Volume I: Tablets (part 3)

Thou art favored and accepted in the Threshold of His Highness the Incomparable One, and art beloved and praised in the presence of Abdul-Baha. Thy services in the divine kingdom are evident and registered and the most eminent reward and the most great bounty are destined and in store for thee. The confirmation which hath descended unto thee is conducive to unlimited favor. Therefore, be thou engaged in the glorification of the Forgiving Lord.

O thou whose heart is filled with the Love of God!

I was informed of thy longing for meeting (me) and that thy breast is boiling with the love of God. Blessed are thou for this wish.

O maid-servant of God! Beseech thou God to be filled with His love and make thy tongue fluent with the glorification of God.

Verily, I supplicate God to forgive thy father and to submerge him in the sea of forgiveness and pardon.

+P 195

Be not grieved at the death of that infant child, for it is placed in trust for thee before thy Lord in His great Kingdom.

Verily God will bestow upon thee that whereby thy heart shall be rejoiced and thy breast shall be dilated. Verily thy Lord is compassionate and merciful!

O thou favored maid-servant in the Threshold of the

Almighty!

The letter which thou hast written was perused and its contents were noted. Thou hast written concerning spiritual hearing and insight. The insight (or inner perception) is a correct sight, for it never blundereth. But the outward sight doth err (or misjudgeth); it seeth the mirage as water, considereth the revolving flame as a circle, imagineth the images reflected in a mirror as a reality and judgeth huge bodies as small ones, from a remote distance. There are many evidences as to the blundering of the sight; but the insight apprehendeth the reality and discovereth the mysteries.

As to the difference between inspiration and imagination: Inspiration is in conformity with the Divine Texts, but imaginations do not conform therewith. A real, spiritual connection between the True One and the servant is a luminous bounty which causeth an ecstatic (or divine) flame, passion and attraction. When this connection is secured (or realized) such an ecstasy and happiness become manifest in the heart that man doth fly away (with joy) and uttereth melody and song. Just as the soul bringeth the body in motion, so that spiritual bounty and real connection likewise moveth (or cheereth) the human soul.

+P 196 As to truthful dreams: I beg of God that thy inner eye (insight) may be so opened that thou mayest thyself differentiate between truthful and untruthful dreams.

Treat thy friends and relatives in general with the utmost kindness and love; (deal in like manner) even with strangers (or outsiders). Convey my great compassion to the little maid-servant of God, ......... She must memorize and recite the following commune:

&O loving God! I am a young child, a suppliant, a captive. Be Thou my refuge, my support, my protector. I am in distress: give me the means of tranquillity. I am needy: bestow upon me the treasure of the Kingdom. I am dead: give me the Spirit of Life. I am weak: favor me with power and strength, so that I may be a maid-servant in Thy Threshold, with perfect purity and sanctity; sacrifice myself unto Thee, be quit of myself and seek Thee, walk in the path of Thy good pleasure, speak Thy secret and witness the signs of Thy Oneness wherever I look. O God! Make me ablaze, like unto the fire of Thy love, and make me free from attachment to this mortal world, until I find the peace of soul and the rest of conscience. &Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty! Thou art the Hearer, the Seer!&

O thou who art advancing toward God!

Blessed art thou, for the lights of guidance have shone forth upon thee and the bounty of the Supreme Kingdom hath illumined thy heart. The effect of the Spirit will surely increase within hearts, so souls will

+P 197 grow in advancing toward the Kingdom, the wonderful bounty shall appear from the invisible kingdom, the hidden exalted world, and your powers and firmness will increase in the Cause of God, the Lofty, the Mighty.

O thou Godlike person and spiritual friend!

Verily God hath, through His bounty and grace, removed the covering from off thine eyes and inspired thee the night in which the Morn of Guidance dawned and the Holy Spirit breathed in the being of "The Exalted, the Supreme"+F1 . Ye went out+F2 , desirous to witness and visit the Lord, and awaited the appearance of the Great Bounty in that brilliant night. Is there any evidence greater than this to the discerning? No, by my Beloved, the ABHA! This is a gift to which ye have been assigned among mankind. Thank ye God for this bestowal in which the inspired ones glory in the kingdom of heaven.

As to thee, strengthen thou thy back to spread that Spirit and diffuse that Light and arise to serve the Cause of God in His vineyard, so that thou mayest be of the first to call in the name of God and draw nearer unto the Kingdom of thy Lord, the Glorious, the Supreme. Truly, I say unto thee, if thou be steadfast in this Cause and arise with all thy power to promote the Word in those parts, and if thou render thine utmost efforts in breathing the Spirit of Life into the hearts of the righteous, thou wilt find thyself assisted

------------------------ 1. The BAB. 2. The mother of the one to whom this Tablet was revealed was an Adventist, who, in 1844, expected to "meet the Lord in the air." At that time the recipient was three months old. +P 198 by the angels of heaven and the hosts of the Supreme Concourse; thou wilt hoist the banner of peace and the sounds of the trumpet will be heard in the tunes of love and union throughout those countries; thou wilt guide people (literally, souls) to the running water of life and lead them to the field of knowledge; thou wilt give them to drink the wine of assurance and quicken them with the fragrances of the Merciful One; thou wilt clothe them with the robes of bestowal and give them to drink the wine of faithfulness in love for Baha', so that they will be awakened from the sleep of selfish desires and behold the signs of their Mighty Lord in this exalted life. This is better for thee than all the glory and dominion of the world.

As to thy coming at this time to the Blessed Spot (Acca), this is not in accordance with the wisdom revealed in the Tablets. Send unto us some of the traces of thy pen (writings) so that we may see it and pray God to assist and render thee successful in everything.

O thou whose face is illumined with the Light of the

Love of God!

The answer already hath been delayed, but there is no harm in that. For, verily, my heart is gazing unto thee, my love is constant and permanent for thee and the fragrances of holiness are wafting (over thee) and my spirit is pouring upon thee, and the spiritual communication is extended between us.

O maid-servant of God! It is incumbent upon thee to show forth the greatest steadfastness; it is incumbent upon thee to stand the tests of the Lord! Be

+P 199 thou firm in the love of thy Lord, the Clement, the Merciful!***

O thou who art enkindled with the Fire of the Love of God!

Thy letter was received and I was informed of the contents. It was a proof of truthfulness and sincerity and an evidence of spiritual feelings. Consider how the radiance of the light of the Holy Spirit doth illumine the court of the soul, that it bringeth about spiritual discoveries and produceth merciful attachment! The essential meeting is that spiritual attachment (or union) and heartfelt feelings; when this gift becometh manifest, heavenly bounties will be attained and hopes shall be fulfilled. It is the same as I have written: Thou shalt attain to visit Acca; but now a physical visit (or presence) will lead to interference on the part of the ignorant and cause the tumult and commotion of the unwise. For the present, satisfy thyself with a spiritual union. God willing, thy coming will be also brought about afterward.

Occupy thyself with the Kingdom as much as thou canst and forget all else save the True One; in order that thou mayest, day by day, find a new power in the Cause of God and gain a great stability.

