Round Table Discussions

+1
               [Cover Page of Booklet]
             SEVEN ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS
    
      [Title] THE DIVINE ART OF LIVING
    
    • BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF YOURSELF
    
    • A PATTERN OF LIFE THAT ELIMINATES FRUSTRATION
    
    • SOLUTIONS TO YOU HUMAN RELATION PROBLEMS
    
    • FREEDOM FROM WORRY AND FEAR
    
    • SATISFYING ANSWERS TO YOUR RELIGIOUS QUESTIONS
    
    • MORE TANGIBLE USE OF THE POWER OF GOD
    
    • A JOYOUS ATTITUDE TOWARD LIFE
    

+2
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK - BACKSIDE OF COVER PAGE.]

+3    
             Round Table Discussions
    
                   prepared by
               Marian Crist Lippitt
    
                    Based on
            THE DIVINE ART OF lIVING
                        
                 A Compilation
    
    Approved by the National Programming Committee
                       1950
               Fifth Printing, 1972

                  Printed in U.S.A.
    
               BAHA'I PUBLISHING TRUST
                  Wilmette, Illinois
                      U.S.A.

+4    
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK.] 

+5     
                Suggestions for Use of
    
               ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS
    
    THESE SEVEN ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS are prepared for 
    informal group consultation on subjects that concern 
    every human being in his struggle toward wholeness, 
    toward mature relationships with the people and the 
    world around him and toward an ever-expanding 
    realization of the spiritual potential that exists 
    within his soul. Many people approach the need for 
    spiritual enlightenment through a desire for a better 
    understanding of themselves and of the problems of daily 
    living in the modern world.The questions posed here are 
    those that confront each individual who desires a 
    fruitful, efficient expenditure of his life. The answers 
    concern the spiritual laws and principles that help to 
    achieve this.
    
    The teacher or leader of the discussion group should 
    try to keep the discussion open and free without 
    wandering too far afield, and with more emphasis placed 
    on the spiritual solutions than on the problems 
    themselves. It is often a good idea to pose the 
    question and have brief discussion of it before having 
    someone look up and read the references. If possible, 
    one lesson, or series, should be covered at a single 
    session.
    
    The material is useful for Baha'i firesides and 
    also for a Baha'i community study group.
    
                    ************* 
    

+6
    Is it not astonishing that although man has
    been created for the knowledge and love of
    God, for the virtues of the human world,for
    spirituality, heavenly illumination and life
    eternal, nevertheless he continues ignorant
    and negligent of all this? (DAL p. 99)

+7
    BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF YOURSELF
    
    Opening Prayer: "O Thou the Compassionate God! Bestow
    upon me a heart which, like unto glass, may be illumined
    with the light of Thy love." (Page 20, Sec. 14)

                                              Page      Sec.    

1. What sets the direction of a person's        24       13
   development?
    
2. Self-preservation is the first law of       119       35
    the animal nature. What will happen
    if we become dominated by it?
    
3. How is our spiritual nature stirred to       43        4
    life?
    
4. What special instructions have we for        79       14
    developing our higher nature?
    
5. What can the "meditative faculty" do         39       57
    for man?
    
6. What difference does "spiritual birth"       14        2
    make in a person?
    
7. What is your soul, and what two             123        2
    alternatives does it have?
    
8. Where does the responsibility for my         51       14
    faith in God lie?
    
9. What causes nervousness and how can it       58       14
    be avoided?
    
10. What is my duty as a seeker?                82        4
                                                     (1st para.)

11. What is the most important knowledge        99        4
     in this life?                             102       10
    

+8
12. How can one know God?                      101        7

    Closing Prayer: "O Lord, I have turned my face unto
    Thy Kingdom of oneness and am drowned in the sea of
    Thy mercy!" (Page 25, Sec. 15)
    
                         NOTES

+11    
    A PATTERN OF LIFE THAT ELIMINATES FRUSTRATION
    
    Opening Prayer: "Thou are, in truth, He Whose mercy that
    encompassed all the worlds, . . . " (Page 103, Sec. 16)

                                              Page      Sec.    
    
1. What brings us the greatest happiness        22        8
    and sense of fulfilment?
    
2. By what power can we enjoy "the ecstasies    17        9
    of the spirit" and how should we use it?
    
3. How does the soul move toward its            27        6  
   fulfilment and become effective in living?
    
4. Does the pursuit of wealth lead to           28       10
    fulfillment or frustration?
    
5. Does God forbid enjoyment of material        71        9
    things?
    
6. How shall we cope with illness?              55        6
    
7. Could good health ever be a handicap to      59       20
    worthwhile living?
    
8. Lack of opportunity for education makes      46       11
    some people feel frustrated. How can
    this be overcome?
    
