Spiritual Conference
By
Confucius once was asked what he would do first if he were given the reins of the kingdom, and he answered tersely, "I would start by calling things by their correct names." This has been criticized throughout the ages; few kings or leaders on ascension to power have followed his advice, or even understood what it means. But I think the great sage got it exactly right. Calling things by their right names is in Baha'i terms what we call consultation; conversely, consultation is naming things right, naming things all together, starting first with names and never taking a step without them.
Thus naming starts in prayer, prayer that begins the day at daybreak with dawn prayers and continues throughout. For, as the Book of Genesis teaches, God is greatly concerned with naming; He created the heavens and the earth, and called it good, and after creating Adam He watched in delight as Adam invented a name for each new creature as it came into being. In this way God's highest creature learned to reflect His methodology. Declaring names is a sacred process, and naming God's Name comes before all other names.
Thus prayer comes before consultation, for indeed consultation is nothing other than carrying on the attitude of God-naming further among our fellows. The Master, in a Tablet, describes what happens when the right names are not named first,
"This people, all of them, have pictured a god in the realm of the mind, and worship that image which they have made for themselves. And yet that image is comprehended, the human mind being the comprehender thereof, and certainly the comprehender is greater than that which lieth within its grasp; for imagination is but the branch, while mind is the root; and certainly the root is greater than the branch. Consider then, how all the peoples of the world are bowing the knee to a fancy of their own contriving, how they have created a creator within their own minds, and they call it the Fashioner of all that is -- whereas in truth it is but an illusion. Thus are the people worshipping only an error of perception." (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections, 53-54)
Consulting begins with eliminating these gods and errors of perception and seeing the world through His eyes. This then reflects itself in our speech, for whatever the specific outward meaning may be, always an inner significance declares: "Mine eyes have seen the Glory of the coming of the Lord." But an individual's vision, no matter how clear, does not suffice. It must mix with the views of others into a common vision. Only when we see things together can we name things by their right names.
One of the Master's most important explanations as to how to go about name dropping in a group, and how not to, is in a brief talk that He gave at the
I had read this talk before, of course, crammed in with hundreds of other addresses in the Promulgation, but I never felt its force until Pat Cameron, the speaker at last month's Dunnville Library fireside, used part of it (the second paragraph, to be exact) to great effect. Her startlingly imaginative presentation ended -- I am not kidding -- with an origami demonstration; we folded a piece of paper to show the consensus of unity that consultation, used correctly, ends up with. I cannot say that I have ever seen anything like it in a public presentation, but it worked. What the heck, the origami creation that I made then from her cutout is still kicking around in my brief case, so here is a picture of it <snap> -- again, you can see the snapshot on the blog.
In the background of the photo you see this essay in construction. Talk about self-reference!
Anyway, seeing Pat explore the many meanings waiting to be taken out of this talk made me realize that when Baha'is explain consultation, we trip ourselves up when we overemphasize that old quote about a "clash of differing opinions." Not that the "clash" quote is wrong or bad, it is just deceptive, tricky. The Guardian later had to add an explanation that when it says "only after" a clash of differing opinions will be revealed, it does not necessarily mean that consultation starts with a clash every time, or even that any clash is needed at all. Quite the reverse, the ideal is instant consensus.
I am ashamed to admit that only recently did I learn what the word "consensus" even means -- see what Confucius meant about using the correct name? Consensus originally referred to the sympathy or "general concord of different organs of the body in effecting a given purpose." Unless it is diseased, a body does not normally oppose its own autonomic functions. In modern politics consensus has come to mean total unanimity; if a single party does not vote for a proposition it cannot carry by consensus.
To use a real world example, a church decided to hold a meeting to agree to a declaration that hitting children should be outlawed as are other forms of hitting already. While most present agreed, several stood up and attested that they were better off for having been hit in childhood. In order to have a consensus they had to water down the original wording to "excessive abuse of children is a bad thing." Since excessive abuse is already illegal, the purpose of the meeting was defeated. The right name, or at least the name originally intended, was not named. I think it will be a great day when we do come to a consensus, for hitting children, as the Master said, perverts minds. It creates an anti-consultative, anti-covenantal tendency to use words for deception, words as weapons:
"My companion laid hands on a friend and violated a covenant with me with speech smoother than butter, but with a heart set on war; with words that were softer than oil, but in fact were drawn swords." (Ps 55:20, RSV)
A consensus of opinion, then, does not mean a large number or a huge majority, it means total unanimity. Every last one of us, that is the consultative ideal. Everybody prays, everybody is humble, everybody agrees. All are conditioned an atmosphere of creativity, and, as psychologist Erich Fromm said, "Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties." Only when consensus breaks down and opinion ossifies -- and that is rare if the right names are used -- only then comes the last resort, a vote. Otherwise, consensus is the norm and majority a rare exception.
