"With the hands of loving-kindness I have planted in the holy garden of paradise the young tree of your love and friendship ..."

photo by Margarete p. 

O DWELLERS OF MY PARADISE!

With the hands of loving-kindness I have planted in the holy garden of paradise the young tree of your love and friendship, and have watered it with the goodly showers of My tender grace; now that the hour of its fruiting is come, strive that it may be protected, and be not consumed with the flame of desire and passion.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #34 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/478336069

" ... kindle within your hearts the everlasting torch of divine guidance ..."

 

Photo by Margarete P.

O MY FRIENDS! 

Quench ye the lamp of error, and kindle within your hearts the everlasting torch of divine guidance. For ere long the assayers of mankind shall, in the holy presence of the Adored, accept naught but purest virtue and deeds of stainless holiness.

(Bahá'u'lláh,The Hidden Words #35 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/839248912

"The wise are they that speak not unless they obtain a hearing ..."

 

© chuck egerton 2025

O SON OF DUST!

The wise are they that speak not unless they obtain a hearing, even as the cup-bearer, who proffereth not his cup till he findeth a seeker, and the lover who crieth not out from the depths of his heart until he gazeth upon the beauty of his beloved. Wherefore sow the seeds of wisdom and knowledge in the pure soil of the heart, and keep them hidden, till the hyacinths of divine wisdom spring from the heart and not from mire and clay.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #36 Persian)

www.bahai.org/r/447289253

"This is the river of everlasting life that hath flowed from the wellspring of the pen of the merciful; well is it with them that drink!"

 

photo by Trina Ridvan

O MY SERVANT!

Abandon not for that which perisheth an everlasting dominion, and cast not away celestial sovereignty for a worldly desire. This is the river of everlasting life that hath flowed from the wellspring of the pen of the merciful; well is it with them that drink!

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #37 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/998408191

"Burst thy cage asunder, and even as the phoenix of love soar into the firmament of holiness."

 

photo by Margarete p. 

O SON OF SPIRIT!

Burst thy cage asunder, and even as the phoenix of love soar into the firmament of holiness. Renounce thyself and, filled with the spirit of mercy, abide in the realm of celestial sanctity.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #38 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/988131543

"Barter not the garden of eternal delight for the dust-heap of a mortal world."

 

photo by Margarete p. 

O OFFSPRING OF DUST!

Be not content with the ease of a passing day, and deprive not thyself of everlasting rest. Barter not the garden of eternal delight for the dust-heap of a mortal world. Up from thy prison ascend unto the glorious meads above, and from thy mortal cage wing thy flight unto the paradise of the Placeless.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #39 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/921804077

"... loose thy soul from the prison of self."

 

photo by Trina Ridvan

O MY SERVANT!

Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and loose thy soul from the prison of self. Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #40 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/178899283

"Didst thou behold immortal sovereignty, thou wouldst strive to pass from this fleeting world."

 

O SON OF MY HANDMAID!

Didst thou behold immortal sovereignty, thou wouldst strive to pass from this fleeting world. But to conceal the one from thee and to reveal the other is a mystery which none but the pure in heart can comprehend.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #41 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/228576295

"Purge thy heart from malice ..."

 

photo by Margarete P. 

O MY SERVANT!

Purge thy heart from malice and, innocent of envy, enter the divine court of holiness.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #42 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/006213096

"Walk ye in the ways of the good pleasure of the Friend, and know that His pleasure is in the pleasure of His creatures."

 

© Chuck EGerton 2025

O MY FRIENDS!

Walk ye in the ways of the good pleasure of the Friend, and know that His pleasure is in the pleasure of His creatures. That is: no man should enter the house of his friend save at his friend’s pleasure, nor lay hands upon his treasures nor prefer his own will to his friend’s, and in no wise seek an advantage over him. Ponder this, ye that have insight!

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #43 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/452186269

"Live then the days of thy life, that are less than a fleeting moment, with thy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied, thy thoughts pure, and thy nature sanctified ..."

 

© Chuck Egerton 2025

O COMPANION OF MY THRONE!

