Daily Frameworks for 16 February 2025

Jamál, 11 Mulk (Dominion), 181 B.E.

Walking Together on a Path of Service

Quotes for Reflection:

Know thou that We have annulled the rule of the sword, as an aid to Our Cause, and substituted for it the power born of the utterance of men. Thus have We irrevocably decreed, by virtue of Our grace. Say: O people! Sow not the seeds of discord among men, and refrain from contending with your neighbor, for your Lord hath committed the world and the cities thereof to the care of the kings of the earth, and made them the emblems of His own power, by virtue of the sovereignty He hath chosen to bestow upon them. He hath refused to reserve for Himself any share whatever of this world’s dominion. To this He Who is Himself the Eternal Truth will testify. The things He hath reserved for Himself are the cities of men’s hearts, that He may cleanse them from all earthly defilements, and enable them to draw nigh unto the hallowed Spot which the hands of the infidel can never profane. Open, O people, the city of the human heart with the key of your utterance. Thus have We, according to a preordained measure, prescribed unto you your duty. — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

God has sent forth the Prophets for the purpose of quickening the soul of man into higher and divine recognitions. He has revealed the heavenly Books for this great purpose. For this the breaths of the Holy Spirit have been wafted through the gardens of human hearts, the doors of the divine Kingdom opened to mankind and the invisible inspirations sent forth from on high. This divine and ideal power has been bestowed upon man in order that he may purify himself from the imperfections of nature and uplift his soul to the realm of might and power. God has purposed that the darkness of the world of nature shall be dispelled and the imperfect attributes of the natal self be effaced in the effulgent reflection of the Sun of Truth. The mission of the Prophets of God has been to train the souls of humanity and free them from the thralldom of natural instincts and physical tendencies. They are like unto Gardeners, and the world of humanity is the field of Their cultivation, the wilderness and untrained jungle growth wherein They proceed to labor. They cause the crooked branches to become straightened, the fruitless trees to become fruitful, and gradually transform this great wild, uncultivated field into a beautiful orchard producing wonderful abundance and outcome. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ²

Not by the force of numbers, not by the mere exposition of a set of new and noble principles, not by an organized campaign of teaching—no matter how worldwide and elaborate in its character—not even by the staunchness of our faith or the exaltation of our enthusiasm, can we ultimately hope to vindicate in the eyes of a critical and sceptical age the supreme claim of the Abhá Revelation. One thing and only one thing will unfailingly and alone secure the undoubted triumph of this sacred Cause, namely, the extent to which our own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold aspects the splendor of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh. — Shoghi Effendi ³

The relationship between teaching and social and economic development needs to be considered both in terms of certain fundamental principles and in the context of the processes which characterize the growth of the Bahá’í community. You are well aware of the relevant principles, which include the following: Bahá’ís should give the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh liberally and unconditionally to humanity so that people may apply them to pressing social issues and uplift themselves materially and spiritually; in their dealings with society at large, the friends should be upright and avoid any trace of deception; social and economic development projects should not be used as an inducement to conversion; and funds from non-Bahá’ís should not be utilized for strictly Bahá’í purposes. None of these diminishes the importance of the sacred obligation to teach the Cause. Teaching should remain the dominating passion of the life of every individual believer, and growth a major concern of the Bahá’í community. — Universal House of Justice ⁴

Ultimately, the power to transform the world is effected by love, love originating from the relationship with the divine, love ablaze among members of a community, love extended without restriction to every human being. This divine love, ignited by the Word of God, is disseminated by enkindled souls through intimate conversations that create new susceptibilities in human hearts, open minds to moral persuasion, and loosen the hold of biased norms and social systems so that they can gradually take on a new form in keeping with the requirements of humanity’s age of maturity. You are channels for this divine love; let it flow through you to all who cross your path. Infuse it into every neighborhood and social space in which you move to build capacity to canalize the society-building power of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation. There can be no rest until the destined outcome is achieved. — Universal House of Justice ⁵

In the sections here, they are asked to think about how a heightened consciousness of the sacredness of this act does not merely increase the effectiveness of endeavors in the field. Rather, and more importantly, it releases the spiritual forces needed to raise such endeavors above worldly affairs, setting in motion, thereby, processes that can bring about fundamental change, both individual and collective. In Section 17 participants will spend some time examining the implications of this heightened consciousness. Among the points the tutor will want to make sure come across to them, two stand out: First, they will have to take care, lest they adopt certain mindsets which, however widespread in society, would introduce into their teaching efforts attitudes and practices that would compromise their sacred nature. The act of teaching should not be approached as though one were recruiting members for a progressive social cause, much less be conceived in terms of selling a product, no matter how beneficial to the user. Second, they should recognize that, since all their undertakings on the path of service involve bringing hearts into contact with the Word of God, these, too, are sacred in nature and should be approached with this awareness.— Ruhi Institute Staff ⁶

Question for Consideration

Based on the quotes above and from Book 6, Teaching the Cause, with particular attention to Sections 14 through 17 of the first unit, “The Spiritual Nature of Teaching,” what insights should participants gain about the implications of sacredness for the act of teaching and the power of the Word of God to transform the human heart? ⁷

Perplexity Pro Response ⁸

The sacred act of teaching the Bahá’í Faith involves connecting human hearts with the transformative power of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation, requiring a heightened spiritual consciousness and reliance on divine assistance rather than worldly tactics or personal charisma.

