Daily Frameworks for 23 July 2024

Fidál, 12 Kalimát (Words), 181 B.E.

Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth

Quotes for Reflection:

HE Who is the Eternal Truth hath, from the Dayspring of Glory, directed His eyes towards the people of Bahá, and is addressing them in these words: “Address yourselves to the promotion of the well-being and tranquillity of the children of men. Bend your minds and wills to the education of the peoples and kindreds of the earth, that haply the dissensions that divide it may, through the power of the Most Great Name, be blotted out from its face, and all mankind become the upholders of one Order, and the inhabitants of one City. Illumine and hallow your hearts; let them not be profaned by the thorns of hate or the thistles of malice. Ye dwell in one world, and have been created through the operation of one Will. Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love.” — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

Bahá’u’lláh has announced that inasmuch as ignorance and lack of education are barriers of separation among mankind, all must receive training and instruction. Through this provision the lack of mutual understanding will be remedied and the unity of mankind furthered and advanced. Universal education is a universal law. It is, therefore, incumbent upon every father to teach and instruct his children according to his possibilities. If he is unable to educate them, the body politic, the representative of the people, must provide the means for their education. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ²

The cause of universal education, which has already enlisted in its service an army of dedicated people from every faith and nation, deserves the utmost support that the governments of the world can lend it. For ignorance is indisputably the principal reason for the decline and fall of peoples and the perpetuation of prejudice. No nation can achieve success unless education is accorded all its citizens. Lack of resources limits the ability of many nations to fulfill this necessity, imposing a certain ordering of priorities. The decision-making agencies involved would do well to consider giving first priority to the education of women and girls, since it is through educated mothers that the benefits of knowledge can be most effectively and rapidly diffused throughout society. In keeping with the requirements of the times, consideration should also be given to teaching the concept of world citizenship as part of the standard education of every child. — Universal House of Justice ³

Question for Consideration

What insights do the quotes above give us about how governments must dedicate the resources needed to create the best programs possible for schools that are training the minds of our future leaders? ⁴

Gemini Response:

The quotes from Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and the Universal House of Justice offer several insights on the importance of government investment in education:

Universal Education for Unity

• Promoting Harmony: Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes addressing humanity’s “well-being and tranquillity” and eliminating “dissensions.” Education is seen as a tool to foster understanding and promote a unified world.
• Breaking Down Barriers: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sees “ignorance and lack of education” as barriers between people. Education is seen as a way to break down these barriers and achieve unity.
• World Citizenship: The Universal House of Justice calls for teaching “world citizenship” as part of education, emphasizing the interconnectedness of humanity.
  

Investment in Education

• Shared Responsibility: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá emphasizes that both fathers and “the body politic” have a role in education. This suggests a shared responsibility between individuals and governments.
• Government Support: The Universal House of Justice urges governments to lend “utmost support” to universal education. This suggests that education is a public good that requires government investment.
• Prioritizing Education: They acknowledge limited resources but emphasize education as a key to success for nations. This suggests that education should be a high priority for government spending.
  

Focus on Women and Girls

• Educated Mothers, Educated Society: The Universal House of Justice calls for prioritizing the education of women and girls, recognizing their role in transmitting knowledge throughout society.
  

Overall

The quotes advocate for governments’ strong commitment to investing in education. Education is seen as essential not just for individual development but also for building a peaceful and unified world. Investments in education are investments in the future and lay the foundation for a better world by promoting understanding, breaking down barriers, and fostering global citizenship.

ChatGPT Response:

The quotes from Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and the Universal House of Justice emphasize several vital insights regarding the imperative for governments to dedicate resources to education:

Promotion of Universal Well-being and Unity

Bahá’u’lláh highlights the importance of promoting the well-being and tranquility of all people, emphasizing that education is a means to eliminate dissension and unify mankind. This underscores the role of education in fostering global peace and cooperation.

Universal Education as a Fundamental Requirement

‘Abdu’l-Bahá states that ignorance and lack of education are significant barriers to human unity. He calls for universal education, indicating that it is the responsibility of both parents and society to ensure that all children receive an education. This view supports the idea that governments should provide access to education for all citizens, regardless of their socio-economic status.

Government Responsibility and Priority Setting

The Universal House of Justice asserts that ignorance leads to the decline of nations and perpetuates prejudice, making education essential for national success. It argues that governments should prioritize education, especially for women and girls, to maximize the societal benefits of knowledge. This implies that governmental policies and resources should be strategically directed toward creating and enhancing educational programs.

