Shirin Marshall ©

“His beauty excelleth every other embodiment of beauty, and His grandeur immensely exceedeth every other manifestation of grandeur. Every light paleth before the radiance of His light, and every other exponent of mercy falleth short before the tokens of His mercy…”
-The Báb
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Zanzibar

Ramin Hossaini ©

“O SON OF EARTH! Wouldst thou have Me, seek none other than Me; and wouldst thou gaze upon My beauty, close thine eyes to the world and all that is therein; for My will and the will of another than Me, even as fire and water, cannot dwell together in one heart.”
-Bahá’u’lláh
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Sydney, Australia

Fiona Gohari ©

“Let thy breeze refresh them in order that they may be trained, grow and develop, and appear in the utmost beauty.”
-Abdul-Baha
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Vancouver, Canada

Shahriar Erfanian ©

“O Son Of Man! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.” -Baha’u'llah
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Adelaide, Australia

Chad Mauger ©

The Hibiscus flower links two periods of service in my life, the first in Fiji and the second in Israel. Each of these countries is special to me. Seeing this flower again ties both of those places with home.

“Know thou of a truth that the seeker must, at the beginning of his quest for God, enter the Garden of Search. In this journey it behoveth the wayfarer to detach himself from all save God and to close his eyes to all that is in the heavens and on the earth. There must not linger in his heart either the hate or the love of any soul, to the extent that they would hinder him from attaining the habitation of the celestial Beauty.”
—Bahá’u’lláh, Gems of Divine Mysteries
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Los Angeles, USA

Bobby Aazami ©

On a recent visit to Angeles Crest Forest with the two brightest orbs of my existence

“After the recognition of the oneness of the Lord, exalted be He, the most important of all duties is to have due regard for the rights of one’s parents. This matter hath been mentioned in all the Books of God…”
-Bahá’u'lláh
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Puli, Taiwan

Alisa Mappes ©

Edible mushrooms push up from dirt at a covered farm in Puli, Taiwan. Mushrooms and other fungi flourish partly on decaying carbon-based life forms. They’d be so delicious sauteed with garlic or chopped into a sauce served with steak. My mouth is watering!

“O FRIENDS! Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty that must die, and set not your affections on this mortal world of dust.”
-Bahá’u’lláh
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Wilmette, USA

Sholeh Samadani Loehle ©

Happy Ridvan!

“Praise be to God, within the sheltering grace of the Blessed Beauty, here in the lands of the West a breeze hath blown from over the rose-gardens of His bestowals, and the hearts of many people have been drawn as by a magnet to the Abhá Realm.”
-Abdul-Baha

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Victoria, USA

Dean Kalyan ©

Simplicity

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London, England

Ronnie Y. Bindra ©

“If I happen to see thee before me face to face, I shall tell you of my pangs in minute details;

To see thy face, like unto Zephyr I passed from house to house, door to door, street to street, lane to lane;

The circuit of thy tiny mouth and thy cheeks with down of ambergris (are luxuriant) with buds, roses, tulips and fragrance,

On account of thy separation, my heart’s blood flows forth from my eyes (like) many a Tigris, many a sea, many a brooklet, many a stream,

The dejected heart hath knit thy love on the web of life thread by thread, ­fibre by fibre, warp by warp, woof by woof;

Tahirih entered her heart and found nothing save thee (searching) page by page, fold by fold, screen by screen, layer by layer.”

a Poem by Táhirih, (Qurratu l-`Ayn)

Shahriar Erfanian ©

“O Son Of Man! Transgress not thy limits, nor claim that which beseemeth thee not. Prostrate thyself before the countenance of thy God, the Lord of might and power”.
-Bahá’u’lláh

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Oklahoma City, USA

Negeen Sobhani ©

“Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths.”
-Bahá’u’lláh, Kitab-i-Aqdas
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Haifa, Israel

Chad Mauger ©

Sunrise, whereby God’s light and love are showered upon humanity.

