Personal Reflections on the Baha’i Faith from Around the World – Collection 15

“Personal Reflections on the Baha’i Faith from Around the World” is a Baha’i Blog initiative in honor of the bicentenary anniversaries of the Births of Baha’u’llah and the Bab, the two Prophet-founders of the Baha’i Faith.

In this initiative, we share portraits of Baha’is and their friends from different countries and territories all over the world, along with a few of their words about what the Baha’i Faith means to them or how it has touched their lives.

You can stay updated by following the “Personal Reflections” social media pages Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. You can also visit the website dedicated to this project:personalreflections.bahaiblog.net

In 2017 we shared 200 portraits and reflections in honor of the Birth of Baha’u’llah and in 2019 we decided to share another 200 to celebrate the bicentenary of the Bab’s Birth. Our hope is that by sharing these pictures and excerpts, we will answer the call from the Universal House of Justice to communicate “a sense of what it means for humanity that these two Luminaries [the Bab and Baha’u’llah] rose successively above the horizon of the world.”

Here is the 15th collection of images displayed here via our Instagram page, and it’s the fifth set of 20 in honor of the Birth of the Bab.

We hope you find this project as inspirational as we do!

 

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“I think it speaks to the power of Revelation that when Manifestations of God come, entire civilizations put their efforts into trying to quench it and make it disappear. And yet hundreds of thousands of years later, people still accept the teachings and beliefs. People truly believe it and that really speaks about a powerful message.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Oct 8, 2019 at 4:22pm PDT

 

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“I think we’re going through tumultuous times, going through great convulsions right now, with everything that’s going on. The Baha’i Faith is a blueprint for the future, it’s an anchor, it’s a safety line.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Oct 11, 2019 at 5:34pm PDT

 

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“Human beings have four dimensions: spiritual, mental, emotional and physical. You need to nurture your spiritual dimension and this is nurtured with spiritual guidance. When you look at the history of religions, they’re all from the same God.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Oct 14, 2019 at 6:11pm PDT

 

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“The followers of the Bab were willing to sacrifice their all, they were willing to sacrifice their lives. Of course, in this day, we’re not called upon to sacrifice our lives. The sacrifice we need to make is of our time, our energy, to be able to spread this Message […] If we look at the problems of humanity today and we think that the solutions are in this Revelation, then it’s an opportunity of us to make that ultimate sacrifice, to not rest, until we’ve been able to reach out to every human being.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Oct 17, 2019 at 5:42pm PDT

 

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“It all begins with the Bab. He’s the Gate that opens all of these new processes.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Oct 21, 2019 at 7:29pm PDT

 

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“I would say that being a Baha’i has made me understand a lot more about religion, and how to apply my spiritual life in this material world.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Oct 23, 2019 at 6:32pm PDT

 

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“I look at the world totally different to how I used to see the world — it was quite depressing, but now it’s totally different. I also see the other person’s point of view, and I put myself in their shoes also. I try to not let anyone leave heavy hearted.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Oct 26, 2019 at 3:56pm PDT

 

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“When I think about the Revelation of the Bab, I immediately think about love and unity amongst the different races of the world. I come from a multiracial family: my mum is from San Francisco, California, my dad is from Isfahan, Iran and I am from Guatemala. When I look at my own family, all of these nationalities coming together, my parents getting married and then adopting me, it shows me that the world is made up of one human family.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Oct 28, 2019 at 4:26pm PDT

 

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“Maybe the link I have to the Bab is this year because it’s the bicentenary of His Birth and I’m going to turn 25. He announced His mission when He was 25, and I really feel like that it’s such a special time to be 25. I’m always thinking about what He did at that time, that of course He was a Manifestation of God, but it’s truly special that someone so young could do that much, and I really feel like, ok, this is such a special year, this is such a special age: this is the time to do great things.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthfotheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Oct 30, 2019 at 3:37pm PDT

 

