Kingdom of El-Abha, so that thou hast dispensed with the telepathic wires
of the world, because the terminal of the spiritual wire reached the
center of thy heart and the other is placed in the Spiritual Center,
vibrating informations constantly through the power of the Spirit and
successively conveying the great glad-tidings. This is the station of (or
for) every maid-servant whose heart is filled with the love of God and
attracted to the Beauty of El-Abha.
Thank God for showing unto thee and thy dear friend, the revered ........,
the great power and might of the Kingdom personified in the body of
humanity, and that thou didst worship Him with a brilliant heart, and He
addressed thee (saying): "Peace be unto thee! Peace be unto thee!" His
white vestment is the garment of the Manifestation and [His] brilliant
color. Regarding the gems which appeared on His breast, they are peerless
pearls of wisdom which shine unto the horizons with a godlike fame. As to
His shining face, verily it hath illumined the earth and dispersed the
darkness from the contingent world. Regarding thine entrance with thy
friend into the gallery lighted with lamps, know thou that gallery is the
world of humanity and the lamps His wonderful teaching, His all-wisdom,
His perfect bounty and His clear manifestation. He is the Absent-Present
in the world of humanity.
O maid-servant of God! It is incumbent upon thee to diffuse the
fragrances, it is incumbent upon thee to promulgate the teachings of God
and it is incumbent upon thee to breathe the spirit of life into the
hearts of the people of those regions, so that thou be a lamp of guidance
in the recess of Green Acre. Take the cup of the love of God in thy right
hand and with thy left hand hoist the banner of universal peace, love and
affection among the nations of the earth. Call out (saying): "Hasten!
Hasten unto the Great Bounty! Press! Press forward unto the Abundant
Mercy! Speed! Speed unto the Manifest Light! Be urgent! Be urgent for the
Great Attainment! Verily, by God the Truth, the doors of the Kingdom are
opened, the lights of god have shown forth and illumined the horizon of
the earth! The Lord of Hosts hath descended with the army of lights and
angels of heaven and depressed the armies of darkness! He sent His angels
to all directions, with a call of the trumpet of realities and meanings,
instructions and teachings! Therefore, O people of the earth, appreciate
the opportunity, in this new century, wherein the lights have been
revealed by the Glorious Lord!"
In regard to the school which tho didst think of and its organization: I
ask God that thou shouldst become confirmed in it with all order and
command. But now it is necessary first to organize the Cause of God in
those countries; then, order and preparation. Therefore arise, through a
power from God, in organizing the Cause of God--that is, the diffusion of
the fragrances of God, promotion of the Word of God and heralding unto the
nations and peoples with a pre-existent power the appearance of the Most
Great Sun.
"O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!
Verily I read thy excellent letter and was dilated through its excellent
contents. Know thou that the distance of habitation doth not prevent the
rising of the lights, and that time and place only control the bodies and
not the spirits which are free from the contingent beings, not (do they
control) the realities which are sanctified from the stains of the world.
When the Spirit is breathed in the East, its signs immediately appear in
the West and it hath a spiritual dominion which penetrates the pillars of
the world.
Then know thou that God hath not ordained any greater happiness and joy
than the removing of the veils by witnessing the Kingdom of God and
presenting oneself in an assembly which is radiant with merciful emotions
which cannot be apprehended by minds and thoughts.
O maid-servant of God! Verily opposition will wax fierce upon thee and
denial and unbelief will day by day increase. People will arise to
oppression and people will torment thee for thou hast believed in God, art
attracted to the fragrances of God and hath spoken His praise among the
maid-servants. They will execrate, revile, curse and oppress thee with
acute tongues. Be not distressed at this; nay, rather continue with an
increased firmness and stanchness in the Cause of God. For through
calamity the heart of Abdul-Baha is attracted; through (suffering)
oppression the breast of Abdul-Baha is dilated; through enduring
afflictions the faithfulness of Abdul-Baha is proven; through imprisonment
the soul of Abdul-Baha is cheered; at every moment he wishes to quaff the
cup of sacrifice in the path of God.
