© Jarnah Montersino

To me, prison is freedom; to me incarceration is an open court; to me humility is identical with glory; to me adversity is a gift and death is life. I hope that thou also wilt take a portion from this sea and seek a reflection from these lights…

© Shahriyar Erfanian

“Shake off, O heedless ones, the slumber of negligence, that ye may behold the radiance which Hisgloryhath spread through the world”.

Baha’u'llah

© Sholeh Loehle

The cherry blossoms were blooming in Washington, D.C., the skies were
a perfect blue, and all things were glorious.

“I entreat Thee by this great, this wondrous splendour and by the
glory of Thine exalted sovereignty, O Thou Who art the Lord of
indomitable power, to transform us through Thy bounty into that which
Thou Thyself dost possess and enable us to become fountains of Thy
light, and graciously vouchsafe unto us that which beseemeth the
majesty of Thy transcendent dominion.” -The Báb

© Elyor Nemato

“The Graces of the Kingdom of Abha are the rays of the Sun of Reality. It illumines the earth and heaven, makes the star a shining moon, turns the speck into a huge mountain, bestows strength to the weak, gives everlasting healing to the sick, grants heavenly treasures to the poor, confirms the oppressed ones to everlasting glory and turns the people of darkness to those of light.”

Shoghi Effendi, Japan Will Turn Ablaze, p. 41

© Alisa Mappes

Experiencing the joy of cooperation at a Baha’i-sponsored children’s class in Tainan, Taiwan.

“…Education is the indispensable foundation of all human excellence and alloweth man to work his way to the heights of abiding glory.”

Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 129-130

© Sarah Johnson

“The first Taráz and the first effulgence which hath dawned from the horizon of the Mother Book is that man should know his own self and recognize that which leadeth unto loftiness or lowliness, glory or abasement, wealth or poverty. Having attained the stage of fulfilment and reached his maturity, man standeth in need of wealth, and such wealth as he acquireth through crafts or professions is commendable and praiseworthy in the estimation of men of wisdom, and especially in the eyes of servants who dedicate themselves to the education of the world and to the edification of its peoples.”

Baha’u'llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah Revealed After the Kitab-i-Aqdas, pp. 34-35

© Ata Farhadi

A smiling participant of a Bahai workshop on true happiness, held last
weekend in Los Angeles.

“Every woman who becometh the maidservant of God outshineth in glory the
empresses of the world, for she is related to God, and her sovereignty is
everlasting.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 122)

© Bahram Mark Sobhani

“Say: Rejoice not in the things ye possess; tonight they are yours, tomorrow others will possess them. Thus warneth you He Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Say: Can ye claim that what ye own is lasting or secure? Nay! By Myself, the All-Merciful, ye cannot, if ye be of them who judge fairly. The days of your life flee away as a breath of wind, and all your pomp and glory shall be folded up as were the pomp and glory of those gone before you. Reflect, O people! What hath become of your bygone days, your lost centuries?” — Baha’u'llah

© Golriz Lucina Gundry