Daily Frameworks for 15 July 2024

Kamál, 04 Kalimát (Words), 181 B.E.

Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth

Quotes for Reflection:

By My Self! The day is approaching when We will have rolled up the world and all that is therein, and spread out a new order in its stead. He, verily, is powerful over all things. — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

THE world’s equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this most great, this new World Order. Mankind’s ordered life hath been revolutionized through the agency of this unique, this wondrous System—the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed. — Bahá’u’lláh ²

It has been prophesied that, through these twin Manifestations, the earth will become another earth; all existence will be renewed; the contingent world will be clothed with the robe of a new life; justice and righteousness will encompass the globe; hatred and enmity will disappear; whatever is the cause of division among peoples, races, and nations will be obliterated; and that which ensures unity, harmony, and concord will be promoted. The heedless will arise from their slumber; the blind will see; the deaf will hear; the dumb will speak; the sick will be healed; the dead will be quickened; and war will give way to peace. Enmity will be transmuted into love; the root causes of contention and strife will be eliminated; mankind will attain true felicity; this world will mirror forth the heavenly Kingdom; and the earth below will become the throne of the realm above. All nations will become one nation; all religions will become one religion; all mankind will become one family and one kindred; all the regions of the earth will become as one; racial, national, personal, linguistic, and political prejudices will be effaced and extinguished; and all will attain everlasting life under the shadow of the Lord of Hosts. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ³

Similarly, there are periods and stages in the life of the aggregate world of humanity, which at one time was passing through its degree of childhood, at another its time of youth but now has entered its long presaged period of maturity, the evidences of which are everywhere visible and apparent. Therefore, the requirements and conditions of former periods have changed and merged into exigencies which distinctly characterize the present age of the world of mankind. That which was applicable to human needs during the early history of the race could neither meet nor satisfy the demands of this day and period of newness and consummation. Humanity has emerged from its former degrees of limitation and preliminary training. Man must now become imbued with new virtues and powers, new moralities, new capacities. New bounties, bestowals and perfections are awaiting and already descending upon him. The gifts and graces of the period of youth, although timely and sufficient during the adolescence of the world of mankind, are now incapable of meeting the requirements of its maturity. The playthings of childhood and infancy no longer satisfy or interest the adult mind. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ⁴

Briefly, we must strive with heart and soul in order that this darkness of the contingent world may be dispelled, that the lights of the Kingdom shall shine upon all the horizons, the world of humanity become illumined, the image of God become apparent in human mirrors, the law of God be well established and that all regions of the world shall enjoy peace, comfort and composure beneath the equitable protection of God. My admonition and exhortation to you is this: Be kind to all people, love humanity, consider all mankind as your relations and servants of the most high God. Strive day and night that animosity and contention may pass away from the hearts of men, that all religions shall become reconciled and the nations love each other so that no racial, religious or political prejudice may remain and the world of humanity behold God as the beginning and end of all existence. God has created all, and all return to God. Therefore, love humanity with all your heart and soul. If you meet a poor man, assist him; if you see the sick, heal him; reassure the affrighted one, render the cowardly noble and courageous, educate the ignorant, associate with the stranger. Emulate God. Consider how kindly, how lovingly He deals with all, and follow His example. You must treat people in accordance with the divine precepts—in other words, treat them as kindly as God treats them, for this is the greatest attainment possible for the world of humanity. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ⁵

Question for Consideration

How would you describe the profound process of transformation that must occur at the level of society suggested by the quotes above? ⁶

Gemini Response:

The quotes depict a profound transformation at the societal level with several key aspects:

Global Transformation

• New World Order: Bahá’u’lláh speaks of a “new World Order” and the earth becoming “another earth.” This signifies a complete overhaul of the current social, political, and spiritual landscape.
• Global Unity: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá emphasizes that “all nations will become one nation” and “all mankind will become one family.” This signifies eradicating divisions based on race, religion, nationality, etc., leading to global unity.
  

Spiritual Renewal

• Renewal of Existence: Bahá’u’lláh describes a “renewal” of existence where the “contingent world will be clothed with the robe of a new life.” This suggests a transformation on a spiritual level.
• Universal Peace and Harmony: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá prophesies eliminating hatred, war, and division, replaced by “justice, righteousness, harmony, and concord.” This signifies a world based on peace and cooperation.
  

