Daily Frameworks for 09 October 2024

’Idál, 14 Mas͟híyyat (Will), 181 B.E.

Teaching the Cause

Quotes for Reflection:

Say: This is the sealed and mystic Scroll, the repository of God’s irrevocable Decree, bearing the words which the Finger of Holiness hath traced, that lay wrapt within the veil of impenetrable mystery, and hath now been sent down as a token of the grace of Him Who is the Almighty, the Ancient of Days. In it have We decreed the destinies of all the dwellers of the earth and the denizens of heaven, and written down the knowledge of all things from first to last. Nothing whatsoever can escape or frustrate Him, whether created in the past or to be created in the future, could ye but perceive it. — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Look Thou upon this wronged one, who hath been sorely afflicted by the oppressors among Thy creatures and the infidels among Thine enemies, though he himself hath refused to breathe a single breath but by Thy leave and at Thy bidding. I lay asleep on my couch, O my God, when lo, the gentle winds of Thy grace and Thy loving-kindness passed over me, and wakened me through the power of Thy sovereignty and Thy gifts, and bade me arise before Thy servants, and speak forth Thy praise, and glorify Thy word. Thereupon most of Thy people reviled me. I swear by Thy glory, O my God! I never thought that they would show forth such deeds, aware as I am that Thou hast Thyself announced this Revelation unto them in the Scrolls of Thy commandment and the Tablets of Thy decree, and hast covenanted with them concerning this youth in every word sent down by Thee unto Thy creatures and Thy people. — Bahá’u’lláh ²

O friends! Be not careless of the virtues with which ye have been endowed, neither be neglectful of your high destiny. Suffer not your labors to be wasted through the vain imaginations which certain hearts have devised. Ye are the stars of the heaven of understanding, the breeze that stirreth at the break of day, the soft-flowing waters upon which must depend the very life of all men, the letters inscribed upon His sacred scroll. With the utmost unity, and in a spirit of perfect fellowship, exert yourselves, that ye may be enabled to achieve that which beseemeth this Day of God. Verily I say, strife and dissension, and whatsoever the mind of man abhorreth are entirely unworthy of his station. Center your energies in the propagation of the Faith of God. Whoso is worthy of so high a calling, let him arise and promote it. Whoso is unable, it is his duty to appoint him who will, in his stead, proclaim this Revelation, whose power hath caused the foundations of the mightiest structures to quake, every mountain to be crushed into dust, and every soul to be dumbfounded. Should the greatness of this Day be revealed in its fullness, every man would forsake a myriad lives in his longing to partake, though it be for one moment, of its great glory—how much more this world and its corruptible treasures! — Bahá’u’lláh ³

Ye are the dawning-places of the Will of God and the daysprings of His Cause, the embodiments of His command and the sources of His might. Ye are the storehouses of His knowledge and the treasuries of His secrets, the repositories of His decree and the exponents of His behest. Ye are the pearls of the ocean of His generosity and the gems of the mines of His munificence, the suns of the firmament of His grace and the moons of the heaven of His bounty. Through you the banner “He, verily, is God” was hoisted upon the earth and every stranger came to recognize his ultimate goal and his true abode. — ’Abdu’l-Bahá ⁴

Question for Consideration

How does the scroll of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation—a repository of God’s decree and commandments—apply to teaching the Cause? ⁵

Gemini Response:

The scroll of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation is a blueprint for teaching the Cause of God, providing guidance and inspiration for those who wish to share the message. Here’s how it applies:

Divine Guidance

• Source of Wisdom: The Revelation is a source of divine wisdom and guidance for teaching the Cause.
• Clarity and Understanding: It provides clear guidance and understanding of the fundamental principles and teachings of the Faith.
  

Spiritual Empowerment

• Divine Inspiration: Studying and reflecting on the Revelation can lead to spiritual inspiration and empowerment.
• Strength and Courage: It can provide the strength and courage needed to overcome challenges and persevere in teaching the Cause.
  

Effective Teaching

• Guidance and Direction: The Revelation offers guidance on how to teach the Cause effectively, including the importance of clarity, compassion, and persuasion.
• Examples and Models: The lives of Bahá’u’lláh and His followers provide examples and models for teaching the Cause.
  

