Joyous Ridván! - "I am the Sun of Wisdom and the Ocean of Knowledge. I cheer the faint and revive the dead. I am the guiding Light that illumineth the way."

Happy First Day of Ridván! 
The twelve day Bahá'í festival commemorating the declaration of Bahá'u'lláh.

"The Great Being saith: The Tongue of Wisdom proclaimeth: He that hath Me not is bereft of all things. Turn ye away from all that is on earth and seek none else but Me. I am the Sun of Wisdom and the Ocean of Knowledge. I cheer the faint and revive the dead. I am the guiding Light that illumineth the way. I am the royal Falcon on the arm of the Almighty. I unfold the drooping wings of every broken bird and start it on its flight."

-Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh




Matisse

" ... keep the lamp of Thy religion with the glass of Thy power and Thy favors, so that the winds of denial pass not by it ..."

"Glory be to Thee, O God! O My God, I ask of Thee in Thy Name, whereby Thou hast subdued whomsoever is in the heavens and the earth, that Thou wilt keep the lamp of Thy religion with the glass of Thy power and Thy favors, so that the winds of denial pass not by it from the region of those who are heedless of the mysteries of Thy Sovereign Name: then increase its light by the oil of Thy wisdom: verily Thou art Potent over whomsoever is in Thy earth and Thy heaven. ..."


‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative

Mondrian

"Do they desire to tarry when their foot is in the stirrup?"

" ... that there may appear in the end what began in the beginning. Do they desire to tarry when their foot is in the stirrup? Or do they see any return in their going? No, by the Lord of Lords, save in the Resurrection! On that day men shall arise from the tombs and shall be questioned concerning their riches. Happy that one whom burdens shall not oppress on that day whereon the mountains shall pass away and all shall appear for the questioning in the presence of God the Exalted! Verily He is severe in punishing."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative

Picasso

‘All that is thereon is transient, and there remaineth [only] the face of My Lord’

"... Of glory shall any glory endure, or of abasement any abasement? Or shall he endure who used to stay himself on high cushions, and who attained in splendor the utmost limit? No, by My Lord the Merciful! ‘All that is thereon is transient, and there remaineth [only] the face of My Lord’ the Mighty, the Beneficent. What buckler hath not the arrow of destruction smitten, or what pinion hath not the hand of fate plucked? From what fortress hath the messenger of death been kept back when he came? What throne hath not been broken, or what palace hath not been left desolate? Did men but know what pure wine of the mercy of their Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, was beneath the seal, they would certainly cast aside reproach and seek to be satisfied by this Servant ..."


‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative,
 quoting Bahá'u'lláh



Bonnard

‘Do ye disavow Us for aught save that We believe in God, and what hath been sent down unto Us, and what was sent down before?’

"‘Do ye disavow Us for aught save that We believe in God, and what hath been sent down unto Us, and what was sent down before?’"


‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative, Qur’án 5:64.










Klein

"Why do ye outwardly claim to be shepherds, while inwardly ye have become the wolves of My sheep?"

“‘O faithless ones! Why do ye outwardly claim to be shepherds, while inwardly ye have become the wolves of My sheep? Your likeness is like unto the star before the morning, which is apparently bright and luminous, but really causeth the misguidance and destruction of the caravans of My city and country.’"

‘Abdu’l-Bahá,
A Traveler’s Narrative, quoting a Hidden Word (E.G.Brown's translation)










Alsaii

"Everyone, then, who desireth “victory” must first subdue the city of his own heart with the sword of spiritual truth and of the Word .."

"... The will of the Eternal King hath ever been to purify the hearts of [His] servants from the promptings of the world and what is therein, so that they may be prepared for illumination by the effulgences of the Lord of the Names and Attributes. Therefore must no stranger find his way into the city of the heart, so that the Incomparable Friend may come unto His own place—that is, the effulgence of His Names and Attributes, not His Essence (exalted is He), for that Peerless King hath been and will be holy for everlasting above ascent or descent. Therefore today “victory” neither hath been nor will be opposition to anyone, nor strife with any person; but rather what is well-pleasing is that the cities of [men’s] hearts, which are under the dominion of the hosts of selfishness and lust, should be subdued by the sword of the Word, of Wisdom, and of Exhortation. Everyone, then, who desireth “victory” must first subdue the city of his own heart with the sword of spiritual truth and of the Word, and must protect it from remembering aught beside God: afterwards let him turn his regards towards the cities of [others’] hearts. This is what is intended by “victory”: sedition hath never been nor is pleasing to God, and that which certain ignorant persons formerly wrought was never approved...."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative

Ellsworth Kelly