Sacred Nature of Teaching

Teaching in the Bahá’í Faith is viewed as a sacred act that goes beyond mere information sharing or recruitment. It involves bringing hearts into contact with the Word of God, a process that releases spiritual forces capable of effecting fundamental change in individuals and society [1]. This heightened consciousness of teaching’s sacredness elevates the endeavor above worldly affairs, setting in motion transformative processes [1]. Participants are cautioned against adopting mindsets that could compromise this sacred nature, such as approaching teaching as if recruiting for a social cause or selling a product [1]. Instead, they are encouraged to recognize that all undertakings on the path of service, by virtue of connecting hearts with divine revelation, are sacred and should be approached with reverence and spiritual awareness [1] [3].

Transformative Power of Revelation

The Word of God possesses an unparalleled capacity to transform the human heart, initiating profound changes in both individuals and society. It acts as “the supreme talisman,” ⁹ unlocking latent potential and addressing humanity’s deepest challenges [1] [2]. This transformative process begins when hearts are opened through the power of utterance, allowing divine truths to penetrate and inspire lasting spiritual and moral growth [2] [3]. Unlike human discourse, the Word of God carries a unique potency that transcends material limitations, fostering unity and uplifting souls to higher realms of understanding [2] [3].

Spiritual Qualities for Teaching

• Teaching requires the cultivation of spiritual qualities such as purity of heart, humility, detachment, and wisdom, which are essential for connecting with others and effectively conveying the Word of God [2].
  
• An enkindled heart, ablaze with divine love, naturally inspires eagerness to share the message, creating an atmosphere of sincerity and attraction [2].
  
• The harmony between one’s inner spiritual state and outward actions strengthens the authenticity of teaching efforts, ensuring they are rooted in love and devotion rather than personal ambition or material motives [2] [1].
  
• These qualities not only enhance the act of teaching but also reinforce the sacredness of all endeavors on the path of service, aligning them with the transformative purpose of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation [2].
  

Love as a Transformative Force

Divine love, ignited by the Word of God, serves as the ultimate transformative force in teaching and community building. This love, originating from a deep connection with the divine, spreads among community members and extends to all humanity without restriction. Enkindled souls disseminate this love through intimate conversations, creating new susceptibilities in human hearts and opening minds to moral persuasion. This process gradually loosens the hold of biased norms and social systems, allowing society to evolve in accordance with humanity’s age of maturity. Believers are encouraged to become channels for this divine love, infusing it into every neighborhood and social space to build capacity and harness the society-building power of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation [2].

Citations

[1] Book 6: Teaching the Cause (PDF) – Ruhi Institute

[2] Book 7: Walking Together on a Path of Service (PDF) – Ruhi Institute

[3] Book 2: Arising to Serve (PDF) – Ruhi Institute

Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity

• How can the concept of enkindlement be applied in daily teaching practices?
• What are some practical ways to cultivate a state of being that reflects the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh?
• How does the Ruhi Institute define the spiritual nature of teaching?
• What are the key qualities and attitudes essential for effective teaching according to the Ruhi Institute?
• How can participants integrate the themes from Book 6 into their ongoing service activities?

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#715034234. ↩
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, 310. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/promulgation-universal-peace/22#437467020. ↩
3. Effendi, Shoghi. Baháʾí Administration: Selected Messages, 1922-1932. 7. Ed. 1928. Reprint, Wilmette, Ill: Baháʾí Pub. Trust, 1974, 66. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/shoghi-effendi/bahai-administration/5#504771787. ↩
4. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/compilations/social-action/3#224521653. ↩
5. Universal House of Justice. “22 July 2020 – To the Bahá’ís of the United States.” Bahá’í Reference Library, Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20200722_001/1#870410259. ↩
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, vi. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#TCH. ↩
7. 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, 91-93. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#WLK. ↩
8. Perplexity Pro. “The Spiritual Nature of Teaching.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. February 14, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/know-thou-that-we-have-annulle-zPFmnmi3TKOTjyMjgQeVDA. ↩
9. “His Name is indeed the healing medicine for every illness, and imparteth warmth unto those chilled with cold. It is the sovereign remedy and the supreme talisman. It is the source of life in both worlds, and of salvation unto such as have gone astray. Today this hallowed Name serveth as a shield for all mankind, and as a veritable refuge for the children of men. It is the wondrous accent of the Lord of Mercy, and His celestial melody.”
   ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks. Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 2018. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/additional-tablets-extracts-talks/261595095/1#348591798. ↩