If the heart of a gardener is not an artistic garden in itself he will not be able to produce a single flower. His outward garden must be a representative of his inner garden.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some friends, spoken on 1915-Apr-22 -- ABU2791)
The divine gardener: patience, care, and the fruits of growth
Manifestation of God as gardener; cultivator
Editorial introduction
A gardener whose own heart is not a garden, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, cannot raise a single flower. The image runs deep in His teaching: the Prophets are the Gardeners of human souls, turning jungles into orchards, straightening crooked branches, and drawing out what God has already placed within every person. Their garden is not uniform. Flowers of every colour and scent, watered by one rain and warmed by one sun, make its beauty precisely through their difference. Growth takes patience; a man ploughing bare ground in winter looks foolish to a passer-by who has never seen a harvest. Children above all are fresh saplings, and their education is among the most meritorious of human acts. In the Gospel of John the Father tends the vine and prunes the branches so that they bear more fruit [1]. Whoever receives such care is asked in turn to water others. From here the way leads to the Manifestation as Educator and as divine Physician, to the soul as soil, and to prayers that ask for children to grow fresh and fair.
Selected passages
The Kingdom of God is like a flower garden adorned with various sweet-scented flowers, blossoms, herbs and trees. Since they are under the training of one Gardener, are watered from one water, are nurtured by the heat of one sun, receive bounty from one breeze, and grow from one soil, their different colors, compositions, forms, shapes, tastes and fragrances cause the adornment and splendor of one another.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1907-Jun ca., to Remey, Charles Mason et al -- AB00889)
In one of the Tablets this most exalted Word was revealed: All the Prophets and chosen ones were commanded by God, exalted be His glory, to water the trees of human existence with the living waters of refinement and wisdom, that there might appear from all that which God hath deposited within man.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1301 ? [1883-1884], to Siyyid Husayn Afnan -- BH02374)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Theosophical Society on 1912-Dec-04 -- ABU0033)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Teachers of Tarbiyat School -- AB01170)
For the divine Gardener's purpose in planting these trees and setting out these peerless saplings in this meadow, and the divine spring's bounty, and the Lord's infinite bestowals, and the shining forth and nurturing of the Sun of Truth, and the blowing of the fertilizing winds of grace and favor from the Beauty of Oneness, is the appearance of fruits and the emergence of sweet and fragrant produce.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1893-Jan-31, to Baha'is of Turbat -- AB01122)
See in the winter how bare and lifeless the trees and plants seem, without leaves and without fruit. Suppose one should pass by at this time who knew nothing of the condition of the earth and saw a man ploughing it up and casting grain in the furrow. Would he not say, "How foolish this man is. He is troubling himself for no result, working for no purpose and wasting that which would give him food"? But in due time the showers descend upon the earth, the sun shines, the breezes blow and we see the result in great beauty and production.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to May Maxwell et al, spoken around 1898-Feb-23 -- ABU0893)
When a divine farmer sows the seed, the crops cannot be immediately gathered in, but it is certain that the seed will develop into a harvest. The seed which His Holiness Christ--May my soul be sacrificed for Him!--sowed, grew into a harvest within three hundred years.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Dec-02, to Alwyn Baker -- AB01223)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Chapter 49, The Evolution of Species, 1904 ca. -- AB00167)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address at Stanford University on 1912-Oct-08 -- ABU0008)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Maxwell home on 1912-Sep-03 -- ABU0104)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-Jul-26, to Charles Hall -- AB04669)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Morey home on 1912-Aug-29 -- ABU0019)
