Daily Frameworks for 28 February 2025

Istiqlál, 04 Ayyám-i-Há (The Days of Há), 181 B.E

Walking Together on a Path of Service

Quotes for Reflection:

We heard that which the person in question hath mentioned regarding certain teachers of the Faith. Indeed he hath spoken truly. Some heedless souls roam the lands in the name of God, actively engaged in ruining His Cause, and call it promoting and teaching the Word of God; and this notwithstanding that the qualifications of the teachers of the Faith, like unto stars, shine resplendent throughout the heavens of the divine Tablets. Every fair-minded person testifieth and every man of insight is well aware that the One true God—exalted be His glory—hath unceasingly set forth and expounded that which will elevate the station and will exalt the rank of the children of men. — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

Whatever the nature of the cluster, it is imperative to pay close attention to children and junior youth everywhere. Concern for the moral and spiritual education of young people is asserting itself forcefully on the consciousness of humanity, and no attempt at community building can afford to ignore it. What has become especially apparent during the current Five Year Plan is the efficacy of educational programmes aimed at the spiritual empowerment of junior youth. When accompanied for three years through a programme that enhances their spiritual perception, and encouraged to enter the main sequence of institute courses at the age of fifteen, they represent a vast reservoir of energy and talent that can be devoted to the advancement of spiritual and material civilization. So impressed are we by the results already achieved, and so compelling is the need, that we will urge all National Assemblies to consider the junior youth groups formed through programmes implemented by their training institutes a fourth core activity in its own right and to promote its wide-scale multiplication. — Universal House of Justice ²

Beloved Friends: The extremes of wealth and poverty in the world are becoming ever more untenable. As inequity persists, so the established order is seen to be unsure of itself, and its values are being questioned. Whatever the tribulations that a conflicted world must confront in the future, we pray that the Almighty will help His loved ones to overcome every obstacle in their path and assist them to serve humanity. The larger the presence of a Bahá’í community in a population, the greater its responsibility to find ways of addressing the root causes of the poverty in its surroundings. Although the friends are at the early stages of learning about such work and of contributing to the related discourses, the community-building process of the Five Year Plan is creating everywhere the ideal environment in which to accrue knowledge and experience, gradually but consistently, about the higher purpose of economic activity. Against the background of the age-long work of erecting a divine civilization, may this exploration become a more pronounced feature of community life, institutional thought, and individual action in the years ahead. — Universal House of Justice ³

Question for Consideration

You are serving as a tutor in a study circle made up of young people in a village or neighborhood where the community-building process is still in its early stages. A few junior youth groups have been established and the practice of visiting homes, especially of the participants in the spiritual empowerment program, is starting to take hold. As a result, many of their families are drawn to the teachings, of the Faith. You have just finished studying Book 1: Reflections on the Life of the Spirit in a study circle of eight youth ranging in age from 16 to 19, and they are eager to seize the opportunity to visit some of these families and share prayers with them. How will you help them to do so? ⁴

Perplexity Pro Response ⁵

To assist the youth in visiting families and sharing prayers, you could take the following approach:

1. Review with the youth the importance of home visits and prayer in community building, drawing on insights from Book 1 and their experiences so far.
2. Help them prepare spiritually by encouraging daily prayer and study of the Writings, especially passages on teaching and service.
3. Practice role-playing home visits, with youth taking turns playing different roles. This will help build their confidence and skills in initiating spiritual conversations.
4. Accompany the youth on initial visits to provide support and guidance. Gradually reduce your involvement as they gain experience.
5. Encourage the youth to start with families they already know through the junior youth program, as there is an existing connection.
6. Suggest they prepare a few short prayers to share, perhaps memorizing some that are particularly meaningful to them.
7. Remind them to be humble learners, listening attentively and showing genuine interest in the families’ lives and perspectives.
8. After each visit, reflect together on what went well and what could be improved for next time. Use this as an opportunity for ongoing learning.
9. Help the youth see these visits as part of the broader process of community building, not isolated events.
10. Encourage consistency, suggesting they try to visit a few families regularly rather than many families only once.
    

