Volume III: Tablets (part 2)

Therefore, the beloved of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful must train their children with life and heart and teach them in the school of virtue and perfection. They must not be lax in the matter; they must not be inefficient. Truly, if a babe did not live at all it were better than to let it grow ignorant, for that innocent babe, in later life, would become afflicted with innumerable defects, responsible to and questioned by God, reproached and rejected by the people. What a sin this would be and what an omission! the first duty of the beloved of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful is this: They must strive by all possible means to educate both sexes, male and female;

+P 580 girls like boys; there is no difference whatsoever between them. The ignorance of both is blameworthy, and negligence in both cases is reprovable. "Are they who know and they who do not know equal?" (Koran)

The command is decisive concerning both. If it be considered through the eye of reality, the training and culture of daughters is more necessary than that of sons, for these girls will come to the station of motherhood and will mould the lives of the children. The first trainer of the child is the mother. The babe, like unto a green and tender branch, will grow according to the way it is trained. If the training be right, it will grow right, and if crooked, the growth likewise, and unto the end of life it will conduct itself accordingly.

Hence, it is firmly established that an untrained and uneducated daughter, on becoming a mother, will be the prime factor in the deprivation, ignorance, negligence and the lack of training of many children.

O ye beloved of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful! Teaching and learning, according to the decisive texts of the Blessed Beauty (Baha'o'llah), is a duty. Whosover is indifferent therein depriveth himself of the great bounty.

Beware! Beware! that ye fail not in this matter. Endeavor with heart, with life, to train your children, especially the daughters. No excuse is acceptable in this matter.

Thus may eternal glory and everlasting supremacy, like unto the mid-day sun, shine forth in the assemblage of the people of Baha', and the heart of Abdul-Baha become happy and thankful.

+P 581 O pure friends of God!

Cleanliness and sanctity in all conditions are the characteristics of pure beings and necessities of free souls. The first perfection consists in cleanliness and sanctity and in purity from every defect. When man in all conditions is pure and immaculate, he will become the center of the reflection of the manifest Light. In all his actions and conduct there must first be purity, then beauty and independence. The channel must be cleansed before it is filled with sweet water. The pure eye comprehendeth the sight and the meeting of God; the pure nostril inhaleth the perfumes of the rose-garden of bounty; the pure heart becometh the mirror of the beauty of truth. This is why, in the heavenly Books, the divine counsels and commands have been compared to water. So, in the Koran it is said, "and we have caused a pure water to descend from heaven;" and in the Gospel, "Except a man hath received the baptism of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." Then it is evident that the divine teachings are the heavenly grace and the showers of the mercy of God, which purify the hearts of men.

The meaning is, in all conditions, cleanliness and sanctity, purity and delicacy exalt humanity and make the contingent beings progress. Even when applied to physical things, delicacy causeth the attainment of spirituality, as it is established in the Holy Scriptures.

External cleanliness, although it is but a physical thin, hath a great influence upon spirituality. For example, although sound is but the vibrations of the air which affect the tympanum of the ear, and vibrations

+P 582 of the air are but an accident among the accidents which depend upon the air, consider how much marvelous notes or a charming song influence the spirits! A wonderful song giveth wings to the spirit and filleth the heart with exalteth. To return to the subject, the fact of having a pure and spotless body likewise exerciseth an influence upon the spirit of man.

Now, see how much purity is approved in the Court of God, that it should be especially mentioned in the Holy Books of the Prophets. So the Holy Books forbid the eating of any unclean thing, or the use of anything which is not pure. Certain prohibitions are absolute and imperative for all: he who commits that which is forbidden is detested by God and excluded from the number of the elect. This applieth to the things forbidden by an absolute prohibition and of which the perpetration is a grave sin; they are so vile that even to mention them is shameful. There are other forbidden things which do not cause an immediate evil and of which the pernicious effect is only gradually produced. They are also abhorred, blamed and rejected by God, but their prohibition is not recorded in an absolute way, although cleanliness and sanctity, spotlessness and purity, the preservation of health and independence are required by these interdictions.

One of these last prohibitions is the smoking of tobacco, which is unclean, malodorous, disagreeable and vulgar and of which the gradual harmfulness is universally recognized. All clever physicians have judged, and have also shown by experiment, that one of the constituents of tobacco is a mortal poison and that smokers are exposed to different indispositions and

+P 583 maladies. That is why cleanly people have a marked aversion for its use.

His Supreme Highness (the Bab) - may my soul be His sacrifice! - in the beginning of His Cause, openly forbade it and all the friends abandoned its use. But, as it was a time for caution and he who abstained from smoking was ill treated, persecuted and even killed, therefore the friends were obliged, as a matter of prudence, to smoke. later, the Kitab-el-Akdas was revealed and as the prohibition of tobacco was not clearly stated in it, the friends did not renounce it. But the Blessed Perfection had always a marked aversion for its use. At the beginning of the Cause, for certain reasons, he smoked a little, but later he abandoned it completely, and the holy souls who obeyed him in all circumstances, also entirely gave up smoking. I wish to say that, in the sight of God, the smoking of tobacco is a thing which is blamed and condemned, very unclean, and of which the result is by degrees injurious. Besides it is a cause of expense and of loss of time and it is a harmful habit. So, for those who are firm in the Covenant, it is a thing reprobated by the reason and by tradition, the renouncement of which giveth gradual repose and tranquility, permitteth one to have stainless hands and a clean mouth, and hair which is not pervaded by a bad odor.

Without any doubt, the friends of God on receiving this epistle will renounce this injurious by all means, even if it be necessary to do so by degrees. This is my hope.

As to the question of opium, disgusting and execrated, I resign myself to God for its punishment. The formal

+P 584 text of the Kitab-el-Akdas forbids and reproves it and, according to reason, its use leads to madness. Experience hath shown that he who giveth himself up to it is completely excluded from the world of humanity. Let us take refuge in God against the perpetration of so shameful a thing, which is the destruction of the foundations of humanity and which causeth a perpetual unhappiness. It taketh possession of the soul of man, killeth the reason, weakeneth the intelligence, maketh a living man dead and extinguisheth the natural heat. It is impossible to imagine anything more pernicious. Happy is he who never mentioneth the word opium! But what is the fate of those who make use of it!

O friends of God! Force and violence, constraint and oppression are condemned in this divine cycle, but to prevent the use of opium, all means must be employed, so that the human species may be delivered and freed from this great calamity. Otherwise, alas! for all the negligent before God.

O Lord! Give to the people of Baha' cleanliness and holiness in all conditions, purify and free them from all defilement, deliver them from the use of all that is execrated, liberate them from the chains of habits, so that they may be pure and free, clean and spotless, that they may be worthy servants of the Sacred Threshold and may deserve to enter into relation with God. Deliver them from alcohol and tobacco, and save them from opium, the purveyor of madness! Make them companions of the holy breezes, in order that they may know the pleasures of the wine of the love of God, and that they may attain to the joy and the happiness of attraction to the Kingdom of Abha!

+P 585

Hast Thou not 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 friends of God! Experience hath shown how much the renouncing of tobacco, wine and opium, giveth health, strength and intellectual enjoyments, penetration of judgment and physical vigor. There exists today a tribe+F1 which refrains and abstains from tobacco, alcohol and opium and it completely excels all others in power, in bravery, in health, beauty and grace. A single one of these men can withstand ten men of other tribes, and this hath been universally proved; that is to say, generally, the individuals of this tribe are superior to the individuals of the other tribes.

Therefore strive that the greatest cleanliness and sanctity, which is the great desire of Abdul-Baha, should be resplendent among the Bahais, and that the companions of God should surpass the rest of mankind in all conditions and perfections; that they may be physically and morally superior to others; that through cleanliness and purity, refinement and health, they may be the chief of wise men, and that by their affranchisement, their prudence, and the control of their desires, they may be the princes of the pure, the free and the wise.

Upon you be the glory of El-Abha!

O ye two+F2 , servant and maid-servant of the Beauty of

Abha!

Thank ye His Highness the Incomparable One, that ye have become assisted in the service of the self-subsistent

------------------------ 1. The Druses. 2. Husband and wife. +P 586 Lord and that ye are making copies of the Tablets of Abdul-Baha, spreading them all around. This service is the most great bounty; for like unto the messenger from Egypt, ye are sending the garment of the Joseph of the love of God to all directions, so that the fragrance of the rose-garden of the Kingdom of Abha impart the spirit of life to the inquirers.

Excellent! Excellent is your magnanimity and exalted intention!

