The Path Toward Spirituality: Sacred Duties and Practices of the Bahá'í Life
(Supplementary Materials)
Return to: Essential Teachings Training Program
The following are supplementary teaching materials that may be used in teaching the course on The Path Toward Spirituality. Appendix A provides an outline of the text. This may be used by the teacher in gaining an overview of the materials and in preparing for the brief presentations discussed in the Teachers' Manual. Appendix B offers suggestions for "Skills Exercises" that may be carried out in each training session.
1. Introduction
A. Attaining happiness
1. modern-day approaches
2. inadequacies of modern-day approaches
3. man's two natures
4. spiritual excellence as key to happiness
5. how to attain spiritual excellence
B. Duties and practices of the Bahá'í life and principles of spiritual growth
1. listing of sacred duties
2. individual responsibility and initiative
3. consistency
4. tests and difficulties
5. evolutionary process
6. spiritual development leading to action
C. Covenant
1. meaning
2. 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the Administrative Order
3. example of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
4. conclusion
D. Quotations for Reflection
1. materialism and lack of spirituality
2. source of honor and happiness
3. necessity of spiritual nourishment
4. essential requisites for spiritual growth
5. gifts of the spirit
6. significance of the Covenant
2. Prayer
A. significance and meaning
B. Obligatory Prayers
1. significance
2. choice of three
3. time for recital
4. Qiblih
5. age when binding
6. exemptions
7. offered individually
8. ablutions
9. movements
10. power
C. Other prayers
1. features
2. praying to whom
3. praying for what
4. praying in own words
5. answers to prayers
6. prayer and action
D. Quotations for Reflection
1. wisdom of prayer
2. most acceptable prayer; length of prayer
3. privacy
4. effectiveness of Obligatory Prayers vs. non-obligatory
5. movements of Obligatory Prayers
6. effective times for prayer
3. Reciting the Verses of God and Meditation
A. Reciting the verses
1. "verses of God"
2. reciting vs. study
3. spirit of reciting
4. family activity
5. memorization
B. Meditation
1. meaning of meditation
2. inspired vs. useless meditation
3. use of Sacred Scriptures
4. private activity
C. Quotations for Reflection
1. consequences of not reciting verses of God
2. significance and power of Word of God
3. effects of reciting
4. reciting the Hidden Words
5. results of meditation
6. how to meditate
7. prayer, meditation, and action
4. Study of the Faith
A. The spiritual act of study
1. significance and meaning
2. spiritual importance
3. spiritual process
4. study and teaching
B. How and what to study
1. sacred and authoritative Writings
2. important Writings
3. principles and themes
4. systematic study
5. relating Teachings to current issues
C. Quotations for Reflection
1. meaning of deepening
2. purpose of reading scriptures
3. partaking of benefits in Tablets
4. result of immersion in Teachings
5. capacity of mature soul
6. books to master
7. definition of Bahá'í scholar
5. Teaching the Faith
A. Teaching
1. why teach
2. spiritual obligation
3. qualities of teacher
4. capacity to teach
B. Practical approaches to teaching
1. systematic teaching
2. whom to teach
3. what to say
4. adapting the presentation
5. manner of teaching
6. firesides
7. arising to teach
C. Quotations for Reflection
1. bounties of teaching
2. "best teacher" & "exemplary believer"
3. most effective teaching method
4. finding receptive souls
5. influencing seeker's heart
6. proofs & arguments
7. consolidation
6. Observance of Divine Laws and Principles
A. Twin duties of man
B. The laws and principles of God
1. purpose of obedience
2. significance of fasting
3. details of fasting
4. miscellaneous laws
5. obeying divine principles
6. miscellaneous principles
7. results of obedience
C. Steadfastness in obedience
1. physical and spiritual worlds
2. example of backbiting
3. not seeing wisdom of laws and principles
4. intellectual humility
5. 'He doeth whatsoever He willeth'
6. faithful obedience
D. Quotations for Reflection
1. purpose of obedience
2. purpose of God in manifesting Himself
3. effects of obedience
4. blessings connected to Kitáb-i-Aqdas
5. purposes of laws of Kitáb-i-Aqdas
6. significance of fasting
7. backbiting
7. Huqúqu'lláh and the Bahá'í Funds
A. distinguishing features of material offerings
1. non-acceptance from non-Bahá'ís
2. dignity
3. two forms of offerings
B. Huqúqu'lláh
1. law of Huqúqu'lláh
2. significance
3. blessings
4. spirit of offering
5. failure to offer
C. Bahá'í Funds
1. significance
2. service open to all
3. categories of funds
4. features of contributing
5. Arc Projects Fund
6. two primary tasks
D. Comparison of Huqúqu'lláh and the Funds
1. differences
2. similarities
E. Quotations for Reflection
1. law of Huqúqu'lláh
2. blessings of Huqúqu'lláh
3. spirit of offering Huqúqu'lláh
4. non-acceptance of Funds from non-Bahá'ís
5. responsibility of all to contribute to Fund
6. amount of contribution to Fund
7. importance of Arc Projects Fund
8. Service
A. the spiritual duty of service
1. significance
2. service toward humanity
3. how to serve others
4. pursuit of one's profession
5. service to the Faith
6. individual initiative and institutional guidance
7. example of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
B. Community involvement
1. Nineteen Day Feast
a. significance
b. features
c. attitude and spirit
2. Bahá'í Elections
a. features
b. district convention
3. Consultation
a. what is?
