Thy letter and that of thy revered daughter were received last year, but
the storm of trials was so severe as to hinder the writing of the answers.
You will certainly excuse. But I have implored and supplicated the Kingdom
of Abha for you and have sought help and grace (in your behalf). Thus may
your hearts be set aglow with the fire of the love of God and [may it]
burn away the self-life. Night and day may you serve the divine garden,
endeavor to promulgate the lights of the knowledge of God, attract souls
and set aglow the hearts. I am hopeful that thus will ye do. If ye reach
this most glorious and sublime station, ye will receive congratulative
letters from the Kingdom of Abha.
"O thou confident leaf!..."
O thou confident leaf!
Thank thou God that thou hast been guided by the light of guidance and
illumined by the brilliance of the Supreme Concourse, kindled by the fire
of the love of God and hath directed thyself to His Kingdom, partook of
the heavenly table and enjoyed the fruits of the Tree of Life!
Thou hast been confirmed in serving those who are nigh unto the divine
household. Thou hast been cut from aught else save God and hast been made
a maid-servant for the men of God(236) .
This is now servitude by sovereignty, and this is not service but
chieftanship and greatness! This is the garment of everlasting glory with
which thou hast clothed thyself, and this is the rose of eternal
exaltation with which thou hast adorned thy head. It is said in the New
Testament: "Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant."
In short, thou shouldst thank God a hundred-thousand times for having been
confirmed and strengthened in obtaining such a great gift! Know thou the
value thereof and consider that its price is highly appraised.
"O ye two advancers towards the Kingdom of God!..."
O ye two(237) advancers towards the Kingdom of God!
I supplicate God that ye may be enkindled, like unto two candles, with the
light of the love of God; that [your children] may be educated under the
shadow of the Tree of Life; that all the family may discover the way to
the temple of the Lord and gather in the Kingdom of Abha.
You have written that the Cause of God is progressing in that city.
Through the showers of the glad-tidings of the Cause of God a small
mustard seed hath become a fruitful spreading tree--its roots in the hearts
of the people. I pray, also, that God may in such wise cultivate and
nurture that Tree that it cast its shadow over that vast and great
country, distributing to all the fruits of divine knowledge and eternal
life.
O ye two lovers of the Beauty of Abha! Ere long the Word of God will
display a wonderful influence and finally that region (America) will
become the paradise of Abha. Consequently, strive ye bravely that this aim
may be accomplished in the near future. Striving means this: Ye must live
and move according to the divine commands and behests, be united in loving
with ecstasy and joy; do not take any rest but engage continually in the
service of the Cause of God.
"O thou maid-servant of God!..."
O thou maid-servant of God!
What thou hast written was subjected to my consideration and I was
informed of the contents. if thou seekest to be intoxicated with the Cup
of the Most Mighty Gift, cut thyself from the world and be quit of self
and desire. Exert thyself night and day until spiritual powers may
penetrate thy heart and soul. Abandon the body and the material, until the
merciful powers may become manifest; because not until the soil is become
pure will it develop through the heavenly bounty; not until the heart is
purified, will the radiance of the Sun of Truth shine therein. I beg of
God that thou wilt day by day increase the purity of thy heart, and
cheerfulness of thy soul, the light of thy insight and the search for
Truth.
"O thou honorable one!..."
O thou honorable one!
Thank thou God that that art instructed in music and melody, singing with
pleasant voice the glorification and praise of the Eternal, the Living. I
pray to God that thou mayest employ this talent in prayer and
supplication, in order that the souls may become quickened, the hearts may
become attracted and all may become inflamed with the fire of the love of
God!
"O thou seeker after Truth!..."
O thou seeker after Truth!
The question of the Trinity, since the time of His Holiness Christ until
now, is the belief of the Christians, and to the present time all the
learned among them are perplexed and confounded. All have confessed that
the question is beyond the grasp of reason, for three cannot become one,
nor one three. To unite these is impossible; it is either one or three. If
we say the Essence of Divinity is divided, even in some aspects, division
is one of the necessities of the contingent world and of generation, but
the Ancient is holy (i.e., whole and indivisible). If we say that the
Trinity was originally one and was later divided, change and
transformation will be necessarily applied to the Essence of Oneness, and
change and transformation are necessities of the contingent world and not
of the Essence of Divinity. If we say this number is Ancient, three
Ancients become necessary, and among the three some are distinguished
which are also Ancients. In this wise five Ancients are the result, and
among the five are those who are distinguished and thus nine Ancients
become necessary, and so on ad infinitium.