O thou who art advancing toward the Threshold of

Mercifulness!

Verily, I have read the expressions of thy longing for the visit and thy craving to come to this Brilliant Spot. But the violators of the Covenant of God have stirred up the dust of deception, and besides this, there

+P 200 are numerous obstacles and it is impossible for thee to come in these times. But verily, I pray my Lord to make this success feasible unto thee in a future time. There is for this a mature wisdom concealed from sight, but it shall appear as clear as the sun in midday.

As to thee, be rejoiced at the glad-tidings of thy Lord and trust in His great gifts, the lights of which have shone forth upon the horizons of hearts and souls, and trust in the assistance of thy Master, and ask what thou wishest of the gifts of thy Lord, the Unconstrained! Draw nigh unto Him with a pure heart, cheerful face, gazing eye and a joyful spirit and plunge with thy whole being into the sea of the love of God and forget all else save Him, so that thou mayest be filled with such spiritual sentiments from the kingdom of God, which will take the reins of desire from thy hands and move thee with the power of thy Lord, just as the wind moveth a mote in the open air as it willeth. At that time we will draw unto each other in spirit, a nearness which will be eternal, everlasting and endless.

O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!

Verily, I considered the meanings of thy beautiful words and found them as a peerless, brilliant pearl, shining with a luster of the lights of the love of God. God shall surely enable thee [to speak] in more eloquent and wonderful words through a confirmation from the Spirit of the gift of God.***

O maid-servant of God! Verily, the picture (photograph) is an indication of what is in the heart of man. There are faces which are rejoiced and brilliant like

+P 201 unto the garden of paradise and faces which are dusty and dark and are covered with the dimness of fire.

Verily I beg of God that He may strengthen thee in whatever matter thou mayest undertake and unto which thou mayest advance.

O maid-servant of God! Thy heart shall surely have attractions and revelations through the power of the Beauty of El-ABHA, which will be followed by glad-tidings and signs, in every minute and instant. Verily, I reveal unto thee in spirit and address thee in heart, a speech which will open unto thee the doors of mysteries which are concealed behind veils. When mirrors become pure and the lights shine, the signs of the Sun of Truth shall reflect therein with most wonderful splendors.

O maid-servant of God! Verily, I have not forgotten thee and will not forget thee. Trust thou in the love of Abdul-Baha, for verily, nothing equals it.

O maid-servant of God! Verily, the Household+F1 present unto thee greeting and praise, with all longing and attraction.

O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!

I pray to God that He may cause to descend upon thee a heavenly blessing, quicken thy heart with the Holy Spirit into an everlasting life and make thy heart a source of merciful sentiments; so that thy breath may become a quickener of the souls, thine attractions may move the heart of the world, thy strong love may attract the hearts of men, and that thine abundant affection may become a mercy to mankind in the world

------------------------ 1. At Acca. +P 202 of existence. Verily, my Lord is Powerful, Potent and the Bestower!

Be thou loving to every afflicted one, a dispeller of sorrows to every grieved one, a refuge to every fearful one, a heavenly food to every destitute one, a balm to every wounded one, a consolation to dejected hearts, a blessing to unfortunate souls, a treasure to every begging one and a succor to every lamenting one -- so that thou mayest be a banner of guidance and the essence of piety among the maid-servants of thy Supreme Lord. Verily, thy Lord is the Beneficent, the Gracious, the Bestower!

O maid-servant of God! ***I beg of God that He may make [that place] a center of merciful events and a point whereon the lordly favors may fall; and that He may make thee so ablaze with the fire of His love that the flame of the love of God may pervade all those parts.

O thou dear maid-servant of God!

Thy letter was received and a sweet odor wafted from the rose-garden of its meanings. Thou hast offered thanks before the threshold of the One God, for that thou hast stepped into the Court of the Manifestation in such a blessed day and hast partaken a share and portion from the bounties of the Pre-existent Beauty+F1 . This mortal world is fickle and unstable like unto a shifting shadow, and the human life is like unto a mirage and a reflection on the water. When thou lookest at the result thou wilt consider the preliminaries as

------------------------ 1. BAHA'O'LLAH. +P 203 important, otherwise, preliminaries without a result are of no fruit or harm; they are pure fancy and sheer darkness. Therefore even a short duration of life is sufficient.

I beg of God that He may render thee successful so that thou mayest find the result of the supernal life from the temporal life and attain to the gift of the heavenly food and be strengthened to serve the Cause of God.

O thou who art esteemed in the Threshold of the

Almighty!

Praise thou God, for that thou hast found the Light of Guidance, recognized the Lord of the Kingdom, art engaged in the service of the Divine Garden and hast guided a number of souls and led them to the Kingdom of Existence. When thou occupiest thyself with all thy strength in service, thou wilt become a magnet of attraction and cause every seeker to reach the presence of the Desired One; thou wilt raise a great clamor in the world and evince such an ecstasy and rapture that will astonish the minds.

Send my loving greeting to those souls whom thou hast guided unto the divine kingdom and say unto them: &Ye must appreciate Miss ....... Move your tongues in thanksgiving and be obliged for her great effort; for she gave you to drink the wine of guidance from the cup of the love of God and led you to the kingdom of lights. Were you to thank her for many years as a reward for this guidance, ye will not be able to repay your obligation for this gift.&

+P 204

Thou hast written concerning the Impersonality of the Divinity. Personality is in the Manifestation of the Divinity, not in the Essence of the Divinity. The reality of the divine world is purified and sanctified from limits and restriction. But the pure Mirror, which is the Manifestor of the Sun of Truth and in which the Sun of Truth is manifest in appearance -- that mirror is restricted, not the lights. The soul pervadeth throughout the whole body, and its commands are effective in all the parts and limbs of man. Notwithstanding its utmost sanctification (or abstraction) this soul is manifest and evident in all its grades, in this material form. By seeing God is meant beholding the Manifestation of Himself; for witnessing the sun in its entire splendor, in a clear glassy surface, is identical with witnessing the essence of the sun itself.

When the souls of the sincere depart (from this body), then their unreal vision (i. e., seeing) is changed into a vision of reality. Even as man, when in the age of babyhood and imperfection, though he seeth things, yet that vision is superficial and external. But when he reacheth the world (or age) of perfection and becometh endowed with reasoning faculty and (the power of) discrimination and comprehension, then that vision of his is a vision (i. e., seeing) of reality+F1 and not the unreality.

It is evident that the divine nearness is an unlimited nearness, be it in this world or the next one. This is a nearness which is sanctified from the comprehension of the minds. The more a man seeketh light from the Sun of Truth, the nearer he will draw. For

------------------------ 1. Insight. +P 205 instance, a clear body is near unto the sun, and a black stone is far from the sun. This nearness dependeth upon clearness, purity and perfection and that remoteness is due to density, dullness (or obscurity) and imperfection.

