A call to build 'spiritual havens'

A most joyous gathering at the Bahá’í Centre in Manurewa, Auckland, on Saturday 23 November brought together adults, youth, children and families from across the Auckland region and beyond, to reflect on the importance of building vibrant, supportive communities.

Mr. Dinesh Kumar, a member of the International Teaching Centre, visiting from Haifa, provided a loving address and encouraged all to embrace their role in creating "spiritual havens" in their neighbourhoods, as places of refuge amidst the challenges of today’s world. Members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Australasia, Ms Tessa Scrine, Mr Daniel Pierce and Mr Vahid Saberi, were also in attendance.

Mr Kumar began his address by acknowledging the unique potential of the Auckland cluster, describing its cultural diversity, as was evident in the wonderful opening devotions offered in many different languages. With warmth and wisdom, he called upon the friends to serve the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh with the passionate devotion of “moth-like lovers of the Light” — likening this spirit to the “God-intoxicated heroes” who paved the way before us in the early days of the Faith in Auckland — and here referencing the first believer in New Zealand and the Antipodes, Margaret Stevenson.

Central to his message was the call to build “spiritual havens” in every neighbourhood, places where individuals and families can find hope amidst despair, and a refuge from the growing challenges of the world. Mr. Kumar highlighted the concept of a nucleus of a group of families as the foundation of these “spiritual havens”. These emerging communities, he explained, are places where hearts are enkindled with the love of God and where families collaborate to uplift society. He spoke of the hope of these emerging nuclei of families, and how, over the remaining course of the Nine Year Plan, we will see many of these nuclei form across each cluster and country in the world. He took this opportunity to remind us that the activities of the institute process—study circles, children’s classes, junior youth groups, and devotional gatherings—are instruments to achieve this broader goal of transforming society.

To ground this vision of “spiritual havens”, Mr. Kumar referenced this excerpt from a tablet of Bahá’u’lláh:

“What refuge is there beside Thee, O my Lord, to which I can flee, and where is there a haven to which I can hasten? Nay, the power of Thy might beareth me witness! No protector is there but Thee, no place to flee to except Thee, no refuge to seek save Thee. Cause me to taste, O my Lord, the divine sweetness of Thy remembrance and praise. I swear by Thy might! Whosoever tasteth of its sweetness will rid himself of all attachment to the world and all that is therein, and will set his face towards Thee, cleansed from the remembrance of any one except Thee.”

Mr. Kumar’s address was inspiring and deeply motivating. He shared three case studies, one of a thriving junior youth initiative in a small rural town in Scotland, another in Brisbane, Australia where groups of families were emerging in a similar setting to that seen in Auckland, and a third from Papua New Guinea, where the emergence of the Faith’s impact on the wider community sees a Local Assembly playing a vital role in its support and guidance.

He warmly encouraged attendees to reflect deeply on the Ridván 2024 message, saying, “Don’t file it away—keep it close and act upon it.” He stressed the urgent need to create communities characterised by unity, love, and spiritual radiance, and urged us all to shift our perspective from asking, “What can I do for the Faith?” to “What does the Faith need from me?”

The gathering concluded with a beautifully prepared luncheon, offering a chance for fellowship among the participants. The uplifting spirit of Mr. Kumar’s talk carried through into this social portion, as friends shared in conversations their common vision of building “spiritual havens” in their neighbourhoods.

The Ridván 2024 message, which was a focal point of the day’s address, is available for download at the button below, along with a photo gallery capturing the warmth and joy of the gathering.

Ridván 2024 message