Daily Frameworks for 27 July 2025

Jamál, 16 Kalimát (Words), 182 B.E.

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

Quotes for Reflection:

In recent years it has become evident that in communities where there has been a strong emphasis on the capacity-building features of the Five Year Plan, the ability of the friends to engage in social action has increased substantially. Accordingly, you would do well to encourage the friends to persevere in their efforts to strengthen the training institute and the activities of the Plan, for therein lies the key to multiplying your human resources and creating a vibrant, united, and loving community. As they progress along this path, they will become increasingly capable of contributing in tangible ways to the practical resolution of the problems that confront populations at the grassroots in cities and towns, neighbourhoods and villages. — Universal House of Justice ¹

Question for Consideration

How can the friends “persevere in their efforts to strengthen the training institute and the activities of the Plan” as the key to multiplying human resources and creating a vibrant, united, and loving community?

Perplexity Pro Response ²

To persevere in strengthening the training institute and the activities of the Plan—and thus multiply human resources and foster a vibrant, united, and loving community—the friends can focus on several interconnected strategies and principles drawn from Bahá’í guidance and years of experience:

Deepen Involvement in Core Activities

• Regular participation in study circles, children’s classes, junior youth groups, and devotional gatherings builds capacity and a collective identity.
• These activities provide a practical arena for individuals of all ages to develop skills, virtues, and patterns of service crucial for community transformation [1].
  

Systematic Capacity Building

• Engage in a process of action, reflection, consultation, and study. This “learning mode” ensures that individuals and institutions are constantly improving and adapting their efforts.
• Focus should be on raising up new human resources through the institute process, empowering increasing numbers to take on roles of service and leadership [1].
  

Encourage Universal Participation and Ownership

• The involvement of more people—especially local residents—in all aspects of community life is vital. The community should avoid a reliance on a small band of deeply involved members, instead mobilizing the talents and contributions of all.
• Nurturing a sense of collective ownership ensures sustainability and resilience; people are more likely to persevere when they feel valued and included [1].
  

Facilitate Opportunities for Service

• Create pathways for all to serve according to their capacity, interests, and circumstances.
• Accompany and mentor individuals, particularly new participants or youth, as they take on new responsibilities or launch initiatives [1].
  

Strengthen Collaborative Consultation

• Foster environments of love and trust, where consultation about both spiritual and practical community needs can happen openly and systematically.
• Use occasions such as the Nineteen Day Feast, reflection meetings, and local gatherings to discuss progress, identify challenges, and plan next steps [1].
  

Align Social Action with Capacity and Grassroots Reality

• Social action initiatives should arise naturally from community building activities and grow in complexity as local capacity increases.
• Initial efforts should be modest and locally driven, with projects evolving organically rather than being imposed from outside or above. Educational, health, or environmental efforts often emerge this way [1].
  

Integrate Material and Spiritual Progress

• View development as a unified process, not separating material needs from spiritual transformation. As devotional character deepens and virtues flourish, capacity for social action expands.
• Regular study of the Bahá’í writings and continual reference to Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings helps ensure efforts remain spiritualized and effective [1].
  

Value Accompaniment and Mutual Support

• Encourage a culture where individuals accompany each other, sharing experiences, supporting newcomers, and learning together.
• This builds unity, confidence, and perseverance in the face of obstacles [1].
  

Guard Against Pitfalls

• Ensure projects remain within local capacity, avoid dependence on external funds or imported solutions, and guard against initiatives that may divide or distract the community.
• Regular consultation and evaluation help keep efforts on track and true to Bahá’í principles [1].
  

By persevering in the systematic application of these elements—focused on the training institute and the activities of the Plan—the friends multiply their human resources, organically giving rise to a vibrant, united, and loving community that is increasingly able to address its own challenges and contribute to the wider society [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

• Suggest ways to enhance training programs at the institute.
• Outline steps to encourage community-wide participation.
• Recommend methods to balance individual initiatives fairly.
• Identify challenges in expanding human resources effectively.
• Propose strategies to foster unity and collaboration among friends.

1. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/654884902. ↩
2. Perplexity Pro. “Efforts to Strengthen the Training Institute and the Activities of the Plan.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. July 26, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/in-recent-years-it-has-become-q6kAhfBeS2WuJ6BavhxzYg. ↩