Devotional Meetings: for prayer, for uniting the hearts of man
The purpose of the Baha'i Faith is to bring about a new race of man - a new civilization, where society has been revitalized, and at its heart is a renewed sense of spirituality - connection with God.
The purpose of life - is to know God and to worship God. And one of the ways to do that is through prayer and meditation - where prayer is food for the soul. This has to happen on the individual level, where our hearts connect with God.
To achieve spiritualization of a community, prayer and meditation needs to happen on a communal level. This enables remembrance of God to be at the heart of our social interactions. Houses of Worship have been built, are being built, are to be built - open for all to use for prayer and meditation. They are built with the vision that they will be a spiritual centre around which organizations and institutions for social, humanitarian and educational services will be established for the neighbouring population. I.e. that spiritual focus being at the heart of all activity - reflected even in the architecture of cities and towns.
Devotional gatherings are one of the core activities specified by the Universal House of Justice. These are gatherings that:
The purpose of life - is to know God and to worship God. And one of the ways to do that is through prayer and meditation - where prayer is food for the soul. This has to happen on the individual level, where our hearts connect with God.
To achieve spiritualization of a community, prayer and meditation needs to happen on a communal level. This enables remembrance of God to be at the heart of our social interactions. Houses of Worship have been built, are being built, are to be built - open for all to use for prayer and meditation. They are built with the vision that they will be a spiritual centre around which organizations and institutions for social, humanitarian and educational services will be established for the neighbouring population. I.e. that spiritual focus being at the heart of all activity - reflected even in the architecture of cities and towns.
Devotional gatherings are one of the core activities specified by the Universal House of Justice. These are gatherings that:
- can be held on the community/neighborhod level
- can be held in a home, in a community centre, a public park - anywhere
- can be used to augment and strengthen the other endeavours of the community: E.g. having a devotional meeting in a neighborhood where there is CC, that the parents can come together in a communal nature and say prayers for the children etc.
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"Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men.
Whoso reciteth, in the privacy of his chamber, the verses revealed by God, the scattering angels of the Almighty shall scatter abroad the fragrance of the words uttered by his mouth, and shall cause the heart of every righteous man to throb. Though he may, at first, remain unaware of its effect, yet the virtue of the grace vouchsafed unto him must needs sooner or later exercise its influence upon his soul. Thus have the mysteries of the Revelation of God been decreed by virtue of the Will of Him Who is the Source of power and wisdom." Baha'u'llah |
Devotional meetings are one of the four core activities talked about in the five year plan.
They are an act of service, for which the study of ruhi book 1 is to prepare us.
It is quite easy to gloss over this aspect of service, as it's not explicitly part of the "activity sections" of the book. When I next help with or facilitate with one of these books, there is an approach I would like to try out:
They are an act of service, for which the study of ruhi book 1 is to prepare us.
It is quite easy to gloss over this aspect of service, as it's not explicitly part of the "activity sections" of the book. When I next help with or facilitate with one of these books, there is an approach I would like to try out:
- At the beginning - talk directly to the idea of devotional meetings.
- Pair up the participants
- Over the course of the Ruhi Book1 study - parallel to the ruhi study, have the participants be involved in hosting devotional meetings.
Another great activity I've been involved in, has been prayer book cover making. I did this when I was serving down in Wellington, a couple of years ago. That prayer book is long passed on to someone else, but I would like to make some again, so I'll keep you posted. It was super easy btw so won't be anything magical to hold breath for.