Daily Lessons Received at ‘Akká, January 1908/Meetings
MEETINGS
[edit]We asked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá about our meetings, how they should be conducted, and we told Him we opened our services by saying the Greatest Name nine times in silence. He replied, “That is very good, that is right, for it brings those present into harmony.”
Then He said The Hidden Words should be read and often the “Tajallíyát”—the Five Holy Tablets—that this was important. The Hidden Words are words of counsel, and the “Tajallíyát” are words of instruction, and a preparation for the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Besides these, other Tablets should be read.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá said that discussions and personal opinions expressed had caused inharmony and should be avoided, but that some speaking, such as accounts of the Visit by returning pilgrims, etc., always done in love, would be advisable because it was both developing and profitable. In general, it is best that speaking be not confined to one, that the appearance of leadership may be avoided.
“The object of the meetings is to produce harmony and happiness.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá highly approved of our dividing into groups for the purpose of answering questions and giving explanations after the service, at teatime. We told Him that the believers took charge of the meetings in turn and that the reading was done in turn, and He also approved of this.