His Holiness the Christ was the divine gardener. He made this jungle to be a rose garden, these fruitless trees fruitful. … This Divine Farmer sowed the earth with seeds; the worthless grass he threw away.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at Unitarian church in Dublin, 1912-Aug-11 -- ABU0010)
The Divine Messengers are like gardeners. They are sent that the trees of mankind may be trained and refreshed until they reach their perfect growth, and that, when this is attained, they may bring forth their perfect fruit.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Myron Phelps and Madame Canavarro in Dec. 1902 -- ABU0927)
The prophets are sent to educate this innate quality in humanity. They are like gardeners who sow the grain which afterward springs up in a thousand forms of advancement. The prophets are therefore the first educators of the world, the head masters of the world.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- ABU1016)
The kingdom of God is likened unto a garden and the gardener is a blessed Manifestation. The gardener comes and finds the trees unfruitful and the garden in disorder. Through his instructions order is restored and the trees become fruitful.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Will and Wendell Dodge, spoken on 1901-Nov-21 -- ABU1555)
The heart of man is a garden. The real garden is in order, well planted, watered and cultivated. This is not so with the jungle. The jungle gives no evidence of cultivation. Where there is no gardener disorder prevails. Wild growth produces nothing.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken in 1912 in the United States -- ABU2282)
Also the same way with a garden, it will soon become a thicket unless it has a gardener to care for it; and the trees of a thicket are useless. But when a gardener cares for a thicket the trees will become more useful and bring forth good fruits.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Alma Albertson et al, spoken on 1900-Dec-02 -- ABU0272)
So, also, when the Sun of Truth arises, all errors and ignorance disappears. As everything in the world depends entirely upon the material sun for life and growth, and for producing fruit, for without its rays no fruit would be possible, so, also, without the Light of the Spiritual Sun, souls can produce no fruit. But where it shines, fruits follow in due season. Unless we dig and plant a piece of ground, and have a gardener to care for the plants, we can have no garden; we shall have no beautiful flowers or plants, but there will be wild forest instead.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken in 1900 -- ABU1628)
But if the jungle falls into the hands of a gardener fruitless trees will be grafted by him and become fruitful. Or if the trees have been stunted by neglect, yielding poor fruits, the care of the gardener transforms them, causing them to produce delicate and luscious fruits.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to H.E.H et al, spoken on 1913-Nov-03 -- ABU0605)
The world of humanity is like unto the mineral Kingdom an[d] the prophets of God are similar unto the gardeners and farmers. The farmer harrows the ground, clears it from parasites and uproot[s] the thorns and thistles. With much labor and infinite trouble [he] transforms the barren soil into a rosegarden and through care and grafting the fruitless trees of the jungle become the fruitful trees of the orchards. But if the garden is left unto itself, without the constant care of the gardener, it will turn again into the wild jung[le.]
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some friends, spoken on 1914-Nov-18 -- ABU0599)
These holy Manifestations of God are like gardeners. They till the soil and remove every weed and thorn, but it is in the nature of the earth to bring forth weeds and thorns; if left to itself, there is no doubt that it would become a wilderness instead of a garden.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1915-Nov-13 in Haifa -- ABU0954)
In the forest there are numerous trees; but blessed are the trees which are trained by the gardener.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken in Feb. 1910 -- ABU2354)
Every soul that enters under the shadow of Baha'u'llah, day by day their capacity increases, like a tree that is under the care of a perfect gardener - it will surely grow and develop and achieve perfect cultivation.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1913-May-02 at Baltimore Hotel in Paris -- ABU2471)
O saplings of the divine garden! The hand of training of the True Educator hath ever been and shall continue to be engaged in training whatsoever hath grown in the paradise of God.
