References to the Qur’án

In footnotes referring to the Qur’án the
súrihs have been numbered according to the original, whereas
the verse numbers are those in Rodwell’s translation which
differ sometimes from those of the Arabic.

1: O peoples of the world! The Sun
of Truth hath …

O peoples of the world! The Sun of Truth hath risen to
illumine the whole earth, and to spiritualize the community of man.
Laudable are the results and the fruits thereof, abundant the holy
evidences deriving from this grace. This is mercy unalloyed and
purest bounty; it is light for the world and all its peoples; it is
harmony and fellowship, and love and solidarity; indeed it is
compassion and unity, and the end of foreignness; it is the being at
one, in complete dignity and freedom, with all on earth.

The Blessed Beauty saith: ‘Ye are all the fruits
of one tree, the leaves of one branch.’ Thus hath He likened
this world of being to a single tree, and all its peoples to the
leaves thereof, and the blossoms and fruits. It is needful for the
bough to blossom, and leaf and fruit to flourish, and upon the
interconnection of all parts of the world-tree, dependeth the
flourishing of leaf and blossom, and the sweetness of the fruit.

For this reason must all human beings powerfully sustain
one another and seek for everlasting life; and for this reason must
the lovers of God in this contingent world become the mercies and the
blessings sent forth by that clement King of the seen and unseen
realms. Let them purify their sight and behold all humankind as
leaves and blossoms and fruits of the tree of being. Let them at all
times concern themselves with doing a kindly thing for one of their
fellows, offering to someone love, consideration, thoughtful help.
Let them see no one as their enemy, or as wishing them ill, but think
of all humankind as their friends; regarding the alien as an
intimate, the stranger as a companion, staying free of prejudice,
drawing no lines.

In this day, the one favoured at the Threshold of the
Lord is he who handeth round the cup of faithfulness; who bestoweth,
even upon his enemies, the jewel of bounty, and lendeth, even to his
fallen oppressor, a helping hand; it is he who will, even to the
fiercest of his foes, be a loving friend. These are the Teachings of
the Blessed Beauty, these the counsels of the Most Great Name.

O ye dear friends! The world is at war and the human
race is in travail and mortal combat. The dark night of hate hath
taken over, and the light of good faith is blotted out. The peoples
and kindreds of the earth have sharpened their claws, and are hurling
themselves one against the other. It is the very foundation of the
human race that is being destroyed. It is thousands of households
that are vagrant and dispossessed, and every year seeth thousands
upon thousands of human beings weltering in their life-blood on dusty
battlefields. The tents of life and joy are down. The generals
practise their generalship, boasting of the blood they shed,
competing one with the next in inciting to violence. ‘With this
sword,’ saith one of them, ‘I beheaded a people!’
And another: ‘I toppled a nation to the ground!’ And yet
another: ‘I brought a government down!’ On such things do
men pride themselves, in such do they glory! Love—righteousness—these
are everywhere censured, while despised are harmony, and devotion to
the truth.

The Faith of the Blessed Beauty is summoning mankind to
safety and love, to amity and peace; it hath raised up its tabernacle
on the heights of the earth, and directeth its call to all nations.
Wherefore, O ye who are God’s lovers, know ye the value of this
precious Faith, obey its teachings, walk in this road that is drawn
straight, and show ye this way to the people. Lift up your voices and
sing out the song of the Kingdom. Spread far and wide the precepts
and counsels of the loving Lord, so that this world will change into
another world, and this darksome earth will be flooded with light,
and the dead body of mankind will arise and live; so that every soul
will ask for immortality, through the holy breaths of God.

Soon will your swiftly-passing days be over, and the
fame and riches, the comforts, the joys provided by this
rubbish-heap, the world, will be gone without a trace. Summon ye,
then, the people to God, and invite humanity to follow the example of
the Company on high. Be ye loving fathers to the orphan, and a refuge
to the helpless, and a treasury for the poor, and a cure for the
ailing. Be ye the helpers of every victim of oppression, the patrons
of the disadvantaged. Think ye at all times of rendering some service
to every member of the human race. Pay ye no heed to aversion and
rejection, to disdain, hostility, injustice: act ye in the opposite
way. Be ye sincerely kind, not in appearance only. Let each one of
God’s loved ones centre his attention on this: to be the Lord’s
mercy to man; to be the Lord’s grace. Let him do some good to
every person whose path he crosseth, and be of some benefit to him.
Let him improve the character of each and all, and reorient the minds
of men. In this way, the light of divine guidance will shine forth,
and the blessings of God will cradle all mankind: for love is light,
no matter in what abode it dwelleth; and hate is darkness, no matter
where it may make its nest. O friends of God! That the hidden Mystery
may stand revealed, and the secret essence of all things may be
disclosed, strive ye to banish that darkness for ever and ever.

2: O my Lord! I have drawn nigh unto
Thee, in the …

O my Lord! I have drawn nigh unto Thee, in the depths of
this darksome night, confiding in Thee with the tongue of my heart,
trembling with joy at the sweet scents that blow from Thy realm, the
All-Glorious, calling unto Thee, saying:

O my Lord, no words do I find to glorify Thee; no way do
I see for the bird of my mind to soar upward to Thy Kingdom of
Holiness; for Thou, in Thy very essence, art sanctified above those
tributes, and in Thy very being art beyond the reach of those praises
which are offered Thee by the people that Thou hast created. In the
sanctity of Thine own being hast Thou ever been exalted above the
understanding of the learned among the Company on high, and forever
wilt Thou remain enwrapped within the holiness of Thine own reality,
unreached by the knowledge of those dwellers in Thine exalted Kingdom
who glorify Thy Name.

O God, my God! How can I glorify or describe Thee
inaccessible as Thou art; immeasurably high and sanctified art Thou
above every description and praise.

O God, my God! Have mercy then upon my helpless state,
my poverty, my misery, my abasement! Give me to drink from the
generous cup of Thy grace and forgiveness, stir me with the sweet
scents of Thy love, gladden my bosom with the light of Thy knowledge,
purify my soul with the mysteries of Thy oneness, raise me to life
with the gentle breeze that cometh from the gardens of Thy mercy—till
I sever myself from all else but Thee, and lay hold of the hem of Thy
garment of grandeur, and consign to oblivion all that is not Thee,
and be companioned by the sweet breathings that waft during these Thy
days, and attain unto faithfulness at Thy Threshold of Holiness, and
arise to serve Thy Cause, and to be humble before Thy loved ones,
and, in the presence of Thy favoured ones, to be nothingness itself.

Verily art Thou the Helper, the Sustainer, the Exalted,
the Most Generous.

O God, my God! I beg of Thee by the dawning of the light
of Thy Beauty that hath illumined all the earth, and by the glance of
Thy divine compassion’s eye that considereth all things, and by
the surging sea of Thy bestowals in which all things are immersed,
and by Thy streaming clouds of bounty raining down gifts upon the
essences of all created things, and by the splendours of Thy mercy
that existed before ever the world was—to help Thy chosen ones
to be faithful, and assist Thy loved ones to serve at Thine exalted
Threshold, and cause them to gain the victory through the battalions
of Thy might that overpowereth all things, and reinforce them with a
great fighting host from out of the Concourse on high.

O my Lord! They are weak souls standing at Thy door;
they are paupers in Thy courtyard, desperate for Thy grace, in dire
need of Thy succour, turning their faces toward the kingdom of Thy
oneness, yearning for the bounties of Thy bestowals. O my Lord! Flood
Thou their minds with Thy holy light; cleanse Thou their hearts with
the grace of Thine assistance; gladden their bosoms with the
fragrance of the joys that waft from Thy Company above; make bright
their eyes by beholding the signs and tokens of Thy might; cause them
to be the ensigns of purity, the banners of sanctity waving high
above all creatures on the summits of the earth; make Thou their
words to move hearts which are even as solid rock. May they arise to
serve Thee and dedicate themselves to the Kingdom of Thy divinity,
and set their faces toward the realm of Thy Self-Subsistence, and
spread far and wide Thy signs, and be illumined by Thy streaming
lights, and unfold Thy hidden mysteries. May they guide Thy servants
unto gentle waters and to the fountain of Thy mercy that welleth and
leapeth in the midmost heart of the Heaven of Thy oneness. May they
hoist the sail of detachment upon the Ark of Salvation, and move over
the seas of Thy knowledge; may they spread wide the pinions of unity
and by their aid soar upward to the Kingdom of Thy singleness to
become servants whom the Supreme Concourse will applaud, whose
praises the dwellers in Thine all-glorious realm will utter; may they
hear the heralds of the invisible world as they raise their cry of
the Most Great Glad-Tidings; may they, in their longing to meet Thee,
invoke and pray unto Thee, intoning wondrous orisons at the dawn of
light—O my Lord Who disposest all things—shedding their
tears at morningtide and even, yearning to pass into the shadow of
Thy mercy that endeth never.

Help them, O my Lord, under all conditions, support them
at all times with Thine angels of holiness, they who are Thine
invisible hosts, Thy heavenly battalions who bring down to defeat the
massed armies of this nether world.

Verily art Thou the Mighty, the Powerful, the Strong,
the All-Encompassing, the One Who hath dominion over all that is.

O holy Lord! O Lord of loving-kindness! We stray about
Thy dwelling, longing to behold Thy beauty, and loving all Thy ways.
We are hapless, lowly, and of small account. We are paupers: show us
mercy, give us bounty; look not upon our failings, hide Thou our
endless sins. Whatever we are, still are we Thine, and what we speak
and hear is praise of Thee, and it is Thy face we seek, Thy path we
follow. Thou art the Lord of loving-kindness, we are sinners and
astray and far from home. Wherefore, O Cloud of Mercy, grant us some
drops of rain. O Flowering Bed of grace, send forth a fragrant
breeze. O Sea of all bestowals, roll towards us a great wave. O Sun
of Bounty, send down a shaft of light. Grant us pity, grant us grace.
By Thy beauty, we come with no provision but our sins, with no good
deeds to tell of, only hopes. Unless Thy concealing veil doth cover
us, and Thy protection shield and cradle us, what power have these
helpless souls to rise and serve Thee, what substance have these
wretched ones to make a brave display? Thou Who art the Mighty, the
All-Powerful, help us, favour us; withered as we are, revive us with
showers from Thy clouds of grace; lowly as we are, illumine us with
bright rays from the Day-Star of Thy oneness. Cast Thou these thirsty
fish into the ocean of Thy mercy, guide Thou this lost caravan to the
shelter of Thy singleness; to the wellspring of guidance lead Thou
the ones who have wandered far astray, and grant to those who have
missed the path a haven within the precincts of Thy might. Lift Thou
to these parched lips the bounteous and soft-flowing waters of
heaven, raise up these dead to everlasting life. Grant Thou to the
blind eyes that will see. Make Thou the deaf to hear, the dumb to
speak. Set Thou the dispirited ablaze, make Thou the heedless
mindful, warn Thou the proud, awaken those who sleep.

Thou art the Mighty, Thou art the Bestower, Thou art the
Loving. Verily Thou art the Beneficent, the Most Exalted.

O ye loved ones of God, ye helpers of this evanescent
Servant! When the Sun of Reality shed its endless bounties from the
Dawning-Point of all desires, and this world of being was lit with
that sacred light from pole to pole, with such intensity did it cast
down its rays that it blotted out the Stygian dark forever, whereupon
this earth of dust became the envy of the spheres of heaven, and this
lowly place took on the state and panoply of the supernal realm. The
gentle breeze of holiness blew over it, scattering abroad sweet
savours; the spring winds of heaven passed by it, and over it, from
the Source of all bestowals, were wafted fruitful airs that carried
boundless grace. Then the bright dawn rose, and there came tidings of
great joy. The divine springtime was here, pitching its tents in this
contingent world, so that all creation leapt and danced. The withered
earth brought forth immortal blooms, the dead dust woke to
everlasting life. Then came forth flowers of mystic learning, and,
bespeaking the knowledge of God, fresh greenery from the ground. The
contingent world displayed God’s bounteous gifts, the visible
world reflecting the glories of realms that were hidden from sight.
God’s summons was proclaimed, the table of the Eternal Covenant
was readied, the cup of the Testament was passed from hand to hand,
the universal invitation was sent forth. Then some among the people
were set afire with the wine of heaven, and some were left without a
share of this greatest of bestowals. The sight and insight of some
were illumined by the light of grace, and there were some who,
hearing the anthems of unity, leapt for joy. There were birds that
began to carol in the gardens of holiness, there were nightingales in
the branches of the rose tree of heaven that raised their plaintive
cries. Then were decked and adorned both the Kingdom on high and the
earth below, and this world became the envy of high heaven. Yet alas,
alas, the neglectful have stayed fast in their heedless sleep, and
the foolish have spurned this most sacred of bestowals. The blind
remain shrouded in their veils, the deaf have no share in what hath
come to pass, the dead have no hopes of attaining thereto, for even
as He saith: ‘They despair of the life to come, as the infidels
despair that the dwellers in the tombs will rise again.’1

As to you, O ye loved ones of God! Loose your tongues
and offer Him thanks; praise ye and glorify the Beauty of the Adored
One, for ye have drunk from this purest of chalices, and ye are
cheered and set aglow with this wine. Ye have detected the sweet
scents of holiness, ye have smelled the musk of faithfulness from
Joseph’s raiment. Ye have fed on the honey-dew of loyalty from
the hands of Him Who is the one alone Beloved, ye have feasted on
immortal dishes at the bounteous banquet table of the Lord. This
plenty is a special favour bestowed by a loving God, these are
blessings and rare gifts deriving from His grace. In the Gospel He
saith: ‘For many are called, but few are chosen.’2
That is, to many is it offered, but rare is the soul who is singled
out to receive the great bestowal of guidance. ‘Such is the
bounty of God: to whom He will He giveth it, and of immense bounty is
God.’3

O ye loved ones of God! From the peoples of the world,
against the Candle of the Covenant discordant winds do beat and blow.
The Nightingale of faithfulness is beset by renegades who are even as
ravens of hate. The Dove of God’s remembrance is hard pressed
by mindless birds of night, and the Gazelle that dwelleth in the
meadows of God’s love is being hunted down by ravening beasts.
Deadly is the peril, tormenting the pain.

The beloved of the Lord must stand fixed as the
mountains, firm as impregnable walls. Unmoved must they remain by
even the direst adversities, ungrieved by the worst of disasters. Let
them cling to the hem of Almighty God, and put their faith in the
Beauty of the Most High; let them lean on the unfailing help that
cometh from the Ancient Kingdom, and depend on the care and
protection of the generous Lord. Let them at all times refresh and
restore themselves with the dews of heavenly grace, and with the
breaths of the Holy Spirit revive and renew themselves from moment to
moment. Let them rise up to serve their Lord, and do all in their
power to scatter His breathings of holiness far and wide. Let them be
a mighty fortress to defend His Faith, an impregnable citadel for the
hosts of the Ancient Beauty. Let them faithfully guard the edifice of
the Cause of God from every side; let them become the bright stars of
His luminous skies. For the hordes of darkness are assailing this
Cause from every direction, and the peoples of the earth are intent
on extinguishing this evident Light. And since all the kindreds of
the world are mounting their attack, how can our attention be
diverted, even for a moment? Assuredly be cognizant of these things,
be watchful, and guard the Cause of God.

The most vital duty, in this day, is to purify your
characters, to correct your manners, and improve your conduct. The
beloved of the Merciful must show forth such character and conduct
among His creatures, that the fragrance of their holiness may be shed
upon the whole world, and may quicken the dead, inasmuch as the
purpose of the Manifestation of God and the dawning of the limitless
lights of the Invisible is to educate the souls of men, and refine
the character of every living man—so that blessed individuals,
who have freed themselves from the murk of the animal world, shall
rise up with those qualities which are the adornings of the reality
of man. The purpose is that earthlings should turn into the people of
Heaven, and those who walk in darkness should come into the light,
and those who are excluded should join the inner circle of the
Kingdom, and those who are as nothing should become intimates of the
everlasting Glory. It is that the portionless should gain their share
of the boundless sea, and the ignorant drink their fill from the
living fount of knowledge; that those who thirst for blood should
forsake their savagery, and those who are barbed of claw should turn
gentle and forbearing, and those who love war should seek instead for
true conciliation; it is that the brutal, their talons razor-sharp,
should enjoy the benefits of lasting peace; that the foul should
learn that there is a realm of purity, and the tainted find their way
to the rivers of holiness.

Unless these divine bestowals be revealed from the inner
self of humankind, the bounty of the Manifestation will prove barren,
and the dazzling rays of the Sun of Truth will have no effect
whatever.

Wherefore, O beloved of the Lord, strive ye with heart
and soul to receive a share of His holy attributes and take your
portion of the bounties of His sanctity—that ye may become the
tokens of unity, the standards of singleness, and seek out the
meaning of oneness; that ye may, in this garden of God, lift up your
voices and sing the blissful anthems of the spirit. Become ye as the
birds who offer Him their thanks, and in the blossoming bowers of
life chant ye such melodies as will dazzle the minds of those who
know. Raise ye a banner on the highest peaks of the world, a flag of
God’s favour to ripple and wave in the winds of His grace;
plant ye a tree in the field of life, amid the roses of this visible
world, that will yield a fruitage fresh and sweet.

I swear by the true Teacher that if ye will act in
accord with the admonitions of God, as revealed in His luminous
Tablets, this darksome dust will mirror forth the Kingdom of heaven,
and this nether world the realm of the All-Glorious.

O ye loved ones of the Lord! Praise be to Him, the
unseen, welling bounties of the Sun of Truth encompass you on every
side, and from every direction the portals of His mercy stand ajar.
Now is the time to take advantage of these bestowals, and benefit
therefrom. Know ye the value of this time, let not this chance escape
you. Stay ye entirely clear of this dark world’s concerns, and
become ye known by the attributes of those essences that make their
home in the Kingdom. Then shall ye see how intense is the glory of
the heavenly Day-Star, and how blinding bright are the tokens of
bounty coming out of the invisible realm.

3: O ye beloved of God! O ye
children of His Kingdom! …

O ye beloved of God! O ye children of His Kingdom!
Verily, verily, the new heaven and the new earth are come. The holy
City, new Jerusalem, hath come down from on high in the form of a
maid of heaven, veiled, beauteous, and unique, and prepared for
reunion with her lovers on earth. The angelic company of the
Celestial Concourse hath joined in a call that hath run throughout
the universe, all loudly and mightily acclaiming: ‘This is the
City of God and His abode, wherein shall dwell the pure and holy
among His servants. He shall live with them, for they are His people
and He is their Lord.’

He hath wiped away their tears, kindled their light,
rejoiced their hearts and enraptured their souls. Death shall no more
overtake them neither shall sorrow, weeping or tribulation afflict
them. The Lord God Omnipotent hath been enthroned in His Kingdom and
hath made all things new. This is the truth and what truth can be
greater than that announced by the Revelation of St. John the Divine?

He is Alpha and Omega. He is the One that will give unto
him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life and bestow
upon the sick the remedy of true salvation. He whom such grace aideth
is verily he that receiveth the most glorious heritage from the
Prophets of God and His holy ones. The Lord will be his God, and he
His dearly-beloved son.

Rejoice, then, O ye beloved of the Lord and His chosen
ones, and ye the children of God and His people, raise your voices to
laud and magnify the Lord, the Most High; for His light hath beamed
forth, His signs have appeared and the billows of His rising ocean
have scattered on every shore many a precious pearl.

4: Praise be to Him Who hath made
the world of being, …

Praise be to Him Who hath made the world of being, and
hath fashioned all that is, Him Who hath raised up the sincere to a
station of honour4
and hath made the invisible world to appear on the plane of the
visible—yet still, in their drunken stupor,5
do men wander and stray.

He hath laid down the foundations of the lofty Citadel,
He hath inaugurated the Cycle of Glory, He hath brought forth a new
creation on this day that is clearly Judgement Day—and still do
the heedless stay fast in their drunken sleep.

The Bugle6
hath sounded, the Trumpet7
hath been blown, the Crier hath raised his call, and all upon the
earth have swooned away—but still do the dead, in the tombs of
their bodies, sleep on.

And the second clarion8
hath sounded, there hath followed the second blast after the first,9
and the dread woe hath come, and every nursing mother hath forgot the
infant at her breast10—yet
still the people, confused and distracted, heed it not.

And the Resurrection hath dawned, and the Hour hath
struck, and the Path hath been drawn straight, and the Balance hath
been set up, and all upon the earth have been gathered together11—but
still the people see no sign of the way.

The light hath shone forth, and radiance floodeth Mount
Sinai, and a gentle wind bloweth from over the gardens of the
Ever-Forgiving Lord; the sweet breaths of the spirit are passing by,
and those who lay buried in the grave are rising up—and still
do the heedless slumber on in their tombs.

The flames of hell have been made to blaze, and heaven
hath been brought nigh; the celestial gardens are in flower, and
fresh pools are brimming over, and paradise gleameth in beauty—but
the unaware are still mired down in their empty dreams.

The veil hath fallen away, the curtain is lifted, the
clouds have parted, the Lord of Lords is in plain sight—yet all
hath passed the sinners by.

It is He Who hath made for you the new creation,12
and brought on the woe13
that surpasseth all others, and gathered the holy together in the
realm on high. Verily in this are signs for those who have eyes to
see.

And among His signs is the appearance of omens and
joyous prophecies, of hints and clues, the spreading of many and
various tidings, and the anticipations of the righteous, they who
have now attained their goal.

And among His signs are His splendours, rising above the
horizon of oneness, His lights streaming out from the dayspring of
might, and the announcement of the Most Great Glad-Tidings by His
Herald, the One, the Incomparable. Verily in this is a brilliant
proof for the company of those who know.

Among His signs is His being manifest, being seen by
all, standing as His own proof, and His presence among witnesses in
every region, among peoples who fell upon Him even as wolves, and
compassed Him about from every side.

Among His signs is His withstanding powerful nations and
all-conquering states, and a host of enemies thirsting for His blood,
intent at every moment upon His ruin, wheresoever He might be. Verily
this is a matter deserving the scrutiny of those who ponder the signs
and tokens of God.

Another of His signs is the marvel of His discourse, the
eloquence of His utterance, the rapidity with which His Writings were
revealed, His words of wisdom, His verses, His epistles, His
communes, His unfolding of the Qur’án, both the abstruse
verses thereof and the clear. By thy very life! This thing is plain
as day to whoever will regard it with the eye of justice.

Again among His signs is the dawning sun of His
knowledge, and the rising moon of His arts and skills, and His
demonstrating perfection in all His ways, as testified by the learned
and accomplished of many nations.

And again among His signs is the fact that His beauty
stayed inviolate, and His human temple was protected as He revealed
His splendours, despite the massed attacks of all His foes, who came
against Him in their thousands with their darting arrows, spears and
swords. Herein is verily a wonder and a warning to any fair judge.

And among His signs is His long-suffering, His
tribulations and His woes, His agony in His chains and fetters, and
His calling out at every moment: ‘Come unto Me, come unto Me,
ye righteous! Come unto Me, come unto Me, ye lovers of the good! Come
unto Me, come unto Me, ye dawning points of light!’ Verily the
gates of mystery are opened wide—but still do the wicked
disport themselves with their vain cavillings!14

Yet another of His signs is the promulgation of His
Book, His decisive Holy Text wherein He reproved the kings, and His
dire warning to that one15
whose mighty rule was felt around the world—and whose great
throne then toppled down in a matter of brief days—this being a
fact clearly established and widely known.

And among His signs is the sublimity of His grandeur,
His exalted state, His towering glory, and the shining out of His
beauty above the horizon of the Prison: so that heads were bowed
before Him and voices lowered, and humble were the faces that turned
His way. This is a proof never witnessed in the ages gone before.

Again among His signs are the extraordinary things He
continually did, the miracles He performed, the wonders appearing
from Him without interruption like the streaming down of His
clouds—and the acknowledgement, even by unbelievers, of His
powerful light. By His own life! This was clearly verified, it was
demonstrated to those of every persuasion who came into the presence
of the living, the self-subsisting Lord.

And yet another of His signs is the wide-spreading rays
of the sun of His era, the rising moon of His times in the heaven of
all the ages: His day, which standeth at the summit of all days, for
its rank and power, its sciences and its arts, reaching far and wide,
that have dazzled the world and astonished the minds of men.

Verily is this a matter settled and established for all
time.

5: The world’s great Light,
once resplendent upon all …

The world’s great Light, once resplendent upon all
mankind, hath set, to shine everlastingly from the Abhá
Horizon, His Kingdom of fadeless glory, shedding splendour upon His
loved ones from on high and breathing into their hearts and souls the
breath of eternal life.

Ponder in your hearts that which He hath foretold in His
Tablet of the Divine Vision that hath been spread throughout the
world. Therein He saith: ‘Thereupon she wailed and exclaimed:
“May the world and all that is therein be a ransom for Thy
woes. O Sovereign of heaven and earth! Wherefore hast Thou left
Thyself in the hands of the dwellers of this prison-city of Akká?
Hasten Thou to other dominions, to Thy retreats above, whereon the
eyes of the people of names have never fallen.” We smiled and
spake not. Reflect upon these most exalted words, and comprehend the
purpose of this hidden and sacred mystery.’

O ye beloved of the Lord! Beware, beware lest ye
hesitate and waver. Let not fear fall upon you, neither be troubled
nor dismayed. Take ye good heed lest this calamitous day slacken the
flames of your ardour, and quench your tender hopes. Today is the day
for steadfastness and constancy. Blessed are they that stand firm and
immovable as the rock and brave the storm and stress of this
tempestuous hour. They, verily, shall be the recipients of God’s
grace; they, verily, shall receive His divine assistance, and shall
be truly victorious. They shall shine amidst mankind with a radiance
which the dwellers of the Pavilion of Glory laud and magnify. To them
is proclaimed this celestial call, revealed in His Most Holy Book:
‘Let not your hearts be perturbed, O people, when the glory of
My Presence is withdrawn, and the ocean of My utterance is stilled.
In My presence amongst you there is a wisdom, and in My absence there
is yet another, inscrutable to all but God, the Incomparable, the
All-Knowing. Verily, We behold you from Our realm of glory, and shall
aid whosoever will arise for the triumph of Our Cause with the hosts
of the Concourse on high and a company of Our favoured angels.’

The Sun of Truth, that Most Great Light, hath set upon
the horizon of the world to rise with deathless splendour over the
Realm of the Limitless. In His Most Holy Book He calleth the firm and
steadfast of His friends: ‘Be not dismayed, O peoples of the
world, when the day-star of My beauty is set, and the heaven of My
tabernacle is concealed from your eyes. Arise to further My Cause,
and to exalt My Word amongst men.’

6: O ye peoples of the Kingdom! How
many a soul …

O ye peoples of the Kingdom! How many a soul expended
all its span of life in worship, endured the mortification of the
flesh, longed to gain an entry into the Kingdom, and yet failed,
while ye, with neither toil nor pain nor self-denial, have won the
prize and entered in.

It is even as in the time of the Messiah, when the
Pharisees and the pious were left without a portion, while Peter,
John and Andrew, given neither to pious worship nor ascetic practice,
won the day. Wherefore, thank ye God for setting upon your heads the
crown of glory everlasting, for granting unto you this immeasurable
grace.

The time hath come when, as a thank-offering for this
bestowal, ye should grow in faith and constancy as day followeth day,
and should draw ever nearer to the Lord, your God, becoming
magnetized to such a degree, and so aflame, that your holy melodies
in praise of the Beloved will reach upward to the Company on high;
and that each one of you, even as a nightingale in this rose garden
of God, will glorify the Lord of Hosts, and become the teacher of all
who dwell on earth.

7: O ye spiritual friends of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá! A trusted …

O ye spiritual friends of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá!
A trusted messenger hath arrived and hath, in the world of the
spirit, delivered a message from God’s loved ones. This
auspicious courier bringeth fragrances of great ardour and wafteth
the life-giving breezes of the love of God. He maketh the heart to
dance for joy and filleth up the soul with an ecstasy of love and
rapture. So intensely hath the glory of Divine Unity penetrated souls
and hearts that all are now bound one to another with heavenly ties,
and all are even as a single heart, a single soul. Wherefore
reflections of the spirit and impressions of the Divine are now
mirrored clear and sharp in the deep heart’s core. I beg of God
to strengthen these spiritual bonds as day followeth day, and make
this mystic oneness to shine ever more brightly, until at last all
shall be as troops marshalled together beneath the banner of the
Covenant within the sheltering shade of the Word of God; that they
may strive with all their might until universal fellowship, close and
warm, and unalloyed love, and spiritual relationships, will connect
all the hearts in the world. Then will all humankind, because of this
fresh and dazzling bounty, be gathered in a single homeland. Then
will conflict and dissension vanish from the face of the earth, then
will mankind be cradled in love for the beauty of the All-Glorious.
Discord will change to accord, dissension to unison. The roots of
malevolence will be torn out, the basis of aggression destroyed. The
bright rays of union will obliterate the darkness of limitations, and
the splendours of heaven will make the human heart to be even as a
mine veined richly with the love of God.

O ye loved ones of the Lord! This is the hour when ye
must associate with all the earth’s peoples in extreme
kindliness and love, and be to them the signs and tokens of God’s
great mercy. Ye must become the very soul of the world, the living
spirit in the body of the children of men. In this wondrous Age, at
this time when the Ancient Beauty, the Most Great Name, bearing
unnumbered gifts, hath risen above the horizon of the world, the Word
of God hath infused such awesome power into the inmost essence of
humankind that He hath stripped men’s human qualities of all
effect, and hath, with His all-conquering might, unified the peoples
in a vast sea of oneness.

Now is the time for the lovers of God to raise high the
banners of unity, to intone, in the assemblages of the world, the
verses of friendship and love and to demonstrate to all that the
grace of God is one. Thus will the tabernacles of holiness be
upraised on the summits of the earth, gathering all peoples into the
protective shadow of the Word of Oneness. This great bounty will dawn
over the world at the time when the lovers of God shall arise to
carry out His Teachings, and to scatter far and wide the fresh, sweet
scents of universal love.

In every dispensation, there hath been the commandment
of fellowship and love, but it was a commandment limited to the
community of those in mutual agreement, not to the dissident foe. In
this wondrous age, however, praised be God, the commandments of God
are not delimited, not restricted to any one group of people, rather
have all the friends been commanded to show forth fellowship and
love, consideration and generosity and loving-kindness to every
community on earth. Now must the lovers of God arise to carry out
these instructions of His: let them be kindly fathers to the children
of the human race, and compassionate brothers to the youth, and
self-denying offspring to those bent with years. The meaning of this
is that ye must show forth tenderness and love to every human being,
even to your enemies, and welcome them all with unalloyed friendship,
good cheer, and loving-kindness. When ye meet with cruelty and
persecution at another’s hands, keep faith with him; when
malevolence is directed your way, respond with a friendly heart. To
the spears and arrows rained upon you, expose your breasts for a
target mirror-bright; and in return for curses, taunts and wounding
words, show forth abounding love. Thus will all peoples witness the
power of the Most Great Name, and every nation acknowledge the might
of the Ancient Beauty, and see how He hath toppled down the walls of
discord, and how surely He hath guided all the peoples of the earth
to oneness; how He hath lit man’s world, and made this earth of
dust to send forth streams of light.

These human creatures are even as children, they are
brash and unconcerned. These children must be reared with infinite,
loving care, and tenderly fostered in the embraces of mercy, so that
they may taste the spiritual honey-sweetness of God’s love;
that they may become like unto candles shedding their beams across
this darksome world, and may clearly perceive what blazing crowns of
glory the Most Great Name, the Ancient Beauty, hath set on the brows
of His beloved, what bounties He hath bestowed on the hearts of those
He holdeth dear, what a love He hath cast into the breasts of
humankind, and what treasures of friendship He hath made to appear
amongst all men.

O God, my God! Aid Thou Thy trusted servants to have
loving and tender hearts. Help them to spread, amongst all the
nations of the earth, the light of guidance that cometh from the
Company on high. Verily Thou art the Strong, the Powerful, the
Mighty, the All-Subduing, the Ever-Giving. Verily Thou art the
Generous, the Gentle, the Tender, the Most Bountiful.

8: O ye beloved of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and ye handmaids of
…

O ye beloved of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and ye
handmaids of the Merciful! It is early morning, and the reviving
winds of the Abhá Paradise are blowing over all creation, but
they can stir only the pure of heart, and only the pure sense can
detect their fragrance. Only the perceiving eye beholdeth the rays of
the sun; only the listening ear can hear the singing of the Concourse
on high. Although the plentiful rains of spring, the bestowals of
Heaven, pour down upon all things, they can only fructify good soil;
they love not brackish ground, where no results of all the bounty can
be shown.

Today the soft and holy breathings of the Abhá
Realm are passing over every land, but only the pure in heart draw
nigh and derive a benefit therefrom. It is the hope of this wronged
soul that from the grace of the Self-Subsistent One and by the
manifest power of the Word of God, the heads of the unmindful may be
cleared, that they may perceive these sweet savours which blow from
secret rosebeds of the spirit.

O ye friends of God! True friends are even as skilled
physicians, and the Teachings of God are as healing balm, a medicine
for the conscience of man. They clear the head, so that a man can
breathe them in and delight in their sweet fragrance. They waken
those who sleep. They bring awareness to the unheeding, and a portion
to the outcast, and to the hopeless, hope.

If in this day a soul shall act according to the
precepts and the counsels of God, he will serve as a divine physician
to mankind, and like the trump of Isráfíl,16
he will call the dead of this contingent world to life; for the
confirmations of the Abhá Realm are never interrupted, and
such a virtuous soul hath, to befriend him, the unfailing help of the
Company on high. Thus shall a sorry gnat become an eagle in the
fulness of his strength, and a feeble sparrow change to a royal
falcon in the heights of ancient glory.

Wherefore, look not on the degree of your capacity, ask
not if you are worthy of the task: rest ye your hopes on the help and
loving-kindness, the favours and bestowals of Bahá’u’lláh—may
my soul be offered up for His friends! Urge on the steed of high
endeavour over the field of sacrifice, and carry away from this wide
arena the prize of divine grace.

O ye handmaids of the merciful Lord! How many queens of
this world laid down their heads on a pillow of dust and disappeared.
No fruit was left of them, no trace, no sign, not even their names.
For them, no more granting of bestowals; for them, no more living at
all. Not so the handmaids who ministered at the Threshold of God;
these have shone forth like glittering stars in the skies of ancient
glory, shedding their splendours across all the reaches of time.
These have fulfilled their dearest hopes in the Abhá Paradise;
they have tasted the honey of reunion in the congregation of the
Lord. Such souls as these profited from their existence here on
earth: they plucked the fruit of life. As for the rest, ‘There
surely came upon them a time when they were a thing not spoken of.’

O ye lovers of this wronged one! Cleanse ye your eyes,
so that ye behold no man as different from yourselves. See ye no
strangers; rather see all men as friends, for love and unity come
hard when ye fix your gaze on otherness. And in this new and wondrous
age, the Holy Writings say that we must be at one with every people;
that we must see neither harshness nor injustice, neither
malevolence, nor hostility, nor hate, but rather turn our eyes toward
the heaven of ancient glory. For each of the creatures is a sign of
God, and it was by the grace of the Lord and His power that each did
step into the world; therefore they are not strangers, but in the
family; not aliens, but friends, and to be treated as such.

