immense results and great effect have been produced by forwarding [recent]
Tablets to that country (America). They gladdened and exhilarated the
friends and imparted happiness to the souls. They granted sight to the
eyes and hearing to the ears. It is hoped that wonderful effects will be
displayed in the future, that the friends of God may live and act in
accord with the heavenly teachings, in order that the region of America
may become the Paradise of Abha, that desert and wilderness become the
rose-garden of human perfections, the verses of guidance be read, the
melody of "Ya Baha El-Abha!" reach the Kingdom of Beauty; warfare and
bloodshed be removed from among the people, affinity and love hoist their
tent upon the apex of the world, all mankind become real friends with one
another and each soul respect the other. Whenever these signs appear, then
it will become manifest that the Tablets have had their effect.
"O thou whose face is radiant with the light of the Love..."
O thou whose face is radiant with the light of the Love of God!
Verily, the angel of mercy heralds to thee the glad-tidings which are the
light of the eyes of the sincere believers and the illumination of the
countenance of the virtuous and pious.
Rest assured in God! Engage in commemoration of God; be aglow with the
fire of the love of God and be severed from all else save God. This is the
spirit of life for the soul who is submissive to the Word of God.
"O thou yearner after Truth!..."
O thou yearner after Truth!
I know in what condition thou art, and how much thou longest for the
meeting. The real meeting consists in the communication of heart. I hope
that this communication will become strong, for the hearts which are
spiritually related to each other, their meetings are eternal, both in
this world and in the Universe of God. I hope that thou mayest attain
thereunto!
"O thou yearner after the Kingdom!..."
O thou yearner after the Kingdom!
Thy letter was received. It was brief and expressive of meaning. I ask
from God that thy name be registered in the Tablet of the Kingdom; [that
thou] be assisted by the merciful confirmation; become characterized with
divine characteristics, and that thou mayest become a tree with the utmost
freshness and delicacy in the orchard of God.
"O thou flower of the Rose-garden of God!..."
O thou flower of the Rose-garden of God!
Thou hast presented thy life. I have also accepted it, in order that thou
mayest sacrifice thyself in the path of God and attain to the ultimate
desire of the spiritual ones. Thou art a fresh plant in this divine
orchard. I hope that thou mayest become fruitful, and become the cause of
the adornment of this rose-garden.
"O thou who art firm in the Covenant!..."
O thou who art firm in the Covenant!
Thy letter was received. Thou hast written regarding the visit of the
beloved maid-servant of God, the attracted one to the fragrance of
holiness, Mrs. ........., to California, which hath been the cause of
affinity among the friends and the guidance of others.
Mrs. ......... is the favored maid-servant of the Blessed Perfection. In
reality she is the daughter of the Kingdom and is an informed speaker.
Have ye the utmost consideration toward her and show her exceeding
respect.
Should anyone in this day attach his heart to the Kingdom, release himself
from all else save God and become attracted to the fragrances of holiness,
the army of the Kingdom of Abha will help him and the angels of the
Supreme Concourse will assist him.
Convey my respectful greeting to Mrs. ......... I sought for her
protection and bounty from the Lord of the Kingdom.
Regarding the question of your presence in Acca now, it is not according
to wisdom. Postpone this matter to some other time.
"O thou beloved maid-servant of God!..."
O thou beloved maid-servant of God!
Thou hast written regarding the death of thy mother. Praise be to God, she
hath attained to the desire of her heart and hath ascended to the Kingdom
of Abha!
Happiness dependeth of the spiritual glad-tidings and not upon material
means. It is found in the Kingdom of Abha and not in this mortal world.
O thou maid-servant of God! Become thou not extinguished by the winds of
tests, but rather become ignited and be more happy, for then thou wilt
become a tried believer.
Guide the maid-servant of God, Mrs. ........., to the power of the Holy
Spirit and say: "Unless the Holy Spirit become intermediary, one cannot
attain directly to the bounties of God. Do not overlook the obvious
truths, for it is a self-evident fact that a child cannot be instructed
without a teacher, and knowledge is a bounty from the bounties of God. The
soil is not covered with grass and green without the rain of the cloud;
therefore the cloud is the intermediary between the divine bounties and
the soil. A body doth not develop and grow without the soul; therefore the
soul is the medium of the spiritual life."