O maid-servant of God! Opposition shall surely pass away, the dark clouds
in all regions will be dispelled and the lights of the Covenant shall
shine forth. At that time your value shall appear among the nations of the
world and tribes and people will arise to praise you. Take warning by the
former cycles and the bygone Manifestations.
O maid-servant of God! Verily the Cause is great and great! Regiments and
regiments enter therein! Some people must necessarily turn their backs
upon it, on account of their lack of sincerity in he Cause of god and for
their selfishness and egotism.
O maid-servant of God! A pure sea doth not accept a dead body, therefore
the waves will necessarily throw the dead finally upon the shores.
O maid-servant of God! When some souls turn away from the love of God,
there is no harm therein. Did not Judas Iscariot, the chief of the
apostles, turn away on account of jealousy for Peter the apostle?
Likewise, some people must necessarily turn away on account of jealousy
for others.
As to thee: Consider the predecessors as a warning to posterity and purify
thy heart from all else save God, under all circumstances. When thou was
in Acca we pointed this out to thee.
O maid-servant of God! Whenever sorrows and afflictions grow violent
toward thee, remember that which we told thee during thy presence in these
lands; then thy sorrows shall be removed and thy heart shall become
dilated through the fragrances of God in these days.
Be thou rejoiced at the glad-tidings of God! Be as a globe of fire from
which the heat of the love of God will be diffused. Sanctify thyself from
the grades of this world, be purified from the superstitions of people and
be characterized with spiritual qualities. Be thou a mountain of
quiescence, a sign of meekness, a sea of patience, a light of love, a
standard of utter separation (from all else save God), so that thou mayest
become everlasting in the Kingdom of God.
The light shall surely encompass the maid-servants who are attracted by
the fragrances of God and it will shine forth from their faces upon all
regions.
O maid-servant of God! Let thy joy and happiness be increased every moment
through the light of God.
Verily, the Exalted Leaf and the brilliant Leaves(125) remember thee by
night and day. Then know thou, verily the prison is my wonderful paradise
in love for Baha'; it is my lofty stronghold, my impregnable mansion and
glorious throne. Be not grieved thereat, nay, rather beg of God to make me
quaff the cup of sacrifice in the path of Baha'.
"O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!
I am already informed of the import of thy wonderful letter and the
meanings of thine excellent words. I was rejoiced to find how it expressed
that thou art devoted to God, turning unto the Supreme Horizon, enkindled
with the fire of the love of God and attracted to the fragrances of God.
I beg of God to increase thy separation from the world, thy supplication
before the Kingdom of God and thy yearning for the Beauty of God.
What thou hast said (in thy letter) concerning the servant of Baha', the
"Mother of the Faithful," is but true. Verily she is purified in soul,
enkindled by the fire of the love of God, hath sincerely turned unto her
Master, hath completely faced toward the Kingdom of God and hath arisen to
diffuse His fragrances in all parts and serve His friends with a sincerity
and joy unto which the Supreme Concourse beareth witness. She shall surely
have a firm and steady footing in the Cause of God, her face shall shine
forth from the Horizon of Loftiness, her fame shall be spread in the
Kingdom of God, and [she] shall have a ringing voice throughout regions,
and the lights of her glorious deeds shall beam forth during cycles and
ages.
As to ........ and ........, verily the faces of these are as the pupil of
the eye; although the pupil is created black, yet it is the source of
light. I hope God will make these black ones the glory of the white ones
and as the depositing of the lights of love of God. And I ask God to
assist them in all circumstances, that they may be encompassed with the
favors of their Loving Lord throughout centuries and ages.
As to ........, verily God hath ordained for her a noble station. The
lights of knowledge shall surely shine forth from her face upon the world.
Verily she is attracted to the word of her Lord, was dilated by hearing
the speech of Abdul-Baha at the time of meeting and her eyes became
consoled by witnessing the signs of her Mighty Lord.
As to the maid-servant of God ........: God hath indeed favored her with
an excellent disposition which is like fragrance from a garden of the
Merciful and she passeth her days in serving the Cause of God. I beg of
God to confirm and assist her under all aspects and circumstances.