“Love is the spirit of life unto the adorned body of mankind, the establisher of true civilization in this mortal world, and the shedder of imperishable glory upon every high-aiming race and nation.”
-Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
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Los Angeles, USA

Golriz Lucina Gundry ©

“In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.”
-Buddha
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Swakopmund, Namibia

Ramin Hossaini ©

“By Thy might! I marvel at the wonders of Thy Revelation, and at the tokens of Thy glory. I recognize, O Thou Who art my heart’s Desire, that were fire to be touched by water it would instantly be extinguished, whereas the Fire which Thou didst kindle can never go out, though all the seas of the earth be poured upon it. Should water at any time touch it, the hands of Thy power would, as decreed in Thy Tablets, transmute that water into a fuel that would feed its flame.”
-Bahá’u’lláh
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New York City, USA

Kat Eghdamian ©

“Bless Thou, O King of Kings, the city of New York! Cause the friends there to be kind to one another. Purify their souls and make their hearts to be free and detached. Illumine the world of their consciousness. Exhilarate their spirits and bestow celestial power and confirmation upon them. Establish there a heavenly realm, so that the City of Baha may prosper and New York be favoured with blessings from the Abha Kingdom, that this region may become like the all-highest Paradise, may develop into a vineyard of God and be transformed into a heavenly orchard and a spiritual rose garden.”
-Revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during his visit to New York City in 1912.

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Wilmette, USA

Sholeh Samadani Loehle ©

The clear skies and turquoise water were deceptive…cold and windy, I only endured a few moments by the beach.

“O maid-servant of God! Many spiritual women came (into the world) and passed away in vain; no sound is heard of them and no trace is seen of them, inasmuch as their spirits were not dependent upon the Holy Spirit, nor were they attracted to the fragrances of truth; nor were they ever baptized by the water of life, by the fire of the love of God, nor by the “Spirit of Truth” which speaketh in the assemblies of the Kingdom and breatheth upon spirits the breezes which waft an eternal glory, the signs of which are everlasting.”
-‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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London, England

Ronnie Y. Bindra ©

“O SON OF MAN! Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth not; wherefore fearest thou thy perishing? Thou art My light and My light shall never be extinguished; why dost thou dread extinction? Thou art My glory and My glory fadeth not; thou art My robe and My robe shall never be outworn. Abide then in thy love for Me, that thou mayest find Me in the realm of glory.”

- Baha’u'llah

Dean Kalyan ©

Signs Everywhere

“And among His signs are His splendours, rising above the horizon of oneness, His lights streaming out from the dayspring of might, and the announcement of the Most Great Glad-Tidings by His Herald, the One, the Incomparable. Verily in this is a brilliant proof for the company of those who know.” -Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha
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Israel

Paul Aziz Netherwood ©

“…possession of earthly things will cease at the time of death. The path to guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion.” -The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab
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Vancouver, Canada

Shahriar Erfanian ©

“Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-Rúz as a festival unto those who have observed the fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto Thee. Grant, O my Lord, that the fire of Thy love and the heat produced by the fast enjoined by Thee may inflame them in Thy Cause, and make them to be occupied with Thy praise and with remembrance of Thee.
Since Thou hast adorned them, O my Lord, with the ornament of the fast prescribed by Thee, do Thou adorn them also with the ornament of Thine acceptance, through Thy grace and bountiful favor. For the doings of men are all dependent upon Thy good-pleasure, and are conditioned by Thy behest. Shouldst Thou regard him who hath broken the fast as one who hath observed it, such a man would be reckoned among them who from eternity had been keeping the fast. And shouldst Thou decree that he who hath observed the fast hath broken it, that person would be numbered with such as have caused the Robe of Thy Revelation to be stained with dust, and been far removed from the crystal waters of this living Fountain.
Thou art He through Whom the ensign “Praiseworthy art Thou in Thy works” hath been lifted up, and the standard “Obeyed art Thou in Thy behest” hath been unfurled. Make known this Thy station, O my God, unto Thy servants, that they may be made aware that the excellence of all things is dependent upon Thy bidding and Thy word, and the virtue of every act is conditioned by Thy leave and the good-pleasure of Thy will, and may recognize that the reins of men’s doings are within the grasp of Thine acceptance and Thy commandment. Make this known unto them, that nothing whatsoever may shut them out from Thy Beauty, in these days whereon the Christ exclaimeth: “All dominion is Thine, O Thou the Begetter of the Spirit (Jesus)”; and Thy Friend (Muḥammad) crieth out: “Glory be to Thee, O Thou the Best-Beloved, for that Thou hast uncovered Thy Beauty, and written down for Thy chosen ones what will cause them to attain unto the seat of the revelation of Thy Most Great Name, through which all the peoples have lamented except such as have detached themselves from all else except Thee, and set themselves towards Him Who is the Revealer of Thyself and the Manifestation of Thine attributes.”
He Who is Thy Branch and all Thy company, O my Lord, have broken this day their fast, after having observed it within the precincts of Thy court, and in their eagerness to please Thee. Do Thou ordain for him, and for them, and for all such as have entered Thy presence in those days all the good Thou didst destine in Thy Book. Supply them, then, with that which will profit them, in both this life and in the life beyond.
Thou, in truth, art the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.” -Baha’u'llah