Convey respectful greeting to Mrs. ......... and say: "I hope that through
the breath of the Holy Spirit the mysteries may become disclosed to thee,
for without this channel it is impossible and unattainable. Turn thine
attention to the days of His Highness the Christ; some people imagine that
without the Messianic outpourings, it is possible to attain to Truth, but
this very imagination became the cause of their deprivation."
O thou maid-servant of God! Whenever thou art desiring to talk and answer
questions, turn thy face toward the Kingdom of Abha and beseech for
assistance; then loosen thy tongue. Thou wilt behold at that time how thou
art able to answer all the questions!
o thou maid-servant of God! The aim of the theosophists is to attain to
Truth, but the Truth is unattainable except through the favor of the Holy
Spirit. The light hath a center and if one desire to seek it otherwise but
from the center, he can never attain to it. In this solar system the
source of light is the sun and every light is acquired from it; even the
lamps of the night are ignited through the sun, for if there were no sun
the trees would not grow nor the mines develop, so that the oil be
extracted from those trees and mines, and the lamps of the night be lit by
it. Is it possible that one attain to the light in this globular sphere
without the mediation of the sun? No, by the life of God! To suppose it,
is pure imagination. But the Truth is this: The main source of the lights
is the Sun and the rays are shed from it upon all the regions.
"O ye spiritual ones! O ye heavenly ones!..."
O ye(271) spiritual ones! O ye heavenly ones!
The assembly which you have established in that city is a splendor from
the congregation of the Supreme Concourse. I ask from God that the hearts
may be illuminated, the spirits be rejoiced through the most great
glad-tidings, the eyes be upraised toward the Supreme Realm and the
tongues be loosened in thanksgiving and glorification.
The members of that assembly are favored in the Threshold of Oneness and
are loved and respected by this imprisoned one. They must continue to
teach with utmost firmness, be engaged in the mentioning of the True One,
read the verses of God, supplicate toward the Kingdom of eternity, bring
about the meetings of consultation,(272) and spread the Word of God, the
spiritual attraction of the love of God, the increase of the knowledge of
God and the realization of affinity, friendship, unison and nobility.
"O ye servants of the True One and the maid-servants..."
O ye(273) servants of the True One and the maid-servants of the Merciful!
Do not think that ye are forgotten for one moment! Abdul-Baha is at all
times remembering you with infinite love and kindness and supplicates
assistance and favor, at the Threshold of Oneness, so that the invisible
confirmation may pour down, the divine bounties unveil their countenances,
the friends in that region be ignited like unto lamps and the
maid-servants of God shine like stars; in order to illumine that country,
to make that clime the "Paradise of perpetual abode" [or heaven], to
suffer the people to drink from the wine of guidance, to intoxicate the
ones yearning after the Kingdom of Abha, to open spiritual universities,
to be instructed in the mysteries of the love of God by the Heavenly
Instructor, to associate with each other with the utmost humility and
attain to spiritual affinity.
Each one must sacrifice his life and possessions to the other and each
person be loving to all the inhabitants of the world, rending asunder the
curtain of foreignness and consorting with all the people with union and
accord. They must be faithful to the traitors and benevolent to the
tyrant. They must recognize the enemies as friends, the unknown as known.
These are the advices and exhortations of God!
O ye friends: O ye maid-servants of the Merciful! In order to thank God
for this most great guidance, consort with all the people with the utmost
joy and happiness, so that ye may become the recipients of the glances of
Providence.
Become ye not sad on account of any calamity, neither be ye broken hearted
by any trials. Be ye firm and steadfast in order that the beloved may
become the cup-bearer of the assembly and the greatest desire become
realized.
Blessing be upon ye by the bounty of your Lord the Merciful!
"O my Lord! O my Lord!..."
(274) O my Lord! O my Lord!
(275) I am a child of tender years. Nourish me from the breast of Thy
mercy, train me in the bosom of Thy love, educate me in the school of Thy
guidance and develop me under the shadow of Thy bounty! Deliver me from
darkness, make me a brilliant light; free me from unhappiness, make me a
flower of the rose-garden; suffer me to become the servant of Thy
Threshold and confer upon me the disposition and nature of the righteous
ones; make me a cause of bounty to the human world and crown my head with
the diadem of eternal life!
Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Seer, the Hearer!
"Thou hast written concerning the universal peace,..."
(276) Thou hast written concerning the universal peace, that before long
the congress of The Hague will be opened(277) and discussion will be made
in regard to the universal peace.
This problem cannot be solved by the congress of The Hague, whose members
are the representatives of nations; nay, rather, this graceful beloved
will unveil her face in all the regions through the penetrative power of
the Word of God.
The congress of The Hague is as follows: The wine sellers call a meeting
so that they may discuss the evils of wine and remove from the world the
drinking of wine; yet their own vocation is wine selling.
Nations who are constantly thinking wither of worldly conquest, the
expansion of their own dominion or waging war upon their contemporaries,
send ministers and representatives to the congress of The Hague to discuss
the problem of universal peace and legislative registrations for the
prevention of war!
But regarding the universal language: Ere long significance and scientific
discussions concerning this matter will arise among the people of
discernment and insight and it will produce the desired result.
"O thou who art attracted by the brilliant lights of the..."
O thou who art attracted by the brilliant lights of the Merciful One,
shining from the Supreme Kingdom!
I opened thy letter with the greatest happiness and considered the meaning
of thine address; but sadness became most intense within me when I learned
about the dissensions among the brethren(278) in those countries. By the
life of God! "This is a wonderful thing!"
Verily, the mission of all the prophets, the relation of all the
scriptures, the diffusion of the instructions of God and the descent of
His law, were all in order to establish agreement and union and to
strengthen love and harmony among nations of different customs and
thoughts, of diverse beliefs, doctrines, rites and habits; of various
classes, tribes and races. So likewise, as thou seest in this beautiful
religion, verily, men of different beliefs, creeds and religions, of
contrary ideas and thoughts, of various races, languages and natal
lands--whether from East, West, North or South--all have entered under the
shade of this Blessed Tree, planted, grown and reared in the midst of
Paradise, and are formed into a single nation and religion in mutual union
and agreement, ready to sacrifice their souls and bodies, each to the
other. This harmony is not effected but through the influence of the Word
of God and is circulated and spread in all directions among the believers
of God, who are firm in the Covenant.
The dissensions prevailing in those parts (America) is altogether too
surprising and strange; and I entreat God to purge it out through thy
power of unity and oneness and unite the congregations and gather together
the dispersed multitude. verily, He is powerful in all things!
But for thee, leave such matters and disturbances and withdraw from those
districts and places and turn thy face sincerely to God; take His
instructions and be expanded through the breaths of god. The Spirit of God
shall assist thee and His angels will confirm thee; the life of holiness
of God will be breathed into thy mouth and thou wilt find thyself in a
position free from these ideas and thoughts resulting from worldly grades.
(Verily, these are disgraces to all who are in the habit of reading the
verses of unity in the assemblies of existence!) Seize the opportunity,
use every effort and depend not upon circumstances which produce no
fruits. Spend thy days, with all joy and fragrance, in speaking to the
praise of God, being gladdened through His good tidings, in rejoicing
through His graces and in spreading His breaths. Then thou shalt, with the
eye of joy, see the banners of the Covenant fluttering above all stately
mansions. Verily, God effecteth that which He pleaseth; naught can annul
His Covenant; naught can obstruct His favor nor oppose His Cause! He doeth
with His will that which pleaseth Him and He is powerful over all things!
At that time thou wilt find the waverers in manifest loss.
As for the instructions: They will be revealed to thee and spread all
through all those regions by the translation of the divine verses.
As for the symbol of the cross, appointed in former times: Know verily,
that the cross form is a wonderful figure and consists of two right lines
placed crosswise--one perpendicular to the other--and this figure exists in
all things.
Meditate upon these words and pay attention to the tissue in all existing
substances, either plant, animal or man, and thou wilt see that they all
are formed of the cross figure or two crosswise lines. Consider this
intently with true meditation. Then thou wilt be taught by the Holy Ghost
that it is for this reason that God hath chosen this symbol to be
displayed as the token of sacrifice in all periods of the ages.
