Dear Firouz, Yes, time is a big thing. And talk about taking the words of an ABM or Counsellor for holy... (sigh).
the first time I ever went to summer school, before becoming Bahai, Adib Taherzadeh was there and he was a counsellor. Most of us were camping. Every day Adib woudl walk the camping ground, saying hi to people, obviously trying to make contact. He was a bit shy, so he would not know exactly what to say after he said hi, but his whole manner was very friendly and indicative of wanting to have contact. And everybody was too much in awe to invite him for a cup of coffee or tea! So I went up to him at my third day and talked to him, treated him as a normal human being. He introduced me to his wife and his two then very small children. And a lot of people said to me: wow! Some admiringly, others with a hint of disapproval. I said: look, he is obviously looking for contact, and I think it is painful if nobody talks to him, treat him like a friend. They said: but do you know he is a counsellor? And I said: so what? He obviously wants to make friends with us, so why do we keep us away from him? I live now since 7 years in Dublin. Adib Taherzadeh pioneered for a long time, until he became member of the House of Justice, in the Dublin area. Some people quote him all the time, and I get a bit sick of that. As if his word was infallible. and I do say that occasionally. NOt too often, cause I have a sharp tongue and often what I say comes out far stronger than intended and will hurt peoples feelings. It is difficult when you are in a community where people are not very deepened, where you know more than they do. It is like being with children: a lot of patience and biting back of words is needed. Part of the process of sacrifice I think may be this, that one can see a certain aspect of the big diamond Truth that others cannot see, even when you point it out to them. One then need to chose the moments when one can speak about that aspect of truth very wisely. It can be very lonely being a Bahai. I wish you much strength and love, janine --- Firouz Anaraki <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dear janine, > > Thanks so much for your feedback. You're right > absolutely and I fully agree > with you on various points you are discussing here. > > The problem to my opinion is that majority of > Baha'is specially here in Asia > are not so deepened in the Writings and many do > consider the words of a > House member or a counselor or even a ABM as the > Words of Baha'u'llah. If a > counselor suggests something, everyone take it for > granted that what is > being suggested should be done. Being also a member > of a LSA, I see very > similar attitude among the members of LSA. I do hope > somehow that all > friends become more and more deepened by Ruhi or > otherwise. Personally I do > not count much on Ruhi. > > At this time I have just enough time to have a > monthly fireside at my home > which I do prefer it to a study circle. > > regards, > Firouz > > > > Firouz, > > > > I am sorry for your experiences. They do not seem > to > > be good. > > > > A couple of years ago (2 I think) there was a > > counsellor from Russia over in Ireland to attend a > > non-Bahai conference. She told us that in her town > the > > LSA decided to offer the Ruhi book 1 as a personal > > development course to the wider community > > (non-Bahais). > > They adapted the book insuch a way that people > could > > attend only one session if they wanted and asked > for > > feed back each session. This seemed to work well. > > > > I have always believed the books can be adapted. > Maybe > > you could have a further talk with your ABM about > > this? And also, nothing I feel prevents you from > > setting up your own study circle. I don't think > your > > LSA would forbid you to set up a study circle. > > > > Quite often we feel that when an ABM or counsellor > > says such and such that that is the end ofthe > matter. > > I think though that we can have far more say in > things > > than we think we can. We can ask for a > consultation > > with the ABM/Counsellor (thatis what they are for) > but > > in the end they are individuals. Individuals who > are > > considered to have an insight, wisdom and > knowledge of > > the BAhai writings which makes them worthy to be > part > > of the Branch of the Learned so their words weigh > for > > me heavier than that of another individual, but > that > > does not makethem infallible. > > > > I believe in the spirit of cooperation but I do > not > > beleive in shutting up. I think that there is a > way of > > consultation one can apply which is not > argumentative, > > not hostile, but which is open and searching. > > I never read that counsellors and ABMs are under > the > > same protection and guidance as LSAs, NSAs and the > UHJ > > from Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha. We have the > > institutions to make the decisions, but what a > person > > says is not binding and does not have to be always > > inspired. > > > > I hope you will find a way to set up your own > study > > circle, (not a ruhi one) or to adapt the ruhi > books to > > such a degree that they become successful in the > area > > where you are. If you set up your own study circle > and > > it is successful, people will notice and questions > > will be asked. > > > > much love, > > > > janine van rooij > > dublin, ireland > > > > > > > > __________________________________ > > Do you Yahoo!? > > Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. 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