Wherefore must the loved ones of God associate in
affectionate fellowship with stranger and friend alike, showing forth
to all the utmost loving-kindness, disregarding the degree of their
capacity, never asking whether they deserve to be loved. In every
instance let the friends be considerate and infinitely kind. Let them
never be defeated by the malice of the people, by their aggression
and their hate, no matter how intense. If others hurl their darts
against you, offer them milk and honey in return; if they poison your
lives, sweeten their souls; if they injure you, teach them how to be
comforted; if they inflict a wound upon you, be a balm to their
sores; if they sting you, hold to their lips a refreshing cup.

O God, my God! These are Thy feeble servants; they are
Thy loyal bondsmen and Thy handmaidens, who have bowed themselves
down before Thine exalted Utterance and humbled themselves at Thy
Threshold of light, and borne witness to Thy oneness through which
the Sun hath been made to shine in midday splendour. They have
listened to the summons Thou didst raise from out Thy hidden Realm,
and with hearts quivering with love and rapture, they have responded
to Thy call.

O Lord, shower upon them all the outpourings of Thy
mercy, rain down upon them all the waters of Thy grace. Make them to
grow as beauteous plants in the garden of heaven, and from the full
and brimming clouds of Thy bestowals and out of the deep pools of
Thine abounding grace make Thou this garden to flower and keep it
ever green and lustrous, ever fresh and shimmering and fair.

Thou art verily the Mighty, the Exalted, the Powerful,
He Who alone, in the heavens and on the earth, abideth unchanged.
There is none other God save Thee, the Lord of manifest tokens and
signs.

9: O thou whose heart overfloweth
with love for the …

O thou whose heart overfloweth with love for the Lord! I
address thee from this consecrated spot, to gladden thy bosom with
mine epistle to thee, for this is such a letter as maketh the heart
of him who believeth in God’s oneness to wing its flight toward
the summits of bliss.

Thank thou God for having enabled thee to enter into His
Kingdom of might. Erelong will thy Lord’s bounties descend upon
thee, one following the other, and He will make of thee a sign for
every seeker after truth.

Hold thou fast to the Covenant of thy Lord, and as the
days go by, increase thy store of love for His beloved ones. Bend
thou with tenderness over the servitors of the All-Merciful, that
thou mayest hoist the sail of love upon the ark of peace that moveth
across the seas of life. Let nothing grieve thee, and be thou angered
at none. It behoveth thee to be content with the Will of God, and a
true and loving and trusted friend to all the peoples of the earth,
without any exceptions whatever. This is the quality of the sincere,
the way of the saints, the emblem of those who believe in the unity
of God, and the raiment of the people of Bahá.

Thank thou and bless thou the Lord for He hath allowed
thee to offer Him the Right of God.17
This is verily a special favour on His part, for thee; praise Him
then for this commandment that is set forth in the Scriptures of thy
Lord, of Him that is the Ancient of Days.

Verily is He the Loving, the Tender, the Ever-Bestowing.

10: O thou dear handmaid of God! Thy
letter hath …

O thou dear handmaid of God! Thy letter hath been
received and its contents noted. Thou didst ask for a rule whereby to
guide thy life.

Believe thou in God, and keep thine eyes fixed upon the
exalted Kingdom; be thou enamoured of the Abhá Beauty; stand
thou firm in the Covenant; yearn thou to ascend into the Heaven of
the Universal Light. Be thou severed from this world, and reborn
through the sweet scents of holiness that blow from the realm of the
All-Highest. Be thou a summoner to love, and be thou kind to all the
human race. Love thou the children of men and share in their sorrows.
Be thou of those who foster peace. Offer thy friendship, be worthy of
trust. Be thou a balm to every sore, be thou a medicine for every
ill. Bind thou the souls together. Recite thou the verses of
guidance. Be engaged in the worship of thy Lord, and rise up to lead
the people aright. Loose thy tongue and teach, and let thy face be
bright with the fire of God’s love. Rest thou not for a moment,
seek thou to draw no easeful breath. Thus mayest thou become a sign
and symbol of God’s love, and a banner of His grace.

11: Service to the friends is
service to the Kingdom of …

Service to the friends is service to the Kingdom of God,
and consideration shown to the poor is one of the greatest teachings
of God.

12: Know thou of a certainty that
Love is the secret of …

Know thou of a certainty that Love is the secret of
God’s holy Dispensation, the manifestation of the All-Merciful,
the fountain of spiritual outpourings. Love is heaven’s kindly
light, the Holy Spirit’s eternal breath that vivifieth the
human soul. Love is the cause of God’s revelation unto man, the
vital bond inherent, in accordance with the divine creation, in the
realities of things. Love is the one means that ensureth true
felicity both in this world and the next. Love is the light that
guideth in darkness, the living link that uniteth God with man, that
assureth the progress of every illumined soul. Love is the most great
law that ruleth this mighty and heavenly cycle, the unique power that
bindeth together the divers elements of this material world, the
supreme magnetic force that directeth the movements of the spheres in
the celestial realms. Love revealeth with unfailing and limitless
power the mysteries latent in the universe. Love is the spirit of
life unto the adorned body of mankind, the establisher of true
civilization in this mortal world, and the shedder of imperishable
glory upon every high-aiming race and nation.

Whatsoever people is graciously favoured therewith by
God, its name shall surely be magnified and extolled by the Concourse
from on high, by the company of angels, and the denizens of the Abhá
Kingdom. And whatsoever people turneth its heart away from this
Divine Love—the revelation of the Merciful—shall err
grievously, shall fall into despair, and be utterly destroyed. That
people shall be denied all refuge, shall become even as the vilest
creatures of the earth, victims of degradation and shame.

O ye beloved of the Lord! Strive to become the
manifestations of the love of God, the lamps of divine guidance
shining amongst the kindreds of the earth with the light of love and
concord.

All hail to the revealers of this glorious light!

13: O thou daughter of the Kingdom!
Thy letter dated …

O thou daughter of the Kingdom! Thy letter dated 5
December 1918 was received. It contained the good news that the
friends of God and the maidservants of the Merciful have gathered in
summer at Green Acre, have been engaged day and night in the
commemoration of God, have served the oneness of the world of
humanity, have shown love to all religions, have remained aloof from
every religious prejudice and have been kind to all people. The
divine religions must be the cause of oneness among men, and the
means of unity and love; they must promulgate universal peace, free
man from every prejudice, bestow joy and gladness, exercise kindness
to all men and do away with every difference and distinction. Just as
Bahá’u’lláh addressing the world of
humanity saith: ‘O people! Ye are the fruits of one tree and
the leaves of one branch.’ At most it is this, that some souls
are ignorant, they must be educated; some are sick, they must be
healed; some are still of tender age, they must be helped to attain
maturity, and the utmost kindness must be shown to them. This is the
conduct of the people of Bahá.

I hope that thy brothers and sisters will all become the
well-wishers of the world of mankind.

14: O ye two blessed souls! Your
letters were received. …

O ye two blessed souls! Your letters were received. They
showed that ye have investigated the truth and have been freed from
imitations and superstitions, that ye observe with your own eyes and
not with those of others, hearken with your own ears and not with the
ears of others, and discover mysteries with the help of your own
consciences and not with those of others. For the imitator saith that
such a man hath seen, such a man hath heard, and such a conscience
hath discovered; in other words he dependeth upon the sight, the
hearing and the conscience of others and hath no will of his own.

Now, praise be to God, ye have shown will-power and have
turned to the Sun of Truth. The plain of your hearts hath been
illumined by the lights of the Lord of the Kingdom and ye have been
led to the straight path, have marched along the road that leadeth to
the Kingdom, have entered the Abhá Paradise, and have secured
a portion and share of the fruit of the Tree of Life.

Blessed are ye and a goodly home awaiteth you. Upon you
be greetings and praise.

15: O captive of the love of God!
The letter which …

O captive of the love of God! The letter which thou
didst write at the time of thy departure hath been received. It
brought me joy; and it is my hope that thine inner eye may be opened
wide, so that unto thee the very core of the divine mysteries may be
disclosed.

Thou didst begin thy letter with a blessed phrase,
saying: ‘I am a Christian.’ O would that all were truly
Christian! It is easy to be a Christian on the tongue, but hard to be
a true one. Today some five hundred million souls are Christian, but
the real Christian is very rare: he is that soul from whose comely
face there shineth the splendour of Christ, and who showeth forth the
perfections of the Kingdom; this is a matter of great moment, for to
be a Christian is to embody every excellence there is. I hope that
thou, too, shalt become a true Christian. Praise thou God that at
last, through the divine teachings, thou hast obtained both sight and
insight to the highest degree, and hast become firmly rooted in
certitude and faith. It is my hope that others as well will achieve
illumined eyes and hearing ears, and attain to everlasting life: that
these many rivers, each flowing along in diverse and separated beds,
will find their way back to the circumambient sea, and merge together
and rise up in a single wave of surging oneness; that the unity of
truth, through the power of God, will make these illusory differences
to vanish away. This is the one essential: for if unity be gained,
all other problems will disappear of themselves.

O honoured lady! In accordance with the divine teachings
in this glorious dispensation we should not belittle anyone and call
him ignorant, saying: ‘You know not, but I know’. Rather,
we should look upon others with respect, and when attempting to
explain and demonstrate, we should speak as if we are investigating
the truth, saying: ‘Here these things are before us. Let us
investigate to determine where and in what form the truth can be
found.’ The teacher should not consider himself as learned and
others ignorant. Such a thought breedeth pride, and pride is not
conducive to influence. The teacher should not see in himself any
superiority; he should speak with the utmost kindliness, lowliness
and humility, for such speech exerteth influence and educateth the
souls.

O honoured lady! For a single purpose were the Prophets,
each and all, sent down to earth; for this was Christ made manifest,
for this did Bahá’u’lláh raise up the call
of the Lord: that the world of man should become the world of God,
this nether realm the Kingdom, this darkness light, this satanic
wickedness all the virtues of heaven—and unity, fellowship and
love be won for the whole human race, that the organic unity should
reappear and the bases of discord be destroyed and life everlasting
and grace everlasting become the harvest of mankind.

O honoured lady! Look about thee at the world: here
unity, mutual attraction, gathering together, engender life, but
disunity and inharmony spell death. When thou dost consider all
phenomena, thou wilt see that every created thing hath come into
being through the mingling of many elements, and once this
collectivity of elements is dissolved, and this harmony of components
is dissevered, the life form is wiped out.

O honoured lady! In cycles gone by, though harmony was
established, yet, owing to the absence of means, the unity of all
mankind could not have been achieved. Continents remained widely
divided, nay even among the peoples of one and the same continent
association and interchange of thought were wellnigh impossible.
Consequently intercourse, understanding and unity amongst all the
peoples and kindreds of the earth were unattainable. In this day,
however, means of communication have multiplied, and the five
continents of the earth have virtually merged into one. And for
everyone it is now easy to travel to any land, to associate and
exchange views with its peoples, and to become familiar, through
publications, with the conditions, the religious beliefs and the
thoughts of all men. In like manner all the members of the human
family, whether peoples or governments, cities or villages, have
become increasingly interdependent. For none is self-sufficiency any
longer possible, inasmuch as political ties unite all peoples and
nations, and the bonds of trade and industry, of agriculture and
education, are being strengthened every day. Hence the unity of all
mankind can in this day be achieved. Verily this is none other but
one of the wonders of this wondrous age, this glorious century. Of
this past ages have been deprived, for this century—the century
of light—hath been endowed with unique and unprecedented glory,
power and illumination. Hence the miraculous unfolding of a fresh
marvel every day. Eventually it will be seen how bright its candles
will burn in the assemblage of man.

Behold how its light is now dawning upon the world’s
darkened horizon. The first candle is unity in the political realm,
the early glimmerings of which can now be discerned. The second
candle is unity of thought in world undertakings, the consummation of
which will erelong be witnessed. The third candle is unity in freedom
which will surely come to pass. The fourth candle is unity in
religion which is the corner-stone of the foundation itself, and
which, by the power of God, will be revealed in all its splendour.
The fifth candle is the unity of nations—a unity which in this
century will be securely established, causing all the peoples of the
world to regard themselves as citizens of one common fatherland. The
sixth candle is unity of races, making of all that dwell on earth
peoples and kindreds of one race. The seventh candle is unity of
language, i.e., the choice of a universal tongue in which all peoples
will be instructed and converse. Each and every one of these will
inevitably come to pass, inasmuch as the power of the Kingdom of God
will aid and assist in their realization.

16: O ye illumined loved ones and ye
handmaids of the …

O ye illumined loved ones and ye handmaids of the
Merciful! At a time when the sombre night of ignorance, of neglect of
the divine world, of being veiled from God, had overspread the earth,
a bright morning dawned and a rising light lit up the eastern sky.
Then rose the Sun of Truth and the splendours of the Kingdom were
shed over east and west. Those who had eyes to see rejoiced at the
glad tidings and cried out: ‘O blessed, blessed are we!’,
and they witnessed the inner reality of all things, and uncovered the
mysteries of the Kingdom. Delivered then from their fancies and their
doubts, they beheld the light of truth, and so exhilarated did they
become from draining the chalice of God’s love, that they
utterly forgot the world and their own selves. Dancing for joy they
hastened to the place of their own martyrdom and there, where men die
for love, they flung away their heads and hearts.

But those with unseeing eyes were astonished at this
tumult, and they cried, ‘Where is the light?’ and again,
‘We see no light! We see no rising sun! Here is no truth. This
is but fantasy and nothing more.’ Bat-like they fled into the
underground dark, and there, to their way of thinking, they found a
measure of security and peace.

This, however, is but the beginning of the dawn, and the
heat of the rising Orb of Truth is not yet at the fullness of its
power. Once the sun hath mounted to high noon, its fires will burn so
hot as to stir even the creeping things beneath the earth; and
although it is not for them to behold the light, yet will they all be
set in frenzied motion by the impact of the heat.

Wherefore, O ye beloved of God, offer up thanks that ye
have, in the day of the dawning, turned your faces unto the Light of
the World and beheld its splendours. Ye have received a share of the
light of truth, ye have enjoyed a portion of those blessings that
endure forever; and therefore, as a returning of thanks for this
bounty, rest ye not for a moment, sit ye not silent, carry to men’s
ears the glad tidings of the Kingdom, spread far and wide the Word of
God.

Act in accordance with the counsels of the Lord: that
is, rise up in such wise, and with such qualities, as to endow the
body of this world with a living soul, and to bring this young child,
humanity, to the stage of adulthood. So far as ye are able, ignite a
candle of love in every meeting, and with tenderness rejoice and
cheer ye every heart. Care for the stranger as for one of your own;
show to alien souls the same loving kindness ye bestow upon your
faithful friends. Should any come to blows with you, seek to be
friends with him; should any stab you to the heart, be ye a healing
salve unto his sores; should any taunt and mock at you, meet him with
love. Should any heap his blame upon you, praise ye him; should he
offer you a deadly poison, give him the choicest honey in exchange;
and should he threaten your life, grant him a remedy that will heal
him evermore. Should he be pain itself, be ye his medicine; should he
be thorns, be ye his roses and sweet herbs. Perchance such ways and
words from you will make this darksome world turn bright at last;
will make this dusty earth turn heavenly, this devilish prison place
become a royal palace of the Lord—so that war and strife will
pass and be no more, and love and trust will pitch their tents on the
summits of the world. Such is the essence of God’s admonitions;
such in sum are the teachings for the Dispensation of Bahá.

17: O ye who are the chosen ones of
the Abhá Kingdom! …

O ye who are the chosen ones of the Abhá Kingdom!
Praise ye the Lord of Hosts for He, riding upon the clouds, hath come
down to this world out of the heaven of the invisible realm, so that
East and West were lit by the glory of the Sun of Truth, and the call
of the Kingdom was raised, and the heralds of the realm above, with
melodies of the Concourse on high, sang out the glad tidings of the
Coming. Then the whole world of being did quiver for joy, and still
the people, even as the Messiah saith, slept on: for the day of the
Manifestation, when the Lord of Hosts descended, found them wrapped
in the slumber of unknowing. As He saith in the Gospel, My coming is
even as when the thief is in the house, and the goodman of the house
watcheth not.

From amongst all mankind hath He chosen you, and your
eyes have been opened to the light of guidance and your ears attuned
to the music of the Company above; and blessed by abounding grace,
your hearts and souls have been born into new life. Thank ye and
praise ye God that the hand of infinite bestowals hath set upon your
heads this gem-studded crown, this crown whose lustrous jewels will
forever flash and sparkle down all the reaches of time.

To thank Him for this, make ye a mighty effort, and
choose for yourselves a noble goal. Through the power of faith, obey
ye the teachings of God, and let all your actions conform to His
laws. Read ye The Hidden Words, ponder the inner meanings thereof,
act in accord therewith. Read, with close attention, the Tablets of
Tarazát (Ornaments), Kalímát (Words of
Paradise), Tajallíyyát (Effulgences), Ishráqát
(Splendours), and Bishárát (Glad Tidings), and
rise up as ye are bidden in the heavenly teachings. Thus may each one
of you be even as a candle casting its light, the centre of
attraction wherever people come together; and from you, as from a bed
of flowers, may sweet scents be shed.

Raise ye a clamour like unto a roaring sea; like a
prodigal cloud, rain down the grace of heaven. Lift up your voices
and sing out the songs of the Abhá Realm. Quench ye the fires
of war, lift high the banners of peace, work for the oneness of
humankind and remember that religion is the channel of love unto all
peoples. Be ye aware that the children of men are sheep of God and He
their loving Shepherd, that He careth tenderly for all His sheep and
maketh them to feed in His own green pastures of grace and giveth
them to drink from the wellspring of life. Such is the way of the
Lord. Such are His bestowals. Such, from among His teachings, is His
precept of the oneness of mankind.

The portals of His blessings are opened wide and His
signs are published abroad and the glory of truth is blazing forth;
inexhaustible are the blessings. Know ye the value of this time.
Strive ye with all your hearts, raise up your voices and shout, until
this dark world be filled with light, and this narrow place of
shadows be widened out, and this dust heap of a fleeting moment be
changed into a mirror for the eternal gardens of heaven, and this
globe of earth receive its portion of celestial grace.

Then will aggression crumble away, and all that maketh
for disunity be destroyed, and the structure of oneness be
raised—that the Blessed Tree may cast its shade over east and
west, and the Tabernacle of the singleness of man be set up on the
high summits, and flags that betoken love and fellowship flutter from
their staffs around the world until the sea of truth lift high its
waves, and earth bring forth the roses and sweet herbs of blessings
without end, and become from pole to pole the Abhá Paradise.

These are the counsels of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
It is my hope that out of the bestowals of the Lord of Hosts ye will
become the spiritual essence and the very radiance of humankind,
binding the hearts of all with bonds of love; that through the power
of the Word of God ye will bring to life the dead now buried in the
graves of their sensual desires; that ye will, with the rays of the
Sun of Truth, restore the sight of those whose inner eye is blind;
that ye will bring spiritual healing to the spiritually sick. These
things do I hope for, out of the bounties and the bestowals of the
Beloved.

At all times do I speak of you and call you to mind. I
pray unto the Lord, and with tears I implore Him to rain down all
these blessings upon you, and gladden your hearts, and make blissful
your souls, and grant you exceeding joy and heavenly delights….

O Thou loving Provider! These souls have hearkened to
the summons of the Kingdom, and have gazed upon the glory of the Sun
of Truth. They have risen upward to the refreshing skies of love;
they are enamoured of Thy nature, and they worship Thy beauty. Unto
Thee have they turned themselves, speaking together of Thee, seeking
out Thy dwelling, and thirsting for the waterbrooks of Thy heavenly
realm.

Thou art the Giver, the Bestower, the Ever-loving.

18:
O thou possessor of a seeing heart! Although, …

O thou possessor of a seeing heart! Although, materially
speaking, thou art deprived of physical sight, yet, praise be to God,
spiritual insight is thine. Thy heart seeth and thy spirit heareth.
Bodily sight is subject to a thousand maladies and assuredly will
ultimately be lost. Thus no importance should be attached to it. But
the sight of the heart is illumined. It discerneth and discovereth
the divine Kingdom. It is everlasting and eternal. Praise God,
therefore, that the sight of thy heart is illumined, and the hearing
of thy mind responsive.

Each of the meetings ye have organized, wherein ye feel
heavenly emotions and comprehend realities and significances, is like
unto the firmament, and those souls are as resplendent stars shining
with the light of guidance.

Happy is the soul that seeketh, in this brilliant era,
heavenly teachings, and blessed is the heart which is stirred and
attracted by the love of God.

19: Praise be to Him through Whose
splendours the …

Praise be to Him through Whose splendours the earth and
the heavens are aglow, through Whose fragrant breathings the gardens
of holiness that adorn the hearts of the chosen are trembling for
joy, to Him Who hath shed His light and brightened the face of the
firmament. Verily there appeared luminous and sparkling stars,
glittering, shining out, and casting forth their rays upon the
supreme horizon. They derived their grace and brilliance from the
bounties of the Abhá Realm, then, stars of guidance, they
poured down their lights upon this earth.

Praise be to Him Who hath fashioned this new era, this
age of majesty, even as an unfolding pageant where the realities of
all things can be exposed to view. Now are clouds of bounty raining
down and the gifts of the loving Lord are clearly manifest; for both
the seen and the unseen worlds have been illumined, and the Promised
One hath come to earth and the beauty of the Adored One hath shone
forth.

Salutations, blessings, and welcome to that Universal
Reality, that Perfect Word, that Manifest Book, that Splendour which
hath dawned in the highest heaven, that Guide of all nations, that
Light of the world—the billowing ocean of Whose abounding grace
hath flooded all creation, in such wise that the waves thereof have
cast upon the sands of this visible world their shining pearls. Now
hath the Truth appeared, and falsehood fled away; now hath the day
dawned and jubilation taken over, wherefore men’s souls are
sanctified, their spirits purged, their hearts rejoiced, their minds
purified, their secret thoughts made wholesome, their consciences
washed clean, their inmost selves made holy: for the Day of
Resurrection hath come to pass, and the bestowals of thy Lord, the
Forgiving, have encompassed all things. Salutations and praise be
unto those luminous, resplendent stars that are shedding down their
rays from the highest heaven, those celestial bodies of the girdling
zodiac of the Abhá Realm. May glory rest upon them.

And now, O thou honoured man who hath hearkened unto the
Great Announcement, rise up to serve the Cause of God with the
resistless power of the Abhá Kingdom and the breaths that blow
from the spirit of the Company on high. Grieve thou not over what the
Pharisees, and the purveyors of false rumours among writers for the
press, are saying of Bahá. Call thou to mind the days of
Christ, and the afflictions heaped upon Him by the people, and all
the torments and tribulations inflicted upon His disciples. Since ye
are lovers of the Abhá Beauty, ye also must, for His love’s
sake, incur the peoples’ blame, and all that befell those of a
former age must likewise befall you. Then will the faces of the
chosen be alight with the splendours of the Kingdom of God, and will
shine down the ages, yea, down all the cycles of time, while the
deniers shall remain in their manifest loss. It will be even as was
said by the Lord Christ: they shall persecute you for My name’s
sake.

Remind them of these words and say unto them: ‘Verily
did the Pharisees rise up against Messiah, despite the bright beauty
of His face and all His comeliness, and they cried out that He was
not Messiah [Masíh] but a monster [Masíkh],
because He had claimed to be Almighty God, the sovereign Lord of all,
and told them, ‘I am God’s Son, and verily in the inmost
being of His only Son, His mighty Ward, clearly revealed with all His
attributes, all His perfections, standeth the Father.’ This,
they said, was open blasphemy and slander against the Lord according
to the clear and irrefutable texts of the Old Testament. Therefore
they passed the sentence upon Him, decreeing that His blood be shed,
and they hanged Him on the cross, where He cried out, ‘O My
beloved Lord, how long wilt Thou abandon Me to them? Lift Me up unto
Thee, shelter Me close to Thee, make Me a dwelling by Thy throne of
glory. Verily art Thou the Answerer of prayers, and Thou art the
Clement, the Merciful. O My Lord! Verily this world with all its
vastness can no longer contain Me, and I love this cross, out of love
for Thy beauty, and yearning for Thy realm on high, and because of
this fire, fanned by the gusts of Thy holiness, aflame within My
heart. Help me, O Lord, to ascend unto Thee, sustain Me that I may
reach unto Thy sacred Threshold, O My loving Lord! Verily Thou art
the Merciful, the Possessor of great bounty! Verily Thou art the
Generous! Verily Thou art the Compassionate! Verily Thou art the
All-Knowing! There is none other God save Thee, the Mighty, the
Powerful!’

Never would the Pharisees have been emboldened to
calumniate Him and charge Him with that grievous sin, but for their
ignorance of the inner core of mysteries and the fact that they paid
no heed to His splendours and regarded not His proofs. Else would
they have acknowledged His words, and borne witness to the verses He
revealed, confessed the truth of His utterances, sought shelter under
the protective shadow of His banner, learned of His signs and tokens,
and rejoiced in His blissful tidings.

Know thou that the Divine Essence, which is called the
Invisible of the Invisibles, never to be described, beyond the reach
of mind—is sanctified above any mention, any definition or hint
or allusion, any acclamation or praise. In the sense that It is that
It is, the intellect can never grasp It, and the soul seeking
knowledge of It is but a wanderer in the desert, and far astray. ‘No
vision taketh in Him, but He taketh in all vision: He is the Subtile,
the All-Informed.’18

When, however, thou dost contemplate the innermost
essence of all things, and the individuality of each, thou wilt
behold the signs of thy Lord’s mercy in every created thing,
and see the spreading rays of His Names and Attributes throughout all
the realm of being, with evidences which none will deny save the
froward and the unaware. Then wilt thou observe that the universe is
a scroll that discloseth His hidden secrets, which are preserved in
the well-guarded Tablet. And not an atom of all the atoms in
existence, not a creature from amongst the creatures but speaketh His
praise and telleth of His attributes and names, revealeth the glory
of His might and guideth to His oneness and His mercy: and none will
gainsay this who hath ears to hear, eyes to see, and a mind that is
sound.

And whensoever thou dost gaze upon creation all entire,
and dost observe the very atoms thereof, thou wilt note that the rays
of the Sun of Truth are shed upon all things and shining within them,
and telling of that Day-Star’s splendours, Its mysteries, and
the spreading of Its lights. Look thou upon the trees, upon the
blossoms and fruits, even upon the stones. Here too wilt thou behold
the Sun’s rays shed upon them, clearly visible within them, and
manifested by them.

Shouldst thou, however, turn thy gaze unto a Mirror,
brilliant, stainless, and pure, wherein the divine Beauty is
reflected, therein wilt thou find the Sun shining with Its rays, Its
heat, Its disc, Its fair form all entire. For each separate entity
possesseth its allotted portion of the solar light and telleth of the
Sun, but that Universal Reality in all Its splendour, that stainless
Mirror Whose qualities are appropriate to the qualities of the Sun
revealed within It—expresseth in their entirety the attributes
of the Source of Glory. And that Universal Reality is Man, the divine
Being, the Essence that abideth forever. ‘Say, Call upon God,
or call upon the All-Merciful; whichsoever ye call upon, most
beauteous are His Names.’19

This is the meaning of the Messiah’s words, that
the Father is in the Son.20
Dost thou not see that should a stainless mirror proclaim, ‘Verily
is the sun ashine within me, together with all its qualities, tokens
and signs’, such an utterance by such a mirror would be neither
deceptive nor false? No, by the One Who created It, shaped It,
fashioned It, and made It to be an entity conformable to the
attributes of the glory within It! Praised be He Who created It!
Praised be He Who fashioned It! Praised be He Who made It manifest!

Such were the words uttered by Christ. On account of
these words they cavilled at and assailed Him when He said unto them,
‘Verily the Son is in the Father, and the Father is in the
Son.’21
Be thou informed of this, and learn thou the secrets of thy Lord. As
for the deniers, they are veiled from God: they see not, they hear
not, neither do they understand. ‘Leave them to entertain
themselves with their cavillings.’22
Abandon them to their wanderings along river beds where no stream
flows. Like grazing beasts they cannot tell paste from pearl. Are
they not shut away from the mysteries of thy Lord, the Clement, the
Merciful?

For thy part, rejoice at this best of all glad tidings,
and rise up to exalt the Word of God and to spread abroad His sweet
savours in all that vast and mighty land. Know thou of a certainty
that thy Lord will come to thine aid with a company of the Concourse
on high and hosts of the Abhá Kingdom. These will mount the
attack, and will furiously assail the forces of the ignorant, the
blind. Erelong wilt thou behold the flush of daybreak spreading from
out the Most Exalted Realm, and the morn encompassing all regions. It
will put the dark to flight, and the gloom of night will fade and
pass, and the bright brow of the Faith shine forth, and the Day-Star
rise and overspread the world. On that day will the faithful rejoice,
and the steadfast be blissful; then will the slanderers take
themselves off, and the waverers be blotted out, even as deepest
shadows fall away at the first light of the breaking dawn.

Greetings be unto thee, and praise.

O God, my God! This is Thy radiant servant, Thy
spiritual thrall, who hath drawn nigh unto Thee and approached Thy
presence. He hath turned his face unto Thine, acknowledging Thy
oneness, confessing Thy singleness, and he hath called out in Thy
name among the nations, and led the people to the streaming waters of
Thy mercy, O Thou Most generous Lord! To those who asked He hath
given to drink from the cup of guidance that brimmeth over with the
wine of Thy measureless grace.

O Lord, assist him under all conditions, cause him to
learn Thy well-guarded mysteries, and shower down upon him Thy hidden
pearls. Make of him a banner rippling from castle summits in the
winds of Thy heavenly aid, make of him a wellspring of crystal
waters.

O my forgiving Lord! Light up the hearts with the rays
of a lamp that sheddeth abroad its beams, disclosing to those among
Thy people whom Thou hast bounteously favoured, the realities of all
things.

Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful, the
Protector, the Strong, the Beneficent! Verily, Thou art the Lord of
all mercies!

20:
When Christ appeared, twenty centuries ago, although …

23When Christ appeared, twenty centuries ago, although the
Jews were eagerly awaiting His Coming, and prayed every day, with
tears, saying: ‘O God, hasten the Revelation of the Messiah,’
yet when the Sun of Truth dawned, they denied Him and rose against
Him with the greatest enmity, and eventually crucified that divine
Spirit, the Word of God, and named Him Beelzebub, the evil one, as is
recorded in the Gospel. The reason for this was that they said: ‘The
Revelation of Christ, according to the clear text of the Torah, will
be attested by certain signs, and so long as these signs have not
appeared, whoso layeth claim to be a Messiah is an impostor. Among
these signs is this, that the Messiah should come from an unknown
place, yet we all know this man’s house in Nazareth, and can
any good thing come out of Nazareth? The second sign is that He shall
rule with a rod of iron, that is, He must act with the sword, but
this Messiah has not even a wooden staff. Another of the conditions
and signs is this: He must sit upon the throne of David and establish
David’s sovereignty. Now, far from being enthroned, this man
has not even a mat to sit on. Another of the conditions is this: the
promulgation of all the laws of the Torah; yet this man has abrogated
these laws, and has even broken the sabbath day, although it is the
clear text of the Torah that whosoever layeth claim to prophethood
and revealeth miracles and breaketh the sabbath day, must be put to
death. Another of the signs is this, that in His reign justice will
be so advanced that righteousness and well-doing will extend from the
human even to the animal world—the snake and the mouse will
share one hole, and the eagle and the partridge one nest, the lion
and the gazelle shall dwell in one pasture, and the wolf and the kid
shall drink from one fountain. Yet now, injustice and tyranny have
waxed so great in His time that they have crucified Him! Another of
the conditions is this, that in the days of the Messiah the Jews will
prosper and triumph over all the peoples of the world, but now they
are living in the utmost abasement and servitude in the empire of the
Romans. Then how can this be the Messiah promised in the Torah?’

In this wise did they object to that Sun of Truth,
although that Spirit of God was indeed the One promised in the Torah.
But as they did not understand the meaning of these signs, they
crucified the Word of God. Now the Bahá’ís hold
that the recorded signs did come to pass in the Manifestation of
Christ, although not in the sense which the Jews understood, the
description in the Torah being allegorical. For instance, among the
signs is that of sovereignty. For Bahá’ís say
that the sovereignty of Christ was a heavenly, divine, everlasting
sovereignty, not a Napoleonic sovereignty that vanisheth in a short
time. For well nigh two thousand years this sovereignty of Christ
hath been established, and until now it endureth, and to all eternity
that Holy Being will be exalted upon an everlasting throne.

In like manner all the other signs have been made
manifest, but the Jews did not understand. Although nearly twenty
centuries have elapsed since Christ appeared with divine splendour,
yet the Jews are still awaiting the coming of the Messiah and regard
themselves as true and Christ as false.

21: O thou distinguished personage,
thou seeker after …

O thou distinguished personage, thou seeker after truth!
Thy letter of 4 April 1921, hath been read with love.

The existence of the Divine Being hath been clearly
established, on the basis of logical proofs, but the reality of the
Godhead is beyond the grasp of the mind. When thou dost carefully
consider this matter, thou wilt see that a lower plane can never
comprehend a higher. The mineral kingdom, for example, which is
lower, is precluded from comprehending the vegetable kingdom; for the
mineral, any such understanding would be utterly impossible. In the
same way, no matter how far the vegetable kingdom may develop, it
will achieve no conception of the animal kingdom, and any such
comprehension at its level would be unthinkable, for the animal
occupieth a plane higher than that of the vegetable: this tree cannot
conceive of hearing and sight. And the animal kingdom, no matter how
far it may evolve, can never become aware of the reality of the
intellect, which discovereth the inner essence of all things, and
comprehendeth those realities which cannot be seen; for the human
plane as compared with that of the animal is very high. And although
these beings all co-exist in the contingent world, in each case the
difference in their stations precludeth their grasp of the whole; for
no lower degree can understand a higher, such comprehension being
impossible.

The higher plane, however, understandeth the lower. The
animal, for instance, comprehendeth the mineral and vegetable, the
human understandeth the planes of the animal, vegetable and mineral.
But the mineral cannot possibly understand the realms of man. And
notwithstanding the fact that all these entities co-exist in the
phenomenal world, even so, no lower degree can ever comprehend a
higher.

Then how could it be possible for a contingent reality,
that is, man, to understand the nature of that pre-existent Essence,
the Divine Being? The difference in station between man and the
Divine Reality is thousands upon thousands of times greater than the
difference between vegetable and animal. And that which a human being
would conjure up in his mind is but the fanciful image of his human
condition, it doth not encompass God’s reality but rather is
encompassed by it. That is, man graspeth his own illusory
conceptions, but the Reality of Divinity can never be grasped: It,
Itself, encompasseth all created things, and all created things are
in Its grasp. That Divinity which man doth imagine for himself
existeth only in his mind, not in truth. Man, however, existeth both
in his mind and in truth; thus man is greater than that fanciful
reality which he is able to imagine.