I will explain to thee, in future time, the mystery of sacrifice. There is
nothing more beautiful than this tree united with the cross. Verily, this
tree is a type of the Tree of Life inconjunction with the cross; in this,
the mystery of sacrifice.
as for the crescent: It hath reference to the beginning of the religion of
God which shall grow to be a full moon.
As for the stars: They are types of the guides; for, verily, the star is a
guide to people, even in the most gloomy darkness, on both land and sea.
In former centuries, people were aided by the pole-star in whatever
direction they went.
Verily, I supplicate God to raise the instrument of sacrifice in those
regions and to reveal there the mystery of sacrifice; to cause the
crescent of the religion of God to rise until it groweth into a shining
full moon; to brighten the stars of guidance and guide all through it; and
I beseech Him to assist those brethren to promote His Word in those most
distant places, cause them to be servants to His precious olive-garden,
keepers of His inaccessible fortress and guides to his straight path!
May glory be unto thee and unto them!
"O thou who art illuminated by the Light of Knowledge!..."
O thou who art illuminated by the Light of Knowledge!
Verily, I beseech God and supplicate Him to increase thine assurance, thy
knowledge and thine attraction and enkindlement by the fire of the love of
God, day by day.
O maid-servant of God! Clothe thyself with the cuirass of assurance, so
that thou mayest endure the arrows of suspicion which are successively
pouring from the tongues of the heedless ones. Be a lamp, the light of
which may dispel the darkness, and a real standard which may remove the
doubts of the veiled people. Turn thou unto the Kingdom of thy Lord, the
Ancient, and seek for confirmation at every moment and time, so that
lights may shine forth unto thee from the kingdom of mysteries, and the
angels of the Kingdom may come unto thee in succession, with a power from
the Realm of Might. Verily, thy Lord shall assist thee and strengthen thee
in that whereby thy breast will be dilated among the maid-servants of the
Merciful One!
"O thou who art gazing toward Abdul-Baha!..."
O thou who art gazing toward Abdul-Baha!
Now I address thee with a heart filled with affection toward thee, and
say: "O maid-servant of God! Be a flame of the fire of the love of God,
and consume the veils of women's doubts. And know thou that, verily, the
Lord who "doeth whatsoever He willeth" will assist thee in proof and
argument and will enable thee to speak the praise of the Merciful One and
will make thee a sign of knowledge.
"Arise to serve the Cause of God in the vineyard of God and water the
developed and flourishing trees with the waters of mysteries which are
deposited in the innermost parts of the words of the Books; and be assured
that the fountain of assurance will gush out in the hearts of the firm and
steadfast women believers, and the divine graces will strengthen them from
all sides, and the Lord will enable them to diffuse the fragrances. And He
will make them manifest signs, beaming stars, shining lights, fruitful
trees, flowing fountains, perfect words and mature proofs. Then know thou
that verily Abdul-Baha is between the fangs of the dragon of afflictions
and in the grasp of dangers night and day."
As to ye, O maid-servants of the Merciful One: "Gird up your loins in
union and harmony, so that the Lord may strengthen your backs in His
mighty Kingdom, make you servants in His excellent vineyard, raise you to
the highest stations in this glorious age, and cause you to reach your
greatest hopes in this auspicious day."
Address thou the maid-servants of the Merciful One, and say: "Verily, Mary
Magdalene was a villager, but on account of her keeping firm in the Cause
of Christ after His death, she was rendered successful in such a matter,
whereby her face is shining and beaming forth on the horizon of the
universe forevermore! And she surpassed even men in defending the fortress
of the Cause of God against the attack of the hosts of suspicions. This is
indeed a glorious condition! This is indeed a great matter! This is indeed
a manifest light!"
"O thou who art attracted to the Spirit of Truth!..."
O thou who art attracted to the Spirit of Truth!
At this moment I remember thee, while the cup of my tongue is overflowing
with the wine of God's praise, and I address thee in a spirit whereby the
hearts of all the creation are cheerfully moved.
Know thou, verily, the Spirit hath indeed so surrounded my limbs that it
moveth them as it willeth and my tongue uttereth the most wonderful speech
and most sweet words while addressing thee, so that thou mayest be moved
by these holy fragrances which perfume all regions, and be dilated with
joy by this address, which is revealed because of my abundant love for
thee and my excessive kindness and great affection unto thee.