As to the son of the "Mother of the Faithful": I beg of God to make his
ears attentive, his eyes observing, his heart abounding with the lights of
guidance and to make his soul as one of the signs of his Mighty Lord. Pray
ye in his behalf night and day that God may strengthen him in a matter
which may shine, beam and glow in the niche of the Kingdom of God and that
He may cause him to arise and assist the pious ones, to seek bounty from
the signs, to gain illumination from the lights, deliver the necks of all
men from the chains of superstition, to feed the needy ones upon the food
of the Kingdom of God and support the weak ones with a penetrative power
from the Word of God. Verily thy Lord is the Confirmer!
"O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!
We have written a clear and efficient answer to ........ out of the love
for thee and for her; otherwise Abdul-Baha is free from any other mention
than that of God.
As to thee, be not grieved at anything whatever. There is a right wisdom
in whatever happens in this great Cause. Be not grieved if the trash of
the world is decreased in thy hands, for thy brilliant heart is a great
treasury, inasmuch as every heart which trusts in the grace of its Lord is
illumined through the lights of its Creator and it is one of the
treasuries of the Kingdom, filled with the wealth of His divine world and
heavenly bounties. This is a great wealth!
Deliver my greetings to ........ and announce to him the glad-tidings of
God and say unto him: "This day is the day of soaring and the day of
shining. This day is the day of the Ancient Honor, Abundant Wealth, Mighty
Dominion and Great Gift. Appreciate thou its value and do not neglect it,
so that thou mayest attain to that which was longed for by the holy ones
in bygone ages and centuries."
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!
Verily I read thy letter which indicated thy knowledge of the
significances of the Revelation of St. John. I ask God to enlighten thine
eyes by witnessing His lights which have illumined the horizon of
existence to eternity of eternities. Praise God that He manifested unto
thee the brilliancy of the Sun of Truth which is shining from the Kingdom
of El-Abha; and God made thee look with divine eyes at the reality of
revelation. Rest assured the light of the love of God will envelope the
world with great illumination.
O maid-servant of God! May God increase thy glowing with the fire of His
love and by a light from the rays of the Sun of the Universe.
O maid-servant of God! Raise the call at Green Acre, summon all unto the
Kingdom of God whose lights shone forth, fragrances wafted, clouds changed
into tears (or drops of rain) and guardians smiled.
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!
Verily I read thy last letter and gathered from its meanings the mysteries
of thy great love. I supplicate to my Lord that He may at every moment
increase thy joy and fragrance, thy speech and utterance, thine attraction
and enkindlement, and that He may heal thee from the infirmities which
have affected thee and weakened thy feeble body, and strengthen thee to
guide mankind into the Supreme Kingdom and quicken hearts by the
fragrances of the Paradise of Abha, so that thou mayest become a bird
warbling upon the twigs of the Tree of Life, with most wonderful melodies
and most charming tunes.
"O thou artery pulsating in the body of the world!..."
O thou artery pulsating in the body of the world!
Verily I read thy recent letter which indicated conscious joy and abundant
happiness from the glad-tidings of the Kingdom of El-Abha. Know, verily
that the feast is the day wherein God opened thine insight through the
Manifest Light, showed thee unto His Great Kingdom and granted to thee to
drink from the chalice overflowing with the wine of divine guidance among
the maid-servants. Is there a feast more happy and more noble than this?
No, indeed, by the Lord of Heaven, it is a day wherein the thirsty one
attaineth to the Spring from which gusheth forth cool and refreshing
water, the lover meeteth his Loved One and the sick one is healed by the
remedy of the Physician. Blessed art thou for attaining unto this!
Verily, the people who rejoice in the day of the feast and enjoyed the
tree(126) (which) was decorated, following the custom of ancient times,
are the people of superstitions. By the Majesty of thy Lord! Were they in
the time of Christ, they would turn their backs and would not behold His
smiling, glorious face; but today they play in the shallow waters of their
superstitions without discretion.
Therefore, thank God for His having privileged thee to attain nearness to
the Blessed Tree which is grown upon the highest Sinai and is set aglow
with the fire of God's love, calling unto responsive listeners. I
supplicate God to heal thee from all troubles and diseases and make thee a
sign of guidance and a standard of the Supreme Concourse in those regions
and particularly at Green Acre.