O thou who art skilled in the Knowledge of God and wise in the Wisdom of the Almighty!

Turn thy face toward the Kingdom of Might with supplication and invocation and entreat thy Lord, the Merciful, with this commune, until the heart and consciousness be illumined by the breath of God from the right side of grace and generosity, and say:

"O my God! O my God! Verily I am Thy humble servant and Thy meek slave. I beseech Thee with all my heart and soul, in the middle of nights, and declare: O my Lord! O my Lord! Enlighten the sights [or eyes] by the outpouring of lights; purify the souls by the fragrances of Paradise; dilate the hearts by the wafting of the breeze whereby the sorrows are dispelled, and exhilarate the spirits by the cups of the wine which is gleaming and sparkling like unto a lamp!

"Then intoxicate me with the wine of Thy love, so that I may attain to success and prosperity in this dawn of Light; may speak Thy praises, call upon Thy Name, be engaged in Thy commemoration in this vast country and spacious continent and be inebriated with the pure

+P 587 Wine which is glowing in the excellent Cup. Then suffer me to become the sign of guidance among Thy creatures and to become a supreme example among the believers, in order that I may lead others to Thy Word, spread Thy truth, promulgate Thy knowledge and deliver Thy teachings.

"Verily, Thou art the Confirmer, the Assister, the Mighty, the Powerful and the Beneficent!"

O seeker for the Truth!

There are two ways of healing sickness, material means and spiritual means. The first is by the use of remedies, of medicines; the second consists in praying to God and in turning to Him. Both means should be used and practiced.

Illness caused by physical accident should be treated 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 by spiritual rather than by physical treatment. Hence, both kinds of remedies should be considered. Moreover, they are not contradictory, and thou shouldst accept the physical remedies as coming from the mercy and favor 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 divine 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.l Guard them sacredly.

+P 588 O thou darling dear!

Turn thy face toward the Supreme Kingdom and chant thou this commune:

O Thou Pure God! I am a little child; make Thou the bosom of Thy Gift a dear resting-place of comfort, suffer me to grow and be nurtured with the honey and the milk of Thy love and train me under the breast of Thy knowledge; bestow Thou freedom while in a state of childhood and grant Thou excellence!

O Thou Incomparable One! Make me the confident of the Kingdom of the Unseen! Verily, Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful!

O Unequalled Lord!+F1

For this helpless child be a Protector; for this weak and sinful one be kind and forgiving.

O Creator! Although we are but useless grass, still we are of Thy garden; though we are but young trees, bare of leaves and blossoms, still we are of Thy orchard; therefore, nourish this grass with the rain of Thy county; refresh and vivify these young, languishing trees with the breeze of Thy spiritual springtime.

Awaken us, enlighten us, sustain us, give us eternal life and accept us into Thy Kingdom!

O thou worshipper of Truth!

Thy letter was received and its contents became known. Praise be to God! immense results and great effect have been produced by forwarding [recent]

------------------------ 1. A prayer for children. +P 589 Tablets to that country (America). They gladdened and exhilarated the friends and imparted happiness to the souls. They granted sight to the eyes and hearing to the ears. It is hoped that wonderful effects will be displayed in the future, that the friends of God may live and act in accord with the heavenly teachings, in order that the region of America may become the Paradise of Abha, that desert and wilderness become the rose-garden of human perfections, the verses of guidance be read, the melody of "Ya Baha El-Abha!" reach the Kingdom of Beauty; warfare and bloodshed be removed from among the people, affinity and love hoist their tent upon the apex of the world, all mankind become real friends with one another and each soul respect the other. Whenever these signs appear, then it will become manifest that the Tablets have had their effect.

O thou whose face is radiant with the light of the Love of God!

Verily, the angel of mercy heralds to thee the glad-tidings which are the light of the eyes of the sincere believers and the illumination of the countenance of the virtuous and pious.

Rest assured in God! Engage in commemoration of God; be aglow with the fire of the love of God and be severed from all else save God. This is the spirit of life for the soul who is submissive to the Word of God.

O thou yearner after Truth!

I know in what condition thou art, and how much thou longest for the meeting. The real meeting consists

+P 590 in the communication of heart. I hope that this communication will become strong, for the hearts which are spiritually related to each other, their meetings are eternal, both in this world and in the Universe of God. I hope that thou mayest attain thereunto!

O thou yearner after the Kingdom!

Thy letter was received. It was brief and expressive of meaning. I ask from God that thy name be registered in the Tablet of the Kingdom; [that thou] be assisted by the merciful confirmation; become characterized with divine characteristics, and that thou mayest become a tree with the utmost freshness and delicacy in the orchard of God.

O thou flower of the Rose-garden of God!

Thou hast presented thy life. I have also accepted it, in order that thou mayest sacrifice thyself in the path of God and attain to the ultimate desire of the spiritual ones. Thou art a fresh plant in this divine orchard. I hope that thou mayest become fruitful, and become the cause of the adornment of this rose-garden.

O thou who art firm in the Covenant!

Thy letter was received. Thou hast written regarding the visit of the beloved maid-servant of God, the attracted one to the fragrance of holiness, Mrs. ........., to California, which hath been the cause of affinity among the friends and the guidance of others.

Mrs. ......... is the favored maid-servant of the Blessed Perfection. In reality she is the daughter of

+P 591 the Kingdom and is an informed speaker. Have ye the utmost consideration toward her and show her exceeding respect.

Should anyone in this day attach his heart to the Kingdom, release himself from all else save God and become attracted to the fragrances of holiness, the army of the Kingdom of Abha will help him and the angels of the Supreme Concourse will assist him.

Convey my respectful greeting to Mrs. ......... I sought for her protection and bounty from the Lord of the Kingdom.

Regarding the question of your presence in Acca now, it is not according to wisdom. Postpone this matter to some other time.

O thou beloved maid-servant of God!

Thou hast written regarding the death of thy mother. Praise be to God, she hath attained to the desire of her heart and hath ascended to the Kingdom of Abha!

Happiness dependeth of the spiritual glad-tidings and not upon material means. It is found in the Kingdom of Abha and not in this mortal world.

O thou maid-servant of God! Become thou not extinguished by the winds of tests, but rather become ignited and be more happy, for then thou wilt become a tried believer.

Guide the maid-servant of God, Mrs. ........., to the power of the Holy Spirit and say: "Unless the Holy Spirit become intermediary, one cannot attain directly to the bounties of God. Do not overlook the obvious truths, for it is a self-evident fact that a child

+P 592 cannot be instructed without a teacher, and knowledge is a bounty from the bounties of God. The soil is not covered with grass and green without the rain of the cloud; therefore the cloud is the intermediary between the divine bounties and the soil. A body doth not develop and grow without the soul; therefore the soul is the medium of the spiritual life."

Convey respectful greeting to Mrs. ......... and say: "I hope that through the breath of the Holy Spirit the mysteries may become disclosed to thee, for without this channel it is impossible and unattainable. Turn thine attention to the days of His Highness the Christ; some people imagine that without the Messianic outpourings, it is possible to attain to Truth, but this very imagination became the cause of their deprivation."

O thou maid-servant of God! Whenever thou art desiring to talk and answer questions, turn thy face toward the Kingdom of Abha and beseech for assistance; then loosen thy tongue. Thou wilt behold at that time how thou art able to answer all the questions! o thou maid-servant of God! The aim of the theosophists is to attain to Truth, but the Truth is unattainable except through the favor of the Holy Spirit. The light hath a center and if one desire to seek it otherwise but from the center, he can never attain to it. In this solar system the source of light is the sun and every light is acquired from it; even the lamps of the night are ignited through the sun, for if there were no sun the trees would not grow nor the mines develop, so that the oil be extracted from those trees and mines, and the lamps of the night be lit by it. Is it possible that one attain to the light in this globular sphere without

+P 593 the mediation of the sun? No, by the life of God! To suppose it, is pure imagination. But the Truth is this: The main source of the lights is the Sun and the rays are shed from it upon all the regions.

O ye+F1 spiritual ones! O ye heavenly ones!

The assembly which you have established in that city is a splendor from the congregation of the Supreme Concourse. I ask from God that the hearts may be illuminated, the spirits be rejoiced through the most great glad-tidings, the eyes be upraised toward the Supreme Realm and the tongues be loosened in thanksgiving and glorification.

The members of that assembly are favored in the Threshold of Oneness and are loved and respected by this imprisoned one. They must continue to teach with utmost firmness, be engaged in the mentioning of the True One, read the verses of God, supplicate toward the Kingdom of eternity, bring about the meetings of consultation,+F2 and spread the Word of God, the spiritual attraction of the love of God, the increase of the knowledge of God and the realization of affinity, friendship, unison and nobility.