O maid-servant of God, verily the Holy Spirit breathes in this day unto
the hearts which are moving, beating, pure and attracted by the love of
God.
Abandon thou every occupation and be engaged in the affairs of thy Lord
and serve the Spirit of Truth which hath poured a spiritual, divine and
everlasting life upon the brilliant hearts.
O maid-servant of God! By God, the True One, verily the crown of mighty
gift is suspended betwixt heaven and earth and the angels of holiness are
awaiting a lofty head which may be worthy of this great bestowal, so that
it may descend upon that head, and that it may wear that glorious crown,
the most precious gems of which illumine the eyes of all in the world!
O maid-servant of God! Many a spiritual woman came (into the world) and
passed away in vain; no sound is heard of them and no trace of them is
seen; inasmuch as their spirits were not dependent upon the Holy Spirit,
nor were they attracted to the fragrances of Truth; nor were they ever
baptized by the Water of Life, not by the Spirit of Truth which speaketh
in the assemblies of the Kingdom and which breathes upon spirits the
breezes which waft an eternal glory, the signs of which are everlasting.
"O thou who art attracted to the call of the Lord of the..."
O thou who art attracted to the call of the Lord of the Kingdom!
Know thou, verily, the Kingdom is a magnet of the divine world, and it
attracteth the iron of pure hearts which are capable of the bounties of
the Lord of Might. Blessed art thou, for thou hast turned unto the Lord of
Heaven, thy heart hath depended upon the Light of Guidance, thou hast
advanced toward the Center of Righteousness, and thy spirit is cheered by
the abundance of the Supreme Concourse! Verily, I beseech God to
strengthen thee with "One Mighty in Power," so that the spirit may pour
upon thee the teachings of the Beauty of El-Abha, and to baptize thee with
the water of life, the fire of the love of God, and with the spirit of
confirmation, among maid-servants.
O maid-servant of God! It is incumbent upon thee to supplicate thy Lord,
to seek His nearness with thy heart, to be submissive and humble before
His maid-servants, and to serve His great vineyard. forsake the mortal
grades, i.e., things of the world, and be engaged in praising thy Lord, so
that His Holy Spirit may assist thee, may make thee a sign of faith and
illumine thy heart with the light of assurance and that thou mayest become
a sign of peace and a servant of reconciliation, love and security.
Verily, my Merciful Lord is gracious under all aspects!
As to thy question concerning Christ" Know thou, He was perfect in respect
to spirit as well as body. His material (body) was a perfect body in every
respect; none of His material conditions were imperfect. His heavenly
condition was also a perfect at all, inasmuch as imperfection is contrary
to perfection. His heavenly condition was also a perfect one, comprising
all the divine perfections. Reflect thou upon these words, so that the
door of knowledge may be opened before thy face.
"O thou maid-servant of God who art attracted to the..."
O thou maid-servant of God who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!
Speak of my servitude unto God, of my humbleness and submissiveness to the
Beloved of God, and of my evanescence, nothingness and utter meekness to
the Threshold of Baha'. Verily, I am the servant of Baha', the slave of
Baha' and the captive of Baha'. I have no grade but this and I do not
possess anything for myself. Therefore, mention me in my pure servitude;
this is that by which my heart is dilated by every maid-servant who speaks
the praise of God. I beseech God to make thee a dove in the grove of
holiness, to coo with the most wonderful melodies the praise of thy Lord,
the Merciful!
"O thou who art ablaze with the fire of the Love of..."
O thou who art ablaze with the fire of the Love of God!
As to thy vision that thou wert traveling to Acca in a ship with the
maid-servant of God .........: this ship is the ship of the Covenant,
which is surrounded by the winds of discord from the people of hypocrisy.
Be rejoiced that ye two are preserved and have reached the shore of
salvation.
Know thou, verily, the winds of confirmation shall surely surround the Ark
of Deliverance, the sails of the covenant shall be unfurled, and it shall
reach the shore of the Kingdom of God. Blessed art thou, for thou hast
entered this Ark and art saved from afflictions!