(Bahá’u’lláh, ca. 1289-1290?, to son of Hadrat-i-Shahid Husayn (son of Mahbubush-Shuhada) -- BH09777)
The divine Gardener has, with the hand of providence, planted you and set you in pure and goodly soil, watered you from the spring of bounty, bestowed upon you the rain of mercy from the cloud of grace, shed upon you radiance and warmth from the Sun of Reality, and caused the pollinating winds and breezes of the divine springtime and spiritual spring to blow and surge, nurturing you with the hand of lordly education until you have become fruitful.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB04634)
O thou incomparable plant in the garden of the love of God! Give thanks unto God that thou wert planted in this meadow and were graced from the source of infinite bounty. Thou hast been watered by the rain clouds of the Kingdom and hast flourished at the hand of the divine Gardener.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1901 ca. -- AB08286)
O fresh sapling of the garden of the loving-kindness of the Divine Gardener of Oneness! He hath made thee a plant set by the hand of bounty, and the Gardener of Power hath nurtured thee and watered thee from the stream of grace.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Asadullah Javid Baha'iyan -- AB10517)
O peerless saplings of the rose-garden of the love of God! Praise ye God that in these divine gardens ye are trees planted by the hand of providence, and through God's infinite bounty ye have grown and flourished.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903 ca., to Nabilzadih, Munir et al -- AB04627)
That is, human souls are like incomparable saplings that have sprouted from that blessed earth. With the hand of ancient power, those blessed and approved trees were planted in the vineyard.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1917 ca., to Muhammad Durukhsh Baghistani -- AB11757)
They are the trees planted by the sacred hand of Baha'u'llah in the orchard of the Kingdom. He hath watered you with the rivers of His knowledge and hath protected you from winds and storms.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken to Baha'is of the World at Bahji, 1913-Dec-25 -- ABU1523)
The Cause of the Blessed Perfection is a garden of infinite beauty and attraction. From amongst the people He elected us and as His tender plants He planted us with His own Holy hand in this divine garden. The rays of His educative sun shone upon us, the showers of the Clouds of His Generosity poured over us, the breezes of His Providence wafted by us;- so that we may grow and develop and send down our roots deeper and deeper into the heart of the earth.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the friends, spoken on 1915-Apr-27 -- ABU0684)
Praise be to God that through the confirmation of the true Gardener, fine and desirable saplings have been planted.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1299 ? [1881-1882], to Siyyid Ali Yazdi Husband of Hubbiyyih -- BH01248)
Praise be to God, the Gardener of Providence has engaged in designing the flowers of truth in the avenue of the friends' hearts.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903-Feb-03, to Azizullah Misbah -- AB04290)
The Gardener of Oneness hath designed such flower beds of divine knowledge in the avenues of hearts as to inspire the envy of all possible gardens, and in the meadow of divine wisdom's mysteries, such blossoms have opened that their holy fragrances have perfumed the horizons.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Shirazi, Aqa Mirza Abu'l-Qasim et al -- AB05373)
O thou esteemed one: This world is like unto a forest, and its trees are fruitless. Now the Divine Gardener hath come in order to make this unfruitful forest a Divine Garden and increase its trees in fruit yield, through Divine training. Before long thou shalt see how this Gardener will engage in adorning the avenues of hearts withe the flowers of Significances, and make the trees full of blossoms and fruits.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906-Jul-14, to Frances Henry French -- AB05742)
In every hour, whatever the Divine Farmer has planted in the field of being and watered from the spring of mercy grows green and flourishing, becoming the beauty of the rose garden and the freshness of the orchard.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Baha'is of Shahrud -- AB02646)
The Farmer of Divine Providence has scattered the seeds of reality in the field of existence and watered them with eternal bounty.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Baha'is of Mashhad -- AB05883)
This is a day whereon the garden was honored by the advent of its Lord, the All-Merciful.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1300-04-27 [1883-Mar-7] -- BH10669)
The Heavenly Farmer hath come, and cleared the ground of thorns and brambles. With the utmost effort and exertion, sustaining tribulations and afflictions, that Heavenly Farmer hath made this ground pure and holy. He hath ploughed the land, and sown it with pure seed; and little by little it hath become green and verdant.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken ca. 1914 -- ABU0658)
The appearance of the Manifestations of God is like spring - naturally spring does not remain permanent and eternal. Now we hope that again the divine springtime will cause the garden of the world of existence to become fresh and verdant.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some clergymen, spoken at Hotel Ansonia on 1912-Apr-13 -- ABU2747)
Now the true Gardener must sow the seed of that same tree in the garden so it may grow anew, develop and become an incomparable sapling, flourishing with utmost freshness, grace and freedom, bestowing upon the world of creation once again its former glory and ancient blessing with utmost delicacy, beauty and sweetness. The wise gardener acts thus, but the ignorant gardener strives to make that old tree grow again, which is impossible and unattainable.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909-Jun-14, to Baha'is from Zoroastrian Background -- AB00200)
Now when a tree is decayed, its trunk rotten, its branches dried up, is it worthy of human intelligence to rest under it, or take shelter beneath it?
