Ruhi
A study circle is a handful of friends, a tutor and a book — reading the Baha'i writings together and putting what they find into practice.
Ruhi Institute Training
What is Ruhi?
Ruhi Books are a series of educational books, normally led in study circles, designed by the Ruhi Institute to enhance the capacity of individuals walking in the path of service to humanity.
The sequence is has three cycles, each one concerned with the spiritual and moral empowerment of individuals from a particular perspective.
Books 1 to 7 are centered on the practice of the freedom the individual enjoys to undertake acts of service within the framework of the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith and the guidance provided by its institutions. Book 8 begins a cycle of courses dedicated to the individual and the community, which are followed by the third cycle focusing on the individual and society. The main sequence of courses is suitable for adults 15 years of age or older.
Book 1 Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
The first book in the sequence of courses is largely concerned with the question of identity. What is the real identity of the “I” in the sentence “I walk a path of service”? Three aspects of individual identity are explored in the book: “The reality of my existence is my soul which passes through this world to acquire the attributes it needs for an eternal and glorious journey towards God. My most cherished moments are those spent in communion with God, for prayer is the daily nourishment that my soul must receive if it is to accomplish its exalted purpose. One of my principal concerns in this life is to study the Holy Writings, strive to increase my understanding of the divine teachings, and learn to apply them to my own daily life and to the life of the community.” The book consists of the units “Understanding the Bahá’í Writings”, “Prayer”, and “Life and Death”. It encourages those who study it to take a first step on the path of service by hosting a meeting for prayer and worship in their home.
Units in Book 1:
- Unit 1: Understanding the Baha'i Writings — reading the revealed Word together and letting it shape daily life.
- Unit 2: Prayer — the nature of prayer, obligatory prayer, and hosting a gathering for worship.
- Unit 3: Life and Death — the soul, its progress after death, and the purpose of this earthly life.
Book 2 Arising to Serve
Book 2 of the main sequence considers what it means to walk a path of service. It consists of three units. The first explores the nature of the joy one derives from serving others, while the next two focus on the knowledge, abilities and qualities needed to enter into conversations that are uplifting to the mind and spirit. The ability to elevate day-to-day conversations by introducing spiritual principles, when the occasion calls for it, is addressed in the second unit. The third, then, turns to community life. Visiting friends and neighbors in their homes to discuss themes central to spiritual and social existence—the second act of service encouraged in the main sequence—strengthens ties of unity and fellowship, so essential to collective life. The three units are entitled: “The Joy of Teaching”, “Uplifting Conversations”, and “Deepening Themes”.
Units in Book 2:
- Unit 1: The Joy of Teaching — sharing the Faith as an act of love and service.
- Unit 2: Deepening Themes — presenting central themes of the Faith in simple conversation.
- Unit 3: Introducing Baha'i Beliefs — visiting homes and speaking about the Faith with friends and neighbours.
Book 3 Teaching Children’s Classes, Grade 1
The third act of service addressed by the Ruhi Institute is in the area of the spiritual education of children. The education of children is essential to the transformation of society. Book 3 focuses on some of the knowledge, skills and qualities necessary for those wishing to enter this important field of service. It consists of two units, “Some Principles of Bahá’í Education” and “Lessons for Children’s Classes, Grade 1”. The first unit examines certain principles and concepts inherent to education from a Bahá’í point of view. It also discusses how a teacher can manage a class with a great deal of love and understanding and, at the same time, with the discipline necessary to create a proper learning environment. The second unit offers a set of twenty-four lessons intended to foster the development of spiritual qualities in small children—qualities like honesty, generosity, and trustworthiness. Some preparatory material for teachers is also included.
Units in Book 3:
- Unit 1: Some Principles of Baha'i Education — the spiritual nature of the child and the aim of moral education.
- Unit 2: Lessons for Children's Classes, Grade 1 — memorization, songs, stories, drama and craft.
- Unit 3: Conducting Classes for Children — preparing lessons and welcoming children of the neighbourhood.
Book 4 The Twin Manifestations
Book 4 in the main sequence returns to the question of identity, the “I” in the statement “I walk a path of service”. History shapes much of the identity of individuals, as well as entire peoples. The second and third units in the book are dedicated to the study of the life history of Bahá’u’lláh, the Author of the Bahá’í Faith, and His Forerunner, the Báb. In the first unit, the significance of this Day is briefly examined. Seeing clearly the elements that characterize the past enables individuals to contribute more effectively to shaping the future.
Units in Book 4:
- Unit 1: The Greatness of This Day — the Day of God and the station of the Manifestations.
- Unit 2: The Life of the Bab — His declaration, His teachings and His martyrdom.
- Unit 3: The Life of Baha'u'llah — His sufferings, His exiles and the Revelation He brought.
