Kamál, 03 Sulṭán (Sovereignty), 181 B.E.
Walking Together on a Path of Service
Quotes for Reflection
Gather ye together with the utmost joy and fellowship and recite the verses revealed by the merciful Lord. By so doing the doors to true knowledge will be opened to your inner beings, and ye will then feel your souls endowed with steadfastness and your hearts filled with radiant joy. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
There is nothing sweeter in the world of existence than prayer. Man must live in a state of prayer. The most blessed condition is the condition of prayer and supplication. Prayers is conversation with God. The greatest attainment or the sweetest state is none other than conversation with God. It creates spirituality, creates mindfulness, and celestial feelings, begets new attractions of the Kingdom and engenders the susceptibilities of the higher intelligence. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 2
In various parts of the world, special endeavors to increase the number of devotional meetings often begin with encouraging believers inspired by their institute course on spiritual life to undertake such meetings on their own. Another approach that has resulted in an expansion in number previously not contemplated has been to hold devotional gatherings in the homes of non-Bahá’ís, who sometimes organize the meetings themselves. Employing this arrangement over a six-month period, the believers in Malaysia were able to increase tenfold the devotional meetings in their advanced clusters and the level of participation by 40 percent. — Universal House of Justice 3
The second unit in the book is concerned, like the first, with a habit essential to spiritual life: praying regularly. It makes explicit in the opening section the concept of “path of service,” suggesting that, to walk this path, we must be imbued with a twofold purpose. Participants examine an initial set of quotations that offer insight into the nature of this purpose, a theme that will be elaborated in future courses.
Against the backdrop of this theme the unit takes up its exploration of the significance of prayer. It adopts an approach similar to the one described in the preceding paragraphs. Questions and exercises are formulated so as to advance understanding of the meaning of passages from the Writings being studied. As the group progresses through the unit, the tutor may be required to dissipate doubts by analyzing notions rooted in interpretations and practices of the past. In some traditions, ritual and form have gradually overshadowed the importance of inner state, and so many ignore the necessity of prayer which, for the human soul, is no less crucial than is food in nourishing the body.
Above all, then, the unit aspires to awaken in participants the desire to “converse with God” and to draw near to Him. Among the ideas addressed are what it means to enter into a state of prayer, the posture of our hearts and minds when we do so, and the conditions that should be created in our surroundings, whether we are alone or in a gathering, Indeed, after giving some thought to the forces generated through communal worship, participants are asked to consider hosting a gathering for prayer and devotions. — Ruhi Institute Staff 4
Question for Consideration
It is hoped that, upon completing Unit 2, “Prayer,” in Book 1 Reflections on the Life of the Spirit, participants will exert effort towards the enrichment of the devotional character of their community. What series of small actions can participants take to apply their acquired knowledge in their lives and the life of their community and also provide a foundation for future acts of service they will be asked to undertake? 5
Perplexity Pro Response 6
The Bahá’í Faith emphasizes the profound importance of prayer and devotional gatherings in spiritual life, encouraging believers to cultivate a habit of regular prayer and to create spaces for communal worship. This practice is seen as essential for personal spiritual growth and community transformation, with the Ruhi Institute’s educational materials providing guidance on deepening one’s understanding and application of prayer in daily life and service to others.
Significance of Prayer in Bahá’í Faith
Prayer holds a central place in the Bahá’í Faith, described as “conversation with God” and “the sweetest state” in existence [1]. It is viewed as a transformative practice that nurtures spirituality, mindfulness, and celestial feelings, while also fostering new attractions to the divine realm and enhancing higher intelligence [1]. Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes that reciting revealed verses with joy and fellowship opens the doors to true knowledge, endowing souls with steadfastness and hearts with radiant joy. The Ruhi Institute’s educational materials, particularly Unit 2 of Book 1, aim to awaken in participants a deep desire to draw near to God through prayer, addressing concepts such as entering a state of prayer, the proper posture of heart and mind, and creating conducive conditions for both individual and communal worship [1].