The furthermost limits of this bird of clay are these:
he can flutter along for some short distance, into the endless vast;
but he can never soar upward to the Sun in the high heavens. We must,
nevertheless, set forth reasoned or inspired proofs as to the
existence of the Divine Being, that is, proofs commensurate with the
understanding of man.

It is obvious that all created things are connected one
to another by a linkage complete and perfect, even, for example, as
are the members of the human body. Note how all the members and
component parts of the human body are connected one to another. In
the same way, all the members of this endless universe are linked one
to another. The foot and the step, for example, are connected to the
ear and the eye; the eye must look ahead before the step is taken.
The ear must hear before the eye will carefully observe. And whatever
member of the human body is deficient, produceth a deficiency in the
other members. The brain is connected with the heart and stomach, the
lungs are connected with all the members. So is it with the other
members of the body.

And each one of these members hath its own special
function. The mind force—whether we call it pre-existent or
contingent—doth direct and co-ordinate all the members of the
human body, seeing to it that each part or member duly performeth its
own special function. If, however, there be some interruption in the
power of the mind, all the members will fail to carry out their
essential functions, deficiencies will appear in the body and the
functioning of its members, and the power will prove ineffective.

Likewise, look into this endless universe: a universal
power inevitably existeth, which encompasseth all, directing and
regulating all the parts of this infinite creation; and were it not
for this Director, this Co-ordinator, the universe would be flawed
and deficient. It would be even as a madman; whereas ye can see that
this endless creation carrieth out its functions in perfect order,
every separate part of it performing its own task with complete
reliability, nor is there any flaw to be found in all its workings.
Thus it is clear that a Universal Power existeth, directing and
regulating this infinite universe. Every rational mind can grasp this
fact.

Furthermore, although all created things grow and
develop, yet are they subjected to influences from without. For
instance, the sun giveth heat, the rain nourisheth, the wind bringeth
life, so that man can develop and grow. Thus it is clear that the
human body is under influences from the outside, and that without
those influences man could not grow. And likewise, those outside
influences are subjected to other influences in their turn. For
example, the growth and development of a human being is dependent
upon the existence of water, and water is dependent upon the
existence of rain, and rain is dependent upon the existence of
clouds, and clouds are dependent upon the existence of the sun, which
causeth land and sea to produce vapour, the condensation of vapour
forming the clouds. Thus each one of these entities exerteth its
influence and is likewise influenced in its turn. Inescapably then,
the process leadeth to One Who influenceth all, and yet is influenced
by none, thus severing the chain. The inner reality of that Being,
however, is not known, although His effects are clear and evident.

And further, all created beings are limited, and this
very limitation of all beings proveth the reality of the Limitless;
for the existence of a limited being denoteth the existence of a
Limitless One.

To sum it up, there are many such proofs, establishing
the existence of that Universal Reality. And since that Reality is
pre-existent, It is untouched by the conditions that govern
phenomena; for whatever entity is subject to circumstances and the
play of events is contingent, not pre-existent. Know then: that
divinity which other communions and peoples have conjured up, falleth
within the scope of their imagination, and not beyond it, whereas the
reality of the Godhead is beyond all conceiving.

As to the Holy Manifestations of God, They are the focal
points where the signs, tokens and perfections of that sacred,
pre-existent Reality appear in all their splendour. They are an
eternal grace, a heavenly glory, and on Them dependeth the
everlasting life of humankind. To illustrate: the Sun of Truth
dwelleth in a sky to which no soul hath any access, and which no mind
can reach, and He is far beyond the comprehension of all creatures.
Yet the Holy Manifestations of God are even as a looking-glass,
burnished and without stain, which gathereth streams of light out of
that Sun, and then scattereth the glory over the rest of creation. In
that polished surface, the Sun with all Its majesty standeth clearly
revealed. Thus, should the mirrored Sun proclaim, ‘I am the
Sun!’ this is but truth; and should It cry, ‘I am not the
Sun!’ this is the truth as well. And although the Day-Star,
with all Its glory, Its beauty, Its perfections, be clearly visible
in that mirror without stain, still It hath not come down from Its
own lofty station in the realms above, It hath not made Its way into
the mirror; rather doth It continue to abide, as It will forever, in
the supernal heights of Its own holiness.

And further, all the earth’s creatures require the
bounty of the sun, for their very existence is dependent upon solar
light and heat. Should they be deprived of the sun, they would be
wiped out. This is the being with God, as referred to in the Holy
Books: man must be with his Lord.

It is clear, then, that the essential reality of God is
revealed in His perfections; and the sun, with its perfections,
reflected in a mirror, is a visible thing, an entity clearly
expressing the bounty of God.

My hope is that thou wilt acquire a perceptive eye, a
hearing ear, and that the veils will be removed from thy sight.

22: O thou who art turning thy face
towards God! …

O thou who art turning thy face towards God! Close thine
eyes to all things else, and open them to the realm of the
All-Glorious. Ask whatsoever thou wishest of Him alone; seek
whatsoever thou seekest from Him alone. With a look He granteth a
hundred thousand hopes, with a glance He healeth a hundred thousand
incurable ills, with a nod He layeth balm on every wound, with a
glimpse He freeth the hearts from the shackles of grief. He doeth as
He doeth, and what recourse have we? He carrieth out His Will, He
ordaineth what He pleaseth. Then better for thee to bow down thy head
in submission, and put thy trust in the All-Merciful Lord.

23: O thou who dost search after
truth! Thy letter of …

O thou who dost search after truth! Thy letter of 13
December 1920 hath come.

From the days of Adam until today, the religions of God
have been made manifest, one following the other, and each one of
them fulfilled its due function, revived mankind, and provided
education and enlightenment. They freed the people from the darkness
of the world of nature and ushered them into the brightness of the
Kingdom. As each succeeding Faith and Law became revealed it remained
for some centuries a richly fruitful tree and to it was committed the
happiness of humankind. However, as the centuries rolled by, it aged,
it flourished no more and put forth no fruit, wherefore was it then
made young again.

The religion of God is one religion, but it must ever be
renewed. Moses, for example, was sent forth to man and He established
a Law, and the Children of Israel, through that Mosaic Law, were
delivered out of their ignorance and came into the light; they were
lifted up from their abjectness and attained to a glory that fadeth
not. Still, as the long years wore on, that radiance passed by, that
splendour set, that bright day turned to night; and once that night
grew triply dark, the star of the Messiah dawned, so that again a
glory lit the world.

Our meaning is this: the religion of God is one, and it
is the educator of humankind, but still, it needs must be made new.
When thou dost plant a tree, its height increaseth day by day. It
putteth forth blossoms and leaves and luscious fruits. But after a
long time, it doth grow old, yielding no fruitage any more. Then doth
the Husbandman of Truth take up the seed from that same tree, and
plant it in a pure soil; and lo, there standeth the first tree, even
as it was before.

Note thou carefully that in this world of being, all
things must ever be made new. Look at the material world about thee,
see how it hath now been renewed. The thoughts have changed, the ways
of life have been revised, the sciences and arts show a new vigour,
discoveries and inventions are new, perceptions are new. How then
could such a vital power as religion—the guarantor of mankind’s
great advances, the very means of attaining everlasting life, the
fosterer of infinite excellence, the light of both worlds—not
be made new? This would be incompatible with the grace and
loving-kindness of the Lord.

Religion, moreover, is not a series of beliefs, a set of
customs; religion is the teachings of the Lord God, teachings which
constitute the very life of humankind, which urge high thoughts upon
the mind, refine the character, and lay the groundwork for man’s
everlasting honour.

Note thou: could these fevers in the world of the mind,
these fires of war and hate, of resentment and malice among the
nations, this aggression of peoples against peoples, which have
destroyed the tranquillity of the whole world ever be made to abate,
except through the living waters of the teachings of God? No, never!

And this is clear: a power above and beyond the powers
of nature must needs be brought to bear, to change this black
darkness into light, and these hatreds and resentments, grudges and
spites, these endless wrangles and wars, into fellowship and love
amongst all the peoples of the earth. This power is none other than
the breathings of the Holy Spirit and the mighty inflow of the Word
of God.

24: O spiritual youth! Praise thou
God that thou hast …

O spiritual youth! Praise thou God that thou hast found
thy way into the Kingdom of Splendours, and hast rent asunder the
veil of vain imaginings, and that the core of the inner mystery hath
been made known unto thee.

This people, all of them, have pictured a god in the
realm of the mind, and worship that image which they have made for
themselves. And yet that image is comprehended, the human mind being
the comprehender thereof, and certainly the comprehender is greater
than that which lieth within its grasp; for imagination is but the
branch, while mind is the root; and certainly the root is greater
than the branch. Consider then, how all the peoples of the world are
bowing the knee to a fancy of their own contriving, how they have
created a creator within their own minds, and they call it the
Fashioner of all that is—whereas in truth it is but an
illusion. Thus are the people worshipping only an error of
perception.

But that Essence of Essences, that Invisible of
Invisibles, is sanctified above all human speculation, and never to
be overtaken by the mind of man. Never shall that immemorial Reality
lodge within the compass of a contingent being. His is another realm,
and of that realm no understanding can be won. No access can be
gained thereto; all entry is forbidden there. The utmost one can say
is that Its existence can be proved, but the conditions of Its
existence are unknown.

That such an Essence doth exist, the philosophers and
learned doctors one and all have understood; but whenever they tried
to learn something of Its being, they were left bewildered and
dismayed, and at the end, despairing, their hopes in ruins, they went
their way, out of this life. For to comprehend the state and the
inner mystery of that Essence of Essences, that Most Secret of
Secrets, one needs must have another power and other faculties; and
such a power, such faculties would be more than humankind can bear,
wherefore no word of Him can come to them.

If, for example, one be endowed with the senses of
hearing, of taste, of smell, of touch—but be deprived of the
sense of sight, it will not be possible for one to gaze about; for
sight cannot be realized through hearing or tasting, or the sense of
smell or touch. In the same way, with the faculties at man’s
disposal it is beyond the realm of possibility for him to grasp that
unseeable Reality, holy and sanctified above all the sceptics’
doubts. For this, other faculties are required, other senses; should
such powers become available to him, then could a human being receive
some knowledge of that world; otherwise, never.

25: O thou handmaid of God! It is
recorded in eastern …

O thou handmaid of God! It is recorded in eastern
histories that Socrates journeyed to Palestine and Syria and there,
from men learned in the things of God, acquired certain spiritual
truths; that when he returned to Greece, he promulgated two beliefs:
one, the unity of God, and the other, the immortality of the soul
after its separation from the body; that these concepts, so foreign
to their thought, raised a great commotion among the Greeks, until in
the end they gave him poison and killed him.

And this is authentic; for the Greeks believed in many
gods, and Socrates established the fact that God is one, which
obviously was in conflict with Greek beliefs.

The Founder of monotheism was Abraham; it is to Him that
this concept can be traced, and the belief was current among the
Children of Israel, even in the days of Socrates.

The above, however, cannot be found in the Jewish
histories; there are many facts which are not included in Jewish
history. Not all the events of the life of Christ are set forth in
the history of Josephus, a Jew, although it was he who wrote the
history of the times of Christ. One may not, therefore, refuse to
believe in events of Christ’s day on the grounds that they are
not to be found in the history of Josephus.

Eastern histories also state that Hippocrates sojourned
for a long time in the town of Tyre, and this is a city in Syria.

26: O thou who seekest the Kingdom
of Heaven! Thy …

O thou who seekest the Kingdom of Heaven! Thy letter
hath been received and its contents noted.

The Holy Manifestations of God possess two stations: one
is the physical station, and one the spiritual. In other words, one
station is that of a human being, and one, of the Divine Reality. If
the Manifestations are subjected to tests, it is in Their human
station only, not in the splendour of Their Divine Reality.

And further, these tests are such only from the
viewpoint of mankind. That is, to outward seeming, the human
condition of the Holy Manifestations is subjected to tests, and when
Their strength and endurance have by this means been revealed in the
plenitude of power, other men receive instruction therefrom, and are
made aware of how great must be their own steadfastness and endurance
under tests and trials. For the Divine Educator must teach by word
and also by deed, thus revealing to all the straight pathway of
truth.

As to my station, it is that of the servant of Bahá;
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the visible expression of servitude
to the Threshold of the Abhá Beauty.

27: In cycles gone by, each one of
the Manifestations of …

In cycles gone by, each one of the Manifestations of God
hath had His own rank in the world of existence, and each hath
represented a stage in the development of humanity. But the
Manifestation of the Most Great Name—may my life be a sacrifice
for His loved ones—was an expression of the coming of age, the
maturing of man’s inmost reality in this world of being. For
the sun is the source and well-spring of light and heat, the focal
point of splendours, and it compriseth all the perfections that are
made manifest by the other stars which have dawned upon the world.
Make thou an effort that thou mayest take thy place under the sun and
receive an abundant share of its dazzling light. In truth do I tell
thee, once thou hast attained this station, thou shalt behold the
saints bowing down their heads in all humility before Him. Haste thou
to life before death cometh; haste thou to the spring season before
autumn draweth in; and before illness striketh, haste thou to
healing—that thou mayest become a physician of the spirit who,
with the breaths of the Holy Spirit, healeth all manner of sickness
in this famed and glorious age.

28: O leaf upon the Tree of Life!
The Tree of Life, of …

O leaf upon the Tree of Life! The Tree of Life, of which
mention is made in the Bible, is Bahá’u’lláh,
and the daughters of the Kingdom are the leaves upon that blessed
Tree. Then thank thou God that thou hast become related to that Tree,
and that thou art flourishing, tender and fresh.

The gates of the Kingdom are opened wide, and every
favoured soul is seated at the banquet table of the Lord, receiving
his portion of that heavenly feast. Praised be God, thou too art
present at this table, taking thy share of the bountiful food of
heaven. Thou art serving the Kingdom, and art well acquainted with
the sweet savours of the Abhá Paradise.

Then strive thou with all thy might to guide the people,
and eat thou of the bread that hath come down from heaven. For this
is the meaning of Christ’s words: ‘I am the living bread
which came down from heaven … he that eateth of this bread shall
live forever.’24

29: O thou who art captivated by the
truth and …

O thou who art captivated by the truth and magnetized by
the Heavenly Kingdom! Thy long letter hath come and it brought great
joy, as it clearly betokened thy strenuous efforts and high purposes.
Praised be God, thou wishest well to men, and yearnest after the
Kingdom of Bahá, and art longing to see the human race press
forward. It is my hope that because of these high ideals, these noble
intimations of the heart, and these tidings of heaven, thou shalt
become so luminous that down all the ages the light of thy love for
God will shed its glory.

Thou hast described thyself as a student in the school
of spiritual progress. Fortunate art thou! If these schools of
progress lead to the university of heaven, then branches of knowledge
will be developed whereby humanity will look upon the tablet of
existence as a scroll endlessly unfolding; and all created things
will be seen upon that scroll as letters and words. Then will the
different planes of meaning be learned, and then within every atom of
the universe will be witnessed the signs of the oneness of God. Then
will man hear the cry of the Lord of the Kingdom, and behold the
confirmations of the Holy Spirit coming to succour him. Then will he
feel such bliss, such ecstasy, that the wide world with its vastness
will no longer contain him, and he will set out for the Kingdom of
God, and hurry along to the realm of the spirit. For once a bird hath
grown its wings, it remaineth on the ground no more, but soareth
upward into high heaven—except for those birds that are tied by
the leg, or those whose wings are broken, or mired down.

O thou seeker after truth! The world of the Kingdom is
one world. The only difference is that spring returneth over and over
again, and setteth up a great new commotion throughout all created
things. Then plain and hillside come alive, and trees turn delicately
green, and leaves, blossoms and fruits come forth in beauty, infinite
and tender. Wherefore the dispensations of past ages are intimately
connected with those that follow them: indeed, they are one and the
same, but as the world groweth, so doth the light, so doth the
downpour of heavenly grace, and then the Day-Star shineth out in
noonday splendour.

O thou seeker after the Kingdom! Every divine
Manifestation is the very life of the world, and the skilled
physician of each ailing soul. The world of man is sick, and that
competent Physician knoweth the cure, arising as He doth with
teachings, counsels and admonishments that are the remedy for every
pain, the healing balm to every wound. It is certain that the wise
physician can diagnose his patient’s needs at any season, and
apply the cure. Wherefore, relate thou the Teachings of the Abhá
Beauty to the urgent needs of this present day, and thou wilt see
that they provide an instant remedy for the ailing body of the world.
Indeed, they are the elixir that bringeth eternal health.

The treatment ordered by wise physicians of the past,
and by those that follow after, is not one and the same, rather doth
it depend on what aileth the patient; and although the remedy may
change, the aim is always to bring the patient back to health. In the
dispensations gone before, the feeble body of the world could not
withstand a rigorous or powerful cure. For this reason did Christ
say: ‘I have yet many things to say unto you, matters needing
to be told, but ye cannot bear to hear them now. Howbeit when that
Comforting Spirit, Whom the Father will send, shall come, He will
make plain unto you the truth.’25

Therefore, in this age of splendours, teachings once
limited to the few are made available to all, that the mercy of the
Lord may embrace both east and west, that the oneness of the world of
humanity may appear in its full beauty, and that the dazzling rays of
reality may flood the realm of the mind with light.

The descent of the New Jerusalem denoteth a heavenly
Law, that Law which is the guarantor of human happiness and the
effulgence of the world of God.

Emmanuel26
was indeed the Herald of the Second Coming of Christ, and a Summoner
to the pathway of the Kingdom. It is evident that the Letter is a
member of the Word, and this membership in the Word signifieth that
the Letter is dependent for its value on the Word, that is, it
deriveth its grace from the Word; it has a spiritual kinship with the
Word, and is accounted an integral part of the Word. The Apostles
were even as Letters, and Christ was the essence of the Word Itself;
and the meaning of the Word, which is grace everlasting, cast a
splendour on those Letters. Again, since the Letter is a member of
the Word, it therefore, in its inner meaning, is consonant with the
Word.

It is our hope that thou wilt in this day arise to
promote that which Emmanuel foretold. Know thou for a certainty that
thou wilt succeed in this, for the confirmations of the Holy Spirit
are continually descending, and the power of the Word will exert such
an influence that the Letter shall become the mirror in which the
splendid Sun—the Word Itself—will be reflected, and the
grace and glory of the Word will illumine the whole earth.

As for the heavenly Jerusalem that hath come to rest on
the summits of the world, and God’s Holy of Holies, Whose
banner is now lifted high, this comprehendeth within itself all the
perfections, all the knowledge of the dispensations gone before.
Beyond this, it heraldeth the oneness of the children of men. It is
the flag of universal peace, the spirit of eternal life; it is the
glory of the perfections of God, the circumambient grace of all
existence, the ornament bedecking all created things, the source of
inner quietude for all humankind.

Direct thine attention to the holy Tablets; read thou
the Ishráqát, Tajallíyyát, the
Words of Paradise, the Glad Tidings, the Tarazát, the Most
Holy Book. Then wilt thou see that today these heavenly Teachings are
the remedy for a sick and suffering world, and a healing balm for the
sores on the body of mankind. They are the spirit of life, the ark of
salvation, the magnet to draw down eternal glory, the dynamic power
to motivate the inner self of man.

30: Existence is of two kinds: one
is the existence of …

Existence is of two kinds: one is the existence of God
which is beyond the comprehension of man. He, the invisible, the
lofty and the incomprehensible, is preceded by no cause but rather is
the Originator of the cause of causes. He, the Ancient, hath had no
beginning and is the all-independent. The second kind of existence is
the human existence. It is a common existence, comprehensible to the
human mind, is not ancient, is dependent and hath a cause to it. The
mortal substance does not become eternal and vice versa; the human
kind does not become a Creator and vice versa. The transformation of
the innate substance is impossible.

In the world of existence—that which is
comprehensible—there are stages of mortality: the first stage
is the mineral world, next is the vegetable world. In the latter
world the mineral doth exist but with a distinctive feature which is
the vegetable characteristic. Likewise in the animal world, the
mineral and vegetable characteristics are present and in addition the
characteristics of the animal world are to be found, which are the
faculties of hearing and of sight. In the human world the
characteristics of the mineral, vegetable and animal worlds are found
and in addition that of the human kind, namely the intellectual
characteristic, which discovereth the realities of things and
comprehendeth universal principles.

Man, therefore, on the plane of the contingent world is
the most perfect being. By man is meant the perfect individual, who
is like unto a mirror in which the divine perfections are manifested
and reflected. But the sun doth not descend from the height of its
sanctity to enter into the mirror, but when the latter is purified
and turned towards the Sun of Truth, the perfections of this Sun,
consisting of light and heat, are reflected and manifested in that
mirror. These souls are the Divine Manifestations of God.

31: O thou who art dear, and wise!
Thy letter dated …

O thou who art dear, and wise! Thy letter dated 27 May
1906 hath been received and its contents are most pleasing and have
brought great joy.

Thou didst ask whether this Cause, this new and living
Cause, could take the place of the dead religious rites and
ceremonials of England; whether it would be possible, now that
various groups have appeared, whose members are highly placed divines
and theologians, far superior in their attainments to those of the
past, for this new Cause so to impress the members of such groups as
to gather them and the rest into its all-protecting shade.

O thou dear friend! Know thou that the distinguished
Individual of every age is endowed according to the perfections of
His age. That Individual who in past ages was set above His fellows
was gifted according to the virtues of His time. But in this age of
splendours, this era of God, the pre-eminent Personage, the luminous
Orb, the chosen Individual will shine out with such perfections and
such power as ultimately to dazzle the minds of every community and
group. And since such a Personage is superior to all others in
spiritual perfections and heavenly attainments, and is indeed the
focal centre of divine blessings and the pivot of the circle of
light, He will encompass all others, and there is no doubt whatsoever
that He will shine out with such power as to gather every soul into
His sheltering shade.

When ye consider this matter with care, it will become
apparent that this is according to a universal law, which one can
find at work in all things: the whole attracteth the part, and in the
circle, the centre is the pivot of the compasses. Ponder thou upon
the Spirit27
: because He was the focal centre of spiritual power, the wellspring
of divine bounties, although at the beginning He gathered unto
Himself only a very few souls, later on He was able, because of that
all-subduing power that He had, to unite within the sheltering
Tabernacle of Christendom all the differing sects. Compare the
present with the past, and see how great is the difference; thus
canst thou arrive at truth and certitude.

The differences among the religions of the world are due
to the varying types of minds. So long as the powers of the mind are
various, it is certain that men’s judgements and opinions will
differ one from another. If, however, one single, universal
perceptive power be introduced—a power encompassing all the
rest—those differing opinions will merge, and a spiritual
harmony and oneness will become apparent. For example, when the
Christ was made manifest, the minds of the various contemporary
peoples, their views, their emotional attitudes, whether they were
Romans, Greeks, Syrians, Israelites, or others, were at variance with
one another. But once His universal power was brought to bear, it
gradually succeeded, after the lapse of three hundred years, in
gathering together all those divergent minds under the protection,
and within the governance, of one central Point, all sharing the same
spiritual emotions in their hearts.

To use a metaphor, when an army is placed under various
commanders, each with his own strategy, they will obviously differ as
to battle lines and movements of the troops; but once the Supreme
Commander, who is thoroughly versed in the arts of war, taketh over,
those other plans will disappear, for the supremely gifted general
will bring the whole army under his control. This is intended only as
a metaphor, not an exact comparison. Now if you should say that each
and every one of those other generals is highly skilled in the
military art, is thoroughly proficient and experienced, and therefore
will not subject himself to the rule of one individual, no matter how
indescribably great, your statement is untenable, for the above
situation is demonstrably what cometh to pass, and there is no doubt
thereof whatever.

Such is the case with the holy Manifestations of God.
Such in particular is the case with the divine reality of the Most
Great Name, the Abhá Beauty. When once He standeth revealed
unto the assembled peoples of the world and appeareth with such
comeliness, such enchantments—alluring as a Joseph in the Egypt
of the spirit—He enslaveth all the lovers on earth.

As to those souls who are born into this life as
ethereal and radiant entities and yet, on account of their handicaps
and trials, are deprived of great and real advantages, and leave the
world without having lived to the full—certainly this is a
cause for grieving. This is the reason why the universal
Manifestations of God unveil Their countenances to man, and endure
every calamity and sore affliction, and lay down Their lives as a
ransom; it is to make these very people, the ready ones, the ones who
have capacity, to become dawning points of light, and to bestow upon
them the life that fadeth never. This is the true sacrifice: the
offering of oneself, even as did Christ, as a ransom for the life of
the world.

As to the influence of holy Beings and the continuance
of Their grace to mankind after They have put away Their human form,
this is, to Bahá’ís, an indisputable fact.
Indeed, the flooding grace, the streaming splendours of the holy
Manifestations appear after Their ascension from this world. The
exaltation of the Word, the revelation of the power of God, the
conversion of God-fearing souls, the bestowal of everlasting life—it
was following the Messiah’s martyrdom that all these were
increased and intensified. In the same way, ever since the ascension
of the Blessed Beauty, the bestowals have been more abundant, the
spreading light is brighter, the tokens of the Lord’s might are
more powerful, the influence of the Word is much stronger, and it
will not be long before the motion, the heat, the brilliance, the
blessings of the Sun of His reality will encompass all the earth.

Grieve thou not over the slow advance of the Bahá’í
Cause in that land. This is but the early dawn. Consider how, with
the Cause of Christ, three hundred years had to go by, before its
great influence was made manifest. Today, not sixty years from its
birth, the light of this Faith hath been shed around the planet.

Regarding the health society of which thou art a member,
once it cometh under the shelter of this Faith its influence shall
increase a hundredfold.

Thou dost observe that love among the Bahá’ís
is very great, and that love is the main thing. Just as love’s
power hath been developed to such a high degree among the Bahá’ís,
and is far greater than among the people of other religions, so is it
with all else as well; for love is the ground of all things.

Regarding the translation of the Books and Tablets of
the Blessed Beauty, erelong will translations be made into every
tongue, with power, clarity and grace. At such time as they are
translated, conformably to the originals, and with power and grace of
style, the splendours of their inner meanings will be shed abroad,
and will illumine the eyes of all mankind. Do thy very best to ensure
that the translation is in conformity with the original.

The Blessed Beauty proceeded to Haifa on many occasions.
Thou beheldest Him there, but thou didst not know Him at that time.
It is my hope that thou wilt attain unto the true meeting with Him,
which is to behold Him with the inner, not the outer eye.

The essence of Bahá’u’lláh’s
Teaching is all-embracing love, for love includeth every excellence
of humankind. It causeth every soul to go forward. It bestoweth on
each one, for a heritage, immortal life. Erelong shalt thou bear
witness that His celestial Teachings, the very glory of reality
itself, shall light up the skies of the world.

The brief prayer which thou didst write at the close of
thy letter was indeed original, touching and beautiful. Recite thou
this prayer at all times.

32: O ye handmaids of the Lord! In
this century—the …

O ye handmaids of the Lord! In this century—the
century of the Almighty Lord—the Day-Star of the Realms above,
the Light of Truth, shineth in its meridian splendour and its rays
illuminate all regions. For this is the age of the Ancient Beauty,
the day of the revelation of the might and power of the Most Great
Name—may my life be offered up as a sacrifice for His loved
ones.

In the ages to come, though the Cause of God may rise
and grow a hundredfold and the shade of the Sadratu’l-Muntahá
shelter all mankind, yet this present century shall stand unrivalled,
for it hath witnessed the breaking of that Morn and the rising of
that Sun. This century is, verily, the source of His Light and the
dayspring of His Revelation. Future ages and generations shall behold
the diffusion of its radiance and the manifestations of its signs.

Wherefore, exert yourselves, haply ye may obtain your
full share and portion of His bestowals.

33: O servant of God! We have noted
what thou didst …

O servant of God! We have noted what thou didst write to
Jináb-i-Ibn-‘Abhar, and thy question regarding the
verse: ‘Whoso layeth claim to a Revelation direct from God, ere
the expiration of a full thousand years, such a man is assuredly a
lying impostor.’

The meaning of this is that any individual who, before
the expiry of a full thousand years—years known and clearly
established by common usage and requiring no interpretation—should
lay claim to a Revelation direct from God, even though he should
reveal certain signs, that man is assuredly false and an impostor.

This is not a reference to the Universal Manifestation,
for it is clearly set forth in the Holy Writings that centuries, nay
thousands of years, must pass on to completion, before a
Manifestation like unto this Manifestation shall appear again.

It is possible, however, that after the completion of a
full thousand years, certain Holy Beings will be empowered to deliver
a Revelation: this, however, will not be through a Universal
Manifestation. Wherefore every day of the cycle of the Blessed Beauty
is in reality equal to one year, and every year of it is equal to a
thousand years.

Consider, for example, the sun: its transit from one
zodiacal sign to the next occurreth within a short period of time,
yet only after a long period doth it attain the plenitude of its
resplendency, its heat and glory, in the sign of Leo. It must first
complete one full revolution through the other constellations before
it will enter the sign of Leo again, to blaze out in its full
splendour. In its other stations, it revealeth not the fullness of
its heat and light.

The substance is, that prior to the completion of a
thousand years, no individual may presume to breathe a word. All must
consider themselves to be of the order of subjects, submissive and
obedient to the commandments of God and the laws of the House of
Justice. Should any deviate by so much as a needle’s point from
the decrees of the Universal House of Justice, or falter in his
compliance therewith, then is he of the outcast and rejected.

As to the cycle of the Blessed Beauty—the times of
the Greatest Name—this is not limited to a thousand or two
thousand years….

When it is said that the period of a thousand years
beginneth with the Manifestation of the Blessed Beauty and every day
thereof is a thousand years, the intent is a reference to the cycle
of the Blessed Beauty, which in this context will extend over many
ages into the unborn reaches of time.

34: O thou who art serving the world
of humanity! …

O thou who art serving the world of humanity! Thy letter
was received and from its contents we felt exceedingly glad. It was a
decisive proof and a brilliant evidence. It is appropriate and
befitting that in this illumined age—the age of the progress of
the world of humanity—we should be self-sacrificing and should
serve the human race. Every universal cause is divine and every
particular one is temporal. The principles of the divine
Manifestations of God were, therefore, all-universal and
all-inclusive.

Every imperfect soul is self-centred and thinketh only
of his own good. But as his thoughts expand a little he will begin to
think of the welfare and comfort of his family. If his ideas still
more widen, his concern will be the felicity of his fellow citizens;
and if still they widen, he will be thinking of the glory of his land
and of his race. But when ideas and views reach the utmost degree of
expansion and attain the stage of perfection, then will he be
interested in the exaltation of humankind. He will then be the
well-wisher of all men and the seeker of the weal and prosperity of
all lands. This is indicative of perfection.

Thus, the divine Manifestations of God had a universal
and all-inclusive conception. They endeavoured for the sake of
everyone’s life and engaged in the service of universal
education. The area of their aims was not limited—nay, rather,
it was wide and all-inclusive.

Therefore, ye must also be thinking of everyone, so that
mankind may be educated, character moderated and this world may turn
into a Garden of Eden.

Love ye all religions and all races with a love that is
true and sincere and show that love through deeds and not through the
tongue; for the latter hath no importance, as the majority of men
are, in speech, well-wishers, while action is the best.

35: O army of God! A letter signed
jointly by all of …

O army of God! A letter signed jointly by all of you
hath been received. It was most eloquent and full of flavour, and
reading it was a delight.

Ye had written of the fasting month. Fortunate are ye to
have obeyed the commandment of God, and kept this fast during the
holy season. For this material fast is an outer token of the
spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of
oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics
of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and
catching fire from the love of God.

Your letter also betokened your unity and the closeness
of your hearts. It is my hope that the west, through the boundless
grace that God is pouring down in this new era, will become the east,
the dawning-point of the Sun of Truth, and western believers the
daysprings of light, and manifestors of the signs of God; that they
will be guarded from the doubts of the heedless and will stay firm
and unmoveable in the Covenant and Testament; that they will toil by
day and by night until they awaken those who sleep, and make mindful
those who are unaware, and bring in the outcast to be intimates of
the inner circle, and bestow upon the destitute their portion of
eternal grace. Let them be heralds of the Kingdom, and call out to
the denizens of this nether world, and summon them to enter the realm
on high.

O army of God! Today, in this world, every people is
wandering astray in its own desert, moving here and there according
to the dictates of its fancies and whims, pursuing its own particular
caprice. Amongst all the teeming masses of the earth, only this
community of the Most Great Name is free and clear of human schemes
and hath no selfish purpose to promote. Alone amongst them all, this
people hath arisen with aims purified of self, following the
Teachings of God, most eagerly toiling and striving toward a single
goal: to turn this nether dust into high heaven, to make of this
world a mirror for the Kingdom, to change this world into a different
world, and cause all humankind to adopt the ways of righteousness and
a new manner of life.

O army of God! Through the protection and help
vouchsafed by the Blessed Beauty—may my life be a sacrifice to
His loved ones—ye must conduct yourselves in such a manner that
ye may stand out distinguished and brilliant as the sun among other
souls. Should any one of you enter a city, he should become a centre
of attraction by reason of his sincerity, his faithfulness and love,
his honesty and fidelity, his truthfulness and loving-kindness
towards all the peoples of the world, so that the people of that city
may cry out and say: ‘This man is unquestionably a Bahá’í,
for his manners, his behaviour, his conduct, his morals, his nature,
and disposition reflect the attributes of the Bahá’ís.’
Not until ye attain this station can ye be said to have been faithful
to the Covenant and Testament of God. For He hath, through
irrefutable Texts, entered into a binding Covenant with us all,
requiring us to act in accordance with His sacred instructions and
counsels.

O army of God! The time hath come for the effects and
perfections of the Most Great Name to be made manifest in this
excellent age, so as to establish, beyond any doubt, that this era is
the era of Bahá’u’lláh, and this age is
distinguished above all other ages.

O army of God! Whensoever ye behold a person whose
entire attention is directed toward the Cause of God; whose only aim
is this, to make the Word of God to take effect; who, day and night,
with pure intent, is rendering service to the Cause; from whose
behaviour not the slightest trace of egotism or private motives is
discerned—who, rather, wandereth distracted in the wilderness
of the love of God, and drinketh only from the cup of the knowledge
of God, and is utterly engrossed in spreading the sweet savours of
God, and is enamoured of the holy verses of the Kingdom of God—know
ye for a certainty that this individual will be supported and
reinforced by heaven; that like unto the morning star, he will
forever gleam brightly out of the skies of eternal grace. But if he
show the slightest taint of selfish desires and self love, his
efforts will lead to nothing and he will be destroyed and left
hopeless at the last.