Book 5 Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth
This book has a special place in the sequence of the Ruhi Institute. According to the Bahá’í teachings, an individual reaches the age of maturity at 15, when spiritual and moral obligations become binding. The years immediately before this age, then, take on special significance. This is the time when fundamental concepts about individual and collective life are formulated in the mind of an adolescent struggling to leave behind the habits of childhood. Youth between the ages of 12 and 15 have much to say, and whoever treats them as children misses the opportunity to help them form a proper identity. The three units that make up Book 5 focus on some of the concepts, skills, qualities, and attitudes that experience has shown are required by those wishing to implement a program for the spiritual empowerment of junior youth.
Units in Book 5:
- Unit 1: The Spiritual Empowerment of Junior Youth — the decisive age between 11 and 15.
- Unit 2: Becoming an Animator of Junior Youth Groups — friendship, trust and the role of the animator.
- Unit 3: Accompanying Groups of Junior Youth — the power of expression, service projects and group life.
Book 6 Teaching the Cause
People from every background are welcome to explore the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and learn how they can apply them to better their lives. All Bahá’ís, then, share liberally and unconditionally the teachings and precepts of their Faith. Although the propagation of Bahá’u’lláh’s message is one of the most essential services to be rendered, teaching is also a natural expression of a state of being—a state in which one is moved to share with others the knowledge and joy one finds in His Revelation. This concept is explored in the first unit of Book 6, “The Spiritual Nature of Teaching”. It takes as its premise the understanding that “being” and “doing” are inseparable aspects of a spiritual life. The second and third units, “Qualities and Attitudes Essential for Teaching” and “The Act of Teaching”, take this premise further. The second unit considers how one’s inner state contributes to, and is strengthened by, one’s efforts in the field of service, while the third looks at how the act of teaching should be approached. Of particular significance is the example offered in the third unit, through the story of Anna and Emilia, of how to introduce the Faith to someone who knows little about it.
Units in Book 6:
- Unit 1: The Spiritual Nature of Teaching — teaching as the chief obligation and a spiritual act.
- Unit 2: Qualities and Attitudes of the Teacher — knowledge, attitudes and skills of one who teaches.
- Unit 3: The Act of Teaching — direct conversations about the Faith with respect and detachment.
Book 7 Walking Together on a Path of Service
Book 7 is dedicated to an act of service crucial to the functioning of the Ruhi Institute itself, namely, helping a group of individuals go through the initial six courses in the sequence. That individuals accompany one another on a path of service to their communities is central to the process of capacity building set in motion by the courses. The first unit of the book, “The Spiritual Path,” raises awareness of the spiritual dynamics of advancing along a path of service and increases understanding of the forces at work. The second unit, “Becoming a Tutor of Books 1–6,” examines some of the concepts, attitudes, skills and abilities that contribute to the capability of helping a group of friends to go through the earlier courses. This is generally done by bringing together eight or ten people in what is termed a “study circle”. The third unit, “Promoting the Arts at the Grassroots,” is designed to create appreciation for the role of artistic endeavors in the activity of a study circle.
Units in Book 7:
- Unit 1: The Spiritual Path — the twofold moral purpose and walking a path of service.
- Unit 2: Becoming a Tutor of Books 1 to 6 — the role of the tutor and the practice of study circles.
- Unit 3: Promoting the Arts of Study and Service — forming and sustaining study circles.
Book 8 The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh
This book discusses how the unifying power inherent in the covenant instituted by Bahá’u’lláh enables those who embrace His teachings, the communities they build, and the institutions they raise to act as a force of unity. One important concept treated is the imperative need for a “center” in the preservation of unity. That Bahá’u’lláh, through His covenant, has established this center is an essential idea addressed in the first unit, and its implications are drawn out further in the next two, in the discussion of the features of the administrative order through which the affairs of the Bahá’í community are governed. For those galvanized by the vision of a just and peaceful world set out in the Bahá’í teachings, the study of this book will, it is hoped, strengthen their resolve in walking a path of service to their fellow human beings.
Units in Book 8:
- Unit 1: The Centre of the Covenant — 'Abdu'l-Baha and the Covenant of Baha'u'llah.
- Unit 2: The Guardian of the Cause of God — Shoghi Effendi and the unfoldment of the Divine Plan.
- Unit 3: The Universal House of Justice — the Administrative Order and the present series of global plans.
Further courses: Books 9 to 14
After Book 8, the main sequence continues with courses that the Ruhi Institute is still releasing. Some are available as pre-publication editions through a training institute, and others are still being written. Here is what each one covers.
In the United States, Books 9 and above are pre-publication materials rather than regular bookstore titles. Palabra Publications supplies them at cost to study circles, and copies are requested through your regional training institute coordinator.
Book 9: Gaining an Historical Perspective
Pre-publication edition, three units
The ninth course builds a historical consciousness of the unfoldment of the Faith and of humanity's collective passage to maturity.
- Unit 1: The Eternal Covenant — God as an unknowable essence, the spiritual faculties of the soul, the love of God as the source of creation, and progressive revelation as explained in the Kitab-i-Iqan.
- Unit 2: Passage to Maturity — The effect of Baha'u'llah's Revelation on the collective life of humanity, and the part a community plays in advancing the civilization He envisaged.