As to the question whether the souls will recognize each other in the spiritual world: This (fact) is certain; for the Kingdom is the world of vision (i. e., things are visible in it), where all the concealed realities will become disclosed. How much more the well-known souls will become manifest. The mysteries of which man is heedless in this earthly world, those will he discover in the heavenly world, and there will he be informed of the secret of truth; how much more will he recognize or discover persons with whom he hath been associated. Undoubtedly, the holy souls who find a pure eye and are favored with insight will, in the kingdom of lights, be acquainted with all mysteries, and will seek the bounty of witnessing the reality of every great soul. Even they will manifestly behold the Beauty of God in that world. Likewise will they find all the friends of God, both those of the former and recent times, present in the heavenly assemblage.

As to the difference and distinction between Lazarus and that "rich man": The first was spiritual, while the second was material. One was in the highest degree of knowledge and the other in the lowest depths of ignorance. The difference and distinction will naturally become realized between all men after their departure from this mortal world. But this (distinction) is not in respect to place, but it is in respect to the soul and conscience. For the Kingdom of God is sanctified

+P 206 (or free) from time and place; it is another world and another universe. But the holy souls are promised the gift of intercession. And know thou for a certainty, that in the divine worlds, the spiritual beloved ones (believers) will recognize each other, and will seek union (with each other), but a spiritual union. Likewise, a love that one may have entertained for any one will not be forgotten in the world of the Kingdom. Likewise, thou wilt not forget (there) the life that thou hast had in the material world.

O thou maid-servant of God! Hold fast to the Most Strong Handle+F1 and be thoroughly attracted to the Kingdom of ABHA, until thou mayest at every instant find a new confirmation and attain to a wonderful gift and become a cause for the guidance of souls.

O thou who hast attained to Truth!

I beg of God that the divine light which is spoken of in the Twelfth Chapter of John may shed its rays upon thee forever, so that thou mayest always be in light. The life of man in this world is short and will soon drawn to an end. Consequently one must appreciate (or count as gain) every breath (or moment) of his life and endeavor in that which is conducive to eternal glory.

Thou hast written concerning the shining assembly of Washington (D. C.): This caused me great joy, for that assemblage is a rose-garden of mysteries and very sweet fragrances of being inhaled from it. I hope that through the sincerity of heart of the friends and maid-servants of God, that assembly will continue and

------------------------ 1. The Manifestation of God. +P 207 be extended (or grow) day by day, will increase in luminosity every moment and that the members of that assembly will make extraordinary progress in the Divine Threshold.

If the health and well-being of the body be expended in the path of the Kingdom, this is very acceptable and praiseworthy; and if it is expended to the benefit of the human world in general -- even though it be to their material (or bodily) benefit and be a means of doing good -- that is also acceptable. But if the health and welfare of man be spent in sensual desires, in a life on the animal plane, and in devilish pursuits -- then disease is better than such health; nay, death itself is preferable to such a life. If thou art desirous of health, wish thou health for serving the Kingdom. I hope thou mayest attain a perfect insight, an inflexible resolution, a complete health and spiritual and physical strength in order that thou mayest drink from the fountain of eternal life and be assisted by the spirit of divine confirmation.

Say unto ........: &Thou art sowing pure seeds, but that soil (wherein the seeds fall) is full of useless plants, weeds and rubbish. Therefore the seeds are wasted. Consequently, come and sow those seeds in a pure, sweet and fertile soil, in order that they may vegetate, become fresh and verdant and form into heaps on heaps of harvest.&

Send my greeting to ........ and say unto her: &The sun is in the utmost effulgence but the surface turned toward it must be a mirror; the clearer and purer it is, the more lights shall be reflected therein.&

Send my loving greeting to his honor ........ and

+P 208 say unto him: &Do not miss the opportunity. Now in the springtime and the bounty of heaven is pouring on earth and the fields and rose-gardens are in growth and development. Exert thyself as much as thou canst, in order that through this everlasting bounty and the sprinklings of the clouds of the divine gift, thou mayest grow and thrive like unto a fruitful tree, with the utmost freshness and purity.&

That matter (or substance) which is the cause of the moderation and perfection of the body is that perfect moderate temperament which is produced by the organization and admixture of constituent elements; that matter (or substance) is material (or physical) not spiritual. But reason, which comprehends (or detects) the realities of things, is a spiritual reality, not physical (or material). Therefore the animal is deprived of reason, and it (reason) is specialized to mankind. The animal feeleth realities which are perceptible to the senses, but man perceiveth intellectual realities (or things perceptible to reason). Consequently, it hath become evident that reason is a spiritual faculty, not physical (or material).

The Holy Land is not tranquil in these days+F1 . Consequently, let thy presence (or coming) in the Holy Land depend on some other time. Endeavor night and day in serving the Cause of God; this service is real visit, and this is meeting, itself.

Deliver my greeting to each one of the friends of God and maid-servants of the Merciful with the utmost love.

That blessed name which thou hast asked to remain

------------------------ 1. Revealed in 1905. +P 209 with thee forever and become the cause of spiritual progress -- the name is "Aseyeh," which is the name of the mother of Abdul-Baha. I give the blessed name to thee. Be therefore in the utmost joy and happiness, and be engaged in all gladness and attraction (or ecstasy) for thou hast become the object of such a favor.

O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!

I know how great a love thou hast! Thou art like unto a blooming rose in the rose-garden of the love of God and thou art like unto a fruitful tree on the bank of the stream of knowledge of God. I beg of God that thou mayest always enjoy spiritual nearness and ever be rejoiced. Reveal thou (or teach thou) the Word of God; be not grieved at the people's lack of hearing. Do thou sow the seed, and God will make it grow and the cloud (or rain) of mercy will develop it.

Convey greeting to the beloved of God and to the maid-servants of the Merciful.

O thou maid-servant of God!

Thy detailed letter was perused. On account of the multitude of occupations and work, a brief answer is written. This brief Tablet is most significant. Thou art forever in my memory and in reality thou art present. Thou art never forgotten!

Blessed is thy state that thou art firm in the Covenant and steadfast in the Cause of God. Rest thou assured of the bounty and providence of the Heavenly Lord. Be thou rejoiced! Be thou a merciful being! Be thou illumined! Associate with all the maid-servants

+P 210 of the Merciful with utmost love and kindness, also with other women of the world.

I have prayed for the outpouring of the blessing upon those souls for whom thou hast asked supplication of the Holy Spirit (in their behalf). I hope that they may become quickened through the breeze of life wafting from the garden of immortality and be gladdened with utmost happiness and joy. But the capacity is necessary for the descent of rain, and preparation of soil is of great importance. The heavenly outpouring will develop from the pure ground roses and hyacinths. We also hope that such things will appear from them.

Convey my respectful greeting to the attracted maid-servant of God ......... I am always engaged in her remembrance, beseeching for her merciful gifts from the Heavenly Father. Utmost bounty is extended toward her.

Exert thyself in studying the Persian language in order that with perfect eloquence and fluency thou mayest talk, read and write.

Know thou the value of ........ for she hath an illumined heart and a soul gladdened with the love of God. She hath presented herself at this Blessed Spot, hearing the utterances of Abdul-Baha with her own ears. Blessed is she, and again, blessed is she!

O thou dear maid-servant of God!

