Jalál, 18 Raḥmat (Mercy), 183 B.E.
Quotes for Reflection
Whoso hath quaffed of the wine of divine knowledge will indeed be able to answer such questions with clear and perspicuous proofs from the world without and with manifest and luminous evidences from the world within. A different Cause, however, hath appeared in this day and a different discourse is required. Indeed, with the inception of the year nine the time for questions and answers came to an end. Thus He, hallowed and magnified be His name, saith: “This is not the day for any man to question his Lord. When thou hearest the call of God voiced by Him Who is the Dayspring of grandeur, cry out: ‘Here am I, O Lord of all names! Here am I, O Maker of the heavens! I testify that Thou hast revealed Thyself and hast revealed whatsoever Thou didst desire at Thine Own behest. Thou, in truth, art the Lord of strength and might.’” — Bahá’u’lláh [1]
Question for Consideration
From a Bahá’í perspective, how can spiritual principles be applied in the voluntary/informal sector to find ways that work and begin to transform the public and private sectors? [2]
Perplexity Deep Research Response: Part III-e
The Bahá’í Community’s Actual Practice in the Voluntary Sector
The worldwide Bahá’í community has, over several decades, developed a coherent body of practice in the voluntary sector that embodies these principles. This practice is not merely theoretical; it operates in thousands of localities on every continent and is subject to ongoing systematic learning and refinement. [3]
Participation in Public Discourse
The Bahá’í International Community (BIC) — the international advocacy organization of the worldwide Bahá’í community — engages systematically with public discourse at the United Nations and in national policy contexts. The BIC’s statements on development, governance, the environment, gender equality, and economic justice represent a sustained effort to introduce spiritual principles into public discourse without partisan advocacy. [4]
Documents such as The Prosperity of Humankind (1995), Valuing Spirituality in Development (1998), and more recently One Planet, One Habitation demonstrate a long-term strategy of influencing the conceptual frameworks through which public institutions understand development, prosperity, and progress. This is the voluntary sector working on the level of ideas — shaping the language and assumptions of public discourse rather than lobbying for specific legislation. [4] [5] [6] [7]
Footnotes
[1] Bahá’u’lláh. THE TABERNACLE OF UNITY. Bahá’í Reference Library. https://www.bahai.org/r/855801133
[2] Perplexity Deep Research. “The Voluntary/Informal Sector as a Laboratory: Bahá’í Spiritual Principles and the Transformation of Society.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. July 10, 2026. https://www.perplexity.ai/computer/a/9ecfa362-6f2c-499e-b451-8198a188f127
[3] Zabihi, Selvi Adaikkalam. “The Baháʼí Experience: Religious Community and Social Change.” Great Transition Initiative, November 2023. https://greattransition.org/gti-forum/movement-experiments-adaikkalam-zabihi/
[4] Bahá’í International Community Staff. “Valuing Spirituality in Development.” BIC.org, February 18, 1998. https://www.bic.org/statements/valuing-spirituality-development
[5] Bahá’í International Community Office of Public Information. “The Prosperity of Humankind.” BIC.org, March 3, 1995. https://www.bic.org/statements/prosperity-humankind
[6] Bahá’í International Community Staff. “One Planet, One Habitation.” BIC.org, 2022. https://www.bic.org/sites/default/files/one_planet_one_habitation.pdf
[7] Bahá’í International Community Staff. “Working Toward One Planet and One Habitation.” BIC.org, 2022. https://opoh.bic.org
Be the Voice of…
Therefore, all souls should consider it incumbent upon them to investigate reality. Reality is one; and when found, it will unify all mankind. Reality is the love of God. Reality is the knowledge of God. Reality is justice. Reality is the oneness or solidarity of mankind. Reality is international peace. Reality is the knowledge of verities. Reality unifies humanity. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá The Promulgation of Universal Peace | Bahá’í Reference Library.
Frameworks for Understanding the World 