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Adelaide, Australia

Chad Mauger ©

Capturing the last rays of the sun’s splendour before nightfall.

“I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by Thy most effulgent splendour, before whose brightness every soul humbly boweth down and prostrateth itself in adoration for Thy sake—a splendour before whose radiance fire is turned into light, the dead are brought to life and every difficulty is changed into ease. 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, Selections From the Writings of the Báb

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Haifa, Israel

Shirin Marshall ©

“Reveal then Thyself, O Lord, by Thy merciful utterance and the mystery of Thy divine being, that the holy ecstasy of prayer may fill our souls—a prayer that shall rise above words and letters and transcend the murmur of syllables and sounds—that all things may be merged into nothingness before the revelation of Thy splendor. . .” -‘Abdu’l-Bahá
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Atwater Village, USA

Golriz Lucina Gundry ©

Capturing moments like this reminds me how deeply enthralled I am by the world we live in. Every time I experience an expansive sky, an endless horizon, an ocean in momentum, a deep valley or steep cliff I can’t help but feel both tiny and insignificant and yet entirely whole and limitless.
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Zanzibar

Ramin Hossaini ©

“Through Thy revelation, O my God, Thou hast enabled me to know Thee, and through the radiance of Thine effulgent splendour Thou hast inspired me with Thy remembrance.” -The Báb, Selections From the Writings of the Báb

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St. Peter, USA

Lindsey Lugsch-Tehle ©

“I made the light to shed on thee its splendor. Why dost thou veil thyself therefrom?” -Baha’u'llah
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Wilmette, USA

Sholeh Samadani Loehle ©

My friend creates the most exquisite arrangements of flowers, fruit, and other beautiful things. How lucky are we to live in a world with these kinds of creations?

“Magnified be Thy name. Hath aught else save Thee any independent existence so as to be capable of hinting at Thy nature, and doth anyone but Thee possess any trace of identity wherewith I could recognize Thee? All that is known owes its renown to the splendour of Thy Name, the Most Manifest, and every object is deeply stirred by the vibrating influence emanating from Thine invincible Will. Thou art nearer unto all things than all things.” -The Báb, Selections From the Writings of the Báb

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ____________________________________________________________________________________

London, England

Ronnie Y. Bindra ©

“Happy the one who entereth upon the first day of the month of Bahá, the day which God hath consecrated to this Great Name. And blessed be he who evidenceth on this day the bounties that God hath bestowed upon him; he, verily, is of those who show forth thanks to God through actions betokening the Lord’s munificence which hath encompassed all the worlds Say: This day, verily, is the crown of all the months and the source thereof, the day on which the breath of life is wafted over all created things. Great is the blessedness of him who greeteth it with radiance and joy. We testify that he is, in truth, among those who are blissful.” - Baha’u'llah

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Portland, USA

Paul Blair ©

“The more the world of humanity develops, the more the effulgences or emanations of divinity will become revealed, just as the stone when it becomes polished and pure as a mirror will reflect in fuller degree the glory and splendor of the sun.” -‘Abdu’l-Bahá

The last month of my life was effectively spent learning about the history of the early Baha’is in North America.  Granted, I missed reading the relevant history for the celebration of the centennial of Abdu’l-Baha’s visit to America by a year.  But better late than never.