Human Transformation

• Evolving Needs and Capacities: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá describes humanity as entering a stage of “maturity.” This signifies a need for new virtues, moralities, and capacities to meet the demands of this new era.
• Reflecting the Divine: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states that the “image of God will become apparent in human mirrors.” This suggests a transformation in human character towards reflecting God’s qualities.
  

Overall

The transformation envisioned is all-encompassing. It involves completely restructuring the social order to usher in an era of global unity and peace. This foundation of peace would be built upon a spiritual awakening, where humanity sheds its limitations and embraces new capacities for love, justice, and service. The quotes suggest that this transformation is societal and personal, as individuals are called to embody these divine qualities.

It’s important to note that the quotes don’t specify the exact nature of this transformation or the timeline for its arrival. They offer a hopeful vision as a guiding principle for individual and collective action.

ChatGPT Response:

The quotes from Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá describe a profound and comprehensive process of societal transformation that is both revolutionary and evolutionary. This transformation encompasses spiritual, moral, social, and structural dimensions, aiming for a complete renewal of human existence and societal order. Key aspects of this process include:

Spiritual Renewal and New World Order

Bahá’u’lláh speaks of rolling up the old world and spreading out a new order, indicating a dramatic shift from existing conditions to a divinely ordained system. This new World Order is characterized by its unique and unprecedented nature, designed to restore equilibrium and bring about a harmonious global society.

Universal Justice and Unity

The transformation envisions a world where justice and righteousness encompass the globe and all forms of hatred, enmity, and division are eradicated. Unity is a central theme, with all nations becoming one, all religions uniting, and humanity forming a single family. This profound unity is not superficial but rooted in the spiritual recognition of the oneness of humanity.

Maturity of Humanity

‘Abdu’l-Bahá describes humanity as having moved from childhood and youth into a period of maturity. This maturity necessitates new virtues, moralities, and capacities fitting for the current age. The old paradigms and systems are no longer adequate, and humanity must embrace new, divinely inspired principles and practices.

Elimination of Prejudices and Strife

Eradicating racial, national, personal, linguistic, and political prejudices is critical to the transformation. This process aims to eliminate the root causes of contention and strife and replace them with love, unity, and peace. The emphasis is on fostering a global culture of understanding and cooperation.

Empowerment and Renewal

The transformation involves empowering individuals and communities with new bounties, bestowals, and perfections. It calls for an active effort to dispel darkness and illuminate the world with the light of divine guidance. This includes the spiritual awakening of the heedless, healing the sick, and revitalizing the spiritually dead.

Practical Compassion and Service

The teachings advocate practical compassion and service to humanity. This includes assisting the poor, healing the sick, reassuring the fearful, and educating the ignorant. The goal is to emulate God’s loving and kind nature, treat all people with the utmost kindness and respect, and foster an environment where all can thrive.

Divine Guidance and Equitable Protection

The transformation envisions a world where the law of God is well established, providing equitable protection and ensuring peace and comfort for all regions. This divine guidance is seen as essential for achieving the ultimate goal of a harmonious and just global society.

In summary, as the quotes suggest, the profound transformation process at the level of society involves a radical shift from existing conditions to a new, divinely inspired world order characterized by unity, justice, and love. It requires a fundamental renewal of spiritual and moral values, the elimination of prejudices, and active compassion and service to humanity. This transformation is both individual and collective, aiming to create a world that reflects divine attributes and ensures the well-being of all.

Claude Response:

The quotes you’ve shared from Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá paint a picture of a profound and all-encompassing transformation of human society and consciousness. This transformation is described as a fundamental reimagining and restructuring of the world order, affecting every aspect of human life and interaction.