"O thou esteemed maid-servant of the Loving Lord!..."
O thou esteemed maid-servant of the Loving Lord!
What thou hast written in recommendation of a number of Christians was
perused. Although the presence of these persons will, in these times,
cause the revolt of the heedless ones and increase the trouble, yet for
your sake we will send them a telegram to Egypt and permit them to come
and visit. This is but for thy sake, and Abdul-Baha cannot endure to meet
but the people of the Merciful and does not wish to be in union except
with the heavenly ones.
O thou chosen maid-servant of God! It is time for thee to cry aloud and
fervently, day and night, not to sit still a moment, not to rest for an
instant, but to be always engaged in the commemoration of God and invite
the people with the utmost longing and ecstasy unto the Kingdom of God.
Raise thou such melodies and harmony in Green Acre that may reach unto the
Kingdom of Abha and cause joy and exaltation in the angels of heaven! This
matter needs a great enthusiasm (heat or exertion) and a sanctity and
purity like unto a manifest light. Thou knowest what secrets doeth the
spirit of Abdul-Baha communicate with thee and what glad-tidings he giveth
unto thee! Show forth thy capacity and merit, for without capacity the
Gift doth not become manifest.
"O thou dear maid-servant of God!..."
O thou dear maid-servant of God!
Thy letter was excellent and its contents were perfect and complete. Happy
is thy condition for that thou hast not forgotten the time of thy
visit(127), nay, at every instant thou hast grown in this thought and art
remembering the exhortations of Abdul-Baha and wishing in thy soul to put
them thoroughly into practice. Praise be to God that thou hast kept
steadfast with all firmness under the millstone of tests like unto a grain
of diamond. Be not grieved; tests lead to the development of holy souls
and the ardor of the flame of fire causeth the pure gold to shine and the
violence of winds is conducive to the growth and thriving of a firm and
well rooted tree.
If the earthen house and mortal dwelling-place was burned,(128) yet I hope
that thou mayest build thy nest and abode, like unto the birds of
holiness, in the Tree of Life in the Divine Kingdom.***
All the members of the household, especially the Exalted Leaf(129), send
most wonderful Abha greetings. The maid-servant of God, ........, is
present here longing for you with the utmost joy and happiness.
As to the catalogue of the book of which thou has written, convey (the
following) to the author of that book:
"Although thou hast exerted the utmost endeavors in compiling this book
and hast written the life of His Kingdom Christ and His blessed
sayings--and this service and labor deserve favor--yet these are events of
former times and all that is past is of a different effect. If thou art a
hero of the field and a melodious bird in the garden of the Merciful One,
speak of the Beauty of Abha, for it is ready and present. consider that
the last year's springtime is past and all that thou mayest say or hear
(about it) is but a story (or narrative); but appreciate thou this New
Year's Spring--which is this present time--hath pitched its tent with the
utmost magnificence in the field and plain and hath made the mountain and
desert verdant and fresh, hath made the trees to appear pure and fresh,
blooming with flowers and blossoms through the vernal bounty and caused
them to bring forth pure fruits. Nor all that thou mayest speak of the
past springtime, be it even spoken with all excellence and eloquence and
in accord with reality, all that will, nevertheless, be a past story.
"Do thou not abandon that which is ready in the present time until thou
mayest gain the result and gather fruits from the garden of thy hopes and
wishes. Otherwise, thy book is a book of history--it will be concluded and
forgotten. Harken unto me (i.e., take my advice): One single ready drop is
better than a sea which is past. More especially, this New Cause is like
unto a sea, while all those which are past were like unto rivers."
"O bird without a nest!..."
O bird without a nest!
It is reported thy home and shelter is burnt, thy resting place and
habitation is become desolate. Though this news is greatly affecting, yet
do not be sorrowful and disheartened, because the birds of the divine
gardens have nests on the branches of the Tree of Life. The earthly abode
is not worth the attachment of the heart, for this structure will surely
be destroyed, but that which is of worth to freed ones (detached from all
save God) is the heavenly palace and the court of Divine Majesty. Thanks
be to God that for each one of the divine freed slaves and the heavenly
and dear maid-servants, and indestructible mansion will be erected in the
New Kingdom. This mansion will be an everlasting dwelling, an eternal
abode and shelter.
