In Half I of Therapeutic the World, I wrote of the necessity for
self-care and utilizing the religious practices of prayer and meditation to remain
grounded in turbulent instances, and in Half II, the theme was collaborating with
others and the efforts the Baha’is are making to succeed in out to the broader
group.
On this remaining set up, I need to share a few of the
issues the Baha’i group does internally and the way, maybe, we will provide a
mannequin for others.
Three days from now, the native Baha’is, in addition to 1000’s
of Baha’i communities throughout the globe, might be electing their native governing
our bodies, or Assemblies. These administrative our bodies are composed of 9 adults
of at the very least 21 years of age. At no degree -local, nationwide, or worldwide – does
authority relaxation in a single particular person; it’s at all times within the group. Native and nationwide assemblies are elected
yearly and the worldwide governing physique, referred to as the Common Home of
Justice, is elected each 5 years.
Baha’i authorities, like that of our nation, is a democracy.
However there the similarity stops. Within the Baha’i group, nobody is nominated,
nobody runs for workplace, there is no such thing as a electioneering and none of these irritating
political adverts! Very merely, in case you are a Baha’i at the very least 21 years previous, your
identify is on the poll in your locality. The citizens consists of all these
in the neighborhood who’re 18 years or older. Within the case of Nationwide Assemblies,
the citizens consists of delegates elected from every electoral district, and
within the case of the Common Home of Justice, the members of the Nationwide
Assemblies are the electors.
It’s no accident that Baha’i elections are held on the
begin of the holiest time of the Baha’i yr: the twelve day interval known as
Ridvan (REZ-vahn) which marks Baha’u’llah’s sojourn within the Ridvan Backyard earlier than
His remaining banishment to the Holy Land.
Ridvan means “Paradise,” by the best way. Elections are held presently to
emphasize their sacred nature. Certainly, Baha’i voters are informed to method this
sacred obligation with a prayerful perspective. They need to “flip fully to God and
with a purity of motive, a freedom of spirit and a sanctity of coronary heart,
take part within the elections.” Additional,
they’re directed to vote for many who exhibit “. . . selfless devotion, a
well-trained thoughts, acknowledged potential and mature expertise.” These elected
members maintain no particular rank or privilege in the neighborhood and so they solely
operate because the governing physique when they’re really assembly as such. They
ought to think about themselves as humble servants of their group.
One of many primary processes by which these elected assemblies
operate is known as session. Baha’i session, nonetheless, isn’t just
dialogue. It’s freely providing one’s opinion to the group, at which level it
belongs to the group and to not the one who has supplied it. Thus, as soon as an
opinion is obtainable by somebody, there is no such thing as a want for that particular person to defend it. The
ego should be put apart and all should search diligently for the fitting
resolution. After “dispassionate, anxious
and cordial” session, and after to turning to God in prayer, the Meeting
arrives at a choice. A unanimous resolution is, after all, preferable but when
that doesn’t occur, the bulk resolution prevails and all should abide by it. That
method, if the choice seems to be defective, it should grow to be obvious and might be
revised.
The Baha’i administrative system remains to be in its early
phases and Assemblies are studying the right way to operate successfully. They’re
destined to evolve into Native and Nationwide Homes of Justice, although, and to
assist consumer within the age of world unity.
Nancy Flood-Golembeck is a retired instructor and longtime
member of the Baha’i Religion. Along with serving on the native Baha’i
governing physique, she is at the moment writing a memoir.
