The Pattern of Bahá'í life

pages 4, 39, 55, out of 63 total pages
London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1948/1983

CONTENTS

	Page
INTRODUCTION	5
PURITY	9
KINDLINESS	22
RADIANCE	43
INDEX	62

The following abbreviations are used throughout for the names of Bahá'í books from which passages have been selected.

ABL	'Abdu'l-Bahá in London
ADJ	Advent of Divine Justice (The)
AHW	Arabic Hidden Words
BP	Bahá'í Procedure (American edition, 1942)
BWF	Bahá'í World Faith (American edition, 1943)
ESW	Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
GWB	Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh
KI	Kitáb-i-Iqán
PT	Paris Talks
PHW	Persian Hidden Words
PM	Prayers and Meditations of Bahá'u'lláh
PDC	Promised Day is Come (The)
PUP	Promulgation of Universal Peace
SAQ	Some Answered Questions
SBS	Selections from Bahá'í Scripture
TAB	Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
TB	Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh
WT	Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá

Introduction

"My first counsel is this: possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable, and everlasting."

The writings and recorded utterances of Bahá'u'lláh and of 'Abdu'l-Bahá abound with passages summoning all people to a new life of impeccable conduct.

As in so many other fields of revelation, so too in the field of morals the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh are a fruition, a culmination, a fulfilment of the relatively fragmentary statements of the former Manifestations of God. The relationship is as that of the fruit to the bud, of the law of Moses to the fragrant flower of the Speaker of the Mount.

So rich in content are these passages that almost they defy classification, and indeed there is an inevitable overlap in meaning between them. The above quotation from the Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh suggested the method that has been adopted, to divide the material into three main groups concerned respectively with the individual's relationship to self, to others, and to God, betokened in essence by purity, kindliness, and radiance.

In addition, for their special appropriateness to the present day, three extracts have been chosen from The Advent of Divine Justice, a letter sent by Shoghi Effendi, late Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, to the American Bahá'ís during their first great expansion project. These have been adapted by suitable omissions. With the exception of these and one or two other passages made clear in the context, all that follows takes its origin from Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá.

It should not, by any means, be supposed that this selection exhausts the range of the moral teachings of the Faith. Indeed, during compilation, it was found that the material available, after preliminary sifting, was many times too copious, and that material presents only what has so far been translated into English from the original Persian and Arabic, in which the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith and His Son rendered the revelation of truth for this day.

Each great Manifestation of God, perfectly reflecting that source of the energy and attractive power which men call love, in manner adapted to the changing needs of a progressively growing mankind, has ever had a threefold purpose; the perpetuation of man's civilization; the purification of his qualities; and the promotion of his happiness in all the worlds of God. It is with the central and pivotal aspect of this purpose, the purification of man's qualities, upon which depend both the others, that this selection is concerned in particular.

Man himself, created to know, serve, worship, praise, reflect, and love God, is to be regarded as a mine of attributes, each latent and potential. Through that interaction with the world, which is called education, these attributes are caused to appear. If, in the course of this interaction, man becomes imbued with a desire for self-gratification, these attributes will be turned inward, the bonds of love and regard for others will weakn and disappear, and those qualities which, in reality, denote extreme lack, the opposites of all virtues, will be developed. If, on the other hand, man realizes that his neighbor also has been created to reflect the perfections of God, he will seek to associate with that neighbour so that, through mutual co-operation, each may increase his reflective capacity and so develop, grow, and expand until those perfections are clearly revealed, and the soul so empowered made ready for life in another world. This association, this love, this fellowship, is the foundation of that ever-advancing civilization for the promotion of which all men have come into being.

Just as each great Manifestation of God is a perfect mirror of the Divine Essence, so all other human beings are mirrors capable, by turning toward those Manifestations and in particular towards Bahá'u'lláh, the Manifestation of this Day, of reflecting Their glorious attributes, the very attributes needed for perpetuated existence in the heavenly kingdom.

"The rewards of this life are the virtues and perfections which adorn the reality of man."

