King & Dervish

Here is a illustration based on the story told in the Revelations of Baha'u'llah Chap. 6, which tells the story of the king and the Dervish.

The chief aim of Bahá'u'lláh in The Hidden Words is to detach man from this mortal world and to protect his soul from its greatest enemy, himself. The Hidden Words provides a means by which, in the terms of the above analogy, the bird of the human heart can cleanse its wings from the defilement of this world and resume its flight into the realms of God.

Attachment to this world can be described as anything which prevents the soul from drawing nearer to God. Bahá'u'lláh has taught that this world and all that is therein is created for the benefit of man. He is entitled to possess all the good things he can earn, and enjoy all the legitimate pleasures that life bestows upon him. But at no time must he become attached to them. Bahá'u'lláh further teaches that man must take a great interest in this life, work for the betterment of this world and assist in the building of a new world order for mankind.

In one of His Tablets Bahá'u'lláh has made the following remarks:

Should a man wish to adorn himself with the ornaments of the earth, to wear its apparels, or partake of the benefits it can bestow, no harm can befall him, if he alloweth nothing what-ever to intervene between him and God, for God hath ordained every good thing, whether created in the heavens or in the earth, for such of His servants as truly believe in Him. Eat ye, O people, of the good things which God hath allowed you, and deprive not yourselves from His wondrous bounties. Render thanks and praise unto Him, and be of them that are truly thankful.³

On the other hand, Bahá'u'lláh has warned the rich in these words:

O ye that pride yourselves on mortal riches!

Know ye in truth that wealth is a mighty barrier between the seeker and his desire, the lover and his beloved. The rich,

but for a few, shall in no wise attain the court of His presence nor enter the city of content and resignation. Well is it then with him, who, being rich, is not hindered by his riches from the eternal kingdom, nor deprived by them of imperishable dominion. By the Most Great Name! The splendour of such a wealthy man shall illuminate the dwellers of heaven even as the sun enlightens the people of the earth! ⁴

Whereas riches may become a mighty barrier between man and God, and rich people are often in great danger of attachment, yet people with small worldly possessions can also become attached to material things. The following Persian story of a king and a dervish* illustrates this. Once there was a king who had many spiritual qualities and whose deeds were based on justice and loving-kindness. He often envied the dervish who had renounced the world and appeared to be free from the cares of this material life, for he roamed the country, slept in any place when night fell and chanted the praises of his Lord during the day. He lived in poverty, yet thought he owned the whole world. His only possessions were his clothes and a basket in which he carried the food donated by his well-wishers. The king was attracted to this way of life.

Once he invited a well-known dervish to his palace, sat at his feet and begged him for some lessons about detachment. The dervish was delighted with the invitation. He stayed a few days in the palace and whenever the king was free preached the virtues of a mendicant's life to him. At last the king was converted. One day, dressed in the garb of a poor man, he left his palace in the company of the dervish. They had walked together some distance when the dervish realized that he had left his basket behind in the palace. This disturbed him greatly and, informing the king that he could not go without his basket, he begged permission to return for it. But the king admonished him, saying that he himself had left behind his palaces, his wealth and power, whereas the dervish, who had preached for a lifetime the virtues of detachment, had at last been tested and was found to be attached to this world--his small basket.

Coyote & the Columbia River FInal (cont.5)

Coyote & the Columbia River FInal (cont.4)

Coyote & the Columbia River FInal (cont.3)

Coyote & the Columbia River FInal (cont.2)

Coyote & the Columbia River FInal (cont.)

Coyote & the Columbia River FInal

Protest Info Design

Coyote: more sketches

Coyote: Short Story Rewrite

Coyote & the Columbia

One day, Coyote was walking in the desert. The sun was shining extra brightly that day, and Coyote felt very hot.

As he looked to the sky his eyes fell upon a distant cloud. "I would like my own cloud, it could shade me from the sun" Coyote said.

Suddenly a small cloud appeared above his head and made some shade for Coyote. But after a while Coyote was not satisfied.

He looked at the size of his cloud and dropped his head.

"I would like more clouds," he said. More clouds came along, and the sky began to look very stormy. But Coyote was still hot and still not satisfied.

“Even with these clouds it’s still too hot,” he said, "How about some rain." The clouds began to sprinkle rain on Coyote. But Coyote was not satisfied.

"More rain," Coyote demanded. The rain became a downpour. But after a while Coyote was not satisfied.

"I would like a creek to put my feet in," said Coyote. So the rain from the clouds gathered together beneath him, and Coyote walked in it to cool off his feet. But Coyote was not satisfied.

"It should be deeper," said Coyote. Suddenly the creek became a huge, swirling river. Coyote was swept over and over by the water. Finally, nearly drowned, Coyote was thrown up on the bank far away. When he woke up, the buzzards were watching him, trying to decide if he was dead.

Coyote began to howl and cry, "I'm not dead," Coyote told them, and they flew away.

Coyote praised the heavens and never again asked for anything beyond what he need.

And that is how the Columbia River began.

Coyote: Character design

Coyote: Short Story

One day, Coyote was walking in the field. The sun was shining brightly that day, and Coyote felt very hot.

As he looked to the sky his eyes fell upon a distant cloud. "I would like my own cloud, it could shade me from the sun" Coyote said.

Suddenly a small cloud appeared above his head and made some shade for Coyote. But after a while Coyote was not satisfied.

He looked at the size of his cloud and dropped his head.

"I would like more clouds," he said. The cloud suddenly grew, and they turned darker. But Coyote was not satisfied.

“Even with these clouds it’s still too hot,” he said.

"How about some rain," said Coyote. The clouds began to sprinkle rain on Coyote. But Coyote was not satisfied.

"More rain," Coyote demanded. The rain became a downpour. But after a while Coyote was not satisfied.

"I would like a pool to put my feet in," said Coyote. So the rain from the clouds gathered into a pool beside him, and Coyote walked in it to cool off his feet. But Coyote was not satisfied.

"It should be deeper," said Coyote. The pool became a vast, sea. Coyote swam and played in the cool water. But soon became tired, suddenly he noticed that all the land was covered by the water.

Coyote said, “I’m done now, I want the water to disappear.” But the water did not disappear. Coyote began to howl and cry for the rain to stop and the water to reappear but the water remained.

Coyote grew even more tired and nearly drowned. But just then a wave came and scoped up Coyote and carried him across the sea and flung him upon the shore.

Coyote praised the heavens and never again asked for anything beyond what he need.

Rain Garden Information Design Part 2

Rain Garden Information Design