The letter that thou hast written in Persian was highly appreciated. I have read it from beginning to end. It contained wonderful thoughts.

Convey my longing greetings to all the friends in Washington (D. C.). Also present my respectful greetings

+P 211 to the maid-servants of the Merciful. Present my respectful salutations to the maid-servant of God, the Eternal, the Protector, Mrs. ........, for she is near and dear in the Threshold of Oneness. I beseech God that she may be confirmed and assisted in all stations and attain the heavenly confirmations.

O thou who art attracted to the Kingdom of God!

The letter written by you *** was received. Its contents became evident. The expressions (of thy letter) evinced utmost attraction and caused joy and fragrance.

Thou hast asked for permission to come to our presence with his honor ......... I am also longing greatly after the meeting of the friends. If there was no obstacle, it would be very acceptable, but in these days, thy presence (in this land+F1 ) is not according to wisdom. Besides this, thou must be engaged in the service of the Kingdom in those parts. Also, the presence of his honor+F2 ........ is of utmost necessity in those parts, for we henceforth forward all the Tablets to him for translation, that he may send to the believers. If he should move, this work would be neglected. Therefore now thou must wait until some happy occasion will bring this about later on.

Also, thou hast written concerning the meeting with the minister of Persia. This is very acceptable. The believers of God must render utmost consideration toward Persian ministers and officials.

Also convey respectful greetings from Abdul-Baha to all the friends of God.

------------------------ 1. The Holy Land. 2. One of the translators. +P 212 O thou maid-servant of the Blessed Perfection!

Thy letter was received. It was written in Persian. I was very much pleased. I hope thou wilt memorize all the poetry of the Blessed Perfection and chant with wonderful melody in the assemblages and gatherings. These verses will soon be translated into English poetical form and then this Divine Song will rise from those lands and reach the ABHA Kingdom in utmost joy and happiness.

Thou hast written that ........ is giving lessons of [the Book of] Ighan+F1 ; this news brought me real joy.

Thou hast written that ........ hath started upon her trips again, to be engaged in the service of the Kingdom. In reality she is attracted and will bear every calamity and trial in the path of the Blessed Perfection and this very thing will be conducive to her spiritual development.

O thou attracted one! If thou art able, be thou engaged in the promotion of the Cause of God, either with ........ or alone.

O thou maid-servant of God! Whatever thou dost and upon whatever occasion thou showest any effort, the end will prove fruitless except in teaching the Cause of God and in serving the divine Kingdom.

If the means of thy travel to these parts+F2 be brought about, it is better to come alone, because ........ must remain in those parts and be engaged in the service. The confirmation of the Holy Spirit will descend upon him uninterruptedly.

------------------------ 1. See page 107. 2. The Holy Land. +P 213

Convey respectful greeting to the beloved maid-servant of God ........ and love her.

O thou attracted maid-servant of God!

Thy letter *** was received and its contents produced happiness and joy, for it evinced affinity and love among the maid-servants of the Merciful One gathering in the assemblages and commemorating the name of the True One. ***

Convey my respectful greeting to ........ and announce to her: &This period is a blessed period; endeavor that thou mayest live according to the requirements of this Glorious Age.&

Convey my greeting to ........ and say: &The Heavenly Table is descended; become thou hungry in so far as thou canst and partake of that Food.&

Announce thou to ........: &At a time when the light of the Sun of Truth hath penetrated into all those regions, then the spiritual oneness will become realized. Therefore, make thou an effort that the souls may become attracted with the light of the Kingdom and the shining heavenly lamp become ignited in thy house. I beseech God that thou mayest become a center of merciful feelings in those regions and seek after the everlasting glory.&

I prayed for those whose names thou hast mentioned in thy letter, asking from God confirmation and assistance in their behalf. Say to the beloved maid-servant of God, ........, to write the book which she had in mind.

+P 214 O thou favored maid-servant of God!

Thy letter was received. Thou hast expressed joy on account of thy visit to the friends of Chicago. I also yearn to visit them. At the time when ye were assembled in the house of Mrs. ........, Abdul-Baha was also present with heart and soul.

I hope that hou mayest become an incarnation of love and embodiment of spirit and personficiation of kindness and that thou mayest progress day by day in the spiritual attributes through the Beauty of ABHA.

Convey respectful greeting on my behalf to the dear and kind maid-servant of God, the assured leaf, ....... Behold thou how attracted and enkindled she is! Love and have great consideration for the attracted maid-servant of God, ......... Exercise the utmost affection and kindness toward the dear maid-servant of God, .........

O thou maid-servant of God! No one hath any way to the Reality of Deity except through the Instrumentality of the Manifestation. To suppose so is a theory and not a fact.

Convey greeting on my behalf to ........... and say: &If thou art desiring the refulgent light, add to thy love for God. If thou art begging for the breaths of the Holy Spirit, become thou engaged in the commemoration of the Beauty of ABHA. If thou art seeking everlasting glory, choose humility in the path of the True One. If thou art aspiring to eternal life, sacrifice thy soul in the way of God.&

Announce my love and affection to the attracted maid-servant ......... and say: &Every eye which is weeping for the sake of the love of God is blessed;

+P 215 every ear which is hearing the divine call is blessed. Then may thine eyes flow with the tears of joy because of the coruscation of the fire of the heart and may thy soul and thy spirit be attracted to the Beauty of the Beloved.&

Show forth kindness on my behalf to the maid-servants of the Merciful whom thou hast mentioned by name in thy letter and impart to them the glad-tidings of the Kingdom.

Give especial greeting to ........... and say: &There lie glorious meanings in the word "Allaho-ABHA.+F1 I hope thou wilt discover those significances.&

O thou spiritual maid-servant of God!

Thy letter was received and its contents became known. God willing, the vision will become actualized. Announce thou to ........: "Become thou a new creation and be thou patient and forbearing. Be baptized by the fire of the love of God and by the spirit of the knowledge of God, in order that thou mayest become characterized by the spiritual attributes; attain to the nature of that kind Beloved; be so enkindled that thou mayest illumine a region, become a sign of guidance and an ensign of the love of God."

O thou maid-servant of God! I know that thou hast spiritual love for Abdul-Baha and this is confirmed and beyond doubt.

Say to ........: &Leave thou the "New Thought" and seek after the New Kingdom. The "New Thought" is a part of the New Kingdom. When thou hast found the latter, thou hast found the former; nay rather, thou hast found all things.&

------------------------ 1. The Greatest Name. +P 216 O thou attracted maid-servant of God!

Thy letter was received. Thou hast manifested cheerfulness and gladness on account of the news of my happiness. Abdul-Baha hath the glad-tidings of the Kingdom of ABHA. His happiness hath no sorrow in its trail and His life is not followed by any death. To him, prison is a court; to him, a tomb is a spacious palace; to him, a well is the apex of heaven; and to him, manacles and chains are the throne of ether.

If at times he becometh sad, it is not on account of affliction and adversities, but that grief is produced from a word or an act which is against the exhortations and behests of the Blessed Perfection.