9. Does living a spiritual life mean            65       17-19
    ignoring our individual talents?
    
10. Obeying God's laws interferes with my       82        1
     freedom. How can I avoid feeling
     frustrated by this?
    
11. What about humility? - doesn't this bring   84     8,10,11,15
    a sense of frustration in itself?
    

+10
12. How can we enter this unseen Kingdom        21        1
     of Heaven on earth?
    
Closing Prayer: "Lord! Pitiful are we, grant
us Thy favor . . . " (Page 61, Sec. 23)
    
                           NOTES
    

+11    
                            III

        SOLUTIONS TO YOUR HUMAN RELATIONS PROBLEMS
    
Opening Prayer: "Waft, then, unto me, O my God and my
Beloved, from the right hand of Thy mercy and 
loving-kindness, the holy breaths of Thy favors. . ."
(Page 31, Sec. 24)
    
                                               Page     Sec.    

1. The self-protective instinct makes us        120      41
    rebel against injury and injustice to
    ourselves? Is this wrong?
    
2. How should we react when others wrong          9       7
    us?                                         118     30,32
    
3. What should our attitude be toward            34     34,35
    someone we know is doing wrong?              68      31
    
4. But sometimes we would like to influence     116      24
    and help people who are doing wrong.
    Can we do this?
    
5. How should we feel and act in general        62        5
    toward other human beings?                  68       32
                                                78        7   
    
6. How can our religious faith help us in      116     22,23
    dealing with people?                       117     26,27
    
7. What new point of view in the Baha'i        110        6
    Teachings helps us to love the unlovable?
    
8. What new instructions about loving people   115       19
    help to dissolve natural hatreds?
    
9. What are the new drastic Teachings about     87     19,21
    criticizing and slandering people?          71       7
                                                    (2nd para.,
                                                     1st sent.)

10. What definite rewards are promised to       80       18
    those who are humble, generous and          86       17
    patient toward others?
    

+12
                                               Page     Sec.

11. Some people say that helping the poor       67     24,26
     only makes them more helpless. Does       119       33
     this excuse us for turning our backs
     on them?
    
12. Isn't working for the Kingdom of Heaven     62        8
    on earth a hopeless task?                   76       23
    
Closing Prayer: "O kind Lord!  Thou Who art generous
and merciful! We are the servants of Thy threshold..."
                                 (Page 120, Sec. 43)
    
                       NOTES
    

+13
            FREEDOM FROM WORRY AND FEAR
    
Opening Prayer: "Every time I lift mine eyes unto Thy
heaven, I call to mind Thy highness . . . (Page 38,Sec.53)
    
                                               Page      Sec.
    
1. How much can we depend on God for            10       13
    practical help                              11       15
                                                     (2nd para.)

2. How does prayer protect and help us?         27  
                                                     (2nd para.)
                                                26   (1st. para.)
                                                28       12

3. We don't always feel an intense              35       41
   gratitude to God. Does this matter?          36       42
    
4. Aren't we all bound to worry sometimes?      22        7

5. How can we attain faith to replace           51       15
    worry?                                      52       16
    
6. What is the first sign of faith, and         51       10
    how can our faith be increase?              52       20
    
7. When we are in trouble, what should          10     10,11
    we do?                                             12,13
    
8. Can "detachment" free us from worry          70        1
    and fear?                                   71        5
    
9. Are Baha'i's taught to pray "Thy will        88     24,25
    be done?"
    
10. Do Baha'is pray "deliver me from evil?"     94       24

11. Shall we not always have to fear           123       3,4
     death?                                    125        8

+14
                                              Page      Sec.

12. How can the love of God in our hearts      104       20
    eliminate worry and fear' 105 23
    
Closing Prayer: "Glory be to Thee, O my God! The power
of Thy might beareth me witness. . ." (Page 37, Sec. 48)
    
                              NOTES
    

+15
         SATISFYING ANSWERS TO YOUR RELIGIOUS QUESTIONS
    
Opening Prayer: "I bear witness, O my God, that Thou has
created me to know Thee and to worship Thee..."
                                      (Page 23, Sec.10)
    
                                              Page      Sec.
    
1. What do all the sacred scriptures of         23       11
    the world say is the purpose of creation?

2. What is our first and foremost obligation    82        4
    to God?                                       (1st, 2nd para.)
    
3. Why "be good?"                               18       13
                                                  (1st, 2nd para.)
    
4. What about good actions without conscious   100        5
    love of God?                               105       25

5. Who will be "saved?"                         23        9
                                               105       26
                                                84        7

6. Is faith enough to save us?                  50        7
                                                25       14
                                                    (last sen.)
    