The Baha’i Faith has an exciting history across all parts of the world.  I grew up on tales of the heroic Babís, Baha’u’llah’s life and exiles and Abdu’l-Baha’s journeys.  But somehow my religious historical education didn’t spend a lot of time outside of the Middle East.

So when I sat down a few weeks ago with Robert Stockholm’s The Baha’i Faith in America: Volume I, I became engrossed in a few stories I wasn’t as familiar with.

And here is what I came away with: these guys had a lot of faith.

At the end of the 1800’s in the wake of Baha’u’llah’s passing, the Baha’i Faith had just reached America.  At that time not many writings were translated into English.  Those interested in the new Eastern religion they were catching whispers of here and there had to ferret information out of the teachers that were few and far between.

And yet, the early faith in America survived the blows they were dealt and thrived to lay the foundation of the Baha’i Faith and the administrative order.  Eighteen years after Thorton Chase, who is regarded as the first Baha’i in America, learned about the faith, The Master himself came to the states to lay the cornerstone figuratively and literally.

In April of 1930 in a letter Shoghi Effendi wrote to an individual believer about the German Baha’is said, “There is always an important difference between friends and tested friends. No matter how precious the first type may be, the future of the Cause rests upon the latter.”

The Baha’i Faith in America was founded by tested, faithful, steadfast friends.  In the beginning of this new year, we can all strive to be more like them.

Sholeh Samadani Loehle ©

“O My beloved friends! You are the bearers of the name of God in this Day. You have been chosen as the repositories of His mystery. It behoves each one of you to manifest the attributes of God, and to exemplify by your deeds and words the signs of His righteousness, His power and glory. The very members of your body must bear witness to the loftiness of your purpose, the integrity of your life, the reality of your faith, and the exalted character of your devotion.” -The Bab
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Adelaide, Australia

Chad Mauger ©

Clouds hang in the firmament above farmland in Uleybury.

“Lofty is the station of man, were he to hold fast to righteousness and truth and to remain firm and steadfast in the Cause. In the eyes of the All-Merciful a true man appeareth even as a firmament; its sun and moon are his sight and hearing, and his shining and resplendent character its stars. His is the loftiest station, and his influence educateth the world of being.” -Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
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Zanzibar

Ramin Hossaini ©

“Were man to appreciate the greatness of his station and the loftiness of his destiny he would manifest naught save goodly character, pure deeds, and a seemly and praiseworthy conduct. If the learned and wise men of goodwill were to impart guidance unto the people, the whole earth would be regarded as one country. Verily this is the undoubted truth.” -Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
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Bahji, Israel

Paul Aziz Netherwood ©

“Love and kindness have far greater influence than punishment upon the improvement of human character.” -Shoghi Effendi, Compilations vol. I
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Saint Peter, USA

Lindsey Lugsch-Tehle ©

“Be as stars, brilliant and sparkling in the loftiness of their heavenly station.” ‘Abdu’l-Baha
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Sydney, Australia

Fiona Gohari-Aazami ©

Thicket of veins | Walls like iron | Abandon your blankets | Love like seedlings

“Enlighten my sight by beholding Thy lights in this dark night, and make me happy by the wine of Thy love in this wonderful age.” -Abdul-Baha
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Victoria, Canada

Dean Kalyan ©

High Minded Vision

“Why should this most great and lofty Cause — the daystar of the firmament of true civilization and the cause of the glory, the advancement, the well-being and the success of all humanity — be regarded as impossible of achievement? Surely the day will come when its beauteous light shall shed illumination upon the assemblage of man.” -Abdu’l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization

Ramin Hossaini ©

“Regard not the children of the world and all their doings but fix thy gaze upon God and His never-ending dominion. Verily, He calleth to thy remembrance that which is the source of delight for all mankind. Drink thou the life-giving water of blissful joy from the chalice of utterance proffered by the Fountainhead of divine Revelation—He Who hath made mention of thee in this mighty stronghold.” -Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
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Haifa, Israel

Shirin Marshall ©

“I implore Thee by the signs of Thy Kingdom and the mysteries of Thy Dominion to do with Thy loved ones as becometh Thy bounty…”-Bahá’u’lláh
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Vancouver, Canada

Shahriar Erfanian ©

“O Son Of Spirit! Know thou of a truth: He that biddeth men be just and himself committeth iniquity is not of Me, even though he bear My name.” -Bahá’u’lláh
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Saint Peter, USA

Lindsey Lugsch-Tehle ©

“Soon the spirit will have dominion over the world of humanity.” -’Abdu’l-Baha
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Victoria, Canada

Dean Kalyan ©

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Oklahoma City, USA

Negeen Sobhani ©

A Baha’i couple prepares for their wedding day by taking a moment for prayer.

“Verily, this Thy servant and this Thy maidservant have gathered under the shadow of Thy mercy and they are united through Thy favor and generosity. O Lord! Assist them in this Thy world and Thy kingdom and destine for them every good through Thy bounty and grace. O Lord! Confirm them in Thy servitude and assist them in Thy service.” Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i Prayers

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Aldinga, Australia

Chad Mauger ©

Aldinga Beach at dusk.

“O SON OF UTTERANCE! Turn thy face unto Mine and renounce all save Me; for My sovereignty endureth and My dominion perisheth not. If thou seekest another than Me, yea, if thou searchest the universe for evermore, thy quest will be in vain.” -Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh
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Naperville, USA

Sholeh Samadani Loehle ©

Epic icicles in the fluctuating weather.

“Indeed ye have been called into being through the power of the Point of the Bayán while the Point Himself is resigned to the Will of Him Whom God shall make manifest, is exalted through His transcendent sublimity, is sustained by the evidences of His might, is glorified by the majesty of His oneness, is adorned by the beauty of His singleness, is empowered by His eternal dominion and is invested with authority through His everlasting sovereignty. How then could they, who are but the creation of the Point, be justified in saying ‘why or wherefore’?” -The Báb, Selections From the Writings of the Báb

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Belgium

Kat Eghdamian ©

“O SON OF MAN! Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth not; wherefore fearest thou thy perishing? Thou art My light and My light shall never be extinguished; why dost thou dread extinction? Thou art My glory and My glory fadeth not; thou art My robe and My robe shall never be outworn. Abide then in thy love for Me, that thou mayest find Me in the realm of glory.” – The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh

Chad Mauger ©

I am drawn to star trail photography because it captures motion that is otherwise imperceptible to the naked eye and reveals beauty that would normally go unobserved.

“Number me, O my God, with those who are privileged to fix their gaze upon Thy Beauty and who take such delight therein that they would not exchange a single moment thereof with the sovereignty of the kingdom of heavens and earth or with the entire realm of creation.” —The Báb, Selections From the Writings of the Báb

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Oklahoma, USA

Negeen Sobhani ©

“Send down upon her the breaths of Thy mercy, that she may be carried away wholly from herself, and be drawn entirely towards the seat which, resplendent with the glory of Thy face, sheddeth afar the radiance of Thy sovereignty, and is established as Thy throne.” -Bahá’u’lláh, Prayers and Meditations
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Saint Peter, USA

Lindsey Lugsch-Tehle ©

“O SON OF SPIRIT!
My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting.” -Baha’u'llah
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Brooklyn, USA

Golriz Lucina Gundry ©

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Victoria, Canada

Dean Kalyan ©

One from Many

“The Day is approaching when God shall bring the faithful together.

