Re: What is Blind Faith?

Dear Susan-
Sure but you cannot just go by a few quotes, especially when they are
addressed to you ladies? :)

Seriously though, I think we often get ourselves mixed up by focusing
on details like proclamation, teaching, deepening, consolidation, mass

teaching, direct teaching, etc., etc., etc. and lose sight of the
whole. What I mean by this is that the when we look at the Writings in

our history and see how much increasing our numbers is a theme
throughout all the Plans we may begin to focus on numbers and forget
the process that best produces those numbers. On the other hand the
House has told us to be "audacious, undeterred by fear of mistakes"
because it is the Holy Spirit that is doing the Teaching, not us
really. We are to live the life and acquire virtues by performing
service, acts of selfless love and that will make us a clear channel
for the spirit to reach these barren and seeking souls with the gift of

the Greatest Name.
I see teaching not as an event but as our life process for it draws
divine assistance and the Beloved Master said it will be cut off if we

are not teaching. So to me it is our life, every action in our life is

a prayer, a magnet to draw divine assistance which has mutual benefit
to ourselves and all in our company and even those who are not for as
the prayer says other souls will be affected by the "scattering
angels".

I think when we focus on acquiring virtues through selfless acts of
servitude, which is our condition in life) then we are fulfilling our

purpose as instructed by God then the numbers will come.

regards,
doug


On Dec 30, 2007, at 11:25 PM, Susan Maneck wrote:

Transforming lives is what it is all about, not teaching, not His
Name, i
t
is about making people better people.

Dear Kent,

It would be more precise and more in keeping with the Writings to say
that the purpose of Teaching and emblazoning His Name is all about
transforming lives and making people better people.

"In accordance with the divine teachings in this glorious dispensation
we should not belittle anyone and call him ignorant, saying: 'You know
not, but I know'. Rather, we should look upon others with respect, and
when attempting to explain and demonstrate, we should speak as if we
are investigating the truth, saying: 'Here these things are before us.
Let us investigate to determine where and in what form the truth can
be found.' The teacher should not consider himself as learned and
others ignorant. Such a thought breedeth pride, and pride is not
conducive to influence. The teacher should not see in himself any
superiority; he should speak with the utmost kindliness, lowliness and
humility, for such speech exerteth influence and educateth the souls.
31

O honoured lady! For a single purpose were the Prophets, each and all,
sent down to earth; for this was Christ made manifest, for this did
Bahá'u'lláh raise up the call of the Lord: that the world of man
should become the world of God, this nether realm the Kingdom, this
darkness light, this satanic wickedness all the virtues of heaven --
and unity, fellowship and love be won for the whole human race, that
the organic unity should reappear and the bases of discord be
destroyed and life everlasting and grace everlasting become the
harvest of mankind.

O honoured lady! Look about thee at the world: here unity, mutual
attraction, gathering together, engender life, but disunity and
inharmony spell death. When thou dost consider all phenomena, thou
wilt see that every created thing hath come into being through the
mingling of many elements, and once this collectivity of elements is
dissolved, and this harmony of components is dissevered, the life form
is wiped out.

O honoured lady! In cycles gone by, though harmony was established,
yet, owing to the absence of means, the unity of all mankind could not
have been achieved. Continents remained widely divided, nay even among
the peoples of one and the same continent association and interchange
of thought were wellnigh impossible. Consequently intercourse,
understanding and unity amongst all the peoples and kindreds of the
earth were unattainable. In this day, however, means of communication
have multiplied, and the five continents of the earth have virtually
merged into one. And for everyone it is now easy to travel to any
land, to associate and exchange views with its peoples, and to become
familiar, through publications, with the conditions, the religious
beliefs and the thoughts of all men. In like manner all the members of
the human family, whether 32 peoples or governments, cities or
villages, have become increasingly interdependent. For none is
self-sufficiency any longer possible, inasmuch as political ties unite
all peoples and nations, and the bonds of trade and industry, of
agriculture and education, are being strengthened every day. Hence the
unity of all mankind can in this day be achieved. Verily this is none
other but one of the wonders of this wondrous age, this glorious
century. Of this past ages have been deprived, for this century -- the
century of light -- hath been endowed with unique and unprecedented
glory, power and illumination. Hence the miraculous unfolding of a
fresh marvel every day. Eventually it will be seen how bright its
candles will burn in the assemblage of man."

(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p.
30)


warmest, Susan





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