a simple companion to the five year plan

8/6/2019 A simple companion to the Five Year Plan

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A simple companion to

TheFiveYearPlan

20062011163168B.E.

KDKFactory/BadiPublishingPOBox39651,Phoenix,Arizona85069,USA

Tel/Fax:8889091919


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eBookEditionApril2010/Jall167

MithaqKazimiEditors:ReedChandler,SheibaKaufman,BretKaufman


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Preface

Whatisasimplecompanion?

Itisasimplecompanion.

Sowhatdoesitaccompany?ItistoaccompanyyouasyoustudythemessageoftheUniversalHouseofJusticedated

27December2005whereinthecurrentFiveYearPlanisintroducedandexplained.

PleasenotethatthisisbynomeansaninterpretationorreplacementfortheMessage

itselfitissimplyabreakdowntohelpyouvisualizethemessageandcreateareference

foritsdifferentcomponents.

WherecanIgettheoriginaldocument?

Informationaboutobtainingitdigitallyand/orinprintcanbefoundon

http://www.kdkfactory.com/simple/


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Index

Accompaniment,Page10AreaTeachingCommittee,14

Auxiliaries,13,14

BahinspiredNGOs,14

Capacitybuilding,79

Childrensclasses,1012,14

ClusterChildrensClassCoordinator,14

ClusterInstituteCoordinator,

ClusterJr.YouthCoordinators,14

ClusterReflectionGatherings,12

Clusters,7,11,12

Collectiveteaching,1113

Communities,7,12

Consolidation,7,11,13

Coreactivities,11,12

Counselors,13,15

Devotionals,11,12

Entrybytroops,7,9

Expansion,1114

Externalaffairs,14

FifthEpoch,7,16

FormativeAge,716Funds,12

Homevisits,12

Humanresources,7,11

Individualinitiative,9,14

Individuals,7,13

Institutions,7,14

IntensiveProgramsofGrowth,11,15

InternationalTeachingCenter,12

Jr.youthgroups,11,12,14

Largescalegrowth,9,12,14

Learningprocess,9,11,12

LocalSpiritualAssemblies,6,15

Neighborhoods,15

NineteenDayFeasts,12

NationalSpiritualAssemblies,14,15Practices,8,10

PresentingtheFaith,10

Prioritize,11

Receptivepopulation,13

Receptivity,10

RegionalCouncil,14

Regionalevents,12

Sectors,15

Sequenceofcourses,8

Socioeconomicdevelopment,14

Studycircles,811

Summer/winterschools,12

Systematicaction,9,12,14

Systematize,7

Teachingfield,9,14

Traininginstitute,7,8,14

Twomovements,7

Twostageelectoralprocess,15

Unifiedvisionofgrowth,12

Widercommunity,12


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TheFiveYearPlan20062011

AsmentionedtheFiveYearPlanisverysimple;here,wewillillustratejustthat.Please

readtheprefaceaboutthepurposeofthisbookletbeforereadingon.

Whatisthisallabout?

Rightnow,hopefullyyouarereadingthisbetween20062011,weareinthefifthepochoftheFormativeAge*

TheUniversalHouseofJusticeinits26December1995messagefocusedtheBahworldonlearninghowtogrowandsustainthatgrowth.Thefirststep

was:

o Tosystematizeoureffortstodevelophumanresourcesandtodosothroughthetraininginstitute*.

Butthatdidnthappenrightawayin1995;sincethen,wevebeenputtingtogetherthedifferentelementsandnowithasgivenbirth

toaframeworkforactionthatonlyneedstobeactedupon.

Howdidwegoaboutit?

In2001theUniversalHouseofJusticedividedusintogeographicclustersandatlastitwas:

o Possibletothinkaboutgrowthonamanageablescale&o Seeitastwomovements:

1) First,individualsgoingthroughcourses(Ruhi,thatis*)2) Second,themovementsofclustersfromonestageofgrowthtothenext.

o So,unlikeeverbeforetheprocessofexpansion(teaching)andconsolidation(deepening)wasunderstood.Therewasaclear

understandingofwhatneededtobedoneandtheUniversalHouseof

Justicecalled:

Action!

Whydidwegoaboutit?

