05/23/2008
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05/25/2008
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Devotional Gatherings
Shahla and Victor Ali
This session is a hands on opportunity to practice planning and inviting friends to devotional gatherings. We will examine the recent guidance from the Universal House of Justice and the International Teaching Center regarding devotional gatherings. We will share stories and look at what has been learned throughout the world on this core activity described as "essential to the spiritual life of the community." We will explore ideas and possibilities for enhancing the environment, finding uplifting music, and thematic passages. We will then practice by working together to plan a devotional gathering, create an invitation card, role play inviting friends, and finally invite local neighbors to attend!
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05/23/2008
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05/25/2008
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Seekers Weekend
Dr. Sateh and Dr. Ghasem Bayat
The “seekers’ sessions” introduce the participants to the Baha’i Faith in a friendly, loving and caring way at the deeply spiritual setting of the Bosch School. Presentations cover different aspects of the Faith, using the initial survey of the participants’ interests at the start of each session, while the devotionals and the prayerful attitudes at the sessions and the social interactions in the course of the session create the environment that opens the hearts and minds to the healing message of Baha’u’llah.
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05/29/2008
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06/01/2008
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IRFAN Colloquium
Various Presenters
Irfan Colloquium, conducted simultaneously in English and Persian in two separate halls, is a special opportunity for the participants to benefit from a series of scholarly presentations on the Writings of the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith.
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06/13/2008
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06/15/2008
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Becoming His True Mirrors: Living the Images of Love in the Baha'i Writings
Keyvan Geula
This session will assist the freinds to live the life and be more effective teachers of the Faith to help win the goals of the 5 Year Plan. Mrs. Geula will assist the participants to explore the powers of the images, metaphors and parables in the Bahá’í Writings on the human brain in the light of the new findings in neuroscience and mirror neurons.
The participants will learn:
• How a daily and intimate relationship with the Divine Manifestation of God affects the brain, the way we feel about ourselves and all our other relationships.
• How religion and science can be integrated to teach us about the ways we can know and find ourselves.
• How we may harmonize our thoughts, our views and our feelings with the Will of the Beloved and become His true mirrors; our true selves.
• How the daily reading and application of the Writings help us transforms our character, helping us to truly love and be the cause of joy and happiness to all we come in contact with.
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06/13/2008
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06/15/2008
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Before You Send the Invitations: An Experiential Workshop for Couples Considering Marriage
Jenny Silber and Jon Butah
We will closely examine and reflect on Abdu’l-Bahá’s guidance to "exercise the utmost care and become acquainted with each other's character." What is character? What is the role of character in Bahá’í life? What do I know about my own character? About the character of my prospective marriage partner? Can we support each other's character development over time? The workshop will be led by Jenny Silber Butah, licensed psychotherapist, and Jon Butah, a writer and consultant.
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06/21/2008
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06/25/2008
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Persian-American Session - "Direct Teaching: From Anna's Presentation to Community Consolidation"
A concurrent Persian and English language study of direct individual and collective teaching and the many ramifications of what direct teaching actually means, against passive and indirect models. Many of the friends are not familiar with how this works, therefore a goal of this session is to clarify that “direct teaching” simply entails being direct in telling about the Bahá’í Faith and Bahá’u’lláh. Participants will practice 4 primary means of direct teaching, each of which will be practiced and role played. This session will be informed largely by an appreciation, understanding, and internalization of the Book 6 component “Anna’s Presentation.”
A discussion of consolidation will follow on how to bring new Bahá’ís from the stage of declarant to an active and connected member of the Bahá’í community through the Institutes, personal devotion, and community activity.
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06/21/2008
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06/25/2008
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Special Ruhi Intensive, Book 3A: Teaching Children's Classes Grade 2
Ruth and Hamilton Breton Sponsored by the Regional Baha'i Council of the Southwestern States
Ruhi Book 3A: Teaching Children's Classes, Grade 2 is the second in a series in the area of the spiritual education of children and youth. It follows Book 3 and, in many ways, is a continuation of it. It offers thirty lessons for youngsters entering the second year of a Baha'i educational program, which the teacher is expected to apply to the particular circumstances of his or her class. The material in the book is also intended to help those who, though not interested in teaching formal classes, wish to develop some of the skills related to child education and gain a more profound understanding of its dynamics.
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06/27/2008
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06/29/2008
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Developing an Outward-Looking Orientation
Kaveh Shahidi
Let us together, come and study the relevant guidance on reaching out to our friends, neighbors, families and coworkers. We will also engage in role-playing to practice on the introduction to the Baha’i Faith (Anna’s presentation). We will then divide ourselves into teaching teams, receive maps and materials, strategic objectives, and carry out home visits in pre-selected neighborhoods. Afterward, we will reflect on our experiences and learn to evaluate our efforts objectively and constructively. Finally we will learn to make personal teaching plans for our home clusters.
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07/05/2008
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07/09/2008
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Children's Academy
Bosch Baha'i School
This year's Children's Academy will not only cover lessons and activities about Baha'i history and teachings, but will also assist your child to become familiarized with the Five-Year Plan and how even children can contribute remarkably to its success.
For children entering 4th, 5th, and 6th grades only.
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07/11/2008
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07/16/2008
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Persian Session
Dr. Farhad Sabetan, Dr. Farzaneh Kafi, Dr. Fridoon Rahimi
This session is almost full. Please call to register. We are no longer able to receive registrations online.