O ye+F3 servants of the True One and the maid-servants of the Merciful!

Do not think that ye are forgotten for one moment! Abdul-Baha is at all times remembering you with infinite love and kindness and supplicates assistance and favor, at the Threshold of Oneness, so that the invisible

------------------------ 1. To the Milwaukee (Wis.) assembly. 2. Board of Counsel. +P 594 confirmation may pour down, the divine bounties unveil their countenances, the friends in that region be ignited like unto lamps and the maid-servants of God shine like stars; in order to illumine that country, to make that clime the "Paradise of perpetual abode" [or heaven], to suffer the people to drink from the wine of guidance, to intoxicate the ones yearning after the Kingdom of Abha, to open spiritual universities, to be instructed in the mysteries of the love of God by the Heavenly Instructor, to associate with each other with the utmost humility and attain to spiritual affinity.

Each one must sacrifice his life and possessions to the other and each person be loving to all the inhabitants of the world, rending asunder the curtain of foreignness and consorting with all the people with union and accord. They must be faithful to the traitors and benevolent to the tyrant. They must recognize the enemies as friends, the unknown as known. These are the advices and exhortations of God!

O ye friends: O ye maid-servants of the Merciful! In order to thank God for this most great guidance, consort with all the people with the utmost joy and happiness, so that ye may become the recipients of the glances of Providence.

Become ye not sad on account of any calamity, neither be ye broken hearted by any trials. Be ye firm and steadfast in order that the beloved may become the cup-bearer of the assembly and the greatest desire become realized.

Blessing be upon ye by the bounty of your Lord the Merciful!

+P 595 +F1 O my Lord! O my Lord!

+F2 I am a child of tender years. Nourish me from the breast of Thy mercy, train me in the bosom of Thy love, educate me in the school of Thy guidance and develop me under the shadow of Thy bounty! Deliver me from darkness, make me a brilliant light; free me from unhappiness, make me a flower of the rose-garden; suffer me to become the servant of Thy Threshold and confer upon me the disposition and nature of the righteous ones; make me a cause of bounty to the human world and crown my head with the diadem of eternal life!

Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Seer, the Hearer!

+F3 Thou hast written concerning the universal peace, that before long the congress of The Hague will be opened+F4 and discussion will be made in regard to the universal peace.

This problem cannot be solved by the congress of The Hague, whose members are the representatives of nations; nay, rather, this graceful beloved will unveil her face in all the regions through the penetrative power of the Word of God.

The congress of The Hague is as follows: The wine sellers call a meeting so that they may discuss

------------------------ 1. The recipients of the following Tablets up to and including page 619, are unknown, and although we have no specific permission to publish them, they are included here as they have been previously published. - Librarian 2. This Tablet bears the following heading: "Each child may memorize as much as he can from this supplication." 3. The following Tablet as received bore no opening line of address. 4. Refers to the congress of The Hague held in 1907. +P 596 the evils of wine and remove from the world the drinking of wine; yet their own vocation is wine selling.

Nations who are constantly thinking wither of worldly conquest, the expansion of their own dominion or waging war upon their contemporaries, send ministers and representatives to the congress of The Hague to discuss the problem of universal peace and legislative registrations for the prevention of war!

But regarding the universal language: Ere long significance and scientific discussions concerning this matter will arise among the people of discernment and insight and it will produce the desired result.

O thou who art attracted by the brilliant lights of the

Merciful One, shining from the Supreme Kingdom!

I opened thy letter with the greatest happiness and considered the meaning of thine address; but sadness became most intense within me when I learned about the dissensions among the brethren+F1 in those countries. By the life of God! "This is a wonderful thing!"

Verily, the mission of all the prophets, the relation of all the scriptures, the diffusion of the instructions of God and the descent of His law, were all in order to establish agreement and union and to strengthen love and harmony among nations of different customs and thoughts, of diverse beliefs, doctrines, rites and habits; of various classes, tribes and races. So likewise, as thou seest in this beautiful religion, verily, men of different beliefs, creeds and religions, of contrary ideas and thoughts, of various races, languages and natal

------------------------ 1. During the year 1899. +P 597 lands - whether from East, West, North or South - all have entered under the shade of this Blessed Tree, planted, grown and reared in the midst of Paradise, and are formed into a single nation and religion in mutual union and agreement, ready to sacrifice their souls and bodies, each to the other. This harmony is not effected but through the influence of the Word of God and is circulated and spread in all directions among the believers of God, who are firm in the Covenant.

The dissensions prevailing in those parts (America) is altogether too surprising and strange; and I entreat God to purge it out through thy power of unity and oneness and unite the congregations and gather together the dispersed multitude. verily, He is powerful in all things!

But for thee, leave such matters and disturbances and withdraw from those districts and places and turn thy face sincerely to God; take His instructions and be expanded through the breaths of god. The Spirit of God shall assist thee and His angels will confirm thee; the life of holiness of God will be breathed into thy mouth and thou wilt find thyself in a position free from these ideas and thoughts resulting from worldly grades. (Verily, these are disgraces to all who are in the habit of reading the verses of unity in the assemblies of existence!) Seize the opportunity, use every effort and depend not upon circumstances which produce no fruits. Spend thy days, with all joy and fragrance, in speaking to the praise of God, being gladdened through His good tidings, in rejoicing through His graces and in spreading His breaths. Then thou shalt, with the eye of joy, see the banners of the Covenant fluttering above

+P 598 all stately mansions. Verily, God effecteth that which He pleaseth; naught can annul His Covenant; naught can obstruct His favor nor oppose His Cause! He doeth with His will that which pleaseth Him and He is powerful over all things! At that time thou wilt find the waverers in manifest loss.

As for the instructions: They will be revealed to thee and spread all through all those regions by the translation of the divine verses.

As for the symbol of the cross, appointed in former times: Know verily, that the cross form is a wonderful figure and consists of two right lines placed crosswise - one perpendicular to the other - and this figure exists in all things.

Meditate upon these words and pay attention to the tissue in all existing substances, either plant, animal or man, and thou wilt see that they all are formed of the cross figure or two crosswise lines. Consider this intently with true meditation. Then thou wilt be taught by the Holy Ghost that it is for this reason that God hath chosen this symbol to be displayed as the token of sacrifice in all periods of the ages.

I will explain to thee, in future time, the mystery of sacrifice. There is nothing more beautiful than this tree united with the cross. Verily, this tree is a type of the Tree of Life inconjunction with the cross; in this, the mystery of sacrifice. as for the crescent: It hath reference to the beginning of the religion of God which shall grow to be a full moon.

As for the stars: They are types of the guides; for, verily, the star is a guide to people, even in the

+P 599 most gloomy darkness, on both land and sea. In former centuries, people were aided by the pole-star in whatever direction they went.

Verily, I supplicate God to raise the instrument of sacrifice in those regions and to reveal there the mystery of sacrifice; to cause the crescent of the religion of God to rise until it groweth into a shining full moon; to brighten the stars of guidance and guide all through it; and I beseech Him to assist those brethren to promote His Word in those most distant places, cause them to be servants to His precious olive-garden, keepers of His inaccessible fortress and guides to his straight path!

May glory be unto thee and unto them!

O thou who art illuminated by the Light of Knowledge!

Verily, I beseech God and supplicate Him to increase thine assurance, thy knowledge and thine attraction and enkindlement by the fire of the love of God, day by day.

O maid-servant of God! Clothe thyself with the cuirass of assurance, so that thou mayest endure the arrows of suspicion which are successively pouring from the tongues of the heedless ones. Be a lamp, the light of which may dispel the darkness, and a real standard which may remove the doubts of the veiled people. Turn thou unto the Kingdom of thy Lord, the Ancient, and seek for confirmation at every moment and time, so that lights may shine forth unto thee from the kingdom of mysteries, and the angels of the Kingdom may come unto thee in succession, with a power from the Realm of Might. Verily, thy Lord shall assist thee

+P 600 and strengthen thee in that whereby thy breast will be dilated among the maid-servants of the Merciful One!

O thou who art gazing toward Abdul-Baha!

Now I address thee with a heart filled with affection toward thee, and say: "O maid-servant of God! Be a flame of the fire of the love of God, and consume the veils of women's doubts. And know thou that, verily, the Lord who "doeth whatsoever He willeth" will assist thee in proof and argument and will enable thee to speak the praise of the Merciful One and will make thee a sign of knowledge.