Theaimofthisplanisraiseourcapacitiesasindividuals,communitiesandinstitutions,sowecouldadvancetheprocessofentrybytroops,whichistheaim

oftheBahworlduntil2021;theendofthefirstcenturyoftheFormativeAge.

So,ifyouaregoingtobearoundforsomeyears,beassuredthatthefocusisnt

goingtochangeanditsgoingtointensify.Readontoseehowyoucanserveand

survive.

*SeeNotes


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TheIndividual(a.k.a.You) .

Yourachievementswerenotedinthe17January2003letterwhereintheUniversalHouseofJusticestatedthefollowing:

o Youarecharacterizedby: Agrowingsenseofinitiative Resourcefulness Courage Andaudacity

o Thequalitiesthatattesttoyourfaith: Consecration Zeal Confidence Andtenacity

Theyalsoacknowledgedthatthetraininginstitutehasplayedarolehere.o Thedevelopmentshaveshownthatthesequenceofcoursesbuildsour

capacityforservice.

BygivingusachancetoputintopracticethespiritualinsightswegainfromstudyingtheWritings.

Thisbodyofknowledgefostersasetof:o Relatedhabitso Attitudeso

Qualities Thathelpsussharpenthoseskillsandabilitiesthatare

neededtocarryouttheactsofservice,aka,thepractices

ofthesebooks.

o Buthowexactlydoweacquirethosecoolskillsandabilities?

BycenteringourdiscussionsinthestudycirclesontheCreativeWordinanatmospherethatis:

Serious& Upliftingwhichthenresultsin:

o RaisingthelevelofourconsciousnessaboutourdutytotheCause.

o Createsanawarenessofthejoywegetfromteachingandservingthefaith.Andthen:

Thespiritualcontextinwhichspecificdeedsareaddressedendowsthemwith

significance.


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Buildsourconfidencetoengageinactsofservicethatare:

Complex Demanding

Andaboveall,ourrelianceonGodwillsustaintheseendeavors.

Andwhenwehaveenteredtheteachingfield,puttingwhatwehavelearnedinpractice:

o Wewillfaceconfirmationsfromallsides.o Seemorepossibilitiesandopportunitiestoteach.o Witnessdivineassistance,firsthand.o Andachieveresultsthatwillexceedour

expectations.Nice!

ButIalreadyknowwhataphenomenaleffecttheWordcanhaveonthosethatencounterit.

True.Butwhatsreallyhearteningtoknowisthattheinstituteprocessistransformingpeopleonalargescale

inhundredsandthousands.

o Andcontinuingthatwithanintenseeffort,myfriend,hasbeenandistheaimofthisFiveYear

Plan.

Iseethepoint,buthowwillitwork?o Thisemphasisoncapacitybuildinggivesbirthtoindividualinitiative

which:

1)Isbasicallyunderstandingtherequirementsofsystematicactionneededtoadvancetheprocessofentrybytroops.

2)Andthenpursuingtheprocesswithapostureoflearningwithin

theframeworkalreadylaidoutforusinthePlan.Thisresultsin:

Harmonizingdiversetalentstomoveforwardinuniteddirection.

Avoidingthewasteofenergyandtimethatiscausedbydebatingoverpersonalpreferencesoveraparticular

approach.

Commitmenttolongtermactiongrows.

Andfinallyputtingallouractivities,nomatterwhatandwhere,inaunifiedcontext.

o Individualinitiativeinaction: Itisclearlydemonstratedinthefieldofteachingbeitinstudy

circlesorfiresides,itsontherise.Why?

Becauseweareequippedwiththe:o Skills&


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o Methods. Thatare:

o Effective&o Accessibletoall.

Weareencouragedbytheresponseouractionshavebroughtasweconverseonthemesofspiritualimportwithpeoplesofallwalksoflife.

Andaswegaingreaterperception,wecan:o Sensereceptivity.o Recognizesoulswaitingtoreceivethemessage.o Seekouttosharewhathasbeensograciously

giventousinourdailyencounterswith:

Parentsofourneighborhoodchildrensclasses.

Peersatschool. Colleaguesatwork. Casualacquaintances.