For instance: I hope that the believers of God may become the cause of the unity and agreement of the human realm, and suffer other nations and communities of the world to enter under the shade of the Canopy of Oneness. Now, when the news reacheth me that the slightest differences have crept in among the believers of God, I become sad and heartbroken.

The point is this: Afflictions and hardships, ordeals or trials, do not make me weak or faint, nor do they in the slightest degree make me sad or unhappy.

Thou hast written regarding the feast *** I became very happy therefrom. Convey greeting on my behalf to the favored maid-servant of God, ......... and say: &On that night thy house was the nest and the shelter of the birds of God. The divine melodies and the celestial lyres made that place a feast of heaven and an assembly of the Kingdom. Abdul-Baha was present there in heart and soul and was joyful and happy. Thank thou God.&

+P 217

Announce salutation to Mrs. ......... and say: &A thousand times, Well done! -- that thou art working in the vineyard of the Kingdom and hast arisen to faithfulness and art engaged in the service of His Highness, the Almighty! Thou art helping the helpless ones and art comforting those who are instance.&

Convey respectful greeting to Mrs. ......... and say: &May thy joy be unending and thy comfort and happiness everlasting! May thy life be eternal and the light of thy thought the heavenly glad-tidings.&

Convey greeting and kindness to the maid-servant of God, ........, and say: &If thou art desiring an illumined house, enkindle thou therein the lamp of the love of God; and if thou art seeking after a heavenly palace, make thy house the gathering place of the believers of the Merciful One; so that the splendors of the Sun of Truth may cast therein rays spiritual and the harmony of holiness ascend to the Kingdom of ABHA.&

Say to the maid-servant of God! The feast given by Mrs. ......... became highly acceptable and the respected personages who served in that feast, as did ........., Mr. ........., Mrs. ......... and Mrs. ........., are in reality worthy of all praise. They were engaged in the duty and the work of Abdul-Baha and have arisen to serve the believers of God.

Convey my greeting to his honor ......... and say: &Thou didst deliver a wonderful talk on that night. Well done! Well done! That talk was given

+P 218 in the West yet Abdul-Baha became happy from it in the East.&

I congratulate and compliment the maid-servant of God, ........, in her firmness and steadfastness in the Cause of God. Truly, I say, she is illumined, spiritual, heavenly and celestial. She taketh care of the strangers among the friends and serveth and praiseth the servants of God.

O thou maid-servant of God! Do not be slow in the study of the Persian language and be thou engaged in the service.

O thou who art firm in the Covenant!

Thy letter was received. Thou hast written regarding thy trip to the Holy Land. God willing, this desire of thine will be realized.

The name Aseyeh is acceptable in the Threshold of Oneness, for the daughter of Pharaoh had this name, who, when (Moses) the Light of Guidance dawned, became confirmed by the Merciful One, left the court of Pharaoh with its grandeur and sovereignty and became perfumed with the fragrances of holiness. Then she assisted in the service of His Holiness (Moses) -- upon him be peace! Also, Aseyeh was the name of my mother.

Thou hast written that thou lovest the Bible. Undoubtedly, the friends and the maid-servants of the Merciful should know the value of the Bible, for they are the ones who have discovered its real significances and have become cognizant of the hidden mystery of the Holy Book.***

+P 219

Deliver my greeting to ......... and say: &I supplicate God that thou mayest gladden and rejoice the heart of ......... with the melody of the Kingdom, rend asunder the veil of her concealment, enlighten her face with the light of the Most Great Guidance and make her eyes see and her ears hear.&

Say on my behalf to the maid-servant of God, ........, &The end of every (material) work is without result, because it is perishable and inconstant, but the first (real) work is attraction to the fragrance of God, enkindlement with the fire of the love of God, reading the verses of Unity and beholding the lights from the Dawning-place of Mystery.+F1 After that cometh the training of the soul, purification of character and service to humanity. If thou art able to accomplish any one of these, the result is eternal and the fruit everlasting.&

Thou hast written regarding thy coming to the Holy Land; do not hasten, for then thou mayest travel with comfort. It would be better not to resign from the school, nay rather, avail thyself of the opportunity during vacation time which is in the season of summer, and present thyself in this land; because thy presence in that school is fruitful. Thou shalt finally study the Persian language.***

O thou whose breast is dilated with the Fragrances of God!

I received thy letter which showed thine advance toward the Kingdom of God.

O maid-servant of God! Verily, the weakness of body and its strength do neither harm nor benefit; nay,

------------------------ 1. i. e., as the sun rises out of the darkness. +P 220 rather the spirit must be strong through the breath of the Holy Spirit, at this time, so that it may apprehend the consummate wisdom which is deposited in this great age. I beg of God that He may increase joy and fragrance in thy spirit, give thee power and strength, and that He may help thee at every moment in faith and assurance. Verily my Lord is powerful in all things! Trust thou in the grace of thy Master and ask that which thou wishest from His Name, the Clement, the Merciful.

O thou who art rejoiced at the Kingdom of God!

The letter indicating thy great wish to be a maid-servant of the Cause of God in His wonderful and excellent vineyard, was received.

Thank thou God that He hath removed the veil and hath manifested unto thee the reality of things until thou hast apprehended that, verily, the world and all of its concerns are but confused dreams and of non-duration.

Verily I beg of God to grant thy greatest wishes and bestow upon thee the good of this and the world to come.

O thou herald of the Kingdom!

Thou wast not alone in the trip that thou didst undertake in various places. The spirit and soul of Abdul-Baha was with thee. Although thou hast been afflicted with many and severe persecutions, hast heard derision, scorn and contempt and observed the opposition of the heedless ones, yet this is conducive to thy glory, that thou hast been made a target for the arrow

+P 221

of opposition in the Path of God and hast drunk the cup of affliction. Consider this, how many a calamity was submitted to by those sanctified souls in bygone ages and to how many sufferings they were resigned! Thou also must endure dire oppression and ordeals in the Path of ABHA and maintain the feet of steadfastness and firmness. Then thou shalt behold the confirmation of God surrounding thee. Rejoice thou and be happy that thou hast attained to this station and walked in the footsteps of the holy souls.