Unity and Harmony

• Common Ground: The Revelation provides a common ground for all believers, fostering unity and harmony.
• Shared Purpose: It inspires a shared sense of purpose and mission among those who teach the Cause.
  

Transformation

• Personal Transformation: Studying and teaching the Revelation can lead to personal spiritual transformation.
• Societal Transformation: The Revelation offers a vision for a transformed society and inspires individuals to work towards that goal.
  

In conclusion, the scroll of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation is essential for teaching the Cause of God. It provides guidance, inspiration, and a clear understanding of the divine message, empowering individuals to effectively share the Faith with others and contribute to the betterment of the world.

ChatGPT Response:

The scrolls and writings of Bahá’u’lláh represent the revealed Word of God and contain His divine commandments, knowledge, and guidance. Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation is depicted as a “sealed and mystic Scroll” in which the destinies and the knowledge of all things are inscribed. It serves as a central source of spiritual authority and guidance for Bahá’ís and contains the essence of God’s will for humanity.

When teaching the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, these sacred writings underscore several key concepts that can guide the efforts of Bahá’ís:

• Authority and Certainty: The scroll symbolizes the divine authority and certitude of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings. It is the Word of God made manifest and, as such, carries the power to transform hearts and minds. Those engaged in teaching the Faith can have complete confidence in the authenticity and potency of these teachings, knowing that they are proclaiming a message that has been divinely ordained.
• Destiny and Purpose: The passage mentions that the scroll contains the destinies of all people, which signifies that every individual has a unique purpose and role in fulfilling God’s plan. Teaching the Faith, therefore, is not merely sharing information but helping people recognize and align with their spiritual destiny and true purpose, as articulated in Bahá’u’lláh’s writings.
• Moral and Spiritual Excellence: Bahá’u’lláh exhorts His followers to avoid carelessness and vain imaginings and to focus on their high destiny and endowed virtues. This means that when teaching the Cause, Bahá’ís should first embody the teachings in their own lives by cultivating spiritual qualities such as love, unity, integrity, and humility. The success of teaching efforts is closely tied to the personal conduct and character of those who promote the Faith.
• Unity and Fellowship: The scroll’s contents also emphasize unity and fellowship among the believers. Bahá’ís are encouraged to avoid strife and dissension and demonstrate a spirit of perfect fellowship when teaching. This is crucial because the message of Bahá’u’lláh calls for the unification of all people, and how it is taught should reflect that unity.
• Proclamation and Propagation: Bahá’u’lláh’s statement about focusing energies on propagating the Faith suggests that teaching is an essential and ongoing responsibility for every believer. The potency of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation is such that it can transform entire civilizations. Therefore, the teaching effort should be pursued with enthusiasm, dedication, and faith, trusting that it is a divinely guided process.
• Manifestation of God’s Will: Abdu’l-Bahá describes believers as “the dawning places of the Will of God” and the “day springs of His Cause.” This illustrates that believers become channels through which divine guidance and decree are expressed. In teaching, this means that they must view themselves as instruments through which Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings can reach others, helping to fulfill the divine plan for humanity.
  

Thus, the scroll of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation applies to teaching the Cause by:

• Providing believers with the certainty and authority of God’s Word.
• Directing them to recognize the spiritual destinies of individuals.
• Encouraging moral and spiritual transformation.
• Fostering unity and fellowship in their efforts.
• Urging the propagation of the Faith with zeal and dedication.
• Empowering believers to be the vessels of God’s will in their interactions with others.
  

Essentially, the “scroll” is a source of guidance and a covenant that Bahá’ís are called to uphold through their actions, service, and teaching of the Faith.