Andaswegainmoreexperience,wecan:o Adaptourpresentationtotheseekersneeds.o Usedirectteachingmethodsthatincludesthe

Writingstoofferthemessageinawaythatis:

Forthcoming& Inviting.

o Andwhenyouarethere,youhelpothersgetthere Wereachouttoassistotherstowalkontheirpathofserviceby:

Takingupthechallengeandaccompanyingourparticipantsofthestudycirclewejusttutoredto:

o Dotheirpractices.o Start,whenready,theirownstudycircles.Thus:

Wewidenthescopeoftheinstitutesinfluence.

BringmoreeagersoulsincontactwiththeWordofGod.

ContinuouslymultiplythenumberofthosewhosupporttheFaith.

oAndwecontinueuntiltheyhavealongingtoariseindependentlyanddevotetheirenergiesin

awakeningothersoulsandupholdthelawsand

principlesofthisFaith.


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TheCommunity(Youandyourneighbors) .

Basically,thesamecharacteristicsandqualities(talkedaboutintheindividualsection)areevidentinourcommunity.Howmuchofitshows?Well,that

dependsonwhatstageofdevelopmentwearein:

o AdvancedStage:inaclusteratthisstageitisprettyclearastowhatcanbeachieved.

o Earlierstage:Well,atthisstagewearestillstrugglingtolearnhowwecanputthePlanintoaction.

Tomakeiteasier,wecouldlookintoadvancedclusters,humblylistentotheirlearningsandsimplyemulatethem.

Buthowdowemanageallthat?

OnmanyoccasionstheUniversalHouseofJusticereferstothecoherencethatis

broughttotheprocessofgrowthbythefourcoreactivities:

o StudyCircles.o Devotionals.o Childrensclasses.o Jr.Youthgroups(addedrecently.SeeNotes)

Andbecausethesecoreactivitiesare:o Structured&o Organic

Itresultsinasustainablepatternofexpansionandconsolidation.Andasseekers:o Jointheseactivitiesanddeclaretheirfaith,

Wegainmomentumboth: Individually& Collectively.

Andtomakesurethatthesenewsoulsgothroughtheinstitutecoursessoasto:

Increasethepoolofourhumanresources,o Whichthenbringsabouttheconditionstolaunch:

IntensiveProgramsofGrowth(IPGs)

ThePurposeoftheCoreActivities:

Examinationsshowthatthiscoherenceaffectsotheraspectsofcommunitylifebecause:

o Thestudyandapplicationoftheteachingsbecomeahabit.o Devotionalgatheringsgenerateaspiritthatspreadsthroughoutthe

communityscollectiveefforts.

o IntegrationoftheArts: Increasesourenergy,

Whichleadstoourmobilization.


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o ChildrensclassesandJr.YouthgroupsmakeourFaithsrootsstrongatalocallevel.

o Homevisitsbeitinbigorsmallcities: Strengthentherelationshipsofthecommunitymembers. ServeasadeepeningopportunitytolookintotheWritingsand

discusshowtheFaithappliesinourdailylives.

TheresultoftheCoreactivities:

o Thespiritualfoundationsofcommunitiesbecomesstronger: Thelevelofcommunicationrises. Relationshipstakeanewmeaning. Asenseofcommonpurposebecomesthetopicoftheday.

Proveit:o AstudybytheInternationalTeachingCenter(ITC)andothersources

show:

Thatinsuchadvancedclusters,thequalityofNineteenDayFeastshaveimproved.

ThatcontributiontotheFundshasincreased. Thatclusterreflectiongatheringshavebecomeaplacetodiscuss

Ourneeds&plans:o Whichcreatesacollectiveidentity&o Strengthensourcollectivewill.

Andthattheseclustersinfluencespreadsbeyondtheirbordersto:

Regionaleventssuchassummerandwinterschools.

Andthus,asanindividual,whoislearningallthis,youarecalledupontomakesurethatyourlearningsarewovenintodecisionmaking.

