Spirtual Perspectives By the Bahai Community Try to imagine, if you can in this age of contention, a style of
group decision-making in which participants arrive at a decision
that everyone accepts with grace. No owning your ideas.
No hurt feelings. No battling, blame or sour grapes. This unique, non-adversarial method of group decision-making that
unites people rather than divides them, as prescribed by Bahaullah,
is known as Bahai consultation. When followed properly, consultation
calls for finding a solution based on a desire to be of service
rather than for personal aggrandizement or constituency-building. Bahai consultation usually opens with prayer, and then, using
frank and loving conversation, progresses to ascertaining the facts,
understanding the spiritual principles involved and applying the
Faiths teachings on those principles. After discussing possible solutions, participants arrive at a decision
either unanimously or through majority vote. Then they find it in
themselves to fully support the decision and not undermine it, even
if its not the one they thought was best. The reason is simple:
The only way to know if a decision is right or wrong is for the
group to act on it wholeheartedly. If a decision is wrong, that
will become clear in time. This commitment to unity ensures that if a decision is wrong, the
problem lies in the idea itself and not in the divisive actions
of opponents. Ask Bahais about consultation, and youll get a variety
of thoughts. Penny Filias, a Baha'i from Ontario, Canada, asks you to picture
consultation as a group of individuals sitting in a circle around
a statue. In this analogy, members take turns describing what they
see and wind up with a 360-degree vision something
that is not possible for any of them to achieve individually. She says the clarity and accuracy potential of this
world-embracing vision (a phrase Bahais use to
describe the Faith) depends on the willingness and ability of members
to share and communicate effectively (some members may need glasses).
And some just need to learn what consultation is and what it isnt.
For instance, a new Baha'i was thoroughly flummoxed and upset when
a meeting participant put forth an idea and later voted against
it. Sina Mowzoon of Chandler, Ariz., says she explained to the new
Baha'i that the man believed his idea was good, but in keeping an
open mind and listening to others ideas, he came to understand
that his way was not the best. That," she says, is
the true spirit of consultation. As Abdul-Baha said, The
shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing
opinions. One of the ways that Baha'i consultation differs from other forms
of decision-making, such as conflict resolution, is that it does
not assume the existence of opposing sides. Instead, the participants
are engaged in a search for the truth of whatever question is under
discussion. They don't think in terms of winning or losing; they
simply strive to find the best solution. They acknowledge that others
in the group may have as much to contribute as they do. Consultation doesnt work, however, if the person offering
the position holds onto it and becomes insistent, says Jane
Saunders of Andover, Kan. Then disunity results. Another challenge, she adds, is allowing dominant personalities
to battle it out, in which case discussion remains only
a battle. If meeker personalities are brought into the
consultation loop, however, theyre often the ones who come
up with the solution that the group chooses. Consultation, Bahais agree, is a skill thats acquired
through practice and understanding its principles. New Baha'is sometimes
say they have a hard time letting go of an idea once they present
it to the group. Im still working on not owning my ideas,
one Baha'i said. After bringing up the same suggestion several times
commonly done in real-world meetings an
experienced group member gently set her straight, for which she
says shes grateful. Im happy when my ideas are part of the final decision,
but I derive deeper satisfaction when the group comes to a good
decision, regardless of whether it was mine. Source URL: http://www.bahai.us/decisions-decisions This column is written by area residents, representing different faith communities, who share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues. For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at The Independent: (505) 863-6811 ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com. |
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