Announce on my behalf longing greeting to Mr. ........ and say, &The melody of the Kingdom is that which hath caused the motion of the universe; the musk-diffusing fragrance of the rose-garden of God is that which hath perfumed the nostrils; and the reflection of the Sun of Truth is that which hath illumined the whole earth. Now is the beginning of illumination! Therefore, the people of darkness imagine that they can oppose (this Revelation); yet, ere long they shall find themselves in loss and consternation! They shall observe that the power of the Word of God hath subdued East and West. Be thou not sad and dispirited on account of the opposition of the heedless ones. Soon they shall regret sorely. Reflect thou how the Pharisees persecuted and looked down in contempt upon His Holiness the Christ. The result was that His lamp became ignited, His light began to shine and His followers sparkled like unto the stars from the horizon of existence; and the consequence to the Pharisees was the pangs of remorse and regrets.&

Convey, also, greeting to the maid-servant of God, Mrs. ........ and say, &Thy house is the nest and

+P 222 the shelter of this heavenly bird. Undoubtedly, thou must enkindle the lights of the Kingdom therein.&

Likewise convey respectful greeting on my behalf to Mrs. ........ and say, &I ask God that thy house may become the gathering-place of the spiritual ones and the assembly of the godly ones; that the light of Truth may shine therein and make it brilliant and resplendent.&

Also convey longing greeting to Mr. ........ and say, &Those souls who, in the time of His Highness Christ, turned their faces toward the Kingdom and quaffed the wine of guidance from the cup of the Word of God, had their troubles changed into everlasting bliss. No matter how much they heard the rebuke of the heedless ones, observed the censure of the relatives, were afflicted with the injury of the oppressors and thrown into abjection, yet that ignominy finally became eternal glory. Thou must show the utmost love and kindness towards the heedless ones and the oppressors and ask from God forgiveness and pardon for them, for they are ignorant. If they understood, they would not oppress; nay, rather would they arise (to serve the Cause) with faithfulness.&

Announce, also, respectful greeting from me to Mrs. ........ and Mrs. ........ and say, &The sons of the Kingdom are scattered throughout the whole world, but the ignorant Pharisees have arisen with the utmost hatred instigating persecutions. They imagine that persecution and suffering will hinder the promulgation of the Cause; whereas no rampart is able to obstruct the descent of the waves of the Most Great Sea; no veil can conceal the rays of the Sun of Truth; no wall can stay

+P 223 the wafting of the Divine Breeze; and no power is able to resist the Spirit of God. Be ye not sad nor dejected on account of the disturbance and uproar of the people of desire and passion. Ere long the symphony of the Kingdom shall silence all the other noises. Rest ye assured and illumine your house with the lights of divine commemoration.&

Give my greeting to Mr. ........ and announce to him, &Caiaphas and Annas were the colossal pillars of the Mosaic Dispensation in the day of His Highness the Spirit; but as they did not acknowledge the Word of God, they fell from the apex of glory to the bottom of the pit of the greatest abasement. But Peter was a catcher of fish; as he turned his face toward the Word of God, the fame of his imperishable, deathless and immortal glory encircled East and West; and he found in the sovereignty of the Kingdom, eternal and everlasting majesty. It is the same in these days.&

O thou who art attracted to the Kingdom of God!

Thy letter was read with the utmost attention. The poetry was beautiful.

Praise be to God, thou art severed from all else save the Heavenly Father. Thou hast been of the earth -- thou art now of the Kingdom. Thou hast been of the world -- thou art now of the Realm of Might. Thou art spreading the divine Teachings. Thank thou God, thou art bearing trials in the path of the Kingdom and art enduring persecutions and sufferings. These afflictions are conducive to the spiritual development and the descent of the Holy Spirit.

O thou dear maid-servant of God! I supplicate God

+P 224 that He suffer thee to become a herald of the Kingdom in all those places, so that thou mayest proclaim the glad-tidings of the Lord of Hosts.

O thou beloved and benevolent daughter of the Kingdom of God!

The letter which thou hast written was received. I read it with the utmost love; thy services became known and thy forbearance in the afflictions became evident and manifest. Happy is thy condition, for thou art spending thy days in heralding the Kingdom and art crying, "O ye concourse of men! Make ye straight the path; walk ye in the direct road!" Thou hast abandoned ease and accepted thousands of hardships and traveled for the purpose of promoting the Word of God.

Convey on my behalf love to Mrs. ........ and say, &Praise be to God, thou art set aglow with the fire of the Love of God and hast arisen in the service of the Cause of God.&

Announce my affection to the maid-servant, ....... and say, &Thank thou God that thou hast become related to the Kingdom and art an object of the favors of the Lord of Might.&

Gladden the heart of Mrs. ........ by the divine glad-tidings and say, &Be thou like unto a bird and unweariedly soar upward until thou reachest the Supreme Apex.&

Say thou to Mr. ........, &When engaged in useless service the end is loss within loss. Therefore, serve thou the Lord of the Kingdom, which in the end is profit within profit.&

+P 225

Announce my respectful greeting to Mrs. ........ and her daughter and say, &Thank ye God that ye have illumined faces with the light of Guidance and ye have perfumed the nostrils with the holy fragrances of the rose-garden of the Kingdom of ABHA.&

Proclaim the glad-tidings of the bounty of the Almighty to Mrs. ........ and deliver my respectful greeting to Mrs. ........ and say, &In the churches turn thy face toward the Kingdom of ABHA and supplicate the help of the Holy Spirit, and, with a detached heart, begin to talk.&

Convey respectful greeting to Mr. and Mrs. ......... and say, &Be ye thankful to God that your house became the nest of the birds of the divine garden and the shelter of the flocks of heaven. They sit together, read the holy Tablets, are engage din the commemoration of the True One and strive and endeavor to promote the Word of God.&

O thou maid-servant of God, Mrs. ..........! Regarding the star with five points, thou hast made an excellent comparison.

O thou maid-servant of God! If it is possible, change the meeting of every nineteen days into a feast. ***

O thou maid-servant of God! Those fishes which thou hast seen in the vision are the souls who are swimming in the sea of this nether world. God willing, thou wilt bring them out of the nether world, with the net of the love of God, into the immensity of the kingdom. Those brilliant stars which thou hast beheld are the children of the Kingdom. That brilliant crescent is the Cause of God. The appearance of His Highness

+P 226 Christ and His white robe and resplendent light in His blessed face is the proof of the power and the promulgation of the Word of God in America.

Therefore, it is the same thing which I said: "The night is drawing nigh and then no one can work." Consequently, one must hasten to perform something and show forth exertion.

+F1 Thy letter was received. It became conducive to happiness. Up to the present thou hast been serving in the Kingdom of God and hast been assisted. I hope that, in the future, thou wilt become assisted more and serve more. Praise be to God! Thou art watched by the glances of Providence and art encircled with endless bounties. I hope that, day by day, thou mayest step further, become characterized with a godlike nature and disposition, manner and morals, in order that thou mayest become the cause of the guidance of many souls and the instrument for the illumination of a region.

O thou beloved maid-servant of God!

The letter, which thou hast forwarded through Mrs. ........ was received. Thank thou God that thou art assisted in the thralldom of His Threshold, art favored in the Kingdom, art heralding the Name of the True One, art speaking of divine praises, art guiding the souls to the Sun of Truth, art quickening the dead with the breaths of the Holy Spirit and art endeavoring with heart and soul to spread the Cause.

Thou hast Mrs. ........ as thy partner and sharer,

------------------------ 1. Following Tablet as received bore no opening line of address. +P 227 co-operating with each other to serve, and hast lied in her house.

Show thou forth love to Mrs. ........ and convey to her greetings on my behalf. Associate with her and seek her companionship as far as possible, for it is conducive to the development of you both.

O thou who art advancing toward God!

Verily, I received thy letter, which showed that thou hast turned unto the Kingdom of God and advanced toward the Beauty of El-ABHA.