O army of God! Praise be to God, Bahá’u’lláh
hath lifted the chains from off the necks of humankind, and hath set
man free from all that trammelled him, and told him: Ye are the
fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch; be ye compassionate
and kind to all the human race. Deal ye with strangers the same as
with friends, cherish ye others just as ye would your own. See foes
as friends; see demons as angels; give to the tyrant the same great
love ye show the loyal and true, and even as gazelles from the
scented cities of Khatá and Khután28
offer up sweet musk to the ravening wolf. Be ye a refuge to the
fearful; bring ye rest and peace to the disturbed; make ye a
provision for the destitute; be a treasury of riches for the poor; be
a healing medicine for those who suffer pain; be ye doctor and nurse
to the ailing; promote ye friendship, and honour, and conciliation,
and devotion to God, in this world of non-existence.

O army of God! Make ye a mighty effort: perchance ye can
flood this earth with light, that this mud hut, the world, may become
the Abhá Paradise. The dark hath taken over, and the brute
traits prevail. This world of man is now an arena for wild beasts, a
field where the ignorant, the heedless, seize their chance. The souls
of men are ravening wolves and animals with blinded eyes, they are
either deadly poison or useless weeds—all except for a very few
who indeed do nurture altruistic aims and plans for the well-being of
their fellow men: but ye must in this matter—that is, the
serving of humankind—lay down your very lives, and as ye yield
yourselves, rejoice.

O army of God! The Exalted One, the Báb, gave up
His life. The Blessed Perfection gave up a hundred lives at every
breath. He bore calamities. He suffered anguish. He was imprisoned.
He was chained. He was made homeless and was banished to distant
lands. Finally, then, He lived out His days in the Most Great Prison.
Likewise, a great multitude of the lovers of God who followed this
path have tasted the honey of martyrdom and they gave up
everything—life, possessions, kindred—all they had. How
many homes were reduced to rubble; how many dwellings were broken
into and pillaged; how many a noble building went to the ground; how
many a palace was battered into a tomb. And all this came about that
humankind might be illumined, that ignorance might yield to
knowledge, that men of earth might become men of heaven, that discord
and dissension might be torn out by the roots, and the Kingdom of
Peace become established over all the world. Strive ye now that this
bounty become manifest, and this best-beloved of all hopes be
realized in splendour throughout the community of man.

O army of God! Beware lest ye harm any soul, or make any
heart to sorrow; lest ye wound any man with your words, be he known
to you or a stranger, be he friend or foe. Pray ye for all; ask ye
that all be blessed, all be forgiven. Beware, beware, lest any of you
seek vengeance, even against one who is thirsting for your blood.
Beware, beware, lest ye offend the feelings of another, even though
he be an evil-doer, and he wish you ill. Look ye not upon the
creatures, turn ye to their Creator. See ye not the never-yielding
people, see but the Lord of Hosts. Gaze ye not down upon the dust,
gaze upward at the shining sun, which hath caused every patch of
darksome earth to glow with light.

O army of God! When calamity striketh, be ye patient and
composed. However afflictive your sufferings may be, stay ye
undisturbed, and with perfect confidence in the abounding grace of
God, brave ye the tempest of tribulations and fiery ordeals.

Last year a number of the unfaithful, both from within
and from without, both known to us and strangers, took before the
Sulṭán of Turkey slanderous charges against these
homeless exiles, bringing against us grave accusations with no basis
in fact. The Government, conformably with prudence, determined to
look into these charges, and dispatched a Commission of Investigation
to this city. It is obvious what an opportunity this afforded our
ill-wishers, and what a storm they unleashed, all this beyond
description by tongue or pen. Only one who witnessed it could know
what a turmoil they created and what an earthquake of anguish was the
result. And notwithstanding this, the response was to depend utterly
upon God, and to remain composed, confident, long-suffering,
undisturbed, to such a degree that a person knowing nothing of the
situation would have thought us easy of heart and mind, perfectly
happy, thriving and at peace.

Then it came about that the accusers themselves, those
who had made the defamatory charges against us, joined with the
members of the Commission to investigate the accusations, so that
plaintiffs, witnesses and judge were all one and the same, and the
conclusion was foregone. Nevertheless, to be fair, it must be stated
that up to now His Majesty the Sulṭán of Turkey hath
paid no heed to these false charges, this defamation, these fables
and traducements, and hath acted with justice….

O Thou Provider! Thou hast breathed over the friends in
the West the sweet fragrance of the Holy Spirit, and with the light
of divine guidance Thou hast lit up the western sky. Thou hast made
those who were once remote to draw near unto Thyself; Thou hast
turned strangers into loving friends; Thou hast awakened those who
slept; Thou hast made the heedless mindful.

O Thou Provider! Assist Thou these noble friends to win
Thy good pleasure, and make them well-wishers of stranger and friend
alike. Bring them into the world that abideth forever; grant them a
portion of heavenly grace; cause them to be true Bahá’ís,
sincerely of God; save them from outward semblances, and establish
them firmly in the truth. Make them signs and tokens of the Kingdom,
luminous stars above the horizons of this nether life. Make them to
be a comfort and a solace to humankind and servants to the peace of
the world. Exhilarate them with the wine of Thy counsel, and grant
that all of them may tread the path of Thy commandments.

O Thou Provider! The dearest wish of this servant of Thy
Threshold is to behold the friends of east and west in close embrace;
to see all the members of human society gathered with love in a
single great assemblage, even as individual drops of water collected
in one mighty sea; to behold them all as birds in one garden of
roses, as pearls of one ocean, as leaves of one tree, as rays of one
sun.

Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful, and Thou art the God
of strength, the Omnipotent, the All-Seeing.

36: O ye two favoured handmaids of
the Lord! The …

O ye two favoured handmaids of the Lord! The letter from
Mother Beecher hath been received, and truly it spoke for you both,
wherefore I address the two of you together. This seemeth very good
to me, for ye two pure beings are even as a single precious gem, ye
are two boughs branched from a single tree; ye both adore the same
Beloved, ye both are longing for the same resplendent Sun.

My hope is that all the handmaids of God in that region
will unite like unto the waves of one unending sea; for although
blown about as the wind listeth, these are separate in themselves,
yet in truth are they all at one with the boundless deep.

How good it is if the friends be as close as sheaves of
light, if they stand together side by side in a firm unbroken line.
For now have the rays of reality from the Sun of the world of
existence, united in adoration all the worshippers of this light; and
these rays have, through infinite grace, gathered all peoples
together within this wide-spreading shelter; therefore must all souls
become as one soul, and all hearts as one heart. Let all be set free
from the multiple identities that were born of passion and desire,
and in the oneness of their love for God find a new way of life.

O ye two handmaids of God! Now is the time for you to
become as bounteous cups that are filled to overflowing, and even as
the reviving gusts that blow from the Abhá Paradise, to
scatter the fragrance of musk across that land. Release yourselves
from this world’s life, and at every stage long ye for
non-existence; for when the ray returneth to the sun, it is wiped
out, and when the drop cometh to the sea, it vanisheth, and when the
true lover findeth his Beloved, he yieldeth up his soul.

Until a being setteth his foot in the plane of
sacrifice, he is bereft of every favour and grace; and this plane of
sacrifice is the realm of dying to the self, that the radiance of the
living God may then shine forth. The martyr’s field is the
place of detachment from self, that the anthems of eternity may be
upraised. Do all ye can to become wholly weary of self, and bind
yourselves to that Countenance of Splendours; and once ye have
reached such heights of servitude, ye will find, gathered within your
shadow, all created things. This is boundless grace; this is the
highest sovereignty; this is the life that dieth not. All else save
this is at the last but manifest perdition and great loss.

Praise be to God, the gate of boundless grace is opened
wide, the heavenly table is set, the servants of the Merciful and His
handmaids are present at the feast. Strive ye to receive your share
of this eternal food, so that ye shall be loved and cherished in this
world and the next.

37: O ye dear friends of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá! A blessed letter …

O ye dear friends of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá! A
blessed letter hath been received from you, telling of the election
of a Spiritual Assembly. It hath rejoiced my heart to know that, God
be praised, the friends in that area, with absolute unity, fellowship
and love, have held this new election and were successful in voting
for souls who are sanctified, are favoured at the Holy Threshold and
are well known amongst the friends to be staunch and firm in the
Covenant.

Now must those elected representatives arise to serve
with spirituality and joy, with purity of intent, with strong
attraction to the fragrances of the Almighty, and well supported by
the Holy Spirit. Let them raise up the banner of guidance, and as
soldiers of the Company on high, let them exalt God’s Word,
spread abroad His sweet savours, educate the souls of men, and
promote the Most Great Peace.

Truly, blessed souls have been elected. The moment I
read their names, I felt a thrill of spiritual joy to know that,
praised be God, persons have been raised up in that country who are
servants of the Kingdom, and ready to lay down their lives for Him
Who hath neither likeness nor peer.

O ye dear friends of mine! Light up this Assembly with
the splendour of God’s love. Make it ring out with the joyous
music of the hallowed spheres, make it thrive on those foods that are
served at the Lord’s Supper, at the heavenly banquet table of
God. Come ye together in gladness unalloyed, and at the beginning of
the meeting, recite ye this prayer:

O Thou Lord of the Kingdom! Though our bodies be
gathered here together, yet our spellbound hearts are carried away by
Thy love, and yet are we transported by the rays of Thy resplendent
face. Weak though we be, we await the revelations of Thy might and
power. Poor though we be, with neither goods nor means, still take we
riches from the treasures of Thy Kingdom. Drops though we be, still
do we draw from out Thy ocean deeps. Motes though we be, still do we
gleam in the glory of Thy splendid Sun.

O Thou our Provider! Send down Thine aid, that each one
gathered here may become a lighted candle, each one a centre of
attraction, each one a summoner to Thy heavenly realms, till at last
we make this nether world the mirror image of Thy Paradise.

O ye dear friends of mine! It is incumbent upon the
assemblies of those regions to be connected one with another and to
correspond with one another, and also to communicate with the
assemblies of the east, thus to become agencies for union throughout
the world.

O ye spiritual friends! Such must be your constancy that
should the evil-wishers put every believer to death and only one
remain, that one, singly and alone, will withstand all the peoples of
the earth, and will go on scattering far and wide the sweet and holy
fragrances of God. Wherefore, should any fearsome news, any word of
terrifying events, reach you from the Holy Land, see to it that ye
waver not, be ye not stricken by grief, be ye not shaken. Rather,
rise ye up instantly, with iron resolve, and serve ye the Kingdom of
God.

This Servant of the Lord’s Threshold hath been in
peril at all times. He is in peril now. At no time have I had any
hope of safety, and my dearest wish is this: to drink of the martyr’s
bounteous and brim-full cup, and die on the field of sacrifice,
delighting in that wine which is the most precious of God’s
gifts. This is my highest hope, this my most vehement desire.

We hear that the Tablets of Ishráqát
(Splendours), Tarazát (Ornaments), Bishárát
(Glad Tidings), Tajallíyyát (Effulgences), and Kalímát
(Words of Paradise) have been translated and published in those
regions. In these Tablets will ye have a model of how to be and how
to live.

38: O handmaid of God, who tremblest
even as a fresh …

O handmaid of God, who tremblest even as a fresh and
tender branch in the winds of the love of God! I have read thy
letter, which telleth of thine abundant love, thine intense devotion,
and of thy being occupied with the remembrance of thy Lord.

Depend thou upon God. Forsake thine own will and cling
to His, set aside thine own desires and lay hold of His, that thou
mayest become an example, holy, spiritual, and of the Kingdom, unto
His handmaids.

Know thou, O handmaid, that in the sight of Bahá,
women are accounted the same as men, and God hath created all
humankind in His own image, and after His own likeness. That is, men
and women alike are the revealers of His names and attributes, and
from the spiritual viewpoint there is no difference between them.
Whosoever draweth nearer to God, that one is the most favoured,
whether man or woman. How many a handmaid, ardent and devoted, hath,
within the sheltering shade of Bahá, proved superior to the
men, and surpassed the famous of the earth.

The House of Justice, however, according to the explicit
text of the Law of God, is confined to men; this for a wisdom of the
Lord God’s, which will erelong be made manifest as clearly as
the sun at high noon.

As to you, O ye other handmaids who are enamoured of the
heavenly fragrances, arrange ye holy gatherings, and found ye
Spiritual Assemblies, for these are the basis for spreading the sweet
savours of God, exalting His Word, uplifting the lamp of His grace,
promulgating His religion and promoting His Teachings, and what
bounty is there greater than this? These Spiritual Assemblies are
aided by the Spirit of God. Their defender is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Over them He spreadeth His wings. What bounty is there greater than
this? These Spiritual Assemblies are shining lamps and heavenly
gardens, from which the fragrances of holiness are diffused over all
regions, and the lights of knowledge are shed abroad over all created
things. From them the spirit of life streameth in every direction.
They, indeed, are the potent sources of the progress of man, at all
times and under all conditions. What bounty is there greater than
this?

39: O handmaid of God! Thy letter
hath been received, …

O handmaid of God! Thy letter hath been received,
bringing its news that an Assembly hath been established in that
city.

Look ye not upon the fewness of thy numbers, rather,
seek ye out hearts that are pure. One consecrated soul is preferable
to a thousand other souls. If a small number of people gather
lovingly together, with absolute purity and sanctity, with their
hearts free of the world, experiencing the emotions of the Kingdom
and the powerful magnetic forces of the Divine, and being at one in
their happy fellowship, that gathering will exert its influence over
all the earth. The nature of that band of people, the words they
speak, the deeds they do, will unleash the bestowals of Heaven, and
provide a foretaste of eternal bliss. The hosts of the Company on
high will defend them, and the angels of the Abhá Paradise, in
continuous succession, will come down to their aid.

The meaning of ‘angels’ is the confirmations
of God and His celestial powers. Likewise angels are blessed beings
who have severed all ties with this nether world, have been released
from the chains of self and the desires of the flesh, and anchored
their hearts to the heavenly realms of the Lord. These are of the
Kingdom, heavenly; these are of God, spiritual; these are revealers
of God’s abounding grace; these are dawning-points of His
spiritual bestowals.

O handmaid of God! Praise be to Him, thy dear husband
hath perceived the sweet scents that blow from the gardens of heaven.
Now, as day followeth day, must thou, through the love of God, and
thine own good actions, draw him ever closer to the Faith.

Those were indeed dire events in San Francisco.29
Disasters of this kind should serve to awaken the people, and
diminish the love of their hearts for this inconstant world. It is in
this nether world that such tragic things take place: this is the cup
that yieldeth bitter wine.

40: O ye whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
loveth! I have read your …

O ye whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá loveth! I have
read your reports with great joy; they are of a nature to cheer and
refresh the heart and gladden the soul. If this Assembly, through the
holy breathings of the All-Merciful and His divine confirmations,
endure and remain fixed and firm, it shall produce notable results
and it shall succeed in enterprises of great moment.

The Spiritual Assemblies to be established in this Age
of God, this holy century, have, it is indisputable, had neither peer
nor likeness in the cycles gone before. For those assemblages that
wielded power were based on the support of mighty leaders of men,
while these Assemblies are based on the support of the Beauty of
Abhá. The defenders and patrons of those other assemblages
were either a prince, or a king, or a chief priest, or the mass of
the people. But these Spiritual Assemblies have for their defender,
their supporter, their helper, their inspirer, the omnipotent Lord.

Look ye not upon the present, fix your gaze upon the
times to come. In the beginning, how small is the seed, yet in the
end it is a mighty tree. Look ye not upon the seed, look ye upon the
tree, and its blossoms, and its leaves and its fruits. Consider the
days of Christ, when none but a small band followed Him; then observe
what a mighty tree that seed became, behold ye its fruitage. And now
shall come to pass even greater things than these, for this is the
summons of the Lord of Hosts, this is the trumpet-call of the living
Lord, this is the anthem of world peace, this is the standard of
righteousness and trust and understanding raised up among all the
variegated peoples of the globe; this is the splendour of the Sun of
Truth, this is the holiness of the spirit of God Himself. This most
powerful of dispensations will encompass all the earth, and beneath
its banner will all peoples gather and be sheltered together. Know
then the vital import of this tiny seed that the true Husbandman
hath, with the hands of His mercy, sown in the ploughed fields of the
Lord, and watered with the rain of bestowals and bounties and is now
nurturing in the heat and light of the Day-Star of Truth.

Wherefore, O ye loved ones of God, offer up thanks unto
Him, since He hath made you the object of such bounties, and the
recipients of such gifts. Blessed are ye, glad tidings to you, for
this abounding grace.

41: O thou who art steadfast in the
Covenant, and …

O thou who art steadfast in the Covenant, and staunch!
The letter which thou didst write … hath been shown to me, and the
opinions expressed therein were most commendable. It is incumbent
upon the Spiritual Consultative Assembly of New York to be in
complete agreement with that of Chicago, and for these two assemblies
of consultation jointly to approve whatever they consider suitable
for publication and distribution. Following that, let them send one
copy to Akká, so that it may also be approved from here, after
which the material will be returned to be published and circulated.

The question of co-ordinating and unifying the two
Spiritual Assemblies, that of Chicago and of New York, is of the
utmost importance, and once a Spiritual Assembly is duly formed in
Washington, these two Assemblies should also establish ties of unity
with that Assembly. To sum it up, it is the desire of the Lord God
that the loved ones of God and the handmaids of the Merciful in the
West should come closer together in harmony and unity as day
followeth day, and until this is accomplished, the work will never go
forward. The Spiritual Assemblies are collectively the most effective
of all instruments for establishing unity and harmony. This matter is
of the utmost importance; this is the magnet that draweth down the
confirmations of God. If once the beauty of the unity of the
friends—this Divine Beloved—be decked in the adornments
of the Abhá Kingdom, it is certain that within a very short
time those countries will become the Paradise of the All-Glorious,
and that out of the west the splendours of unity will cast their
bright rays over all the earth.

We are striving with heart and soul, resting neither day
nor night, seeking not a moment’s ease, to make this world of
man the mirror of the unity of God. Then how much more must the
beloved of the Lord reflect that unity? And this cherished hope, this
yearning wish of ours will be visibly fulfilled only on the day when
the true friends of God arise to carry out the Teachings of the Abhá
Beauty—may my life be a ransom for His lovers! One amongst His
Teachings is this, that love and good faith must so dominate the
human heart that men will regard the stranger as a familiar friend,
the malefactor as one of their own, the alien even as a loved one,
the enemy as a companion dear and close. Who killeth them, him will
they call a bestower of life; who turneth away from them, him will
they regard as turning towards them; who denieth their message, him
will they consider as one acknowledging its truth. The meaning is
that they must treat all humankind even as they treat their
sympathizers, their fellow-believers, their loved ones and familiar
friends.

Should such a torch light up the world community, ye
will find that the whole earth is sending forth a fragrance, that it
hath become a delightsome paradise, and the face of it the image of
high heaven. Then will the whole world be one native land, its
diverse peoples one single kind, the nations of both east and west
one household.

It is my hope that such a day will come, that such a
splendour will shine forth, that such a vision will be unveiled in
its full beauty.

42: O ye co-workers who are
supported by armies …

O ye co-workers who are supported by armies from the
realm of the All-Glorious! Blessed are ye, for ye have come together
in the sheltering shade of the Word of God, and have found a refuge
in the cave of His Covenant; ye have brought peace to your hearts by
making your home in the Abhá Paradise, and are lulled by the
gentle winds that blow from their source in His loving-kindness; ye
have arisen to serve the Cause of God and to spread His religion far
and wide, to promote His Word and to raise high the banners of
holiness throughout all those regions.

By the life of Bahá! Verily will the consummate
power of the Divine Reality breathe into you the bounties of the Holy
Spirit, and aid you to perform an exploit whose like the eye of
creation hath never looked upon.

O ye League of the Covenant! Verily the Abhá
Beauty made a promise to the beloved who are steadfast in the
Covenant, that He would reinforce their strivings with the strongest
of supports, and succour them with His triumphant might. Erelong
shall ye see that your illumined assemblage hath left conspicuous
signs and tokens in the hearts and souls of men. Hold ye fast to the
hem of God’s garment, and direct all your efforts toward
furthering His Covenant, and burning ever more brightly with the fire
of His love, that your hearts may leap for joy in the breathings of
servitude which well out from the breast of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Rally your hearts, make firm your steps, trust in the everlasting
bounties that will be shed upon you, one following another from the
Kingdom of Abhá. Whensoever ye gather in that radiant
assemblage, know ye that the splendours of Bahá are shining
over you. It behoveth you to seek agreement and to be united; it
behoveth you to be in close communion one with the other, at one both
in body and soul, till ye match the Pleiades or a string of lustrous
pearls. Thus will ye be solidly established; thus will your words
prevail, your star shine out, and your hearts be comforted….

Whenever ye enter the council-chamber, recite this
prayer with a heart throbbing with the love of God and a tongue
purified from all but His remembrance, that the All-Powerful may
graciously aid you to achieve supreme victory:

O God, my God! We are servants of Thine that have turned
with devotion to Thy Holy Face, that have detached ourselves from all
besides Thee in this glorious Day. We have gathered in this Spiritual
Assembly, united in our views and thoughts, with our purposes
harmonized to exalt Thy Word amidst mankind. O Lord, our God! Make us
the signs of Thy Divine Guidance, the Standards of Thine exalted
Faith amongst men, servants to Thy mighty Covenant, O Thou our Lord
Most High, manifestations of Thy Divine Unity in Thine Abhá
Kingdom, and resplendent stars shining upon all regions. Lord! Aid us
to become seas surging with the billows of Thy wondrous Grace,
streams flowing from Thine all-glorious Heights, goodly fruits upon
the Tree of Thy heavenly Cause, trees waving through the breezes of
Thy Bounty in Thy celestial Vineyard. O God! Make our souls dependent
upon the Verses of Thy Divine Unity, our hearts cheered with the
outpourings of Thy Grace, that we may unite even as the waves of one
sea and become merged together as the rays of Thine effulgent Light;
that our thoughts, our views, our feelings may become as one reality,
manifesting the spirit of union throughout the world. Thou art the
Gracious, the Bountiful, the Bestower, the Almighty, the Merciful,
the Compassionate.

43:
The prime requisites for them that take counsel …

The prime requisites for them that take counsel together
are purity of motive, radiance of spirit, detachment from all else
save God, attraction to His Divine Fragrances, humility and lowliness
amongst His loved ones, patience and long-suffering in difficulties
and servitude to His exalted Threshold. Should they be graciously
aided to acquire these attributes, victory from the unseen Kingdom of
Bahá shall be vouchsafed to them.

44: The members thereof must take
counsel together …

The members thereof30
must take counsel together in such wise that no occasion for
ill-feeling or discord may arise. This can be attained when every
member expresseth with absolute freedom his own opinion and setteth
forth his argument. Should anyone oppose, he must on no account feel
hurt for not until matters are fully discussed can the right way be
revealed. The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the
clash of differing opinions. If after discussion, a decision be
carried unanimously well and good; but if, the Lord forbid,
differences of opinion should arise, a majority of voices must
prevail.

45: The first condition is absolute
love and harmony …

The first condition is absolute love and harmony amongst
the members of the assembly. They must be wholly free from
estrangement and must manifest in themselves the Unity of God, for
they are the waves of one sea, the drops of one river, the stars of
one heaven, the rays of one sun, the trees of one orchard, the
flowers of one garden. Should harmony of thought and absolute unity
be nonexistent, that gathering shall be dispersed and that assembly
be brought to naught. The second condition is that the members of the
assembly should unitedly elect a chairman and lay down guide-lines
and by-laws for their meetings and discussions. The chairman should
have charge of such rules and regulations and protect and enforce
them; the other members should be submissive, and refrain from
conversing on superfluous and extraneous matters. They must, when
coming together, turn their faces to the Kingdom on high and ask aid
from the Realm of Glory. They must then proceed with the utmost
devotion, courtesy, dignity, care and moderation to express their
views. They must in every matter search out the truth and not insist
upon their own opinion, for stubbornness and persistence in one’s
views will lead ultimately to discord and wrangling and the truth
will remain hidden. The honoured members must with all freedom
express their own thoughts, and it is in no wise permissible for one
to belittle the thought of another, nay, he must with moderation set
forth the truth, and should differences of opinion arise a majority
of voices must prevail, and all must obey and submit to the majority.
It is again not permitted that any one of the honoured members object
to or censure, whether in or out of the meeting, any decision arrived
at previously, though that decision be not right, for such criticism
would prevent any decision from being enforced. In short, whatsoever
thing is arranged in harmony and with love and purity of motive, its
result is light, and should the least trace of estrangement prevail
the result shall be darkness upon darkness…. If this be so
regarded, that assembly shall be of God, but otherwise it shall lead
to coolness and alienation that proceed from the Evil One…. Should
they endeavour to fulfil these conditions the Grace of the Holy
Spirit shall be vouchsafed unto them, and that assembly shall become
the centre of the Divine blessings, the hosts of Divine confirmation
shall come to their aid, and they shall day by day receive a new
effusion of Spirit.

46: O ye who are firm in the
Covenant! ‘Abdu’l-Bahá …

O ye who are firm in the Covenant! ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
is constantly engaged in ideal communication with any Spiritual
Assembly which is instituted through the divine bounty, and the
members of which, in the utmost devotion, turn to the divine Kingdom
and are firm in the Covenant. To them he is whole-heartedly attached
and with them he is linked by everlasting ties. Thus correspondence
with that gathering is sincere, constant and uninterrupted.

At every instant, I beg for you assistance, bounty, and
a fresh favour and blessing, so that the confirmations of Bahá’u’lláh
may, like unto the sea, be constantly surging, the lights of the Sun
of Truth may shine upon you all and that ye may be confirmed in
service, may become the manifestations of bounty and that each one of
you may, at dawn, turn unto the Holy Land and may experience
spiritual emotions with all intensity.

47: O ye true friends! Your letter
hath been received …

O ye true friends! Your letter hath been received and it
brought great joy. God be praised, ye had made ready an entertainment
and established the feast which is to be held every nineteen days.
Whatsoever gathering is arranged with the utmost love, and where
those who attend are turning their faces toward the Kingdom of God,
and where the discourse is of the Teachings of God, and the effect of
which is to cause those present to advance—that gathering is
the Lord’s, and that festive table hath come down from heaven.

It is my hope that this feast will be given on one day
out of every nineteen, for it bringeth you closer together; it is the
very well-spring of unity and loving-kindness.

Ye observe to what a degree the world is in continual
turmoil and conflict, and to what a pass its nations have now come.
Perchance will the lovers of God succeed in upraising the banner of
human unity, so that the one-coloured tabernacle of the Kingdom of
Heaven will cast its sheltering shadow over all the earth; that
misunderstandings among the world’s peoples will vanish away;
that all nations will mingle one with another, dealing with one
another even as the lover with his beloved.

It is your duty to be exceedingly kind to every human
being, and to wish him well; to work for the upliftment of society;
to blow the breath of life into the dead; to act in accordance with
the instructions of Bahá’u’lláh and walk
His path—until ye change the world of man into the world of
God.

48: O ye loyal servants of the
Ancient Beauty! In every …

O ye loyal servants of the Ancient Beauty! In every
cycle and dispensation, the feast hath been favoured and loved, and
the spreading of a table for the lovers of God hath been considered a
praiseworthy act. This is especially the case today, in this
dispensation beyond compare, this most generous of ages, when it is
highly acclaimed, for it is truly accounted among such gatherings as
are held to worship and glorify God. Here the holy verses, the
heavenly odes and laudations are intoned, and the heart is quickened,
and carried away from itself.

The primary intent is to kindle these stirrings of the
spirit, but at the same time it follows quite naturally that those
present should partake of food, so that the world of the body may
mirror the spirit’s world, and flesh take on the qualities of
soul; and just as the spiritual delights are here in profusion, so
too the material delights.

Happy are ye, to be observing this rule, with all its
mystic meanings, thus keeping the friends of God alert and heedful,
and bringing them peace of mind, and joy.

49: Thy letter hath been received.
Thou didst write of …

Thy letter hath been received. Thou didst write of the
Nineteen Day festivity, and this rejoiced my heart. These gatherings
cause the divine table to descend from heaven, and draw down the
confirmations of the All-Merciful. My hope is that the breathings of
the Holy Spirit will be wafted over them, and that each one present
shall, in great assemblies, with an eloquent tongue and a heart
flooded with the love of God, set himself to acclaiming the rise of
the Sun of Truth, the dawn of the Day-Star that lighteth all the
world.

50: You have asked as to the feast
in every Bahá’í …

You have asked as to the feast in every Bahá’í
month. This feast is held to foster comradeship and love, to call God
to mind and supplicate Him with contrite hearts, and to encourage
benevolent pursuits.

That is, the friends should there dwell upon God and
glorify Him, read the prayers and holy verses, and treat one another
with the utmost affection and love.

51: As to the Nineteen Day Feast, it
rejoiceth mind and …

As to the Nineteen Day Feast, it rejoiceth mind and
heart. If this feast be held in the proper fashion, the friends will,
once in nineteen days, find themselves spiritually restored, and
endued with a power that is not of this world.

52: O servant of the One true God!
The Lord be …

O servant of the One true God! The Lord be praised, the
loved ones of God are found in every land, and are, one and all,
neath the shadow of the Tree of Life and under the protection of His
good providence. His care and loving-kindness surge even as the
eternal billows of the sea, and His blessings are continually
showered from His eternal Kingdom.

Ours should be the prayer that His blessings may be
vouchsafed in still greater abundance, and ours to hold fast to such
means as shall ensure a fuller outpouring of His grace and a greater
measure of His divine assistance.

One of the greatest of these means is the spirit of true
fellowship and loving communion amongst the friends. Remember the
saying: ‘Of all pilgrimages the greatest is to relieve the
sorrow-laden heart.’

53: Verily, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
inhaleth the fragrance of the …

Verily, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá inhaleth the
fragrance of the love of God from every meeting place where the Word
of God is uttered and proofs and arguments set forth that shed their
rays across the world, and where they recount the tribulations of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá at the evil hands of those who have
violated the Covenant of God.

O handmaid of the Lord! Speak thou no word of politics;
thy task concerneth the life of the soul, for this verily leadeth to
man’s joy in the world of God. Except to speak well of them,
make thou no mention of the earth’s kings, and the worldly
governments thereof. Rather, confine thine utterance to spreading the
blissful tidings of the Kingdom of God, and demonstrating the
influence of the Word of God, and the holiness of the Cause of God.
Tell thou of abiding joy and spiritual delights, and godlike
qualities, and of how the Sun of Truth hath risen above the earth’s
horizons: tell of the blowing of the spirit of life into the body of
the world.

54: Ye have written as to the
meetings of the friends, and …

Ye have written as to the meetings of the friends, and
how filled they are with peace and joy. Of course this is so; for
wherever the spiritually minded are gathered together, there in His
beauty reigneth Bahá’u’lláh. Thus it is
certain that such reunions will yield boundless happiness and peace.

Today it behoveth one and all to forgo the mention of
all else, and to disregard all things. Let their speaking, let their
inner state be summed up thus: ‘Keep all my words of prayer and
praise confined to one refrain; make all my life but servitude to
Thee.’ That is, let them concentrate all their thoughts, all
their words, on teaching the Cause of God and spreading the Faith of
God, and inspiring all to characterize themselves with the
characteristics of God; on loving mankind; on being pure and holy in
all things, and spotless in their public and private life; on being
upright and detached, and fervent, and afire. All is to be yielded
up, save only the remembrance of God; all is to be dispraised, except
His praise. Today, to this melody of the Company on high, the world
will leap and dance: ‘Glory be to my Lord, the All-Glorious!’
But know ye this: save for this song of God, no song will stir the
world, and save for this nightingale-cry of truth from the Garden of
God, no melody will lure away the heart. ‘Whence cometh this
Singer Who speaketh the Beloved’s name?’

55: It befitteth the friends to hold
a gathering, a …

It befitteth the friends to hold a gathering, a meeting,
where they shall glorify God and fix their hearts upon Him, and read
and recite the Holy Writings of the Blessed Beauty—may my soul
be the ransom of His lovers! The lights of the All-Glorious Realm,
the rays of the Supreme Horizon, will be cast upon such bright
assemblages, for these are none other than the Mashriqu’l-Adhkárs,
the Dawning-Points of God’s Remembrance, which must, at the
direction of the Most Exalted Pen, be established in every hamlet and
city… These spiritual gatherings must be held with the utmost
purity and consecration, so that from the site itself, and its earth
and the air about it, one will inhale the fragrant breathings of the
Holy Spirit.

56: Whensoever a company of people
shall gather in a …

Whensoever a company of people shall gather in a meeting
place, shall engage in glorifying God, and shall speak with one
another of the mysteries of God, beyond any doubt the breathings of
the Holy Spirit will blow gently over them, and each shall receive a
share thereof.

57: We hear that thou hast in mind
to embellish thy …

We hear that thou hast in mind to embellish thy house
from time to time with a meeting of Bahá’ís,
where some among them will engage in glorifying the All-Glorious
Lord… Know that shouldst thou bring this about, that house of earth
will become a house of heaven, and that fabric of stone a congress of
the spirit.

58: Thou hast asked about places of
worship and the …

Thou hast asked about places of worship and the
underlying reason therefor. The wisdom in raising up such buildings
is that at a given hour, the people should know it is time to meet,
and all should gather together, and, harmoniously attuned one to
another, engage in prayer; with the result that out of this coming
together, unity and affection shall grow and flourish in the human
heart.

59: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
hath long cherished the desire that a …

‘Abdu’l-Bahá hath long cherished the
desire that a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár be
upraised in that region. Praised be God, thanks to the strenuous
efforts of the friends, in recent days the joyful news of this hath
been announced. This service is highly acceptable at the Threshold of
God, for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár inspiriteth
the lovers of God and delighteth their hearts, and causeth them to
become steadfast and firm.

This is a matter of the utmost significance. If the
erection of the House of Worship in a public place would arouse the
hostility of evil-doers, then the meeting must, in every locality, be
held in some hidden place. Even in every hamlet, a place must be set
aside as the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, and even
though it be underground.

Now, praised be God, ye have succeeded in this. Engage
ye in the remembrance of God at dawn; rise ye up to praise and
glorify Him. Blessed are ye, and joy be yours, O ye the righteous,
for having established the Dawning-Point of the Praises of God.
Verily I ask of the Lord that He make you standards of salvation and
banners of redemption, rippling high over the valleys and hills.

60: Although to outward seeming the
Mashriqu’l-Adhkár …

Although to outward seeming the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár
is a material structure, yet it hath a spiritual effect. It forgeth
bonds of unity from heart to heart; it is a collective centre for
men’s souls. Every city in which, during the days of the
Manifestation, a temple was raised up, hath created security and
constancy and peace, for such buildings were given over to the
perpetual glorification of God, and only in the remembrance of God
can the heart find rest. Gracious God! The edifice of the House of
Worship hath a powerful influence on every phase of life. Experience
hath, in the east, clearly shown this to be a fact. Even if, in some
small village, a house was designated as the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár,
it produced a marked effect; how much greater would be the impact of
one especially raised up.

61: O Lord, O Thou Who dost bless
all those who …

O Lord, O Thou Who dost bless all those who stand firm
in the Covenant by enabling them, out of their love for the Light of
the World, to expend what they have as an offering to the
Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the dayspring of Thy
wide-spread rays and the proclaimer of Thine evidences, help Thou,
both in this world and the world to come, these righteous these
upright and pious ones to draw ever nearer to Thy sacred Threshold,
and make bright their faces with Thy dazzling splendours.