Thus considered, Trinity is made a necessity, although the falsity of
Trinity is evident. Furthermore, the signs of oneness are evident and
plain in all existence. If thou shouldst gather all existent beings, thou
wouldst be unable to find two alike in all states and qualities; of
necessity there is a difference. Thus the signs of oneness are manifest
and evident in all things. How much more is the Creator of all things!
But there are, in the Gospels, clear expressions indicative of Trinity;
among them: "The Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father." As
Christians did not understand the meaning of this expression, their
thoughts were scattered.
The reality of this question is as follows: Divine Oneness is proven and
He revealeth Himself in the Holy Essences. The sun is one sun but
manifesteth itself in different mirrors. If thou lookest into the mirror
and seest the manifestation of the sun, thou wilt way, the sun is in the
mirror and this sun manifest in the mirror is the same sun of the heavens;
although two suns, yet in reality they are one. The sun hath not descended
from its high and lofty station, it hath not taken up its abode in this
mirror, but hath manifested itself therein.
The Christ reality was like unto a pure mirror and the Sun of Reality
shone upon it from the Holy Horizon. Therefore, it bcame evident that the
sun is one with regard to reality but manifesting itself in all mirrors.
This question was explained in full for Miss ..., who translated it upon
paper. Thou wilt soon learn thereof(238) . This difficult question in its
entirety was elucidated, explained and proven.
"O thou yearner after the Truth!..."
O thou yearner after the Truth!
The Supper of the Lord which His Highness the Spirit (Christ) ate with the
apostles was a heavenly supper and not one of material bread and water,
for material objects have no connection with spiritual objects. As at that
time material food was also present, therefore the leaders of the religion
of Christ thought that it was material food which was changed into
spiritual food.
The proof that it was not material food is this: The apostles upon many
occasions partook of material food with His Highness Christ, yet the
supper of that night became designated as the "Lord's Supper." From this
designation it is plain and evident that they ate heavenly food at that
supper. That heavenly food consisted of the love of God, the knowledge of
God, the mysteries of God and the bestowal of God.
"O thou seeker of Truth!..."
O thou seeker of Truth!
The Lord of Hosts became manifest to Moses and the children of Israel in a
pillar of fire, and appeared to Christ in the fire of the love of God.
This is that of which it is said in the Gospel: One must be baptized with
fire and spirit.
Now the lights of the divine bounties of the fire of the love of God have
shone forth in the word and letters. That is, the words and letters are
similar to a mirror, and the Sun of Truth and the Rays of Significances
have become manifest and shone forth in these mirrors of words and
letters.
Seek thou from God that thy heart may be as one of these letters, until
the Eternal Bounty may cast a ray of splendor therein.
Pay attention minutely and cogitate, until thou mayest apprehend the
meaning of this explanation and advance day by day, like unto thy dear
mother.
"O thou that mirror in which the Light of Guidance is printed!..."
O thou that mirror in which the Light of Guidance is printed!
I was informed of thy prayer, thy supplication and thy beseeching. Know
thou verily:
My throne is my mat!
My glorious crown in my servitude toward God!
My standard is the commemoration of my Lord!
My hosts are the knowledge of my Master!
My sword is the guidance of God!
My dominion is my humility, my submissiveness, my lowliness, my abasement,
my supplication and my beseeching unto God--this is that permanent reign
which no one is able to dispute, gainsay or usurp!
I beg God to cause thee to be one of the pillars of this divine reign,
that thou mayest abundantly partake of this joy and gladness, and I invoke
God that He may register thy name in the published Tablet, in the pages of
the Kingdom of God. I beg God to cause thy kinsmen (those who are near and
dear to thee) to attain that which thou hast attained, to drink from that
Cup wherefrom thou art exhilarated, to brighten their eyes through that
Light whereby thine eyes were brightened and to cause them to hearken to
that Call whereby thine ears were delighted; and that He may make you
assemble under the shadow of the Tree of the Testament, and cause you to
be of the hosts of His Kingdom, that ye may conquer the East of that
region as well as its West, through the sword of peace and the weapons of
love, union and agreement, and that He may make thee to be a server in His
blessed Olive Garden, and in his El-Abha (i.e., Most Glorious) Paradise,
and in His Holy Garden of the Supreme Kingdom.