For example, the Mosaic tree at one time was covered with green branches and leaves. For ages it yielded blossoms and fruits for the healing of the nations; but now that tree having passed through the period of its productivity, its gardeners must devote their time to the irrigation and care of the new Tree which is planted beside the River of Life in the Paradise of Abha.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Saidol Molk, spoken on board the SS Baron Call at sea, 1913-Dec-04 -- ABU1089)
The example of Persia is like unto a garden which has been taken out of the cultivating hand of the gardener. The wild animals have run through its pastures, its meadows are turned upside down, its trees are leafless, its plants are dried and its tender, fragrant flowers trod under foot; to such an extent that whereas formerly it was a rose-garden it has now become a thorny patch. But when the real gardener appears he takes the garden again under his care and arrange [sic] it better than its former condition.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Zoroastrian pilgrims, spoken on 1913-Nov-10 -- ABU1227)
We therefore sent forth the Mature Cultivator and Wise Physician to cut away, through perfect remedies, the corrupt roots and worthless weeds, and to nurture that earth through the rains of divine commandments, that it might become a place for the growth of goodly plants and fruit-bearing trees.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290-05 [1873-Jun] -- BH08724)
O friends! Every gardener tendeth the trees he hath planted in his garden, and when he observeth that any of the branches have withered, he cutteth them off, for should he leave them in their condition, their decay would affect all the other branches until it reacheth the very root of the tree.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290-05 [1873-Jun] -- BH06458)
As I said before, you must be sure whether the gardener is the True Gardener or not - if he is a true gardener what he does is right. We may see him pull up a tree and cast it aside - or cut off a branch - or pull some of the fruit and throw it away - but if we are certain he is the gardener we cannot question anything he may do.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Ethel Rosenberg et al, spoken around July 1904 -- ABU0297)
A gardener would be a bad gardener if he allowed rank and noxious ... his choice plants and beautiful flowers. He must weed them out and destroy them in order to protect and foster the lives of said plants. It is not that he hates the weeds and wishes them evil but that he cherishes and protects his flowers by removing them.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to E.J. Rosenberg et al, spoken around Feb. 1901 -- ABU1043)
With his unerring eyes the gardener will detect their deficiency and taking them from [the] root will relegate them to the [back] of his barn.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Feb-27 in Haifa -- ABU3053)
As the potter from his clay makes a vessel to his honour, for general advantage and use, he forms, presses, kneads, pinches, fires, cleanses, cools it (all from the inside and outside), so are we in the workshop of the Creator. - He, the Almighty and All-Wise, the Knower and the Able, the Willing and the Acting, the Advisor and the Executor, is at work, at His work, to make something of us, for His honour, for the temporal and eternal advantage and use of the vessel.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken in the house of Abdu'l-Baha in Feb 1910 -- ABU0415)
Thou shalt see their faces in the highest heavens, for when the loving Gardener cherishes a plant, He removes it from among other plants and transfers it from a confined space to a vast field and a beautiful, flourishing garden where that plant may grow, extend its branches, unfold its flowers, yield its fruit and spread its shade.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-May-21, to Edma Ballora Belmont -- AB01991)
"Ridvaniyyih," said the Master, "there is a Garden of God. Human beings are trees growing therein. The Gardener is Our Father. When He sees a little tree in a place too small for her development, He prepares a suitable and more beautiful place, where she may grow and bear fruit. Then He transplants that little tree. The other trees marvel, saying: 'This is a lovely little tree. For what reason does the Gardener uproot it?'
"The Divine Gardener, alone, knows the reason.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken ca. 1916 -- ABU2374)
There is no benefit in these [secular] schools. In Baha'i schools children learn not only sciences, but also moral rectitude and are well protected. In such schools, however, the teachers must be Baha'is so that children are nourished with divine teachings. Teachers are exceedingly important [in the upbringing of children]. They are like gardeners raising a young plant.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Latimer, Remey et al, spoken on 1914-Oct-18 -- ABU2818)
No greater service can be imagined, in this day, than the education and training of Baha'i children as it ought to be done, inasmuch as this service is like unto gardening in the Divine orchard.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1921-Apr-29, to Teachers of Tarbiyat School et al -- AB04839)
O spiritual counselor!