Verily art Thou the Generous, the Ever-Bestowing.

62: O my well-beloved daughter of
the Kingdom! …

O my well-beloved daughter of the Kingdom! The letter
thou hadst written to Dr. Esslemont was forwarded by him to the Land
of Desire [The Holy Land]. I read it all through with the greatest
attention. On the one hand, I was deeply touched, for thou hadst
sheared off those fair tresses of thine with the shears of detachment
from this world and of self-sacrifice in the path of the Kingdom of
God. And on the other, I was greatly pleased, for that dearly-beloved
daughter hath evinced so great a spirit of self-sacrifice as to offer
up so precious a part of her body in the pathway of the Cause of God.
Hadst thou sought my opinion, I would in no wise have consented that
thou shouldst shear off even a single thread of thy comely and wavy
locks; nay, I myself would have contributed in thy name for the
Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. This deed of thine is,
however, an eloquent testimony to thy noble spirit of self-sacrifice.
Thou hast, verily, sacrificed thy life and great will be the
spiritual results thou shalt obtain. Rest thou confident that day by
day thou shalt progress and wax greater in firmness and in constancy.
The bounties of Bahá’u’lláh shall compass
thee about and the joyful tidings from on high shall time and again
be imparted unto thee. And though it be thine hair that thou hast
sacrificed, yet thou shalt be filled with the Spirit, and though it
be this perishable member of thy body which thou hast laid down in
the path of God, yet thou shalt find the Divine Gift, shalt behold
the Celestial Beauty, obtain imperishable glory and attain unto
everlasting life.

63: O ye blessed souls! The letter
ye had written to …

O ye blessed souls!31
The letter ye had written to Rahmatu’lláh hath been
perused. Many and various were the joyful tidings it conveyed,
namely, that through the power of faith and constancy in the
Covenant, numerous gatherings have been convened, and the loved ones
are everywhere astir and active.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ardent desire
hath ever been that the soil of that hallowed spot, which in the
earliest days of the Cause hath been refreshed and made verdant with
the spring showers of grace, may so bloom and blossom as to fill
every heart with joy.

Praised be the Lord, the Cause of God hath been
proclaimed and promoted throughout the East and the West in such wise
that no mind had ever conceived that the sweet savours of the Lord
would so rapidly perfume all regions. This, verily, is only through
the consummate bounties of the ever-blessed Beauty, Whose grace and
Whose triumphing power are time and again abundantly received.

One of the wondrous events that has of late come to pass
is this, that the edifice of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár
is being raised in the very heart of the American continent, and
numerous souls from the surrounding regions are contributing for the
erection of this holy Temple. Among these is a highly esteemed lady
of the city of Manchester, who hath been moved to offer her share.

Having no portion of goods and earthly riches, she
sheared off with her own hands the fine, long and precious tresses
that adorned her head so gracefully, and offered them for sale, that
the price thereof might promote the cause of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.

Consider ye, that though in the eyes of women nothing is
more precious than rich and flowing locks, yet notwithstanding this,
that highly-honoured lady hath evinced so rare and beautiful a spirit
of self-sacrifice.

And though this was uncalled for, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
would not have consented to such a deed, yet as it doth reveal so
high and noble a spirit of devotion, He was deeply touched thereby.
Precious though the hair be in the sight of western women, nay, more
precious than life itself, yet she offered it up as a sacrifice for
the cause of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár!

It is related that once in the days of the Apostle of
God32
He signified His desire that an army should advance in a certain
direction, and leave was granted unto the faithful to raise
contributions for the holy war. Among many was one man who gave a
thousand camels, each laden with corn, another who gave half his
substance, and still another who offered all that he had. But a woman
stricken in years, whose sole possession was a handful of dates, came
to the Apostle and laid at His feet her humble contribution.
Thereupon the Prophet of God—may my life be offered up as a
sacrifice unto Him—bade that this handful of dates be placed
over and above all the contributions that had been gathered, thus
asserting the merit and superiority thereof over all the rest. This
was done because that elderly woman had no other earthly possessions
but these.

And in like manner this esteemed lady had nothing else
to contribute but her precious locks, and these she gloriously
sacrificed in the cause of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.

Ponder and reflect how mighty and potent hath the Cause
of God become! A woman of the west hath given her hair for the glory
of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.

Nay, this is but a lesson unto them that perceive.

In conclusion I am greatly pleased with the loved ones
in Najaf-Ábád for, from the very early dawn of the
Cause unto this day they have one and all under all conditions
evinced a great spirit of self-sacrifice.

Zaynu’l-Muqarrabín hath throughout his
lifetime prayed with all the sincerity of his stainless soul on
behalf of the believers in Najaf-Ábád and implored for
them the grace of God and His divine confirmation.

The Lord be praised that the prayers of this gracious
soul have been answered, for the effects thereof are everywhere
manifest.

64: The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár
is one of the most vital …

The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is one
of the most vital institutions in the world, and it hath many
subsidiary branches. Although it is a House of Worship, it is also
connected with a hospital, a drug dispensary, a traveller’s
hospice, a school for orphans, and a university for advanced studies.
Every Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is connected with
these five things. My hope is that the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár
will now be established in America, and that gradually the hospital,
the school, the university, the dispensary and the hospice, all
functioning according to the most efficient and orderly procedures,
will follow. Make these matters known to the beloved of the Lord, so
that they will understand how very great is the importance of this
‘Dawning-Point of the Remembrance of God.’ The Temple is
not only a place for worship; rather, in every respect is it complete
and whole.

O thou dear handmaid of God! If only thou couldst know
what a high station is destined for those souls who are severed from
the world, are powerfully attracted to the Faith, and are teaching,
under the sheltering shadow of Bahá’u’lláh!
How thou wouldst rejoice, how thou wouldst, in exultation and
rapture, spread thy wings and soar heavenward—for being a
follower of such a way, and a traveller toward such a Kingdom.

As to the terminology I used in my letter, bidding thee
to consecrate thyself to service in the Cause of God, the meaning of
it is this: limit thy thoughts to teaching the Faith. Act by day and
night according to the teachings and counsels and admonitions of
Bahá’u’lláh. This doth not preclude
marriage. Thou canst take unto thyself a husband and at the same time
serve the Cause of God; the one doth not preclude the other. Know
thou the value of these days; let not this chance escape thee. Beg
thou God to make thee a lighted candle, so that thou mayest guide a
great multitude through this darksome world.

65: O thou favoured handmaid of the
heavenly Kingdom! …

O thou favoured handmaid of the heavenly Kingdom! Thy
letter hath been received. It conveyeth high aspirations and noble
goals, saying that thou hast in mind to make a journey to the Far
East, and that thou art ready to endure extreme hardships, in order
to guide the souls, and to spread far and wide the glad tidings of
God’s Kingdom. This purpose of thine betokeneth that thou, dear
handmaid of God, dost cherish the very noblest of all aims.

When delivering the glad tidings, speak out and say: the
Promised One of all the world’s peoples hath now been made
manifest. For each and every people, and every religion, await a
Promised One, and Bahá’u’lláh is that One
Who is awaited by all; and therefore the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh
will bring about the oneness of mankind, and the tabernacle of unity
will be upraised on the heights of the world, and the banners of the
universality of all humankind will be unfurled on the peaks of the
earth. When thou dost loose thy tongue to deliver this great good
news, this will become the means of teaching the people.

Thy projected journey, however, is to a very far-away
land, and unless a group of persons be available, the glad tidings
will not take much effect in that place. If ye think best, travel
instead to Persia, and on the way back, go through Japan and China.
This would appear to be much better, and far more enjoyable. In any
case, do whatever seemeth feasible, and it will be approved.

66: O thou who hast sought
illumination from the …

O thou who hast sought illumination from the light of
guidance! Praise thou God that He hath directed thee to the light of
truth and hath invited thee to enter the Kingdom of Abhá. Thy
sight hath been illumined and thy heart hath been turned into a rose
garden. I pray for thee that thou mayest ever grow in faith and
assurance, shine like unto a torch in the assemblies and bestow upon
them the light of guidance.

Whenever an illumined assembly of the friends of God is
gathered, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, although bodily absent, is
yet present in spirit and in soul. I am always a traveller to America
and am assuredly associating with spiritual and illumined friends.
Distance is annihilated and prevents not the close and intimate
association of two souls that are closely attached in heart even
though they may be in two different countries. I am therefore thy
close companion, attuned and in harmony with thy soul.

67: O thou lady of the Kingdom! Thy
letter sent from …

O thou lady of the Kingdom! Thy letter sent from New
York hath been received. Its contents imparted joy and gladness for
they indicated that with a firm resolve and a pure intention thou
hast determined to travel to Paris, that thou mayest in that silent
city enkindle the fire of the love of God and in the midst of that
darkness of nature shine like unto a resplendent candle. This journey
is highly praiseworthy and suitable. When thou reachest Paris, thou
must strive, no matter how small the number of the friends may be, to
institute the assembly of the Covenant and to vivify the souls
through the power of the Covenant.

Paris is exceedingly dispirited and is in a state of
torpor and so far it hath not burst into flames although the French
nation is an active and lively one. But the world of nature hath
fully stretched its pavilion over Paris and hath done away with
religious sentiments. But this power of the Covenant shall heat every
freezing soul, shall bestow light upon everything that is dark and
shall secure for the captive in the hand of nature the true freedom
of the Kingdom.

Arise thou at present in Paris with the power of the
Kingdom, with a divine confirmation, with a genuine zeal and ardour
and with a flame of the love of God. Roar like unto a lion and
exhibit such ecstasy and love among these few souls that praise and
glorification may continuously reach thee from the divine Kingdom and
mighty confirmations may descend upon thee. Rest thou assured. If
thou dost act accordingly and hoist the standard of the Covenant,
Paris shall burst into flame. Be constantly attached to and seek
always the confirmations of Bahá’u’lláh for
these turn the drop into a sea and convert the gnat into an eagle.

68: O ye who are firm in the
Covenant and the Testament! …

O ye who are firm in the Covenant and the Testament!
Your letter was received and your blessed names were one by one
perused. The contents of the letter were divine inspirations and
manifest bounties because they were indicative of the union of the
friends and the harmony of all hearts.

Today the most remarkable favour of God centereth around
union and harmony among the friends; so that this unity and concord
may be the cause of the promulgation of the oneness of the world of
humanity, may emancipate the world from this intense darkness of
enmity and rancour, and that the Sun of Truth may shine in full and
perfect effulgence.

Today, all the peoples of the world are indulging in
self-interest and exert the utmost effort and endeavour to promote
their own material interests. They are worshipping themselves and not
the divine reality, nor the world of mankind. They seek diligently
their own benefit and not the common weal. This is because they are
captives of the world of nature and unaware of the divine teachings,
of the bounty of the Kingdom and of the Sun of Truth. But ye, praise
be to God, are at present especially favoured with this bounty, have
become of the chosen, have been informed of the heavenly
instructions, have gained admittance into the Kingdom of God, have
become the recipients of unbounded blessings and have been baptized
with the Water of Life, with the fire of the love of God and with the
Holy Spirit.

Strive, therefore, with heart and soul that ye become
ignited candles in the assemblage of the world, glittering stars on
the horizon of Truth and may become the cause of the propagation of
the light of the Kingdom; in order that the world of humanity may be
converted into a divine realm, the nether world may become the world
on high, the love of God and the mercy of the Lord may raise their
canopy upon the apex of the world, human souls may become the waves
of the ocean of truth, the world of humanity may grow into one
blessed tree, the verses of oneness may be chanted and the melodies
of sanctity may reach the Supreme Concourse.

Day and night I entreat and supplicate to the Kingdom of
God and beg for you infinite assistance and confirmation. Do not take
into consideration your own aptitudes and capacities, but fix your
gaze on the consummate bounty, the divine bestowal and the power of
the Holy Spirit—the power that converteth the drop into a sea
and the star into a sun.

Praise be to God, the hosts of the Supreme Concourse
secure the victory and the power of the Kingdom is ready to assist
and to support. Should ye at every instant unloosen the tongue in
thanksgiving and gratitude, ye would not be able to discharge
yourselves of the obligation of gratitude for these bestowals.

Consider: eminent personages whose fame hath spread all
over the world shall, erelong, fade into utter nothingness as the
result of their deprivation of this heavenly bounty; no name and no
fame shall they leave behind, and of them no fruit and trace shall
survive. But as the effulgences of the Sun of Truth have dawned forth
upon you and ye have attained everlasting life, ye shall shine and
sparkle forevermore from the horizon of existence.

Peter was a fisherman and Mary Magdalene a peasant, but
as they were specially favoured with the blessings of Christ, the
horizon of their faith became illumined, and down to the present day
they are shining from the horizon of everlasting glory. In this
station, merit and capacity are not to be considered; nay rather, the
resplendent rays of the Sun of Truth, which have illumined these
mirrors, must be taken into account.

Ye are inviting me to America. I am likewise longing to
gaze upon those illumined faces and converse and associate with those
true friends. But the magnetic power which shall draw me to those
shores is the union and harmony of the friends, their behaviour and
conduct in accordance with the teachings of God and the firmness of
all in the Covenant and the Testament.

O Divine Providence! This assemblage is composed of Thy
friends who are attracted to Thy beauty and are set ablaze by the
fire of Thy love. Turn these souls into heavenly angels, resuscitate
them through the breath of Thy Holy Spirit, grant them eloquent
tongues and resolute hearts, bestow upon them heavenly power and
merciful susceptibilities, cause them to become the promulgators of
the oneness of mankind and the cause of love and concord in the world
of humanity, so that the perilous darkness of ignorant prejudice may
vanish through the light of the Sun of Truth, this dreary world may
become illumined, this material realm may absorb the rays of the
world of spirit, these different colours may merge into one colour
and the melody of praise may rise to the kingdom of Thy sanctity.

Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent and the Almighty!

69:
Thou hast written concerning organization. The …

Thou hast written concerning organization. The divine
teachings and the admonitions and exhortations of Bahá’u’lláh
are manifestly evident. These constitute the organization of the
Kingdom and their enforcement is obligatory. The least deviation from
them is absolute error.

Thou hast written concerning my travel to America. If
thou couldst see how the waves of constant occupation are surging
thou wouldst have considered that time for travel is absolutely
lacking; in times of fixed residence partial rest is even impossible.
God willing, I trust, through the bounty of Bahá’u’lláh,
that as soon as means for the composure of mind and of heart are
provided, I shall determine to journey and shall inform thee about
it.

70: O thou ignited candle! Thy
letter was received. Its …

O thou ignited candle! Thy letter was received. Its
contents imparted spiritual gladness, for they were pervaded by
spiritual sentiments and indicated the attraction of thy heart,
attachment to the Kingdom of God and love for His divine teachings.

Verily, thou showest a high endeavour, hast a pure and
sanctified purpose, wishest naught save the good-pleasure of God,
seekest nothing but the attainment of limitless bounties, and art
engaged in the promulgation of divine teachings and the explanation
of abstruse metaphysical problems. It is my hope that, by the favour
of Bahá’u’lláh, thou and thy respected wife
may daily increase in firmness and steadfastness, so that in that
exalted land ye may become two upraised standards and two resplendent
lights.

Extensive travel in October, to the north, south, east
and west, accompanied by that candle of the love of God, Mrs.
Maxwell, would be highly acceptable. My hope is that she may entirely
recover; this beloved handmaid of God is like a flame of fire and
thinks day and night of nothing save service to God. For the present,
travel throughout the northern states, and in the winter season
hasten to the states in the south. Your service should consist of
eloquent speeches delivered in gatherings wherein ye may promulgate
the divine teachings. If possible, undertake at some time a voyage to
the Hawaiian Islands.

The events which have transpired were all recorded fifty
years ago in the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh—Tablets
which have been printed, published and spread throughout the world.
The teachings of Bahá’u’lláh are the light
of this age and the spirit of this century. Expound each of them at
every gathering.

The first is investigation of truth,
The second, the
oneness of mankind,
The third, universal peace,
The fourth,
conformity between science and divine revelation,
The fifth,
abandonment of racial, religious, worldly and political prejudices,
prejudices which destroy the foundation of mankind.
The sixth is
righteousness and justice,
The seventh, the betterment of morals
and heavenly education,
The eighth, the equality of the two
sexes,
The ninth, the diffusion of knowledge and education,
The
tenth, economic questions,

and so on and so forth. Strive that souls may attain
unto the light of guidance and hold fast unto the hem of Bahá’u’lláh.

The letter thou hast enclosed was perused. When man’s
soul is rarified and cleansed, spiritual links are established, and
from these bonds sensations felt by the heart are produced. The human
heart resembleth a mirror. When this is purified human hearts are
attuned and reflect one another, and thus spiritual emotions are
generated. This is like the world of dreams when man is detached from
things which are tangible and experienceth those of the spirit. What
amazing laws operate, and what remarkable discoveries are made! And
it may even be that detailed communications are registered…

Finally, I hope that in Chicago the friends may become
united and may illumine that city, for therein the dawn of the Cause
appeared, and in this lieth its preference over other cities.
Therefore it must be held in respect; perchance it may, God willing,
be freed from all spiritual afflictions, and may attain unto perfect
health and become a centre of the Covenant and Testament.

71: O thou beloved maidservant of
God! Thy letter …

O thou beloved maidservant of God! Thy letter was
received and its contents revealed the fact that the friends, in
perfect energy and vitality are engaged in the propagation of the
heavenly teachings. This news hath caused intense joy and gladness.
For every era hath a spirit; the spirit of this illumined era lieth
in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. For these
lay the foundation of the oneness of the world of humanity and
promulgate universal brotherhood. They are founded upon the unity of
science and religion and upon investigation of truth. They uphold the
principle that religion must be the cause of amity, union and harmony
among men. They establish the equality of both sexes and propound
economic principles which are for the happiness of individuals. They
diffuse universal education, that every soul may as much as possible
have a share of knowledge. They abrogate and nullify religious,
racial, political, patriotic and economic prejudices and the like.
Those teachings that are scattered throughout the Epistles and
Tablets are the cause of the illumination and the life of the world
of humanity. Whoever promulgateth them will verily be assisted by the
Kingdom of God.

The President of the Republic, Dr. Wilson, is indeed
serving the Kingdom of God for he is restless and strives day and
night that the rights of all men may be preserved safe and secure,
that even small nations, like greater ones, may dwell in peace and
comfort, under the protection of Righteousness and Justice. This
purpose is indeed a lofty one. I trust that the incomparable
Providence will assist and confirm such souls under all conditions.

72: O thou true friend! Read, in the
school of God, the …

O thou true friend! Read, in the school of God, the
lessons of the spirit, and learn from love’s Teacher the
innermost truths. Seek out the secrets of Heaven, and tell of the
overflowing grace and favour of God.

Although to acquire the sciences and arts is the
greatest glory of mankind, this is so only on condition that man’s
river flow into the mighty sea, and draw from God’s ancient
source His inspiration. When this cometh to pass, then every teacher
is as a shoreless ocean, every pupil a prodigal fountain of
knowledge. If, then, the pursuit of knowledge lead to the beauty of
Him Who is the Object of all Knowledge, how excellent that goal; but
if not, a mere drop will perhaps shut a man off from flooding grace,
for with learning cometh arrogance and pride, and it bringeth on
error and indifference to God.

The sciences of today are bridges to reality; if then
they lead not to reality, naught remains but fruitless illusion. By
the one true God! If learning be not a means of access to Him, the
Most Manifest, it is nothing but evident loss.

It is incumbent upon thee to acquire the various
branches of knowledge, and to turn thy face toward the beauty of the
Manifest Beauty, that thou mayest be a sign of saving guidance
amongst the peoples of the world, and a focal centre of understanding
in this sphere from which the wise and their wisdom are shut out,
except for those who set foot in the Kingdom of lights and become
informed of the veiled and hidden mystery, the well-guarded secret.

73: O daughter of the Kingdom! Thy
letter hath come …

O daughter of the Kingdom! Thy letter hath come and its
contents make clear the fact that thou hast directed all thy thoughts
toward acquiring light from the realms of mystery. So long as the
thoughts of an individual are scattered he will achieve no results,
but if his thinking be concentrated on a single point wonderful will
be the fruits thereof.

One cannot obtain the full force of the sunlight when it
is cast on a flat mirror, but once the sun shineth upon a concave
mirror, or on a lens that is convex, all its heat will be
concentrated on a single point, and that one point will burn the
hottest. Thus is it necessary to focus one’s thinking on a
single point so that it will become an effective force.

Thou didst wish to celebrate the Day of Ridván
with a feast, and to have those present on that day engage in
reciting Tablets with delight and joy, and thou didst request me to
send thee a letter to be read on that day. My letter is this:

O ye beloved, and ye handmaids of the Merciful! This is
the day when the Day-Star of Truth rose over the horizon of life, and
its glory spread, and its brightness shone out with such power that
it clove the dense and high-piled clouds and mounted the skies of the
world in all its splendour. Hence do ye witness a new stirring
throughout all created things.

See how, in this day, the scope of sciences and arts
hath widened out, and what wondrous technical advances have been
made, and to what a high degree the mind’s powers have
increased, and what stupendous inventions have appeared.

This age is indeed as a hundred other ages: should ye
gather the yield of a hundred ages, and set that against the
accumulated product of our times, the yield of this one era will
prove greater than that of a hundred gone before. Take ye, for an
example, the sum total of all the books that were ever written in
ages past, and compare that with the books and treatises that our era
hath produced: these books, written in our day alone, far and away
exceed the total number of volumes that have been written down the
ages. See how powerful is the influence exerted by the Day-Star of
the world upon the inner essence of all created things!

But alas, a thousand times alas! The eyes see it not,
the ears are deaf, and the hearts and minds are oblivious of this
supreme bestowal. Strive ye then, with all your hearts and souls, to
awaken those who slumber, to cause the blind to see, and the dead to
rise.

74: O bird that singeth sweetly of
the Abhá Beauty! In …

O bird that singeth sweetly of the Abhá Beauty!
In this new and wondrous dispensation the veils of superstition have
been torn asunder and the prejudices of eastern peoples stand
condemned. Among certain nations of the East, music was considered
reprehensible, but in this new age the Manifest Light hath, in His
holy Tablets, specifically proclaimed that music, sung or played, is
spiritual food for soul and heart.

The musician’s art is among those arts worthy of
the highest praise, and it moveth the hearts of all who grieve.
Wherefore, O thou Shahnáz,33
play and sing out the holy words of God with wondrous tones in the
gatherings of the friends, that the listener may be freed from chains
of care and sorrow, and his soul may leap for joy and humble itself
in prayer to the realm of Glory.

75: Strive with heart and soul in
order to bring about …

Strive with heart and soul in order to bring about union
and harmony among the white and the black and prove thereby the unity
of the Bahá’í world wherein distinction of colour
findeth no place, but where hearts only are considered. Praise be to
God, the hearts of the friends are united and linked together,
whether they be from the east or the west, from north or from south,
whether they be German, French, Japanese, American, and whether they
pertain to the white, the black, the red, the yellow or the brown
race. Variations of colour, of land and of race are of no importance
in the Bahá’í Faith; on the contrary, Bahá’í
unity overcometh them all and doeth away with all these fancies and
imaginations.

76: O thou who hast an illumined
heart! Thou art even …

O thou who hast an illumined heart! Thou art even as the
pupil of the eye, the very wellspring of the light, for God’s
love hath cast its rays upon thine inmost being and thou hast turned
thy face toward the Kingdom of thy Lord.

Intense is the hatred, in America, between black and
white, but my hope is that the power of the Kingdom will bind these
two in friendship, and serve them as a healing balm.

Let them look not upon a man’s colour but upon his
heart. If the heart be filled with light, that man is nigh unto the
threshold of his Lord; but if not, that man is careless of his Lord,
be he white or be he black.

77: O thou revered maidservant of
God! Thy letter …

O thou revered maidservant of God! Thy letter from Los
Angeles was received. Thank divine Providence that thou hast been
assisted in service and hast been the cause of the promulgation of
the oneness of the world of humanity, so that the darkness of
differences among men may be dissipated, and the pavilion of the
unity of nations may cast its shadow over all regions. Without such
unity, rest and comfort, peace and universal reconciliation are
unachievable. This illumined century needeth and calleth for its
fulfilment. In every century a particular and central theme is, in
accordance with the requirements of that century, confirmed by God.
In this illumined age that which is confirmed is the oneness of the
world of humanity. Every soul who serveth this oneness will
undoubtedly be assisted and confirmed.

I hope that in the assemblies thou mayest sing praises
with a sweet melody and thus become the cause of joy and gladness to
all.

78: O thou who art pure in heart,
sanctified in spirit, …

O thou who art pure in heart, sanctified in spirit,
peerless in character, beauteous in face! Thy photograph hath been
received revealing thy physical frame in the utmost grace and the
best appearance. Thou art dark in countenance and bright in
character. Thou art like unto the pupil of the eye which is dark in
colour, yet it is the fount of light and the revealer of the
contingent world.

I have not forgotten nor will I forget thee. I beseech
God that He may graciously make thee the sign of His bounty amidst
mankind, illumine thy face with the light of such blessings as are
vouchsafed by the merciful Lord, single thee out for His love in this
age which is distinguished among all the past ages and centuries.

79: O respected personage! I have
read your work, …

O respected personage! I have read your work, The Gospel
of Wealth,34
and noted therein truly apposite and sound recommendations for easing
the lot of humankind.

To state the matter briefly, the Teachings of
Bahá’u’lláh advocate voluntary sharing, and
this is a greater thing than the equalization of wealth. For
equalization must be imposed from without, while sharing is a matter
of free choice.

Man reacheth perfection through good deeds, voluntarily
performed, not through good deeds the doing of which was forced upon
him. And sharing is a personally chosen righteous act: that is, the
rich should extend assistance to the poor, they should expend their
substance for the poor, but of their own free will, and not because
the poor have gained this end by force. For the harvest of force is
turmoil and the ruin of the social order. On the other hand voluntary
sharing, the freely-chosen expending of one’s substance,
leadeth to society’s comfort and peace. It lighteth up the
world; it bestoweth honour upon humankind.

I have seen the good effects of your own philanthropy in
America, in various universities, peace gatherings, and associations
for the promotion of learning, as I travelled from city to city.
Wherefore do I pray on your behalf that you shall ever be encompassed
by the bounties and blessings of heaven, and shall perform many
philanthropic deeds in East and West. Thus may you gleam as a lighted
taper in the Kingdom of God, may attain honour and everlasting life,
and shine out as a bright star on the horizon of eternity.

80: O thou who art turning thy face
to God! Thy …

O thou who art turning thy face to God! Thy letter was
received. From its contents it became known that thy wish is to serve
the poor. What wish better than this! Those souls who are of the
Kingdom eagerly wish to be of service to the poor, to sympathize with
them, to show kindness to the miserable and to make their lives
fruitful. Happy art thou that thou hast such a wish.

Convey on my behalf to thy two children the utmost
kindness and love. Their letters have been received but, as I have no
time, separate letters cannot be written at present. Show them on my
behalf the utmost kindness.

81: Those souls who during the war
have served the …

Those souls who during the war have served the poor and
have been in the Red Cross Mission work, their services are accepted
at the Kingdom of God and are the cause of their everlasting life.
Convey to them these glad tidings.

82: O thou who art firm in the
Covenant, thy letter …

O thou who art firm in the Covenant, thy letter was
received. Thou hast exerted a great effort for that prisoner,
perchance it may prove to be fruitful. Tell him, however: ‘The
denizens of the world are confined in the prison of nature—a
prison that is continuous and eternal. If thou art at present
restrained within the limits of a temporary prison, be not grieved at
this; my hope is that thou mayest be emancipated from the prison of
nature and may attain unto the court of everlasting life. Pray to God
day and night and beg forgiveness and pardon. The omnipotence of God
shall solve every difficulty.’

83: Convey on behalf of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
to thy respected …

Convey on behalf of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to
thy respected wife my Abhá greetings, and say: ‘Kindness,
training and education extended to prisoners is exceedingly
important. Therefore as thou hast exerted an effort in this, hast
awakened some of them, and hast been the cause of the turning of
their faces to the divine Kingdom, this praiseworthy deed is highly
acceptable. Assuredly persevere. Convey on my behalf to the two
prisoners in San Quentin the utmost kindness, and tell them: ‘That
prison in the sight of wise souls is a school of training and
development. Ye must strive with heart and soul that ye may become
renowned in character and knowledge.’

84: O thou dear handmaid of God! Thy
letter hath …

O thou dear handmaid of God! Thy letter hath been
received, and its contents were noted.

Marriage, among the mass of the people, is a physical
bond, and this union can only be temporary, since it is foredoomed to
a physical separation at the close.

Among the people of Bahá, however, marriage must
be a union of the body and of the spirit as well, for here both
husband and wife are aglow with the same wine, both are enamoured of
the same matchless Face, both live and move through the same spirit,
both are illumined by the same glory. This connection between them is
a spiritual one, hence it is a bond that will abide forever. Likewise
do they enjoy strong and lasting ties in the physical world as well,
for if the marriage is based both on the spirit and the body, that
union is a true one, hence it will endure. If, however, the bond is
physical and nothing more, it is sure to be only temporary, and must
inexorably end in separation.

When, therefore, the people of Bahá undertake to
marry, the union must be a true relationship, a spiritual coming
together as well as a physical one, so that throughout every phase of
life, and in all the worlds of God, their union will endure; for this
real oneness is a gleaming out of the love of God.

In the same way, when any souls grow to be true
believers, they will attain a spiritual relationship with one
another, and show forth a tenderness which is not of this world. They
will, all of them, become elated from a draught of divine love, and
that union of theirs, that connection, will also abide forever.
Souls, that is, who will consign their own selves to oblivion, strip
from themselves the defects of humankind, and unchain themselves from
human bondage, will beyond any doubt be illumined with the heavenly
splendours of oneness, and will all attain unto real union in the
world that dieth not.

85: As for the question regarding
marriage under the …

As for the question regarding marriage under the Law of
God: first thou must choose one who is pleasing to thee, and then the
matter is subject to the consent of father and mother. Before thou
makest thy choice, they have no right to interfere.

86: Bahá’í
marriage is the commitment of the two …

Bahá’í marriage is the commitment of
the two parties one to the other, and their mutual attachment of mind
and heart. Each must, however, exercise the utmost care to become
thoroughly acquainted with the character of the other, that the
binding covenant between them may be a tie that will endure forever.
Their purpose must be this: to become loving companions and comrades
and at one with each other for time and eternity….

The true marriage of Bahá’ís is
this, that husband and wife should be united both physically and
spiritually, that they may ever improve the spiritual life of each
other, and may enjoy everlasting unity throughout all the worlds of
God. This is Bahá’í marriage.

87: O thou memento of him who died
for the Blessed …

O thou memento of him who died for the Blessed Beauty!
In recent days, the joyful news of thy marriage to that luminous leaf
hath been received, and hath infinitely gladdened the hearts of the
people of God. With all humility, prayers of supplication have been
offered at the Holy Threshold, that this marriage may be a harbinger
of joy to the friends, that it may be a loving bond for all eternity,
and yield everlasting benefits and fruits.

From separation doth every kind of hurt and harm
proceed, but the union of created things doth ever yield most
laudable results. From the pairing of even the smallest particles in
the world of being are the grace and bounty of God made manifest; and
the higher the degree, the more momentous is the union. ‘Glory
be to Him Who hath created all the pairs, of such things as earth
produceth, and out of men themselves, and of things beyond their
ken.’35
And above all other unions is that between human beings, especially
when it cometh to pass in the love of God. Thus is the primal oneness
made to appear; thus is laid the foundation of love in the spirit. It
is certain that such a marriage as yours will cause the bestowals of
God to be revealed. Wherefore do we offer you felicitations and call
down blessings upon you and beg of the Blessed Beauty, through His
aid and favour, to make that wedding feast a joy to all and adorn it
with the harmony of Heaven.

O my Lord, O my Lord! These two bright orbs are wedded
in Thy love, conjoined in servitude to Thy Holy Threshold, united in
ministering to Thy Cause. Make Thou this marriage to be as threading
lights of Thine abounding grace, O my Lord, the All-Merciful, and
luminous rays of Thy bestowals, O Thou the Beneficent, the
Ever-Giving, that there may branch out from this great tree boughs
that will grow green and flourishing through the gifts that rain down
from Thy clouds of grace.

Verily Thou art the Generous, verily Thou art the
Almighty, verily Thou art the Compassionate, the All-Merciful.

88:
O ye my two beloved children! The news of your …

O ye my two beloved children! The news of your union, as
soon as it reached me, imparted infinite joy and gratitude. Praise be
to God, those two faithful birds have sought shelter in one nest. I
beseech God that He may enable them to raise an honoured family, for
the importance of marriage lieth in the bringing up of a richly
blessed family, so that with entire gladness they may, even as
candles, illuminate the world. For the enlightenment of the world
dependeth upon the existence of man. If man did not exist in this
world, it would have been like a tree without fruit. My hope is that
you both may become even as one tree, and may, through the
outpourings of the cloud of loving-kindness, acquire freshness and
charm, and may blossom and yield fruit, so that your line may
eternally endure.

Upon ye be the Glory of the Most Glorious.

89: O thou who art firm in the
Covenant! The letter …

O thou who art firm in the Covenant! The letter thou
hadst written on 2 May 1919 was received. Praise thou God that in
tests thou art firm and steadfast and art holding fast to the Abhá
Kingdom. Thou art not shaken by any affliction or disturbed by any
calamity. Not until man is tried doth the pure gold distinctly
separate from the dross. Torment is the fire of test wherein the pure
gold shineth resplendently and the impurity is burned and blackened.
At present thou art, praise be to God, firm and steadfast in tests
and trials and art not shaken by them.

Thy wife is not in harmony with thee, but praise be to
God, the Blessed Beauty is pleased with thee and is conferring upon
thee the utmost bounty and blessings. But still try to be patient
with thy wife, perchance she may be transformed and her heart may be
illumined. The contribution thou hast made for teaching is highly
acceptable and it shall be eternally mentioned in the divine Kingdom
for it is the cause of the diffusion of fragrances and the exaltation
of the Word of God.

90: O God, my God! This Thy handmaid
is calling …

O God, my God! This Thy handmaid is calling upon Thee,
trusting in Thee, turning her face unto Thee, imploring Thee to shed
Thy heavenly bounties upon her, and to disclose unto her Thy
spiritual mysteries, and to cast upon her the lights of Thy Godhead.

O my Lord! Make the eyes of my husband to see. Rejoice
Thou his heart with the light of the knowledge of Thee, draw Thou his
mind unto Thy luminous beauty, cheer Thou his spirit by revealing
unto him Thy manifest splendours.

O my Lord! Lift Thou the veil from before his sight.
Rain down Thy plenteous bounties upon him, intoxicate him with the
wine of love for Thee, make him one of Thy angels whose feet walk
upon this earth even as their souls are soaring through the high
heavens. Cause him to become a brilliant lamp, shining out with the
light of Thy wisdom in the midst of Thy people.