- Unit 3: A Sacred Enterprise — How societal change is pursued without partisan politics or conflict: a Baha'i view of history, the nature of power, capacity building in the individual, the community and its institutions, accompaniment and continuity of action.
Book 10: Building Vibrant Communities
Pre-publication edition, three units
Accompanying one another on a path of service, consultation, and service on an Area Teaching Committee are the themes of the tenth course.
- Unit 1: Accompanying one another on the path of service — The concept and the daily practice of accompaniment.
- Unit 2: Consultation — The characteristics of Baha'i consultation compared with secular decision making, and the unity of vision and action it seeks.
- Unit 3: Dynamics of service on an Area Teaching Committee — Accompaniment and consultation applied to service on Baha'i agencies and institutions.
Book 11: Material Means
Pre-publication edition, three units
The eleventh course explores the relationship between material means and the spiritual principles of a truly prosperous society.
- Unit 1: Giving — the spiritual basis of prosperity — Wealth and its rightful acquisition and expenditure, and the qualities of a generous heart: detachment, justice, forbearance and sacrifice.
- Unit 2: The Institution of the Fund — The means required to advance the civilization-building work under way, trust and reliance on God, the spirit of sacrifice, universal participation, and the role of the Baha'i Fund.
- Unit 3: The Law of Huququ'llah — The significance of the law for the individual and for society, and a commitment to discharge this sacred obligation.
Book 12: Family and the Community
In development, Unit 1 in pre-publication
The twelfth course treats the family as a fundamental unit of society and the mainstay of community life.
- Unit 1: Baha'i marriage — The basic concepts of Baha'i marriage gleaned from the writings.
- Units 2 and 3: Conversations among families — Beginning and sustaining conversations among groups of families, first on raising children and then on the coherence between spiritual and material life — a question of particular weight for youth who will soon form families of their own.
Book 13: Engaging in Social Action
In development, two units in pre-publication
The thirteenth course concerns social and economic development that grows out of community building at the grassroots.
- Unit 1: Stirrings at the Grassroots — How social action arises naturally as capacity for service grows in a neighbourhood or village.
- Unit 2: Elements of a Conceptual Framework — The framework guiding development practice: the nature and scope of social action, spiritual principle, justice, the equality of women and men, science and religion as sources of knowledge, and the evolution of society.
Book 14: Participating in Public Discourse
In development, Unit 1 in pre-publication
The fourteenth course prepares participants to contribute to the prevalent conversations of society on questions of common concern.
- Unit 1: The Nature of Our Contributions — What public discourse entails and which spaces serve it, drawing on the writings of Baha'u'llah, 'Abdu'l-Baha and the Guardian and the messages of the Universal House of Justice, weighing prevailing views and theories, and the commitment to end prejudice in all its forms.
Books 1 to 8 are published and can be ordered directly. For Books 9 and above, start with Palabra Publications or your regional training institute.
Ruhi FAQs
Common questions about the courses, how the units work, and how to get hold of the books.
- What are the Ruhi courses?
- The Ruhi Institute courses are a sequence of study materials used in study circles: a small group of friends meets with a tutor, reads passages from the Bahá'í writings together, talks about what they mean and then puts them into practice through acts of service. Everyone is welcome, whatever their background or beliefs, and there is no cost to take part.
- How are the books and units organised?
- Each book is divided into units, and each unit into short sections with quotations, questions and practical exercises. A unit usually takes a few gatherings to complete. Book 1 has three units on prayer, life and death, and sharing the Bahá'í teachings; later books follow the same pattern, adding a practice component such as visiting families, teaching a children's class or accompanying junior youth.
- Do I have to study the books in order?
- Yes, the main sequence is designed to be studied in order, starting with Book 1. Each course builds on the capabilities developed in the one before it, and some books, such as Books 3, 5 and 7, prepare participants for a specific act of service.
- How long does a study circle take?
- Most study circles meet once a week for about two hours, in a home, a community space or online. A single book generally takes a few weeks to a few months, depending on how often the group meets and how much time it spends on the practice parts.
- Where can I buy Ruhi Books 1 to 8?
- Books 1 to 8 are published and can be ordered directly. In the United States they are available from Palabra Publications, the Ruhi Institute's North American publisher, and from the Bahá'í Bookstore.
- How do I request Ruhi Books 9 to 14 through Palabra Publications?
- Books 9 and above are pre-publication materials in development rather than regular bookstore titles, so they are not sold as individual products. Palabra Publications supplies them at cost to institutes and study circles through its Materials in Development page, and requests are made by a regional training institute coordinator rather than by individuals. Ask the coordinator serving your area to order the copies your study circle needs; they confirm the group is ready for that course and place the request with Palabra.
- Do I need a tutor, and can I become one?
- A study circle is accompanied by a tutor who helps the group read carefully and carry out the practice. Book 7, Walking Together on a Path of Service, prepares participants to serve as tutors, so today's participants often accompany the next group.
- How do I join a study circle near me?
- Get in touch through the contact details on this site and we will connect you with a study circle in your area, or help start a new one with a few friends.
Primary sources for the Baha'i writings quoted on this site are published in the Baha'i Reference Library.