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Purpose

To introduce the idea that each of us carries burdens around with us each day.  Just like the rocks, these negative behaviors weigh us down tremendously, but with prayer and effort "every soul may lay down its burden of sin".

Materials

Rocks affixed with labels.   Before the study circle, create some labels with negative behaviors and attitudes such as:  estrangement, apathy, dissension, strife, prejudice, superiority, anger, back-biting, etc.  Affix each label to a decent sized rock-one that has a bit of weight.  Place the rocks in a bag that can be passed around in the group.

Time Period

15 minutes

Steps

1.  Before the study circle, create some labels with negative behaviors and attitudes such as:  estrangement, apathy, dissension, strife, prejudice, superiority, anger, back-biting, etc.  Affix each label to a decent sized rock-one that has a bit of weight.  Place the rocks in a bag that can be passed around in the group.

2.  Stand in a circle, and hand the bag around.  It should be heavy enough to make the point without causing physical injury.   If there are smaller participants, help them and please make sure no one drops the bag on toes!  Ask the group to describe how it would feel to have to carry this bag around all the time.   Take the bag around, and ask each person to take out a rock.  Go around the circle and have each person read the label on their rock.   Introduce the idea that each of us carries these kinds of burdens around with us each day.  Just like the rocks, these negative behaviors weigh us down tremendously. 

3.  Now, pass the empty bag around again.  Describe what it would feel like to carry an empty bag of burdens each day.   Go around the circle with the bag and collect these burdens.  Ask the group to consider how wonderful it is when we can lay these burdens down-how much lighter our souls are!  Perhaps you could finish the exercise with this prayer from the Master:

"Thou seest me, O my God, bowed down in lowliness, humbling myself before Thy commandments, submitting to Thy sovereignty, trembling at the might of Thy dominion, fleeing from Thy wrath, entreating Thy grace, relying upon Thy forgiveness, shaking with awe at Thy fury.  I implore Thee with a throbbing heart, with streaming tears and a yearning soul, and in complete detachment from all things, to make Thy lovers as rays of light across Thy realms, and to aid Thy chosen servants to exalt Thy Word, that their faces may turn beauteous and bright with splendor, that their hearts may be filled with mysteries, and that every soul may lay down its burden of sin.  Guard them then from the aggressor, from him who hath become a shameless and blasphemous doer of wrong."  -- Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Adbu'l-Baha, p. 224