Daily Frameworks for 14 December 2024

Jalál, 04 Masáʼil (Questions), 181 B.E.

Teaching the Cause

Quotes for Reflection:

The purpose of religion as revealed from the heaven of God’s holy Will is to establish unity and concord amongst the peoples of the world; make it not the cause of dissension and strife. The religion of God and His divine law are the most potent instruments and the surest of all means for the dawning of the light of unity amongst men. The progress of the world, the development of nations, the tranquility of peoples, and the peace of all who dwell on earth are among the principles and ordinances of God. Religion bestoweth upon man the most precious of all gifts, offereth the cup of prosperity, imparteth eternal life, and showereth imperishable benefits upon mankind. It behooveth the chiefs and rulers of the world, and in particular the Trustees of God’s House of Justice, to endeavor to the utmost of their power to safeguard its position, promote its interests and exalt its station in the eyes of the world. In like manner it is incumbent upon them to inquire into the conditions of their subjects and to acquaint themselves with the affairs and activities of the divers communities in their dominions. We call upon the manifestations of the power of God—the sovereigns and rulers on earth—to bestir themselves and do all in their power that haply they may banish discord from this world and illumine it with the light of concord. — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

I am greatly pleased with these expressions of kindly feeling and evidences of spiritual susceptibility. Tonight I am very happy in the realization that our aims and purposes are the same, our desires and longings are one. This is a reflection and evidence of the oneness of the world of humanity and the intention toward accomplishment of the Most Great Peace. Therefore, we are united in will and purpose. In the world of existence there are no greater questions than these. Oneness of the world of humanity ensures the glorification of man. International peace is the assurance of the welfare of all humankind. There are no greater motives and purposes in the human soul. As we are agreed upon them, the certainty of unity and concord between Bahá’ís and Theosophists is most hopeful. Their purposes are one, their desires one, and spiritual susceptibilities are common to both. Their attention is devoted to the divine Kingdom; they partake alike of its bounty. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ²

Yet, Bahá’ís are confident that the peoples of the world can learn over time to weaken and eventually eliminate the scourge of religious prejudice. All people have the right to freedom of conscience and belief, the right to express those beliefs, and the obligation to have due regard for these same rights for others. They can then engage each other with mutual respect and find in their common values a common purpose and unity in action that contribute to the building of a better world. The Bahá’í community, for its own part, strives to foster patterns of tolerance, cooperation, and fellowship in a number of ways — Universal House of Justice ³

On several occasions we have indicated that the aim of the series of global Plans that will carry the Bahá’í world to the celebration of the centenary of the Faith’s Formative Age in 2021 will be achieved through marked progress in the activity and development of the individual believer, of the institutions, and of the community. At this, the midway point of what will be a quarter of a century of consistent, focused exertion, the evidences of increased capacity are everywhere apparent. Of particular significance is the widening impact of the dynamism flowing from the interactions between the three participants in the Plan. Institutions, from the national to the local level, see with ever greater clarity how to create conditions conducive to the expression of the spiritual energies of a growing number of believers in pursuit of a common goal. The community is serving more and more as that environment in which individual effort and collective action, mediated by the institute, can complement each other in order to achieve progress. The vibrancy it manifests and the unity of purpose that animates its endeavours are drawing into its swelling ranks those from every walk of life eager to dedicate their time and energies to the welfare of humanity. That the doors of the community are more widely open for any receptive soul to enter and receive sustenance from Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation is clear. No greater testament is there to the efficacy of the interactions among the Plan’s three participants than the dramatic acceleration in the tempo of teaching that was witnessed this past year. The advance made in the process of entry by troops was significant indeed. — Universal House of Justice ⁴

The community, as distinguished from the individual and the institutions, assumes its own character and identity as it grows in size. This is a necessary development to which much attention is required both with respect to places where large-scale enrollment has occurred and in anticipation of more numerous instances of entry by troops. A community is of course more than the sum of its membership; it is a comprehensive unit of civilization composed of individuals, families and institutions that are originators and encouragers of systems, agencies and organizations working together with a common purpose for the welfare of people both within and beyond its own borders; it is a composition of diverse, interacting participants that are achieving unity in an unremitting quest for spiritual and social progress. Since Bahá’ís everywhere are at the very beginning of the process of community building, enormous effort must be devoted to the tasks at hand. — Universal House of Justice ⁵

Question for Consideration

What common purpose held by individual Bahá’ís helps them demonstrate the power of unity within their communities and through the institutions of the Faith? ⁶

Perplexity Pro Response ⁷

The Bahá’í Faith emphasizes a common purpose among its adherents: the pursuit of unity and the welfare of humanity. This shared goal manifests in various ways, from establishing concord among peoples to fostering spiritual and social progress, ultimately demonstrating the power of unity within Bahá’í communities and through their institutions.

