They have asked me to look at paragraph 15 of the 28 December message, as well as 6:3:23 (that's Ruhi Book 6, Unit 3, section 23), but only the first two parts.
Unfortunately, as I am not certain what specific needs were consulted upon, I will have to wing it. But, as I was there for the last session, that shouldn't be too hard. If I'm off-base, please feel free to correct me. Thanks.
Paragraph 15 is fairly straightforward. It helps set the vision for the next 5 years. We have to "increase the level of participation" and "embrace more and more people" within this system. We also need to remember the "remarkable receptivity" we have found. This is all easily done in the group by asking them to relate each point to their experience over the past week or two. (Oh, there is more in this paragraph, but I want to move on.)
The section in the Ruhi Book is the one that has that marvelous quote from the Guardian, found in The Advent of Divine Justice, page 50. They divide it into a few section, looking at each one at a time. Myself, I think I'll outline the whole thing so that they can see the structure of what he is asking us to do, and then go back and focus on the first two parts. The outline will be done ahead of time, and quickly gone over. That should take less than 5 minutes.
With preparation.
Yes. Preparation.
That's why I'm doing this.
Here we go.
Here is the full quote:
Having on his own initiative, and undaunted by any hindrances with which either friend or foe may, unwittingly or deliberately, obstruct his path, resolved to arise and respond to the call of teaching, let him carefully consider every avenue of approach which he might utilize in his personal attempts to capture the attention, maintain the interest, and deepen the faith, of those whom he seeks to bring into the fold of his Faith. Let him survey the possibilities which the particular circumstances in which he lives offer him, evaluate their advantages, and proceed intelligently and systematically to utilize them for the achievement of the object he has in mind. Let him also attempt to devise such methods as association with clubs, exhibitions, and societies, lectures on subjects akin to the teachings and ideals of his Cause such as temperance, morality, social welfare, religious and racial tolerance, economic cooperation, Islam, and Comparative Religion, or participation in social, cultural, humanitarian, charitable, and educational organizations and enterprises which, while safeguarding the integrity of his Faith, will open up to him a multitude of ways and means whereby he can enlist successively the sympathy, the support, and ultimately the allegiance of those with whom he comes in contact. Let him, while such contacts are being made, bear in mind the claims which his Faith is constantly making upon him to preserve its dignity, and station, to safeguard the integrity of its laws and principles, to demonstrate its comprehensiveness and universality, and to defend fearlessly its manifold and vital interests. Let him consider the degree of his hearer's receptivity, and decide for himself the suitability of either the direct or indirect method of teaching, whereby he can impress upon the seeker the vital importance of the Divine Message, and persuade him to throw in his lot with those who have already embraced it. Let him remember the example set by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and His constant admonition to shower such kindness upon the seeker, and exemplify to such a degree the spirit of the teachings he hopes to instill into him, that the recipient will be spontaneously impelled to identify himself with the Cause embodying such teachings. Let him refrain, at the outset, from insisting on such laws and observances as might impose too severe a strain on the seeker's newly awakened faith, and endeavor to nurse him, patiently, tactfully, and yet determinedly, into full maturity, and aid him to proclaim his unqualified acceptance of whatever has been ordained by Bahá'u'lláh. Let him, as soon as that stage has been attained, introduce him to the body of his fellow-believers, and seek, through constant fellowship and active participation in the local activities of his community, to enable him to contribute his share to the enrichment of its life, the furtherance of its tasks, the consolidations of its interests, and the coordination of its activities with those of its sister communities. Let him not be content until he has infused into his spiritual child so deep a longing as to impel him to arise independently, in his turn, and devote his energies to the quickening of other souls, and the upholding of the laws and principles laid down by his newly adopted Faith.
That was step one. Step two is to edit it down to the bare bones, removing the clarifying clauses which they already have in the full quote. Here is step two:
1. resolved to arise
2. carefully consider every... approach
a. capture the attention
b. maintain the interest
c. deepen the faith
3. survey the possibilities (of your life)
a. evaluate their advantages
b. proceed intelligently and systematically
4. devise such methods as association
a. safeguarding the integrity of his Faith
i. sympathy
ii. support
iii. allegiance
b. preserve its dignity, and station
c. safeguard the integrity of its laws and principles
d. demonstrate its comprehensiveness and universality
e. defend fearlessly its manifold and vital interests
5. consider the degree of his hearer's receptivity
a. direct or indirect method of teaching
6. impress upon the seeker the vital importance of the Divine Message
7. persuade him to throw in his lot with those who have already embraced it
8. remember the example set by 'Abdu'l-Bahá
a. shower such kindness upon the seeker
b. exemplify to such a degree the spirit of the teachings
9. refrain... from insisting on such laws and observances as might impose too severe a strain
10. nurse him... into full maturity
11. introduce him to the body of his fellow-believers
12. enable him to contribute his share to the enrichment of its life
13. impel him to arise independently
Wow. That's still pretty long. Let's try summarizing it.
Steps 1 and 2 are pretty much an introduction and outline. Do it, but think about what you are doing.
Step 3 is how to think about it. Begin with your own life. After all, it's the one that you are living, so you better take it into account.
Step 4 is to see how you can meet new people that have a likelihood of having a similar interest.
Everything up until this point has been looking at your circumstances. You haven't even met anyone yet.
Step 5 finally takes into account the person you are with. You have to know them, and you do this by listening to them, or watching them. You have to really understand them, their interests and their needs.
Steps 6 and 7 address those needs.
Step 8 is your spiritual condition, which is vital to this whole process.
The rest are all about what to do after they have embraced the Faith.
So you see, out of all these steps, the first 5 occur before you have even opened up your mouth. You haven't told them anything about the Faith yet. (I mean you probably have, but only in a cursory way.) These steps are all about preparation.
And so, dear Reader, that is what I will be going over later this afternoon: this preparation.
Thanks for bearing with me while I did this. I really appreciate your help. (Now if you would kindly say a prayer for the success of this campaign.)
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