"Arise to serve the Cause of God in the vineyard of God and water the developed and flourishing trees with the waters of mysteries which are deposited in the innermost parts of the words of the Books; and be assured that the fountain of assurance will gush out in the hearts of the firm and steadfast women believers, and the divine graces will strengthen them from all sides, and the Lord will enable them to diffuse the fragrances. And He will make them manifest signs, beaming stars, shining lights, fruitful trees, flowing fountains, perfect words and mature proofs. Then know thou that verily Abdul-Baha is between the fangs of the dragon of afflictions and in the grasp of dangers night and day."

As to ye, O maid-servants of the Merciful One: "Gird up your loins in union and harmony, so that the Lord may strengthen your backs in His mighty Kingdom, make you servants in His excellent vineyard, raise you to the highest stations in this glorious age,

+P 601 and cause you to reach your greatest hopes in this auspicious day."

Address thou the maid-servants of the Merciful One, and say: "Verily, Mary Magdalene was a villager, but on account of her keeping firm in the Cause of Christ after His death, she was rendered successful in such a matter, whereby her face is shining and beaming forth on the horizon of the universe forevermore! And she surpassed even men in defending the fortress of the Cause of God against the attack of the hosts of suspicions. This is indeed a glorious condition! This is indeed a great matter! This is indeed a manifest light!"

O thou who art attracted to the Spirit of Truth!

At this moment I remember thee, while the cup of my tongue is overflowing with the wine of God's praise, and I address thee in a spirit whereby the hearts of all the creation are cheerfully moved.

Know thou, verily, the Spirit hath indeed so surrounded my limbs that it moveth them as it willeth and my tongue uttereth the most wonderful speech and most sweet words while addressing thee, so that thou mayest be moved by these holy fragrances which perfume all regions, and be dilated with joy by this address, which is revealed because of my abundant love for thee and my excessive kindness and great affection unto thee.

O maid-servant of God, verily the Holy Spirit breathes in this day unto the hearts which are moving, beating, pure and attracted by the love of God.

Abandon thou every occupation and be engaged in the affairs of thy Lord and serve the Spirit of Truth

+P 602 which hath poured a spiritual, divine and everlasting life upon the brilliant hearts.

O maid-servant of God! By God, the True One, verily the crown of mighty gift is suspended betwixt heaven and earth and the angels of holiness are awaiting a lofty head which may be worthy of this great bestowal, so that it may descend upon that head, and that it may wear that glorious crown, the most precious gems of which illumine the eyes of all in the world!

O maid-servant of God! Many a spiritual woman came (into the world) and passed away in vain; no sound is heard of them and no trace of them is seen; inasmuch as their spirits were not dependent upon the Holy Spirit, nor were they attracted to the fragrances of Truth; nor were they ever baptized by the Water of Life, not by the Spirit of Truth which speaketh in the assemblies of the Kingdom and which breathes upon spirits the breezes which waft an eternal glory, the signs of which are everlasting.

O thou who art attracted to the call of the Lord of the

Kingdom!

Know thou, verily, the Kingdom is a magnet of the divine world, and it attracteth the iron of pure hearts which are capable of the bounties of the Lord of Might. Blessed art thou, for thou hast turned unto the Lord of Heaven, thy heart hath depended upon the Light of Guidance, thou hast advanced toward the Center of Righteousness, and thy spirit is cheered by the abundance of the Supreme Concourse! Verily, I beseech God to strengthen thee with "One Mighty in Power," so that the spirit may pour upon thee the teachings of

+P 603 the Beauty of El-Abha, and to baptize thee with the water of life, the fire of the love of God, and with the spirit of confirmation, among maid-servants.

O maid-servant of God! It is incumbent upon thee to supplicate thy Lord, to seek His nearness with thy heart, to be submissive and humble before His maid-servants, and to serve His great vineyard. forsake the mortal grades, i.e., things of the world, and be engaged in praising thy Lord, so that His Holy Spirit may assist thee, may make thee a sign of faith and illumine thy heart with the light of assurance and that thou mayest become a sign of peace and a servant of reconciliation, love and security. Verily, my Merciful Lord is gracious under all aspects!

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

O thou maid-servant of God who art attracted to the

Fragrances of God!

Speak of my servitude unto God, of my humbleness and submissiveness to the Beloved of God, and of my evanescence, nothingness and utter meekness to the Threshold of Baha'. Verily, I am the servant of Baha', the slave of Baha' and the captive of Baha'. I have no grade but this and I do not possess anything

+P 604 for myself. Therefore, mention me in my pure servitude; this is that by which my heart is dilated by every maid-servant who speaks the praise of God. I beseech God to make thee a dove in the grove of holiness, to coo with the most wonderful melodies the praise of thy Lord, the Merciful!

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

God!

As to thy vision that thou wert traveling to Acca in a ship with the maid-servant of God .........: this ship is the ship of the Covenant, which is surrounded by the winds of discord from the people of hypocrisy. Be rejoiced that ye two are preserved and have reached the shore of salvation.

Know thou, verily, the winds of confirmation shall surely surround the Ark of Deliverance, the sails of the covenant shall be unfurled, and it shall reach the shore of the Kingdom of God. Blessed art thou, for thou hast entered this Ark and art saved from afflictions!

As to what thou hast seen in the dream, concerning the letter which reached thee from me, and angels were enclosed in it and they surrounded thee: Know thou verily, that letter is this glorious writing whereby I address thee; and, verily, this is full of angels of confirmation from the Kingdom off God and they will assist thee to serve the Cause of God in the vineyard of God.

O thou seeing one!

Know thou, verily, God hath preferred the insight to the sight, because the sight seeth the material things,

+P 605 while the insight apprehendeth the spiritual. the former witnesseth the earthly world, while the latter seeth the world of the Kingdom. The former's judgment is temporary, while the latter's vision is everlasting. Thou shalt soon behold the Kingdom of God and its mysteries and the signs of God and the lights of His great Realm of Divinity!

O thou who art speaking the praise of god in that vast and extensive region!

Thank God, who hath raised such women from the essences of the love of God in that distant place and hath made them as fountains of knowledge, sources of assurance and dawning-places of the commemoration of thy Lord, the Merciful! I beg of God to strengthen them through the most strong power, by the hosts rushing forth from the kingdom of El-Abha and by the angels successively coming from heaven. Verily, He is the Assister, the Beneficient!

As to thy question concerning the husband and wife, the tie between them and the children given to them by God: Know thou, verily, the husband is one who hath sincerely turned unto God, is awakened by the call of the Beauty of El-Baha and chanteth the verses of Oneness in the great assemblies; the wife is a being who wisheth to be overflowing with and seeketh after the attributes of God and His names; and the tie between them is none other than the Word of God. Verily, it [the Word of God] causeth the multitudes to assemble together and the remote ones to be united. Thus the husband and wife are brought into affinity, are united and harmonized, even as though they were

+P 606 one person. Through their mutual union, companionship and love great results are produced in the world, both material and spiritual. The spiritual result is the appearance of divine bounties. The material result is the children who are born in the cradle of the love of God, who are nurtured by the breast of knowledge of God, who are brought up in the bosom of the gift of God, and who are fostered in the lap of the training of God. Such children are those of whom it was said by Christ, "Verily, they are the children of the Kingdom!"

Consequently, O thou maid-servant of God, go unto the maid-servants of the Merciful one and tell them from the tongue of Abdul-Baha: "O maid-servants of the Merciful! It is incumbent upon you to train the children from their earliest babyhood! It is incumbent upon you to beautify their morals! It is incumbent upon you to attend to them under all aspects and circumstances, inasmuch as God - glorified and exalted is He! - hath ordained mothers to be the primary trainers of children and infants. This is a great and important affair and a high and exalted position, and it is not allowable to slacken therein at all!

If thou walkest in this right path, thou wouldst become a real mother to the children, both spiritually and materially. I beg of God to make thee severed from this world, attracted to the fragrances of sanctity which are being diffused from the garden of the Kingdom of El-Abha, and a servant of the Cause of God in the vineyard of God.

Greeting and high respects to the maid-servant of God Miss........., who is attracted, enkindled, hath

+P 607 spoken and called out, and hath stripped herself from the garment of dependence of this mortal world and its concerns and is clothed with the embroidered garments of separation (from the world) in this great Paradise.

O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!

Know thou that some of the souls who arrive at this Blessed Spot possess hearing, seeing and smelling; they see what no eye hath ever seen, they hear the melodies of the Dove of Holiness on the Tree of Life, they inhale the fragrances of God from this Garden, and they surely realize that, verily, this Blessed Spot is a center for pure seeing and strong hearing and is the direction from which the breezes of the Holy Spirit blow.