b. spiritual basis
c. manner of procedure
d. unity as key
C. Quotations for Reflection
1. significance of service
2. God's assistance in service
3. working and serving the Faith
4. community involvement
5. significance of Nineteen Day Feast
6. Bahá'í elections
7. requisites for those who consult
Return to: Essential Teachings Training Program
The following are possible skills exercises that may be used in the eight sessions of the training series on The Path Toward Spirituality:
1. Introduction: Self-Evaluation on Spiritual Requisites:
Ask participants to evaluate themselves on the six spiritual requisites outlined in "Quotations for Reflection" # 4 of the Introduction (pp. 9-10 of the text) ("1. The recital each day of one of the Obligatory Prayers with pure-hearted devotion. 2. The regular reading of the Sacred Scriptures...." etc.). The purpose of this exercise is for participants to determine their strengths and challenges in carrying out these sacred duties and to set goals for improving their performance.
Participants should consider the six spiritual requisites and rate themselves on the scale of 1 to 10. A "10" on the scale represent a regular, whole-hearted effort to carry out that particular spiritual practice. A "1" represents little or no effort in carrying out that spiritual practice. Participants should rate themselves for three different time periods:
1. How do I rate myself at the present time?
2. Where would I like to be in three months?
3. Where would I like to be in six months?
This is a personal exercise; participants are not required to share the results of their personal evaluations, unless they care to do so. It may interesting for the teacher to collect anonymous evaluations (i.e. just the numbers, no names) from the participants and average the evaluations for the class (e.g. The average of the class at the present time for the recital of one of the Obligatory Prayers is "6". The class hopes to be at "8" in three months.). Sharing these results may provide encouragement for some participants.
2. Prayer: Demonstration of the Obligatory Prayers:
Demonstrate yourself or have another believer demonstrate the movements of the three Obligatory Prayers. This exercise requires advance preparation by the teacher to ensure that the movements conform to the directions and clarifications set forth in the Writings. Many of the movements have been explained by the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice. These explanations are contained in the footnotes to the Obligatory Prayers contained in Appendix A of the text (pp. 75-83). One effective way to carry out this demonstration is to have another participant to read the instructions while the teacher carries out the movements (e.g. "Let him then raise his hands thrice, and say: 'Greater is God than every great one!'"). Because class time is limited, the person demonstrating would not read the actual text of the prayer, but simply show the movements. After an instruction is read, and the teacher demonstrates that particular movement, the class may want to discuss the movement. The teacher, for example, may refer to an explanation in the footnotes in Appendix A of the text that clarifies the instruction. Other believers may have a different interpretation of the movement.
A few points bear emphasizing in relation to the demonstration of the Obligatory Prayers. First, the teacher should not offer the demonstration as the correct or the only way the movements may be carried out; rather it should be offered as one interpretation of how the Prayers may be said, based on the text. Participants can compare the demonstration to the text and come to their own understanding. Second, the other extreme to be avoided is the attitude that the Prayers may be said in any way, and that the movements are not important. Because, as 'Abdu'l-Bahá tells us, "every word and movement" has a profound significance, it is important for us to conform to the authoritative instructions we have been given.
