’Idál, 01 Masáʼil (Questions), 181 B.E.
Teaching the Cause
Quotes for Reflection:
MY God, my Well-Beloved! No place is there for any one to flee to when once Thy laws have been sent down, and no refuge can be found by any soul after the revelation of Thy commandments. Thou hast inspired the Pen with the mysteries of Thine eternity, and bidden it teach man that which he knoweth not, and caused him to partake of the living waters of truth from the cup of Thy Revelation and Thine inspiration. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
A visit to a home should be seen as one element of a coherent pattern of action that seeks to enable specific populations to contribute to the construction of the society envisioned by Bahá’u’lláh. At the heart of the matter, then, is how a campaign of teaching the Faith by visiting homes relates to the other activities being undertaken in a neighbourhood—how it relates to the efforts to hold meetings that strengthen the devotional character of the wider community, to offer classes that foster the spiritual development of children, to form groups that channel the energies of junior youth, to establish circles of study, open to all, that enable people of varied backgrounds to advance on equal footing and explore the application of teachings to their individual and collective lives. — Universal House of Justice 2
Meanwhile, the Area Teaching Committee is rising to a new level of functioning. It is engaged in a more thorough reading of circumstances in the whole cluster: on the one hand, accurately assessing the capacities of the community and the effects being produced by sustained growth, and on the other, understanding the implications of various social realities for community building in the long term. In the plans it makes each cycle, the Committee relies heavily on those shouldering the greatest share of the work of expansion and consolidation, but given that the number of those connected in some way with the pattern of activity is now large, a variety of questions become more pressing: how to mobilize the entire company of believers in support of teaching goals; how to organize systematic home visits to the friends who would benefit from deepening and discussions that connect them with the community; how to strengthen spiritual bonds with the parents of children and junior youth; how to build on the interest of those who have shown goodwill towards the Faith but have yet to take part in its activities. Promoting the widespread holding of devotional meetings is another concern, so that hundreds of people, eventually thousands, are engaged in worship in the company of their households and their neighbours. Ultimately, of course, the Committee looks to continually extend the reach of the community’s endeavours so that more and more souls become acquainted with the message of Bahá’u’lláh. In managing the complexities involved in its own work—which includes gathering and analysing statistical data, as well as a diversity of other tasks—the Committee draws on the help of individuals beyond its own members. These complexities also require increasingly close collaboration with Local Spiritual Assemblies. — Universal House of Justice 3
On several occasions we have made reference to the coherence that is brought to the process of growth through the establishment of study circles, devotional meetings and children’s classes. The steady multiplication of core activities, propelled by the training institute, creates a sustainable pattern of expansion and consolidation that is at once structured and organic. As seekers join these activities and declare their faith, individual and collective teaching endeavors gather momentum. Through the effort made to ensure that a percentage of the new believers enroll in the institute courses, the pool of human resources required to carry out the work of the Faith swells. When strenuously pursued in a cluster, all of this activity eventually brings about conditions favorable for launching an intensive program of growth. — Universal House of Justice 4
Question for Consideration
What is a “process of growth” in the Bahá’í Faith and how can one participate? 5
Perplexity Pro Response 6
The “process of growth” in the Bahá’í Faith is a systematic approach to community development and spiritual transformation, characterized by core activities, cycles of expansion and consolidation, and defined milestones. Individuals can participate in this process through various means, including attending study circles, facilitating children’s classes, and engaging in community service projects.
Growth Process Core Activities
At the heart of the Bahá’í growth process are four core activities that form the foundation of community building efforts:
- Study Circles: Collaborative learning environments for spiritual and moral education
- Children’s Classes: Nurturing the spiritual development of young minds
- Junior Youth Groups: Empowering adolescents to serve their communities
- Devotional gatherings: Spaces for collective worship and reflection
These activities, open to all regardless of religious background, create a sustainable pattern of expansion and consolidation that is both structured and organic [3]. As participation in these core activities multiplies, it creates favorable conditions for launching intensive programs of growth within a cluster [2].
