Apart from the spiritual requisites of a sanctified Bahá’í
life, there are habits of thought that affect the unfoldment of the global
Plan, and their development has to be encouraged at the level of culture. There
are tendencies, as well, that need to be gradually overcome. Many of these
tendencies are reinforced by approaches prevalent in society at large, which,
not altogether unreasonably, enter into Bahá’í activity. The magnitude of the
challenge facing the friends in this respect is not lost on us. They are called
upon to become increasingly involved in the life of society, benefiting from
its educational programmes, excelling in its trades and professions, learning
to employ well its tools, and applying themselves to the advancement of its
arts and sciences. At the same time, they are never to lose sight of the aim of
the Faith to effect a transformation of society, remoulding its institutions
and processes, on a scale never before witnessed. To this end, they must remain
acutely aware of the inadequacies of current modes of thinking and doing—this,
without feeling the least degree of superiority, without assuming an air of
secrecy or aloofness, and without adopting an unnecessarily critical stance
towards society.
It is heartening to note that the friends are approaching the study of the messages of the Universal House of Justice related to the Plan with such diligence. The level of discussion generated as they strive to put into practice the guidance received, and to learn from experience, is impressive. We cannot help noticing, however, that achievements tend to be more enduring in those regions where the friends strive to understand the totality of the vision conveyed in the messages, while difficulties often arise when phrases and sentences are taken out of context and viewed as isolated fragments. The institutions and agencies of the Faith should help the believers to analyse but not reduce, to ponder meaning but not dwell on words, to identify distinct areas of action but not compartmentalize. We realize that this is no small task. Society speaks more and more in slogans. We hope that the habits the friends are forming in study circles to work with full and complex thoughts and to achieve understanding will be extended to various spheres of activity.
Closely related to the habit of reducing an entire theme
into one or two appealing phrases is the tendency to perceive dichotomies,
where, in fact, there are none. It is essential that ideas forming part of a
cohesive whole not be held in opposition to one another. In a letter written on
his behalf, Shoghi Effendi warned: “We must take the teachings as a great,
balanced whole, not seek out and oppose to each other two strong statements
that have different meanings; somewhere in between, there are links uniting the
two.” How encouraged we have been to note that many of the misunderstandings of
the past have fallen away as appreciation for the provisions of the Plan has
grown. Expansion and consolidation, individual action and collective campaigns,
refinement of the inner character and consecration to selfless service— the
harmonious relationship between these facets of Bahá’í life is now readily
acknowledged. It brings us equal pleasure to know that the friends are on their
guard, lest new false dichotomies be allowed to pervade their thinking. They
are well aware that the diverse elements of a programme of growth are
complementary. The tendency to see activities, and the agencies that support
them, in competition with one another, a tendency so common in society at
large, is being avoided by the community.
- The Universal House of Justice (From
a message dated 28 December 2010 addressed to the Conference of the Continental
Boards of Counsellors)
