“In
this Cause consultation is of vital importance, but spiritual conference and
not the mere voicing of personal views is intended. ... 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.”
Abdu’l-Baha
“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.”
Abdu’l-Baha
“The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions.”
-Abdu’l-Baha
“The
members who are consulting should behave in the utmost love, harmony and
sincerity towards each other.”
-Abdu’l-Baha
“The
prime requisites for them that take counsel together are purity of motive,
radiance of spirit, detachment from all else save God, attraction to His Divine
Fragrances, humility and lowliness amongst His loved ones, patience and
long-suffering in difficulties and servitude to His exalted Threshold.”
-Abdu’l-Baha
“The
members thereof must take counsel together in such wise that no occasion for
ill-feeling or discord may arise. This can be attained when every member expresseth with
absolute freedom his own opinion and setteth forth his argument. Should any
one
oppose, he must on no account feel hurt for not until matters are fully
discussed can the right way be revealed.”
-Abdu’l-Baha
“They
must in every matter search out the truth and not insist upon their own
opinion, for stubbornness and persistence in one’s views will lead ultimately
to discord and wrangling and
the truth will remain hidden.”
-Abdu’l-Baha
“If
they agree upon a subject, even though it be wrong, it is better than to
disagree and be in the right, for this difference will produce the demolition
of the divine foundation.
Though
one of the parties may be in the right and they disagree that will be the cause
of a thousand wrongs, but if they agree and both parties are in the wrong, as
it is in unity the truth will be revealed and the wrong made right.”
-Abdu’l-Baha
“It
is again not permitted that any one of the honored members object to or
censure, whether in or out of the meeting, any decision arrived at previously
though that decision be not right, for such criticism would prevent any
decision from being enforced.”
-Abdu’l-Baha
There’s a deep spiritual hunger in the world - an epidemic of emotional/spiritual heart disease, a profound sense of loneliness, isolation and alienation but the medicine is right there inside each one of us!
Our present-day challenges - specifically the pandemic, the climate crisis, racial and human rights issues - are fundamentally and inherently global in nature.
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| Envisioning a Peaceful Global Reality Soul Cafe Victoria, BC Gita Badiyan |
“My home is the home of peace. My home is the home of joy and delight. My home is the home of laughter and exultation. Whosoever enters through the portals of this home, must go out with gladsome heart. This is the home of light; whosoever enters here must become illumined. This is the home of knowledge: the one who enters it must receive knowledge. This is the home of love: those who come in must learn the lessons of love; thus, may they know how to love each other.”
-Abdu’l-Baha
“O Children of Men! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other… Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest.”
-Baha’u’llah
“Magnify not the faults of others that thine own faults may not appear great.”
-Baha’u’llah
“Love the creatures for the sake of God and not for themselves. You will never become angry or impatient if you love them for the sake of God. Humanity is not perfect. There are imperfections in every human being, and you will always become unhappy if you look toward the people themselves.”
-Abdu’l-Baha
“The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions.”
-Abdu’l-Baha
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Obviously, we all have a thirst for deeper exploration and a yearning for profound connections. But how do we introduce elevated and meaningful conversations in our day-to-day? How do we go about heightening social consciousness in a natural way -with our families, friends and colleagues?
Most people in our society don't operate at an elevated level. It's been said that ‘Downstream is mainstream’. Somehow, in our society, we allow our lower nature to rule and dominate. But if we are spiritual beings, it implies everything in our lives, including our conversations, have a spiritual dimension. If we’re here for a higher purpose, we wouldn’t want to allow ourselves to be drawn down. It is, however, not so easy to do -somewhat like having to resist junk food!
Given that conversation is an outward expression of our thoughts and feelings, elevated conversations need elevated thoughts and feelings. That means our mental, spiritual and emotional diets need to be more wholesome. When our thoughts are turned towards the light, our words reflect that light.
Elevated speech is not supposed to be supercilious, arrogant or patronizing. When we're trying to have an elevated conversation we're not necessarily trying to inject a spiritual theme into every conversation or spin a moral connection from every discussion.
An elevated conversation is more about coming into a conversation from a place of connection with our higher self; it's about being principled when we speak and listen. It requires sharing in a meaningful way, exposing dichotomies in a thoughtful manner, transcending differences, learning from others and working towards solutions that unite.
“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”
–The Buddha
“Whensoever they gather in their meetings let their conversation be confined to learned subjects and to information on the knowledge of the day. If they do thus, they will flood the world with the Manifest Light, and change this dusty earth into gardens of the Realm of Glory."
– Baha’u’llah
“You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts.”
–K. Gibran
“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
–Christ
"All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind.”
—Kahlil Gibran
“Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.”
– Plato
“Every word is endowed with a spirit, therefore the speaker or expounder should carefully deliver his words at the appropriate time and place, for the impression which each word maketh is clearly evident and perceptible.”
– Baha’u’llah
“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
-Colossians 4:6