But those who have neither seeing not hearing apprehend nothing and say what they understand not.

As to thee and thy daughter who is devoted to god, who presented herself, saw and heard: Know ye, verily, (one possessing) a pure insight is a servant to the people of Baha', but only the prudent can understand this.

Know thou, verily, insight (or mental perception) seeth that which sight (or physical perception) seeth not and apprehendeth that which the body perceiveth not, inasmuch as the sight seeth the mirage as water, the images pictured in the mirror as a reality and genuine, and it seeth the earth as stationary, the great stars as small. But the insight correcteth the mistake of the sight and apprehendeth the reality and seeth that the mirage is not water, that the images pictured in mirrors are naught else save mere reflections, that the earth is moving and the distant stars are great. Consequently,

+P 608 the truth of insight, its effectiveness and power is proven, as well as the weakness of sight, its inefficiency and defects.

Then, know thou that the power of the Word of God is effective, both in the spirit and the body, and the influence of the spirit of god is predominant over the material as well as the essential and spiritual. And that, verily, God is powerful in all things, and that the signs (or verses) have exoteric and esoteric meaning, and neither their outward preventeth their inward, nor doth their inward prevent their outward meaning.

Greeting and praise to the maid-servant of God, thy revered daughter, and to all who commemorate the praise of god, long for the Kingdom of God and are cheerfully moved by the fragrances of God!

O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!

Consider not thy capacity and merit, nay rather consider the grace of thy Lord, the Clement, the Merciful. Verily, thy Lord confirmeth whomsoever He willeth of His servants, through the glad-tidings of the Kingdom, the signals of clemency and the spiritual fragrances. forsake every commemoration and thought in the cell of oblivion (i.e., forget everything) and confine thy days and time in preaching the Kingdom of God, spreading the teachings of god and igniting the lights of guidance in the hearts which are awaiting the Kingdom of God. Truly, I say unto thee, to be engaged in diffusing the fragrance of God (teaching the Truth) for one hour of time is better than the dominion of the world and all therein; for the latter is mortal and temporary, while the former is permanent and

+P 609 endless. This is the day of Life, the day of Salvation and the day of Bestowal; it is not the day of death, unless it be martyrdom in the path of God, or embracing the cross in the love of God.

O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!

As to thy question, "If the husband preventeth his wife from entering into the Light, or the wife preventeth the husband from entering into the Kingdom of God:" In reality neither one of them preventeth the other from entering into the Kingdom of God, except when the husband hath a great attachment to the wife, or the wife to the husband. When either one of the two adoreth the other to the exclusion of God, then each will prevent the other from entering into the Kingdom of God.

As to thy question concerning the additions to the Old and New Testament: Know thou, verily, as people could not understand the words, nor could they apprehend the realities therein, therefore they have translated them according to their own understanding and interpreted the verses after their own ideas and thus the text fell into confusion. This is undoubtedly true. As to an intentional addition: This is something uncertain. But they have made great mistakes as to the understanding of the texts and the comprehending of the references and have therefore fallen into doubts, especially in regard to the symbolical verses.

As to thy question, "That Abdul-Baha hath said to some of the believers that evil never exists, nay rather, it is a non-existent thing:" This is but truth, inasmuch as the greatest evil is (man's) going astray and being

+P 610 veiled from Truth. Error is lack of guidance; darkness is absence of light; ignorance is lack of knowledge; falsehood is lack of truthfulness; blindness is lack of sight; and deafness is lack of hearing. Therefore, error, blindness, deafness and ignorance are non-existent things. If we say that according to the text of the bible, "God hardened Pharaoh's heart" that he not believe in Moses, this signifies that, verily, He did not soften his heart. And when we wish to say that God hath not guided a certain one of His servants, this would be interpreted (by people) that God led him astray. The darkness spoken of in the Bible as being created by God, signifieth that, verily, God hath not caused light to shine; inasmuch as where there is no light, there will be darkness; when there is no sight, there will be blindness; when there is no life, there ill be death; when there is no riches, there will be poverty; and when there is no knowledge, there will be ignorance.

Consequently, it is proven by indisputable argument and clear explanation that, verily, evils are non-existent, but people have not understood the meaning of the verses of the Bible.

I beg of God to make thee a faithful servant in His great vineyard, enable thee to speak His praise, to diffuse His fragrances, to chant His verses and to herald His name at every moment.

O thou who art rejoiced at the explanation of the maid-servant of God .........!

Thank thou god that He hath sent forth unto thee such a spiritual and loving sister, who is preserved from egotism and desires and is rejoiced at the glad-tidings

+P 611 of God. Can there be imagined any greater mercy than this? No! by the One who hath created the heaven and earth! Blessed thou art, for thou hast inhaled the fragrances of life from the garden of the Kingdom of El-Baha before thine ears had heard the call!

As to ......... whom thou hast mentioned, it behooveth him to seek only the divine bounties and subjects which lead to the real knowledge of the invisible (world of god), through the mediation of the Holy spirit. Then he will perceive the reality of the triune powers in man, through his innate perception. For, verily, the sign of these triune powers which exist in mankind are spirit, mind and soul. The spirit is the power of life, the mind is the power which apprehendeth the reality of things, and the soul is an intermediary between the Supreme Concourse (or Spiritual World) and the lower concourse (or material world). It, i.e., the soul, hath two phases: The higher aspireth to the Kingdom of El-Baha, and the lights of the mind shine forth from that horizon (or kingdom) unto its higher sphere; the other phase inclineth to the lower concourse of the material world and its lowest sphere is enveloped in the darkness of ignorance. But when light is poured upon this phase, and if this phase of the soul is capable of receiving it, then "truth hath come and falsehood vanisheth, for falsehood is of short duration" - otherwise, darkness will surround it from all directions and it will be deprived of association with the Supreme Concourse and will remain in the lowest depths.

As to the "voice:" There are two kinds of voices. One is the physical voice and it is expressed by atmospheric

+P 612 vibrations which affect the nerves of the ear; the other is the breath of the Merciful, and this is a call which is continually heard from the Supreme Concourse and cheereth the pure and holy souls. May it be beneficial to those who have heard the Call!

Know thou that the Ancient Light and the Manifest Beauty (God) hath sown seeds in the soil of existence and hath irrigated it through His spiritual bounties. This soil will surely bring forth good plants of divine gifts; the leaves of this growth are love and union, its stem is the teachings of the True One and His supreme laws, and the grain pods are the heavenly blessings which giveth life to the souls. Depend thou on these! Depend thou on these! Depend thou on this, and abandon every imagination and be attracted to the light of reality and discover both the divine truths and physical truths! also, know thou that the greatest spiritual and divine "chaplet" is the Word of God and the Sun of Truth which penetrateth the reality of the created things and attracteth the entire soul of man in the world of existence and shineth forth unto all horizons (or regions). Hast thou ever perceived a greater "chaplet" than this? No! by the Splendor of Baha'!

Verily, I yearn for the visit of those souls who are cheered, dilated and moved by and attracted to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

O thou who art awakened to the Cause of God!

Verily, I read thy letter and my heart was rejoiced at thine interesting words; and I thanked God for He hath favored those souls who earnestly desire to

+P 613 guard His strongly fortified fortress and His inaccessible cave and who love unity, affinity, harmony and accord and who agree on one opinion, one idea and one word. This behooveth the sincere souls! This behooveth such as believe in the divine unity! This behooveth such as are firm and steadfast in the Covenant, which is throbbing within the heart of the whole creation!

Be ye guardians of the throne of the Kingdom of God and armies of defense for the Religion of God. Whenever ye find someone desiring to separate himself from the flock, it is incumbent upon you to treat him with fragrance and kindness and persuade and encourage him, so that this secluded sheep may return to the flock.

Verily, thy Lord loveth union and hateth discord; for the appearance of the Holy Manifestations and divine laws is only for the sake of affinity, union and concord, so that the remote, contradictory and different nations and creeds may enter under the shadow of the Blessed Tree in unanimous love and agreement.

I bed of god to confirm all of His dearly beloved ones in one opinion, one belief, one movement, one path and one manner. This is that by which the station of the beloved ones will be elevated, the Word of God will be promoted, the fragrances of God will be diffused and the faces of the sincere ones will be illuminated in the path of God. It is incumbent upon you to practice these [instructions] under all aspects and circumstances.