Teaching young children is like unto gardening in the divine gardens.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Ali Akbar Mustasharul-Hukama -- AB08205)
For children in their early growth and development enter these schools and receive refinement and education, and like fresh saplings planted by the hand of the Divine Gardener they are educated and acquire human manners and teachings and spiritual characteristics and qualities.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Mother of Mutarjimud-Dawlih et al -- AB04434)
Now, these children are fresh plants which have fallen into the hands of the gardener. Therefore, they will be very well educated; they will become fruitful trees; they will become very blessed trees; they will become most delectable trees. The Gardener is blessed, and the skill of the Gardener will become manifest in them.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some children, spoken at Goodall home on 1912-Oct-12 -- ABU1781)
In San Francisco, through the hand of the Gardener of God, who has appeared in the Orient, to see such a garden as the result of His handiwork in the West -- this is a source of great thanksgiving in the East. Hence I am hopeful, through the favors of that Real Gardener, that He may ever care for these trees, and water them; that He may ever refresh, through His Holy Dewdrops, His flowers; may shower upon them from His clouds of Mercy.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some children spoken in Oct. 1912 -- ABU1008)
Now the father must show the utmost kindness to him and bestow endless favor, and pray day and night and seek divine confirmation so that the son may become like the trees of paradise - a fruitful tree adorned with leaves, blossoms and fruit, appearing in the streams of the Most Glorious Garden with perfect freshness and verdure.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Father of Muhammad Ali Sarvistani -- AB06109)
In the gathering of hearts you occupy the seat of highest respect, and in reality of souls you deserve complete honor. You are the descendant of that illustrious one and the fruit of that supreme paradise garden. Therefore we are expectant and hopeful, watchful and in intense anticipation that this delicate branch, like its noble root, will become fruitful with the utmost freshness and grace, and will gain verdancy and vitality from the life-giving breezes, and will become the ornament and adornment of the divine garden and yield perpetual fruit.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Aqa Mirza Muhammad S -- AB04524)
Therefore, I hope that these offshoots, through the education of the divine Gardener, may grow and develop with utmost grace and freshness and become the cause of joy to the root and the goodly tree.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1921-Oct-12, to Aqa Jan Bazzaz Bulbul Ishraqiyan -- AB12256)
I hope that the descendants will bring honor to their ancestors, so that they may water and nurture the sapling that that one ascended unto God planted, until it casts a mighty shade and yields fresh fruits and produce.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-May-04, to Fakhrid-Din nephew of Ibn-i-Abhar -- AB11714)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1915-03 or <, to Laura Dreyfus-Barney -- AB08693)
O Kind God! Though we are helpless children and weak infants, distressed and without direction, yet we are saplings of Thy garden and Thou art the Gardener.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB07375)
O Kind God! Make this new flower of the rose-garden of Thy love fresh and verdant through the dewdrops of Thy grace, and nurture this tender sapling of the garden of guidance through the education of the Divine Gardener.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Mirza Abdu'l-Husayn (related to Ammih) -- AB07374)
O sapling of the divine garden! I hope that you will ever remain fresh and verdant through the drops of the cloud of grace, and attain endless freshness and delicacy. May you put forth leaves and blossoms and yield desired fruits.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1907-Jun-06, to Abdu'llah Buluri -- AB07627)
I ask God to make thee a growing, developing branch in His vineyard, bearing flowers, leaves and fruits, with widespread branches, blooming, verdant and watered by the abundance of the clouds of His Kingdom and the heat of the sun of His Word.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1916 or < -- AB11434)
...O kind and pure Lord! Praise befitteth and beseemeth Thee, for Thou didst create from a mere drop, and didst grant an abode and dwelling in the loftiest chambers of the highest Paradise. Thou didst cause growth from the Blessed Tree, and didst nurture with the spring rains of grace, and didst cause to be stirred by the breezes of the Covenant.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1897 ca., to Afnan, Aqa Siyyid Ali son of Siyyid Mihdi Afnan -- AB11013)
We beseech God that He may keep those illumined hearts alive and fresh at all times through the breaths of the spirit and fragrant breezes, and that the pure seed which the divine Husbandman has scattered in that field may, through the education of the outpouring of the April rain of the All-Merciful's mercy and the heat of the rays of the Sun of the horizon of inner meanings, sprout forth and become verdant and fresh through the moisture of the dew, yielding bounty, blessing, increase and benefit beyond description.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1893-Oct-09, to Baha'is of Saysan -- AB02499)