Dr Sabetan’s and Dr. Kafi’s courses will aim at familiarizing guests with the role of the Persian believers, especially as it relates to the Five Year Plan of the Universal House of Justice. Specifically, these talks will be designed to enhance the knowledge, insight, and skills of the Iranian Bahá'ís in the United States so that they can fully engage the life of the community in which they live in order to advance the process of entry by troops. As such, they will be encouraged to understand the institute process better and return to their home community with a renewed commitment to participate in the core activities. Selections from the Sacred Writings such as the Seven Valleys, and Tabernacle of Unity will also be presented in light of their application in our daily lives.
Dr. Rahimi will discuss the significance of the new culture of learning offered by the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'i community and to the world at large; the vision of growth and the new culture of growth, the significance of the process of entry by troops, the dynamics of the culture of change, the urgent need for development of human resources, and the proper mechanism for this development; the effect of the institute process on individuals, communities and institutions; teaching – direct and indirect methodologies; and the dynamics of the Ruhi sequence of courses.
The weekend keynote addresses will be delivered by Continental Counsellor Dr. Farzin Aghdasi, and National Spiritual Assembly member Dr. Muin Afnani.
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07/18/2008
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07/24/2008
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Bosch Academy
Mr. Ed Diliberto and Mrs. Angie Allen
The aim of the Academy is to prepare Bahá’í young adults over a six-day course of study to better serve the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. The educational program creates an orderly, disciplined environment designed to sharpen the student’s mental and spiritual faculties and add to his or her physical capabilities.
This special program is for high school graduates only. Space is very limited.
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07/19/2008
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07/24/2008
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Family Session: Developing a Family Approach to the Five-Year Plan
A multigenerational perspective to the 5YP using the home as a starting point for reflections on the family’s role in teaching the Faith and supporting the core activities. While separate morning courses for children and junior youth will be offered, the afternoon session will involve families designing and practicing the implementation of a family plan for teaching.
The presenters' role will be to identify a pragmatic method for involving every family member in activities and to assist families in practicing and implementing their plans.
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07/19/2008
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07/24/2008
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Special Ruhi Intensive, Book 5: Raising up Animators of Junior Youth Groups
Melody and Don Reed Sponsored by the Regional Council of the Southwestern States
"Whatever the nature of the cluster, it is imperative to pay close attention to children and junior youth everywhere. Concern for the moral and spiritual education of young people is asserting itself forcefully on the consciousness of humanity, and no attempt at community building can afford to ignore it." - Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Continental Board of Counsellors dated 27 December 2005.
The fifth book in the sequence trains individuals to facilitate Junior Youth groups, which are for ages 11-14.
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07/26/2008
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07/31/2008
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Youth Institute
The Bulkins
This session is now full. Please contact Bosch by phone to be put on the waiting list. 831-423-3387
This year's Youth Institute will pay special attention to the role of the youth in the Five Year Plan. Of particular emphasis will be an study of the Institute Process.
The Youth Institute is for students entering 10th, 11th, and 12th grades only.
This session is now full. Please contact Bosch by phone to be put on the waiting list. 831-423-3387
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08/02/2008
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08/07/2008
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Junior Youth Institute
The Bulkins
Space is very limited. We are no longer able to receive registrations online. Please call to register. 831-423-3387.
The curriculum for this year's Junior Youth Institute will consist of lessons on the Writings of the Faith, with an added emphasis on a familiarization with the current plan and the role of the Junior Youth in its promulgation. The classroom element will be complimented by devotional and physical activity, musical and artistic entertainment, and recreational activities that will enrich and energize the participants.
Junior Youth Institute is for students entering 7th, 8th, and 9th grades only.
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08/09/2008
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08/14/2008
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Family Session:
Spiritual Literacy and Human Development: Reflections on the Global Effort to Edify the Souls of Men, With Dr. Michael Penn
Dr. Michael Penn
According to the world's wisdom traditions, the prosperity of humankind depends upon the protection, development and refinement of the human spirit. In this session we draw upon a range of sacred Tablets and Epistles in order to examine the relationship between spiritual literacy and human development.
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08/09/2008
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08/14/2008
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Special Ruhi Intensive, Book 7: Walking Together on a Path of Service
Fariba Aghdasi and Melody Reed Sponsored by the Regional Council of the Southwestern States
The main sequence of courses (Books 1-6) offered by the Ruhi Institute is designed to impart to the participants the knowledge, qualities and skills that would enable them to serve as tutors. The aim of Book 7 is to prepare tutors who can effectively introduce these books to others.
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08/15/2008
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08/17/2008
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1st Annual Conference of Spanish-Speaking Baha'is
TBA
This session is for Spanish-Speaking Baha'is and will be in held in Spanish.
• Internalize the Vision of the Universal House of Justice/World Community in regards to the activities of the FIVE-YEAR PLAN and develop the tools (practice) for individuals to carry out this plan in their respective local communities
• Develop human resources within the Spanish-speaking to engage the teaching activities to unilingual areas of California
• Grow in love for and understanding of revelation of Bahá’u’lláh
• Feel the collective energy of and create bonds with other co-workers in the Cause who are Spanish-speaking
• Develop knowledge of the history of the Bahá’í Faith in Spanish-speaking America
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08/29/2008
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09/01/2008
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The Path of Discernment, with Linda and Dan Popov
Dr. Dan and Linda Popov
An interactive course facilitated by Dr. Dan Popov and Linda Kavelin Popov, exploring the Bahá’í teachings on cultivating the virtues of discernment and mindfulness, using reflection, prayer and meditation, including reflections on The Tablet of Ahmad.
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