Editing Abdul Baha?

[Wombat]

Here is a quote from Abdul Baha on the conditions and requisites of true consultation. It is a very common quote often found in compilations on consultation-

“...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 non-existent, that gathering shall be dispersed and that assembly be brought to naught. The second condition: They must when coming together turn their faces to the Kingdom on High....”
http://bahai-library.com/compilations/consultation.html#II

Here is the rarely seen original unedited version. Please note the second condition is fundamentally different from that of the edited version.
“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. The second condition is that the members of the assembly should unitedly elect a chairman and lay down guide-lines and by-laws for their meetings and discussions. The chairman should have charge of such rules and regulations and protect and enforce them; the other members should be submissive, and refrain from conversing on superfluous and extraneous matters. They must, when coming together,turn their faces to the Kingdom on high...”

http://onebahai.blogspot.com/2010/04/consultation.html#ixzz14Foko6sw

The unedited original instructs and empowers LSA’s to “lay down guide-lines and by-laws for their meetings and discussions.” This would enable LSA’s to create procedures and processes in accord with local customs, culture and needs. With this instruction from the Master each LSA would be entitled to devise and implement those procedures/” rules and regulations” that facilitate the fair and effective operation of the LSA. Without this instruction the passage reads as if both the first and second conditions of consultation are ‘love/unity’....and this is clearly not what Abdul Baha was saying.

Not seeking debate on any issue.

Asking the questions-

1/ Who is entitled to edit the words of Abdul Baha and abrogate any “conditions” opportunities or obligations he articulates?

2/ What are the implications for the effective functioning of LSA’s/Communities if Abdul Baha’s words are edited/omitted and the clear meaning/intent of his utterance is thereby changed ?

 

[arthra]

A "blog" is propably not a good "source" from which to compare.. What you need is a source as close as possible to an original text..

Looking into this you have a Tablet of Abdul-Baha that states:

The first condition is absolute love and harmony amongst the members of the assembly. They must be 88 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. The second condition is that the members of the assembly should unitedly elect a chairman and lay down guide-lines and by-laws for their meetings and discussions. The chairman should have charge of such rules and regulations and protect and enforce them; the other members should be submissive, and refrain from conversing on superfluous and extraneous matters. They must, when coming together, turn their faces to the Kingdom on high and ask aid from the Realm of Glory. 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, nay, he must with moderation set forth the truth, and should differences of opinion arise a majority of voices must prevail, and all must obey and submit to the majority. It is again not permitted that any one of the honoured members object to or censure, whether in or out of the meeting, any decision arrived at previously, though that decision be not right, for such criticism would prevent any decision from being enforced. 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.... .

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 87

If you check in the back of the book it states Shoghi Effendi translated the "whole section" which in this case is section 45.

If you'll look carefully at the citation of the first quote it says:

Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in a letter dated 5 March 1922 written by Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada, published in "Bahá'í Administration: Selected Messages 1922-1932", pp. 22-23)

So the entire text may not be included as it's in a letter by Shoghi Effendi..

Who is entitled to edit?

Shoghi Effendi...

Who is entitled to interpret?

Shoghi Effendi..

 

[Wombat]

A "blog" is propably not a good "source" from which to compare.. What you need is a source as close as possible to an original text....

Well,that is, in part, the problem I am pointing out. The first (edited) version is commonplace in Baha'i literature and publications. The second (unedited) original version is much harder to find and usualy only apears in unoficial and obscure places like blogs

If you'll look carefully at the citation of the first quote it says:
Abdu'l-Bahá, cited in a letter dated 5 March 1922 written by Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada, published in "Bahá'í Administration: Selected Messages 1922-1932", pp. 22-23)
So the entire text may not be included as it's in a letter by Shoghi Effendi....

Sooooooo....the edited section may have been left out for brevity?

Ommited accidentaly in transposition?

Edited specificaly in that instance only in relation to those to whom it is adressed?

Is there any comentary or explanation as to why the original second condition was edited out?

The reason I ask is that the edited second condition is an important and empowering instruction to developing LSA's-
"The second condition is that the members of the assembly should unitedly elect a chairman and lay down guide-lines and by-laws for their meetings and discussions. The chairman should have charge of such rules and regulations and protect and enforce them; the other members should be submissive, and refrain from conversing on superfluous and extraneous matters."

If such an instruction remains unabrogated the LSA's are entitled and obliged to devise (in accord with the writings) those "guide-lines and by-laws" "rules and regulations " that meet specific local needs and cultures.

In the absence of the second condition described LSA's are restricted in their development.

Was it Shogi Efendi's intent that LSA's no longer be instructed and empowered by Abdul Baha's second condition?

 

[BruceDLimber]

If I'm reading Art correctly, then the part YOU, Wombat, say is "rarely seen" is in fact present in Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and is thus seen very frequently--indeed, by anyone who reads this book (as many of us do)!

Peace,

Bruce

 

[arthra]

Rod..

I have a suggestion:

Why not write the Research Dept. at the World Centre?

 

[Wombat]

Rod..

I have a suggestion:

Why not write the Research Dept. at the World Centre?

Tried that, through channels.

No response.

Perhaps it's the shunning thing? ;-)

Thanks anyway.