Fidál, 06 Mulk (Dominion), 181 B.E.
Walking Together on a Path of Service
Quotes for Reflection:
Yet it behoveth the people of truth that the signs of humility should shine upon their faces, that the light of sanctity should radiate from their countenances, that they should walk upon the earth as though they were in the presence of God and distinguish themselves in their deeds from all the dwellers of the earth. Such must be their state that their eyes should behold the evidences of His might, their tongues and hearts make mention of His name, their feet be set towards the lands of His nearness, and their hands take fast hold upon His precepts. And were they to pass through a valley of pure gold and mines of precious silver, they should regard them as wholly unworthy of their attention. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
It behooveth the loved ones of the Lord to be the signs and tokens of His universal mercy and the embodiments of His own excelling grace. Like the sun, let them cast their rays upon garden and rubbish heap alike, and even as clouds in spring, let them shed down their rain upon flower and thorn. Let them seek but love and faithfulness, let them not follow the ways of unkindness, let their talk be confined to the secrets of friendship and of peace. Such are the attributes of the righteous, such is the distinguishing mark of those who serve His Threshold. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 2
…they should exemplify in every aspect of their lives those attributes and virtues that are born of God and should arise to distinguish themselves by their goodly behaviour. They should justify their claim to be Bahá’ís by deeds and not by name. He is a true Bahá’í who strives by day and by night to progress and advance along the path of human endeavor, whose most cherished desire is so to live and act as to enrich and illuminate the world, whose source of inspiration is the essence of Divine virtue, whose aim in life is so to conduct himself as to be the cause of infinite progress. Only when he attains unto such perfect gifts can it be said of him that he is a true Bahá’í. For in this holy Dispensation, the crowning glory of bygone ages and cycles, true Faith is no mere acknowledgement of the Unity of God, but rather the living of a life that will manifest all the perfections and virtues implied in such belief…. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 3
The educational process associated with the training institute is, of course, helping to foster the spiritual conditions to which the Guardian referred in The Advent of Divine Justice, along with the many others mentioned in the writings that must distinguish the life of the Bahá’í community—the spirit of unity that must animate the friends, the ties of love that must bind them, the firmness in the Covenant that must sustain them, and the reliance and trust they must place on the power of divine assistance, to note but a few. That such essential attributes are developed in the context of building capacity for service, in an environment that cultivates systematic action, is particularly noteworthy. In promoting this environment, the Auxiliary Board members and their assistants need to recognize the importance of two fundamental, interlocking precepts: On the one hand, the high standard of conduct inculcated by Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation can admit no compromise; it can, in no wise, be lowered, and all must fix their gaze on its lofty heights. On the other, it must be acknowledged that, as human beings, we are far from perfect; what is expected of everyone is sincere daily effort. Self-righteousness is to be eschewed. — Universal House of Justice 4
What those who act as tutors for Book 5, Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth should acknowledge is that, among the participants, there will be many youth in their late teens or early twenties that entered the main sequence of courses with the expressed desire of serving as an animator and with all the latent capacity needed to do so. Some will have come into contact with the Faith through discussions with their peers that emphasized the role they can play in educating younger generations. Others will have gone through the spiritual empowerment program themselves as junior youth and embarked on the study of Book 1, Reflections on the Life of the Spirit soon thereafter. Whatever the avenue that brought them to the institute process, they will now form part of a growing nucleus of individuals in their village or neighborhood committed to its betterment and, in this context, will be gaining experience in visiting household in order to explore with families themes central to the Faith—the act of service addressed in Book 2, Arising to Serve. As part of this nucleus, a good number of them will also be closely associated with at least one group of junior youth in the locality and will be assisting the animator in carrying out various activities and joining him or her on regular visits to parents to discuss concepts and approaches related to the program. At this point, all of them will possess considerable knowledge of the Bahá’í teachings, which will have deepened through their study of Book 3, Teaching Children’s Classes, Grade 1 and Book 4, The Twin Manifestations, and will display the skills, abilities, attitudes and spiritual qualities needed to initiate and sustain meaningful conversations with friends and neighbors. It is particularly here, when they reach Book 5, that the significance of the capacity-building process inherent in the Ruhi Institute’s main sequence of course—a process conceived in terms of walking a path of service—will become apparent. To engage a group of junior youth in a three-year program for their spiritual empowerment is a demanding act of service, and the efforts of fledgling animators to do so will rely, in no small measure, on the capacity they have steadily built on the path thus far. — Ruhi Institute Staff 5
Question for Consideration
As an aspiring tutor, given the quotes above, including those from Book 5, Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth, what are some of the attributes that will distinguish young persons who have gradually proceeded through the main sequences of courses and have now reached Book 5? 6
Perplexity Pro Response 7
The Ruhi Institute’s Book 5, Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth, marks a significant milestone for young Bahá’ís who have progressed through the main sequence of courses, embodying spiritual qualities, service orientation, and a deep understanding of Bahá’í teachings as they prepare to become animators for junior youth groups.