Some critical elements of this transformation include:

• Global unity: The quotes suggest a move towards a unified global society, where divisions based on nationality, race, religion, and other factors dissolve. This is envisioned as “all nations will become one nation; all religions will become one religion; all mankind will become one family and one kindred.”
• Spiritual and moral renewal: There’s a strong emphasis on humanity developing new virtues, powers, and capacities. This implies a profound spiritual and ethical evolution, moving beyond the “playthings of childhood” to a more mature, compassionate, and unified way of being.
• Justice and peace: The new world order is described as one where “justice and righteousness will encompass the globe” and “war will give way to peace.” This suggests a radical shift in how societies organize themselves and resolve conflicts.
• Elimination of prejudice: A vital aspect of this transformation is the eradication of “racial, national, personal, linguistic, and political prejudices.”
• Spiritual awakening: There are references to a widespread spiritual awakening, where “the heedless will arise from their slumber; the blind will see; the deaf will hear.”
• Balance between material and spiritual: The transformation seems to encompass both the material world (“the earth below”) and the spiritual realm (“the heavenly Kingdom”), suggesting a new harmony between these aspects of existence.
• Universal love and kindness: The quotes emphasize the importance of treating humanity with love, kindness, and compassion, “as kindly as God treats them.”
• Evolutionary process: This transformation is described as part of humanity’s collective maturation, moving from stages of “childhood” and “youth” to a “long presaged period of maturity.”
  

This transformation process is portrayed as both sweeping and inevitable, driven by divine will and human effort. It’s described as a complete overhaul of existing systems and ways of thinking, requiring humanity to develop new capacities and embrace a more unified, spiritually-oriented worldview.

The transformation envisioned here is not just a superficial change in policies or structures but a fundamental shift in human consciousness and the very fabric of society. It calls for reimagining human relationships, governance, economics, and spirituality on a global scale.

Pi Response:

The quotes provided paint a vivid picture of a radical transformation in the structure of human society, driven by the advent of a new World Order. This transformation, alluded to in the Bahá’í writings, can be described as a comprehensive and far-reaching process involving the establishment of unity, justice, righteousness, and spiritual rejuvenation across the globe. Here’s a breakdown of how each quote contributes to this understanding:

• Bahá’u’lláh’s first quote speaks of the approaching day when the present world order will be rolled up and replaced with a new one. This quote highlights the magnitude of the impending change and emphasizes the divine power that will bring about this transformation.
• Bahá’u’lláh’s second quote asserts that the new World Order will revolutionize mankind’s way of life, bringing about a unique and unprecedented system that will restore balance to the world. This quote suggests that the transformation will impact all aspects of human existence, ushering in a new era of order and harmony.
• ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s first quote outlines the profound societal shifts accompanying the establishment of the new World Order. This quote envisions a future where justice, love, and unity replace division, enmity, and strife, leading to the attainment of true happiness and the reflection of the heavenly Kingdom on earth.
• ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s second quote highlights the need for humanity to embrace new virtues, capacities, and moralities to meet the demands of the new era. This quote emphasizes the individual transformation that must accompany the broader societal change, enabling humankind to embrace the bounties and perfections of the new World Order.
• ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s third quote calls for concerted efforts to dispel the darkness of the present world and facilitate the emergence of the new World Order. This quote underscores the importance of individual and collective action in fostering the envisioned transformation, ensuring that the lights of the Kingdom shine upon all horizons.
  

In summary, the quotes suggest a profound process of transformation at the societal level, leading to the establishment of a new World Order characterized by unity, justice, righteousness, and spiritual rejuvenation. This transformation will impact institutions and systems and require a change in individual hearts and minds, ultimately reflecting the divine will and purpose for humanity’s future.

1. Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library, 1935. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gleanings-writings-bahaullah/7#714275361. ↩
2. Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library, 1935. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gleanings-writings-bahaullah/4#581649978. ↩
3. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Some Answered Questions. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed July 14, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/some-answered-questions/4#456297678. ↩
4. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912. Edited by Howard MacNutt. 2nd ed. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 1982, 438-439. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/promulgation-universal-peace/32#339508741. ↩
5. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912. Edited by Howard MacNutt. 2nd ed. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 1982, 290-291. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/promulgation-universal-peace/20#288836526. ↩
6. Ruhi Institute. Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth. 2.1.21.PE July 2022. Vol. Book 5. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Foundation, 2021, 24-26. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#JY1.