Four Core Activities
Like thousands of Bahá’í communities in every country around the world, the Mississauga Bahá’í community carries out four “core activities.” These activities bring people together to study and put into practice what Bahá’ís call the “two-fold moral purpose” of all human beings: to better themselves, and to better the society around them. The activities are free and open to all, and Bahá’ís often invite their friends and neighbors of all religions (or no religion) to join these conversations.
Devotional Gatherings
While individual prayer connects every person with the Creator, sharing prayers as a group strengthens unity and encourages more profound conversations. Bahá’ís host informal devotionals that can take different shapes. In some rural towns, neighbors will gather at the break of dawn to pray together before taking to the fields. In large cities, families living in the same building will meet in the evenings after work to pray. Sometimes stories are shared, and sometimes music plays a large role in enhancing the spiritual nature of the gathering. Depending on the customs and interests of each meeting, the devotional can change. They often include readings from the Bahá’í Writings and other traditions, but the purpose remains the same: to unite the souls of all those present through the power of prayer.
Children’s Classes
The Bahá’í community offers classes for all children to uplift and transform the human spirit. Lessons explore spiritual qualities such as generosity, justice, kindness, courage, truthfulness and service to humanity. These virtues, common to every religious and moral teaching, help children navigate through different challenges as they grow. The profound effect these concepts have on children is evident: their capacity to communicate their feelings is improved, their belief in their own capacity is heightened, and their ability to distinguish good and bad is strengthened. Bahá’í classes share these lessons through storytelling, memorizing inspiring quotations, games, songs and art.
Junior Youth Groups
Crucial to the destiny of any community is its youth, especially those between the ages of 11 and 15 – what Bahá’ís call “junior youth.” They are at an important point of transition from childhood to adulthood, and are bursting with potential. But they are also particularly vulnerable to the negative influences of materialism, fear and prejudice. In response to this, the Bahá’í community has developed the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program, which aims to help junior youth harness their potential and use their energies for the benefit of the world around them. Through study, they learn to identify the influences that surround them while developing their spiritual strengths. Through acts of service – which can be anything from cleaning litter on a nearby street to organizing classes for younger children – junior youth become empowered to make decisions that benefit them and the community around them, not only materially, but also spiritually.
Study Circles
Every person, no matter the level of education, family background or race, has the ability to contribute to society. But, the world has very few spaces where people from all walks of life can come together to talk about spiritual topics, educate themselves on community-building strategies, and become friends with a shared purpose. The Bahá’í community developed a series of courses to respond to this pressing need. A study circle is a small group that typically meets once a week for a few hours, usually in the home of one of its members, to study about spiritual and personal empowerment. Everyone, whether a Bahá’í or not, is welcome to take part. The group is brought together by a tutor, although tutors do not hold any special status. They are simply people who are further along in their study of the materials. Everyone who participates can potentially serve as a tutor. All those who participate are in charge of their own learning, and tutors create an atmosphere that encourages individuals to take ownership of the group.