As to the manifestation of the Greatest Name (Baha'o'llah): This was the Divine Manifestation

+P 614 which appeared upon the earthly world. This is He whom God promised in all His Books and Scriptures, such as the Bible, the gospels and the Koran. All of these Books indicate this fact, and the least doubt cannot possibly occur to the minds concerning this clear fact, as is recorded in detail in the heavenly Books, especially in the brilliant and holy Tablets. But notwithstanding this fact, if there is anyone who hesitates therein, do not dispute with him, nay rather prove this to him with all joy and fragrance, lest he may be obstinately compelled to rebellion.

O my God! O my God!

Praise be unto Thee! for Thou hast created me of the most excellent fabric, in the most honored form, and in the most exalted kind of Thy creation; didst nurture me from the breast of Thy favor, didst nurse me in the bosom of Thy mercy, until I grew up under the protection of Thy divinity, in the cradle of Thy training, and reached full growth through Thy favor and grace. Then Thou hast made me to experience various circumstances and suffer countless calamities, afflictions and troubles in myself and griefs in my soul. Thou hast (finally) guided me to the fountain of Thy favor and illumined my sight through the light of Thy guidance, quickened by spirit with Thy fragrances of holiness and moved my heart with the breeze of the garden of Thy favor. Then I became rejoiced at the appearance of Thy Beauty, the rising of Thy Lights and the dawning of the morn of Thy Oneness. Thou hast delivered me from the depths of sorrows, saved me from the darkness of griefs and dilated my breast by showing

+P 615 unto me Thy greatest Signs in the Day of Resurrection. O my Lord! Engage me in Thy love, [enable me] to cut myself from aught else save Thee, to be consumed with the love of Thy Beauty, to burn with the fire of love for Thy Face, so that I may be entirely drawn unto Thee and become enkindled by the fire ablaze in the Sinaiatic Tree. O my Lord! Verily, with Thee I am free from all else, while turning unto Thy Glorious Kingdom. Deliver me from every gloomy sorrow; shelter me under the protection of Thy greatest favor; save me from my attachment to this inferior world. O my Lord! Verily, I am humble; elevate me through Thy greatest bounty! I am poor; enrich me by Thine abundant treasury! I am ill; heal me by Thy precious antidote and make me as a sign of Thy favor among Thy maid-servants! Verily, Thou art powerful to do that which Thou willest! Verily, Thou art Potent and Mighty!

O my Lord! O my Lord!

Verily, I am one of Thy maid-servants, supplicating humbly before the Door of Thy Singleness, beseeching and humbling myself to Thee! O my Lord! Thanks be unto Thee for Thy greatest guidance and Thy greatest favor, which Thou hast assigned unto me and unto Thy worshipping maid-servants, whom Thou hast chosen to enter Thine exalted Kingdom and abide in Thy Paradise of El-Abha. O my Lord! Sanctify me from every worldly station in this primal life and purify me from all else save Thee, O Thou Great Giver! Exhilarate me with the wine of Thy love, O Thou Brilliant Countenance! Intoxicate me with the wine of

+P 616 sanctity, purity, unity and singleness, O Thou who attractest the hearts of the righteous by the magnet of favors, unto the Kingdom of El-Abha! O my Lord! Cause me to speak Thy praise, illumine my sight through the light of Thy knowledge, cause me to hear Thy Call, and quicken me with the spirit of Thy grace. Make me rejoiced at the melodies of the birds of Thy holiness, and make me a servant to Thy maid-servants. Cause my soul to be tranquilized, my heart attached, and my mind drawn to the light of thy guidance, which is shining unto all regions; so that I may walk in the path of Thy good pleasure, yield to Thy decree and be rejoiced at the most violent calamities, and that my breast may become dilated during every tribulation, even though the suffering is beyond endurance. Verily, thou art the Holy, the Pure, the Potent, the Powerful, the Exalted, the Great!

My Lord! My Lord!

Thou hast caused me to hear the Call, guided me unto the sea of favor, awakened me through Thy fragrant breeze, and quickened me by the spirit of Thy greatest guidance. I thank and praise Thee for this. O my Lord! O my Lord! Verily, I am athirst; do cause me to drink from the fountain of Thy grace. O my Lord! O my Lord! Verily, I am ill; do heal me by the antidote of Thy mercy. O my Lord! O my Lord! Verily, I am sick; do Thou cure me through Thy favor. O my Lord! O my Lord! I am needy; do enrich me through Thy compassion. And I am poor; render me prosperous by the treasury of Thy Kingdom. O my Lord! O my Lord! Increase my hope in the court of

+P 617 Thy holiness, and grant my wishes by thy favor and grace. Confirm me to deliver Thy Cause, enable me to call in Thy Name, and cause me to show forth the proofs of Thy Manifestation. Strengthen me to promote Thy Word, dilate my breast by serving Thy maid-servants and being humble and submissive before Thy beloved ones. O my Lord! Verily, I am impotent; do strengthen me by Thy power. I am lost in indigence; do confer on me Thy greatest favor. Make me as one of the maid-servants who diffuse Thy fragrances, who worship Thy Kingdom, who bow down in the worshipping-places of Thy unity, who kneel down on every dust which is related to the threshold of Thy beloved ones, and who serve in Thy vineyard, speak Thy praise and are attracted to Thy love. Verily, Thou are the Giver, the Powerful, the Mighty!

O my God! O my God!

This, thy servant, is turning unto Thee, relying upon Thee and is believing in Thee and in Thy great signs. He hath indeed traversed lands and seas, desiring to reach Thy brilliant Holy Land and Thy perfuming dust, and hath advanced toward the lofty court of Thy mercy to worship Thine Exalted Word. O my God! Assist him, through the One Mighty in Power, to obey Thy command, to walk in the path of Thy good pleasure to supplicate before the Kingdom of Thy Oneness, to become severed from all else save Thee, to beseech Thy might, to be consumed by Thy love and to spread Thy commemoration, O Thou who grantest the wishes of every supplicant! Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty!

+P 618 O my God! O my God!

This, Thy servant, hath advanced toward Thee, is passionately wandering in the desert of Thy love, walking in the path of Thy service, anticipating Thy favors, hoping for Thy bounty, relying upon Thy Kingdom, and being exhilarated with the wine of Thy gift. O my God! Increase his fervor in Thy passion, his constancy in Thy praise and his ardor in Thy love. Verily, Thou art the Beneficient and endowed with great bounty! There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful!

O my Lord! O my Lord!

This is a lamp lighted by the fire of Thy love and ablaze with the flame which is ignited in the tree of Thy mercy. O my Lord! Increase his enkindlement, heat and flame, with the fire which is kindled in the Sinai of Thy Manifestation. Verily, Thou art the Confirmer, the Assister, the Powerful, the Generous, the Loving!

O my Lord, my Beloved, my Desire!

Befriend me in my loneliness and accompany me in my exile; remove my sorrow, cause me to be devoted to Thy Beauty, withdraw me from all else save Thee, attract me through Thy fragrances of holiness, cause me to be associated in Thy Kingdom with those who are severed from all else save Thee and who long to serve Thy Sacred Threshold and who stand to work in Thy Cause, and enable me to be one of Thy maid-servants who have attained to Thy good pleasure. verily, Thou art the Gracious, the Generous!

+P 619 O my Lord!+F1

Thou knowest that the people are encircled with pain and calamities and are environed with hardships and trouble. Every trial doth attack man and every dire adversity doth assail him like unto the assault of a serpent. There is no shelter and asylum for him except under the wing of Thy protection, preservation, guard and custody.

O Thou the Merciful One! O my Lord! Make Thy protection my armory, Thy preservation my shield, humbleness before the door of Thy Oneness my guard, and Thy custody and defense my fortress and abode. Preserve me from the suggestions of myself and desire, and guard me from every sickness, trial, difficulty and ordeal.

Verily, Thou art the Protector, the Guardian, the Preserver, the Sufficer, and verily, Thou art the Merciful of the Most Merciful!

O thou who art advancing unto God!

Verily, I read thy letter and noted its contents. Rest assured in the bounty of thy Lord. Verily, He confirmeth whomsoever He willeth in all aspects and conditions.

I supplicate God to sustain thee and thine honorable husband, to open for you the door of comfort and rest and protect you from the harm of every hateful one.

If thou wishest to guide the souls, it is incumbent on thee to be firm, to be good and to be imbued with praiseworthy attributes and divine qualities under all

------------------------ 1. This Tablet bore the following heading: "A general prayer for everyone to recite." +P 620 circumstances. Be a sign of love, a manifestation of mercy, a fountain of tenderness, kind-hearted, good to all and gentle to the servants of God, and especially to those who bear relation to thee, both men and women. Bear every ordeal that befalleth thee from the people and confront them not save with kindness, with great love and good wishes.