Hear no evil, and see no evil, abase not thyself, neither sigh and weep. Speak no evil, that thou mayest not hear it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the faults of others that thine own faults may not appear great; and wish not the abasement of anyone, that thine own abasement be not exposed. Live then the days of thy life, that are less than a fleeting moment, with thy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied, thy thoughts pure, and thy nature sanctified, so that, free and content, thou mayest put away this mortal frame, and repair unto the mystic paradise and abide in the eternal kingdom forevermore.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #44 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/697759113

"Ye bow the knee before your vain imagining, and call it truth."

© Chuck Egerton 2025

 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #45 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/577977380

"The essence of beauty is within the peerless pavilion, set upon the throne of glory, whilst ye busy yourselves with idle contentions."

 

© Chuck Egerton 2025

O BRETHREN IN THE PATH!

Wherefore have ye neglected the mention of the Loved One, and kept remote from His holy presence? The essence of beauty is within the peerless pavilion, set upon the throne of glory, whilst ye busy yourselves with idle contentions. The sweet savors of holiness are breathing and the breath of bounty is wafted, yet ye are all sorely afflicted and deprived thereof. Alas for you and for them that walk in your ways and follow in your footsteps!

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #46 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/076998102

" ... divest yourselves of the attire of haughtiness."

 

O CHILDREN OF DESIRE! 

Put away the garment of vainglory, and divest yourselves of the attire of haughtiness.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #47 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/630765205

"By My beauty! I have created all things from dust, and to dust will I return them again."

 

blood moon by Margarete P.

O BRETHREN!

Be forbearing one with another and set not your affections on things below. Pride not yourselves in your glory, and be not ashamed of abasement. By My beauty! I have created all things from dust, and to dust will I return them again.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #48 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/410608045

"To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine ..."

 

bloodmoon by Trina Ridvan

O CHILDREN OF DUST!

Tell the rich of the midnight sighing of the poor, lest heedlessness lead them into the path of destruction, and deprive them of the Tree of Wealth. To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #49 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/886046055

" ... the contented hath ever been loved and praised."

 

Seal of BahÁ'u'llÁh

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #50 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/089879189

“God is the all-possessing”

 

photo by Trina Ridvan

O SON OF MY HANDMAID!

Be not troubled in poverty nor confident in riches, for poverty is followed by riches, and riches are followed by poverty. Yet to be poor in all save God is a wondrous gift, belittle not the value thereof, for in the end it will make thee rich in God, and thus thou shalt know the meaning of the utterance, “In truth ye are the poor,” and the holy words, “God is the all-possessing,” shall even as the true morn break forth gloriously resplendent upon the horizon of the lover’s heart, and abide secure on the throne of wealth.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #51 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/937503023

"Worldly friends, seeking their own good, appear to love one the other, whereas the true Friend hath loved and doth love you for your own sakes ..."

 O CHILDREN OF NEGLIGENCE AND PASSION!

Ye have suffered My enemy to enter My house and have cast out My friend, for ye have enshrined the love of another than Me in your hearts. Give ear to the sayings of the Friend and turn towards His paradise.
Worldly friends, seeking their own good, appear to love one the other, whereas the true Friend hath loved and doth love you for your own sakes; indeed He hath suffered for your guidance countless afflictions. Be not disloyal to such a Friend, nay rather hasten unto Him. Such is the daystar of the word of truth and faithfulness, that hath dawned above the horizon of the pen of the Lord of all names. Open your ears that ye may hearken unto the word of God, the Help in peril, the Self-Existent.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #52 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/564055916

"The rich, but for a few, shall in no wise attain the court of His presence nor enter the city of content and resignation."

 

O YE THAT PRIDE YOURSELVES ON MORTAL RICHES!

Know ye in truth that wealth is a mighty barrier between the seeker and his desire, the lover and his beloved. The rich, but for a few, shall in no wise attain the court of His presence nor enter the city of content and resignation. Well is it then with him, who, being rich, is not hindered by his riches from the eternal kingdom, nor deprived by them of imperishable dominion. By the Most Great Name! The splendor of such a wealthy man shall illuminate the dwellers of heaven even as the sun enlightens the people of the earth!

