Consultation: A Skills Development Workshop Based on the Bahá'í Writings Prepared by Janice Smith
Dear friends,
Thanks for taking the time to check out my "Consultation"
workshop. I hope you find it interesting and, perhaps, even valuable.
Consultation is both a form of group decision making and an educational strategy prescribed in the Bahá'í Writings. It can be used by families, businesses, civic organizations -- any group of two or more -- to take maximum advantage of diverse points of view and to create group solidarity and unity of purpose.
Please feel free to use these workshop materials in anyway you
wish. Since it is a work in progress, I would love to receive
feedback. Please send any comments, questions or suggestions to at4all@gmail.com Attn: Jan Smith. Thanks for your time and consideration.
What is Consultation?EXERCISE 1: Using the Guidelines for Consultation
EXERCISE 2: What is Consultation?
EXERCISE 3: What are the Personal Qualities Necessary for Consultation?
Consultation is fundamental principle of the Bahá'í Faith.
Baha'u'llah has established consultation as one of the fundamental principles of His Faith and has exhorted the believers to "take counsel together in all matters". He describes consultation as "the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way" and as "the bestower of understanding". Shoghi Effendi states that the "principle of consultation ... constitutes one of the basic laws" of the Baha'i Administrative Order.
(Notes for the Kitáb-í-Aqdas, page 190)Consultation is a source of guidance, certitude, awareness and understanding.
Consultation bestoweth greater awareness and transmuteth conjecture into certitude. It is a shining light which, in a dark world, leadeth the way and guideth. For everything there is and will continue to be a station of perfection and maturity. The maturity of the gift of understanding is made manifest through consultation.
(Bahá'u'lláh: Consultation, pages 93-94)Consultation is indispensable.
In all things it is necessary to consult.... The intent of what hath been revealed from the Pen of the Most High is that consultation may be fully carried out among the friends, inasmuch as it is and will always be a cause of awareness and of awakening and a source of good and well-being.
(Bahá'u'lláh: Consultation, pages 93-94)No welfare and no well-being can be attained except through consultation.
(Bahá'u'lláh: Consultation, pages 93-94)Consultation is an art.
In its own meetings it [the Assembly] must endeavor to develop skill in the difficult but highly rewarding art of Bahá'&aicute consultation, a process which will require great self-discipline on the part of all members and complete reliance on the power of Bahá'u'lláh.
(Universal House of Justice, letter dated July 30, 1972, in an unpublished 0compilation, "The Local Spiritual Assemblies")
PURPOSES
The purposes of a consultative group are 1) to provide for full participation of all its members, 2) to promote unity within the group, and 3) to search objectively for truth.
- Each person is committed to participate fully in the process.
- Expression of ideas must be frank, courteous and open.
- Ideas do not belong to the person who articulates them, but are offered to the group to do with as it will.
- Participants should not be offended when others' opinions differ from their own.
- Participants will express views without attempting to please or fearing to displease others.
- Participants will listen carefully and courteously to others.
- Belittling other people or their views is not permitted.
- Unanimous decisions are preferable; otherwise the majority rules.
"The prime requisites for them that take counsel together are purity of motive, radiance of spirit, detachment from all else save God, attraction to His Divine Fragrances, humility and lowliness amongst His loved ones, patience and long-suffering in difficulties and servitude to His exalted Threshold. Should they be graciously aided to acquire these attributes, victory from the unseen Kingdom of Baha shall be vouchsafed to them.
The members thereof must take counsel together in such wise that no occasion for ill-feeling or discord may arise. This can be attained when every member expresseth with absolute freedom his own opinion and setteth forth his argument. Should anyone oppose, he must on no account feel hurt for not until matters are fully discussed can the right way be revealed. The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions. If after discussion, a decision be carried unanimously well and good; but if, the Lord forbid, differences of opinion should arise, a majority of voices must prevail.
The first condition is absolute love and harmony amongst the members of the assembly. They must be wholly free from estrangement and must manifest in themselves the Unity of God, for they are the waves of one sea, the drops of one river, the stars of one heaven, the rays of one sun, the trees of one orchard, the flowers of one garden. Should harmony of thought and absolute unity be nonexistent, that gathering shall be dispersed and that assembly be brought to naught...They must then proceed with the utmost devotion, courtesy, dignity, care and moderation to express their views. They must in every matter search out the truth and not insist upon their own opinion, for stubbornness and persistence in one's views will lead ultimately to discord and wrangling and the truth will remain hidden. The honoured members must with all freedom express their own thoughts, and it is in no wise permissible for one to belittle the thought of another. In short, whatsoever thing is arranged in harmony and with love and purity of motive, its result is light, and should the least trace of estrangement prevail the result shall be darkness upon darkness...."
Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá, pages 87-89
- Review the Guidelines for Consultative Groups. Discuss the meaning of any words that may cause questions.
- How do the purposes of consultation differ from those of other groups that meet and discuss?
- Can a person participate fully by just being quiet and listening?
- How does principle #3 differ from the principles of "Robert's Rules of Order"?
- Explain how principles #4 & 5 work together.
- What are some indications that we are not listening carefully or courteously?
- Give a brief example of how consultation encourages one of the qualities listed. (Go quickly around the circle, choose a quality, give and example. It is permissible to pass.)
- What does it mean to separate issues from people? Why is that important?
- What does it mean to focus on interests, not positions? Why is that important?
- Using the quotes on this page, make a list of all the attributes of consultation.
- How does consultation bestow greater awareness?
- How does consultation transform conjecture into certitude?
- Under what circumstances would it be better not to consult?
- What makes consultation a "difficult but highly rewarding art?"
- Give an example of each of the "prime requisites" listed in the first paragraph.
- How is it possible to be both frank and loving at the same time?
- What is the difference between a "clash of differing opinions" (which is necessary) and "discord" (which is destructive)?
- What are some ways to avoid "ill-feeling" and "discord"?
- Why do you think are consensus decisions ideal but not mandatory?
- What are the indicators of "absolute love and harmony"?
- What are the consequences of a lack of unity or harmony?
- What does it mean to express one's views "with the utmost devotion, courtesy, dignity, care and moderation"? Give an example of each.
- How can you honestly NOT insist on your own opinion when you are, in fact, sure you are right?
- What are some of the more common ways we "belittle the thoughts of others" -both verbally and non-verbally?
- What will be the result of estrangement? How do we avoid estrangement or remove it, if we see that it exists?
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