Purity

BODY

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 322)

CHASTITY

Bahá'u'lláh (ADJ 26, 27)

Shoghi Effendi (ADJ 24)

CLEANLINESS

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 131)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 581)

CONFESSION

Bahá'u'lláh (PHW 44)

Bahá'u'lláh (TB 87)

DECENCY

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 215, 188)

FORTITUDE

Bahá'u'lláh (SBS 323; AHW 48)

HEALTH

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 154)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 207)

HUMILITY

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 30, 44)

INTEGRITY

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 29, 74; GWB 287)

LIBERTY

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 335)

MATERIAL GOODS

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 138; AHW 56; ADJ 19)

MODERATION

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 216, 342)

MODESTY

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 27)

PATIENCE

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 129; ESW 24)

PURITY

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 307; ESW 23)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 110)

SANCTITY

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 297, 299, 93)

SELF-KNOWLEDGE

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 178; TB 5; GWB 326)

SELFLESSNESS

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 338)

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 328)

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 294)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 136)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 97)

SINCERITY

Bahá'u'lláh (KI 194)

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 233)

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 277)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 620)

SLEEP

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 460)

TEMPERANCE

Bahá'u'lláh (ADJ 27)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ADJ 27)

WORLD

Bahá'u'lláh (AHW 55; GWB 127, 328)

Kindliness

RECTITUDE OF CONDUCT

Shoghi Effendi (ADJ 19, 22, 24)

ANIMALS

Bahá'u'lláh (KI 194)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB) [Ed. - The quotation cited appears to be instead from BWF 373]

ASSOCIATION

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 15; GWB 289)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 92)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 38)

BAD LANGUAGE

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 11; TB 90; BWF 208)

CHARITY

Bahá'u'lláh (TB 57; GWB 202)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (SAQ 349)

CHILDREN

Bahá'u'lláh (TB 29, 129, 53)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 116, 91)

COMPASSION

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 149; PUP 199)

COURTESY

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 50; TB 27)

DEFENCE OF THE CAUSE

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 329, 330)

DETRACTION

Bahá'u'lláh (AHW 27; PHW 66)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 45)

DISPUTATION

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 55)

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 279)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 122)

DISSENSION

Bahá'u'lláh (BWF 209; GWB 9)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 431)

EQUITY

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 315; ADJ 20; GWB 203, 204)

FIDELITY

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 161)

FRIENDLINESS

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 318, 8)

GENEROSITY

Bahá'u'lláh (PHW 54; ESW 55; PHW 49)

GOOD CHARACTER

Bahá'u'lláh (ADJ 19; GWB 299; ADJ 21; TB 7)

GOSSIP

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 74)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (WT 9)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 131)

HONESTY

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 23; ADJ 19)

HOSPITALITY

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 15)

JUSTICE

Bahá'u'lláh (AHW 2; GWB 106; ADJ 23; AHW 28; GWB 250; ADJ 24)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 160)

KINDLINESS

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 289)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 100)

LOVE FOR MAN

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 180, 36)

LOYALTY

Bahá'u'lláh (PDC 81; TB 85; ESW 89)

MALICE

Bahá'u'lláh (PHW 42; KI 193)

MEEKNESS

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 315)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 126)

MERCY

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 29)

OBEDIENCE

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 241, 207)

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 128)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 132)

PARENTS

Bahá'u'lláh (SBS 166)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 342)

POLITICS

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 95)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 498)

In regard to practical participation in democratic elections, the Guardian has written as follows:

"The friends may vote, if they can do it, without identifying themselves with one party or another. To enter the arena of party politics is surely detrimental to the best interests of the Faith and will harm the Cause. It remains for the individuals to so use their right to vote as to keep aloof from party politics, and always bear in mind that they are voting on the merits of the individual, rather than because he belongs to one party or another."

Shoghi Effendi (BP 13)

SACRIFICE

Bahá'u'lláh (PM 95)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 146)

SECLUSION

Bahá'u'lláh (TB 56; ESW 49)

SELF-EXPRESSION

Bahá'u'lláh (PHW 72)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 432)

The Guardian has written, however: "At the very root of the Cause lies the principle of the undoubted right of the individual to self-expression, his freedom to declare his conscience and set forth his views, be it as elected representative of his community or on his own account at the feasts."