Spiritual Qualities of Youth
Young participants reaching Book 5 of the Ruhi Institute courses exemplify a range of spiritual qualities that distinguish them in their daily lives. These individuals radiate humility and sanctity, striving to conduct themselves as though in the presence of God [1]. They demonstrate detachment from material possessions, focusing instead on spiritual pursuits and universal love, extending kindness to all without discrimination. Their interactions are characterized by faithfulness, trustworthiness, and a commitment to fostering peace and unity within their communities [1].
Service and Community Commitment
Young participants in the Ruhi Institute courses demonstrate a profound commitment to community service as they reach Book 5. They form part of a growing nucleus dedicated to the betterment of their villages or neighborhoods, gaining valuable experience in household visits to explore central themes of the Faith [1]. Many assist animators with junior youth groups, participate in activities, and engage in discussions with parents about the program’s concepts and approaches. This hands-on involvement allows them to apply their deepening knowledge of Bahá’í teachings in practical, community-oriented ways, preparing them for the demanding yet rewarding service of animating their own junior youth groups [1].
Personal Growth and Development
Young participants in Book 5 demonstrate a commitment to continuous personal growth and development. They make sincere daily efforts to align their conduct with Bahá’í standards, while avoiding self-righteousness [1]. This process of progressive refinement is evident in their ongoing spiritual and intellectual growth as they walk the path of service. Notably, these individuals have developed the capacity for systematic action, appreciating the importance of disciplined, sustained effort in their service activities [1]. Their journey through the main sequence of courses has fostered an awareness of the profound personal and social transformation called for by Bahá’u’lláh, inspiring them to strive for excellence in all aspects of their lives.
Vision for Human Progress
Guided by a profound vision for human progress, these young individuals see their service as part of a larger effort to build a divine civilization. Their cherished desire is to live and act in ways that enrich and illuminate the world, recognizing that true faith is manifested through deeds that advance human endeavor. With a long-term perspective, they view humanity’s unification as a tangible possibility and work tirelessly towards this goal. Relying on spiritual forces and trusting in divine assistance, they approach their service with confidence, understanding that their efforts contribute to the “crowning glory of bygone ages and cycles” as described by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Citations
[1] Book 5: Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth – Ruhi Institute
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
- How can I embody the attributes of humility and sanctity in my daily life?
- What are some practical ways to distinguish myself through good deeds?
- How can I cultivate a spirit of unity and love among my peers?
- What role does service play in deepening one’s faith?
- How can I inspire others to follow the path of service and spiritual empowerment?
- Bahá’u’lláh. Gems of Divine Mysteries. Translated by Universal House of Justice. 1st ed. Haifa: Bahá’i World Centre, 2002. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gems-divine-mysteries/4#856657706 ↩
- ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Selections from the Writings of ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. Translated by Marzieh Gail. Reprint. Wilmette, Illinois: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1996, 257. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/selections-writings-abdul-baha/9#046825836. ↩
- “Bahá’í Year Book” “The Bahá’í World”, vol. 1 (New York: Bahá’í Publishing Committee, 1926), p. 12. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/compilations/excellence-all-things/3#089986755 ↩
- Universal House of Justice. “28 December 2010 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors.” Bahá’í Reference Library, Accessed February 10, 2025. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20101228_001/1#622396539. ↩
- 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, v-vi. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#JY1. ↩
- 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, 84-85. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#WLK. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “Attributes of Young Ruhi Institute Process Participants.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. February 10, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/yet-it-behoveth-the-people-of-S3UZKkVGQKaejd5G_C7bIA. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 