1951: Terraces leading to the Shrine of the Báb on Mt. Carmel

The recently built two additional terraces can be seen at the top of the avenue; there is now a direct access from the Shrine to the city. (Baha’i News, August 1951)

1953: Panoramic view of newly developed garden of the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí

(Baha'i News, August 1953)

The first person to recognize Bahá'u'lláh as a Manifestation of God

Mr. ... refers to several sources in the literature of the Bahá'í Faith where the first person to recognize Bahá'u'lláh as a Manifestation of God is identified. Those named include 'Abdu'l-Bahá (see Balyuzi's book "'Abdu'l-Bahá The Centre of the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh" (Oxford: George Ronald, 1987, p. 13), Mírzá Áqá Ján and Shaykh Hasán-i-Zunúzi (see "Bahá'u'lláh: The King of Glory" (Oxford: George Ronald, 1980, p. 109 and pp. 67-68). He asks how this apparent contradiction is to be resolved.

It is evident that the term "the first" to recognize Bahá'u'lláh had different meanings according to the context of its use. For example, given 'Abdu'l-Bahá's designation as "the Mystery of God" and His unique relationship with His Father, it is possible that the reference is to the spiritual realm, a realm which transcends time. While, in the case of Mírzá Áqá Ján and Shaykh Hasán-i-Zunúzi, the application of the term is necessarily in the context of the human plane of existence.

In relation to Mírzá Áqá Ján, Shoghi Effendi in "God Passes By", p. 115, clearly affirms that Mírzá Áqá Ján was "the first to believe" in Bahá'u'lláh, and that to him, Bahá'u'lláh, more than to anyone else, was moved to disclose, at this critical juncture, a glimpse of the as yet unrevealed glory of His station.

Hence, one possible distinction between Mírzá Áqá Ján and Shaykh Hasán-i-Zunúzi could well relate to the degree or extent of their recognition, with primacy being accorded to Mírzá Áqá Ján. 

(Memorandum from the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice dated 23 May 1991, attached to a letter dated 20 June 1991, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; Baha’i Online Library)

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The Greatest Holy Leaf: The "archetype of the people of Bahá"

Who Bahá’u’lláh is

He Who in such dramatic circumstances was made to sustain the overpowering weight of so glorious a Mission was none other than the One Whom posterity will acclaim, and Whom innumerable followers already recognize, as

• the Judge,
• the Lawgiver and Redeemer of all mankind, as
• the Organizer of the entire planet, as
• the Unifier of the children of men, as
• the Inaugurator of the long-awaited millennium, as
• the Originator of a new “Universal Cycle,” as
• the Establisher of the Most Great Peace, as
• the Fountain of the Most Great Justice, as
• the Proclaimer of the coming of age of the entire human race,
• as the Creator of a new World Order, and as
• the Inspirer and Founder of a world civilization.

- Shoghi Effendi  ('God Passes By')

Teaching the Cause of God: - “an indispensable feature of Bahá’í life”

In recent messages we have expressed joy at witnessing the steady increase in the tempo of teaching across the globe. The discharge of this fundamental spiritual obligation by the individual believer has always been, and continues to be, an indispensable feature of Bahá’í life. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (Ridvan 2010 message; online Baha’i Reference Library of the Baha’i World Center)

“self and ego”: - “a central theme of the Manifestation”

Your concern about the overemphasis upon the self and ego echoes a central theme of the Manifestation Himself, and it is the subject of many allusions in His Writings wherein, for example, He speaks of

• "the evil of egotism" and of
• those who are "captives of egotism."

The Master refers to

• "the rust of egotism"
• and tells of ". . . the subtlety of the ego of man. It is the Tempter (the subtle serpent of the mind) and the poor soul not entirely emancipated from its suggestions is deceived until entirely severed from all save God."
• In another passage He says: "As long as the ego is subjected to carnal desires, sin and error continue."
• And He promised that with assiduous effort "Man will become free from egotism; he will be released from the material world . . . ". 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 4 August 1977 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; compilation: ‘Psychology and Knowledge of Self’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, attached to a letter dated 23 October 1994, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; Baha’i Online Library)