The official presence of the Baha'i Faith on the Web will be found at the following website. On the site you will find a comprehensive body of authentic material presented by the Baha'i International Community. www.bahai.org The official site of The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States is at the following website. Here you will find general information, news, social action, contacts and links. www.bahai.us |
Bob Leonard took his first flying lessons in 1950. He served in the air branch of the U.S. Navy as an Aerologist (Meteorology) and flight crew member. He obtained his Private Flying License in 1957 while still working for Uncle Sam. Obtaining his Commercial Pilots License he started earning a living as a pilot in 1961. He retired from active daily flying in 1999, age 67, and retired from the aviation field at age 70, working his last years as an Aviation Safety Officer 'flying a desk.' During his career Captain Leonard flew internationally into 37 different countries landing at a total of 567 different airports. He has logged almost 19,000 flight hours and over 25,000 take off and landings. During his career he has earned UK, USA, Peru and Botswana Airline Transport Pilot Licenses. Besides Airline Jet and Prop/Jet flying he did extensive water flying in various types of Grumman Amphibians and the DHC-6 Twin Otter Prop/Jet on floats. |
About the Author |
He was a line pilot for Kodiak Airways from 1961-1967. During August 1967 he moved to the Bahamas and helped start a Commuter Airline which grew and became the National Flag Carrier of the Bahamas, Bahamasair. Besides acting as a Line Captain, he served in the Airline Training Department and as a Check Captain for the Airline. From 1977 through 1982 he flew extensively in North, Central and South America before moving to Africa. In Africa he acted as a Line & Training Captain for Air Botswana, the National Flag Carrier of Botswana and as first, Chief Pilot and then Director of Flight Operations for Air Charter Botswana, the charter division of the Airline. He and his wife, Karin, were married 45 years before she passed away from cancer. They have two daughters who presented them with a total of six grandchildren. Bob Leonard, now 75, resides in Central California where he remains active in retirement writing aviation stories and helping in teaching his religion, The Baha'i Faith. |
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Bob, and his wife, Karin, were members of the Baha'i Faith during their entire 45 years of marriage. They both felt blessed to have had the opportunity to help teach others about the Baha'i Faith in the different parts of the world in which they lived. Baha'is believe that there is only one God -- even though the followers of various religions call him by different names. All the peoples of the world worship the same God, Who is infinite and unknowable. Baha'is believe that all people are one. All the old barriers that have divided people from one another, all lesser identities of race, culture, language, nationality, caste, rank, class, gender, religion, and so forth, must now be set aside in the larger quest for unity among all peoples. The principle of the oneness of humanity is the pivot around which all the Baha'i teachings revolve. It is no mere expression of sentiment, nor is it just a pious hope for a happy future. Its implications are deeper. They demand that we, actively and in the present, accept all peoples of the world as members of one human family, that we seek world peace through world law, that we abandon prejudices of all kinds, and that we act always for the benefit of the whole human race. Quite a challenge! Baha'is believe that all religions come from God. This is simple but, for many, very hard to understand. All religions teach deep spiritual truths. Baha'is accept the divine origins of: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and all other faiths. The sacred scriptures of these faith traditions are holy. The spiritual practices of all religions -- their traditions of prayer, meditation, service, and sacrifice -- will all lead to growth and enlightenment. Baha'is believe that all of the great world religions were sent by God, at different times, and to different places with teaching tailored to the needs of the people. All of these religions have brought spiritual teachings for the guidance of the individual and social teachings to carry forward an advancing civilization. The spiritual teachings of all religions are the same. All teach us to love, to be kind and generous, to pray and to reflect on our lives. All religions share the teachings of mercy, compassion, generosity, trustworthiness, honesty, truthfulness, modesty, charity, and so forth. And, naturally, all religions differ according to the needs of the society in which they appeared. All the Prophets of God -- Buddha, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed -- appeared in the world for the education of humanity: to develop immature souls to maturity, to teach spiritual truths, to exalt moral principles, and to quicken the conscience of humankind. They should all be equally revered. Baha'is believe in community. There are now Baha'is living in every country on earth. Baha'is have come together as an organized, world community to work for the principles of peace and unity. Baha'is try to practice the laws and teachings of their religion and offer these teachings to others for the betterment of the world. The Baha'i Faith is not just a collection of philosophical principles. The Baha'i community is not just a group of well-meaning people. Baha'is are followers of Baha'u'llah, Founder of the Baha'i Faith. Baha'is believe that, only a few years ago, a new prophet was sent into the world by God to guide humanity in this modern age. Baha'u'llah [pronounced: bah-HA o-LAH] stands at the center of Baha'i belief. Baha'is believe that this new divine teacher has brought us the spiritual tools by which we can construct a new world based on the principles of unity -- the unity of God, the unity of religion, and the unity of humanity. Following are some of Baha'u'llah's social teachings to help build a unified and peacful world. ~ Unity of Humankind ~ Individual Search for Truth ~ Harmony of Science and Religion ~ Universal Education ~ Equality of Women and Men ~ Elimination of Prejudices of All Kinds ~ Elimination of Extremes of Wealth and Poverty ~ Universal Auxiliary Language ~ Universal Peace Upheld by World Law |
The Baha'i Faith |
The official presence of the Baha'i Faith on the Web will be found at the following website. On the site you will find a comprehensive body of authentic material presented by the Baha'i International Community. www.bahai.org The official site of The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States is at the following website. Here you will find general information, news, social action, contacts and links. www.bahai.us |
Seat of The Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel |
The Baha'i Temple of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois |
