Aspects of the Bahá'í Institute processes
The institute process is an educational process which is characterized by the development of both spiritual insights and practical skills of service, accomplished through structured collective study of Bahá’í teachings. The institute process is promoted by training institutes, which gives the process its name, and is carried out by groups (study circles) who study a set of materials with the help of a tutor. The ultimate goal of the institute process is to empower participants spiritually and morally by helping them build their capacity to engage in acts of service to humanity.
Study Circles
The Ruhi Institute main sequence of courses is intended to be used as a systematic effort to enhance the capacity of youth and adults to serve their communities. Reflects on the life of the sprit is the first in the sequence of courses and covers the subjects of: Understanding the Bahá’í writings, Prayer, and Life and Death. This book is free to download.
Devotional Gatherings
Devotional meetings spring up naturally in a community where a conversation about the spiritual dimension of human existence is growing. In diverse settings, Bahá’ís and their friends and families unite with one another in prayer. There are no rituals; no one individual has any special role. Meetings consist largely of reading prayers and passages from the Bahá’í sacred texts in an informal yet respectful atmosphere. A spirit of communal worship is generated by these simple gatherings, and this spirit begins to permeate the community’s collective endeavours.
Junior Youth Empowerment Program
Since its inception, the Ruhi Institute has attached special importance to its work with youth aged 12 to 15; specifically, it has sought to understand the dynamics of maintaining small groups in local communities that offer a setting in which young people can discuss ideas and form a strong moral identity.
Children Classes
Lessons for Bahá’í children’s classes, beginning with Grade 1 for those aged 5 or 6, are presented in the context of teacher training. While people everywhere are eager to have their children participate in classes for their spiritual education, experience has shown that the challenge lies in training an adequate number of teachers to meet this demand. The Ruhi Institute is developing a set of courses that branch out from Book 3 for training teachers to conduct classes for children up to the age of 11 or 12.