approach the issue on an even keel, and do not attack the integrity of the man. He speaks from an honest desire to help others, and has done nothing to deserve such treatment.
_________________
Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

niranjan · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:12 pm Post subject:

niranjan · Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 6:44 pm Post subject:

Here are some quotations on intuition.( the superconscious state )

There is no logical way to the discovery of elemental laws. There is only the way of intuition, which is helped by a feeling for the order lying behind the appearance.

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.

The only real valuable thing is intuition.

The finest emotion of which we are capable is the mystic emotion. Herein lies the germ of all art and all true science. Anyone to whom this feeling is alien, who is no longer capable of wonderment and lives in a state of fear is a dead man. To know that what is impenetrable for us really exists and manifests itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, whose gross forms alone are intelligible to our poor faculties - this knowledge, this feeling ... that is the core of the true religious sentiment. In this sense, and in this sense alone, I rank myself among profoundly religious men.

The intellect has little to do on the road to discovery. There comes a leap in consciousness, call it intuition or what you will, and the solution comes to you and you don't know how or why.

No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.
~ Albert Einstein
20th century physicist, creator of the theory of relativity.

niranjan · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject:

Persecution of Assyrians by Islamic terrorists

The Assyrian Christians were exterminated almost to the point of extinction by the Turks and their women outraged by them. The Assyrian genocide perpetrated by Turkish forces under the regime of the Young Turks are well-known.

One of the few that survived was Reverian John Esho. After escaping, he stated:

You have undoubtedly heard of the Assyrian massacre of Khoi, but I am certain you do not know the details."
These Assyrians were assembled into one caravansary, and shot to death by guns and revolvers. Blood literally flowed in little streams, and the entire open space within the caravansary became a pool of crimson liquid. The place was too small to hold all the living victims waiting for execution. They were brought in groups, and each new group was compelled to stand over the heap of the still bleeding bodies and shot to death. The fearful place became literally a human slaughter house, receiving its speechless victims, in groups of ten and twenty at a time, for execution.

At the same time, the Assyrians, who were residing in the suburb of the city, were brought together and driven into the spacious courtyard of a house [...] The Assyrian refugees were kept under guard for eight days, without anything to eat. At last they were removed from their place of confinement and taken to a spot prepared for their brutal killing. These helpless Assyrians marched like lambs to their slaughter, and they opened not their mouth, save by sayings "Lord, into thy hands we commit our spirits. [...]
The executioners began by cutting first the fingers of their victims, join by joint, till the two hands were entirely amputated. Then they were stretched on the ground, after the manner of the animals that are slain in the Fast, but these with their faces turned upward, and their heads resting upon the stones or blocks of wood Then their throats were half cut, so as to prolong their torture of dying, and while struggling in the agony of death, the victims were kicked and clubbed by heavy poles the murderers carried Many of them, while still laboring under the pain of death, were thrown into ditches and buried before their souls had expired.

The young men and the able-bodied men were separated from among the very young and the old. They were taken some distance from the city and used as targets by the shooters. They all fell, a few not mortally wounded. One of the leaders went to the heaps of the fallen and shouted aloud, swearing by the names of Islam's prophets that those who had not received mortal wounds should rise and depart, as they would not be harmed any more. A few, thus deceived, stood up, but only to fall this time killed by another volley from the guns of the murderers.
Some of the younger and good looking women, together with a few little girls of attractive appearance, pleaded to be killed. Against their will were forced into Islam's harems. Others were subjected to such fiendish insults that I cannot possibly describe. Death, however, came to their rescue and saved them from the vile passions of the demons. The death toll of Assyrians totaled 2,770 men, women and children.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_Genocide
_________________
The history of the world is the history of a few men who had faith in themselves. That faith calls out the divinity within. You can do anything.

---Swami Vivekananda

niranjan · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:43 pm Post subject: PERSECUTION OF BAHAIS...

PERSECUTION OF THE BAHAIS BY ISLAMIC TERRORISTS

Persecution of the Bahais (from the wikipedia)

As the result of the Báb's execution in 1850 by a firing squad in Tabriz, an assassination attempt was instigated on the King of Persia, Nasser-al-Din Shah, two years later by a handful of angry Bábís. Although the assassins claimed they were working alone, the entire Bábí community was blamed, and a slaughter of several thousand Bábís followed. Many of the Bábís who were not killed, including Bahá'u'lláh, were imprisoned in the Síyáh-Chál (Black Pit), an underground dungeon of Tehran. Bahá'u'lláh himself was found to be innocent of complicity in the assassination plot, but remained in the Síyáh-Chál over four months.

An Austrian officer, Captain von Goumoens, working in the court of the Shah at the time, gave the following account after signing his resignation:

"I saw ones who, with gouged-out eyes, must eat, on the scene of the deed, their own amputated ears; or whose teeth are torn out with inhuman violence by the hand of the executioner; or whose bare skulls are simply crushed by blows from a hammer..."
"As for the end itself, they hang the scorched and perforated bodies by their hands and feet to a tree head downwards, and now every Persian may try his marksmanship to his heart’s content... When I read over again, what I have written, I am overcome by the thought that those who are with you in our dearly beloved Austria may doubt the full truth of the picture, and accuse me of exaggeration. Would to God that I had not lived to see it!... At present I never leave my house, in order not to meet with fresh scenes of horror... I will no longer maintain my connection with the scene of such crimes.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecu...A1'%C3%ADs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%27u%27ll%C3%A1h
_________________
The history of the world is the history of a few men who had faith in themselves. That faith calls out the divinity within. You can do anything.

---Swami Vivekananda