The Universal House of Justice
The Bahá'í World Centre
Department of the Secretariat
29 October 2000

The Universal House of Justice has received your email . . . in which, on behalf of . . . you request guidance concerning "Tranquillity Zones". At the direction of the House of Justice, its Research Department has prepared the enclosed memorandum in response to your query. It is hoped that this information will be of assistance to your community in its efforts to establish devotional programmes of this type.

With loving Bahá'í greetings,
Department of the Secretariat
M E M O R A N D U M
From: Research Department
To: The Universal House of Justice
Date: 29 October 2000
"Tranquillity Zones"

Mr . . . requests guidance concerning "Tranquillity Zones". According to Mr . . , there is a growing interest in "Tranquillity Zones" in many parts of the United Kingdom. A number of Bahá'í communities have participated in this initiative by organising devotional programmes of readings and music, open to the general public, that are aimed at producing an atmosphere of peace and calm. At such events, it is quite common for the participants to sit on the ground, perhaps on cushions, during the period of devotions.

Mr . . . explains that some of the Bahá'ís have expressed the view that sitting on the ground during devotions is disrespectful, and that the practice should be discontinued. He has been informed that "while one is praising God or in meditation on the Writings of the Manifestations of God, one should be sitting on a chair as this is the most respectful act of worship, rather than sitting on the ground, which could imply disrespect." Mr . . . seeks clarification of this point and enquires whether there are any guidelines on how "Tranquillity Zone" style meditations and devotions should be observed. We provide the following response.

The Research Department has, to date, not located any general prohibition in the Writings of the Faith concerning sitting on the ground during prayer and meditation. We note, however, that in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, paragraph 154, Bahá'u'lláh prohibits the "use of pulpits" and, instead, encourages the use of "chairs and benches".[1] Note 168 contains further elucidation of this issue and an explanation of the context in which the guidance applies.

[1]The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The Most Holy Book (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing

Trust,1993).

As to whether it is permissible to sit on the floor during prayer, the only reference we have been able to find so far is contained in the following extract from a letter dated 1 April 1982, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice. The letter specifically addresses the question of the correct position for sitting during the Obligatory Prayer:

"Concerning other positions prescribed in the Obligatory Prayers

the House of Justice has instructed us to inform you that one of the

believers asked the Guardian a question about the correct position for

sitting. From the context it seems clear that this question is related to

the medium Prayer, but this is not explicitly stated. The Guardian's

reply states that sitting on a chair is permissible, but to sit on the

floor is preferable and more fitting."

With regard to Mr . . .'s request for guidelines concerning the conduct of "Tranquillity Zone" type devotional meetings, it is suggested that he seek advice from his National Spiritual Assembly. The National Assembly is in the position to guide him as to what is acceptable and dignified practice in the United Kingdom.