Shoghi Effendi (BP 32)

SERVICE

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 250)

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 93)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 177, 168; TAB 161)

SEX

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 49)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 80, 108; PT 164)

SYMPATHY

Bahá'u'lláh (AHW 30; GWB 316)

TRUSTWORTHINESS

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 54; GWB 232)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 436)

TRUTHFULNESS

Bahá'u'lláh (TB 12)

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 270)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 459)

VENGEANCE

'Abdu'l-Bahá (SAQ 305, 309)

VIOLENCE

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 24, 25)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 93)

WAR

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 29, 28)

Radiance

UNITY

Shoghi Effendi (ADJ 29, 19)

ADVERSITY

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 313; ESW 95; PHW 51)

ATTRACTION

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 277)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PUP 213)

CAPACITY

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PUP 143)

DEATH

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 345; AHW 14)

DISTINCTION

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ADJ 21; PUP 195)

EQUALITY

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ADJ 31, 32)

FEAR OF GOD

Bahá'u'lláh (TB 33; ESW 27, 136; GWB 272)

GUIDANCE

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 339, 305)

HAPPINESS

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 139)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 72)

HOLINESS

Bahá'u'lláh (PHW 8)

IMAGE OF GOD

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PUP 329)

INSIGHT

Bahá'u'lláh (PHW 31)

JOY

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 289)

Bahá'u'lláh (AHW 35)

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 329)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PUP 209)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 110)

KNOWLEDGE

Bahá'u'lláh (KI 197; ESW 121)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (SBS 252)

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 26, 111; GWB 128)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PUP 222)

LIFE

Bahá'u'lláh (TB 145)

Bahá'u'lláh (PHW 73)

Bahá'u'lláh (ADJ 63)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 93)

LOVE OF GOD

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 261)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 77)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 526)

MEDITATION

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 175-6)

NEARNESS TO GOD

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PUP 142)

PRAISE

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 234, 38)

PRAYER

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 291)

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 280)

Bahá'u'lláh (AHW 31)

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 295)

"While man prays, he sees himself in the presence of God."

'Abdu'l-Bahá (SBS 250)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 81)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (SBS 252, 254, 255, 254, 255)

RADIANCE

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 322)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 113)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 131)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PUP 6)

RIGHTEOUSNESS

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 323, 94, 287)

SPIRITUALITY

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PT 112; TAB 314)

STEADFASTNESS

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 246, 253)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (TAB 696)

THANKFULNESS

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PUP 231, 465)

UNITY

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 140, 288, 218, 94, 215, 338; SBS 109)

WISDOM

Bahá'u'lláh (ESW 55, 99; GWB 343; PHW 36)

WORK

Bahá'u'lláh (PHW 82, 80, 89)

'Abdu'l-Bahá (PUP 182)

WORSHIP

'Abdu'l-Bahá (ABL 94, PT 176)

Bahá'u'lláh (GWB 284)

INDEX

	Page
Adversity	45
Animals	23
Association	24
Attraction	45
Bad Language	24
Body	9
Capacity	46
Charity	25
Chastity	9
Children	25
Cleanliness	12
Compassion	26
Confession	12
Courtesy	26
Death	46
Decency	13
Defence of Cause	26
Detraction	27
Disputation	27
Dissension	28
Distinction	47
Equality	48
Equity	28
Fear of God	48
Fidelity	29
Fortitude	13
Friendliness	29
Generosity	30
Good Character	30
Gossip	31
Guidance	49
Happiness	49
Health	13
Holiness	49
Honesty	31
Hospitality	32
Humility	14
Image of God	50
Insight	50
Integrity	14
Joy	50
Justice	32
Kindliness	33
Knowledge	51
Liberty	15
Life	52
Love of Man	33
Love of God	53
Loyalty	34
Malice	35
Material Goods	15
Meditation	53
Meekness	35
Mercy	36
Moderation	16
Modesty	16
Nearness to God	54
Obedience	36
Parents	36
Patience	16
Politics	37
Praise	54
Prayer	54
Purity	17
Radiance	56
Rectitude of Conduct	22
Righteousness	56
Sacrifice	37
Sanctity	17
Seclusion	38
Self-expression	38
Self-knowledge	17
Selflessness	18
Service	39
Sex	39
Sincerity	19
Sleep	19
Spirituality	57
Steadfastness	57
Sympathy	40
Temperance	20
Thankfulness	57
Trustworthiness	40
Truthfulness	41
Unity	58
Vengeance	41
Violence	42
War	42
Wisdom	59
Work	59
World	20
Worship	60