Verily, thy Lord hath chosen thee for His love, elected thee for His knowledge and selected thee for entering the Paradise of El-ABHA, so that thou mayest attain to the mightiest bliss and greatest honor: It is no other than the Light which is shining upon hearts and sights and the Spirit which is thrilling and flowing within veins and nerves!

Verily, thou hast attained thereto, for thou hast acknowledged the Oneness of God and His Singleness, and turned unto His Face, the lights of which are shining from the horizon of the unseen, upon all regions!

O thou who art attracted to the Call of the Kingdom!

Thy letter was presented and I was informed of thy expression. And it was glorious proof of thine abundant reliance upon the Kingdom of thy Lord and of thine excessive love for thy great Master.

Know thou, verily, the Kingdom is a magnet of the divine world, and it attracteth the iron of pure hearts which are capable of the bounties of the Lord of Might. Blessed art thou, for thou hast turned unto

+P 228 the Lord of Heaven, thy heart hath relied upon the light of guidance, thou hast advanced toward the center of righteousness, and thy spirit is cheered by the bounty of the Supreme Concourse.

Verily, I beseech God to strengthen thee with the Most Great Power, so that the Spirit may pour upon thee the teachings of the Beauty of El-ABHA, and to baptize thee with the water of life, the fire of the love of God and with the spirit of confirmation among the maid-servants.

O maid-servant of God! It is incumbent upon thee to supplicate to thy Lord, to seek His nearness with thy heart, to be submissive and humble before His maid-servants and to serve His great vineyard.

Forsake the mortal grades (i. e., things of the world) and be engaged in praising thy Lord; so that His Holy Spirit may assist thee; may make thee a sign of faith and illumine thy heart with the light of assurance, and that thou mayest become a sign of peace, a servant of reconciliation, love and security. Verily, my Merciful Lord is gracious under all aspects!

As to thy question concerning Christ: Know thou, He was perfect in respect to spirit as well as body. His material (body) was a perfect body in every respect; none of His material conditions were imperfect at all, inasmuch as imperfection is contrary to perfection. His heavenly condition was also a perfect one, comprising all the divine perfections. Reflect thou upon these words, so that the door of knowledge may be opened before thy face.

Verily, I beseech God to strengthen the assured

+P 229 leaves (or women) whom thou hast mentioned in thy letter, under all grades, aspects and circumstances.

O thou who art turning unto the Kingdom of God!

Thy letter came and I was informed of its wonderful contents. Know thou, verily, all the doors are closed except the door of the kingdom of God! All the trees are without fruit except the Tree of Life planted in the paradise of God! All the winds are disqueting to the souls except the cup of the love of God! Every benefit vanisheth except the food of heaven. It is incumbent upon thee to partake thereof.

Verily, I beg of God to strengthen thee in these divine gifts, merciful bestowals and supreme favors. Exert thyself, so that thou mayest abundantly enjoy this glorious grace.

O my God! O my God!+F1

This is a servant who hath ascended to the Kingdom of Thy Mercifulness; supplicated to the realm of Thy Might and Singleness; is rejoiced at the appearance of Thy Kingdom; the effulgence of Thy lights and the spread of Thy signs. He hath believed in Thy Verses, been overtaken with the ecstasy of Thy love and with the cheer of Thy affection, until his soul craved to behold Thy Beauty -- and could not (or was unable to) endure the grief and violence of the fire of separation, hastened unto the Supreme Friend and betook himself

------------------------ 1. Supplication begging the forgiveness of God for Dr. .........., who hath ascended to the Kingdom of God. +P 230 to Thy Threshold of Holiness at the visiting places of grandeur!

O my Lord! Suffer him to abide in a blessed abode and cause him to enter into a retreat of faithfulness and favor him to everlastingly dwell in the heavenly paradise, the precinct of meeting in the shelter of Thy great mercy!

Verily, thou art the Beneficent, the Merciful, the Powerful, the Forgiving, the Mighty, the Bestower!

O thou who art honorable and faithful to God!

How many men and women awaited the manifestation of the Messiah after Moses? Yet when His beauty shone forth and His face appeared, they (the people) did not recognize Him, but continued to follow the superstitions of the Pharisees, who used to say: "Where is the authority of the Messiah? Where is the throne of David, the Glorious? Where is his iron rod? Where are his innumerable hosts? Where are his attacking armies? Where are his angels of heaven? Where do we see justice of government existing among people and even among beasts and insects? Where is his great majesty? Where is his power, which shaketh heaven and earth? Is not this a claim of one who is bewildered and wandering amidst valleys and hills? Doth he not ride upon as ass, while on his head there is a crown of thorns and he is despised?"

Indeed, all of the foregoing statements are of the evil opinions which the Pharisees used to proclaim through every man's tongue. But those who had listening ears and clear insight, listened not to such misleading

+P 231 speeches, but realized the Messiah as the rising Sun with His effulgent face, and that the radiance of His illumination was diffused over the whole world. They regarded even the ass on which He (Christ) was mounted as a splendid throne and also the thorns which were upon His head as a brilliant diadem!

Verily, direct thou thine own self towards His Kingdom, that thou mayest perceive that His traces and authority continue forever and will never cease!

O thou whose heart is empty and pure through the

Light of the word of God shining therein!

I have read thy brilliant letter which proveth thy humbleness before the Divine Might and thy cheerfulness by the fragrances of God emanating from the gardens of expressions and facts. I ask God to make thee, thy relations and kindred attentive to the Merciful Mighty and the Supreme Kingdom and to illumine their sights and hearts by the light of the knowledge of God. And [be] thou rejoiced at the mercy of thy Lord and this great abundance from the Kingdom of Mysteries. Be thou a strong and fortified refuge and a high cave. This is naught else than to cut thyself from everything beside God, to be drawn by the fragrances of God and to be happy and joyful by the gift of God.

O thou who art shining with the Kingdom's Lights!

Verily, I am informed of thine earnest desire for the Kingdom of God, thy sparkling by the love of God and thy longing for the service of the sacred and effulgent Threshold. I pray God to kindle and light the lamp of knowledge in the glass of thy heart, so that it may

+P 232 shine upon all parts of the world and bring thy husband to the life by the Spirit of Life, assist thee to announce the good news by the illuminating Light, and remove the covering of thy sight so that thou mayest see God's Beauty and His Essential Perfection, His astonishing profusion and His appearance to the hearts and spirits. ***

O thou maid-servant of God!

Thy letter *** was received; its contents were very sweet. The sweetness of the meanings was unlimited. I ask God that thou mayest find rest and comfort in the shelter of the holy Banner of Peace and Concord; become the means of spreading the love of God; attain boundless health and security; grow joyfully, day by day, through the glad-tidings; soar on high through ecstasy and delight; sings the melody and proclaim the call, "Ya Baha-ul-ABHA!"

O maid-servant of God! That call to which thou didst listen is from the Kingdom of ABHA. Therefore, praise and glorify the Possessor of that Call, so that the call may be repeated.

As to the interpretation of the vision, it is thus: Ascent from earth to heaven indicateth growth in the love of God and development in the knowledge of God. The more thou dost develop, the brighter and more spacious becometh the pathway to the Kingdom. The building in front of which thou didst stand is an edifice of divine edifices, a station of the spiritual stations. I hope that thou mayest attain to that station, also to other stations which are the other edifices.