I beseech God that you may open an eloquent tongue and demonstrate fluent speech, and in divine praise and attributes and glorification and sanctification of the Threshold of the All-Merciful, may give voice to utterance and become free from the fetters of this grief-laden world, become pure-hearted and illumined like a rose garden, so that the Gardener of Oneness may design flowers of inner meanings in the avenue of your thoughts, and no freshness or splendor remain to the gardens of odes and poems of former poets.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Siyyid Muhammad Tayir -- AB07455)
I am the divine gardener. I am the heavenly farmer. God commands me to plant trees in the garden of humanity; to sow the seeds of knowledge and wisdom in the field of the hearts.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mr and Mrs Hollback, spoken on 1914-Apr-10 -- ABU1678)
The skilled farmer's crops are always blessed - he finds pure and good soil, sows seeds, provides water, and always receives heavenly blessings.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-Jul-29, to Baha'i Assemblies of the Central States -- AB03251)
All souls are farmers, but some farm in commerce, some in industry, and some in politics - all grow green but have no lasting blessing or eternal benefit except spiritual farming and heavenly guidance. Observe how the seed that Christ scattered still bears fruit. That is why He said My word is like seeds scattered by the farmer's hand. The seeds that fall on the path and among weeds and on rocks have no fruit or result, but what is scattered on good soil grows and bears fruit and becomes a source of blessing.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some friends, spoken at Baltimore Hotel on 1913-May-04 -- ABU1433)
Teaching in that region is like when a skilled farmer sows pure seed in pure soil. Surely the clouds of the Most Glorious Kingdom will rain down, the heat of the Sun of Reality will cause growth, the breeze of grace will nurture, and magnificent results will be achieved.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Dec-10, to George Jacob Augur -- AB02753)
The heavenly Farmer scattered fresh seed in that soil, and the celestial cloud gave water, and the Sun of Reality bestowed warmth.
I hope that this pure seed will soon sprout and form heap upon heap of harvest, and that you will become a skilled farmer in this divine field and be the cause of acquiring bounty and blessing.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914 ca., to Mary Thaller -- AB06746)
The Ancient Beauty scattered the seed of truth in the field of hearts and entrusted its watering to souls confirmed by the Holy Spirit.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1899-Jul-28, to Aqa Muhammad Ali Abyar Masjidi -- AB07217)
The friends of God are like unto the husbandmen of this farm and they should, to the utmost of their ability, water its soil from the bountiful well-springs of God's grace so that the divine blessings of the one Creator may vouchsafe salvation to the world and the light of Divinity may shine upon it and the oneness of humankind may raise its banner over it and all causes of estrangement and alienation may be removed from it, and universal love may envelop humanity, in such wise that this world may become a mirror of all the grace and bounty of the Well-beloved of all the worlds.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Prince Muhibbali Mirza -- AB07918)
I hope that you may become baptized with the Fire of the Love of God and the Water of the Holy Spirit, and that each of you may become a Divine Farmer and sow in the farm of humanity the seeds of reality, irrigating them with the Waters of the Teacings of Baha'u'llah, so that the Light of Truth may illumine that country.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Jul-30, to John C Craven -- AB07458)
I am always thinking of those loving friends and my hope from the bounties of the Lord is that you may be assisted and confirmed in all matters and that in the divine garden you may act as gardeners, offering up your lives, so that the trees may become fresh and graceful.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1916-Sep-03, to Hand of the Cause Ali Muhammad Ibn Asdaq -- AB07809)
Therefore strive in order that in the divine vineyard thou mayest become a gardener of Truth and live with such deeds and words that thou mayest become the cause of the enlightenment of the world.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906 ca., to Miss M Beeler -- AB06918)
Through the bounties of God do I cherish this hope that they will become two active gardeners in the vineyard of God and will become illumined with the light of the Heavenly Confirmations.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Aug-21, to Anise B Rideout -- AB07514)
In the presence of the true King, the soldier who is in the battle line is the focus of attention, and in the presence of the divine Farmer, the seed-sowing cultivator is accepted and near.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Aug-04, to Agnes B Alexander -- AB05170)
Today whosoever is engaged in the service of the Cause of God he is like a gardener who is planting a tree. Ere long that tree shall grow and develop, giving cool shade to all parts and producing most luscious fruits.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Jul-14, to Minnie Graham -- AB08006)
Dost thou see the farmers furrowing the fields for the sowing of new seeds? Are they not working with tireless exertion? If they do not plough the ground, if they do not sow the seeds, if they do not look after them and pull out the tares and weeds, if they do not water the soil, will they gather any crops? No.