O thou lamp glowing with the fire of the Love of

God!

Know that the garden drew near and the paradise hath been adorned with the sweet-basils of the knowledge of God. Be, therefore, a gilly-flower of fragrant smell in the Garden of El-Abha, that, through thy perfumed breaths, the spirits and hearts be quickened and animated.

O thou friend of Abdul-Baha! I do mention thee now while my heart is throbbing through the breezes that are blowing from the verdant gardens of the love of God. Accordingly, it is incumbent upon thee to be purely sincere, to turn to the holy Kingdom and to generously give the spirit in the cause of the Lord of Might. Verily, this is no other than an eternal and everlasting life which hath no end in the world of existence.

O thou fragrant rose blooming in the Garden of Guidance!

Thank thou God for that He hath removed from off thine eyes the covering, made thee to see the signs of the Kingdom of thy Lord, the supreme, filled for thee the cup of bounty and gave thee to drink the pure wine

+P 621 of fidelity which He hath promised to the sincere in the holy Books and Tablets.

O thou my dear! The cup of knowledge is overflowing; blessed are they who partake in draughts! The fountain of life is issuing forth; blessed are they who drink! The doors of the Kingdom are opened; O what good news to those who advance! The garden of paradise is drawn near; O what a pleasure to those who enter! The dove of holiness is cooing; O what a happiness to those who hear! The gates of heaven are open; blessed are they who see! The hosts of angels are standing in battle order; what a joy to those who gain the victory! The trumpet of life is sounding; how good it is to those who are awake!

As to thee: Realize the bounty of thy Lord as it is, and thank thou thy Lord and praise Him for that He hath directed thee to the right path.

O thou who art controlled by the attractions of the

Fragrance of God!

Thy terse and eloquent letter, showing the excess of thine attraction as caused by the fragrances of god, was read by me.

I, therefore, supplicate God to confirm thy glorious children, Frederick, Robert and Herbert, to surround them with the glances of His merciful eye, to direct them to the path of guidance and to make them enter the Ark of Safety which is cleaving the sea of this contingent world in the midst of the deluge of tests; that they may become righteous, guiding the people to the Kingdom of the glorious Lord, the doors of which are open before the faces of all beings.

+P 622

I implore Him to appoint thee one of the angels of the Spirit, that thou mayest blow the spirit of life into the hearts which are good and pure through the love of God; that He may strengthen the elect in America to spread the fragrances of God and to reveal the spirit of knowledge to the hearts which are cheered by the breaths of God.

O ye dear children!+F1

Your father is compassionate, clement and merciful unto you and desireth for you success, prosperity and eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Therefore, it is incumbent upon you, dear children, to seek his good pleasure, to be guided by his guidance, to be drawn by the magnet of the love of God and be brought up in the lap of the love of God; that ye may become beautiful branches in the Garden of El-Abha, verdant and watered by the abundance of the gift of God.

O thou advancer to the Kingdom of God!

Shouldst thou come with the whole of thy being to God and be attracted to the lights of the Kingdom of God and be enkindled by the fire of the love, of God, then wilt thou see that which thou canst not see today, wilt comprehend the inner significance of the Word of God and thoroughly understand the mysteries contained in the holy books.

But as to the Jewish doctors, Christian priests and monks who read those Books, verily, they know the letter only and they utter the words, as parrots, without understanding their inner meanings. They comprehend

------------------------ 1. Children of the recipient of the preceding Tablet. +P 623 them not, because they are engrossed in worldly desires and lusts and their hearts are attached to mundane allurements. Verily, are they not heedless of God and understand nothing and find not the right path?

+F1 Announce on my behalf respectful greeting to the maid-servant of god, Madam ........., and say:

"Praise be to god! that thy house hath become the nest and the shelter of the divine birds and thy face is illumined and brightened by the light of the love of God and thy tongue is loosened in uttering heavenly proofs and evidences. Therefore, in order to [give] thanks for this bestowal, add, day by day, to thy love of God and be thou engaged in service."

O thou seeker of Truth!

Praise be to God! the essence of severance is manifest from this world and the star of the love of God is shining, and kindness towards mankind is clear and evident. These divine gifts became manifest, spread and known in the world through the teachings of Baha'o'llah. I hope thou mayest abundantly partake of all there three benefits, so that thou mayest appear among people in the utmost spirituality and illumination.

O thou excellent maid-servant of God!

Thank thou God that thou hast stepped into the arena of existence in this glorious age, hast become the manifestor of never-ending outpouring, hast attained to the most great gift, hast found the season of the divine

------------------------ 1. The following extract from a Tablet as received bore no opening line of address. +P 624 springtime, hast perfumed thy nostrils with heavenly flowers, hast discovered the way to the celestial Kingdom and hast partaken a share from eternal life.

O thou daughter of the Kingdom!

Thy excellent letter was full of spiritual significance. It was an indication of the loftiness of thy nature, the grandeur of thy aspiration, the sincerity of thy aim and the confirmation of the bounty of His Highness the Single One. Moreover, it proved that thou shalt be purified and sanctified from attachment to material conditions, be freed from every restriction and thou shalt dedicate thy life to the spreading of the glad-tidings of the Kingdom.

Whenever this longing and desire is attained, that maid-servant of God [i.e., thyself] will become a lighted candle in the assemblage of the world, receiving the lights of the Kingdom and reflecting them in turn upon the souls.

This trip thou hast in mind is blessed and acceptable and the cause of the attainment of everlasting glory in the world of existence, but thou shouldest have a companion to go with thee. Therefore, start thou with a firm resolution, pure intention, heavenly glad-tidings, divine gift and supreme confirmation toward the East, i.e., Japan, China, India, Russia, Greece, Bulgaria, Roumania, Austria, Germany, France and the English empires, perchance thou mayest spread the fragrances of God in those parts and receive the lights of confirmation from the Kingdom of Holiness. But it is not necessary, for the present, to travel in the Turkish, Egyptian and Persian territories, for internal troubles

+P 625 make the traveling of women very difficult. It is hoped, from the eminent bounty and favor of God, that thou mayest be quickened in such wise, from the fragrances of the Kingdom of Abha, that thou mayest bestow upon dead souls eternal life.

Convey, on my behalf, respectful greetings to the attracted Miss ........., who is favored and enkindled with the fire of the love of her Lord. That blessed leaf is mentioned and known in the Kingdom of God.***

As Persia hath many nomadic tribes and they are now+F1 rebellious and insurgent and infesting the highways, the maid-servants of the Merciful cannot travel there, but men can. However, after that maid-servant hath traveled in Japan, China, Russia, Germany, France, England, Austria, Greece, Roumania, Bulgaria and India, perhaps peace and security will be established in Persia and then thou canst also travel there.

O thou daughter of the Kingdom!

Thank thou God for having found the realm of the Kingdom, become guided by the lights of the Sun of Reality and guided others.

Endeavor day and night in order to make the negligent souls mindful, to give life to the dead spirits, to heal the spiritual patients, to make wise the simple, to inform the uninformed, to make the earthly heavenly, to draw nigh (unto God) those who are afar and to make the strangers friends.

This is the magnetic power which attracts the confirmation of God.

------------------------ 1. Revealed during 1908. +P 626 O thou favored maid-servant of the Kingdom of God!

The letter, which thou hast written, was received. Its contents evinced high aspiration and rare magnanimity; and that thou hast the intention to travel to the far-eastern countries and bear great trouble, so that thou mayest become the cause of the guidance of the souls and spread the glad-tidings of the Kingdom of God. This desire indicateth that the beloved maid-servant of God hath a very high aim. However, thou mayest deliver the glad-tidings in the following manner:

"The Promised One of all the nations of the world hath become apparent and manifest! Each community and religion expecteth the coming of their Promised One, and His Highness Baha'o'llah is the Promised One of all! Therefore, the Cause of Baha'o'llah is conductive to harmony, raiseth the canopy of the oneness of the kingdom of humanity upon the apex of the contingent beings and unfurleth the ensign of universal brotherhood and ideal commonwealth upon the summit of the hills and mountains!"

When thou openest thy tongue with such glad-tidings, it will become conducive to the teaching of others. But this trip is indeed very remote and unless there are several [teachers], the delivery of the glad-tidings will not produce the desired results in those parts. Shouldst thou deem it advisable, thou mayest take a trip to Persia and on thy return pass by Japan and China. This plan seems much better and more pleasant. Otherwise, thou mayest act according to thy judgment and it will be acceptable.

