Bahá'ís and their friends have recently begun taking courses offered by Institutes around the world that aim to essentially spiritualize. But there is more to it than that so here are some commonly asked questions and answers (provided by the Oklahoma/Arkansas/Texas Regional Training Institute)

Q: What is the purpose of the institute process?

A: The purpose is to connect hearts to the Sacred Writings and "to ensure that the essential deepening of new believers is not neglected, that they develop the necessary skills to effectively teach the Faith, and that an opportunity is provided for all Bahá'ís, new and veteran, to embark on a systematic study of the fundamental verities of the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh." (Universal House of Justice, Ridván 153)

Q: Why is the institute process important?

A: "The institute has become central to the life of the community and is beginning to generate human resources to a degree that was not imagined at the outset of the Plan. Clearly it is the institute process that is at the core of the coherent vision that is guiding us in advancing the process of entry by troops."  (International Teaching Centre, 2000 Feb, Training Institutes and Systematic Growth, p. 15) ('Entry by troops' is Bahai parlance for guiding others to embrace the Faith - violence, protests, insurgency, war, and aggression are strictly forbidden in the Baha'i Faith]

"You know well that the driving force behind growth in every cluster is the training institute." (Universal House of Justice, January 17, 2002)

 "The training institutes have imparted the necessary 'spiritual insights,' 'knowledge,' and 'skills' that have enabled the believers to 'facilitate the process of entry by troops with efficiency and love.'" (Building Momentum, 4.3)

"The Five Year Plan… requires concentrated and sustained attention to two essential movements. The first is the steady flow of believers through the sequence of courses offered by training institutes, for the purpose of developing human resources of the Cause. The second, which receives its impetus from the first, is the movement of geographic clusters from one stage of growth to the next." (Dec 22, 2001, Universal House of Justice)

Q: What is a study circle?

A: A study circle consists of Bahá'ís, their friends and individuals who are seeking to enrich their spiritual life through study of Sacred Writings, prayer, the purpose of life and the journey of the soul. The participants of the study circle meet regularly at a central location or at an individual's home to study the Sacred Writings and participate in service and extracurricular activities that bind the group together in fellowship.

"A distinguishing feature of study circles is that in many countries, and across diverse cultures, they have created a new dynamic within the community and have become nuclei of community life and catalysts for teaching, service, and community development. In addition to study of the institute courses, the members of the study circle, both Bahá'ís and non-Bahá'ís often participate in service and extracurricular activities that bind the group together in fellowship and attract others to this mode of learning." (International Teaching Centre, 2000 Feb, Training Institutes and Systematic Growth, p. 8)

"Inviting friends and relatives to participate in study circles is to be encouraged as an effective method of teaching the Faith." (International Teaching Center, January 7, 2002)

Q: What is an intensive course?

A: It is an "… intensive series of classes… given at the local level over a period of a few weeks…" (International Teaching Centre, 2000 Feb, Training Institutes and Systematic Growth, p. 7)

Q: Who can participate?

A: "It is evident, then, that a systematic approach to training has created a way for Bahá'ís to reach out to the surrounding society, share Bahá'u'lláh's message with friends, family, neighbors and coworkers, and expose them to the richness of His teachings." (Universal House of Justice, January 17, 2003)

"Indeed, the participation of seekers in these activities, at the invitation of their Bahá'í friends, has lent a new dimension to their purposes, consequently effecting new enrolments…" (Universal House of Justice, Ridván 159, 2002)

"Many mature and deepened believers are participating in the institute process, both as students and as teachers of various courses, in an effort to contribute directly to the promotion of entry by troops in their respective countries." (Universal House of Justice, May 31, 2001)

Q: What is Martin's expert opinion about all of this?

I knew so little before I did the course that it was astonishing! Going through the sequence of courses created a special bond with other members of the community and was the one weekly event that I looked forward to while attending University. It gave me the knowledge and the skills to better serve mankind. This is something that everyone can do and get something out of it - from a handful of facts to complete transformation. There is nothing that I can vouch for more, in this contingent universe, than the concept of these courses at this time in humanity's tumultuous coming of age.

Q: Whom do I contact to support the institute process or join a study circle?

A: Any Baha'i in your area, no matter which country or remote region you may reside in, should be able to point you toward a Book 1 study circle (covering prayers and the life of the soul).