"O thou who art always calling on God!..."
O thou who art always calling on God!
Thank thou God for He hath guided thee to the path of His Kingdom and
provided thee with the fruit of the Tree of Life, which is planted in the
middle of the Ferdowee (i.e., the highest Paradise). Yea, this fruit is
the knowing God and love for God, and reliance upon God and is the virtue
with which the reality of man is adorned, and it is the perfections which
are the great gift for the children of Adam (i.e., mankind) in this first
creation.
Verily, I beg of God to bestow upon thee and thy relatives the blessing of
His clemency and to assign for thee and for them everlasting glory and
eternal life in the visible world and in the Kingdom.
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!
Verily, the maid-servant of God, Mrs. ..., hath greatly praised thee; she
hath given in words her thankfulness, for thou hast guided her to the
Kingdom of her great Lord.
Verily, I say unto thee, this is better for thee than to possess the
treasures of the world, because by this means thou wilt be drawn nigh to
the Kingdom of God and the protection of the Merciful One will always
possess thee.
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!
Beloved art thou, for thou hast lighted the lamp of the love of God in the
glass of America, called out in His Name among the people and guided them
to the Kingdom of El-Abha.
O maid-servant of God! Fly away with joy, for God hath strengthened thee
in this great gift, which is a glorious crown, the gems of which are
scintillating with the light of guidance. Blessed is thy head for it is
decorated with this crown. Verily, this is better for thee than the
dominion of the world!
"O thou who art calling in the cities, the bearer of the..."
O thou who art calling in the cities, the bearer of the Gospel of the
Kingdom of God!
Verily, I read thy wonderful and eloquent letter, which proved thy being
attracted by the utterances (or fragrances) of God, in the new day and
glorious century.
I praised God for the spreading of His fragrances in those regions and for
the display of His manifest signs.
Thank thou God for that He revived thee by the Spirit of Life and awakened
thee by the life-giving breeze, which is emanating for the people of the
world.
I ask God to make thee a lamp shining and illuminating in the assemblies
of knowledge, that thou shine forth by the lights of love and peace among
the maid-servants of God, the Merciful.
O maid-servant of God! Be a caller to universal peace, a standard of love
among the people, a spreader of the spirit of concord and union among
nations and sects, an utterer of exhortations, a demonstrator of the
proofs of the appearance of the Kingdom of God, by a power whereby the
hearts of the chosen ones become attracted, confirmed by a might whereto
the necks of the proud men bow and those of great people are humbled.
Take hold of the hem of the Garment of God and preach the Kingdom of God
and baptize the spirits by the fragrances of God which have perfumed the
horizons.
Verily, I say unto thee that this holy fragrance is the Water of Life, the
Fire of the Lord which hath flamed in the Tree of Sinai and the Spirit of
Life which reviveth the dead.
We send thee herewith answers to the letters thou sent us. This is on
account of my utmost love for thee, my great kindness to thee and my
extreme sympathy for thee. Thank thou God for this great favor.
"O thou who art set aglow with the Fire of the Love of God!..."
O thou who art set aglow with the Fire of the Love of God!
Verily, I read thy long letter and was informed of thy visions, which art
for whosoever follows the path of the Kingdom of God.
These visions repeat themselves, pass away, and appear to the human sight
every instant; but the matter which hath stability and upon which
confidence is laid, is the bounty of the Kingdom of God and the Center of
Lights.
As to the zodiac of the stations of the Sun of Truth, it is the station of
the attainment of the mystery of sacrifice, whereupon the lights of love,
harmony and salvation shine forth and the manifestation of firmness dawns,
in a cause unendurable by the lofty mountains.
I ask God to confirm thee therein and to make thee a sign of salvation, a
banner of progress, a spreader of the fragrances of God and a caller in
the Name of God.
