The Pattern of Baha'i life
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Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: unknown, The Pattern of Baha'i life, London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1948/1983, bahai-library.com.
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The Pattern of Bahá'í life

[name of compiler unknown]
pp. 4, 39, 55, of 63 pages total

London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1948/1983

Contents

Page

INTRODUCTION5

PURITY9

KINDLINESS22

RADIANCE43

INDEX62

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

ADJAdvent of Divine Justice (The)

AHWArabic Hidden Words

BPBahá'í Procedure (American edition, 1942)

BWFBahá'í World Faith (American edition, 1943)

ESWEpistle to the Son of the Wolf

GWBGleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh

KIKitáb-i-Iqán

PTParis Talks

PHWPersian Hidden Words

PMPrayers and Meditations of Bahá'u'lláh

PDCPromised Day is Come (The)

PUPPromulgation of Universal Peace

SAQSome Answered Questions

SBSSelections from Bahá'í Scripture

TABTablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá

TBTablets of Bahá'u'lláh

WTWill 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."

COMPILER

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
Adversity45

Animals23

Association24

Attraction45

Bad Language24

Body9

Capacity46

Charity25

Chastity9

Children25

Cleanliness12

Compassion26

Confession12

Courtesy26

Death46

Decency13

Defence of Cause26

Detraction27

Disputation27

Dissension28

Distinction47

Equality48

Equity28

Fear of God48

Fidelity29

Fortitude13

Friendliness29

Generosity30

Good Character30

Gossip31

Guidance49

Happiness49

Health13

Holiness49

Honesty31

Hospitality32

Humility14

Image of God50

Insight50

Integrity14

Joy50

Justice32

Kindliness33

Knowledge51

Liberty15

Life52

Love of Man33

Love of God53

Loyalty34

Malice35

Material Goods15

Meditation53

Meekness35

Mercy36

Moderation16

Modesty16

Nearness to God54

Obedience36

Parents36

Patience16

Politics37

Praise54

Prayer54

Purity17

Radiance56

Rectitude of Conduct22

Righteousness56

Sacrifice37

Sanctity17

Seclusion38

Self-expression38

Self-knowledge17

Selflessness18

Service39

Sex39

Sincerity19

Sleep19

Spirituality57

Steadfastness57

Sympathy40

Temperance20

Thankfulness57

Trustworthiness40

Truthfulness41

Unity58

Vengeance41

Violence42

War42

Wisdom59

Work59

World20

Worship60

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-- The Pattern of Baha'i life (Used by permission of the curator)