Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Kevin Locke, Impressions of Bahji, bahai-library.com.
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Impressions of Bahji

Kevin Locke

2001-05

Sunday, May 27, 2001

Subject: Kevin Locke writes of his impressions at Bahjí

A cloudless
blue, blue sky greeted the thousands from nearly 200 countries
as we poured out of the fleet of buses at the West Gate at
Bahjí. Right away I met up with Phillip Obah and
we were both still excited about the London meeting and eagerly anticipating his North.
American tour.

We all
filed through the Gate and were greeted by table after table of
pastries and water a sweet refreshing entree. Most sweet of all
is the radiance of the army of youth service staff who lavish
hospitality on behalf of the Universal House of Justice. There was plenty of time to visit amidst the luxuriant
Bahjí foliage before we were all to arrange ourselves in 1000's of
chairs placed around the red path on both sides of Collin's Gate.

There were more than a dozen Readings in English, Arabic, French,
Persian, Spanish and Russian whilst the myriad birds swooped and the tree topped swayed on
cue. The last recitation was the Tablet of Visitation recited by Hand of the Cause
Furutan, now nearly 100 years old but seemingly more robust than I can recall from
previous meetings.

Following the Readings we all commenced a counter clockwise
circumambulation of the Shrine. This is the first thing I've done every time I've visited
Bahjí but this circumambulation, the first from this trajectory was new and fresh. It's
clear that the gardeners had lavished careful attention to every detail to insure that
every color and fragrance would be at its height. Phillip was taken by the abundance of
Australian gum trees and extolled the medicinal and spiritual properties of each
species....I'm sure that this visit held many significances for all.

---May 22--

Even though I'm not an official participant, with my
"artist" badge I can get into the general sessions. At 10 everyone assembled
under the arched roof of the Congress Center, the same place where the International
Convention is held, and thrilled to 3 Readings, the last being a dynamic reading of Abdul
Bahá'ís famous Tablet enjoining movement towards China in Mandarin!! Next the 18 May
welcome letter from the Universal House of Justice. Her Highness Princess Tofi
from Samoa read a statement from her father the King of Samoa, followed
by a statement from the President of Mauritius and a gift of roses from
the Iranian Bahá'í community.

Every activity of this grand event is wafted high on the spirit of
music...this morning's program featured; the Congo Youth Bahá'í Choir, Tabarsi - a Romani
group from Spain, Kiu Haghighi-santourist, and several others all orchestrated under the
direction of Jack Lenz!! After an initial stirring musical intro from the Congo Hand of
the Cause Furutan welcomed everyone and reminded us that Shoghi Effendi had predicted
these events and that now the Universal House of Justice had brought this vision to a
glorious culmination and that we were all privileged to witness this!! Hand of the Cause
Varqa also welcomed everyone.

The mayor of Haifa was introduced as one who takes a personal
interest and has used his position to speed the progress. Mayor Amram Mitzva reminded us
that the Bahá'ís share Haifa and that the Bahá'í World Centre is the heart of Haifa, the two
are interlocked and that one cannot see Haifa without the "hanging gardens" (the
Israeli reference to the Bahá'í World Center). He asked us to join together in prayer for
peace and stability and no more war -- he asked us all to strive to be "better
Bahá'ís!!"

Kevin Locke

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