Daily Frameworks for 29 June 2025

Jamál, 07 Raḥmat (Mercy), 182 B.E.

Social Action: The Nature of Bahá’í Social and Economic Development

Quotes for Reflection:

“Regard the world as the human body,” wrote Bahá’u’lláh to Queen Victoria…. In the human body, every cell, every organ, every nerve has its part to play. When all do so the body is healthy, vigorous, radiant, ready for every call made upon it. No cell, however humble, lives apart from the body, whether in serving it or receiving from it. This is true of the body of mankind in which God has “endowed each and all with talents and faculties”, and is supremely true of the body of the Bahá’í world community, for this body is already an organism, united in its aspirations, unified in its methods, seeking assistance and confirmation from the same Source, and illumined with the conscious knowledge of its unity. Therefore, in this organic, divinely guided, blessed, and illumined body the participation of every believer is of the utmost importance, and is a source of power and vitality as yet unknown to us….
The real secret of universal participation lies in the Master’s oft expressed wish that the friends should love each other, constantly encourage each other, work together, be as one soul in one body, and in so doing become a true, organic, healthy body animated and illumined by the spirit. In such a body all will receive spiritual health and vitality from the organism itself, and the most perfect flowers and fruits will be brought forth. — Universal House of Justice ^{1 2}

Question for Consideration

How does Bahá’u’lláh’s analogy “regard the world as the human body” relate to the concept of universal participation?

Perplexity Pro Response ³

Bahá’u’lláh’s analogy, “regard the world as the human body,” provides a profound framework for understanding the concept of universal participation, both within the Bahá’í community and in the broader vision for humanity.

The Analogy Explained

In this analogy, Bahá’u’lláh likens humanity to a human body, where every cell, organ, and nerve has a distinct role, and the health of the whole depends on the proper functioning and cooperation of all its parts. No cell lives in isolation; each both serves and is served by the body, and the well-being of one is inseparable from the well-being of all [1].

Relation to Universal Participation

Every Individual’s Role Is Vital

Just as every cell in the body, no matter how humble, has a purpose, so too does every individual in the human community. Each person is endowed with unique talents and faculties, and the full health and vigor of the “body” of humanity—or the Bahá’í community—depend on the active participation of all its members. The Universal House of Justice emphasizes that “the participation of every believer is of the utmost importance, and is a source of power and vitality as yet unknown to us” [1].

Interdependence and Mutual Support

The analogy underscores interdependence. No member of the body can thrive in isolation; similarly, no individual or group can achieve true prosperity apart from the well-being of the whole. The prosperity of every person, family, and people is bound up with the prosperity of humanity as a whole. This principle rejects individualism and exclusivity in favor of collective advancement and mutual support [1].

Unity in Diversity

The analogy does not call for uniformity but for unity. Diversity in the body—different organs and cells with varied functions—enables the organism to realize its full potential. Likewise, the diversity of humanity, when harmonized in unity, becomes a source of strength and richness. The Bahá’í writings stress that “unity, in its Bahá’í expression, contains the essential concept of diversity, distinguishing it from uniformity” [1].

Organic, Gradual Growth

The development of the body is organic and gradual, not instantaneous. Similarly, the growth of the Bahá’í community and the realization of universal participation occur over time, through stages of increasing capacity and cooperation. Each member’s engagement contributes to the gradual maturation and flourishing of the whole [1].

Love, Encouragement, and Collaboration

The “real secret of universal participation,” as expressed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and cited by the Universal House of Justice, lies in the friends’ love for each other, mutual encouragement, and collaborative effort. When individuals work together “as one soul in one body,” the community becomes “a true, organic, healthy body animated and illumined by the spirit.” This collective spirit brings spiritual health and vitality to all, enabling the community to “bring forth the most perfect flowers and fruits” [1].

Implications Beyond the Bahá’í Community

The analogy extends to all humanity, calling for a reconceptualization of social, economic, and political relationships. It challenges systems that prioritize the interests of a part over the whole, advocating instead for justice, the abolition of prejudice, and the subordination of lesser loyalties to the good of humankind. The well-being of any part of humanity cannot be intelligently considered in isolation from the systemic oneness of the whole [1].

Conclusion

Bahá’u’lláh’s analogy of the world as the human body is foundational to the Bahá’í concept of universal participation. It teaches that the health, vitality, and advancement of society depend on the active, loving, and coordinated participation of every individual, and that true unity is achieved not by erasing differences but by harmonizing them in service to the common good [1].

Citations

[1] Social Action-A Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice August 2020 – Bahá’í Reference Library

Follow-Up Approaches Proposed by Perplexity

• Explore how unity in diversity strengthens global cooperation.
• Identify ways individual talents contribute to community vitality.
• Examine the role of love and encouragement in collective progress.
• Analyze the impact of spiritual health on societal development.
• Investigate examples of universal participation in Bahá’í communities.

1. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/916356212. ↩
2. Universal House of Justice. “September 1964 – To the Bahá’ís of the World.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/19640901_001/1#053436390. ↩
3. Perplexity Pro. “Regard the World as the Human Body.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. June 28, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/regard-the-world-as-the-human-tLNGe_17QY.4azWxknWBwg. ↩