Re: Top down views
Alan Alexander-manif (alanam@sage.cc.purdue.edu)
Wed, Nov 30 1994 15:24:15 GMT
I have often found that what I need is the exact opposite of what I
think I need. In your case, Mark, you are looking for a top-down
view of reality to put everything in its place, and to make sense of
all the little things that you see and experience.
In my own life, whenever I have had the desire for that top-down,
overall view of reality, my situation has turned out to be much more
simple than I make it out to be. What is really going on (again, this
is my experience, and it may not be yours) is that one or two things
in my reality don't seem to fit into my world-view. Perhaps I read in
the Writings that evil does not exist, but some specific thing seems
to me to be evil. Maybe I read that Baha'u'llah has all the answers,
but some of the answers don't seem to fit. In these cases, I think I
need a higher view, so I can explain these things to myself. I want
to see how it all fits together, so I can verify if I really believe
in it or not.
But, of course, that higher view doesn't really come to me just because
I ask for it. Instead, I eventually begin to examine in greater depth
the specific thing that is bothering me. I may study the Writings, I
may talk to other people, I may read related non-Baha'i literature, I
may try some experiments, etc. I end up (usually accidentally, I
might point out) immersing myself in study of the problem area. When I
have finished this process, I always come out with an expanded vision,
and a better understanding of the universe (i.e. a higher view). I
would rather have such a view handed to me, but it seems much more
likely that this hard and dirty method of tackling my doubts and
difficulties head-on is much more effective in opening up my vision,
and taking me to higher ground.
I will repeat that this may not be applicable to your situation, but it
has worked several times for me. Good luck in your searching.
--Alan Alexander-Manifold
Lafayette, Indiana USA
alanam@sage.cc.purdue.edu