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #53 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/305325189

"The poor in your midst are My trust; guard ye My trust ..."

 

© chuck egerton 2025

O YE RICH ONES ON EARTH!

The poor in your midst are My trust; guard ye My trust, and be not intent only on your own ease.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #54 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/278984163

"Cleanse thyself from the defilement of riches and in perfect peace advance into the realm of poverty ..."

 

photo by Trina Ridvan

O SON OF PASSION!

Cleanse thyself from the defilement of riches and in perfect peace advance into the realm of poverty; that from the wellspring of detachment thou mayest quaff the wine of immortal life.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #55 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/801572056

" ... fellowship with the righteous cleanseth the rust from off the heart."

photo by margarete P.

O MY SON!

The company of the ungodly increaseth sorrow, whilst fellowship with the righteous cleanseth the rust from off the heart. He that seeketh to commune with God, let him betake himself to the companionship of His loved ones; and he that desireth to hearken unto the word of God, let him give ear to the words of His chosen ones.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #56 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/289429069

" ... Walk not with the ungodly and seek not fellowship with him ..."

 

© Chuck egerton 2025

O SON OF DUST!

Beware! Walk not with the ungodly and seek not fellowship with him, for such companionship turneth the radiance of the heart into infernal fire.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #57 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/801831638

" ... enter into fellowship with the righteous ..."

 

O SON OF MY HANDMAID!

 
Wouldst thou seek the grace of the Holy Spirit, enter into fellowship with the righteous, for he hath drunk the cup of eternal life at the hands of the immortal Cupbearer and even as the true morn doth quicken and illumine the hearts of the dead.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #58 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/628305516

"Think not the secrets of hearts are hidden ..."

 

photo by trina ridvan

O HEEDLESS ONES!

Think not the secrets of hearts are hidden, nay, know ye of a certainty that in clear characters they are engraved and are openly manifest in the holy Presence.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #59 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/605312464

"Verily I say, whatsoever ye have concealed within your hearts is to Us open and manifest as the day ..."

photo by Margarete P.

O FRIENDS!

Verily I say, whatsoever ye have concealed within your hearts is to Us open and manifest as the day; but that it is hidden is of Our grace and favor, and not of your deserving.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #60 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/640297357

"A dewdrop out of the fathomless ocean of My mercy I have shed upon the peoples of the world ..."

 

photo by Margarete P.

O SON OF MAN!

A dewdrop out of the fathomless ocean of My mercy I have shed upon the peoples of the world, yet found none turn thereunto, inasmuch as everyone hath turned away from the celestial wine of unity unto the foul dregs of impurity, and, content with mortal cup, hath put away the chalice of immortal beauty. Vile is that wherewith he is contented.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #61 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/814768124

"Take from the hands of the divine Cupbearer the chalice of immortal life, that all wisdom may be thine ..."

© Chuck egerton 2025

O SON OF DUST!

Turn not away thine eyes from the matchless wine of the immortal Beloved, and open them not to foul and mortal dregs. Take from the hands of the divine Cupbearer the chalice of immortal life, that all wisdom may be thine, and that thou mayest hearken unto the mystic voice calling from the realm of the invisible. Cry aloud, ye that are of low aim! Wherefore have ye turned away from My holy and immortal wine unto evanescent water?

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #62 Persian)

www.bahai.org/r/718768059

"By My beauty! All your doings hath My pen graven with open characters upon tablets of chrysolite."

 

cHrysolite

O YE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD!

Know, verily, that an unforeseen calamity followeth you, and grievous retribution awaiteth you. Think not that which ye have committed hath been effaced in My sight. By My beauty! All your doings hath My pen graven with open characters upon tablets of chrysolite.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #63 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/626369506

Revelation 21:20

"Withdraw your hands from tyranny, for I have pledged Myself not to forgive any man’s injustice."

 

Kotel © Chuck egerton 2025

O OPPRESSORS ON EARTH!

Withdraw your hands from tyranny, for I have pledged Myself not to forgive any man’s injustice. This is My covenant which I have irrevocably decreed in the preserved tablet and sealed with My seal of glory.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #64 Persian)
www.bahai.org/r/213141042