Beauty (Jamal) 172 B.E.

Sydney, Australia

“Plant ye a tree in the field of life, amid the roses of this visible world, that will yield a fruitage fresh and sweet.”
-‘Abdul-Baha, Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha
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Wilmette, USA

“In winter come the storms, and the great winds blow, but then will follow spring in all its beauty, adorning hill and plain with perfumed plants and red anemones, fair to see. Then will the birds trill out upon the branches their songs of joy, and sermonize in lilting tones from the pulpits of the trees. Erelong shall ye bear witness that the lights are streaming forth, the banners of the realm above are waving, the sweet scents of the All-Merciful are wafted abroad, the hosts of the Kingdom are marching down, the angels of heaven are rushing forward, and the Holy Spirit is breathing upon all those regions.”
—‘Abdu’l-Baha, Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha
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Adelaide, Australia

Sacrifice
“When you look at the tree, you will realize that the perfections, blessings, properties and beauty of the seed have become manifest in the branches, twigs, blossoms and fruit; consequently, the seed has sacrificed itself to the tree. Had it not done so, the tree would not have come into existence.”
—‘Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace
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Tampa, USA

“The true seeker hunteth naught but the object of his quest, and the lover hath no desire save union with his beloved. Nor shall the seeker reach his goal unless he sacrifice all things. That is, whatever he hath seen, and heard, and understood, all must he set at naught, that he may enter the realm of the spirit, which is the City of God. Labor is needed, if we are to seek Him; ardor is needed, if we are to drink of the honey of reunion with Him; and if we taste of this cup, we shall cast away the world.
On this journey the traveler abideth in every land and dwelleth in every region. In every face, he seeketh the beauty of the Friend; in every country he looketh for the Beloved. He joineth every company, and seeketh fellowship with every soul, that haply in some mind he may uncover the secret of the Friend, or in some face he may behold the beauty of the Loved One.”
-Baha’u’llah, The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys
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Bahji, Israel

“Thou hast guided the distracted out of the death of unbelief, and hast brought those who draw nigh unto Thee to the journey’s goal, and hast rejoiced the assured among Thy servants by granting them their most cherished desires, and hast, from Thy Kingdom of beauty, opened before the faces of those who yearn after Thee the gates of reunion, and hast rescued them from the fires of deprivation and loss—so that they hastened unto Thee and gained Thy presence, and arrived at Thy welcoming door, and received of gifts an abundant share.”
-‘Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha
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Brisbane, Australia

We engrave rocks with patterns, but God engraves His attributes into us through experience

“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, The Hidden Words
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Ottawa, Canada

“Can you paint upon the page of the world the ideal pictures of the Celestial Concourse? The pictures which are in the ideal world are eternal. I wish you to become such an artist. Man can paint those ideal pictures upon the tablet of existence with the brush of deeds.
The holy, divine Manifestations are all heavenly artists. Upon the canvas of creation, with the brush of their deeds and lives they paint immortal pictures which cannot be found in any art museum of Europe or America. But you find the masterpieces of these spiritual artists in the hearts.”
-‘Abdu’l-Baha, Star of the West
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Newport, USA

“The barking of dogs is loud on every side: Where is the lion of the forest of Thy might, O Chastiser of the worlds?”
-Baha’u’llah, The Fire Tablet