Unity as a Core Principle

Unity stands as a fundamental principle in the Bahá’í Faith, serving as both a goal and a means to achieve spiritual and social transformation. Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Faith, emphasized that the purpose of religion is “to establish unity and concord amongst the peoples of the world; make it not the cause of dissension and strife.” This core belief motivates Bahá’ís to actively work towards fostering harmony and cooperation within their communities and beyond. By focusing on this shared objective, individual believers contribute to a vibrant community that attracts people from diverse backgrounds, all united in their dedication to the welfare of humanity.

Promoting Peace and Fellowship

Bahá’ís actively work towards promoting peace and fellowship on both local and global scales. Their efforts are guided by the belief that international peace is essential for the welfare of all humankind, and that there are “no greater motives and purposes in the human soul” than these. To achieve this, Bahá’ís strive to:

• Foster patterns of tolerance, cooperation, and fellowship
• Uphold the right to freedom of conscience and belief for all people
• Engage with others respectfully to find common values and purpose
• Contribute to building a better world through unity in action
  

These endeavors reflect the Bahá’í commitment to weakening and eventually eliminating religious prejudice, while creating an environment where diverse individuals can work together towards shared goals. By focusing on these objectives, Bahá’ís demonstrate the power of unity and its potential to transform society.

Spiritual and Social Progress

The Bahá’í community is characterized as a comprehensive unit of civilization, composed of individuals, families, and institutions working in harmony for the betterment of society. This collective pursuit of spiritual and social progress strengthens their unity of purpose and demonstrates the power of cohesive action. Bahá’í institutions, from national to local levels, play a crucial role in creating conditions that foster the expression of spiritual energies among believers. This institutional support reinforces community unity and facilitates:

• The development of systems and agencies for social welfare
• Collaboration on initiatives that benefit both Bahá’ís and the wider population
• An environment where individual effort and collective action complement each other
• The attraction of people from diverse backgrounds to contribute to humanity’s welfare
  

Through these efforts, Bahá’ís strive to build vibrant communities that serve as models of unity and social progress, demonstrating the transformative power of their faith’s principles in action.

Accelerating Community Growth

The process of “entry by troops” unites Bahá’ís in their efforts to accelerate community growth, as evidenced by the dramatic increase in teaching tempo witnessed in recent years. This collective endeavor involves:

• Creating an environment that welcomes and sustains new members
• Utilizing the dynamism flowing from interactions between individuals, institutions, and the community
• Implementing a series of global Plans aimed at marked progress in individual and collective development
• Fostering a community that serves as a nurturing environment for complementary individual and collective action
  

These concerted efforts have resulted in a significant advance in the Bahá’í community’s growth, demonstrating the power of unity in action and the effectiveness of their shared purpose in expanding the Faith’s reach and impact.

By focusing on these shared objectives, individual Bahá’ís contribute to a vibrant community that manifests unity of purpose and attracts people from all walks of life who are eager to dedicate their time and energies to the welfare of humanity. This common purpose not only strengthens the Bahá’í community internally but also demonstrates the power of unity to the wider world.

Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity

• How do Bahá’ís embody the principle of unity in their daily lives?
• What role do Bahá’í institutions play in fostering unity among members?
• How do Bahá’ís demonstrate unity in times of crisis?
• What are some examples of Bahá’ís working together for a common goal? How does the Bahá’í Faith promote unity among people of different backgrounds?
• How do Bahá’ís ensure the inclusivity of new members in their growing communities?
• What strategies do Bahá’ís use to promote mutual respect among different belief systems?
• How does the Bahá’í community address and resolve internal conflicts?
• What are the key elements that contribute to the vibrancy of Bahá’í communities?
• How do Bahá’ís balance individual efforts with collective action in community growth?

1. Bahá’u’lláh. Tablets of Baháʾ’u’ʾlláh, Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Translated by Habib Taherzadeh. 1st ed. Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1978, 129-130. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/tablets-bahaullah/4#694735299. ↩
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, 156. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/promulgation-universal-peace/12#760155138. ↩
3. Universal House of Justice. “27 December 2017 – [To an individual].” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20171227_001/1#553896781. ↩
4. Universal House of Justice. “Riḍván 2008 – To the Bahá’ís of the World.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20080421_001/1#590707757. ↩
5. Universal House of Justice. “Riḍván 153 – To the Bahá’ís of the World.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/19960421_001/1#663057184. ↩
6. 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, 127-128. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#TCH. ↩
7. Perplexity Pro. “What common purpose held by individual Bahá’ís helps them demonstrate the power of unity within their communities and through the institutions of the Faith?” Edited by Steve Bosserman. December 12, 2024. https://www.perplexity.ai/page/common-purpose-of-baha-is-s_e3jjUWTpaxDdusJfR3Fg. ↩