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Explores the application of Baha'i principles towards society building.
Society Builders pave the way
To a better world, to a better day
A united approach to building a new society.
Join the conversation
For social transformation
Society Builders.
Society Builders with your host Duane Varan.
Welcome to another exciting episode of Society
Builders – and thanks for joining the conversation
for social transformation.
We’re again pausing our discussion on the
science of depolarization today– I promise – well
I almost promise – that we’ll pick up
again on that theme in our next episode – barring
some new urgent development, of course. But
we’re pausing this discussion today because
of another exciting opportunity – and that’s
the advent of some more guidance from the
Universal House of Justice – it’s Ridvan
Message for 2024.
This comes to you HOT off the press – in
fact, it’s so hot off the press it’s still
sizzling! Tsss.
So today, we explore the Ridvan Message of
2024.
(Musical Interlude)
Now - by now, if you’ve been following this
podcast series, you know that episodes where
we can explore the guidance from the Universal
House of Justice are our most exciting episodes
– because the insights they provide us with
here gives us so much deep guidance – guidance
that we can reflect on that directly relate
to our conditions and opportunities today.
So I’m so excited to join with you today
in this journey of discovery.
And once again, I start with my standard disclaimer
here – that my views are no more meritorious
than yours. I share my reflections with absolutely no
authority and my views are not the official
views of any Baha’i agency. So with that
disclaimer let’s dive in.
Now – I think to fully appreciate the Ridvan
Message, you really need to have explored
the recent Naw Ruz Message of the Universal
House of Justice to the Baha’is in Iran.
That was the focus of our last episode. Because
that message really sets the stage for this
one – and this message really builds on
much of the foundations of that message.
So, for example, there is a reference in this
message to us being “true practioners of
peace” – and it’d be easy to read past
that reference without critical reflection.
But when you frame these words within the
context of the Naw Ruz Message, suddenly it
means something so much deeper. Like there’s
a whole system of meaning behind those words.
So if you haven’t listened to our last episode yet,
I’d encourage you to hear it – because
it will help you understand this message in
a much deeper light.
OK – by now you know that whenever I reflect
on a message from the Universal House of Justice,
the first thing I do is look for is how they analyze
the conditions of the world. I mean, this
is our crystal ball. This is the best we can get to understand what’s happening in the
world around us.
And again, if you follow this podcast, you
know that the recent messages of the Universal
House of Justice paint an incredibly dark
picture of the state of the world – a world
polarized and paralyzed, where collective
progress has seldom seemed gloomier, increasingly
frustrated by the inability of present-day
structures to meet humanity’s needs. They
describe a plethora of destructive forces
and events which have left their traces in
blood and anguish on the pages of history
and the lives of billions, a crisis that is
destabilizing and disrupting the world’s
order, with destructive results and consequent
confusion that are more apparent than any
time past. I mean DARK, right!
And in THIS message, the Universal House of
Justice really extends these brushstrokes
– further elaborating on our dark, dark
times. It’s a moment of crisis. The condition
of the world is growing MORE desperate – and
its divisions more severe. And this is having
its consequences – in despair – and conflict.
Now similar to its other recent messages,
this dark condition – these forces of disintegration
– are symbiotically tied to the countering
forces of integration – and the message
clearly focuses on our response to the pain
and suffering around us rather than on the
gloom and doom that is growing.
And here, they quote from Shoghi Effendi who
describes how "a process of 'progressive
deterioration in human affairs' is occurring
in parallel with another process, a process
of integration, through which the 'Ark of
human salvation', society’s 'ultimate
haven', is being built up."
Now this is a reference to a message from
the beloved Guardian that was written in April
of 1957, just a little over six months before
his passing. And in this passage, Shoghi Effendi
is describing the “violent derangement of
the world's equilibrium; the trembling that
will seize the limbs of mankind.” And in
this passage, the beloved Guardian goes on
to describe the response that this must evoke.
Now my personal read here is that towards
the beginning of the message the Universal
House of Justice is praising the community
for its progress over the past two years – the
community has taken the new plan to heart
– we’re seeing increased depth in our
understanding in the transition from community
to society building. So there’s a pat on
our back saying ‘good job commnity’ – but this
is where the plight of the world comes in.
It’s like we’re doing a good job, but
the world around us is growing more desperate
– its divisions more severe. And so even
though we’re doing a good job, all of this
makes new demands on us
And for me, personally, this is the main theme
of the entire message – it’s a calling
to help sensitize us to the desperate plight
of humanity so we can better understand the
growing demands this makes on us both as individuals
and as communities.
And this relates to a sentence that really
leapt out to me. Which is their calling here.
They say: “All of this points to an urgent,
inescapable conclusion: There must be a sustained,
rapid rise in the number of those committing
their time, their energy, their concentration
to the success of this work.”
And that, I think, is the calling here. For
a “sustained, rapid rise in the number of
those committing their time, their energy,
their concentration to the success of this work."
(Musical Interlude)
OK – with that bird’s eye view of the
message, let’s now dive into some of its
detail.
The second paragraph echoes a theme that they
have previously elucidated on. Our suffering
is one with humanity. We are being and will
be impacted by the forces of destruction just
like everybody else. And in fact, the point
here is not for us to try to avoid this – it’s
not about us building bunkers. It’s the
opposite. It’s about us rushing into the
field to help humanity through this critical
hour.
This is so important. It’s so powerful.