Shouldst thou make firm thy feet in the love of God and hold steadfast to
the Great Cause, God will reveal unto thee mysteries unheard by the ears
and incomprehensible by the intellects.
As to thy question regarding the meeting of trinity, it is incumbent on
thee to make it a meeting of unity, an exposition of the mysteries of
singleness, the elevation of the standard of universal love, the spreading
of the knowledge of thy Merciful Lord, the guidance of the souls unto the
path of the Kingdom of God, the animation of the hearts by the spirit of
the love of God, and the purification of the eyes by the light of the
knowledge of God.
Verily, I pray God to confirm thee in lighting the lamp of God's love in
the hearts and spirits. It is incumbent on thee to organize a spiritual
assembly in that city, wherein the mysteries of the Kingdom of thy Lord be
spread and this wondrous Manifestation promulgated.
This is beneficial for thee both in the world and in the Kingdom, and all
else vanisheth away.
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!
I have read thy recent letter and noted its beautiful contents.
I thank God that He hath opened thy sight for thee, unfolded to thee His
word of love and chosen thee from among women.
Thus thou responded to the call, east attracted to the lights of the
Kingdom of the Lord of Manifest Signs, proclaimed the Truth and called in
the Name of the Lord of the high heaven.
O maid-servant of God! This day is not a day of seclusion and solitude,
but a day of proclaiming the manifestation of the light of the Beauty of
thy Supreme Lord.
Therefore, abandon silence and seclusion and solitary nooks and go forth
into the arena of explanation. Convey the Message of thy Lord with
clearest speech and most complete elucidation. This is better for thee
than solitude.
The season of seclusion in quiet nooks is the season of winter when the
cold and the winds increase. But during the spring, the wafting of gentle
breezes, the passing of fragrances from the rose, the state of equilibrium
in the atmosphere and the green hue of valleys and prairies, it is best
for man to leave solitude and enjoy out-of-door blessings. Thus be thou
happy in the commemoration of thy Lord.
Go out from the solitary place like unto a shining star blazing on its
horizon. This is better for thee in the Kingdom of the Lord of the worlds.
Thus, hearken unto the melodies of the birds of holiness, in the garden of
fellowship, upon the branches of purity; to the murmuring of its waters,
the rustling of the trees, the blowing of its breezes and the cooing of
its doves.
"O thou beloved maid-servant of God!..."
O thou beloved maid-servant of God!
The Divine Providence hath chosen thee, made thee the object of favors and
guided thee to the Heavenly Father. He bestowed upon thee the eternal
outpouring and granted thee the life everlasting.
I hope that thou shalt discover the hidden significances of divine verses,
and through the bounty of the Almighty, thou mayest become informed of the
concealed mystery and recondite symbol of the stone of the Most Great
Name(239) . These mysteries can neither be written nor uttered. Whenever
the eye of insight is opened, the reality of meanings is understood.
In reality, all the souls are silent and speechless, but be thou a a
speaker. God willing, thou wilt become such.
"O thou dear maid-servant of God!..."
O thou dear maid-servant of God!
Mr. ... hath greatly praised thee that--praise be to God! --thou art like
unto a melodious nightingale, singing and warbling in the rose-garden of
the love of God, and art uttering of the mystery of the Kingdom; that thy
house and dwelling is a meeting-place of the spiritual ones and thy nest
and abode is a shelter for the birds of heaven. Nothing is better than
that man should become a manifestor of the powers of God and the cause of
illuminating the creatures.
"O thou who art advancing toward the Kingdom!..."
O thou who art advancing toward the Kingdom!
Thy letter was received. From its contents it became known that thou hast
turned thy face toward His Highness, the Merciful One, after the reading
of the Book of Ighan(240), and hast become a new creation.
I trust in the favor of the True One, that thy sisters and brothers may
likewise attain, and that thou mayest become confirmed with the
confirmation of the Holy Spirit, in order that thou mayest be the cause of
teaching many souls, and guide every person with whom thou hast
association and intercourse.
I ask from God that thou mayest be the cause of the awakening and
mindfulness of thy father and mother, and that many of thy friends may
rend asunder the veils of superstition and behold the Light of Truth.
