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hat
Knowledge, purity, devotion, discipline, independence, have nothing to do with outer appearance and dress. Once in the course of My travels I heard an eminent personage make the following excellent remark, the wit and charm of which remain in memory: “Not every cleric’s turban is a proof of continence and knowledge; not every layman’s hat…
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sunrise
“The physical sun has its rising and its setting. The earthly world has its day and its night. After each sunset there is a sunrise and the coming of a new dawn. The Sun of Reality, likewise, has its rising and setting. There is a day and a night in the world of spirituality. After…
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emerge
“O My Friend!Thou art the daystar of the heavens of My holiness, let not the defilement of the world eclipse thy splendor. Rend asunder the veil of heedlessness, that from behind the clouds thou mayest emerge resplendent and array all things with the apparel of life.“ Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, #73 from the Persian
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horizon
“Blessed art thou and are they whom the world and its vanities have failed to deter from this luminous Horizon.“ – Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh
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construction
“The attainment of any object is conditioned upon knowledge, volition and action. Unless these three conditions are forthcoming, there is no execution or accomplishment. In the erection of a house it is first necessary to know the ground, and design the house suitable for it; second, to obtain the means or funds necessary for the…
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study
“It is permissible to study sciences and arts, but such sciences as are useful and would redound to the progress and advancement of the people. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Ordainer, the All-Wise.“ – Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh
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inclusive
“Thus, the divine Manifestations of God had a universal and all-inclusive conception. They endeavored for the sake of everyone’s life and engaged in the service of universal education. The area of their aims was not limited—nay, rather, it was wide and all-inclusive.“ – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá
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parched
Would that the hearts of men could be cleansed from these manmade limitations and obscure thoughts imposed upon them! haply they may be illumined by the light of the Sun of true knowledge, and comprehend the mysteries of divine wisdom. Consider now, were the parched and barren soil of these hearts to remain unchanged, how…
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nest
“O Breakwell, O my dear one! Thou art now a bird of Heaven, thou hast quit thine earthly nest, and soared away to a garden of holiness in the kingdom of thy Lord. Thou hast risen to a station filled with light.“ – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, in an ode to Thomas…
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banks
O zephyr, shouldst thou pass by the banks of the Araxes, Implant a kiss on the earth of that valley and make fragrant thy breath. – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoting Ḥáfiẓ of Shíráz in Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks
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river
“Be thou as a flame of fire to My enemies and a river of life eternal to My loved ones, and be not of those who doubt.“ – Bahá’u’lláh, Bahá’í Prayers
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rise
O Son of Man!Put thy hand into My bosom, that I may rise above thee, radiant and resplendent. – Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, #60 from the Arabic
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exercise
“God has created mankind from the same progeny in order that they may associate in good fellowship, exercise love toward each other and live together in unity and brotherhood.“ – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace
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sublimation
“But according to the evidence of present world conditions divine philosophy—which has for its object the sublimation of human nature, spiritual advancement, heavenly guidance for the development of the human race, attainment to the breaths of the Holy Spirit and knowledge of the verities of God—has been outdistanced and neglected.“ – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of…
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108
– 108 – Ye should consider the question of goodly character as of the first importance. It is incumbent upon every father and mother to counsel their children over a long period, and guide them unto those things which lead to everlasting honor. – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, #108
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welcome
“‘Abdu’l‑Bahá: Yes! This is the day of Bahá’u’lláh, the age of the Blessed Perfection, the cycle of the Greatest Name. If you do not smile now, for what time will you await and what greater happiness could you expect? This is the springtime of manifestation. The vernal shower has descended from the cloud of divine…
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interrupt
“Say: Nothing can withstand the power of Our might or interrupt the course of Our command. We exalt whomsoever We please unto the Realm of supernal might and glory, and, should We so desire, cause the same to sink into the lowest abyss of degradation.“ – Bahá’u’lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts
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image
“Thereafter have We raised Thee up in Our own image betwixt the heavens and the earth, and ordained Thee to be the sign of Our glory unto all who are in the realms of revelation and creation, that My servants may follow in Thy footsteps, and be of them who are guided aright.“ – Bahá’u’lláh,…
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integrated
“Success will depend on the manner in which lines of action are integrated and on the attitude of learning that is adopted.“ – The Universal House of Justice, 9 January 2001 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counselors Artwork by Rich Patterson. ISP, 2009, spray paint on canvas. (Commissioned for the Integrated Studies…