And note what the Master says about the clash of opinions in the Plaza. Nothing. He says a lot about a physical clash caused by opinions that destroyed a consultation, but nothing about clashes as part of real consultation. He even uses the analogy of flint and steel, but read carefully, the two hard substances are indeed producing a shower of sparks, but their enlightenment is not from bashing and banging opinions.
The rock and the hard place that clash are within.
To each other we are humble, receptive, loving. That is the lesson of the Plaza. A receptive, humble, truth seeking mind clashes with previous opinions and views given out as loving gifts to the group, and the sparks shine out. Seeing sparks comes of listening, naming things right, and holding firm to the covenant of love. Its heat melts mind and heart. True, the sparks act as a flame of fire to the enemy, but to His lovers they are a `river of life eternal.'
"God, who is enthroned from of old ... will hear, and will humble them, because they do not change, and do not fear God." (Ps 55:19, RSV)
Here is His brief definition of consultation: "True consultation is spiritual conference in the attitude and atmosphere of love." (Note to self, memorize this!) In such an atmosphere, being hurt is out of the question. Instead we catch flame with a surging willingness to change, to pay total attention to what others are saying, never knowingly to repeat what has already been established, or twist it to our will.
Talk at
Promulgation, 72-74
In this Cause consultation is of vital importance, but spiritual conference and not the mere voicing of personal views is intended. In
The purpose is to emphasize the statement that consultation must have for its object the investigation of truth. He who expresses an opinion should not voice it as correct and right but set it forth as a contribution to the consensus of opinion, for the light of reality becomes apparent when two opinions coincide. A spark is produced when flint and steel come together. Man should weigh his opinions with the utmost serenity, calmness and composure. Before expressing his own views he should carefully consider the views already advanced by others. If he finds that a previously expressed opinion is more true and worthy, he should accept it immediately and not willfully hold to an opinion of his own. By this excellent method he endeavors to arrive at unity and truth. Opposition and division are deplorable. It is better then to have the opinion of a wise, sagacious man; otherwise, contradiction and altercation, in which varied and divergent views are presented, will make it necessary for a judicial body to render decision upon the question. Even a majority opinion or consensus may be incorrect. A thousand people may hold to one view and be mistaken, whereas one sagacious person may be right. Therefore, true consultation is spiritual conference in the attitude and atmosphere of love. Members must love each other in the spirit of fellowship in order that good results may be forthcoming. Love and fellowship are the foundation.
The most memorable instance of spiritual consultation was the meeting of the disciples of Jesus Christ upon the mount after His ascension. They said, "Jesus Christ has been crucified, and we have no longer association and intercourse with Him in His physical body; therefore, we must be loyal and faithful to Him, we must be grateful and appreciate Him, for He has raised us from the dead, He made us wise, He has given us eternal life. What shall we do to be faithful to Him?" And so they held council. One of them said, "We must detach ourselves from the chains and fetters of the world; otherwise, we cannot be faithful." The others replied, "That is so." Another said, "Either we must be married and faithful to our wives and children or serve our Lord free from these ties. We cannot be occupied with the care and provision for families and at the same time herald the Kingdom in the wilderness. Therefore, let those who are unmarried remain so, and those who have married provide means of sustenance and comfort for their families and then go forth to spread the message of glad tidings." There were no dissenting voices; all agreed, saying, "That is right." A third disciple said, "To perform worthy deeds in the Kingdom we must be further self-sacrificing. From now on we should forego ease and bodily comfort, accept every difficulty, forget self and teach the Cause of God." This found acceptance and approval by all the others. Finally a fourth disciple said, "There is still another aspect to our faith and unity. For Jesus' sake we shall be beaten, imprisoned and exiled. They may kill us. Let us receive this lesson now. Let us realize and resolve that though we are beaten, banished, cursed, spat upon and led forth to be killed, we shall accept all this joyfully, loving those who hate and wound us." All the disciples replied, "Surely we will -- it is agreed; this is right." Then they descended from the summit of the mountain, and each went forth in a different direction upon his divine mission.
This was true consultation. This was spiritual consultation and not the mere voicing of personal views in parliamentary opposition and debate.
No comments:
Post a Comment