O thou advancer toward the Kingdom! Endeavor thou day by day to increase
thy yearning and attraction, so that the attitude of supplication and
prayer may be realized more often.
If we do not meet in this physical word, I ask from God that we may meet
in the realm of vision, and that day by day the revelation of the Kingdom
may become greater. ***
Convey my respectful greeting to Mr. ... I hope that he will become
confirmed and assisted in his voyage to India; and that the power of the
Word of God will penetrate in such wise in those parts (India) that Mr.
... himself will stand astonished and add to his faith and assurance.
"O thou tree planted in the Garden of the Love of God!..."
O thou tree planted in the Garden of the Love of God!
Although thou art absent in body, yet, praise God! thou art present in
spirit and art illuminated by the lights of the Divine Love. Thou must
develop day by day and become more rejoiced than before through the
fragrances of the Holy Spirit and illumine the hearts of others by the
light of the love of God. I ask God to confirm thee in the service of the
Threshold of God and to strengthen thee in His servitude, like unto
Abdul-Baha. Thus thou mayest be thrilled with the ecstasy of the wine of
the Covenant and give a drink thereof unto the world.
"O maid-servant of God!..."
O maid-servant of God!
Thy letter was read. The doors of the Kingdom are open and the bounty of
God is like unto spring rain. Although the signs of material bounty are
great, yet the true bounty is that of heaven, spiritual, which gives life
eternal. Follow this and thy heart will become as beautiful as a garden,
thine eyes bright, thy spirit happy and thy thought a comfort to souls.
Be a well-wisher of humanity and a servant of mankind. Thus the strength
of the Kingdom will uphold thee and the avenues of revelation open to
thee. Because today every servant is served and is an honorable lord and
every maid-servant the queen of horizons. Grow in humility and meekness
daily, until thou attainest eternal glory and everlasting grace.
"O thou who hast turned thy face toward the Kingdom of God!..."
O thou who hast turned thy face toward the Kingdom of God!
Thy letter was received. In reality thou art spiritually hungry and
athirst for the Water of Life. Therefore I send to thee spiritual food and
bestow upon thee the Water of Life Eternal. That food is the divine
advices and exhortations revealed in the Tablets and the spiritual
outpourings of the breath of the Holy Spirit. I hope ere long it will
reach thee and thou wilt behold what an exhilaration and beatitude it
produceth and what cheerfulness and serenity and what heavenly emotions it
createth.
Educate and train thou that dear child with the utmost perseverance.
"O thou yearning one!..."
O thou yearning one!
Be thou a physician to every sick one and teach thou every ignorant one;
that is, show thou to others the way of the Kingdom and guide them to life
eternal.
Praise be to God! I became known and revealed myself to thee in the world
of vision and instructed thee in the search of Truth. Seek thou the light
of God, relate thou the mysteries of the True One and walk thou in the
path of the Kingdom, so that thou mayest behold wonderful signs and
observe universal confirmations.
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!
Verily I am in receipt of thy last letter which indicateth thy exceeding
love for Abdul-Baha, thy confidence in God, and thy good and sincere
intention in the service of the Cause of God.
Excellent is the statement given by thee in that precious letter--that ye
are in need of love and affinity in that country to unite the hearts and
spirits.
This is the truth and there is naught beyond the truth save error. Know
thou assuredly that--
Love is the mystery of divine revelations!
Love is the effulgent manifestation!
Love is the spiritual fulfillment!
Love is the breath of the Holy Spirit inspired into the human spirit!
Love is the cause of the manifestation of the Truth (God) in the
phenomenal world!
Love is the necessary tie proceeding from the realities of things through
divine creation!
Love is the means of the most great happiness in both the material and
spiritual worlds!
Love is a light of guidance in the dark night!
Love is the bond between the Creator and the creature in the inner world!
Love is the cause of development to every enlightened man!
Love is the greatest law in this vast universe of God!
Love is the one law which causeth and controleth order among the existing
atoms!
Love is the universal magnetic power between the planets and stars shining
in the loft firmament!
Love is the cause of unfoldment to a searching mind, of the secrets
deposited in the universe by the Infinite!
Love is the spirit of life in the bountiful body of the world!