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“I think the most notable feature of the Bab’s Revelation is that He claimed to be a Messenger of God, yet He repeatedly stated His primary purpose was to prepare His followers to recognize ‘Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest’: Baha’u’llah! It truly shows how lofty Baha’u’llah’s Station was that another Messenger of God expressed such humility and lowliness when describing Him.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthofthebab #BahaiPhoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Nov 1, 2019 at 3:19pm PDT

 

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“The best take-away from serving others is learning that people from differing backgrounds can come together in the spirit of service and get things accomplished.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotography

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Nov 3, 2019 at 3:29pm PST

 

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“The Baha’i Faith made me realize dreams that I didn’t even know I had.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Nov 6, 2019 at 2:52pm PST

 

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“My father always used to tell me stories about the Baha’i community, from stories from ‘The Dawn-Breakers’ to stories about his experiences […] throughout the Pacific. I am from a mixed-race family so I think the sense of community which was not due to racial or other social lines that I got from my father’s stories and my own experiences in the Baha’i community drew me to the Baha’i Faith before I began to study the Writings themselves.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Nov 8, 2019 at 4:36pm PST

 

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“The concept of service has been something that I’ve been privy to since the moment I could understand it, and I feel as though service brings community, it brings connection, not just on this plane of existence but also my connection with God. And I feel very blessed to have that be something that I treasure on a daily basis. And I believe that the concept of work as an act of service, it’s something that resonates deeply with me. When I go to work, and I connect with my clients, I absolutely feel a connection to God.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Nov 11, 2019 at 4:48pm PST

 

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“When I think of the Bab I think of service, a life of service, and devotion to a Cause. And respect, if that makes any sense — just respect for what He did.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Nov 14, 2019 at 5:19pm PST

 

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“One big thing that I’ve always felt about serving others is that I’m at the point in my life where I feel that qualities like humility, kindness, and all that really come to play. Because, for instance, when I’m having a children’s class, when I’m having a study circle, or I’m having a Junior Youth class, I feel that at that very moment that my patience is tested, and I feel I have so much patience at that very moment, and I feel that is really special. I personally feel that the more I serve, the more I’m able to develop these qualities.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Nov 18, 2019 at 5:53pm PST

 

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“Although I’ve been a Baha’i since I was a child, what draws my attention to the Baha’i Faith the most is universal education and the development of both adults and children, and how we are constantly learning.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Nov 22, 2019 at 4:15pm PST

 

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“The Baha’i Faith has given my life direction and structure. It has provided a framework for me to see how even my small, personal activities can have an impact on the world in a positive way. When I try to serve others and treat them with kindness and fairness, I’m reversing a trend in the world and in my circle of influence. That’s a powerful feeling of purpose and alignment.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Nov 25, 2019 at 5:03pm PST

 

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“My mum and dad had good jobs, but my dad was a very violent man. So my mum used to say prayers every time when dad got angry or when he got violent. We’d sit down and just recite prayers in the room. So the Baha’i Faith was like a redemption for us growing up. We’d go to the Baha’i centre just to feel the spiritual atmosphere. So that was something that drew me closer to the Baha’i Faith, because it was seen as a way of protecting my family.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Nov 28, 2019 at 3:25pm PST

 

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“The whole world is intertwined and connected, and the work I do in my own neighbourhood, whenever I do, also helps the whole world become a better place.” #Bahai #BahaiFaith #Bicentenary #BicentenaryBirthoftheBab #Bahaiphoto #Bahaiphotographer

A post shared by Personal Reflections Baha’i (@personalreflectionsbahai) on Dec 1, 2019 at 4:01pm PST

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Sonjel Vreeland

In her innermost heart, Sonjel is a stay-at-home parent and a bookworm with a maxed out library card but professionally she is a museologist with a background in English Literature. She currently lives on Prince Edward Island, an isle in the shape of a smile on the eastern Canadian coast. Sonjel is a writer who loves to listen to jazz when she's driving at night.