One of the great tools for unity brought by Bahá'u'lláh is the principle of consultation: "The Great Being saith: The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined with the two luminaries of consultation and compassion. Take ye counsel together in all matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding." (Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 168)
I have been fortunate to serve on various bodies in which consultation has been practiced. I think this may be the greatest and most overlooked tool for solving problems and resolving controversies ever given to humanity. It is truly a gift from God. Consultation is a process in which a group of people attempt to solve a problem or controversy by prayerful discussion, applying spiritual principles to the problem at hand, and by each person generously contributing his or her views and opinions, but not attaching the ego to them. Nobody withholds their views, nobody belittles any ideas, and nobody insists upon their opinions, but instead ideas are thrown on to the table for all to consider. "[E]ach must use perfect liberty in stating his views and unveiling the proof of his demonstration. If another contradicts him, he must not become excited because if there be no investigation or verification of questions and matters, the agreeable view will not be discovered neither understood. The brilliant light which comes from the collision of thoughts is the "lightener" of facts." (`Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í World Faith, p. 406). When the process works the way it should, various ideas clash and conflict, but the people do not. What often happens is an idea of one person triggers a new idea of another person, and so on. If every participant refrains from egotistically insisting on his or her own viewpoint, a synergy will often occur whereby completely new and creative ideas emerge from the discussion, and every participant is able to embrace them. A solution is reached that everybody gets behind. Once a decision is made, the participants get behind that decision completely.
`Abdu'l-Bahá wrote: "...consultation must have for its object the investigation of truth. He who expresses an opinion should not voice it as correct and right but set it forth as a contribution to the consensus of opinion, for the light of reality becomes apparent when two opinions coincide. A spark is produced when flint and steel come together. Man should weigh his opinions with the utmost serenity, calmness and composure. Before expressing his own views he should carefully consider the views already advanced by others. If he finds that a previously expressed opinion is more true and worthy, he should accept it immediately and not willfully hold to an opinion of his own. By this excellent method he endeavors to arrive at unity and truth." `(Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 72)
Even if the decision is wrong, if the participants take care to support the decision, it often becomes apparent what is wrong and the group can consult again and find the correct solution.
When consultation breaks down and there is disagreement and frustration, it is necessary to pray together until unity of purpose is reached and the discussion can resume again on a proper footing. But what many Bahá'ís fail to realize is that the unity that comes out of consultation does not shrink from conflict. In consultation, conflict is necessary to arrive at the truth. But the conflict and contention is between competing ideas and not competing persons. Each person around the table remains united with a single purpose, but the ideas converge and do battle. When this is done, the truth emerges. Each participant grows by leaving the ego behind, neither insisting upon one's own ideas as superior nor refraining from offering one's ideas, no matter how strange they may seem. From my experience, the person who shyly or humbly refuses to assert an idea prevents the consultative process from working, because the unexpressed idea is often the one needed to propel the discussion towards the correct solution. "Even a majority opinion or consensus may be incorrect. A thousand people may hold to one view and be mistaken, whereas one sagacious person may be right. Therefore, true consultation is spiritual conference in the attitude and atmosphere of love." `(Abdu'l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 72-73).
True consultation is difficult because it requires fearless courage and egoless effort. But the collective wisdom that emerges from true consultation is the truth itself. True problem solving and true dispute resolution is achieved with the tool of consultation.
This makes me wonder what might have happened after the death of Shoghi Effendi, had the Bahá'í world engaged in true consultation and openly discussed the question of the successorship of the Guardian. Would not the collective wisdom of the Bahá'ís reach the truth? Even the Hands, by all accounts, failed to consult over the question of the Guardianship. In fact, the decision there would be no Guardian was railroaded through that body, which secretly voted to end the Guardianship and then secretly went about the business of electing a headless UHJ completely contrary to the requirements set forth in `Abdu'l-Bahá's Will and Testament. Refusing to consult over the question thereafter and prohibiting any discussion by anyone on the question of the continuing Guardianship, the illicit body of the Hands, calling itself the "Custodians" went forth with the greatest violation of the Covenant ever committed. (I realize that the heterodox "UHJ" supposedly consulted on this question, yet there was never the prerequisite consultation over whether this body was legitimate or properly constituted. It is clearly obvious that it was not.)
To this day, the Bahá'í world refuses to consult over this question, despite the pleas set forth by the Orthodox Bahá'ís to reconsider and to come back under the Covenant in obedience to the living Guardian. Bahá'u'lláh did not say consult on some things, He said to consult in all matters.
I call upon the Bahá'í world to enter into true consultation on this question that divides us.
The third Guardian's web page:
http://www.bahai-guardian.com/
By Hand of Cause of God Jeffrey Goldberg
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