Meeting for teaching

A meeting for teaching is a meeting called for by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in which older believers are to teach youths study topics in order to assist them in teaching the Bahá'í Faith.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote:

“ 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, p. 54

Components of study

The components of this meeting per the Tablets of the Divine Plan citation (and by quotes calling for the similar "spiritual meetings") are as follows:

• Proofs, arguments, and prophecies
• History of the Cause

History

A document prepared by the Bahá’í World Centre mentions Sadru’s-Sudúr as conducting the first meeting along the lines ‘Abdu’l-Bahá described.

The document also indicates that this meeting was the beginning of a process leading to teaching institutes and training institutes. Although ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's formulation shared with these later experiments the element of being focused on training for teaching, He specifically appears to emphasize a study of the proofs and prophecies which has to date not become a central focus of present-day training institute curricula.

Also, while the study circles are not perpetual meetings, the Bahá'í World Centre seems to suggest ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's praise of weekly meetings was relevant to such meetings, and thus apparently seen as an ongoing activity.

Thus, it would seem that this form of meeting is not quite yet implemented by present-day training institutes in their formal courses (even though Ruhi courses do cover some history as envisioned as part of "meetings for teaching", e.g., in Ruhi Book 4, The Twin Manifestations). That being said, in Ruhi Book 7, Walking Together on a Path of Service, mention is made of the book being insufficient for becoming an effective tutor and that "Regular gatherings for tutors became an essential element in the system" whereby participants would "come together periodically to polish their skills and enhance their understanding", a sentiment echoed by the House itself in its 30 December 2021 message, so it seems that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's "meetings for teaching" might fit into such a framework.

While the meeting has not been a regular feature of Bahá’í plans or activities, it was called for in the first Five Year Plan (1974-1979):

“ 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

Relation to "spiritual meetings"

In Star of the West ‘Abdu’l-Bahá used the term "spiritual meetings" in calling for meetings with similar content to "meetings for teaching":

“ The foundation of the spiritual meetings must be the teaching and delivering of the Cause of God. In these meetings the believers and maid-servants of the Merciful must proclaim the proofs and arguments and explain the signs of the appearance of the Beauty of Abhá - May my life be a sacrifice to the beloved ones! Meanwhile they may read some Tablets and Communes, and at the end of the meetings, if they desire to sing with the utmost supplication and meekness, it is acceptable. But the fundamental principle of the establishment of spiritual meetings is for the sake of teaching and delivering the Truth so that those souls who are present may become informed of the Divine Evidences and Proofs. ” — Star of the West (June 24, 1911). Bahai News Service. Volume 2, Issue 6. Pg(s) 5. View as PDF.

However, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá later clarified that this meeting should be circumscribed to avoid the offering of prayers and discourses (and even in the prior quote, He suggested the recitation was to be a less central focus):

“ The founding of these spiritual meetings is purely for the purpose of teaching; but, as the Mashreq 'Ul Azkar is not yet founded, therefore in the spiritual meetings verses are chanted, supplications and communes offered and discourses delivered. However, when the Mashreq 'Ul Azkar is organized the spiritual meetings will be devoted especially to teaching, and the place of worship will become focalized in the Mashreq 'Ul Azkar. ” — Star of the West (January, 1923). Publications Committee of the Bahai Temple Unity. Volume 13, Issue 10. Pg(s) 276. View as PDF.

Since the later prescription of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for "meetings for teaching" also includes a study of the proofs (and history, as mentioned in other passages generally calling for meetings where proofs and history are discussed), it seems the somewhat more ambiguous term of "spiritual meetings" called for during an early phase of the Faith might now be more unambiguously termed as "meetings for teaching".

Special encouragement for women

'Abdu'l-Bahá particularly emphasized the need for the "leaves" (female believers) to study the proofs and hold meetings therefor. He indicated the importance of this by arguing that it was because Ṭáhirih had been a woman that she had a particular impact, that it would allow each home to become a gathering place for lessons on teaching the Cause, and that it was a special sign of this unique cycle that women should become engaged in holding their own classes to spread the proofs and teachings.

Notes

For relevant quotes see the Bahai9 compendium entry:

Meeting for teaching