# Impressions of Bahji

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-20 — 1 clipping.*

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> 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.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> 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
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views578 views since posted 2025-10-29; last edit 2025-10-29 03:22 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../locke_impressions_bahji
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> Citation: ris/7103
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> — *Impressions of Bahji (Used by permission of the curator)*