Daily Frameworks for 17 August 2025

Jamál, 18 Kamál (Perfection), 182 B.E.

Social Action: Methods and Approaches

Quotes for Reflection:

The purpose of learning should be the promotion of the welfare of the people…. True learning is that which is conducive to the well-being of the world, not to pride and self-conceit, or to tyranny, violence and pillage. — Bahá’u’lláh ^{1 2}

Question for Consideration

From a Bahá’í perspective, what are examples of true learning as “that which is conducive to the well-being of the world, not to pride and self-conceit, or to tyranny, violence and pillage”?

Perplexity Pro Response ³

From Bahá’í writings, true learning is understood as knowledge and education that actively contributes to the prosperity and unity of humanity, as opposed to serving ego, oppression, or destruction. Below are key themes and concrete examples illustrating what constitutes “true learning”:

Key Principles of True Learning

Service to Humanity

True learning aims at promoting the welfare of people, contributing to their spiritual and material well-being, and fostering unity rather than division. [1]

Justice and Oneness

Learning is connected to justice and the recognition of the oneness of mankind; education should lead individuals to work for collective prosperity and harmony, not prejudice or exploitation. [1]

Coherence of Material and Spiritual

Learning should integrate material progress (science, arts, technology) with spiritual virtues (love, compassion, justice) to ensure it benefits humanity holistically and does not become harmful. [1]

Examples of True Learning in Practice

Universal Education Initiatives

• Promoting literacy and education for all, especially for women and minorities—helping advance knowledge and eliminate prejudice. [1]
• Establishing schools and moral education classes, focusing on character development alongside academic achievement. [1]
  

Community-Building Activities

• Organizing children’s classes, junior youth empowerment programs, and adult study circles with an emphasis on spiritual values and service to the community.
• Fostering cooperation and collective consultation for the betterment of the community, encouraging everyone to contribute according to their abilities. [1]
  

Social and Economic Development Projects

• Initiatives such as health clinics, clean water projects, environmental conservation efforts, and agricultural programs implemented with the community’s active involvement, aiming for sustainability and local ownership. [1]
• Efforts designed to address local needs, foster self-sufficiency, and build the community’s capacity to solve its own problems.
  

Elimination of Prejudice and Promotion of Unity

• Education specifically directed at countering prejudice—racial, religious, or otherwise—and fostering unity among diverse populations. [1]
• Advocacy for justice and the oneness of humanity, supporting social projects and discourses that break down barriers between groups.
  

Harmony of Science and Religion

• Pursuing knowledge that benefits the people of the earth, not abstract academic learning disconnected from real-world good. [1]
• Application of science and technology guided by ethical and moral principles—using advancements for peace, health, and the environment, not for war or oppression.
• Encouraging independent investigation of truth to root out superstition and ignorance. [1]
  

Moral Development and Good Character

• Emphasizing that education must be paired with moral training; knowledge without virtue can be dangerous, but with character it leads to the upliftment of society. [1]
• Efforts to develop qualities such as honesty, compassion, justice, and a spirit of service alongside intellectual achievement.
  

Collaborative Social Action

• Organizing and engaging in social action ranging from informal service projects (e.g., tutorial help, local improvements) to larger Bahá’í-inspired NGOs devoted to education, health, and welfare. [1]
• Participation in interfaith and civic associations, helping to advance the common good without partisan or political ambition.
  

Distinctions from False Learning

Bahá’í teachings denounce learning that leads to pride, self-conceit, power struggles, violence, or the pillage of resources, instead urging the acquisition only of sciences and knowledge that “profit the peoples of the earth.” Knowledge that is pursued for selfish gain or purely academic status is considered unworthy or even harmful. [1]

Summary

True learning, from a Bahá’í perspective, is characterized by its practical and ethical orientation: it educates for service, justice, unity, and progress of all people; it harmonizes material and spiritual dimensions; and it empowers communities to meet their own needs and contribute to the well-being of humanity. Examples include education for all, community service, ethical use of science, elimination of prejudice, and the cultivation of moral excellence. [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

• Identify specific Bahá’í teachings exemplifying true learning for world well-being.
• Describe how Bahá’í principles counteract pride and self-conceit in learning.
• Explain the role of education in promoting peace and unity in Bahá’í thought.
• List Bahá’í social actions that demonstrate learning leading to global welfare.
• Explore how Bahá’í communities integrate knowledge to avoid violence and tyranny.

1. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/331917617. ↩
2. Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. “Bahá’í Sacred Writings.” Bahá’í Reference Library, July 2025. https://www.bahai.org/r/104138778. ↩
3. Perplexity Pro. “True Learning That Promotes the Well-Being of the World.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. August 17, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/the-purpose-of-learning-should-pxchKiEwTJihF506RDQlvw. ↩