To all National Spiritual Assemblies
Dear Bahá'í friends,
When the masses of mankind are awakened and enter the Faith
of God, a new process is set in motion and the growth of a new civilization
begins. Witness the emergence of Christianity and of Islam. These masses are
the rank and file, steeped in traditions of their own, but receptive to the new
Word of God, by which, when they truly respond to it, they become so influenced
as to transform those who come in contact with them.
God's standards are different from those of men. According
to men's standards, the acceptance of any cause by people of distinction, of
recognized fame and status, determines the value and greatness of that cause.
But, in the words of Bahá'u'lláh: "The summons and the message which We
gave were never intended to reach or to benefit one land or one people only.
Mankind in its entirety must firmly adhere to whatsoever hath been revealed and
vouchsafed unto it." Or again, "He hath endowed every soul with the
capacity to recognize the signs of God. How could He, otherwise, have fulfilled
His testimony unto men, if ye be of them that ponder His Cause in their
hearts." In countries where teaching the masses has succeeded, the Bahá'ís
have poured out their time and effort in village areas to the same extent as
they had formerly done in cities and towns. The results indicate how unwise it
is to solely concentrate on one section of the population. Each National
Assembly therefore should so balance its resources and harmonize its efforts
that the Faith of God is taught not only to those who are readily accessible
but to all sections of society, however remote they may be.
The unsophisticated people of the world -- and they form the large majority of its population -- have the same right to know of the Cause of God as others. When the friends are teaching the Word of God they should be careful to give the Message in the same simplicity as it is enunciated in our Teachings. In their contacts they must show genuine and divine love. The heart of an unlettered soul is extremely sensitive; any trace of prejudice on the part of the pioneer or teacher is immediately sensed.
When teaching among the masses, the friends should be
careful not to emphasize the charitable and humanitarian aspects of the Faith
as a means to win recruits. Experience has shown that when facilities such as
schools, dispensaries, hospitals, or even clothes and food are offered to the
people being taught, many complications arise. The prime motive should always
be the response of man to God's message, and the recognition of His Messenger.
Those who declare themselves as Bahá'ís should become enchanted with the beauty
of the Teachings; and touched by the love of Bahá'u'lláh. The declarants need
not know all the proofs, history, laws, and principles of the Faith, but in the
process of declaring themselves they must, in addition to catching the spark of
faith, become basically informed about the Central Figures of the Faith, as
well as the existence of laws they must follow and an administration they must
obey.
After declaration, the new believers must not be left to
their own devices. Through correspondence and dispatch of visitors, through
conferences and training courses, these friends must be patiently strengthened
and lovingly helped to develop into full Bahá'í maturity. The beloved Guardian
referring to the duties of Bahá'í Assemblies in assisting the newly declared
believer has written: "... the members of each and every Assembly should
endeavour, by their patience, their love, their tact and wisdom, to nurse,
subsequent to his admission, the newcomer into Bahá'í maturity, and win him
over gradually to the unreserved acceptance of whatever has been ordained in
the teachings."
Expansion and consolidation are twin processes that must go
hand in hand. The friends must not stop expansion in the name of consolidation.
Deepening the newly enrolled believers generates tremendous stimulus which
results in further expansion. The enrolment of new believers, on the other
hand, creates a new spirit in the community and provides additional potential
manpower that will reinforce the consolidation work.
We would like to share with you some of the methods used by
National Assemblies in various continents that have proved useful in teaching
the masses, and attach a list. Certain of these may be valuable in your area,
in addition to any methods you may yourself devise.
We are fervently praying that all National and Local
Spiritual Assemblies, supported by the individual believers, will achieve
outstanding success in the fulfilment of this glorious objective.
Please share this communication with all the friends.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
The Universal House of Justice
(Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986)
Teaching the masses
Annex
Materials are sent at once to the new believers. In some
places this material is in the form of printed cards, mainly in colour,
portraying a Bahá'í theme or principle. This helps the new believer to know
that his declaration has been accepted and to feel that he now belongs to the
new Faith.
Training courses of about 2 weeks duration are held. To
facilitate attendance and reduce cost, a number of villages are grouped
together as one zone in which the course is held. The students to the courses
are usually selected, so that the more capable participate, and teaching is
facilitated. Transportation expenses, feeding and accommodation are provided,
if it is found that the participants are unable to cover such expenses themselves.
The material to be taught is prepared ahead of time, presented in simple
language, and translated into the vernacular. After the course, the more
promising students are picked out, and with their consent, are requested to
undertake teaching projects for a limited period. It is sometimes found that
long-term projects are also useful. These projects generally are carefully
planned as to their duration, places to be visited, and material to be taught.
If the travelling teachers are not able to cover their expenses, travelling and
living expenses are provided by the Fund for the execution of a given and
temporary teaching project.
Shorter training courses in the form of conferences over a
long weekend are held.
These activities -- training courses and conferences -- are
repeated as frequently as possible and are not dependent upon the acquisition
of Teaching Institutes. In the absence of such Institutes, these courses and
conferences are normally held in Bahá'í homes or hired quarters, such as
schools, etc. In order to facilitate the physical catering and accommodation of
the participants they are sometimes asked to come to the course with their
eating utensils and bedding.
In the visits made to the villages, the visiting teacher
meets with the Local Communities to give them basic Bahá'í knowledge, such as
living the Bahá'í life, the importance of teaching, prayer, fasting, Nineteen
Day Feasts, Bahá'í elections, and contributions to the Fund. The question of
contributions to the Fund is of utmost importance, so that the new believers
may quickly feel themselves to be responsible members of the Community. Each
National Assembly must find ways and means to stimulate the offering of
contributions, in cash or kind, to make it easy for the friends to contribute
and to give proper receipts to the donors.
These are but suggestions based on experience which may help
you in your efforts to teach and deepen the spiritually starved multitudes in
your area.
In the course of carrying out such a tremendous spiritual
campaign among the masses, disappointments will well be encountered. We
tabulate a few instances that have been brought to our notice:
a) Visiting pioneers or teachers may find in some places
newly enrolled believers not so enthusiastic about their religion as expected,
or not adjusting to standards of Bahá'í life, or they may find them thinking of
material benefits they may hope to derive from their new membership. We should
always remember that the process of nursing the believer into full spiritual
maturity is slow, and needs loving education and patience.
b) Some teaching committees, in their eagerness to obtain
results, place undue emphasis on obtaining a great number of declarations to the
detriment of the quality of teaching.
c) Some travelling teachers, in their desire to show the
result of their services, may not scrupulously teach their contacts, and in
some rare cases, if, God forbid, they are insincere, may even give false
reports.
Such irregularities have happened and can be repeated, but
must not be a source of discouragement. By sending a team of teachers to an
area, or by sending at intervals other teachers to those areas, and through
correspondence and reports, such situations can be detected and immediately
adjusted. The administration of the Faith must at all times keep in close touch
with the teaching work.
To sum up:
1. Teaching the waiting masses is a reality facing each
National Assembly.
2. The friends must teach with conviction, determination,
genuine love, lack of prejudice, and in a simple language addressed to the
heart.
3. Teaching must be followed up by training courses,
conferences, and regular visits to deepen the believers in their knowledge of
the Teachings.
4. The close touch of the National Office or Teaching
Committees with the work is most essential, so that through reports and
correspondence not only is information obtained and verified, but stimulation
and encouragement is given.
5. Expansion and consolidation go hand in hand.
(Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963 to 1986)