By providing loving support and guidance while allowing the youth to take ownership of this service, you can help them develop the skills and confidence to contribute meaningfully to the community-building process [1] [2].

Perplexity Pro Response — Deeper Dive

The Ruhi Institute’s educational programs, designed to empower youth and adults in community-building efforts, emphasize the importance of home visits and prayer sharing as integral components of spiritual and social development. These activities, rooted in Bahá’í teachings, aim to foster meaningful connections and contribute to the gradual transformation of society.

Qualities of Faith Teachers

Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes the importance of qualified teachers in spreading the Faith, likening their attributes to stars shining in the heavens of divine Tablets [4]. He warns against those who, though claiming to promote the Word of God, may inadvertently harm the Cause through their actions. True teachers of the Faith are characterized by their ability to elevate the station and exalt the rank of humanity, as consistently expounded by God [4]. This guidance underscores the need for sincerity, wisdom, and a deep understanding of the teachings in those who undertake the responsibility of sharing the Bahá’í message with others.

Empowering Junior Youth

The spiritual empowerment of junior youth has emerged as a critical focus in community building efforts. Recognizing the vast potential of young people aged 12-15, the Universal House of Justice has emphasized the efficacy of educational programs that enhance their spiritual perception and prepare them for the main sequence of institute courses [4]. These programs, typically spanning three years, aim to cultivate a reservoir of energy and talent that can be devoted to advancing both spiritual and material civilization. Given the compelling results achieved, National Assemblies are urged to consider junior youth groups as a fourth core activity, promoting their wide-scale multiplication alongside other fundamental community practices [4].

Addressing Wealth Inequality

The Universal House of Justice highlights the growing disparity between wealth and poverty as an increasingly unsustainable global issue. As economic inequity persists, it challenges established societal values and order. Bahá’í communities are called upon to address the root causes of poverty in their surroundings, with larger communities bearing greater responsibility. The Five Year Plan’s community-building process provides an ideal environment for Bahá’ís to gain knowledge and experience about the higher purpose of economic activity. This exploration is encouraged to become a more prominent aspect of community life, institutional thought, and individual action in the coming years, contributing to the long-term goal of establishing a divine civilization [4].

Guiding Youth in Service

To support the youth in their service efforts, a tutor can employ a multi-faceted approach that combines spiritual preparation, practical skills development, and ongoing reflection. Encourage daily prayer and study of the Writings to strengthen their spiritual foundation, while also practicing role-playing scenarios to build confidence in initiating conversations [3]. Accompany the youth on initial visits, gradually reducing involvement as they gain experience, and suggest starting with families they know through the junior youth program [1]. After each visit, facilitate group reflection on successes and areas for improvement, helping the youth see these interactions as part of the broader community-building process [4]. Emphasize consistency and depth in relationships by recommending regular visits to a few families rather than sporadic interactions with many [2].

Citations

[1] Book 5: Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth – Ruhi Institute

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

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

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

Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity

• How can we ensure that the spiritual empowerment program for junior youth is effective?
• What are the key challenges in implementing the junior youth spiritual empowerment program?
• How can we measure the impact of the junior youth spiritual empowerment program?
• What role do animators play in the junior youth spiritual empowerment program?
• How can we support junior youth in their transition to becoming animators?
• What are the key strategies for guiding junior youth in service activities?
• How can junior youth be inspired to make a positive impact in their communities?
• What are the benefits of involving junior youth in service projects?
• How can junior youth be equipped with the skills needed to serve others effectively?
• What role do mentors play in the service activities of junior youth?

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, 58. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/tablets-bahaullah/3#622953728. ↩
2. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “The National Spiritual Assembly.” Bahá’í Reference Library, October 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/compilations/national-spiritual-assembly/4#387668536. ↩
3. Universal House of Justice. “1 March 2017 – To the Bahá’ís of the World.” Bahá’í Reference Library, Accessed February 26, 2025. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20170301_001/1#480412812. ↩
4. 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, 105-107. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#WLK. ↩
5. Perplexity Pro. “Tutoring Youth in Community Outreach.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. February 26, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/we-heard-that-which-the-person-Ec0UZSgpTVe4tXm33c4S6g. ↩