Hosting Devotional Gatherings
Hosting devotional gatherings in one’s home is a powerful way to enrich the spiritual life of a community. This practice has shown remarkable results, as evidenced by the experience in Malaysia where believers increased devotional meetings tenfold and participation by 40% over a six-month period by holding gatherings in non-Bahá’ís’ homes [1]. These intimate settings create a welcoming atmosphere for prayer and reflection, allowing both Bahá’ís and their friends to experience the transformative power of collective worship. Participants are encouraged to start small, inviting close friends and family, and gradually expand to include neighbors and other community members, fostering a sense of unity and spiritual connection.
Fostering Community Devotional Spirit
Fostering a vibrant devotional spirit within the community involves a series of small, consistent actions that participants can undertake after completing Unit 2 on Prayer. These include establishing a daily prayer routine, memorizing prayers from the Bahá’í Writings, and keeping a prayer journal for spiritual reflection. Participants are encouraged to:
- Host regular devotional gatherings, starting small and gradually expanding
- Actively participate in community prayer activities
- Share prayers with friends and coworkers, especially during difficult times
- Teach children simple prayers and help them understand their importance
- Incorporate prayer into service activities and children’s classes
- Offer to pray with non-Bahá’ís in their homes, following the successful Malaysian example [1] [3].
These actions not only enrich the devotional character of the community but also lay a foundation for future acts of service, aligning with the concept of the “path of service” and its twofold purpose of personal spiritual growth and societal transformation [2].
Integrating Prayer with Service
Prayer and service are intricately linked in the Bahá’í approach to spiritual growth and community development. By beginning each service activity with prayer, individuals set the right spiritual tone and seek divine assistance for their endeavors [1]. This practice not only enhances the quality of service but also deepens one’s understanding of the spiritual nature of work. Participants are encouraged to:
- Use prayer as a means to reflect on and improve their service to humanity
- Teach children and youth to associate prayer with acts of service
- Incorporate devotional gatherings into community service projects
- Share prayers that inspire social action and unity with fellow volunteers
By integrating prayer with service, participants cultivate a more profound sense of purpose and connection to their community, embodying the Bahá’í principle of work performed in the spirit of service as worship [2] [3].
Citations:
[1] Book 1: Reflections on the Life of the Spirit (PDF) – Ruhi Institute
[2] Book 2: Arising to Serve (PDF) – Ruhi Institute
[3] Book 6: Teaching the Cause (PDF) – Ruhi Institute
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
- How can we create a conducive environment for devotional meetings?
- What are some practical steps to increase the number of devotional meetings in our community?
- How does prayer contribute to spiritual growth and mindfulness?
- What are the benefits of holding devotional gatherings in non-Bahá’í homes?
- How can we encourage more people to participate in devotional meetings?
- How can prayer be integrated into community service projects?
- What are some examples of prayers that inspire service to others?
- How can we use prayer to foster a sense of unity among volunteers?
- What role does prayer play in the lives of service-oriented individuals?
- How can we create a service project that is also a form of prayer?
- Bahá’u’lláh, The Báb, ’Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and Universal House of Justice. “Prayer and Devotional Life: A Compilation of Extracts from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá and the Letters of Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice.” Bahá’í Reference Library, February 2019. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/compilations/prayer-devotional-life/8#082871469. ↩
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. “Star of the West”, vol. 8, no. 4 (17 May 1917), p. 41. http://starofthewest.info. ↩
- Universal House of Justice. Turning Point: Selected Messages of the Universal House of Justice and Supplementary Material, 1996–2006. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/turning-point/14#403815094. ↩
- Ruhi Institute. Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. 4.1.2.PE May 2020. Vol. Book 1. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Institute, 2020, vii. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS. ↩
- Ruhi Institute. Walking Together on a Path of Service. 2.1.1.PE February 2024. Vol. Book 7. 14 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Foundation, 2024, 63-65. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#WLK. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “Enriching Community Devotional Life” Edited by Steve Bosserman. January 18, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/gather-ye-together-with-the-ut-nWJoxFzwRx.zUN4s4OZinQ. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 