studycircles

A second instance of this Ruhi group's "arising to serve" was on a more intimate scale, but was equally significant.  In Book 2, the group had learned that one important path of service is to visit the homes of brand-new Baha'is and lovingly engage them in conversations about various Baha'i topics.  The group had been discussing several of these in their Book 2 course – for example, the principle of unity, the life of Baha'u'llah, the Covenant established by Baha'u'llah with His followers, and the Nineteen Day Feast. 

Thus, in September 2009, at the suggestion of Scott Walters, who was one of their group's facilitators, Book 2 members Dave J. and Arvid N. agreed to accompany Scott to the home of a new Baha'i living in Queens for a few hours of conversation.  The Baha'i in question was Liling H., who graciously welcomed her three guests on a Tuesday evening.  Rather to the guests' surprise, however, Liling had prepared a dinner, which the four of them enjoyed over light conversation. 

Then, over dessert, the friends shared their thoughts on the Faith.  Dave went first, giving a short presentation on the life of Baha'u'llah.  He focused on the sufferings and hardships that Baha'u'llah had undergone throughout His life, and on the spiritual impact His suffered could have on others.  Dave noted how ordinary mortals might have succumbed to such persecutions, and contrasted this with how Baha'u'llah had, for the sake of God and for spiritual principle, endured them.  It was clear that Dave was not simply recounting historical fact, but was speaking from the heart, and Liling listened attentively in silence. 

After some discussion on ideas brought up by Dave's short presentation, Arvid then spoke briefly about two different ways of dealing with conflict in the world.   That is, the old, adversarial and "Western" idea of conflict resolution -- in which one side wins and the other side loses -- versus the Bahá'í idea of resolving differences through
unity, consensus building, and mutual respect.  This presentation also engendered some good discussion among the four friends. 

As the conversation wound to a close, Liling was asked her impressions of the evening.  She thought a moment, and said that she had appreciated the discussions very much, as they had taught her things about the Baha'i Faith that she had not known, and gave her much food for thought. 

The evening ended with the three guests offering to clean up the dining area and Liling's kitchen.  This was somewhat over the protests of the hostess – although the unusual sight of three men cleaning up a kitchen (possibly inspired by the Baha'i principle of equality) was perhaps an idea whose time had come, and thus, Liling acquiesced.  The guests then thanked their host and took their leave. 

The above episodes illustrate two possible ways that people – Baha'is or non-Baha'is – might creatively apply insights gleaned from joint study of the Creative Word in study-circle gatherings.  Innumerable other ways of "arising to serve" are, of course, possible. 

 Scott

 

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Meeting weekly at a home in Richmond Hill, Queens, Jack C., Eric R., Dave J., and Scott W. had over several months progressed through Book 1 of the Ruhi Institute, which had dealt with themes such as "Understanding the Baha'i Writings" and "Prayer."  Recently, they had proceeded to Book 2, and new member Arvid N. had joined the Ruhi group.  Book 2 was entitled Arising to Serve.  The general focus of that book was on how to appropriately introduce Baha'i topics to others. 

In June 2009, as the group was about midway through the book, Jack mentioned an upcoming Baha'i holy day gathering on July 9, which commemorated the 1850 martyrdom of the Bab, the prophetic forerunner of Baha'u'llah.  After a brief discussion, the group enthusiastically decided to take on the task of planning and presenting the devotional program for that Holy Day event at the NYC Baha'i Center in Manhattan.  It was a timely suggestion, coming as it did while the members were in their Ruhi course already studying ways of teaching various historical and spiritual topics pertaining to the Baha'i Faith.

Thus, over the next few weeks, the five Baha'is divided up the labor, did research at home, and at their study-circle meetings pooled their ideas and different talents, eventually crafting a tentative program.  Naturally, prayer played a part in the preparations at various points.  Then, on a night shortly before the scheduled day of the devotional gathering, the Ruhi group members convened in the Gillespie Auditorium at the Baha'i Center, and spent several hours rehearsing that program, making changes as needed.  For the members of group, this was the first time they had organized such an event – most, moreover, having little or no experience with staging, sound systems, or lighting.  Happily, Jordan, co-caretaker of the Baha'i Center and handyperson sine qua non, provided some technical advice to the group. 

At noon on the day of the Martyrdom of the Bab, the auditorium was filled with Baha'is and their guests.  The lights were dimmed to virtually complete darkness, and ethereal-sounding, orchestral music began to whisper from the hall speakers:  Charles Ives's classic The Unanswered Question, overlaid with brief quotations from the writings of the Bab, intoned via microphone from offstage.

This musical meditation ended, nine men and women, each carrying a candle, quietly came onstage one by one, and recited a prayer in one of several languages – Bulgarian, Spanish, English, Malaysian, Korean, Amharic, Russian, Farsi.  Setting their candles on a table onstage, they each then took a seat in the front row. 

After a short welcome, Arvid N. proceeded to give an account of the life of the Bab, using a text he had written for the occasion and illustrated by an engaging slideshow, controlled by Jack in the auditorium's control room, and projected onto a screen onstage.  This presentation alternated with a recitation by Eric, who intoned portions of the discourse of the Bab addressed to His disciples, the Letters of the Living, as He sent them out to teach the Faith in 19^th-century Persia. 

Arvid then took the podium again and gave a dramatic account, again with slideshow illustrations, of the martyrdom of the Bab.   The presentation seemed crafted not only to be of spiritual service to local Baha'is, but also to provide an engaging, accessible account of this remarkable historical event for any non-Baha'i guests who happened to be in attendance.  This concluded, Eric then movingly intoned the final portion of the Bab's address to the Letters of the Living.  The Holy Day presentation then finished with a recitation of the Tablet of Visitation, while those in attendance stood and faced the Qiblih, the resting place of Baha'u'llah, in Bahji, Israel.  Attendees and presenters alike then congregated in the basement of the Baha'i Center for refreshments and fellowship.

Scott

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As some of you may know, Baha'is here in New York City, as well as around the planet, have over the last several years been engaged in grass-roots, community-building activities.  These "core activities," as they are sometimes called, include hosting devotional meetings open to members of all faith communities (or of none), and conducting classes for children and adolescents, the topics focused on moral and spiritual education.  Baha'is in New York have established several of these gatherings, as a quick browse of this website will show.  The purpose of such activities is to lay the foundations for a world civilization that is spiritual, organic, and unified.

Another type of core activity is called a "study circle."  Study circles are small, usually weekly, gatherings of adults (or sometimes older youths) who engage in joint study and discussion of short selections from the Baha'i Writings.  Weekly immersion in even small portions of the Writings can have a powerful effect on a person, as they deepen their understanding of the Baha'i approach to life, which involves service to humanity. 

At the present time, study circles in New York City are using a series of books called the Ruhi Institute.  Right now there are seven books in the series.  This blog entry tells two brief stories about one of these "Ruhi groups," and their efforts along the path of service.

Our next two blog entries each tell a story about one of these 'Ruhi groups,' and their efforts along the path of service.

Scott

 

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