In serving the Cause of God we must ever keep the example of the farmers before our eyes.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken en route in carriage in Akka, 1915-Apr-17 -- ABU1931)
The wise farmer surely becomes a gleaner and gathers a ready harvest. Therefore one must sow pure seed in the divine field, otherwise at harvest time there will be disappointment.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1913-Jul-04, to Ibrahim Munir Divan -- AB07672)
The principles of the Baha'i Cause are the pure seeds which we are sowing in the fertile ground. Unquestionably many harvests shall be gathered. Daily these seeds are sprouting, growing in size and verdancy and soon they will reach the stage of fruition.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mrs Stannard, spoken on 1913-Oct-11 -- ABU0836)
Skilled gardeners are needed to cultivate this garden, to plant fresh trees, to plant tender flowers, and to arrange delightful flower beds. The gardeners must then become birds, nightingales, and singing canaries, warbling melodiously in this garden.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some young Baha'i women, spoken on 1912-Oct-17 -- ABU0695)
Gather together some sheep and start a flock - that is, guide the divine sheep in the meadow of truth and feed them from the fragrant flowers of knowledge and wisdom.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Murshid Aqa -- AB06225)
Thou hast--praise be unto God!--entered under the shadow of the Kingdom of God and become one of the sheep of God; [entered] under the education of the Holy Shepherd, who hath sacrificed His soul and body, as well as His grades, to His subjects.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900-Dec-02, to Fannie G Lesch -- AB08347)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the friends, spoken at Hotel Marquardt on 1913-Apr-29 -- ABU2054)
O friends of the All-Glorious Lord!
A garden requires graceful trees, wondrous fruits, delicate flowers, divine fragrances, roses and nightingales and hyacinths. Until such a garden is adorned thus, and such trees bear fruit, and such life-giving fruits are cultivated, it will not become a garden or a rose garden.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB11684)
O sign of guidance! Since by God's grace you are a sapling planted in this Most Glorious Paradise, strive to manifest yourself with freshness, grace, verdancy, vitality, blossoms, leaves and fruit, so that spiritual souls may find their taste sweetened by your delectable fruits, and that godly eyes may be illumined and brightened by witnessing the freshness of your leaves and fruits.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Jalal son of Ali Naqi -- AB07224)
That True Cultivator nurtured and educated these trees that they might yield fruit, not that they become firewood fit only to be burned in the furnace. For this did He educate us. Therefore, should each of us arise to this station, we shall become lofty trees in the Most Glorious Paradise; otherwise, we shall be like wild wood in these forests that grows for a few days without fruit or effect, ultimately becoming fodder for fire.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1915-Aug-05 in Haifa -- ABU0832)
O thou who hast diffused the fragrances of truth! Stand thou firm in the Cause of God like unto a tree firmly rooted, with massive trunk, spreading branches and abundant fruits, that thou mayest become the manifestation of that which the glorious Lord hath said in the Gospel: "By their fruits ye shall know them."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1899-Jun-29, to Mr Lane -- AB09718)
The gardener is pleased with the flower that is diffusing its fragrance. The nostrils are perfumed by its sweet smell.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Feb-16 -- ABU2541)
Again, the Lord of the Kingdom is like a gardener. He plants in the garden many flowers of various colors, puts them together like this bunch (referring to one on the table). So we are waiting and expecting to finish this bunch."
(After a pause.)
"At present the gardener is working."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Alma Knobloch, spoken on 1908-Nov-09 -- ABU1706)
Continue exploring
For thought and discussion
Questions to carry forward
- What does the gardener image reveal about growth that an image of instant change might overlook?
- How can shared nurture strengthen differences of character and capacity rather than erase them?
- What might soil, water, light, pruning, and fruit correspond to in education or inner life?
- How does John 15:1–8 deepen or complicate the image, especially through its different roles for Father, vine, and branches?
- What responsibilities arise when people who have received care become cultivators of others’ growth?
- How might patience, grief, and hope change when the full harvest of an effort cannot yet be seen?