# The Pattern of Baha'i life

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.*

---

> 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.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> 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
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views9049 views since posted 2016-09-11; last edit 2025-01-31 15:33 UTC;
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> — *The Pattern of Baha'i life (Used by permission of the curator)*