Kamál, 15 Kalimát (Words), 183 B.E.
Quotes for Reflection
Promote ye the development of the cities of God and His countries, and glorify Him therein in the joyous accents of His well-favoured ones. In truth, the hearts of men are edified through the power of the tongue, even as houses and cities are built up by the hand and other means. We have assigned to every end a means for its accomplishment; avail yourselves thereof, and place your trust and confidence in God, the Omniscient, the All-Wise. — 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 VI-g
Practical Starting Points for Voluntary Organizations
For voluntary and civil society organizations seeking to apply Bahá’í-inspired principles in practice, the following starting points reflect the accumulated Bahá’í experience:
Maintain coherence between means and ends
The Bahá’í principle of coherence between means and ends — that the methods of an organization prefigure its outcomes — means that a voluntary organization cannot use manipulative fundraising, deceptive marketing, or exploitative labor practices in service of a justice mission without undermining that mission. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Footnotes
[1] Bahá’u’lláh. THE KITÁB-I-AQDAS. Bahá’í Reference Library. https://www.bahai.org/r/894221775
[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 26, 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] Dahl, Arthur Lyon. “Rethinking Business and the Economy based on Spiritual Principles.” IEFWorld, November 20, 2018. https://iefworld.org/ddahl18k
[5] Universal House of Justice. “2 April 2010 – To the Believers in the Cradle of the Faith.” Bahá’í Reference Library. https://www.bahai.org/r/111202794 / https://www.bahai.org/r/587771667
[6] Universal House of Justice. “2 March 2013 – To the Bahá’ís of Iran.” Bahá’í Reference Library. https://www.bahai.org/r/320603352
[7] Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. SOCIAL ACTION. August 2020. Bahá’í Reference Library. https://www.bahai.org/r/381390781
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 