7. Where shall we turn today for more           41       60 
    spiritual enlightenment?                   102       13 
    
8. What is the real power in philosophic        45        7
    teachings?                                      (1st. 3 para.)

9. What new explanation of "Holy Spirit"        42        1
    is given?                                   43        2 
                                                    (last 2 para.)

10. What is meant by "created in God's          23       12
     image?"

11. What new knowledge is given in the          74       17
     Baha'i Revelation about Jesus Christ?
    

+16    
                                               Page     Sec.
12. New knowledge in Baha'i Revelation
    about life after death:

      (a) What rewards are promised
          in heaven?                            122       1

      (b) Shall we meet those we love           123       5
          in the next life?                     124       6
                                                    (1st para.)
    
      (c) Is there no "hell" then? Shall        125       9
          all fare equally well in the
          hereafter?
    
      (d) Is a soul "lost" if one dies in       126      13
          a condition of sin and unbelief?
    
Closing Prayer: "O Thou forgiving Lord!. . . the ocean of
Thy forgiveness is, verily, able to redeem and make free
the sinners. . . " (Page 127, Sec. 16)
    
                      NOTES

+17    
      MORE TANGIBLE USE OF THE POWER OF GOD
    

Opening Prayer: "I give praise unto Thee, O my God, that
Thou has awakened me out of my sleep..." (Page 32, Sec. 27)

                                               Page      Sec.   
1. Is there a relation between "detachment"     16        8
    and the power of God?
    
2. How are we assured our souls may             28       10
    receive Divine power?                       67       27      

3. Do we need to make a definite effort to      28       14
   cultivate the love of God?

4. How much may we expect definite answers      31       25
   to prayer?                                      (last 3 para.)

5. What new promise is given in the Baha'i      37        5
   Revelation about using the "verses 
   revealed by God?"
    
6. How can one connect with the "Holy           46      9-13
   Spirit?"                                     75       22
    
7. Do we all have the same receptivity to       46        8
   the power of God?
    
8. What "magnets" for assurance and             51        1
   spiritual power are promised?
    
9. How can we dwell in the "presence of         71        8
   God?"                                        75       21
    
10. How does knowledge of God increase the      48        3
    thrill of acquiring virtues?
    
11. What consolation and promise does the       66      21,22
    Baha'i Revelation offer to those who            (1st para.)
    fail to gain worldly wealth?

+18
                                               Page      Sec.   
12. What are we promised as a source of         68       30
    courage and power?
    
Closing Prayer: "O my God! O my God! This, Thy servant,
hath advanced toward Thee, is passionately wandering in
the desert of Thy love, . . . (Page 105, Sec. 30)
    
                       NOTES

+19    
                            VII
    
A JOYOUS ATTITUDE TOWARD LIFE
    
Opening Prayer: "Aware as I am, O my God, that Thou wilt
send down upon Thy servants only what is Good for
them. . . "     (Page 94, Sec. 22)
                                               Page      Sec.   
1. How can one be happy in adversity?           15       6,7
    
2. What two kinds of happiness can man          17       10
   experience?                                    (1st, 2nd para.)
    
3. What is "spiritual happiness" and its        18       10
   place in life's pattern?                         (last 4 para.)

4. Is it possible to be happy in these          18       12
    days of world unrest?
    
5. Is happiness a worthwhile objective?         55        5
                                                92        8
    
6. What kind of an outlook on life produces     22        7
    a happy heart? 70
    
7. What "happens" that we can't control or      28       11
   change must be God's will for us (He         49        4
   could change it if He so willed).            71        6
   How can we accept it gracefully?
    
8. Must we undergo grief and sorrow?            30       19
                                                89        2
    
9. Can a person bring his spirit "within        45        6
   the bonds of serenity? by will power?

10. Must we accept all illness and suffering    59       19
    as punishment?                              89        1

11. What does the Baha'i Faith teach            73     13,15
    about sacrifice?                            74       16

12. Can we welcome "tests?"                     90        4
                                                91        5
                                                93       15

+20    
Closing Prayer: "I fear no tribulation in His path, nor
any affliction in my love for Him." (Page 94, sec. 23)
    
                          NOTES

+21    
            SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING

SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS. 'Abdu'l-Baha. [Section
on Origin, Powers and Conditions of Man]
    
THE REALITY OF MAN. Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha

PRESCRIPTION FOR LIVING. Ruhiyyih Rabbani [Chapters
I to VIII]
    
PORTALS TO FREEDOM. Howard Colby Ives

A NEW WAY OF LIFE (What it Means to be a
Baha'i Youth). [A compilation]
    
                   BASIC BAHA'I TEXTS
    
BAHA'U'LLAH AND THE NEW ERA. J. E. Esslemont
    
ALL THINGS MADE NEW.     John Ferraby