In this regard, it is critical to distinguish between tradition and authoritative instructions. Simply because my family has traditionally said the Obligatory Prayer a certain way does not mean that that way is correct, unless it is supported by the text. For example, in performing ablutions for the three Obligatory Prayers, some Bahá'ís have traditionally recited the verses that accompany the ablutions for the medium Obligatory Prayer. In other words, there is a belief that the washing of the hands and face must be accompanied by the recitation of the verses "Strengthen my hand, O my God, that it may take hold of Thy Book ...." A review of the authoritative texts reveals, however, that one is not required to say these verses while performing ablutions for the short and the long Obligatory Prayers:
Ablutions are specifically associated with certain prayers. They must precede the offering of the three Obligatory Prayers ....
The prescribed ablutions consist of washing the hands and the face in preparation for prayer. In the case of the medium Obligatory Prayer, this is accompanied by the recitation of certain verses.
Therefore, it is important to differentiate between practices based on hearsay and tradition and those that are required by the Writings. If the believers are aware of other passages that explain the movements of the Obligatory Prayers, encourage them to find the passages and share them with the friends.
3. Reciting the Verses of God and Meditation: Practical Discussion
Conduct a practical discussion on what are the barriers that prevent us from reciting the verses of God and meditating every day (e.g. lack of time; forgetting to do so; etc.). What practical ways have other friends found to overcome these barriers?
4. Study: Sample Study Exercise
Prepare a photocopied page from the Writings for each participant in the class. Discuss a few of the practical study methods (e.g. underlining, summarizing paragraphs, taking notes in the margins) outlined in Appendix C of the text (pp. 101-106). Distribute a photocopied page to each participant and have each person read over the page and individually practice the study techniques that were discussed. After the exercise, participants can discuss which techniques they found helpful.
5. Teaching: Discussion on Teaching Groups and Brief Presentations on the Faith
a. Teaching Groups: Explain how a teaching group functions (see Appendix D of the text, pp. 107-111). Encourage the friends to form such groups. Perhaps some of the members in the class may want to work together to form a teaching group.
b. Brief Presentations: Have participants divide up into groups, with two or three persons in each group. Have each person in the group prepare a one-sentence introduction and a one-minute introduction to the Faith. The group members may assist one another in preparing these. They should then present these introductions to, and practice with, the other members of the group.
The purpose of this exercise is to give believers basic skills in handling brief teaching encounters. We often have opportunities to briefly mention the Faith (e.g. just a few seconds or a few minutes). We may choose to say whatever comes to our mind at that moment; however, our presentation is likely to be much more effective if we have thought about what we should say, and if we have actually practiced it. This is especially true if we have memorized a quotation that we will use in our answer. For example, "John, I heard you are a Bahá'í. What do Bahá'ís believe?" John responds, "The central principle of our Faith is the unity of mankind, the belief that 'The earth is but country and mankind its citizens.'" Because the Word of God has the power to unlock "the doors of the hearts of men," encourage participants to use brief quotations from Bahá'u'lláh in preparing their one sentence and one minute presentations.
6. Observance of Divine Laws and Principles: Practical Discussion
Conduct a practical discussion on what are the barriers that prevent us from observing the laws and principles of the Faith. What practical ways have other friends found to overcome these barriers?
7. Huqúqu'lláh and the Bahá'í Funds: Sample Huqúqu'lláh Calculation
Present the sample Huqúqu'lláh Calculation given in Appendix E of the text (pp. 113-118). Present just the facts (i.e. Jackie's assets, earnings, and expenses). Have class participants try to calculate Jackie's Huqúqu'lláh (without looking at the answer). After they have tried to prepare the calculations, review how the calculation may be carried out. If there are other believers who are especially familiar with calculating Huqúqu'lláh or who are good with numbers, you may want to have them assist you with this exercise.
8. Service: Practical Discussion and Self-Evaluation
a. Conduct a discussion on service: What acts of service have you seen other members of your community carry out? Is there an act of service that you would like to carry out?
b. Self-evaluation on spiritual requisites: Because this is the final training session, have participants conduct a follow-up evaluation to the one that was done in session number one. Again, this is a personal evaluation; however, if the friends would like to share the victories they have achieved in developing their spiritual practices, they should feel free to do so. (For example, a person may share that he was completely unaware at the beginning of the training series that he was supposed to recite the verses of God every morning and evening. Since that time, he has been striving to carry out this sacred duty, and it has had the following effect on his life: ....)