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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