I supplicate and implore the Kingdom of ABHA in

+P 233 behalf of thine honored husband and all the family and the friends in Cincinnati. I pray that the heavenly blessings may descend, the divine bounties become possible and that thou mayest become a true caller of the Word of God.

O thou who art turned to the Kingdom of the Lord, the

Forgiving!

With prayers and supplications and with submissive songs of the Texts of God, I plead to Him to accept thee in His Kingdom; to clothe thee with the mantle of sanctity; to gloriously cover thee with the veil of abstinence; to illumine thy brow with the light of singleness; to console thine eyes with the seeing of the Texts of the Kingdom in the human form; and to make thee utter the mentioning of Him, rejoicing through His bounty, heralding His Kingdom with a bright face, whose light will illumine all sides

O thou maid-servant of God!

It is incumbent upon thee to turn thyself wholly to the kingdom of God, to sever thyself from aught else but Him, to be filled by the love of God, to put on the garment of sanctity and continence, which is free from worldliness, to [become] transfigured in the mantle of the gifts of the kingdom of God and to be a great sign among the maid-servants of God; that the Supreme Concourse may send out through thee a fragrance by which hearts may be cheered and spirits rested.

Give this Truth to every pliable soul that thou mayest deem ready to harken unto the voice of God; for

+P 234 this is better unto thee than the earth and that which is thereupon.

O thou who art longing to witness the lights from the

Beauty of El-ABHA!

Thy letter reached me at this moment and I was rejoiced at thine excellent words which proved the enkindlement of the fire of the love of God in thy heart. Be confident in the bounty of thy Lord. Verily He will make thee a manifest example and an evident proof for the attainment of His Kingdom in this glorious century. Then the fire of His love will flame in thy heart, the light of His knowledge will shine in thy face, thy tongue will speak with eloquent explanation and thy spirit will be attracted unto the kingdom of knowledge.

O maid-servant of God! The Spirit knoweth the spirit, the Spirit addresseth the spirit and the Spirit associateth with the spirit.***

O thou spiritual clarion!

The voice of the physical clarion may travel the distance of three miles, but the harmony of the spiritual Clarion reacheth to the East and the West. The effect of that is only in the bodies; but the effect of this is in the spirits. The first proclaimeth the time of prayer; the second announceth the appearance of the Most Great Resurrection. That hath no conscious knowledge of its own voice; while this is exhilarated and rejoiced by its own melody.

How significant and eloquent were those new verses, for they were the notes of the clarion of the love of God.

+P 235

Raise thou this call as much as thou canst, and sound and blow this clarion continually night and day, so that the souls may become quickened and the people find eternal life.

O thou dear maid-servant of God!

What thou hast written hath caused joy and happiness, for it was an evidence of turning to the Kingdom and of seeking the bounty of heaven. I ask God to provide means whereby that which is thy utmost hope may be realized.

Concerning the young Japanese, the answer to his letter is enclosed herein. Perchance this youth may be the cause of guiding his family and people.***

O thou flower of the Rose-Garden of the Love of God!

The letter which thou hast written was read. Thou hast written regarding the arrival of the beloved maid-servant of God, Mrs. ........; that she has lived for eighteen days in your house and become the cause of joy and fragrance among the believers.

Praise be to God! that thou hast seen the effulgence of the light of the covenant which hath enlightened all the countries. Invoke thou God that day by day the splendors of the Orb of regions may become manifest and evident more and more.

Thou hast asked for permission to present thyself with thy dear husband in this Blessed Spot. In these days it is not according to wisdom. Postpone this matter until some other time.

Convey greeting and kindnesses on my behalf to all the maid-servants of the True One.

+P 236 O thou who art kindled with the fire of the Love of

God!

Blessed art thou, for thy letter was presented at the Blessed Spot and was read by Abdul-Baha with a delight and love which is journeying out towards all directions.

O servant of God! Be thou a sign of guidance, a standard of the Supreme Concourse and a light shining in the meeting of the maid-servants.

Verily, I beseech my Lord to grant thee thy greatest wishes and to bestow on thee the privilege of entering into the center of the Kingdom of God; and to make thee a herald in His name, in that vast and extensive region.

Deliver my greeting and praise to all the maid-servants of God.

O thou dazzling gem by the light of the Love of God!

Verily I read thy beautiful, elegant and expressive letter which informed [me] of thine extreme love for God, which (love) impresseth the souls and dilateth the breasts and which causeth thy heart to become filled with the knowledge of God and overflow with the favor of God.

I ask God to make thee a sign of mercy and an exemplar of servitude to the Sublime Threshold.

Thank God for saving thee from baseness, trouble, selfishness and death, and [that He] took away the veil from before thine eyes, manifested unto thee the Beauty of El-ABHA, granted thee healing, planted in thy heart the seed of love and thereby chose thee from among the

+P 237 maid-servants. Therefore, endeavor so that thou dedicate (thyself) entirely to God; no thought or mention should remain in thee save the name of thy Supreme Lord. Endeavor so that those countries become illumined by the light of the gift of God.

Embrace the light of thine eyes (thy son) on my behalf in the Kingdom of God.

O maid-servant of God!

Thy letter was received and its content read. Thank God that thou wast guided by the light of guidance and attracted to the Kingdom of ABHA. Serve God day and night and seek happiness from His name. Although thou hast met with many difficulties and passed through many trials, yet thou must thank God that thou didst attain to the light of guidance and directed thyself to the Kingdom of Glory.

I hope that thou mayest be a cause of guidance to people and that thou mayest seek absolute spirituality. Train thy dear son in such a manner that he will attain the illumination of the Kingdom, will become a true servant of God, a light of love and a radiance of harmony.

O thou who art enkindled with the fire of the Love of

God!

Thank thou thy revered friend and thy attracted (spiritual) sister who hath guided thee to this right path and given thee to drink the choice wine of knowledge from the cheerful cup. Wert thou duly informed of this divine bounty, thou wouldst kneel down and

+P 238 prostrate thyself before her for this great gift. For, verily, thou wert athirst and she was a clear running fountain. Thank thou God for that He hath favored thee with her meeting, that thou art benefited by her clouds and sought light from her lamp. Wert thou to expend all that is in the earth, thou wouldst not appreciate her due value. Glorified is He who hath enabled her to illumine thine insight, to purify thy heart, to dilate thy breast and to sanctify thy soul!

Then know thou, if thy revered husband herald the Kingdom of God among peoples, he would find the doors of the Kingdom open before his face among the nations, and then his breath would take effect within the heart of the world through the breath of the Holy Spirit.

I beg of God to guide him unto that whereunto He hath guided thee, and to favor him with that with which He hath favored thee. At that time the lamps of gifts will be enkindled among thy kinsmen and people.

Verily, thy Lord is the Beneficent, the Merciful, the Giver!

Upon ye be greeting and praise!

ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.

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Tablets of

Abdul-Baha Abbas