The Master: Exploring His wisdom and example
In this year of the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing, when we seek to reflect on His life and Writings, and on the power of the Covenant of which He was the Centre, a rich range of resources is available to draw on. The Bahá’í Distribution Service (BDS) currently offers more than 40 books to choose from, for children as well as adults.
Below are four books featured as examples of various categories — one is a book by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself, another is a scholarly work on His life, a third a lighter narrative about Him, and fourth, a children’s book. To see the full range on the BDS website, go to its ‘Abdu’l-Bahá page.
(Click on cover images above or book titles below to find them on the BDS website.)
Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
A compilation of Tablets and other works from the pen of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The works collected here cover a wide range of topics, including physical and spiritual health, death and the afterlife, the spiritual reality of humankind, the oneness of humanity, and the elimination of prejudice.
Author: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Price $20.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The Centre of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh
This book is still the standard biography on the life of the individual who was designated by Bahá’u’lláh as the Most Great Branch, the Master and the Center of the Covenant.
Researched in detail, this book condenses one of the most outstanding, active and exemplary lives in human spiritual history. With accuracy and care it covers the significant periods and pivotal events, and exemplifies in many inspiring stories and vignettes, the spirit that animated ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's tireless, essential and global range of services and sacrifice.
The book describes ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's journey to the West, the places he visited and audiences he addressed, many of those who were privileged to meet him, and the example he gave in daily life. The ideals he upheld for all are reflected in a wealth of quotations from his talks.
Author: Hasan Balyuzi. Price: $28.
Servant of the Glory — The Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Here is a clear, straightforward and easily readable account of the remarkable life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. We see Him from His earliest days in Persia, during the terrible persecutions of the Bábís, and follow Bahá'u'lláh and His family on their exiles across the Middle East to ‘Akká. We learn how ‘Abdu'l-Bahá protected His father while in the prison city and took on His shoulders the great responsibilities of the Cause after His father’s passing. The building of the Shrine of the Báb, the first pilgrimages of Western believers to the Holy Land, the emancipation of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá and His journeys to the West are among the many events described in this compelling story of one known as the “Mystery of God”, the “Perfect Exemplar” and the “Centre of the Covenant”.
Author: Mary Perkins. Price: $25
The Sweetness of His Love: Stories of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá
How can we devote our lives to the service of others? How can we approach every interaction we have with love and humility? How can we place the needs of others above our own? Time and time again we can look to the example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In The Sweetness of His Love, author Jacqueline Mehrabi shares thirty-eight simple stories that stretch from the early days of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s childhood to the last years of His life. In each of these brief episodes, we can learn valuable lessons from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example. Produced specially for the centenary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, this volume is enhanced by the beautiful, full-page illustrations of Jaci Ayorinde. It is hoped that young children and their families will draw deep inspiration from this lovingly crafted book.
Author: Jacqueline Mehrabi. Price: $25.