I don’t know if you remember – but in
episode 13 I shared the story of Dr. Zia Baghdadi
and the race riots in Chicago in the summer
of 1919. The Red Summer. At a time when black neighborhoods
were being burnt to the ground by white hooligans
– a time of absolute terror – where even
the police and fire departments dared not
enter – Dr. Baghdadi rushed into these black
neighborhoods bringing them food and medical
care. And that’s the image we should form
– that our times need us – and that we
need to rush to the aid of our fellow friends
and neighbors.
Yes – we are impacted by the forces of destruction
– but we understand the forces at work – so
we’re not paralyzed by them. We understand
the forces of an organic evolution that is
at work and we understand this with absolute
clarity on its direction and destiny. We have
a duty here – and it’s to provide a desperate,
suffering humanity with the ‘ultimate haven’
they need – the 'Ark of their salvation'.
They explain how even though we are affected
by the travails of society, and I quote here,
we’re:
“…not confused by them; it is saddened
by humanity’s sufferings, but not paralysed
by them. Heartfelt concern must prompt sustained
effort to build communities that offer hope
in place of despair, unity in place of conflict.”
HOPE in place of despair
UNITY in place of conflict
So here the Universal House of Justice is
helping us understand our role in this drama
playing out in the world – in this battle
between the forces of disintegration and integration.
In our need to provide humanity with the haven
they need to navigate through these difficult
times – offering hope and helping cultivate
unity.
(Musical Interlude)
Now – if that’s our role – HOW do we
do that? And here, the Universal House of
Justice reminds us that the Plan provides
us with the methods and instruments we need
– in a process that builds long-term, constructive
processes that unfold over generations.
And it’s here that they frame this as part
of the practice of peace building – and
again, this builds on their recent Naw Ruz
message which, I think, is helping steer our
society building focus to this meta-narrative
of peace building. And here, they telescope
starting with the individual and growing up
to family, neighborhood and community. They
say:
“We see it in every account of a heart being
enkindled with the love of God, a family opening
up its home to new friends, collaborators
drawing on Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings
to address a social problem, a community strengthening
a culture of mutual support, a neighbourhood
or village learning to initiate and sustain
the actions necessary for its own spiritual
and material progress, a locality being blessed
with the emergence of a new Spiritual Assembly.”
(Musical Interlude)
So we have a clear role – the Plan provides
us with our methods and instruments – but
the Universal House of Justice also provide us with our message for
humanity:
They say: “Where else but in Bahá’u’lláh’s
principle of the oneness of humankind can
the world find a vision broad enough to unite
all its diverse elements? How else but by
translating that vision into an order based
on unity in diversity can the world heal the
social fractures that divide it? Who else
can be the leaven through which the peoples
of the world can discover a new way of life,
a pathway to enduring peace?”
And they call on us to “Extend then to everyone
the hand of friendship, of common endeavour,
of shared service, of collective learning,
and advance as one.”
So let’s reflect on these
traits:
Extending the hand of friendship – around
a common endeavor, with shared service, collective
learning – and advancing as one.
WOW!
And they elaborate further on that theme of
service – helping us understand the special
joy it creates. And joy is critical to navigating
through dark times, right?
They say: “The call to service is an uplifting,
all-embracing summons. It attracts every faithful
soul, even those weighed down by cares and
obligations. For in all the ways in which
that faithful soul is occupied can be discovered
deep-rooted devotion and a lifelong concern
for the well-being of others. Such qualities
give coherence to a life of manifold demands.
And the sweetest moments of all for any enkindled
heart are those spent with spiritual sisters
and brothers, tending to a society in need
of spiritual nourishment.”
And by the way, there’s a special calling
here for our youth. They say while the entire
community must surge forward, our youth must
soar. Wow!
And they highlight some very specific qualities
that youth need to bring to this mission – immense
kindliness, courage, complete reliance on
God – all in a path for them reaching out
to their peers and inviting them to join in
our important work.
And in their close, there is a nice celebration,
I think, of our focus on training – they
say: In the Holy Shrines, with overflowing
hearts, we thank Bahá’u’lláh for having
raised you up and trained you in His ways,
and we entreat Him to send you His blessing.”
So inspiring.
(Musical interlude)
Now as always – don’t rely on this podcast
as a substitute for your own study of this
important message. My intent here is to further
stimulate your study – both individually
and as communities. I mean, the Universal House of
Justice just sent YOU a letter – this is
a letter to you - so read it – and ask yourself
how YOU want to respond to them.
It’s critical that you read this message
for yourself to understand how the message
speaks to you – and what your unique response
to it will be.
So with that thought, I leave you to reflect.
Thanks again for joining the conversation
– for social transformation.
I look forward to continuing our journey together
– next time – on Society Builders.
Society Builders pave the way to a better world – to a better day
A united approach to buil-ding – a new society
There’s a crisis facing humanity
People suffer from a lack of unity
It’s time for a better path to a new society
Join our conversation
For social transformation
Society Builders
So engage with your local communities
And explore all the exciting possibilities
We can elevate the atmosphere in which we
move
The paradigm is shifting
It is so very uplifting
It’s a new beat, a new song, a brand new
groove
Join our conversation
For social transformation
Society Builders
The Baha’i Faith has a lot to say
Helping people to discover a better way
With discourse and social action framed by
un-i-ty
Now the time has come to lift our game
And apply the teachings of the Greatest Name
And rise to meet the glory of our destiny
Join our conversation
For social transformation
Society Builders
Join our conversation
For social transformation
Society Builders