There is a hidden wisdom in the burning of the house which before long
will be clearly known. Divine attractions and heavenly bounties alone
cause happiness to the hearts.
Use your utmost endeavors to dwell in the thought that in Green Acre this
year the divine proclamation will be raised to the heavenly zenith and the
lights of the supreme guidance will enlighten those regions.
Be sure that heavenly assistance will be given and that the breeze of the
Divine Garden will perfume the nostrils of the inhabitants of the earth.
Some of the weak souls thought that this dear maid-servant of God was
attached to this house and to this perishable world. Now the house is
burnt, all will realize that thy attraction is increasing, thy steps are
drawing near, thy flag is raised higher and thy condition more excellent.
Show forth such happiness and joy that all will be astonished.
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of the..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of the Kingdom of El-Abha!
I read thy letter which was beautifully composed and which indicated that
thy delicate body hath gained rest. I send thee the answer spiritually so
that the signs of the address may become manifest in thy heart. Verily
thou art with me in spirit at all times. I ask God to make thee follow my
example in establishing the Kingdom of Unity and Peace and building up the
Dominion of Love and Faith which was founded by the Beauty of El-Abha.
Rest and repose are necessary for thee in these days; be thou composed in
all conditions. Thou art with me under all circumstances. Then thank God
for His guidance unto thee. He hath made thee drink from a cup overflowing
with the wine of His love in the world. I ask God to make thee the essence
of holiness and purity among the maid-servants of the Merciful--thus thou
mayest be a brilliant flame in the universe.
All the Illumined Leaves, the maid-servants of God in this most great
prison, convey to thee greeting and praise.
"Inquire after the health of Miss .........., send..."
(130) Inquire after the health of Miss .........., send her my greeting
and say: "Many ideas rise up in the human mind; some of them concern truth
and some untruth. Among such ideas those which owe their source to the
Light of Truth will be realized in the outward world; while others of a
different origin vanish, come and go like waves on the sea of imagination
and find no realization in the world of existence.
"Similarly, numerous, various meetings and assemblages have been organized
during the past ages and bygone centuries. All these produced no result
except those assemblages which rendered unmixed service to the Light of
Truth; from such assemblages alone great results were realized in the
world of existence.
"For instance, consider how many a thousand assemblages--religious,
political and literary--have been organized in India, Persia, Turkestan,
Chinese countries and, in a word, in every part of Asia. All these gave no
result except that assemblage of the disciples of Christ on the mount
fifty days after Christ's ascension. all that hath since been effected
along the line of diffusing the holy fragrances of Christ, uplifting the
Word of God, spreading the Gospel, training souls and guiding the people,
hath been wholly from the result of the effects produced by that
assemblage of the disciples. Those effects are continual even in the
present time.
"Consequently, if one looks for praiseworthy results and wishes to produce
eternal effects, let him make exceeding effort, in order that Green Acre
may become an assemblage for the Word of God and a gathering place for the
spiritual ones of the heavenly world.
"The moldered, two-thousand-years-old superstitions of the heedless,
ignorant peoples, whether of Asia or Europe, should not be spread in that
revered gathering place; for, if such be the case, let it be known for
certain that that assemblage will yield no result and will, before long,
be forgotten and consigned to oblivion, similar to other meetings of
bygone times.
"I beg of God that that esteemed maid-servant of God shall be the cause of
spreading the Cause of God, so that the Light of Truth may shine and the
world be illumined.
"When you reflect attentively, you will find that the Word is what we have
hereby said and that all else save this is pure imagination, is of no
stability and is evanescent.
"The tree must have roots in order to yield fruit. The trees of the forest
of Asia have yielded no fruit for thousands of years, except the blessed
Trees of the Divine Manifestations, for each one of these Trees hath so
developed and flourished that it hath trained and nourished the whole
earth with fruits and yields."
"O thou beloved maid-servant of God!..."
O thou beloved maid-servant of God!
What thou hast written was considered. It indicated purity of heart and
advancement toward God.