Growth Process Phases and Milestones
The growth process in the Bahá’í Faith unfolds through cycles of expansion and consolidation, marked by distinct milestones. Expansion phases focus on teaching projects and inviting new participants, while consolidation phases aim to deepen understanding and integrate newcomers into community life [3] The Universal House of Justice has outlined three key milestones:
- First Milestone: Establishment of a regular program of growth with core activities
- Second Milestone: A steady stream of individuals moving through institute courses and engaging in corresponding activities
- Third Milestone: Multiplication of core activities and participants, with the community sustaining growth through its own human resources [5]
These milestones represent progressive stages in a cluster’s development, reflecting increased capacity for systematic application of Bahá’í teachings and community-building efforts [1] [5].
Role of the Training Institute
The training institute plays a pivotal role in the Bahá’í process of growth by offering a sequence of courses designed to develop the capacity of individuals to serve their communities. This educational system propels the steady multiplication of core activities and creates a sustainable pattern of expansion and consolidation [3]. As seekers join these activities and declare their faith, both individual and collective teaching endeavors gather momentum, swelling the pool of human resources required to carry out the work of the Faith [3].
Ways to Participate
Individuals can actively contribute to the Bahá’í process of growth through various means:
- Engaging in home visits to foster spiritual conversations with neighbors and friends [2]
- Serving as facilitators for study circles or children’s classes after completing appropriate training
- Initiating or participating in small-scale social action projects addressing local community needs
- Attending regular reflection meetings to assess progress and plan future growth activities [2]
- Strengthening personal devotional life through prayer, study of Bahá’í writings, and participation in Holy Days and Feasts
These activities not only support community development but also foster individual spiritual growth, creating a dynamic interplay between personal transformation and collective progress [4].
By engaging in these activities, individuals contribute to the organic growth of their communities while also fostering their own spiritual development [6] [8].
Citations
[1] The Pathway to the first, second, and third milestones
[2] The Growth and Spread of the Bahá’í Faith
[3] Programme of growth – Bahaipedia
[4] Overview of Bahá’í Development Activities – Uplifting Words
[5] Milestones of growth – Bahaipedia
[6] Spiritual growth – Bahaipedia
[7] Community building – Bahaipedia
[8] Building Community – Love in Action
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
- How can I get involved in a local Bahá’í community?
- What are the main milestones in the process of growth in the Bahá’í Faith?
- What activities are typically included in an intensive programme of growth?
- How does the Bahá’í Faith measure the success of its growth programmes?
- What role do study circles play in the Bahá’í process of growth?
- How can I get involved in home visits and deepening discussions?
- What are some ways to strengthen spiritual bonds with parents and junior youth?
- How can I contribute to the organization of devotional meetings in my community?
- What steps can I take to mobilize believers in support of teaching goals?
- How can I help promote the holding of devotional meetings in my neighborhood?
- Bahá’u’lláh. Prayers and Meditations by Baháʼuʼlláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. 1938. Reprint, Wilmette, IL: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1974, 197. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/prayers-meditations/5#342040110. ↩
- Universal House of Justice. “28 December 2008 – To a National Spiritual Assembly.” Messages from the Baha’i World Centre. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://messagesbahaiworldcentre.blogspot.com/2009/03/28-december-2008-universal-house-of.html. ↩
- Universal House of Justice. “29 December 2015 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20160420_001/1#468691680. ↩
- Universal House of Justice. “27 December 2005 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20051227_001/1#138047142. ↩
- 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, 121-122. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#TCH. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “What is a “process of growth” in the Bahá’í Faith and how can one participate?” Edited by Steve Bosserman. December 9, 2024. https://www.perplexity.ai/page/what-is-a-process-of-growth-in-Ei2v4djzROCDpo89eT1MEg. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 