Education as a Foundation for Future Leadership

The quotes collectively suggest that education is not just about individual advancement but about preparing future leaders who will uphold and promote unity, peace, and progress. Education is thus portrayed as an investment in society’s future stability and prosperity.

Moral and Ethical Dimensions of Education

The emphasis on teaching with “utmost kindliness and love” and the call to “illumine and hallow your hearts” indicate that education should also nurture moral and ethical values. This broader vision of education implies that programs should go beyond academic instruction to include character development and social responsibility.

Global Perspective and World Citizenship

Teaching the concept of world citizenship as part of standard education reflects the need to prepare students to be active and responsible members of the global community. This aligns with the goal of fostering a sense of shared humanity and collective responsibility among future leaders.

Overall, these insights highlight the critical role of governments in ensuring comprehensive, inclusive, and values-based education systems. By dedicating resources to creating the best possible educational programs, governments can cultivate informed, ethical, and united future leaders capable of addressing global challenges and advancing the well-being of all people.

Claude Response:

These quotes provide several key insights regarding the importance of governments dedicating resources to education:

• Universal education as a foundation for unity: Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes that education is crucial for overcoming divisions and fostering unity among people. This suggests that governments should view education not just as an individual benefit but as a means to create social cohesion and global understanding.
• Education as a universal right and responsibility: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá presents education as a “universal law” and states that if parents cannot provide education, it becomes the responsibility of the “body politic” or government. This implies that governments must ensure universal access to education.
• Education as a key to national success: The Universal House of Justice quote directly states, “No nation can achieve success unless education is accorded all its citizens.” This underscores the critical role of education in national development and progress.
• Prioritizing women’s education: The emphasis on educating women and girls to spread knowledge throughout society effectively suggests that governments should consider gender equity in their educational programs and resource allocation.
• Global citizenship education: The recommendation to teach world citizenship reflects the need for educational programs that prepare students for an increasingly interconnected world. This suggests that governments should incorporate global perspectives and cross-cultural understanding into curricula.
• Education as a tool for overcoming prejudice: By highlighting education’s role in combating ignorance and prejudice, these quotes imply that governments should design educational programs that promote critical thinking, empathy, and open-mindedness.
• Holistic approach to education: The quotes suggest that education should go beyond academic knowledge to include moral and social development, encouraging governments to create comprehensive educational programs.
• Long-term investment: By framing education as essential for the “promotion of the well-being and tranquillity of the children of men” and for national success, these quotes imply that governments should view education spending as a crucial long-term investment in their country’s future.
  

These insights collectively emphasize that governments are vital in prioritizing and resourcing inclusive, forward-thinking education systems aligned with national and global needs. They suggest that well-designed and adequately funded educational programs are essential for developing future leaders who can navigate complex global challenges and promote unity and progress.

Pi Response:

The quotes provided emphasize the importance of education in fostering unity, understanding, and the well-being of humanity. They highlight the responsibility of governments and society to ensure that quality education is accessible to all, with a particular focus on the education of girls and women. Here’s a summary of the key themes found in these quotes:

• Education as a means for unity: Bahá’u’lláh calls upon people to dedicate themselves to promoting the education and well-being of others to erase divisions and create a unified world order. By fostering a spirit of kindness, love, and understanding, we can overcome the barriers that separate us and work towards a more harmonious and interconnected global society.
• Universal education as a fundamental right: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asserts that ignorance and lack of education create divisions among people and that universal education is essential for the progress and unity of mankind. It is the responsibility of parents and, where necessary, governments to ensure that all individuals have access to education.
• Investment in education for the future: The Universal House of Justice underscores the importance of education in preventing societies’ decline and overcoming prejudice. It urges governments to prioritize education, including the allocation of resources. Furthermore, it suggests that prioritizing the education of girls and women will have a multiplier effect on disseminating knowledge. Moreover, the concept of world citizenship should be integrated into the curriculum to promote global understanding and unity.
  

In summary, these quotes provide insights into education’s crucial role in shaping future leaders’ minds and creating a more unified and prosperous world. By investing in quality education, particularly for girls and women, and prioritizing the teaching of concepts such as world citizenship, governments can raise up capable, knowledgeable, and compassionate leaders who will work for the betterment of society.

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/8#648789190. ↩
2. ’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, 300. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/promulgation-universal-peace/21#759129181. ↩
3. Universal House of Justice. “October 1985 – To the Peoples of the World.” Bahá’í Reference Library, Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/19851001_001/1#108290894. ↩
4. 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, 27, 29. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#JY1.