mastery

Shoghi Effendi did not just have a strong control over the languages he spoke, he mastered them.

I think we neglect part of our intellectual development when we don't seek to expand our knowledge of communication.

It's like playing an instrument (as described by Ruhhiyyih Khanoum). Imagine that you can only play in one key. The diveristy with which you can compose, and the varigated nature of your melodies suffer when you only allow yourself to have a very limited range. As musicians, we must seek to continually develop our capabilities in order to explore this means of expression. and if we operate within such a small range, this causes individual words that are often used to explode with more and more connotations, double and triple meanings, increasing confusion.

as humans, i think one of the main aspects of the purpose of our existence is to form connections - to build those bonds of fellowship. we attempt this through a variety of mediums, all for the purpose of sharing our own perceptions of reality. everyone's orientation is different...we are all standing on the same peice of land, but the topographical maps that we are all looking at to guide us along in this plane of existence are all different.

if we strive to multiply our modes of expression, and to create increasing levels of complexity within these modes, the likelihood of being able to understand each other likewise increases exponentially i think - we generate within ourselves more creativity and ability, and it gives us flexibility.

so, as red grammer says "use a word!", but each time, please, let's make it a different one :)