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end
“There can be no doubt whatever that if for one moment the tide of His mercy and grace were to be withheld from the world, it would completely perish. For this reason, from the beginning that hath no beginning the portals of Divine mercy have been flung open to the face of all created things,…
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table
“Blessed the insatiate soul who casteth away his selfish desires for love of Me and taketh his place at the banquet table which I have sent down from the heaven of divine bounty for My chosen ones.“ – Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh
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eternal
“Bahá’í marriage is union and cordial affection between the two parties. They must, however, exercise the utmost care and become acquainted with each other’s character. This eternal bond should be made secure by a firm covenant, and the intention should be to foster harmony, fellowship and unity and to attain everlasting life.” —‘Abdu’l‑Bahá Bahá’í Prayers
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lump
“This is the wisdom of the appearance of the Prophets: to educate humanity, that this lump of coal may become a diamond and this barren tree may be grafted and yield fruit of the utmost sweetness and delicacy. And after the noblest stations in the world of humanity have been attained, further progress can be…
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embark
“Know, moreover, that should one who hath attained unto these stations and embarked upon these journeys fall prey to pride and vainglory, he would at that very moment come to naught and return to the first step without realizing it. Indeed, they that seek and yearn after Him in these journeys are known by this…
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shower
“My God, Whom I worship and adore! I bear witness unto Thy unity and Thy oneness, and acknowledge Thy gifts, both in the past and in the present. Thou art the All-Bountiful, the overflowing showers of Whose mercy have rained down upon high and low alike, and the splendors of Whose grace have been shed…
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seated
“…to be seated amidst the sandals by the door is the same as to abide at the place of honour, and in the path of the Beloved the retreats of earthly beauty differ not from the field of a battle waged.“ – Bahá’u’lláh, The Call of the Divine Beloved
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summertime
“Then comes summertime, when the heat intensifies and growth and development manifest the fullness of their power. The life force reaches its plenitude in the vegetable kingdom: Fruits and crops appear, the harvest time arrives, the seed becomes the sheaf, and provision is made for the winter months.“ – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions
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burn
“I beseech Thee … to make of my prayer a fire that will burn away the veils which have shut me out from Thy beauty, and a light that will lead me unto the ocean of Thy Presence.” (Bahá’u’lláh, Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 2008), CLXXXIII) From: Prayer and Devotional Life
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field
“Praised be God that there is now a school of this type in Ṭihrán where young maidens can, through His bounty, receive an education and with all vigour acquire the accomplishments of humankind. Erelong will women in every field keep pace with the men. Until now, in Persia, the means for women’s advancement were non-existent.…
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Bicycle
(On hiatus)
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children
“O ye children of the Kingdom! Give thanks unto God that, at this tender age, ye have entered into the Divine Kingdom. The bounty and bestowal of God have surrounded you. While ye were yet children, He chose you and elected you. Ye became the intimates of His mysteries, whilst those of riper age remained…
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home
(On hiatus)
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joy
“Ascend unto My heaven, that thou mayest obtain the joy of reunion, and from the chalice of imperishable glory quaff the peerless wine.“ – Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words
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Gratitude
(On hiatus)
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Ohio
(On hiatus)
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friendship
It is Our hope that our encounter may never be forgotten nor effaced from the heart by the passage of time, but rather that, out of the seeds thus sown, the sweet herbs of friendship may spring forth and remain forever fresh and verdant for all to behold. – Bahá’u’lláh, Tabernacle of Unity
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farewell
“In your hearts I have beheld the reflection of a great and wonderful love. The Americans have shown me uniform kindness, and I entertain a deep spiritual love for them. I am pleased with the susceptibilities of your hearts. I will pray for you, asking divine assistance, and then say farewell.“ – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation…
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sort
“A Bahá’í has the advantage of the divine Revelation for this Age, which shines like a searchlight on so many problems that baffle modern thinkers; he must therefore develop the ability to learn everything from those around him, showing proper humility before his teachers, but always relating what he hears to the Bahá’í teachings, for…
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prey
“Love accepteth no existence and wisheth no life: In death it seeth life, and in shame it seeketh glory. To merit the madness of love, one must abound in sanity; to merit the bonds of the Friend, one must be free in spirit. Blessed the neck that is caught in His noose, and happy the…
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blooming
“Each thing must needs have an effect and each sign reveal a secret. Not until the world-illuming sun hath shone can the east be distinguished from the west, nor the blooming garden discerned from the barren waste. Heavenly strains compare not with earthly clamours, and the croaking of the raven can in no wise be…
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