In truth no God is there other than Him. May the peace of God be with those who have been guided aright through the power of divine guidance.
He is God, the Supreme Ruler, the Sovereign Truth, He Whose help is implored by all.” -The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab

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Minneapolis, USA

Sholeh Samadani Loehle ©

An art installation at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

“I bear witness that he who hath known Thee hath known God, and he who hath attained unto Thy presence hath attained unto the presence of God. Great, therefore, is the blessedness of him who hath believed in Thee, and in Thy signs, and hath humbled himself before Thy sovereignty, and hath been honored with meeting Thee, and hath attained the good pleasure of Thy will, and circled around Thee, and stood before Thy throne.” -Bahá’u’lláh, Prayers and Meditations
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Zanzibar

Ramin Hossaini ©

“Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths. Take heed that ye do not vacillate in your determination to embrace the truth of this Cause—a Cause through which the potentialities of the might of God have been revealed, and His sovereignty established. With faces beaming with joy, hasten ye unto Him. This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future.” -Bahá’u’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas

Paul Aziz Netherwood ©

“The purpose of man’s creation is, therefore, unity and harmony, not discord and separateness. If the atoms which compose the kingdom of the minerals were without affinity for each other, the earth would never have been formed, the universe could not have been created. Because they have affinity for each other, the power of life is able to manifest itself, and the organisms of the phenomenal world become possible. When this attraction or atomic affinity is destroyed, the power of life ceases to manifest; death and nonexistence result.” -Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace
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St. Peter, USA

Lindsey Lugsch-Tehle ©

“Every lasting glory, honor, grace and beauty which comes to man comes through nearness to God.” -‘Abdu’l-Bahá
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Blue Mountains, Australia

Fiona Gohari-Aazami ©

There is nothing nicer than sitting in the breath of those that bloom.

“The first stirrings of the spring of Thy grace have appeared and clothed Thine earth with verdure. The clouds of the heaven of Thy bounty have rained their rain on this City within whose walls is imprisoned Him Whose desire is the salvation of Thy creatures. Through it the soil of this City hath been decked forth, and its trees clothed with foliage, and its inhabitants gladdened.” -Baha’u'llah
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Wilmette, USA

Sholeh Samadani Loehle ©

Silence reigns on the golf course near the Baha’i House of Worship, the trees muffled by their blanket of the first snow of winter.

“O thou believer in the oneness of God! Know thou that nothing profiteth a soul save the love of the All-Merciful, nothing lighteth up a heart save the splendour that shineth from the realm of the Lord.

Forsake thou every other concern, let oblivion overtake the memory of all else. Confine thy thoughts to whatever will lift up the human soul to the Paradise of heavenly grace, and make every bird of the Kingdom wing its way unto the Supreme Horizon, the central point of everlasting honour in this contingent world.” -‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
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Adelaide, Australia

Chad Mauger ©

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Blue Mountains, Australia

Bobby Aazami ©

A sun setting at the Blue Mountains

Colorado, USA

Golriz Lucina Gundry ©

“Today the seed is sown, the grain falls upon the earth, but behold the day will come when it shall rise a glorious tree and the branches thereof shall be laden with fruit. Rejoice and be glad that this day has dawned, try to realize its power, for it is indeed wonderful!” -’Abdu’l-Baha

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Vancouver, Canada

Shahriar Erfanian ©

“Alas! Alas! O Lovers Of Worldly Desire! Even as the swiftness of lightning ye have passed by the Beloved One, and have set your hearts on satanic fancies. Ye bow the knee before your vain imagining, and call it truth. Ye turn your eyes towards the thorn, and name it a flower. Not a pure breath have ye breathed, nor hath the breeze of detachment been wafted from the meadows of your hearts. Ye have cast to the winds the loving counsels of the Beloved and have effaced them utterly from the tablet of your hearts, and even as the beasts of the field, ye move and have your being within the pastures of desire and passion.” -Baha’u'llah

