Practice: the way to gain skills.

Developing human resources means building up and expanding the source or "supply" of people who can be called on to provide services. This involves the training of people to gain skills and abilities to perform these services. This is the fundamental aim of the institute process. It is like an "engine" providing the power to expand and consolidate the Faith. Unlike other education and training methods, the development of skills and abilities to serve the Faith is carried out within a process of spiritual enrichment.

In the Ruhi courses, there are three elements which constitute the basis of the courses: acquiring knowledge, acquiring spiritual insight and acquiring skills and abilities. To illustrate this point further, the institute process includes the study of the Creative Word, an atmosphere of love and fellowship, a spiritual and disciplined environment, participative methods of learning and memorisation of passages from the Writings. All these elements of a course - whether they are done as a study circle, an intensive course or a block course - are fundamental to the institute process and provide the umbrella for developing human resources, including skills training. Another element of acquiring skills and abilities is practice. We cannot develop a skill without practice - if we learn the piano, we practise; if we want to be a good tennis player, we practise.

A dictionary definition of practice is: "a repeated exercise in an activity requiring the development of skill". To practise or put into action means "exercise oneself in or on (an activity requiring skill)". One of the challenges we have as tutors is to facilitate the balanced integration of all the elements of a study circle - knowledge, spiritual insight and skills. If we don't provide balance in this way, there is the possibility of lapsing into the mode of deepening or acquiring knowledge alone. Then we will not build or expand human resources.

Feedback from tutors indicates that the practice components of the Ruhi courses are often neglected. The Baha'i Centre of Learning in Western Australia encourages tutors to give greater focus and emphasis to the specified "practices" for each course, as given below. By doing this, we will be helping participants to acquire skills for serving the Faith and contributing to the development of human resources.

Book 1 Practice: Read daily, in the morning and evening, some Writings of the Faith. Memorise five prayers and understand their meaning. Visit at least two Baha'ís and study a prayer with them.

Book 2 Practice: Prepare deepenings and short talks, and practice within the group, on themes such as "The Eternal Covenant", "Bahá'u'lláh, His Sufferings and Victories" and "Giving, the Spiritual Basis of Prosperity" Visit a few families and study with them at least the first three themes.

Book 3 Practice: Practise teaching children's classes within the study group Teach simple children's classes in the community.

Book 4 Practice: Visit a few families and share with them a simple illustrated presentation of the Báb's life. Visit a few families and share with them a simple illustrated presentation of Bahá'u'lláh's life.

Book 6 Practice: Design and implement your own personal teaching plan and to participate in at least one teaching campaign.

Book 7 Practice: Form a study circle and accompany it through for at least one book.