Verily Thou art the Precious, the Ever-Bestowing, the
Open of Hand.

91: O thou who hast bowed thyself
down in prayer …

O thou who hast bowed thyself down in prayer before the
Kingdom of God! Blessed art thou, for the beauty of the divine
Countenance hath enraptured thy heart, and the light of inner wisdom
hath filled it full, and within it shineth the brightness of the
Kingdom. Know thou that God is with thee under all conditions, and
that He guardeth thee from the changes and chances of this world and
hath made thee a handmaid in His mighty vineyard….

As to thy respected husband: it is incumbent upon thee
to treat him with great kindness, to consider his wishes and be
conciliatory with him at all times, till he seeth that because thou
hast directed thyself toward the Kingdom of God, thy tenderness for
him and thy love for God have but increased, as well as thy concern
for his wishes under all conditions.

I beg of the Almighty to keep thee firmly established in
His love, and ever shedding abroad the sweet breaths of holiness in
all those regions.

92: O ye two believers in God! The
Lord, peerless is …

O ye two believers in God! The Lord, peerless is He,
hath made woman and man to abide with each other in the closest
companionship, and to be even as a single soul. They are two
helpmates, two intimate friends, who should be concerned about the
welfare of each other.

If they live thus, they will pass through this world
with perfect contentment, bliss, and peace of heart, and become the
object of divine grace and favour in the Kingdom of heaven. But if
they do other than this, they will live out their lives in great
bitterness, longing at every moment for death, and will be shamefaced
in the heavenly realm.

Strive, then, to abide, heart and soul, with each other
as two doves in the nest, for this is to be blessed in both worlds.

93: O thou maidservant of God! Every
woman who …

O thou maidservant of God! Every woman who becometh the
maidservant of God outshineth in glory the empresses of the world,
for she is related to God, and her sovereignty is everlasting,
whereas a handful of dust will obliterate the name and fame of those
empresses. In other words, as soon as they go down to the grave they
are reduced to naught. The maidservants of God’s Kingdom, on
the other hand, enjoy eternal sovereignty unaffected by the passing
of ages and generations.

Consider how many empresses have come and gone since the
time of Christ. Each was the ruler of a country but now all trace and
name of them is lost, while Mary Magdalene, who was only a peasant
and a maidservant of God, still shineth from the horizon of
everlasting glory. Strive thou, therefore, to remain the maidservant
of God.

Thou hast praised the Convention. This Convention shall
acquire great importance in future, for it is serving the divine
Kingdom and the world of mankind. It promulgateth universal peace and
layeth the basis of the oneness of mankind; it freeth the souls from
religious, racial and worldly prejudices and gathereth them under the
shade of the one-coloured pavilion of God. Praise thou God,
therefore, that thou hast attended such a Convention and hast
listened to the divine Teachings.

94: O handmaids of the beauty of
Abhá! Your letter …

O handmaids of the beauty of Abhá! Your letter
hath come, and its perusal brought great joy. Praised be God, the
women believers have organized meetings where they will learn how to
teach the Faith, will spread the sweet savours of the Teachings and
make plans for training the children.

This gathering must be completely spiritual. That is,
the discussions must be confined to marshalling clear and conclusive
proofs that the Sun of Truth hath indeed arisen. And further, those
present should concern themselves with every means of training the
girl children; with teaching the various branches of knowledge, good
behaviour, a proper way of life, the cultivation of a good character,
chastity and constancy, perseverance, strength, determination,
firmness of purpose; with household management, the education of
children, and whatever especially applieth to the needs of girls—to
the end that these girls, reared in the stronghold of all
perfections, and with the protection of a goodly character, will,
when they themselves become mothers, bring up their children from
earliest infancy to have a good character and conduct themselves
well.

Let them also study whatever will nurture the health of
the body and its physical soundness, and how to guard their children
from disease.

When matters are thus well arranged, every child will
become a peerless plant in the gardens of the Abhá Paradise.

95: O handmaids of the Lord! The
spiritual assemblage …

O handmaids of the Lord! The spiritual assemblage that
ye established in that illumined city is most propitious. Ye have
made great strides; ye have surpassed the others, have arisen to
serve the Holy Threshold, and have won heavenly bestowals. Now with
all spiritual zeal must ye gather in that enlightened assemblage and
recite the Holy Writings and engage in remembering the Lord. Set ye
forth His arguments and proofs. Work ye for the guidance of the women
in that land, teach the young girls and the children, so that the
mothers may educate their little ones from their earliest days,
thoroughly train them, rear them to have a goodly character and good
morals, guide them to all the virtues of humankind, prevent the
development of any behaviour that would be worthy of blame, and
foster them in the embrace of Bahá’í education.
Thus shall these tender infants be nurtured at the breast of the
knowledge of God and His love. Thus shall they grow and flourish, and
be taught righteousness and the dignity of humankind, resolution and
the will to strive and to endure. Thus shall they learn perseverance
in all things, the will to advance, high mindedness and high resolve,
chastity and purity of life. Thus shall they be enabled to carry to a
successful conclusion whatsoever they undertake.

Let the mothers consider that whatever concerneth the
education of children is of the first importance. Let them put forth
every effort in this regard, for when the bough is green and tender
it will grow in whatever way ye train it. Therefore is it incumbent
upon the mothers to rear their little ones even as a gardener tendeth
his young plants. Let them strive by day and by night to establish
within their children faith and certitude, the fear of God, the love
of the Beloved of the worlds, and all good qualities and traits.
Whensoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her
praise and applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest
undesirable trait should manifest itself, let her counsel the child
and punish him, and use means based on reason, even a slight verbal
chastisement should this be necessary. It is not, however,
permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child’s
character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or
verbal abuse.

96: O handmaids of the Merciful!
Render ye thanks …

O handmaids of the Merciful! Render ye thanks unto the
Ancient Beauty that ye have been raised up and gathered together in
this mightiest of centuries, this most illumined of ages. As
befitting thanks for such a bounty, stand ye staunch and strong in
the Covenant and, following the precepts of God and the holy Law,
suckle your children from their infancy with the milk of a universal
education, and rear them so that from their earliest days, within
their inmost heart, their very nature, a way of life will be firmly
established that will conform to the divine Teachings in all things.

For mothers are the first educators, the first mentors;
and truly it is the mothers who determine the happiness, the future
greatness, the courteous ways and learning and judgement, the
understanding and the faith of their little ones.

97: There are certain pillars which
have been established …

There are certain pillars which have been established as
the unshakeable supports of the Faith of God. The mightiest of these
is learning and the use of the mind, the expansion of consciousness,
and insight into the realities of the universe and the hidden
mysteries of Almighty God.

To promote knowledge is thus an inescapable duty imposed
on every one of the friends of God. It is incumbent upon that
Spiritual Assembly, that assemblage of God, to exert every effort to
educate the children, so that from infancy they will be trained in
Bahá’í conduct and the ways of God, and will,
even as young plants, thrive and flourish in the soft-flowing waters
that are the counsels and admonitions of the Blessed Beauty.

98: Were there no educator, all
souls would remain …

Were there no educator, all souls would remain savage,
and were it not for the teacher, the children would be ignorant
creatures.

It is for this reason that, in this new cycle, education
and training are recorded in the Book of God as obligatory and not
voluntary. That is, it is enjoined upon the father and mother, as a
duty, to strive with all effort to train the daughter and the son, to
nurse them from the breast of knowledge and to rear them in the bosom
of sciences and arts. Should they neglect this matter, they shall be
held responsible and worthy of reproach in the presence of the stern
Lord.

99: Thou didst write as to the
children: from the very …

Thou didst write as to the children: from the very
beginning, the children must receive divine education and must
continually be reminded to remember their God. Let the love of God
pervade their inmost being, commingled with their mother’s
milk.

100: My wish is that these children
should receive a …

My wish is that these children should receive a Bahá’í
education, so that they may progress both here and in the Kingdom,
and rejoice thy heart.

In a time to come, morals will degenerate to an extreme
degree. It is essential that children be reared in the Bahá’í
way, that they may find happiness both in this world and the next. If
not, they shall be beset by sorrows and troubles, for human happiness
is founded upon spiritual behaviour.

101: O ye who have peace of soul!
Among the divine …

O ye who have peace of soul! Among the divine Texts as
set forth in the Most Holy Book and also in other Tablets is this: it
is incumbent upon the father and mother to train their children both
in good conduct and the study of books; study, that is, to the degree
required, so that no child, whether girl or boy, will remain
illiterate. Should the father fail in his duty he must be compelled
to discharge his responsibility, and should he be unable to comply,
let the House of Justice take over the education of the children; in
no case is a child to be left without an education. This is one of
the stringent and inescapable commandments to neglect which would
draw down the wrathful indignation of Almighty God.

102: O true companions! All
humankind are as children …

O true companions! All humankind are as children in a
school, and the Dawning-Points of Light, the Sources of divine
revelation, are the teachers, wondrous and without peer. In the
school of realities they educate these sons and daughters, according
to teachings from God, and foster them in the bosom of grace, so that
they may develop along every line, show forth the excellent gifts and
blessings of the Lord, and combine human perfections; that they may
advance in all aspects of human endeavour, whether outward or inward,
hidden or visible, material or spiritual, until they make of this
mortal world a widespread mirror, to reflect that other world which
dieth not.

O ye friends of God! Because, in this most momentous of
ages, the Sun of Truth hath risen at the highest point of the spring
equinox, and cast its rays on every clime, it shall kindle such
tremulous excitement, it shall release such vibrations in the world
of being, it shall stimulate such growth and development, it shall
stream out with such a glory of light, and clouds of grace shall pour
down such plentiful waters, and fields and plains shall teem with
such a galaxy of sweet-smelling plants and blooms, that this lowly
earth will become the Abhá Kingdom, and this nether world the
world above. Then will this fleck of dust be as the vast circle of
the skies, this human place the palace-court of God, this spot of
clay the dayspring of the endless favours of the Lord of Lords.

Wherefore, O loved ones of God! Make ye a mighty effort
till you yourselves betoken this advancement and all these
confirmations, and become focal centres of God’s blessings,
daysprings of the light of His unity, promoters of the gifts and
graces of civilized life. Be ye in that land vanguards of the
perfections of humankind; carry forward the various branches of
knowledge, be active and progressive in the field of inventions and
the arts. Endeavour to rectify the conduct of men, and seek to excel
the whole world in moral character. While the children are yet in
their infancy feed them from the breast of heavenly grace, foster
them in the cradle of all excellence, rear them in the embrace of
bounty. Give them the advantage of every useful kind of knowledge.
Let them share in every new and rare and wondrous craft and art.
Bring them up to work and strive, and accustom them to hardship.
Teach them to dedicate their lives to matters of great import, and
inspire them to undertake studies that will benefit mankind.

103: The education and training of
children is among …

The education and training of children is among the most
meritorious acts of humankind and draweth down the grace and favour
of the All-Merciful, for education is the indispensable foundation of
all human excellence and alloweth man to work his way to the heights
of abiding glory. If a child be trained from his infancy, he will,
through the loving care of the Holy Gardener, drink in the crystal
waters of the spirit and of knowledge, like a young tree amid the
rilling brooks. And certainly he will gather to himself the bright
rays of the Sun of Truth, and through its light and heat will grow
ever fresh and fair in the garden of life.

Therefore must the mentor be a doctor as well: that is,
he must, in instructing the child, remedy its faults; must give him
learning, and at the same time rear him to have a spiritual nature.
Let the teacher be a doctor to the character of the child, thus will
he heal the spiritual ailments of the children of men.

If, in this momentous task, a mighty effort be exerted,
the world of humanity will shine out with other adornings, and shed
the fairest light. Then will this darksome place grow luminous, and
this abode of earth turn into Heaven. The very demons will change to
angels then, and wolves to shepherds of the flock, and the wild-dog
pack to gazelles that pasture on the plains of oneness, and ravening
beasts to peaceful herds, and birds of prey, with talons sharp as
knives, to songsters warbling their sweet native notes.

For the inner reality of man is a demarcation line
between the shadow and the light, a place where the two seas meet;36
it is the lowest point on the arc of descent,37
and therefore is it capable of gaining all the grades above. With
education it can achieve all excellence; devoid of education it will
stay on, at the lowest point of imperfection.

Every child is potentially the light of the world—and
at the same time its darkness; wherefore must the question of
education be accounted as of primary importance. From his infancy,
the child must be nursed at the breast of God’s love, and
nurtured in the embrace of His knowledge, that he may radiate light,
grow in spirituality, be filled with wisdom and learning, and take on
the characteristics of the angelic host.

Since ye have been assigned to this holy task, ye must
therefore exert every effort to make that school famed in all
respects throughout the world; to make it the cause of exalting the
Word of the Lord.

104: O loved ones of God and
handmaids of the …

O loved ones of God and handmaids of the Merciful! A
large body of scholars is of the opinion that variations among minds
and differing degrees of perception are due to differences in
education, training and culture. That is, they believe that minds are
equal to begin with, but that training and education will result in
mental variations and differing levels of intelligence, and that such
variations are not an inherent component of the individuality but are
the result of education: that no one hath any inborn superiority over
another….

The Manifestations of God are likewise in agreement with
the view that education exerteth the strongest possible influence on
humankind. They affirm, however, that differences in the level of
intelligence are innate; and this fact is obvious, and not worth
debating. For we see that children of the same age, the same country,
the same race, indeed of the same family, and trained by the same
individual, still are different as to the degree of their
comprehension and intelligence. One will make rapid progress, one
will receive instruction only gradually, one will remain at the
lowest stage of all. For no matter how much you may polish a shell,
it will not turn into a gleaming pearl, nor can you change a dull
pebble into a gem whose pure rays will light the world. Never,
through training and cultivation, will the colocynth and the bitter
tree38
change into the Tree of Blessedness.39
That is to say, education cannot alter the inner essence of a man,
but it doth exert tremendous influence, and with this power it can
bring forth from the individual whatever perfections and capacities
are deposited within him. A grain of wheat, when cultivated by the
farmer, will yield a whole harvest, and a seed, through the
gardener’s care, will grow into a great tree. Thanks to a
teacher’s loving efforts, the children of the primary school
may reach the highest levels of achievement; indeed, his benefactions
may lift some child of small account to an exalted throne. Thus is it
clearly demonstrated that by their essential nature, minds vary as to
their capacity, while education also playeth a great role and
exerteth a powerful effect on their development.

105: As to the difference between
that material civilization …

As to the difference between that material civilization
now prevailing, and the divine civilization which will be one of the
benefits to derive from the House of Justice, it is this: material
civilization, through the power of punitive and retaliatory laws,
restraineth the people from criminal acts; and notwithstanding this,
while laws to retaliate against and punish a man are continually
proliferating, as ye can see, no laws exist to reward him. In all the
cities of Europe and America, vast buildings have been erected to
serve as jails for the criminals.

Divine civilization, however, so traineth every member
of society that no one, with the exception of a negligible few, will
undertake to commit a crime. There is thus a great difference between
the prevention of crime through measures that are violent and
retaliatory, and so training the people, and enlightening them, and
spiritualizing them, that without any fear of punishment or vengeance
to come, they will shun all criminal acts. They will, indeed, look
upon the very commission of a crime as a great disgrace and in itself
the harshest of punishments. They will become enamoured of human
perfections, and will consecrate their lives to whatever will bring
light to the world and will further those qualities which are
acceptable at the Holy Threshold of God.

See then how wide is the difference between material
civilization and divine. With force and punishments, material
civilization seeketh to restrain the people from mischief, from
inflicting harm on society and committing crimes. But in a divine
civilization, the individual is so conditioned that with no fear of
punishment, he shunneth the perpetration of crimes, seeth the crime
itself as the severest of torments, and with alacrity and joy,
setteth himself to acquiring the virtues of humankind, to furthering
human progress, and to spreading light across the world.

106: Among the greatest of all
services that can possibly …

Among the greatest of all services that can possibly be
rendered by man to Almighty God is the education and training of
children, young plants of the Abhá Paradise, so that these
children, fostered by grace in the way of salvation, growing like
pearls of divine bounty in the shell of education, will one day
bejewel the crown of abiding glory.

It is, however, very difficult to undertake this
service, even harder to succeed in it. I hope that thou wilt acquit
thyself well in this most important of tasks, and successfully carry
the day, and become an ensign of God’s abounding grace; that
these children, reared one and all in the holy Teachings, will
develop natures like unto the sweet airs that blow across the gardens
of the All-Glorious, and will waft their fragrance around the world.

107: It is the hope of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
that those youthful …

It is the hope of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that
those youthful souls in the schoolroom of the deeper knowledge will
be tended by one who traineth them to love. May they all, throughout
the reaches of the spirit, learn well of the hidden mysteries; so
well that in the Kingdom of the All-Glorious, each one of them, even
as a nightingale endowed with speech, will cry out the secrets of the
Heavenly Realm, and like unto a longing lover pour forth his sore
need and utter want of the Beloved.

108: Ye should consider the question
of goodly …

Ye should consider the question of goodly character as
of the first importance. It is incumbent upon every father and mother
to counsel their children over a long period, and guide them unto
those things which lead to everlasting honour.

Encourage ye the school children, from their earliest
years, to deliver speeches of high quality, so that in their leisure
time they will engage in giving cogent and effective talks,
expressing themselves with clarity and eloquence.

109: O ye recipients of the favours
of God! In this new …

O ye recipients of the favours of God! In this new and
wondrous Age, the unshakeable foundation is the teaching of sciences
and arts. According to explicit Holy Texts, every child must be
taught crafts and arts, to the degree that is needful. Wherefore, in
every city and village, schools must be established and every child
in that city or village is to engage in study to the necessary
degree.

It followeth that whatever soul shall offer his aid to
bring this about will assuredly be accepted at the heavenly
Threshold, and extolled by the Company on high.

Since ye have striven hard toward this all-important
end, it is my hope that ye will reap your reward from the Lord of
clear tokens and signs, and that the glances of heavenly grace will
turn your way.

110: As to the organization of the
schools: if possible …

As to the organization of the schools: if possible the
children should all wear the same kind of clothing, even if the
fabric is varied. It is preferable that the fabric as well should be
uniform; if, however, this is not possible, there is no harm done.
The more cleanly the pupils are, the better; they should be
immaculate. The school must be located in a place where the air is
delicate and pure. The children must be carefully trained to be most
courteous and well-behaved. They must be constantly encouraged and
made eager to gain all the summits of human accomplishment, so that
from their earliest years they will be taught to have high aims, to
conduct themselves well, to be chaste, pure, and undefiled, and will
learn to be of powerful resolve and firm of purpose in all things.
Let them not jest and trifle, but earnestly advance unto their goals,
so that in every situation they will be found resolute and firm.

Training in morals and good conduct is far more
important than book learning. A child that is cleanly, agreeable, of
good character, well-behaved—even though he be ignorant—is
preferable to a child that is rude, unwashed, ill-natured, and yet
becoming deeply versed in all the sciences and arts. The reason for
this is that the child who conducts himself well, even though he be
ignorant, is of benefit to others, while an ill-natured, ill-behaved
child is corrupted and harmful to others, even though he be learned.
If, however, the child be trained to be both learned and good, the
result is light upon light.

Children are even as a branch that is fresh and green;
they will grow up in whatever way ye train them. Take the utmost care
to give them high ideals and goals, so that once they come of age,
they will cast their beams like brilliant candles on the world, and
will not be defiled by lusts and passions in the way of animals,
heedless and unaware, but instead will set their hearts on achieving
everlasting honour and acquiring all the excellences of humankind.

111: The root cause of wrongdoing is
ignorance, and …

The root cause of wrongdoing is ignorance, and we must
therefore hold fast to the tools of perception and knowledge. Good
character must be taught. Light must be spread afar, so that, in the
school of humanity, all may acquire the heavenly characteristics of
the spirit, and see for themselves beyond any doubt that there is no
fiercer hell, no more fiery abyss, than to possess a character that
is evil and unsound; no more darksome pit nor loathsome torment than
to show forth qualities which deserve to be condemned.

The individual must be educated to such a high degree
that he would rather have his throat cut than tell a lie, and would
think it easier to be slashed with a sword or pierced with a spear
than to utter calumny or be carried away by wrath.

Thus will be kindled the sense of human dignity and
pride, to burn away the reapings of lustful appetites. Then will each
one of God’s beloved shine out as a bright moon with qualities
of the spirit, and the relationship of each to the Sacred Threshold
of his Lord will be not illusory but sound and real, will be as the
very foundation of the building, not some embellishment on its
façade.

It followeth that the children’s school must be a
place of utmost discipline and order, that instruction must be
thorough, and provision must be made for the rectification and
refinement of character; so that, in his earliest years, within the
very essence of the child, the divine foundation will be laid and the
structure of holiness raised up.

Know that this matter of instruction, of character
rectification and refinement, of heartening and encouraging the
child, is of the utmost importance, for such are basic principles of
God.

Thus, if God will, out of these spiritual schools
illumined children will arise, adorned with all the fairest virtues
of humankind, and will shed their light not only across Persia, but
around the world.

It is extremely difficult to teach the individual and
refine his character once puberty is passed. By then, as experience
hath shown, even if every effort be exerted to modify some tendency
of his, it all availeth nothing. He may, perhaps, improve somewhat
today; but let a few days pass and he forgetteth, and turneth
backward to his habitual condition and accustomed ways. Therefore it
is in early childhood that a firm foundation must be laid. While the
branch is green and tender it can easily be made straight.

Our meaning is that qualities of the spirit are the
basic and divine foundation, and adorn the true essence of man; and
knowledge is the cause of human progress. The beloved of God must
attach great importance to this matter, and carry it forward with
enthusiasm and zeal.

112: In this holy Cause the question
of orphans hath …

In this holy Cause the question of orphans hath the
utmost importance. The greatest consideration must be shown towards
orphans; they must be taught, trained and educated. The Teachings of
Bahá’u’lláh, especially, must by all means
be given to them as far as is possible.

I supplicate God that thou mayest become a kind parent
to orphaned children, quickening them with the fragrances of the Holy
Spirit, so that they will attain the age of maturity as true servants
of the world of humanity and as bright candles in the assemblage of
mankind.

113: O handmaid of God!… To the
mothers must be …

O handmaid of God!… To the mothers must be given the
divine Teachings and effective counsel, and they must be encouraged
and made eager to train their children, for the mother is the first
educator of the child. It is she who must, at the very beginning,
suckle the newborn at the breast of God’s Faith and God’s
Law, that divine love may enter into him even with his mother’s
milk, and be with him till his final breath.

So long as the mother faileth to train her children, and
start them on a proper way of life, the training which they receive
later on will not take its full effect. It is incumbent upon the
Spiritual Assemblies to provide the mothers with a well-planned
programme for the education of children, showing how, from infancy,
the child must be watched over and taught. These instructions must be
given to every mother to serve her as a guide, so that each will
train and nurture her children in accordance with the Teachings.

Thus will these young plants in the garden of God’s
love grow and flourish under the warmth of the Sun of Truth, the
gentle spring winds of Heaven, and their mother’s guiding hand.
Thus, in the Abhá Paradise, will each become a tree, bearing
his clustered fruit, and each one, in this new and wondrous season,
out of the bounties of the spring, will become possessed of all
beauty and grace.

114: O ye loving mothers, know ye
that in God’s sight, …

O ye loving mothers, know ye that in God’s sight,
the best of all ways to worship Him is to educate the children and
train them in all the perfections of humankind; and no nobler deed
than this can be imagined.

115: O ye two well-loved handmaids
of God! Whatever …

O ye two well-loved handmaids of God! Whatever a man’s
tongue speaketh, that let him prove by his deeds. If he claimeth to
be a believer, then let him act in accordance with the precepts of
the Abhá Kingdom.

Praised be God, ye two have demonstrated the truth of
your words by your deeds, and have won the confirmations of the Lord
God. Every day at first light, ye gather the Bahá’í
children together and teach them the communes and prayers. This is a
most praiseworthy act, and bringeth joy to the children’s
hearts: that they should, at every morn, turn their faces toward the
Kingdom and make mention of the Lord and praise His Name, and in the
sweetest of voices, chant and recite.

These children are even as young plants, and teaching
them the prayers is as letting the rain pour down upon them, that
they may wax tender and fresh, and the soft breezes of the love of
God may blow over them, making them to tremble with joy.

Blessedness awaiteth you, and a fair haven.

116: O thou daughter of the Kingdom!
Thy letters …

O thou daughter of the Kingdom! Thy letters were
received. Their contents indicated that thy mother hath ascended to
the invisible realm and that thou hast been left alone. Thy wish is
to serve thy father, who is dear to thee, and also to serve the
Kingdom of God, and thou art perplexed as to which of the two thou
shouldst do. Assuredly engage in service to thy father, and as well,
whenever thou findest time, diffuse the divine fragrances.

117: O dear one of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá!
Be the son of thy …

O dear one of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá! Be the
son of thy father and be the fruit of that tree. Be a son that hath
been born of his soul and heart and not only of water and clay. A
real son is such a one as hath branched from the spiritual part of
man. I ask God that thou mayest be at all times confirmed and
strengthened.

118: O ye young Bahá’í
children, ye seekers after true …

O ye young Bahá’í children, ye
seekers after true understanding and knowledge! A human being is
distinguished from an animal in a number of ways. First of all, he is
made in the image of God, in the likeness of the Supernal Light, even
as the Torah saith, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness.’40
This divine image betokeneth all the qualities of perfection whose
lights, emanating from the Sun of Truth, illumine the realities of
men. And among the greatest of these attributes of perfection are
wisdom and knowledge. Ye must therefore put forth a mighty effort,
striving by night and day and resting not for a moment, to acquire an
abundant share of all the sciences and arts, that the Divine Image,
which shineth out from the Sun of Truth, may illumine the mirror of
the hearts of men.

It is the longing desire of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
to see each one of you accounted as the foremost professor in the
academies, and in the school of inner significances, each one
becoming a leader in wisdom.

119: It is incumbent upon Bahá’í
children to surpass …

It is incumbent upon Bahá’í children
to surpass other children in the acquisition of sciences and arts,
for they have been cradled in the grace of God.

Whatever other children learn in a year, let Bahá’í
children learn in a month. The heart of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
longeth, in its love, to find that Bahá’í young
people, each and all, are known throughout the world for their
intellectual attainments. There is no question but that they will
exert all their efforts, their energies, their sense of pride, to
acquire the sciences and arts.

120: O my dear children! Your letter
was received. A …

O my dear children! Your letter was received. A degree
of joy was attained that is beyond words or writing that, praise be
to God, the power of the Kingdom of God hath trained such children
who, from their early childhood, eagerly wish to acquire Bahá’í
education that they may, from the period of their childhood, engage
in service to the world of humanity.

My highest wish and desire is that ye who are my
children may be educated according to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh
and may receive a Bahá’í training; that ye may
each become a lighted candle in the world of humanity, may be devoted
to the service of all mankind, may give up your rest and comfort, so
that ye may become the cause of the tranquillity of the world of
creation.

Such is my hope for you and I trust that ye may become
the cause of my joy and gladness in the Kingdom of God.

121: O thou whose years are few, yet
whose mental …

O thou whose years are few, yet whose mental gifts are
many! How many a child, though young in years, is yet mature and
sound in judgement! How many an aged person is ignorant and confused!
For growth and development depend on one’s powers of intellect
and reason, not on one’s age or length of days.

Although still in the season of childhood, yet hast thou
recognized thy Lord, while myriads of women are oblivious of Him and
are shut away from His heavenly Kingdom and deprived of His
bestowals. Render thou thanks unto thy Lord for this wondrous gift.

I beg of God to heal thy mother, who is honoured in the
Kingdom of heaven.

122: As to thy question regarding
the education of …

As to thy question regarding the education of children:
it behoveth thee to nurture them at the breast of the love of God,
and urge them onward to the things of the spirit, that they may turn
their faces unto God; that their ways may conform to the rules of
good conduct and their character be second to none; that they make
their own all the graces and praiseworthy qualities of humankind;
acquire a sound knowledge of the various branches of learning, so
that from the very beginning of life they may become spiritual
beings, dwellers in the Kingdom, enamoured of the sweet breaths of
holiness, and may receive an education religious, spiritual, and of
the Heavenly Realm. Verily will I call upon God to grant them a happy
outcome in this.

123: O thou who gazest upon the
Kingdom of God! …

O thou who gazest upon the Kingdom of God! Thy letter
was received and we note that thou art engaged in teaching the
children of the believers, that these tender little ones have been
learning The Hidden Words and the prayers and what it meaneth to be a
Bahá’í.

The instruction of these children is even as the work of
a loving gardener who tendeth his young plants in the flowering
fields of the All-Glorious. There is no doubt that it will yield the
desired results; especially is this true of instruction as to Bahá’í
obligations and Bahá’í conduct, for the little
children must needs be made aware in their very heart and soul that
“Bahá’í” is not just a name but a
truth. Every child must be trained in the things of the spirit, so
that he may embody all the virtues and become a source of glory to
the Cause of God. Otherwise, the mere word “Bahá’í”,
if it yield no fruit, will come to nothing.

Strive then to the best of thine ability to let these
children know that a Bahá’í is one who embodieth
all the perfections, that he must shine out like a lighted taper—not
be darkness upon darkness and yet bear the name “Bahá’í”.

Name thou this school the Bahá’í
Sunday School.41

124: The Sunday school for the
children in which the …

The Sunday school for the children in which the Tablets
and Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh are read, and
the Word of God is recited for the children is indeed a blessed
thing. Thou must certainly continue this organized activity without
cessation, and attach importance to it, so that day by day it may
grow and be quickened with the breaths of the Holy Spirit. If this
activity is well organized, rest thou assured that it will yield
great results. Firmness and steadfastness, however, are necessary,
otherwise it will continue for some time, but later be gradually
forgotten. Perseverance is an essential condition. In every project
firmness and steadfastness will undoubtedly lead to good results;
otherwise it will exist for some days, and then be discontinued.

125: The changing of teachers should
be neither too …

The changing of teachers should be neither too frequent
nor too much delayed; moderation is preferable. Holding your meetings
when it is the time of prayer in other churches is not advisable; it
would lead to alienation, since the Bahá’í
children who have their own Sunday school would be deprived of it if
they tried to attend other Sunday schools. Moreover, the admission of
children of non-Bahá’í parents to the school for
Bahá’í children is permissible. And if, in this
school, an outline of the fundamental principles underlying all
religions be set forth for the information of the children, it can do
no harm.

As the children are few in number, it is not possible to
have different classes and naturally only one is necessary.
Concerning the last question regarding differences among children,
act as ye deem advisable.

126: Thy letter was received. Praise
be to God it …

Thy letter was received. Praise be to God it imparted
the good news of thy health and safety and indicated that thou art
ready to enter an agricultural school. This is highly suitable.
Strive as much as possible to become proficient in the science of
agriculture, for in accordance with the divine teachings the
acquisition of sciences and the perfection of arts are considered
acts of worship. If a man engageth with all his power in the
acquisition of a science or in the perfection of an art, it is as if
he has been worshipping God in churches and temples. Thus as thou
enterest a school of agriculture and strivest in the acquisition of
that science thou art day and night engaged in acts of worship—acts
that are accepted at the threshold of the Almighty. What bounty
greater than this that science should be considered as an act of
worship and art as service to the Kingdom of God.

127: O thou servant of the One true
God! In this …

O thou servant of the One true God! In this universal
dispensation man’s wondrous craftsmanship is reckoned as
worship of the Resplendent Beauty. Consider what a bounty and
blessing it is that craftsmanship is regarded as worship. In former
times, it was believed that such skills were tantamount to ignorance,
if not a misfortune, hindering man from drawing nigh unto God. Now
consider how His infinite bestowals and abundant favours have changed
hell-fire into blissful paradise, and a heap of dark dust into a
luminous garden.

It behoveth the craftsmen of the world at each moment to
offer a thousand tokens of gratitude at the Sacred Threshold, and to
exert their highest endeavour and diligently pursue their professions
so that their efforts may produce that which will manifest the
greatest beauty and perfection before the eyes of all men.

128: Thy letter was received. I hope
that thou mayest …

Thy letter was received. I hope that thou mayest be
protected and assisted under the providence of the True One, be
occupied always in mentioning the Lord and display effort to complete
thy profession. Thou must endeavour greatly so that thou mayest
become unique in thy profession and famous in those parts, because
attaining perfection in one’s profession in this merciful
period is considered to be worship of God. And whilst thou art
occupied with thy profession, thou canst remember the True One.

129: O Friends of the Pure and
Omnipotent God! To …

O Friends of the Pure and Omnipotent God! To be pure and
holy in all things is an attribute of the consecrated soul and a
necessary characteristic of the unenslaved mind. The best of
perfections is immaculacy and the freeing of oneself from every
defect. Once the individual is, in every respect, cleansed and
purified, then will he become a focal centre reflecting the Manifest
Light.

First in a human being’s way of life must be
purity, then freshness, cleanliness, and independence of spirit.
First must the stream bed be cleansed, then may the sweet river
waters be led into it. Chaste eyes enjoy the beatific vision of the
Lord and know what this encounter meaneth; a pure sense inhaleth the
fragrances that blow from the rose gardens of His grace; a burnished
heart will mirror forth the comely face of truth.

This is why, in Holy Scriptures, the counsels of heaven
are likened to water, even as the Qur’án saith: ‘And
pure water send We down from Heaven,’42
and the Gospel: ‘Except a man be baptized of water and of the
spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.’43
Thus is it clear that the Teachings which come from God are heavenly
outpourings of grace; they are rain-showers of divine mercy, and they
cleanse the human heart.

My meaning is this, that in every aspect of life, purity
and holiness, cleanliness and refinement, exalt the human condition
and further the development of man’s inner reality. Even in the
physical realm, cleanliness will conduce to spirituality, as the Holy
Writings clearly state. And although bodily cleanliness is a physical
thing, it hath, nevertheless, a powerful influence on the life of the
spirit. It is even as a voice wondrously sweet, or a melody played:
although sounds are but vibrations in the air which affect the ear’s
auditory nerve, and these vibrations are but chance phenomena carried
along through the air, even so, see how they move the heart. A
wondrous melody is wings for the spirit, and maketh the soul to
tremble for joy. The purport is that physical cleanliness doth also
exert its effect upon the human soul.

Observe how pleasing is cleanliness in the sight of God,
and how specifically it is emphasized in the Holy Books of the
Prophets; for the Scriptures forbid the eating or the use of any
unclean thing. Some of these prohibitions were absolute, and binding
upon all, and whoso transgressed the given law was abhorred of God
and anathematized by the believers. Such, for example, were things
categorically forbidden, the perpetration of which was accounted a
most grievous sin, among them actions so loathsome that it is
shameful even to speak their name.

But there are other forbidden things which do not cause
immediate harm, and the injurious effects of which are only gradually
produced: such acts are also repugnant to the Lord, and blameworthy
in His sight, and repellent. The absolute unlawfulness of these,
however, hath not been expressly set forth in the Text, but their
avoidance is necessary to purity, cleanliness, the preservation of
health, and freedom from addiction.