Claude Response:

The passages you’ve shared from Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are profoundly spiritual and symbolic, emphasizing the importance of the Bahá’í revelation and the role of its followers in spreading its message. Regarding how the scroll of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation applies to teaching the Cause, we can draw several essential points:

• Divine Authority: The “sealed and mystic Scroll” contains “God’s irrevocable Decree,” suggesting that the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh are viewed as having divine authority. This implies that those teaching the Cause should approach it with reverence and conviction in its divine origin.
• Comprehensive Knowledge: The scroll contains “the knowledge of all things from first to last,” indicating that the Bahá’í teachings are comprehensive and applicable to all aspects of life. Therefore, teachers of the Cause might strive to show how these teachings can address various human concerns and societal issues.
• Awakening and Transformation: Bahá’u’lláh describes being awakened by the “gentle winds of Thy grace” to “arise before Thy servants, and speak forth Thy praise.” This suggests that teaching the Cause involves a personal spiritual awakening and a call to action.
• Perseverance in the Face of Opposition: The passages acknowledge that spreading the message may face opposition or misunderstanding. Teachers are encouraged to persevere despite potential challenges.
• Unity and Fellowship: There’s a strong emphasis on unity and avoiding discord. The passage advises followers to work “With the utmost unity, and in a spirit of perfect fellowship,” suggesting that teaching should be done in harmony and collaboration.
• Personal Transformation: Followers are described as “stars of the heaven of understanding” and “letters inscribed upon His sacred scroll.” This implies that effective teaching involves embodying the teachings in one’s life.
• Urgency and Dedication: The text speaks of the power of Revelation to shake foundations and crush mountains, urging followers to recognize the importance of their task. It suggests that teaching should be approached with dedication and a sense of its profound significance.
• Universal Scope: The followers are described as making “every stranger came to recognize his ultimate goal and his true abode,” suggesting that the teaching efforts should be inclusive and aimed at reaching all humanity.
• Spiritual Qualities: The passages emphasize virtues and high destiny, indicating that those teaching the Cause should strive to develop and exemplify spiritual qualities.
• Focus on Propagation: The clear call is to “Center your energies in the propagation of the Faith of God,” making teaching a central duty of the followers.
  

In essence, these passages suggest that teaching the Bahá’í Cause is viewed as a divinely ordained mission, requiring personal transformation, unity among believers, perseverance, and a recognition of the message’s profound nature. The “scroll” metaphor emphasizes the completeness and authority of the revelation, which should inform how it is taught and shared with others.

Pi Response:

The scroll of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation, as the repository of God’s decree and commandments, holds profound significance for teaching the Cause of God. This divinely inspired guidance can be applied to teaching the Cause in several ways:

• Source of Guidance and Inspiration: Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation contains teachings that guide those who teach the Faith. These sacred verses offer spiritual nourishment, inspiration, and a roadmap for effectively sharing the Message of God with others.
• Foundational Knowledge: The scroll of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation encompasses the fundamental principles and truths of the Bahá’í Faith. Immersing oneself in these teachings can help one acquire a deeper understanding of the Faith’s core tenets, enhancing one’s ability to convey its message to others.
• Fulfilling One’s Sacred Duty: Bahá’u’lláh has entrusted each believer with the sacred duty of teaching His Cause. Studying and internalizing the guidance enshrined in His Revelation empowers individuals to carry out this responsibility with greater conviction and effectiveness.
• Power of Utterance: As emphasized in the passages, Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation is imbued with transformative power. By speaking forth the divinely revealed words and sharing them with others, one can tap into this spiritual potency to touch hearts, inspire minds, and bring about positive change in the world.
• Transcending Personal Limitations: Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation challenges believers to rise above their limitations and dedicate themselves to serving humanity. In teaching, this involves setting aside one’s comfort and preferences to share the divine message with others, drawing upon the spiritual resources and wisdom in Bahá’u’lláh’s words.
  

In summary, the scroll of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation is an invaluable resource for teaching the Cause, providing divine guidance, inspiration, and transformative power to those seeking to share its life-giving Message with others. By immersing oneself in its teachings and striving to embody its principles, Bahá’ís can more effectively fulfill their sacred duty of propagating the Faith and contributing to the spiritual transformation of the world.

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#939275228. ↩
2. Bahá’u’lláh. Prayers and Meditations by Baháʼuʼlláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. 1938. Reprint, Wilmette, IL: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1974, 306. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/prayers-meditations/7#471678327. ↩
3. 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/5#039491767. ↩
4. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks. Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 2018. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/additional-tablets-extracts-from-tablets-revealed-bahaullah/090248430/1#078869098. ↩
5. Ruhi Institute. Teaching the Cause. 2.1.1.PE April 2023. Vol. Book 6. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Foundation, 2023, 15-16. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#TCH.