Therequirementsofsystematicaction:

Havingseensuccess,weappreciatethissystematicaction.Andtherequirementsthatyourcommunitymustlearnandinternalizeare:

o Toagreeonaunifiedvisionofgrowthwhichisbasedon: Arealisticevaluationofpossibilities& Resources.

o Todevelopstrategiesthatcouldgiveitabetterstructure.o

Tomakeandactonaplanofactionthatisdoable.o Tomakenecessarychangeswhilekeepingitgoing.o Tobuildonouraccomplishments.

Atthesametime,webehavewithadesireandwillingnesstoopenuptothewidercommunity.Andaswewelcomelargenumbersinourcommunity:

o Weseemorepotentialityinpeople.


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o Weavoidsettingupbarriersthatarebasedonourpreconceivednotions.

o Wecreateanenvironmentwhere: Individualsgrowattheirownpace,

Withoutthepressureofunreasonableexpectations.o WebecomeawarethattheFaithis:

Universalforeveryone& Comprehensiveallinclusive.

o Thusourcollectiveactionfocusesongivingthemessage: Liberally& Unconditionally.

Yes,thishasalreadyhappenedinareaswherethereisareceptivepopulation.

o Adeterminedsocialandpoliticalforceissweepingpeopleacrossthecontinents,whichresultsin:

Uncompromisingappreciationfordiversityand Makingeveryonestronger,

o Whichisacrucialelementtotheexpansionandconsolidation.

TheCounselorsandAuxiliaryBoardmemberstaskistokeepusfocused.o Thisabilityisavaluableassetgainedthrough:

Discipline Commitment& Foresight

o Maintainingfocusdoesntmeanwe: Neglectspecialneedsandinterests. Ordropanessentialactivitysowecouldhaveanother,rather:

Werefineanddevelopourcommunitylife.o Ontheotherhand,wearetoprioritizemeaning:

Notallactivitieshavethesamelevelofimportanceatagivenstage.

Somearetogoforwardbeforeothers. Thateventhemostwellintentionedplanorsuggestioncan:

Causedistraction.

Disperseenergy& Delayprogress.

o Wejusthavetorecognizeandacceptthefactthatourtimeisnotunlimited,thus:

ItsonlylogicalthatweshoulddedicateagreatershareofourtimeinadvancingthePlan.Wouldntyousayso?


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TheInstitutions(Thepeopleyouelectedandthepeopletheyappoint)

Noneofourindividualorcommunityaccomplishmentscouldbepossiblewithouttheir:

o Guidanceo Encouragement&o Support

Theinstitutions:o Promoteindividualinitiative.o Channelourenergiesintotheteachingfield.o Pointoutthevalueofsystematicaction.o Fosterthespirituallifeofthecommunity.o Createawelcomingenvironmentforeveryone.

Astheyhelpthecommunitytoremainfocused,theylearninpracticalterms:o Whatitmeanstokeepunityofvisionamongthefriends.o Howtocoordinatethefriendsintheirinitiatives.o Howtodistributeresourcesinaccordancetothepriorities.

Someareasofactivitymayrequireindividualswithspecificskills.Worthyofmentionare:

Externalaffairswork,whichtheNationalAssembliesfollowthoroughly.

Socialandeconomicdevelopmentprojects,undertakenbyBahinspiredorganizations.

Whileattendingtotheseneeds,theinstitutionsfindthemselvescapableofdirectingthegeneralityofthebelieversandtheir

effortstothecentraltasksofthePlan.

Thecomponentsbehindit:

Aswefacethechallengesthatlargescalegrowthpresents,itistheinstitutionsthataredeterminedtoencourageuseverystepoftheway.

Someofusare:o Namedbythetraininginstitutetocoordinatethecourses(akaClusterInstituteCoordinatorCIC)

o Otherstocoordinatechildrensclasses(akaClusterChildrensClassCoordinator).

o AndyetothersJr.Youthgroups(ClusterJr.YouthCoordinators)o AndyetagainothersappointedtotheAreaTeachingCommitteebythe

RegionalCouncilortheNationalAssembliesto:

Administercertainaspectsofoursystematiceffortwhichshouldresultin:

Acceleratedexpansionandconsolidationo AndtheAuxiliaryBoardmembersworkonboth

frontstoensurethatgrowthgoesonunhampered.


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Whilethesecomponentsareinplaceinmanyclusters,wearestilllearning:o Abouttheirfunctions&o Therelationshipsamongthem.

