Meetings for teaching

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Meetings for teaching

Founded by

• Sadru's-Sudúr (with encouragement of 'Abdu'l-Bahá)

Meetings for teaching to have souls gather youths to learn proofs, prophecies, and history

"Amongst other things is the holding of the meetings for teaching so that blessed souls and the old ones from amongst the believers may gather together the youths of the love of God in schools of instruction and teach them all the divine proofs and irrefragable arguments, explain and elucidate the history of the Cause, and interpret also the prophecies and proofs which are recorded and are extant in the divine books and epistles regarding the manifestation of the Promised One, so that the young ones may go in perfect knowledge in all these degrees."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of the Divine Plan, Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada, April 19, 1916, p. 54)

Meetings for teaching to be organized and instituted

"Praise be to God that through the divine bounty and providence, in that region the field of service is vast, the minds are in the utmost degree of intelligence and progress, sciences and arts are being promoted, the hearts like unto mirrors are in the utmost state of purity and translucency, and the friends of God are in perfect attraction. Therefore it is hoped that meetings for teaching will be organized and instituted, and for the diffusion of the fragrances of God wise teachers may be sent to cities, even to villages."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of the Divine Plan, Tablet to the Western States, February 15, 1917, p. 88)

Organize classes for teaching the young and preparing teachers to go to all parts of America

"In short, for the diffusion of the fragrances of God the friends must think of detailed ways and means and year by year add to their efficiency, practicality and thoroughness. They must organize classes for teaching the young and preparing teachers to go to all parts of America. God willing, the believers like unto bright candles will illumine the assemblage of the world of humanity with the light of truth."

(Attributed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, vol. 10, issue 7, p. 138)

Meeting for benefit of local friends encouraged as weekly meetings

“9. Can regular meetings for the benefit of the local friends be held? If so, how often and when?...’Abdu’l-Bahá exhorts the friends to hold such meetings as a “constant” activity, and praises weekly meetings. He repeatedly counsels the believers to read and recite the Holy Word in such meetings and deliver speeches on the teachings, the proofs and the history of the Faith.”

(Universal House of Justice, prepared for inclusion with a letter dated 24 December 1975 to the National Spiritual Assembly of Reunion, Local Spiritual Assemblies (compilation), no. 1354)

Note

Per Star of the West, vol. 13, issue 10, p. 276 (or see spiritual meeting for the excerpted quote), 'Abdu'l-Bahá had called for the dropping of recitation and discourses at such meetings, leaving just the teaching activities.

We are not clear on whether the meeting the House is calling for contains the earlier aspects of recitation and speech-giving aspects because:

1. The House was unaware of the statement attributed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá or questioned its authenticity
2. The House was just mentioning the fact that 'Abdu'l-Bahá had indeed earlier called for a meeting with these components, and wasn't splitting hairs that He had technically called for dropping the recitation and discourse portions
3. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was speaking about keeping recitation and discourses in such meetings pending the formation of local Houses of Worship as physical structures (or He might be calling for their local difficusion in their embryonic form, i.e., devotional meetings, but as the same letter from the House calls separately for devotional meetings, this latter possibility seems less than likely).

Since this House guidance was more recent and includes extra information on the weekly nature of these meetings, it is being placed on this "meetings for teaching" page rather than the "spiritual meeting" page.

Several souls to gather in meetings in every city to discourse on proofs

Give thanks unto God that thou wert enabled to compose this treatise, to render such a notable service at the Threshold of the Divine Unity, and in this Most Great Cycle to leave behind a work that shall, like a banner in all ages and centuries, promote the hidden mystery. If it were possible for several knowledgeable souls in every city to gather together in meetings when opportunity allowed, and ever discourse on proofs and demonstrations and the evidences of the All-Merciful, it would greatly expand minds. However, speech must be confined to this subject and kept within bounds.This content belongs to Provisional translations, translations which have not yet been authoritatively approved.

('Abdu'l-Bahá, provisional translation, Partial Inventory ID AB11073)

The study of teaching lessons is most necessary and obligatory; those with no time during day should speak and learn at night

O students of Truth and pupils in the divine school! According to what is known, you are engaged in learning truths and mysteries in the gathering of meanings before the Teacher of Love, and are accustomed to burning away the veils of idle fancies. Surely you must strive to accomplish something, for those regions are in utmost need until enlightened souls are raised up and engage in guiding the seekers. In these days there are many who thirst but very few who serve as cupbearers. The study of teaching lessons has become most necessary and obligatory. My hope is that all new Baha'is will engage in studying lessons on teaching. Those who have no time during the day should speak and learn at night.This content belongs to Provisional translations, translations which have not yet been authoritatively approved.

('Abdu'l-Bahá, provisional translation, Partial Inventory ID AB03372)

Wish for success in assembly for teaching for youth to seek knowledge of divine proofs, mysteries of sacred books, and memorizing verses useful for teaching

O ye who are firm in the Covenant! Your written page was seen and your unfolded page was observed. The contents and meanings were divine, and the words and lines indicated abundant blessing, for it was a mirror of the favors of the Abha Kingdom and evidence of faith, certitude and self-sacrifice in the path of God. That spiritual assembly is merciful and that luminous gathering is heavenly. Therefore, my hope is that you will succeed in forming an assembly for the study of teaching, so that Baha'i youth may pursue their studies with firm resolve and pure intention, seeking knowledge of divine proofs and evidences, studying the mysteries of the sacred books, memorizing verses useful for teaching, as well as traditional narrations, rational proofs, and the penetrating power of the Blessed Beauty's word - and how He proclaimed His Cause from the Most Great Prison.This content belongs to Provisional translations, translations which have not yet been authoritatively approved.

('Abdu'l-Bahá, provisional translation, Partial Inventory ID AB00470)

Spending time on linguistic or literary study during the teaching meetings will mean lost opportunity; must focus on proofs for the existence of God, divine unity, the transcendence of God, the necessity of revelation, and truth of the Holy Manifestations and memorize verses proving the Day of Manifestation

O distinguished learned one, your letter arrived and upon reading it, the dawn of joy broke from the horizon of the heart, for it proved that you are watering the cultivation of His Holiness Sadru's-Sudur and tending the garden of his hopes, and are occupied with designing flowers of inner meanings in the gardens of hearts. However, all teaching and instruction must be lessons in teaching the Faith, so that the students gain proficiency in teaching. Otherwise, if they spend time on syntax, morphology, logic, rhetoric, figures of speech and the like, and then study lessons in teaching, years will pass and the opportunity will be lost. Therefore, they must gain proficiency in proofs for the existence of God, demonstrations of divine unity, the transcendence and sanctification of the pure Reality that is beyond description, proofs for the necessity of revelation, and rational and traditional proofs for the truth of the Holy Manifestations. They must memorize all verses and traditions that prove the Day of Manifestation. This can be accomplished in two years, after which they can engage in teaching."This content belongs to Provisional translations, translations which have not yet been authoritatively approved.

('Abdu'l-Bahá, provisional translation, Partial Inventory ID AB00768)

See also

• Logic
• Syntax
• Analogy

See also

• Spiritual meetings
• Teaching
• Meetings
• Proofs

To-dos for this page

• Bring in quotations from the "see also" pages which are of relevance
• Bring in https://bahai-library.com/compilation_bahai_education#27