Among these latter is smoking tobacco, which is dirty,
smelly, offensive—an evil habit, and one the harmfulness of
which gradually becometh apparent to all. Every qualified physician
hath ruled—and this hath also been proven by tests—that
one of the components of tobacco is a deadly poison, and that the
smoker is vulnerable to many and various diseases. This is why
smoking hath been plainly set forth as repugnant from the standpoint
of hygiene.

The Báb, at the outset of His mission, explicitly
prohibited tobacco, and the friends one and all abandoned its use.
But since those were times when dissimulation was permitted, and
every individual who abstained from smoking was exposed to
harassment, abuse and even death—the friends, in order not to
advertise their beliefs, would smoke. Later on, the Book of Aqdas was
revealed, and since smoking tobacco was not specifically forbidden
there, the believers did not give it up. The Blessed Beauty, however,
always expressed repugnance for it, and although, in the early days,
there were reasons why He would smoke a little tobacco, in time He
completely renounced it, and those sanctified souls who followed Him
in all things also abandoned its use.

My meaning is that in the sight of God, smoking tobacco
is deprecated, abhorrent, filthy in the extreme; and, albeit by
degrees, highly injurious to health. It is also a waste of money and
time, and maketh the user a prey to a noxious addiction. To those who
stand firm in the Covenant, this habit is therefore censured both by
reason and experience, and renouncing it will bring relief and peace
of mind to all men. Furthermore, this will make it possible to have a
fresh mouth and unstained fingers, and hair that is free of a foul
and repellent smell. On receipt of this missive, the friends will
surely, by whatever means and even over a period of time, forsake
this pernicious habit. Such is my hope.

As to opium, it is foul and accursed. God protect us
from the punishment He inflicteth on the user. According to the
explicit Text of the Most Holy Book, it is forbidden, and its use is
utterly condemned. Reason showeth that smoking opium is a kind of
insanity, and experience attesteth that the user is completely cut
off from the human kingdom. May God protect all against the
perpetration of an act so hideous as this, an act which layeth in
ruins the very foundation of what it is to be human, and which
causeth the user to be dispossessed for ever and ever. For opium
fasteneth on the soul, so that the user’s conscience dieth, his
mind is blotted away, his perceptions are eroded. It turneth the
living into the dead. It quencheth the natural heat. No greater harm
can be conceived than that which opium inflicteth. Fortunate are they
who never even speak the name of it; then think how wretched is the
user.

O ye lovers of God! In this, the cycle of Almighty God,
violence and force, constraint and oppression, are one and all
condemned. It is, however, mandatory that the use of opium be
prevented by any means whatsoever, that perchance the human race may
be delivered from this most powerful of plagues. And otherwise, woe
and misery to whoso falleth short of his duty to his Lord.44

O Divine Providence! Bestow Thou in all things purity
and cleanliness upon the people of Bahá. Grant that they be
freed from all defilement, and released from all addictions. Save
them from committing any repugnant act, unbind them from the chains
of every evil habit, that they may live pure and free, wholesome and
cleanly, worthy to serve at Thy Sacred Threshold and fit to be
related to their Lord. Deliver them from intoxicating drinks and
tobacco, save them, rescue them, from this opium that bringeth on
madness, suffer them to enjoy the sweet savours of holiness, that
they may drink deep of the mystic cup of heavenly love and know the
rapture of being drawn ever closer unto the Realm of the
All-Glorious. For it is even as Thou hast said: ‘All that thou
hast in thy cellar will not appease the thirst of my love—bring
me, O cup-bearer, of the wine of the spirit a cup full as the sea!’

O ye, God’s loved ones! Experience hath shown how
greatly the renouncing of smoking, of intoxicating drink, and of
opium, conduceth to health and vigour, to the expansion and keenness
of the mind and to bodily strength. There is today a people45
who strictly avoid tobacco, intoxicating liquor and opium. This
people is far and away superior to the others, for strength and
physical courage, for health, beauty and comeliness. A single one of
their men can stand up to ten men of another tribe. This hath proved
true of the entire people: that is, member for member, each
individual of this community is in every respect superior to the
individuals of other communities.

Make ye then a mighty effort, that the purity and
sanctity which, above all else, are cherished by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,
shall distinguish the people of Bahá; that in every kind of
excellence the people of God shall surpass all other human beings;
that both outwardly and inwardly they shall prove superior to the
rest; that for purity, immaculacy, refinement, and the preservation
of health, they shall be leaders in the vanguard of those who know.
And that by their freedom from enslavement, their knowledge, their
self-control, they shall be first among the pure, the free and the
wise.

130: O thou distinguished
physician!… Praise be …

O thou distinguished physician!… Praise be to God that
thou hast two powers: one to undertake physical healing and the other
spiritual healing. Matters related to man’s spirit have a great
effect on his bodily condition. For instance, thou shouldst impart
gladness to thy patient, give him comfort and joy, and bring him to
ecstasy and exultation. How often hath it occurred that this hath
caused early recovery. Therefore, treat thou the sick with both
powers. Spiritual feelings have a surprising effect on healing
nervous ailments.

131: When giving medical treatment
turn to the …

When giving medical treatment turn to the Blessed
Beauty, then follow the dictates of thy heart. Remedy the sick by
means of heavenly joy and spiritual exultation, cure the sorely
afflicted by imparting to them blissful glad tidings and heal the
wounded through His resplendent bestowals. When at the bedside of a
patient, cheer and gladden his heart and enrapture his spirit through
celestial power. Indeed, such a heavenly breath quickeneth every
mouldering bone and reviveth the spirit of every sick and ailing one.

132: Although ill health is one of
the unavoidable conditions …

Although ill health is one of the unavoidable conditions
of man, truly it is hard to bear. The bounty of good health is the
greatest of all gifts.

133: There are two ways of healing
sickness, material …

There are two ways of healing sickness, material means
and spiritual means. The first is by the treatment of physicians; the
second consisteth in prayers offered by the spiritual ones to God and
in turning to Him. Both means should be used and practised.

Illnesses which occur by reason of physical causes
should be treated by doctors with medical remedies; those which are
due to spiritual causes disappear through spiritual means. Thus an
illness caused by affliction, fear, nervous impressions, will be
healed more effectively by spiritual rather than by physical
treatment. Hence, both kinds of treatment should be followed; they
are not contradictory. Therefore thou shouldst also accept physical
remedies inasmuch as these too have come from the mercy and favour of
God, Who hath revealed and made manifest medical science so that His
servants may profit from this kind of treatment also. Thou shouldst
give equal attention to spiritual treatments, for they produce
marvellous effects.

Now, if thou wishest to know the true remedy which will
heal man from all sickness and will give him the health of the divine
kingdom, know that it is the precepts and teachings of God. Focus
thine attention upon them.

134: O thou who art attracted to the
fragrant breathings …

O thou who art attracted to the fragrant breathings of
God! I have read thy letter addressed to Mrs. Lua Getsinger. Thou
hast indeed examined with great care the reasons for the incursion of
disease into the human body. It is certainly the case that sins are a
potent cause of physical ailments. If humankind were free from the
defilements of sin and waywardness, and lived according to a natural,
inborn equilibrium, without following wherever their passions led, it
is undeniable that diseases would no longer take the ascendant, nor
diversify with such intensity.

But man hath perversely continued to serve his lustful
appetites, and he would not content himself with simple foods.
Rather, he prepared for himself food that was compounded of many
ingredients, of substances differing one from the other. With this,
and with the perpetrating of vile and ignoble acts, his attention was
engrossed, and he abandoned the temperance and moderation of a
natural way of life. The result was the engendering of diseases both
violent and diverse.

For the animal, as to its body, is made up of the same
constituent elements as man. Since, however, the animal contenteth
itself with simple foods and striveth not to indulge its importunate
urges to any great degree, and committeth no sins, its ailments
relative to man’s are few. We see clearly, therefore, how
powerful are sin and contumacy as pathogenic factors. And once
engendered these diseases become compounded, multiply, and are
transmitted to others. Such are the spiritual, inner causes of
sickness.

The outer, physical causal factor in disease, however,
is a disturbance in the balance, the proportionate equilibrium of all
those elements of which the human body is composed. To illustrate:
the body of man is a compound of many constituent substances, each
component being present in a prescribed amount, contributing to the
essential equilibrium of the whole. So long as these constituents
remain in their due proportion, according to the natural balance of
the whole—that is, no component suffereth a change in its
natural proportionate degree and balance, no component being either
augmented or decreased—there will be no physical cause for the
incursion of disease.

For example, the starch component must be present to a
given amount, and the sugar to a given amount. So long as each
remaineth in its natural proportion to the whole, there will be no
cause for the onset of disease. When, however, these constituents
vary as to their natural and due amounts—that is, when they are
augmented or diminished—it is certain that this will provide
for the inroads of disease.

This question requireth the most careful investigation.
The Báb hath said that the people of Bahá must develop
the science of medicine to such a high degree that they will heal
illnesses by means of foods. The basic reason for this is that if, in
some component substance of the human body, an imbalance should
occur, altering its correct, relative proportion to the whole, this
fact will inevitably result in the onset of disease. If, for example,
the starch component should be unduly augmented, or the sugar
component decreased, an illness will take control. It is the function
of a skilled physician to determine which constituent of his
patient’s body hath suffered diminution, which hath been
augmented. Once he hath discovered this, he must prescribe a food
containing the diminished element in considerable amounts, to
re-establish the body’s essential equilibrium. The patient,
once his constitution is again in balance, will be rid of his
disease.

The proof of this is that while other animals have never
studied medical science, nor carried on researches into diseases or
medicines, treatments or cures—even so, when one of them
falleth a prey to sickness, nature leadeth it, in fields or desert
places, to the very plant which, once eaten, will rid the animal of
its disease. The explanation is that if, as an example, the sugar
component in the animal’s body hath decreased, according to a
natural law the animal hankereth after a herb that is rich in sugar.
Then, by a natural urge, which is the appetite, among a thousand
different varieties of plants across the field, the animal will
discover and consume that herb which containeth a sugar component in
large amounts. Thus the essential balance of the substances composing
its body is re-established, and the animal is rid of its disease.

This question requireth the most careful investigation.
When highly-skilled physicians shall fully examine this matter,
thoroughly and perseveringly, it will be clearly seen that the
incursion of disease is due to a disturbance in the relative amounts
of the body’s component substances, and that treatment
consisteth in adjusting these relative amounts, and that this can be
apprehended and made possible by means of foods.

It is certain that in this wonderful new age the
development of medical science will lead to the doctors’
healing their patients with foods. For the sense of sight, the sense
of hearing, of taste, of smell, of touch—all these are
discriminative faculties, their purpose being to separate the
beneficial from whatever causeth harm. Now, is it possible that man’s
sense of smell, the sense that differentiates odours, should find
some odour repugnant, and that odour be beneficial to the human body?
Absurd! Impossible! In the same way, could the human body, through
the faculty of sight—the differentiator among things
visible—benefit from gazing upon a revolting mass of excrement?
Never! Again, if the sense of taste, likewise a faculty that
selecteth and rejecteth, be offended by something, that thing is
certainly not beneficial; and if, at the outset, it may yield some
advantage, in the long run its harmfulness will be established.

And likewise, when the constitution is in a state of
equilibrium, there is no doubt that whatever is relished will be
beneficial to health. Observe how an animal will graze in a field
where there are a hundred thousand kinds of herbs and grasses, and
how, with its sense of smell, it snuffeth up the odours of the
plants, and tasteth them with its sense of taste; then it consumeth
whatever herb is pleasurable to these senses, and benefiteth
therefrom. Were it not for this power of selectivity, the animals
would all be dead in a single day; for there are a great many
poisonous plants, and animals know nothing of the pharmacopoeia. And
yet, observe what a reliable set of scales they have, by means of
which to differentiate the good from the injurious. Whatever
constituent of their body hath decreased, they can rehabilitate by
seeking out and consuming some plant that hath an abundant store of
that diminished element; and thus the equilibrium of their bodily
components is re-established, and they are rid of their disease.

At whatever time highly-skilled physicians shall have
developed the healing of illnesses by means of foods, and shall make
provision for simple foods, and shall prohibit humankind from living
as slaves to their lustful appetites, it is certain that the
incidence of chronic and diversified illnesses will abate, and the
general health of all mankind will be much improved. This is destined
to come about. In the same way, in the character, the conduct and the
manners of men, universal modifications will be made.

135: According to the explicit
decree of Bahá’u’lláh …

According to the explicit decree of Bahá’u’lláh
one must not turn aside from the advice of a competent doctor. It is
imperative to consult one even if the patient himself be a well-known
and eminent physician. In short, the point is that you should
maintain your health by consulting a highly-skilled physician.

136: It is incumbent upon everyone
to seek medical …

It is incumbent upon everyone to seek medical treatment
and to follow the doctor’s instructions, for this is in
compliance with the divine ordinance, but, in reality, He Who giveth
healing is God.

137: O thou who art voicing the
praises of thy Lord! …

O thou who art voicing the praises of thy Lord! I have
read thy letter, wherein thou didst express astonishment at some of
the laws of God, such as that concerning the hunting of innocent
animals, creatures who are guilty of no wrong.

Be thou not surprised at this. Reflect upon the inner
realities of the universe, the secret wisdoms involved, the enigmas,
the inter-relationships, the rules that govern all. For every part of
the universe is connected with every other part by ties that are very
powerful and admit of no imbalance, nor any slackening whatever. In
the physical realm of creation, all things are eaters and eaten: the
plant drinketh in the mineral, the animal doth crop and swallow down
the plant, man doth feed upon the animal, and the mineral devoureth
the body of man. Physical bodies are transferred past one barrier
after another, from one life to another, and all things are subject
to transformation and change, save only the essence of existence
itself—since it is constant and immutable, and upon it is
founded the life of every species and kind, of every contingent
reality throughout the whole of creation.

Whensoever thou dost examine, through a microscope, the
water man drinketh, the air he doth breathe, thou wilt see that with
every breath of air, man taketh in an abundance of animal life, and
with every draught of water, he also swalloweth down a great variety
of animals. How could it ever be possible to put a stop to this
process? For all creatures are eaters and eaten, and the very fabric
of life is reared upon this fact. Were it not so, the ties that
interlace all created things within the universe would be unravelled.

And further, whensoever a thing is destroyed, and
decayeth, and is cut off from life, it is promoted into a world that
is greater than the world it knew before. It leaveth, for example,
the life of the mineral and goeth forward into the life of the plant;
then it departeth out of the vegetable life and ascendeth into that
of the animal, following which it forsaketh the life of the animal
and riseth into the realm of human life, and this is out of the grace
of thy Lord, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

I beg of God that He will assist thee to comprehend the
mysteries that lie at the heart of creation, and will draw away the
veil from before thine eyes and thy sister’s, that the
well-guarded secret may be disclosed unto thee, and the hidden
mystery be revealed as clear as the sun at noonday; that He will aid
thy sister and thy husband to enter the Kingdom of God, and will heal
thee of every ill, whether physical or spiritual, that assaileth one
in this life.

138: O ye beloved of the Lord! The
Kingdom of God …

O ye beloved of the Lord! The Kingdom of God is founded
upon equity and justice, and also upon mercy, compassion, and
kindness to every living soul. Strive ye then with all your heart to
treat compassionately all humankind—except for those who have
some selfish, private motive, or some disease of the soul. Kindness
cannot be shown the tyrant, the deceiver, or the thief, because, far
from awakening them to the error of their ways, it maketh them to
continue in their perversity as before. No matter how much kindliness
ye may expend upon the liar, he will but lie the more, for he
believeth you to be deceived, while ye understand him but too well,
and only remain silent out of your extreme compassion.

Briefly, it is not only their fellow human beings that
the beloved of God must treat with mercy and compassion, rather must
they show forth the utmost loving-kindness to every living creature.
For in all physical respects, and where the animal spirit is
concerned, the selfsame feelings are shared by animal and man. Man
hath not grasped this truth, however, and he believeth that physical
sensations are confined to human beings, wherefore is he unjust to
the animals, and cruel.

And yet in truth, what difference is there when it
cometh to physical sensations? The feelings are one and the same,
whether ye inflict pain on man or on beast. There is no difference
here whatever. And indeed ye do worse to harm an animal, for man hath
a language, he can lodge a complaint, he can cry out and moan; if
injured he can have recourse to the authorities and these will
protect him from his aggressor. But the hapless beast is mute, able
neither to express its hurt nor take its case to the authorities. If
a man inflict a thousand ills upon a beast, it can neither ward him
off with speech nor hale him into court. Therefore is it essential
that ye show forth the utmost consideration to the animal, and that
ye be even kinder to him than to your fellow man.

Train your children from their earliest days to be
infinitely tender and loving to animals. If an animal be sick, let
the children try to heal it, if it be hungry, let them feed it, if
thirsty, let them quench its thirst, if weary, let them see that it
rests.

Most human beings are sinners, but the beasts are
innocent. Surely those without sin should receive the most kindness
and love—all except animals which are harmful, such as
bloodthirsty wolves, such as poisonous snakes, and similar pernicious
creatures, the reason being that kindness to these is an injustice to
human beings and to other animals as well. If, for example, ye be
tender-hearted toward a wolf, this is but tyranny to a sheep, for a
wolf will destroy a whole flock of sheep. A rabid dog, if given the
chance, can kill a thousand animals and men. Therefore, compassion
shown to wild and ravening beasts is cruelty to the peaceful ones—and
so the harmful must be dealt with. But to blessed animals the utmost
kindness must be shown, the more the better. Tenderness and
loving-kindness are basic principles of God’s heavenly Kingdom.
Ye should most carefully bear this matter in mind.

139: O thou handmaid of God! The
heavenly glad …

O thou handmaid of God! The heavenly glad tidings must
be delivered with the utmost dignity and magnanimity. And until a
soul ariseth with qualities which are essential for the bearer of
these tidings, his words will take no effect.

O bondswoman of God! The human spirit possesseth
wondrous powers, but it should be reinforced by the Holy Spirit. What
thou hearest other than this is pure imagination. If, however, it be
assisted by the bounty of the Holy Spirit, then will its strength be
a thing to marvel at. Then will that human spirit uncover realities,
and unravel mysteries. Turn thy heart fully to the Holy Spirit, and
invite others to do the same; then shall ye witness wonderful
results.

O handmaid of God! The stars in the sky do not exert any
spiritual influence on this world of dust; but all the members and
parts of the universe are very strongly linked together in that
limitless space, and this connection produceth a reciprocity of
material effects. Outside the bounty of the Holy Spirit, whatsoever
thou hearest as to the effect of trances, or the mediums’
trumpets, conveying the singing voices of the dead, is imagination
pure and simple. As to the bounty of the Holy Spirit, however, relate
whatsoever thou wilt—it cannot be overstated; believe,
therefore, whatsoever thou hearest of this. But the persons referred
to, the trumpet-people, are entirely shut out from this bounty and
receive no portion thereof; their way is an illusion.

O handmaid of God! Prayers are granted through the
universal Manifestations of God. Nevertheless, where the wish is to
obtain material things, even where the heedless are concerned, if
they supplicate, humbly imploring God’s help—even their
prayer hath an effect.

O handmaid of God! Although the reality of Divinity is
sanctified and boundless, the aims and needs of the creatures are
restricted. God’s grace is like the rain that cometh down from
heaven: the water is not bounded by the limitations of form, yet on
whatever place it poureth down, it taketh on limitations—dimensions,
appearance, shape—according to the characteristics of that
place. In a square pool, the water, previously unconfined, becometh a
square; in a six-sided pool it becometh a hexagon, in an eight-sided
pool an octagon, and so forth. The rain itself hath no geometry, no
limits, no form, but it taketh on one form or another, according to
the restrictions of its vessel. In the same way, the Holy Essence of
the Lord God is boundless, immeasurable, but His graces and
splendours become finite in the creatures, because of their
limitations, wherefore the prayers of given persons will receive
favourable answers in certain cases.

O handmaid of God! It is with the Lord Christ even as
with Adam. Did the first human being who came into existence on this
earth have a father or mother? It is certain that he had neither. But
Christ lacked only a father.

O handmaid of God! The prayers which were revealed to
ask for healing apply both to physical and spiritual healing. Recite
them, then, to heal both the soul and the body. If healing is right
for the patient, it will certainly be granted; but for some ailing
persons, healing would only be the cause of other ills, and therefore
wisdom doth not permit an affirmative answer to the prayer.

O handmaid of God! The power of the Holy Spirit healeth
both physical and spiritual ailments.

O handmaid of God! It is recorded in the Torah: And I
will give you the valley of Achor for a door of hope. This valley of
Achor is the city of Akká, and whoso hath interpreted this
otherwise is of those who know not.

140: Thou didst ask as to the
transfiguration of Jesus, …

Thou didst ask as to the transfiguration of Jesus, with
Moses and Elias and the Heavenly Father on Mount Tabor, as referred
to in the Bible. This occurrence was perceived by the disciples with
their inner eye, wherefore it was a secret hidden away, and was a
spiritual discovery of theirs. Otherwise, if the intent be that they
witnessed physical forms, that is, witnessed that transfiguration
with their outward eyes, then there were many others at hand on that
plain and mountain, and why did they fail to behold it? And why did
the Lord charge them that they should tell no man? It is clear that
this was a spiritual vision and a scene of the Kingdom. Wherefore did
the Messiah bid them to keep this hidden, ‘till the Son of Man
were risen from the dead,’46—that
is, until the Cause of God should be exalted, and the Word of God
prevail, and the reality of Christ rise up.

141: O thou yearning flame, thou who
art afire with …

O thou yearning flame, thou who art afire with the love
of God! I have read thy letter, and its contents, well-expressed and
eloquent, delighted my heart, showing as they did thy deep sincerity
in the Cause of God, thy persevering steps along the pathway of His
Kingdom, and thy staunchness in His Faith—for of all great
things, this is the greatest in His sight.

How many a soul hath turned itself unto the Lord and
entered into the protective shadow of His Word, and become famed
throughout the world—for example, Judas Iscariot. And then,
when the tests grew harsh and the violence thereof intensified, their
feet slipped on the pathway and they turned backward from the Faith
after having acknowledged its truth, and they denied it, and fell
away from harmony and love into mischief and hate. Thus became
visible the power of tests, which maketh mighty pillars to tremble
and shake.

Judas Iscariot was the greatest of the disciples, and he
summoned the people to Christ. Then it seemed to him that Jesus was
showing increasing regard to the Apostle Peter, and when Jesus said,
‘Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church,’
these words addressed to Peter, and this singling out of Peter for
special honour, had a marked effect on the Apostle, and kindled envy
within the heart of Judas. For this reason he who had once drawn nigh
did turn aside, and he who had believed in the Faith denied it, and
his love changed to hate, until he became a cause of the crucifixion
of that glorious Lord, that manifest Splendour. Such is the outcome
of envy, the chief reason why men turn aside from the Straight Path.
So hath it occurred, and will occur, in this great Cause. But it doth
not matter, for it engendereth loyalty in the rest, and maketh souls
to arise who waver not, who are fixed and unshakeable as the
mountains in their love for the Manifest Light.

Convey thou unto the handmaids of the Merciful the
message that when a test turneth violent they must stand unmoved, and
faithful to their love for Bahá. In winter come the storms,
and the great winds blow, but then will follow spring in all its
beauty, adorning hill and plain with perfumed plants and red
anemones, fair to see. Then will the birds trill out upon the
branches their songs of joy, and sermonize in lilting tones from the
pulpits of the trees. Erelong shall ye bear witness that the lights
are streaming forth, the banners of the realm above are waving, the
sweet scents of the All-Merciful are wafted abroad, the hosts of the
Kingdom are marching down, the angels of heaven are rushing forward,
and the Holy Spirit is breathing upon all those regions. On that day
thou shalt behold the waverers, men and women alike, frustrated of
their hopes and in manifest loss. This is decreed by the Lord, the
Revealer of Verses.

As to thee, blessed art thou, for thou art steadfast in
the Cause of God, firm in His Covenant. I beg of Him to bestow upon
thee a spiritual soul, and the life of the Kingdom, and to make thee
a leaf verdant and flourishing on the Tree of Life, that thou mayest
serve the handmaids of the Merciful with spirituality and good cheer.

Thy generous Lord will assist thee to labour in His
vineyard and will cause thee to be the means of spreading the spirit
of unity among His handmaids. He will make thine inner eye to see
with the light of knowledge, He will forgive thy sins and transform
them into goodly deeds. Verily He is the Forgiving, the
Compassionate, the Lord of immeasurable grace.

142: O thou dear handmaid of God!
Praise thou God, …

O thou dear handmaid of God! Praise thou God, because
thou art favoured at His Holy Threshold, and cherished in the Kingdom
of His might. Thou art the head of an assembly which is the very
imprint of the Company on high, the mirror-image of the all-glorious
realm. Strive thou with heart and soul, in prayerful humility and
self-effacement, to uphold the Law of God and spread His sweet
savours abroad. Endeavour thou to become the true president of the
assemblies of spiritual souls, and a companion to the angels in the
realm of the All-Merciful.

Thou didst ask as to the tenth to the seventeenth verses
of the twenty-first chapter of Saint John the Divine’s
Revelation. Know thou that according to mathematical principles, the
firmament of this earth’s brilliant day-star hath been divided
among twelve constellations, which they call the twelve zodiacal
signs. In the same way, the Sun of Truth shineth out from and
sheddeth its bounties through twelve stations of holiness, and by
these heavenly signs are meant those stainless and unsullied
personages who are the very well-springs of sanctity, and the
dawning-points proclaiming the oneness of God.

Consider how in the days of the Interlocutor (Moses),
there were twelve holy beings who were leaders of the twelve tribes;
and likewise in the dispensation of the Spirit (Christ), note that
there were twelve Apostles gathered within the sheltering shade of
that supernal Light, and from those splendid dawning-points the Sun
of Truth shone forth even as the sun in the sky. Again, in the days
of Muḥammad, observe that there were twelve dawning-points of
holiness, the manifestors of God’s confirming help. Such is the
way of it.

Accordingly did Saint John the Divine tell of twelve
gates in his vision, and twelve foundations. By ‘that great
city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God’ is
meant the holy Law of God, and this is set forth in many Tablets and
still to be read in the Scriptures of the Prophets of the past: for
instance, that Jerusalem was seen going out into the wilderness.

The meaning of the passage is that this heavenly
Jerusalem hath twelve gates, through which the blessed enter into the
City of God. These gates are souls who are as guiding stars, as
portals of knowledge and grace; and within these gates there stand
twelve angels. By ‘angel’ is meant the power of the
confirmations of God—that the candle of God’s confirming
power shineth out from the lamp-niche of those souls—meaning
that every one of those beings will be granted the most vehement
confirming support.

These twelve gates surround the entire world, that is
they are a shelter for all creatures. And further, these twelve gates
are the foundation of the City of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and on
each one of these foundations is written the name of one of the
Apostles of Christ. That is to say, each one maketh manifest the
perfections, the joyous message, and the excellency of that holy
Being.

In brief, the Scripture saith: ‘And he that talked
with me had a rod made out of gold, that is, a measure, wherewith he
measured the city and the gates thereof and the towers thereof.’
The meaning is that certain personages guided the people with a staff
grown out of the earth, and shepherded them with a rod, like unto the
rod of Moses. Others trained and shepherded the people with a rod of
iron, as in the dispensation of Muḥammad. And in this present
cycle, because it is the mightiest of Dispensations, that rod grown
out of the vegetable kingdom and that rod of iron will be transformed
into a rod of purest gold, taken from out the endless treasure houses
in the Kingdom of the Lord. By this rod will the people be trained.

Note well the difference: at one time the Teachings of
God were as a staff, and by this means the Holy Scriptures were
spread abroad, the Law of God was promulgated and His Faith
established. Then followed a time when the staff of the true Shepherd
was as iron. And today, in this new and splendid age, the rod is even
as pure gold. How wide is the difference here! Know, then, how much
ground hath been gained by the Law of God and His Teachings in this
dispensation, how they have reached such heights that they far
transcend the dispensations gone before: truly this rod is purest
gold, while those of other days were of iron and wood.

This is a brief answer that hath been written for thee,
because there was no time for more. It is certain that thou wilt
forgive me. The handmaids of God must rise to such a station that
they will, by themselves and unaided, comprehend these inner
meanings, and be able to expound at full length every single word; a
station where, out of the truth of their inmost hearts, a spring of
wisdom will well up, and jet forth even as a fountain that leapeth
from its own original source.

143: O thou who hast drawn nigh unto
the spirit of …

O thou who hast drawn nigh unto the spirit of Christ in
the Kingdom of God! Verily the body is composed of physical elements,
and every composite must needs be decomposed. The spirit, however, is
a single essence, fine and delicate, incorporeal, everlasting, and of
God. For this reason whoso looketh for Christ in His physical body
hath looked in vain, and will be shut away from Him as by a veil. But
whoso yearneth to find Him in the spirit will grow from day to day in
joy and desire and burning love, in closeness to Him, and in
beholding Him clear and plain. In this new and wondrous day, it
behoveth thee to seek after the spirit of Christ.

Verily the heaven into which the Messiah rose up was not
this unending sky, rather was His heaven the Kingdom of His
beneficent Lord. Even as He Himself hath said, ‘I came down
from heaven,’47
and again, ‘The Son of Man is in heaven.’48
Hence it is clear that His heaven is beyond all directional points;
it encircleth all existence, and is raised up for those who worship
God. Beg and implore thy Lord to lift thee up into that heaven, and
give thee to eat of its food, in this age of majesty and might.

Know thou that the people, even unto this day, have
failed to unravel the hidden secrets of the Book. They imagine that
Christ was excluded from His heaven in the days when He walked the
earth, that He fell from the heights of His sublimity, and afterwards
mounted to those upper reaches of the sky, to the heaven which doth
not exist at all, for it is but space. And they are waiting for Him
to come down from there again, riding upon a cloud, and they imagine
that there are clouds in that infinite space and that He will ride
thereon and by that means He will descend. Whereas the truth is that
a cloud is but vapour that riseth out of the earth, and it doth not
come down from heaven. Rather, the cloud referred to in the Gospel is
the human body, so called because the body is as a veil to man,
which, even as a cloud, preventeth him from beholding the Sun of
Truth that shineth from the horizon of Christ.

I beg of God to open before thine eyes the gates of
discoveries and perceptions, that thou mayest become informed of His
mysteries in this most manifest of days.

I am most eager to meet thee, but the times are not
propitious. God willing, we shall let thee know of a better time,
when thou canst come rejoicing.

144: O lover of humankind! Thy
letter hath been …

O lover of humankind! Thy letter hath been received, and
it telleth, God be praised, of thy health and well-being. It
appeareth, from thine answer to a previous letter, that feelings of
affection were being established between thyself and the friends.

One must see in every human being only that which is
worthy of praise. When this is done, one can be a friend to the whole
human race. If, however, we look at people from the standpoint of
their faults, then being a friend to them is a formidable task.

It happened one day in the time of Christ—may the
life of the world be a sacrifice unto Him—that He passed by the
dead body of a dog, a carcass reeking, hideous, the limbs rotting
away. One of those present said: ‘How foul its stench!’
And another said: ‘How sickening! How loathsome!’ To be
brief, each one of them had something to add to the list.

But then Christ Himself spoke, and He told them: ‘Look
at that dog’s teeth! How gleaming white!’

The Messiah’s sin-covering gaze did not for a
moment dwell upon the repulsiveness of that carrion. The one element
of that dead dog’s carcass which was not abomination was the
teeth: and Jesus looked upon their brightness.

Thus is it incumbent upon us, when we direct our gaze
toward other people, to see where they excel, not where they fail.

Praise be to God, thy goal is to promote the well-being
of humankind and to help the souls to overcome their faults. This
good intention will produce laudable results.

145: Thou didst write as to the
question of spiritual …

Thou didst write as to the question of spiritual
discoveries. The spirit of man is a circumambient power that
encompasseth the realities of all things. Whatsoever thou dost see
about thee—wondrous products of human workmanship, inventions,
discoveries and like evidences—each one of these was once a
secret hidden away in the realm of the unknown. The human spirit laid
that secret bare, and drew it forth from the unseen into the visible
world. There is, for example, the power of steam, and photography and
the phonograph, and wireless telegraphy, and advances in mathematics:
each and every one of these was once a mystery, a closely guarded
secret, yet the human spirit unravelled these secrets and brought
them out of the invisible into the light of day. Thus is it clear
that the human spirit is an all-encompassing power that exerteth its
dominion over the inner essences of all created things, uncovering
the well kept mysteries of the phenomenal world.

The divine spirit, however, doth unveil divine realities
and universal mysteries that lie within the spiritual world. It is my
hope that thou wilt attain unto this divine spirit, so that thou
mayest uncover the secrets of the other world, as well as the
mysteries of the world below.

Thou didst ask as to chapter 14, verse 30 of the Gospel
of John, where the Lord Christ saith, ‘Hereafter I will not
talk much with you: for the Prince of this world cometh, and hath
nothing in Me.’ The Prince of this world is the Blessed Beauty;
and ‘hath nothing in Me’ signifieth: after Me all will
draw grace from Me, but He is independent of Me, and will draw no
grace from Me. That is, He is rich beyond any grace of Mine.

As to thy question regarding discoveries made by the
soul after it hath put off its human form: certainly, that world is a
world of perceptions and discoveries, for the interposed veil will be
lifted away and the human spirit will gaze upon souls that are above,
below, and on a par with itself. It is similar to the condition of a
human being in the womb, where his eyes are veiled, and all things
are hidden away from him. Once he is born out of the uterine world
and entereth this life, he findeth it, with relation to that of the
womb, to be a place of perceptions and discoveries, and he observeth
all things through his outer eye. In the same way, once he hath
departed this life, he will behold, in that world whatsoever was
hidden from him here: but there he will look upon and comprehend all
things with his inner eye. There will he gaze on his fellows and his
peers, and those in the ranks above him, and those below. As for what
is meant by the equality of souls in the all-highest realm, it is
this: the souls of the believers, at the time when they first become
manifest in the world of the body, are equal, and each is sanctified
and pure. In this world, however, they will begin to differ one from
another, some achieving the highest station, some a middle one,
others remaining at the lowest stage of being. Their equal status is
at the beginning of their existence; the differentiation followeth
their passing away.

Thou didst write as to Seir. Seir is a locality near
Nazareth in Galilee.

As to the statement of Job, chapter 19, verses 25–27,
‘I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the
latter day upon the earth,’ the meaning here is: I shall not be
abased, I have a Sustainer and a Guardian, and my Helper, my Defender
will in the end be made manifest. And although now my flesh be weak
and clothed with worms, yet shall I be healed, and with these mine
own eyes, that is, mine inner sight, I shall behold Him. This did Job
say after they had reproached him, and he himself had lamented the
harms that his tribulations had wreaked upon him. And even when, from
the terrible inroads of the sickness, his body was covered with
worms, he sought to tell those about him that still he would be fully
healed, and that in his very body, with his very eyes, he would gaze
on his Redeemer.