Kat Eghdamian ©

“How long shall we drift on the wings of passion and vain desire; how long shall we spend our days like barbarians in the depths of ignorance and abomination? God has given us eyes, that we may look about us at the world, and lay hold of whatsoever will further civilization and the arts of living. He has given us ears, that we may hear and profit by the wisdom of scholars and philosophers and arise to promote and practice it. Senses and faculties have been bestowed upon us, to be devoted to the service of the general good; so that we, distinguished above all other forms of life for perceptiveness and reason, should labor at all times and along all lines, whether the occasion be great or small, ordinary or extraordinary, until all mankind are safely gathered into the impregnable stronghold of knowledge. We should continually be establishing new bases for human happiness and creating and promoting new instrumentalities toward this end. How excellent, how honorable is man if he arises to fulfil his responsibilities; how wretched and contemptible, if he shuts his eyes to the welfare of society and wastes his precious life in pursuing his own selfish interests and personal advantages. Supreme happiness is man’s, and he beholds the signs of God in the world and in the human soul, if he urges on the steed of high endeavor in the arena of civilization and justice.” -’Abdu’l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization

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Vancouver, Canada

Shahriar Erfanian ©

“O Son Of Spirit! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created.” -Baha’u'llah, The Hidden Words

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Akka, Israel

Paul Aziz Netherwood ©

“O QUINTESSENCE OF PASSION!
Put away all covetousness and seek contentment; for the covetous hath ever been deprived, and the contented hath ever been loved and praised.” -Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words

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Saint Peter, USA

Lindsey Lugsch-Tehle ©

“He must not rely implicitly upon the opinion of any man without investigation; nay, each soul must seek intelligently and independently, arriving at a real conclusion and bound only by that reality.” -Abdu’l-Baha

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Nashville, USA

Golriz Lucina Gundry ©

“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” -Voltaire

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Victoria, Canada

Dean Kalyan ©

Who What When Where Why

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Adelaide, Australia

Chad Mauger ©

Bubbles form on our concrete patio when it rains.

“As to thy question concerning the worlds of God. Know thou of a truth that the worlds of God are countless in their number, and infinite in their range. None can reckon or comprehend them except God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.” —Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas

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Chicago, USA

Sholeh Samadani Loehle ©

The lights on a tree at the zoo where Abdu’l-Baha visited in 1912. At this time 100 years ago He had already left these shores.

“O SON OF BEING! With the hands of power I made thee and with the fingers of strength I created thee; and within thee have I placed the essence of My light. Be thou content with it and seek naught else, for My work is perfect and My command is binding. Question it not, nor have a doubt thereof.” -Baha’u'llah

Chad Mauger ©

Looking up through tall pine trees in Mount Crawford Forest Reserve, South Australia.

“I render Thee thanks, O Thou Who hast lighted Thy fire within my soul, and cast the beams of Thy light into my heart, that Thou hast taught Thy servants how to make mention of Thee, and revealed unto them the ways whereby they can supplicate Thee, through Thy most holy and exalted tongue, and Thy most august and precious speech.” -Bahá’u’lláh, Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh

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Little Rock, USA

Geoffrey Tyson ©

The Storyteller. Captivated by dad’s childhood memories.
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Haifa, Israel

Paul Aziz Netherwood ©

ای جوهر غفلت
دريغ که صد هزار لسان معنوی در لسانی ناطق و صد هزار معانی غيبی در لحنی ظاهر و لکن گوشی نه تا بشنود و قلبی نه تا حرفی بيابد

حضرت بهاءالله , کلمات مکنونه فارسی

“O Essence of Negligence!
Myriads of mystic tongues find utterance in one speech, and myriads of hidden mysteries are revealed in a single melody; yet, alas, there is no ear to hear, nor heart to understand.” -Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words

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Wilmette, USA

Sholeh Samadani Loehle ©

Organizing a book sale in our community…loving the old designs on these books.

“It is a cold and miserable day but as I was anxious to see you I came here. For a man who has love, effort is a rest. He will travel any distance to visit his friends.

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Victoria, Canada

Dean Kalyan ©

All Things Made New

“Lift up your voices and sing out the song of the Kingdom. Spread far and wide the precepts and counsels of the loving Lord, so that this world will change into another world, and this darksome earth will be flooded with light, and the dead body of mankind will arise and live; so that every soul will ask for immortality, through the holy breaths of God.” -Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha

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St. Peter, USA

Lindsey Lugsch-Tehle ©

“A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding.” -Baha’u'llah