Whatisimportantisthatthecurrentdegreeofflexibility,whichallowsforthecreationofnewinstrumentsasneeded,notbecompromisedsothattheschemeofcoordinationrepresentsaresponsetothedemandsofgrowthitself.

o WedependupontheCounselorsandtheNationalAssembliestoguideusthroughtheprocess.

LocalSpiritualAssemblies

TherecentdevelopmentshavehadtwotypesofeffectsontheAssemblies:o InclusterswheretheAssemblieshavebeenweak,theyareassuming

responsibilitiesandguidingcertainpartsofthePlan.

o AssembliesthathaveembracedthePlanareshowingsignsofaddedstrength

Oftenafteraperiodofadjustmentsinwhichsomestruggled.

GatheringMomentum

Thewholeprocessisgatheringmomentumineveryareabeiturbanorrural:o Certainlargecitiesweredividedinto

Sectorswhichmayneedtobeultimatelydividedintoo NeighborhoodsineachofwhichtheFeastis

conducted.

o KeepinginmindthesizeoffuturecommunitiesisessentialforthedevelopmentofLocalAssemblies.

Asmembershipgrowstothousands,theAssemblieswillgothroughintenseperiodsoflearning. Andifthecircumstancesdemand,theUniversalHouseofJustice

mayauthorize:

AtwostageelectoralprocessapatterndevelopedinTihrnduringtheministryoftheGuardian.

IntensiveProgramsofGrowththissectionofthePlanwillbepublishedseparatelyif,

ofcourse,timepermitsandyoufindthishelpful.


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Theyearahead(20102011)

IntheRivn2010messagetheUniversalHouseofJusticeannouncedtheachievement

ofourgoal:establishing1,500intensiveprogramsofgrowthworldwide,oneyearin

advance.

Withafullyearathand,wearegiventheopportunitytostrengthenourcommunitiesin

preparationforthetasksthatwewillundertakeinthenextglobalenterprise(aka,the

20112016FiveYearPlan).

ToseehowthecurrentPlanhasunfoldedsofarandwhereweareheadedtointheyear

tocome,youmayreadtheRivn2010message*.

Whatneedstohappenwithinthenexttwelvemonths?

Refertothefollowingparagraphstoreadwhatneedstobedonehowandwhoneedstodowhat:

IntensiveProgramsofGrowth Paragraph6

TheIndividualandInstitutions Paragraph7

StudyCircles Paragraph11

CoreActivitiesandaccompaniment Paragraph12

ChildrensClasses Paragraph15

Jr.YouthGroups Paragraph18

TheInstitutions Paragraph24

Whatelseneedstohappenwithinthenexttwelvemonths?

Atthisstage,wearetoreflectonthenatureofthecontributionsourcommunitieshave

madetothesocietyandbegintothinkabouttwointerconnectedactivities:

1)Involvementinsocialaction&

2)Participationintheprevalentdiscoursesofsociety.

Whatdoesthatmean?

Refertoparagraphs2533oftheRivn2010messagetoseehowtheUniversalHouse

ofJusticeexplainsit.

*SeeNotes


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Notes(thingsexplainedfurther)

FormativeAge:

TheFormativeAgereferstoatimeperiodthatbeganwiththepassingof

AbdulBahthatmarkedtheendoftheHeroicAgeinwhichtheCentralFigureslived.

ItwilllastuntiltheGoldenAgeisestablishedandconsistsofseveralepochs,whichso

farhaverangedsomewherebetween15and25years.

TrainingInstitute

Intheir28December2005message,theUniversalHouseofJusticeadoptedthe

curriculumoftheRuhiInstitutetobeusedworldwide.Readthemessagetolearnwhy!

Rivn2010message

ThemessageisavailableinmanylanguagesviatheofficialBah'websitesorcanbe

obtainedinprintfromyourLocalSpiritualAssembly.TheEnglishversionis11pagesin

length,consistsofthreesectionsand33paragraphs.

Simplyclosing,toreallyseeallofthisinactionyouhavetohitthefield;sowhenyou

takeoff,callsomeoneandbeaccompaniedoraccompany.


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a simple companion to the five year plan

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