The “attributes and qualities” of members of Spiritual Assemblies

O friends of God! Every assembly is in need of seasoned members who are worthy of its membership and are endowed with innate capacities. Likewise, the members of the Spiritual Assembly must acquire the capacities and merits that are requisites of this lofty station, and through the power of the spirit become experienced members of that assemblage. Those capacities are faith, assurance, insight, loving-kindness, spirituality, radiance, purity, detachment, sanctity, holiness, high endeavour, and nobility of character. My hope is that the members of that assembly shall be distinguished by these attributes and qualities, and shall each day prove anew the existence of these blessings within the reality of their own being. If it be so, Burma shall become even as the snow-white Spot, and those regions shall become the arenas of God’s most great bestowals. Upon you be the Glory of the All-Glorious! 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks’; Online Baha’i Reference Library, Baha’i World Centre)

“The design of all cemeteries” – ‘Abdu’l-Baha delineates

To the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Bombay  

O ye friends of God! It is understood that a wall hath been put up around the Bombay Cemetery, and that water supply is now available. It is a source of joy to the hearts that the friends are busily engaged in important matters, especially in regard to the graves of Bahá’ís, which to outward appearance should look majestic.  

It is understood that the land for the cemetery is twenty yards wide and sixty yards long. The design of all cemeteries should be as follows: four large avenues intersecting at the middle like across. Each avenue should be at least two yards wide, with a water pool in the centre of the four avenues. Thus the width of the land will be divided into four sections, and each section similarly divided in the form of a cross.  

Each grave should have a one-yard-wide flower bed to its right, left, top, and bottom. In other words, the graves should not be joined together. Each grave must have its   own flower bed, and if beautiful trees were planted all around the cemetery as well as the water pond, it would be pleasing indeed.  

The main point is that the graves should be situated separately in proper order and should have borders of flowers. However, you may deal with this as you deem advisable.  

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; ‘Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks’; Online Baha’i Reference Library, Baha’i World Centre)

O Bahá’u’lláh what hast Thou done!

Baha’u’llah estimates “the station ordained for the true believer”

Estimating the station of the true believer He [Baha'u'llah] remarks: “By the sorrows which afflict the beauty of the All-Glorious! Such is the station ordained for the true believer that if to an extent smaller than a needle’s eye the glory of that station were to be unveiled to mankind, every beholder would be consumed away in his longing to attain it. For this reason it hath been decreed that in this earthly life the full measure of the glory of his own station should remain concealed from the eyes of such a believer.” “If the veil be lifted,” He similarly affirms, “and the full glory of the station of those who have turned wholly towards God, and in their love for Him renounced the world, be made manifest, the entire creation would be dumbfounded.” 

- Shoghi Effendi  (‘The Dispensation of Baha’u’llah; included in ‘The World Order of Baha’u’llah’)