As to the woman in the Revelation of Saint John, chapter
12, who fled into the wilderness, and the great wonder appearing in
the heavens—that woman clothed with the sun, with the moon
under her feet: what is meant by the woman is the Law of God. For
according to the terminology of the Holy Books, this reference is to
the Law, the woman being its symbol here. And the two luminaries, the
sun and the moon, are the two thrones, the Turkish and the Persian,
these two being under the rule of the Law of God. The sun is the
symbol of the Persian Empire, and the moon, that is, the crescent, of
the Turkish. The twelve-fold crown is the twelve Imáms, who,
even as the Apostles, supported the Faith of God. The newborn Child
is the Beauty of the Adored One,49
come forth out of the Law of God. He then saith that the woman fled
into the wilderness, that is, the Law of God was carried out of
Palestine to the desert of Ḥijáz, where it remained 1260
years—that is, until the advent of the promised Child. And as
is well known, in the Holy Books, every day is accounted as one year.

146: O thou handmaid afire with the
love of God! I …

O thou handmaid afire with the love of God! I have
considered thine excellent letter, and thanked God for thy safe
arrival in that great city. I beg of Him, through His unfailing aid,
to cause this return of thine to exert a powerful effect. Such a
thing can only come about if thou dost divest thyself of all
attachment to this world, and dost put on the vesture of holiness; if
thou dost limit all thy thoughts and all thy words to the remembrance
of God and His praise; to spreading His sweet savours abroad, and
performing righteous acts; and if thou dost devote thyself to
awakening the heedless and restoring sight to the blind, hearing to
the deaf, speech to the mute, and through the power of the spirit,
giving life to the dead.

For even as Christ said of them in the Gospel, the
people are blind, they are deaf, they are dumb; and He said: ‘I
will heal them.’

Be thou kind and compassionate to thine enfeebled
mother, and speak to her of the Kingdom, that her heart may rejoice.

Give thou my greetings to Miss Ford. Convey to her the
glad tidings that these are the days of the Kingdom of God. Say unto
her: Blessed art thou for thy noble aims, blessed art thou for thy
goodly deeds, blessed art thou for thy spiritual nature. Verily do I
love thee on account of these thine aims and qualities and deeds.
Tell her further: Remember the Messiah, and His days on earth, and
His abasement, and His tribulations, and how the people paid Him no
mind. Remember how the Jews would hold Him up to ridicule, and mock
at Him, and address Him with: ‘Peace be upon thee, King of the
Jews! Peace be upon thee, King of Kings!’ How they would say
that He was mad, and would ask how the Cause of that crucified One
could ever spread out to the easts of the world and the wests
thereof. None followed Him then, save only a few souls who were
fishermen, carpenters, and other plain folk. Alas, alas, for such
delusions!

And see what happened then: how their mighty banners
were reversed, and in their place His most exalted standard lifted
up; how all the bright stars in that heaven of honour and pride did
set; how they sank in the west of all that vanisheth—while His
brilliant Orb still shineth down out of skies of undying glory, as
the centuries and the ages roll by. Be ye then admonished, ye that
have eyes to see! Erelong shall ye behold even greater things than
this.

Know thou that all the powers combined have not the
power to establish universal peace, nor to withstand the
overmastering dominion, at every time and season, of these endless
wars. Erelong, however, shall the power of heaven, the dominion of
the Holy Spirit, hoist on the high summits the banners of love and
peace, and there above the castles of majesty and might shall those
banners wave in the rushing winds that blow out of the tender mercy
of God.

Convey thou my greetings to Mrs. Florence, and tell her:
The diverse congregations have given up the ground of their belief,
and adopted doctrines that are of no account in the sight of God.
They are even as the Pharisees who both prayed and fasted, and then
did sentence Jesus Christ to death. By the life of God! This thing is
passing strange!

As to thee, O handmaid of God, softly recite thou this
commune to thy Lord, and say unto Him:

O God, my God! Fill up for me the cup of detachment from
all things, and in the assembly of Thy splendours and bestowals,
rejoice me with the wine of loving Thee. Free me from the assaults of
passion and desire, break off from me the shackles of this nether
world, draw me with rapture unto Thy supernal realm, and refresh me
amongst the handmaids with the breathings of Thy holiness.

O Lord, brighten Thou my face with the lights of Thy
bestowals, light Thou mine eyes with beholding the signs of Thine
all-subduing might; delight my heart with the glory of Thy knowledge
that encompasseth all things, gladden Thou my soul with Thy
soul-reviving tidings of great joy, O Thou King of this world and the
Kingdom above, O Thou Lord of dominion and might, that I may spread
abroad Thy signs and tokens, and proclaim Thy Cause, and promote Thy
Teachings, and serve Thy Law, and exalt Thy Word.

Thou art verily the Powerful, the Ever-Giving, the Able,
the Omnipotent.

As to the fundamentals of teaching the Faith: know thou
that delivering the Message can be accomplished only through goodly
deeds and spiritual attributes, an utterance that is crystal clear
and the happiness reflected from the face of that one who is
expounding the Teachings. It is essential that the deeds of the
teacher should attest the truth of his words. Such is the state of
whoso doth spread abroad the sweet savours of God and the quality of
him who is sincere in his faith.

Once the Lord hath enabled thee to attain this
condition, be thou assured that He will inspire thee with words of
truth, and will cause thee to speak through the breathings of the
Holy Spirit.

147: Reflect upon the past events of
the time of …

Reflect upon the past events of the time of Christ, and
the present events shall become clear and manifest.

148: O ye sons and daughters of the
Kingdom! …

O ye sons and daughters of the Kingdom! Thankful, the
birds of the spirit seek only to fly in the high heavens and to sing
out their songs with wondrous art. But the pitiable earthworms love
only to tunnel into the ground, and what a mighty struggle they make
to get themselves down into its depths! Even so are the sons of
earth. Their highest aim is to augment their means of continuing on,
in this vanishing world, this death in life; and this despite the
fact that they are bound hand and foot by a thousand cares and
sorrows, and never safe from danger, not even for the twinkling of an
eye; never at any time secure, even from sudden death. Wherefore,
after a brief span, are they utterly effaced, and no sign remaineth
to tell of them, and no word of them is ever heard again.

Then let you engage in the praise of Bahá’u’lláh,
for it is through His grace and succour that ye have become sons and
daughters of the Kingdom; it is thanks to Him that ye are now
songsters in the meadows of truth, and have soared upward to the
heights of the glory that abideth forever. Ye have found your place
in the world that dieth not; the breaths of the Holy Spirit have
blown upon you; ye have taken on another life, ye have gained access
to the Threshold of God.

Wherefore, with great gladness, establish ye spiritual
assemblies, and engage ye in uttering the praise and glorification of
the Lord, and calling Him Holy and Most Great. Lift up to the realm
of the All-Glorious your suppliant cries for help, and voice ye at
every moment a myriad thanks for having won this abounding favour and
exceeding grace.

149: O thou who hast eyes to see!
That which thou …

O thou who hast eyes to see! That which thou didst
witness is the very truth, and it pertaineth to the realm of vision.

The perfume is intimately commingled and blended with
the bud, and once the bud hath opened the sweet scent of it is spread
abroad. The herb is not without its fruit, although it seemeth so,
for in this garden of God every plant exerteth its own influence and
hath its own properties, and every plant can even match the laughing,
hundred-petalled rose in rejoicing the sense with its fragrance. Be
thou assured of this. Although the pages of a book know nothing of
the words and the meanings traced upon them, even so, because of
their connection with these words, friends pass them reverently from
hand to hand. This connection, furthermore, is purest bounty.

When the human soul soareth out of this transient heap
of dust and riseth into the world of God, then veils will fall away,
and verities will come to light, and all things unknown before will
be made clear, and hidden truths be understood.

Consider how a being, in the world of the womb, was deaf
of ear and blind of eye, and mute of tongue; how he was bereft of any
perceptions at all. But once, out of that world of darkness, he
passed into this world of light, then his eye saw, his ear heard, his
tongue spoke. In the same way, once he hath hastened away from this
mortal place into the Kingdom of God, then he will be born in the
spirit; then the eye of his perception will open, the ear of his soul
will hearken, and all the truths of which he was ignorant before will
be made plain and clear.

An observant traveller passing along a way will
certainly recall his discoveries to mind, unless some accident befall
him and efface the memory.

150: O thou handmaid aflame with the
fire of God’s …

O thou handmaid aflame with the fire of God’s
love! Grieve thou not over the troubles and hardships of this nether
world, nor be thou glad in times of ease and comfort, for both shall
pass away. This present life is even as a swelling wave, or a mirage,
or drifting shadows. Could ever a distorted image on the desert serve
as refreshing waters? No, by the Lord of Lords! Never can reality and
the mere semblance of reality be one, and wide is the difference
between fancy and fact, between truth and the phantom thereof.

Know thou that the Kingdom is the real world, and this
nether place is only its shadow stretching out. A shadow hath no life
of its own; its existence is only a fantasy, and nothing more; it is
but images reflected in water, and seeming as pictures to the eye.

Rely upon God. Trust in Him. Praise Him, and call Him
continually to mind. He verily turneth trouble into ease, and sorrow
into solace, and toil into utter peace. He verily hath dominion over
all things.

If thou wouldst hearken to my words, release thyself
from the fetters of whatsoever cometh to pass. Nay rather, under all
conditions thank thou thy loving Lord, and yield up thine affairs
unto His Will that worketh as He pleaseth. This verily is better for
thee than all else, in either world.

151: O thou believer in the oneness
of God! Know …

O thou believer in the oneness of God! Know thou that
nothing profiteth a soul save the love of the All-Merciful, nothing
lighteth up a heart save the splendour that shineth from the realm of
the Lord.

Forsake thou every other concern, let oblivion overtake
the memory of all else. Confine thy thoughts to whatever will lift up
the human soul to the Paradise of heavenly grace, and make every bird
of the Kingdom wing its way unto the Supreme Horizon, the central
point of everlasting honour in this contingent world.

152: As to the question regarding
the soul of a murderer, …

As to the question regarding the soul of a murderer, and
what his punishment would be, the answer given was that the murderer
must expiate his crime: that is, if they put the murderer to death,
his death is his atonement for his crime, and following the death,
God in His justice will impose no second penalty upon him, for divine
justice would not allow this.

153: O thou handmaid of God! In this
day, to thank …

O thou handmaid of God! In this day, to thank God for
His bounties consisteth in possessing a radiant heart, and a soul
open to the promptings of the spirit. This is the essence of
thanksgiving.

As for offering thanks by speaking out or writing,
although this is indeed acceptable, yet when compared with that other
thanksgiving, it is only a semblance and unreal; for the essential
thing is these intimations of the spirit, these emanations from the
deep recess of the heart. It is my hope that thou wilt be favoured
therewith.

Regarding one’s lack of capacity and one’s
undeserving on the Day of Resurrection, this does not cause one to be
shut out from gifts and bounties; for this is not the Day of Justice
but the Day of Grace, while justice is allotting to each whatever is
his due. Then look thou not at the degree of thy capacity, look thou
at the boundless favour of Bahá’u’lláh;
all-encompassing is His bounty, and consummate His grace.

I ask of God that with His assistance and strong support
thou mayest teach the inner meanings of the Torah with eloquence,
understanding, vigour and skill. Turn thy face toward the Kingdom of
God, ask for the bestowals of the Holy Spirit, speak, and the
confirmations of the Spirit will come.

As for that mighty solar orb which thou didst behold in
thy dream, that was the Promised One, and its spreading rays were His
bounties, and the translucent surface of the mass of water signifieth
hearts that are undefiled and pure, while the surging waves denote
the great excitement of those hearts and the fact that they were
shaken and deeply moved, that is, the waves are the stirrings of the
spirit and holy intimations of the soul. Praise thou God that in the
world of the dream thou hast witnessed such disclosures.

With reference to what is meant by an individual
becoming entirely forgetful of self: the intent is that he should
rise up and sacrifice himself in the true sense, that is, he should
obliterate the promptings of the human condition, and rid himself of
such characteristics as are worthy of blame and constitute the gloomy
darkness of this life on earth—not that he should allow his
physical health to deteriorate and his body to become infirm.

I do earnestly and humbly supplicate at the Holy
Threshold that heavenly blessings and divine forgiveness will
encompass thy dear mother, as well as thy loving sisters and
relatives. Especially do I pray on behalf of thy betrothed, who hath
suddenly hastened away from this world into the next.

154: O thou son of the Kingdom! Thy
most agreeable …

O thou son of the Kingdom! Thy most agreeable letters,
with their pleasing style, ever gladden our hearts. When the song is
of the Kingdom, it rejoiceth the soul.

Praise thou God that thou hast travelled to that
country50
for the purpose of raising up His Word and spreading abroad the holy
fragrance of His Kingdom, and that thou art serving as a gardener in
the gardens of heaven. Erelong shall thine efforts be crowned with
success.

O thou son of the Kingdom! All things are beneficial if
joined with the love of God; and without His love all things are
harmful, and act as a veil between man and the Lord of the Kingdom.
When His love is there, every bitterness turneth sweet, and every
bounty rendereth a wholesome pleasure. For example, a melody, sweet
to the ear, bringeth the very spirit of life to a heart in love with
God, yet staineth with lust a soul engrossed in sensual desires. And
every branch of learning, conjoined with the love of God, is approved
and worthy of praise; but bereft of His love, learning is
barren—indeed, it bringeth on madness. Every kind of knowledge,
every science, is as a tree: if the fruit of it be the love of God,
then is it a blessed tree, but if not, that tree is but dried-up
wood, and shall only feed the fire.

O thou loyal servant of God and thou spiritual healer of
man! Whensoever thou dost attend a patient, turn thy face toward the
Lord of the heavenly Kingdom, ask the Holy Spirit to come to thine
aid, then heal thou the sickness.

155: O thou flame of God’s
love! What thou hast …

O thou flame of God’s love! What thou hast written
hath brought great joy, for thy letter was as a garden from which
roses of inner meanings spread abroad the sweet exhalations of the
love of God. In the same way, my answers will serve as rainshowers
and dew, to bestow on those spiritual plants that have blossomed in
the garden of thy heart more freshness and delicate beauty than words
can tell.

Thou didst write of afflictive tests that have assailed
thee. To the loyal soul, a test is but God’s grace and favour;
for the valiant doth joyously press forward to furious battle on the
field of anguish, when the coward, whimpering with fright, will
tremble and shake. So too, the proficient student, who hath with
great competence mastered his subjects and committed them to memory,
will happily exhibit his skills before his examiners on the day of
his tests. So too will solid gold wondrously gleam and shine out in
the assayer’s fire.

It is clear, then, that tests and trials are, for
sanctified souls, but God’s bounty and grace, while to the
weak, they are a calamity, unexpected and sudden.

These tests, even as thou didst write, do but cleanse
the spotting of self from off the mirror of the heart, till the Sun
of Truth can cast its rays thereon; for there is no veil more
obstructive than the self, and however tenuous that veil may be, at
the last it will completely shut a person out, and deprive him of his
portion of eternal grace.

O thou enraptured handmaid of the Lord! When the
believers, men and women, pass in thought before my eyes, I feel
myself warmed at the fire of God’s love, and I pray that the
Almighty will succour those holy souls with His invisible hosts.
Praised be the Lord that the prophecies of all His Manifestations
have now been clearly fulfilled, in this greatest of all days, this
holy and blessed age.

O thou enraptured handmaid of God! Nearness is verily of
the soul, not of the body; and the help that is sought, and the help
that cometh, is not material but of the spirit; nevertheless it is my
hope that thou wilt attain to nearness in every sense. The bounties
of God will verily encompass a sanctified soul even as the sun’s
light doth the moon and stars: be thou assured of this.

Waft thou to each one of the believers, men and women
alike, fragrant breaths of holiness on behalf of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Inspire them all and urge them on to shed abroad the sweet savours of
the Lord.

156: O thou servant of the Holy
Threshold! We have …

O thou servant of the Holy Threshold! We have read what
flowed out from thy pen in thy love for God, and found the contents
of thy letter most pleasing. My hope is that through the bounty of
God, the breaths of the All-Merciful will at all times refresh and
renew thee.

Thou didst write of reincarnation. A belief in
reincarnation goeth far back into the ancient history of almost all
peoples, and was held even by the philosophers of Greece, the Roman
sages, the ancient Egyptians, and the great Assyrians. Nevertheless
such superstitions and sayings are but absurdities in the sight of
God.

The major argument of the reincarnationists was this,
that according to the justice of God, each must receive his due:
whenever a man is afflicted with some calamity, for example, this is
because of some wrong he hath committed. But take a child that is
still in its mother’s womb, the embryo but newly formed, and
that child is blind, deaf, lame, defective—what sin hath such a
child committed, to deserve its afflictions? They answer that,
although to outward seeming the child, still in the womb, is guilty
of no sin—nevertheless he perpetrated some wrong when in his
previous form, and thus he came to deserve his punishment.

These individuals, however, have overlooked the
following point. If creation went forward according to only one rule,
how could the all-encompassing Power make Itself felt? How could the
Almighty be the One Who ‘doeth as He pleaseth and ordaineth as
He willeth’?51

Briefly, a return is indeed referred to in the Holy
Scriptures, but by this is meant the return of the qualities,
conditions, effects, perfections, and inner realities of the lights
which recur in every dispensation. The reference is not to specific,
individual souls and identities.

It may be said, for instance, that this lamplight is
last night’s come back again, or that last year’s rose
hath returned to the garden this year. Here the reference is not to
the individual reality, the fixed identity, the specialized being of
that other rose, rather doth it mean that the qualities, the
distinctive characteristics of that other light, that other flower,
are present now, in these. Those perfections, that is, those graces
and gifts of a former springtime are back again this year. We say,
for example, that this fruit is the same as last year’s; but we
are thinking only of the delicacy, bloom and freshness, and the sweet
taste of it; for it is obvious that that impregnable centre of
reality, that specific identity, can never return.

What peace, what ease and comfort did the Holy Ones of
God ever discover during Their sojourn in this nether world, that
They should continually seek to come back and live this life again?
Doth not a single turn at this anguish, these afflictions, these
calamities, these body blows, these dire straits, suffice, that They
should wish for repeated visits to the life of this world? This cup
was not so sweet that one would care to drink of it a second time.

Therefore do the lovers of the Abhá Beauty wish
for no other recompense but to reach that station where they may gaze
upon Him in the Realm of Glory, and they walk no other path save over
desert sands of longing for those exalted heights. They seek that
ease and solace which will abide forever, and those bestowals that
are sanctified beyond the understanding of the worldly mind.

When thou lookest about thee with a perceptive eye, thou
wilt note that on this dusty earth all humankind are suffering. Here
no man is at rest as a reward for what he hath performed in former
lives; nor is there anyone so blissful as seemingly to pluck the
fruit of bygone anguish. And if a human life, with its spiritual
being, were limited to this earthly span, then what would be the
harvest of creation? Indeed, what would be the effects and the
outcomes of Divinity Itself? Were such a notion true, then all
created things, all contingent realities, and this whole world of
being—all would be meaningless. God forbid that one should hold
to such a fiction and gross error.

For just as the effects and the fruitage of the uterine
life are not to be found in that dark and narrow place, and only when
the child is transferred to this wide earth do the benefits and uses
of growth and development in that previous world become revealed—so
likewise reward and punishment, heaven and hell, requital and
retribution for actions done in this present life, will stand
revealed in that other world beyond. And just as, if human life in
the womb were limited to that uterine world, existence there would be
nonsensical, irrelevant—so too if the life of this world, the
deeds here done and their fruitage, did not come forth in the world
beyond, the whole process would be irrational and foolish.

Know then that the Lord God possesseth invisible realms
which the human intellect can never hope to fathom nor the mind of
man conceive. When once thou hast cleansed the channel of thy
spiritual sense from the pollution of this worldly life, then wilt
thou breathe in the sweet scents of holiness that blow from the
blissful bowers of that heavenly land.

The Glory rest upon thee, and upon whosoever turneth
toward and gazeth on the Kingdom of the All-Glorious, which the Lord
hath sanctified beyond the understanding of those who are neglectful
of Him, and hath hid from the eyes of those who show Him pride.

157: O ye who are strongly
attracted! O ye who are …

O ye who are strongly attracted! O ye who are mindful! O
ye who are advancing unto the Kingdom of God! Verily with all my
heart and soul and with all lowliness do I supplicate the Lord God to
make of you ensigns of guidance, banners of righteousness,
well-springs of understanding and knowledge, that through you He may
lead the seekers unto the straight path and guide them to the broad
way of truth in this mightiest of ages.

O ye loved ones of God! Know ye that the world is even
as a mirage rising over the sands, that the thirsty mistaketh for
water. The wine of this world is but a vapour in the desert, its pity
and compassion but toil and trouble, the repose it proffereth only
weariness and sorrow. Abandon it to those who belong to it, and turn
your faces unto the Kingdom of your Lord the All-Merciful, that His
grace and bounty may cast their dawning splendours over you, and a
heavenly table may be sent down for you, and your Lord may bless you,
and shower His riches upon you to gladden your bosoms and fill your
hearts with bliss, to attract your minds, and cleanse your souls, and
console your eyes.

O ye loved ones of God! Is there any giver save God? He
singleth out for His mercy whomsoever He willeth. Erelong will He
open before you the gates of His knowledge and fill up your hearts
with His love. He will cheer your souls with the gentle winds of His
holiness and make bright your faces with the splendours of His
lights, and exalt the memory of you amongst all peoples. Your Lord is
verily the Compassionate, the Merciful.

He will come to your aid with invisible hosts, and
support you with armies of inspiration from the Concourse above; He
will send unto you sweet perfumes from the highest Paradise, and waft
over you the pure breathings that blow from the rose gardens of the
Company on high. He will breathe into your hearts the spirit of life,
cause you to enter the Ark of salvation, and reveal unto you His
clear tokens and signs. Verily is this abounding grace. Verily is
this the victory that none can deny.

158: Grieve thou not over the
ascension of my beloved …

Grieve thou not over the ascension of my beloved
Breakwell, for he hath risen unto a rose garden of splendours within
the Abhá Paradise, sheltered by the mercy of his mighty Lord,
and he is crying at the top of his voice: ‘O that my people
could know how graciously my Lord hath forgiven me, and made me to be
of those who have attained His Presence!’52

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

Where now is thy fair face? Where is thy fluent tongue?
Where thy clear brow? Where thy bright comeliness?

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

Where is thy fire, blazing with God’s love? Where
is thy rapture at His holy breaths? Where are thy praises, lifted
unto Him? Where is thy rising up to serve His Cause?

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

Where are thy beauteous eyes? Thy smiling lips? The
princely cheek? The graceful form?

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

Thou hast quit this earthly world and risen upward to
the Kingdom, thou hast reached unto the grace of the invisible realm,
and offered thyself at the threshold of its Lord.

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

Thou hast left the lamp that was thy body here, the
glass that was thy human form, thy earthy elements, thy way of life
below.

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

Thou hast lit a flame within the lamp of the Company on
high, thou hast set foot in the Abhá Paradise, thou hast found
a shelter in the shadow of the Blessed Tree, thou hast attained His
meeting in the haven of Heaven.

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

Thou art now a bird of Heaven, thou hast quit thine
earthly nest, and soared away to a garden of holiness in the kingdom
of thy Lord. Thou hast risen to a station filled with light.

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

Thy song is even as birdsong now, thou pourest forth
verses as to the mercy of thy Lord; of Him Who forgiveth ever, thou
wert a thankful servant, wherefore hast thou entered into exceeding
bliss.

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

Thy Lord hath verily singled thee out for His love, and
hath led thee into His precincts of holiness, and made thee to enter
the garden of those who are His close companions, and hath blessed
thee with beholding His beauty.

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

Thou hast won eternal life, and the bounty that faileth
never, and a life to please thee well, and plenteous grace.

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

Thou art become a star in the supernal sky, and a lamp
amid the angels of high Heaven; a living spirit in the most exalted
Kingdom, throned in eternity.

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

I ask of God to draw thee ever closer, hold thee ever
faster; to rejoice thy heart with nearness to His presence, to fill
thee with light and still more light, to grant thee still more
beauty, and to bestow upon thee power and great glory.

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

At all times do I call thee to mind. I shall never
forget thee. I pray for thee by day, by night; I see thee plain
before me, as if in open day.

O Breakwell, O my dear one!

159:
As to thy question, doth every soul without …

As to thy question, doth every soul without exception
achieve life everlasting? Know thou that immortality belongeth to
those souls in whom hath been breathed the spirit of life from God.
All save these are lifeless—they are the dead, even as Christ
hath explained in the Gospel text. He whose eyes the Lord hath opened
will see the souls of men in the stations they will occupy after
their release from the body. He will find the living ones thriving
within the precincts of their Lord, and the dead sunk down in the
lowest abyss of perdition.

Know thou that every soul is fashioned after the nature
of God, each being pure and holy at his birth. Afterwards, however,
the individuals will vary according to what they acquire of virtues
or vices in this world. Although all existent beings are in their
very nature created in ranks or degrees, for capacities are various,
nevertheless every individual is born holy and pure, and only
thereafter may he become defiled.

And further, although the degrees of being are various,
yet all are good. Observe the human body, its limbs, its members, the
eye, the ear, the organs of smell, of taste, the hands, the
fingernails. Notwithstanding the differences among all these parts,
each one within the limitations of its own being participateth in a
coherent whole. If one of them faileth it must be healed, and should
no remedy avail, that part must be removed.

160: O thou sincere and loyal
handmaid of the Lord! …

O thou sincere and loyal handmaid of the Lord! I have
read thy letter. Thou art truly attached to the Kingdom and devoted
to the All-Glorious Horizon. I beg of God in His bounty to make thee
to burn ever more brightly in the fire of His love, as each day
passeth by.

Thou wert, it appeareth, in doubt as to whether to
write, or to teach the Faith. Teaching the Faith is essential, and
for the present teaching is preferable for thee. Whensoever thou dost
find an opportunity, loose thy tongue and guide the human race.

Thou didst ask as to acquiring knowledge: read thou the
Books and Tablets of God, and the articles written to demonstrate the
truth of this Faith. Included among them are the Íqán,
which hath been translated into English, the works of Mírzá
Abu’l-Fadl, and those of some others among the believers. In
the days to come a great number of holy Tablets and other sacred
writings will be translated, and thou shouldst read these as well.
Likewise, ask thou of God that the magnet of His love should draw
unto thee the knowledge of Him. Once a soul becometh holy in all
things, purified, sanctified, the gates of the knowledge of God will
open wide before his eyes.

Thou hast written of the dear handmaid of God, Mrs.
Goodall. That soul enraptured of God is truly serving the Faith at
all times, and doing whatever she can to scatter abroad the heavenly
splendours. If she continue in this same way, very great results will
follow in a time to come. The main thing is to remain staunch and
firmly rooted, and persevere to the end. It is my hope that through
the high endeavours of the handmaids of the Lord, those foothills and
that ocean53
shore will grow so bright with the love of God as to cast their beams
to the ends of the earth.

Thou didst ask whether, at the advent of the Kingdom of
God, every soul was saved. The Sun of Truth hath shone forth in
splendour over all the world, and its luminous rising is man’s
salvation and his eternal life—but only he is of the saved who
hath opened wide the eye of his discernment and beheld that glory.

Likewise didst thou ask whether, in this Bahá’í
Dispensation, the spiritual will ultimately prevail. It is certain
that spirituality will defeat materialism, that the heavenly will
subdue the human, and that through divine education the masses of
mankind generally will take great steps forward in all degrees of
life—except for those who are blind and deaf and mute and dead.
How can such as they understand the light? Though the sun’s
rays illumine every darkest corner of the globe, still the blind can
have no share in the glory, and though the rain of heavenly mercy
come down in torrents over all the earth, no shrub or flower will
bloom from a barren land.

161: O thou who seekest the Kingdom
of heaven! …

O thou who seekest the Kingdom of heaven! This world is
even as the body of man, and the Kingdom of God is as the spirit of
life. See how dark and narrow is the physical world of man’s
body, and what a prey it is to diseases and ills. On the other hand,
how fresh and bright is the realm of the human spirit. Judge thou
from this metaphor how the world of the Kingdom hath shone down, and
how its laws have been made to work in this nether realm. Although
the spirit is hidden from view, still its commandments shine out like
rays of light upon the world of the human body. In the same way,
although the Kingdom of heaven is hidden from the sight of this
unwitting people, still, to him who seeth with the inner eye, it is
plain as day.

Wherefore dwell thou ever in the Kingdom, and be thou
oblivious of this world below. Be thou so wholly absorbed in the
emanations of the spirit that nothing in the world of man will
distract thee.

162: O ye dear friends of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá! At all times …

O ye dear friends of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá! At
all times do I await your good news, longing as I do to hear that ye
are making progress from day to day, and are becoming ever more
illumined by the light of guidance.

The blessings of Bahá’u’lláh
are a shoreless sea, and even life everlasting is only a dewdrop
therefrom. The waves of that sea are continually lapping against the
hearts of the friends, and from those waves there come intimations of
the spirit and ardent pulsings of the soul, until the heart giveth
way, and willing or not, turneth humbly in prayer unto the Kingdom of
the Lord. Wherefore do all ye can to disengage your inner selves,
that ye may at every moment reflect new splendours from the Sun of
Truth.

Ye live, all of you, within the heart of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,
and with every breath do I turn my face toward the Threshold of
Oneness and call down blessings upon you, each and all.

163: O ye two seekers after truth!
Your letter was …

O ye two seekers after truth! Your letter was received
and its contents noted. As for the letters ye had previously sent,
not all were received, while some reached here at a time when the
cruelty of the oppressors had so intensified that it was not possible
to send a reply. Now this present letter is here, and we are able to
answer it, and I have therefore set about writing, in spite of much
pressing business, so that ye will know that ye are loved amongst us,
and also accepted in the Kingdom of God.

Your questions, however, can be answered only briefly,
since there is no time for a detailed reply. The answer to the first
question: the souls of the children of the Kingdom, after their
separation from the body, ascend unto the realm of everlasting life.
But if ye ask as to the place, know ye that the world of existence is
a single world, although its stations are various and distinct. For
example, the mineral life occupieth its own plane, but a mineral
entity is without any awareness at all of the vegetable kingdom, and
indeed, with its inner tongue denieth that there is any such kingdom.
In the same way, a vegetable entity knoweth nothing of the animal
world, remaining completely heedless and ignorant thereof, for the
stage of the animal is higher than that of the vegetable, and the
vegetable is veiled from the animal world and inwardly denieth the
existence of that world—all this while animal, vegetable and
mineral dwell together in the one world. In the same way the animal
remaineth totally unaware of that power of the human mind which
graspeth universal ideas and layeth bare the secrets of creation—so
that a man who liveth in the east can make plans and arrangements for
the west; can unravel mysteries; although located on the continent of
Europe can discover America; although sited on the earth can lay hold
of the inner realities of the stars of heaven. Of this power of
discovery which belongeth to the human mind, this power which can
grasp abstract and universal ideas, the animal remaineth totally
ignorant, and indeed denieth its existence.

In the same way, the denizens of this earth are
completely unaware of the world of the Kingdom and deny the existence
thereof. They ask, for example: ‘Where is the Kingdom? Where is
the Lord of the Kingdom?’ These people are even as the mineral
and the vegetable, who know nothing whatever of the animal and the
human realm; they see it not; they find it not. Yet the mineral and
vegetable, the animal and man, are all living here together in this
world of existence.

As to the second question: the tests and trials of God
take place in this world, not in the world of the Kingdom.

The answer to the third question is this, that in the
other world the human reality doth not assume a physical form, rather
doth it take on a heavenly form, made up of elements of that heavenly
realm.

And the answer to the fourth question: the centre of the
Sun of Truth is in the supernal world—the Kingdom of God. Those
souls who are pure and unsullied, upon the dissolution of their
elemental frames, hasten away to the world of God, and that world is
within this world. The people of this world, however, are unaware of
that world, and are even as the mineral and the vegetable that know
nothing of the world of the animal and the world of man.

The answer to the fifth question is this: Bahá’u’lláh
hath raised up the tabernacle of the oneness of mankind. Whoso
seeketh shelter under this roof will certainly come forth from other
dwellings.

And to the sixth question: if on some point or other a
difference ariseth among two conflicting groups, let them refer to
the Centre of the Covenant for a solution to the problem.

And the seventh question: Bahá’u’lláh
hath been made manifest to all mankind and He hath invited all to the
table of God, the banquet of Divine bounty. Today, however, most of
those who sit at that table are the poor, and this is why Christ hath
said blessed are the poor, for riches do prevent the rich from
entering the Kingdom; and again, He saith, ‘It is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter
into the Kingdom of God.’54
If, however, the wealth of this world, and worldly glory and repute,
do not block his entry therein, that rich man will be favoured at the
Holy Threshold and accepted by the Lord of the Kingdom.

In brief, Bahá’u’lláh hath
become manifest to educate all the peoples of the world. He is the
Universal Educator, whether of the rich or the poor, whether of black
or white, or of peoples from east or west, or north or south.

Among those who visit Akká, some have made great
forward strides. Lightless candles, they were set alight; withered,
they began to bloom; dead, they were recalled to life and went home
with tidings of great joy. But others, in truth, have simply passed
through; they have only taken a tour.

O ye twain who are strongly attracted to the Kingdom,
thank ye God that ye have made your home a Bahá’í
centre and a gathering place for the friends.

164: O ye two faithful and assured
souls! The letter …

O ye two faithful and assured souls! The letter was
received. Praise be to God, it imparted good tidings. California is
ready for the promulgation of the Teachings of God. My hope is that
ye may strive with heart and soul that the sweet scent may perfume
the nostrils….

Convey on my behalf to Mrs. Chase respectful greetings
and say: ‘Mr. Chase is a twinkling star above the horizon of
Truth, but at present it is still behind the clouds; soon these shall
be dispersed and the radiance of that star shall illumine the state
of California. Appreciate thou this bounty that thou hast been his
wife and companion in life.’

Every year on the anniversary of the ascension55
of that blessed soul the friends must visit his tomb on behalf of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá and in the utmost lowliness and
humility should with all respect lay on his grave wreaths of flowers
and spend all the day in quiet prayer, while turning their faces
toward the Kingdom of Signs and mentioning and praising the
attributes of that illustrious person.

165: O my God! O my God! Verily Thy
servant, …

O my God! O my God! Verily Thy servant, humble before
the majesty of Thy divine supremacy, lowly at the door of Thy
oneness, hath believed in Thee and in Thy verses, hath testified to
Thy word, hath been enkindled with the fire of Thy love, hath been
immersed in the depths of the ocean of Thy knowledge, hath been
attracted by Thy breezes, hath relied upon Thee, hath turned his face
to Thee, hath offered his supplications to Thee, and hath been
assured of Thy pardon and forgiveness. He hath abandoned this mortal
life and hath flown to the kingdom of immortality, yearning for the
favour of meeting Thee.

O Lord, glorify his station, shelter him under the
pavilion of Thy supreme mercy, cause him to enter Thy glorious
paradise, and perpetuate his existence in Thine exalted rose garden,
that he may plunge into the sea of light in the world of mysteries.

Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Powerful, the
Forgiver and the Bestower.