Attaining the Dynamics of Growth
1. part of the document Attaining the Dynamics of Growth
Here you can download document Building Momentum
Here you can download letter from ITC from February 2000
Here you can download letter from ITC from 28 November 2004
Reflections on Growth, selection from part 16
Australia
It all happened about four years ago. It was a sunny Saturday morning and I had an appointment to have my hair colored. I was sitting next to a lady whose slant on life was so refreshing and uplifting that I became stirred with spirit. And so began my journey to Bahá’u’lláh and the Faith.
As a consequence of this meeting (and a few delicious morning teas with other friends), I was invited to participate in a study circle. I was not sure what all this meant but found the idea captivating.
My new friends introduced me to religious concepts I had not been exposed to before. The freedom to comment in a safe environment was encouraged and valued and this premise was the beginning of my awakening.
Through the continued exposure to the Words of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, my knowledge of other world faiths and their evolution began to fall into place. This was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to me, as these were in fact the questions I had been asking all my life. Finally I was in an environment which not only had the knowledge I sought but also those who were equipped to discuss and answer all my enquiries.
The regular exposure to the prayers began to enrich and change my life. The weekly passages and their translations were of a constant amazement to me and I began to notice a shift in my approach to relationships, work, my life, and my actions. The group not only filled in the gaps but offered a deepening of my spirit through the dynamics of discussion. This could not have been achieved alone. I have studied distance education for seven years and can speak from experience. There just isn’t the same deepening, which is required to obtain the full riches of the Faith, by doing the study alone! The excellence of ideas put forward in the study group, the enthusiasm behind each answer or enquiry, was in itself an acceleration of my spiritual growth and provided me with plenty to contemplate and meditate on until I was to meet my group again the next week.
One of the things which amazed me was the friends I was meeting through the study circle. These were people I would call “evolved.” I was amazed that finally after all this time on the planet I had met like-minded people who were prepared to discuss subjects I had only idealized about.
As an outcome of studying Book 1, I was able to hold my first devotional meeting. I was unsure what this devotional was about but was given some supportive ideas. The wonderful thing about the devotional process was that it gave me the opportunity to invite people to my home who were curious about the changes they had seen in me and were interested in meeting my new friends.
I found that this raised interest and I was able to arrange for a few people to partake in Book 1—Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. This allowed me to share and support their spiritual journey as well as enjoy the progress of us all working together.
New Believers Becoming Active Servants of the Cause. We should never underestimate the capacity of new believers to take up the tasks of expansion and consolidation as soon as they enroll. In fact, many seekers are motivated to carry out activities when they are in study circles and often these acts of service lead them to greater conviction and to a declaration of faith.
India
One of the visitors to the House of Worship near New Delhi became very interested in studying the Faith because of his visit to the Information Center on the grounds of the House of Worship. He and one of his friends began to regularly attend a study circle at 7:00 in the morning when they finished working the night shift. After completing that book, both seekers declared and went on to complete Ruhi Institute Book 2.
After completing the second course, the new believer pledged to teach one person a day; but as soon as he made this resolution, his work took him away to another place for some months and he was unable to fulfill his pledge. When he returned home, he was determined to make up for lost time and began to visit three or four of his friends a day in order to teach them the Faith. In one month’s time he carried out 90 home visits. His devoted teaching work led 16 of his friends to embrace the Cause. Using what he has learned through the institute process, he continues to visit these new believers and accompanies them to the House of Worship for dawn prayers. He is also trying to engage them all in the sequence of courses.
France
The story below brilliantly illustrates the spiritual power and influence of young children when they accept and serve Bahá’u’lláh.
Luc, a very cute, blue-eyed French boy, has been my son’s best friend since we moved to our town five years ago. Luc is now 10 years old. I decided to organize a children’s class at our home. Luc’s parents defined themselves as atheists but when I proposed that Luc join the class, they fully agreed. Little by little, the parents noticed Luc was changing; he was more polite, calmer and very keen on reciting prayers. After a few months, his mother Anne told us he had a question she could not answer and suggested he ask me. He looked very serious. I could never imagine what his question might be: “Tell me Roxana, how could I be a Bahá’í?”
It was one of the best days of my life! His beautiful eyes were shining and he was anxiously waiting for my answer. So I started explaining to him what it meant to be a Bahá’í, what it implied, and that his parents should know about his decision. His mother asserted that she totally agreed with his decision because her son had never been as happy as he was since he had met the Bahá’í Faith! And that she would even bring him to the Feasts and fetch him back.
From that time, we all considered him as a member of our community. Little by little, Anne was transformed too; she bought a picture of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and put it in her living room. She completed Book 1, organized a prayer meeting at her home, stated she believed in God, and recited Bahá’í prayers every day. The first word she taught her baby girl was: “Alláh-u-Abhá!” Then, she helped me with children classes, studied Book 3, and felt she could be a teacher on her own.
Last Naw-Rúz, two years after Luc’s declaration, Anne accepted the Faith during a children’s class. Her son loudly reacted: “Oh! Thank God, at last you’ve declared!” She always says he is the one who brought her to faith and to the Faith.
His mother’s declaration helped Luc to gain a stronger Bahá’í identity. The next day he told his friends at school he was a Bahá’í and wanted to wear the Greatest Name. “This sign will always protect me,” he told them.
Anne has been appointed as my assistant. I have tried my best to accompany her in her understanding of the Plan and in her activities. Her specific task is to follow up children’s classes.
Last week, Luc organized with the help of his mother a prayer meeting at his home for the children of both Bahá’í classes. About 12 of them attended it. They all went back home with a copy of the prayers and a written explanation of progressive revelation. As it was Ayyám-i-Há, Luc told his mother that they should go to visit his great-grandmother who is in a home for the aged and do a prayer meeting for her.I can confirm that Anne and Luc are among the most active Bahá’ís in the cluster. Now Anne is accompanying other Bahá’ís to organize their own neighborhood classes. Last week, her husband asked her about all her activities. She simply explained to him that Bahá’ís have a plan with four specific activities to spiritualize humanity. He said “OK, go on. I’m proud of you and Luc!”