Self Mastery: Key to Overcoming Prejudice and Injustice Dr. Rodney H. Clarken Northern Michigan University Presented at the Superior Counselors Meeting,

Self Mastery: Key to Overcoming

Prejudice and

Injustice Dr. Rodney H. Clarken

Northern Michigan University

Presented at the Superior Counselors Meeting, Marquette Alger Regional Education Agency, MI October 23, 2009

Adapted from ideas of William Hatcher

True loss is for him

whose days have been spent in utter ignorance of his self. (Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 156)

© Rodney H. Clarken 2009 2

Whosoever has lost himself has found the universe…

The “master key” to self-mastery is self- forgetting. ('Abdu'l-Bahá: Star of the West, Vol. XVII, no. 2, p. 348)


Life is a constant struggle,

not only against forces around us, but above all against our own "ego". (Shoghi Effendi, Principles of Bahá’í Administration, p. 87)



Self mastery

develops as we learn to delay gratification, control our impulses, strive to gain a victory over our own selves, correct our views of reality and ourselves, understand the pain and suffering we cause ourselves and others, take responsibility for our actions and fulfill our needs in a moral manner. (William Hatcher)


As we learn to satisfy

our needs in a legitimate, responsible, moral and honest manner; make more good choices; act with justice; become less biased and gain a more accurate knowledge of reality, our true happiness and autonomy increase, leading us in an upward cycle of growth. (William Hatcher)


Self mastery

Develops through authentic knowledge, altruistic love and autonomous action, and strives to increase authenticity, altruism and autonomy, which depends upon truth, unity and justice, antidotes to prejudice and injustice.

Depends primarily on our response to challenges, not the nature of the challenges themselves.


Happiness is based on self mastery.

Authentic thinking, altruistic feeling and autonomous action enable us to sacrifice lesser values for greater values which lead to happiness. As we attain greater self mastery, we are able rise above the difficult conditions that life may put before us and help create a more unified and just world.


self mastery = authenticity x altruism x autonomy = happiness


Prejudice and injustice

prej·u·dice: a preformed opinion, usually an unfavorable one, based on insufficient knowledge, irrational feelings, or inaccurate stereotypes

in·jus·tice: unfair or unjust treatment of somebody

Simple definition: unfair judgments, feelings and actions.


How do we normally respond to prejudice and injustice?


Seek revenge, get even

or use what power we can to make oppressors suffer seem the most natural and common response, both individually and collectively. It takes considerable maturity, consciousness, insight and self-control not to.


Blame others

for the problem and criticize them, but do nothing, or very little, to proactively make things better. We will forgive, if the other takes the blame. It looks to the past instead of the present or future, and is based on self and ego.


Be a victim,

do nothing, suffer in silence because one is too weak, afraid and/or lacking in knowledge or responsibility to do anything.


Act unaffected,

pretending to be untouched though we are resentful, angry or hurt. We may even fool ourselves and others about what we think and feel. This is delusion or hypocrisy, and not helpful.


Defend ourselves

or excuse our failure to respond in an appropriate way to something or someone else. We should not try to justify your bad actions on others’ or make excuses. The ends do not justify the means. Remember: A perceived or genuine threat and others’ behaviors cannot subtract or add anything from our true value.

These are the common and accepted ways we try to overcome prejudice and

injustice, but they do not work!

In trying to protect the self, they do not develop the self-

mastery needed to solve these problems.



Ultimately, only self mastery truly works.

It will take many forms, but as we move toward increased self mastery using such tools as truth, love and justice can we effectively reduce our own and others’ prejudice and injustice.


Self Mastery Skills: Knowing, Loving and Doing Capacities of Mind, Heart and Will


The person who has mastered his/her ego,

will seek the greatest good for the greatest number.

be present in service to others.

have effective and transforming influence on others and their environments.


Lack of self mastery

leads to dependencies and addictions to escape the suffering.

causes us to become prey to impulses and desires we find difficult to resist.

creates a feeling that we cannot live or be happy without our unhealthy dependencies, whether it be substances, desires or other substitutes which actually rob us of the freedom and happiness we seek.


Respond

so others may gain some insight, want to do better and make a change for the better, not to satisfy your selfish needs or desires.

to further love, justice and truth in ourselves and our relationships.


Changing behavior

We have ultimate control over our own behavior and very little control over others.

We do have power to influence others. The surest way to change a relationship is to change our behavior in that relationship.

Key to change in adults is self motivation.


This presentation was inspired by and adapted from:

Hatcher, W. (1998). Love, power and justice: The dynamics of authentic morality. Wilmette, IL: Bahá'í Publishing Trust.

Contact info: Dr. Rodney H. Clarken, School of Education, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855

Tel: 906-227-1880, Fax: 227-2764 Email: [email protected]

Website with info on courses, papers, Bahá'í, China, this and other presentations: http://www-instruct.nmu.edu/education/rclarken

Documents

Self Mastery: Key to Overcoming Prejudice and Injustice Dr. Rodney H. Clarken Northern Michigan University Presented at the Superior Counselors Meeting,