The contribution that thou hast made to the Temple is beloved. The Temple is the most great foundation

+P 627 of the world of humanity and it hath many branches. Although the Temple is the place of worship, with it is connected a hospital, pharmacy, pilgrims' house, school for the orphans, and a university for the study of high sciences. Every Temple is connected with these five things. I hope that now in America they will build a Temple and gradually add to it the hospital, school, university, pharmacy and pilgrims' house with the utmost efficiency and thoroughness. Thou shouldst make known to the believers these details, so that they may realize how important the Temple is. The Temple is not only a place for worship; nay, it is perfect in every way.

O thou beloved maid-servant of God! Didst thou know what station is destined and appointed, under the protection of His Highness Baha'o'llah, for those souls who are severed, attracted and teachers of truth, undoubtedly thou shouldst find the utmost joy and happiness, and, by reason of exultation and rejoicing, soar toward the heaven of peace, inasmuch as thou art walking in this road and advancing toward such a Kingdom.

Regarding the statement that I have written to thee, about dedicating thyself to the service of the Cause of God, it means this: Center thy thoughts in the teachings of the Cause, day and night, and act according to the teachings and behests of His Highness Baha'o'llah. This is not contrary to marriage. It is possible for thee to be married and be engaged in the service of the Cause of God. The first does not interfere with the latter.

Briefly, avail thyself of the opportunity and do not let it slip from thy grasp; i.e., supplicate God that in this darkened world thou mayest become an ignited candle and the cause of the guidance of many souls.

+P 628 O ye blessed maid-servant+F1 of the Beauty of Abha!

If ye have written letters to Abdul-Baha and answers to them are delayed, know ye of a certainty that untold hindrances have been the cause. Be ye not unhappy. Praise be to God! that, on account of firmness and steadfastness in the Cause of God and service to the Word of God, spiritual letters are continually and uninterruptedly descending from the Supreme Concourse and the Kingdom of Abha. That holy Messenger is eternal and perennial and His messages come to the heart successively and the verses of oneness are read therein. Likewise, this imprisoned one is greatly attached with his heart and soul to the beloved ones and this very attachment is the faithful Messenger and the manifest Tablet. Therefore, my request is this: Should ye send a hundred letters and no answers be received, do ye not feel at all sad; nay, rather think of this occurrence as a glorious proof of the power of love, as it will demonstrate that there is no incumbency (or formality) between us. Were there any opportunity, undoubtedly answers would be forwarded. In brief, I beg of God that each one of you become the sign of guidance, a manifest book from the Supreme Concourse, attracted with the fragrances of God and enkindled with the fire of the love of God.

O thou pure and spiritual one!

Turn thou toward God with thy heart beating with His love, devoted to His praise, gazing toward His Kingdom and seeking help from His Holy Spirit in a state of ecstasy, rapture, love, yearning, joy and fragrance.

------------------------ 1. Addressed to three maid-servants. +P 629 God will assist thee, through a Spirit from His Presence, to heal sickness and diseases.

O thou who art turning toward the Kingdom of God!

I have read thy letter of clearest composition. I beg of God to make thee fluent in tongue, pure in heart, strong in spirit, severed in heart from all else save God and occupied in the praise of God; to continue in prayer and supplication unto God, to be humble, meek, spiritual, free from the earthly world and its concerns and awakened to the Kingdom and its Manifestation. Verily, thy Lord is powerful in all things!

O thou who art tranquilized by the Call of the Kingdom at this time!

The meanings of thy words evinced thine abundant attraction and thy turning unto the Lamp of Lights. Be not grieved on account of lack of information of the mysteries of this great Cause. If thou keepest firm in the religion of God, the covering shall be removed for thee and thou shalt become informed of the allegories and mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

O maid-servants of God! Continue in healing hearts and bodies and seek healing for sick persons by turning unto the Supreme Kingdom and by setting the heart upon obtaining healing through the power of the Greatest Name and by the spirit of the love of God.

Verily, I beg of God to ordain perfect rest and composure for thy revered daughter.

As to your moving to another city: Meditate thou, perform the ablution and pray to God before sleeping; and whatever the Merciful One may inspire unto thee

+P 630 at the time of revelation in a dream, that will be consistent with obtaining thy wishes. But the greatest motive for the happiness (or felicity) of that family, both in this world and the next one, is that thy revered husband and thy dear son-in-law should become believers in the lights of the Kingdom which have surrounded all regions at this age of effulgence.

O thou who art yearning for the Glad-tidings of God!

Verily, I was informed of the contents of thy letter which showed that thine insight is opened, thy heart is purified, that thou art baptized by the divine water and by the lordly fire and spirit and that thou art born again from the womb of this mortal world. This is through the grace of thy Lord, the Clement, the Merciful!

As to the imprisonment of Abdul-Baha: This is his utmost wish, his extreme joy and this is what refreshes his burning; and I do not long for deliverance from the depths of this agreeable prison. Verily, this Most Great Prison is conducive unto the [shining of the] Orb of the Horizons.+F1

Verily, I beg of God to bless unto thee thy marriage with thy revered husband, to protect thee under all conditions from the violence of tests and trials and to make thy feet firm in the Religion of God in this wonderful (or new) age.

O thou who art attracted to the Kingdom!

Mrs. ......... became the cause of thy life and suffered thee to inhale of the rose-garden of the Holy Spirit. Be thou thankful to her and sacrifice thyself for her, for she became the means of thy

------------------------ 1. Baha'o'llah. +P 631 guidance and thou hast become the object of favor and a center of the bounty of God. She was thy guide to the Kingdom and the cause of eternal life. Supplicate thou also from God that thou mayest walk in her footsteps and become engaged in the training and guidance of souls.

Caress on my behalf the beloved maid-servant of God, Miss ........., thy daughter, and convey to her my respectful greetings.

O thou dear maid-servant of God!

Thy letter was received. Praise God! for thou didst hear the call of the Kingdom, wast awakened, attentive and attained faith in the Lord of Hosts.

His Holiness Christ, addressing the believers, uttereth the following in the Gospel: "Be awake lest the Son of Man come and find ye asleep!" Now, thou wast awake, therefore thou didst advance and engage in the service of the Word of God. Appreciate the value of this attainment, and, like unto a candle, radiate the light of the love of God in the meeting of the beloved. Encourage the beloved of God and be a source of joy and gladness to the Bahais. hold meetings and read and chant the heavenly teachings, so that city may be illumined with the light of reality and that country become a veritable paradise by the strength of the Holy Spirit, for this cycle is the cycle of the Glorious Lord and the melody of oneness and solidarity of the world of mankind must reach the ears of the East and West.

Convey greeting of reverence to all the maid-servants of God and His man-servants.

+P 632 O ye friends+F1 of this prisoner!

According to what is heard and evident, you have arranged an assembly in the utmost beauty and a number of you present yourselves in that meeting with all love and unity and engage in communion (i.e., reading of the communes), chanting of the verses, spiritual conversation and utterance of the Kingdom. Blessed are ye for having adorned such a meeting and for having prepared such a feast! That gathering receiveth bounty from the Supreme Concourse and that nucleus is under the protection of the Bounty of Abha.

In thanksgiving for this attainment and confirmation you must strive to make Boston a fruit-garden+F2 and a rose-garden. Verily, this is not difficult with the Lord. the beloved of God in this mortal world are each a spiritual trumpet. They breathe the breath of life and thus confer upon them that are dead in negligence and ignorance, the life eternal. They are the merciful physicians who bestow upon the spiritual patients eternal healing.

The city of Boston hath great preparation (literally, readiness), but the endeavor of the righteous is needed and the efforts and strivings of the free are necessary. For unless the seed is sown, the bounty and blessing will not be attained; until the tree be planted, the fresh fruit will not be produced; unless the candle contact with fire, it will not ignite; and until a light dawn, the darkness will not vanish. Therefore, the beloved of God must sow the seeds and plant the fresh plants in

------------------------ 1. To the Boston (Mass.) assembly. 2. The name "Boston" rhymes with the Arabic name "Bostan," or fruit-garden. - Translator. +P 633 that garden. They must ignite the extinguished candles so that the purpose may be attained and the beloved intent unveil its face.

In the spirit of humility and supplication do I beg and implore at the Divine Threshold and seek for you assistance and providence.

O thou near servant to the Threshold of God!

Thy letter was received and thy desire became known. Thou wishest to serve the Threshold of God. I wish for thee the same. Therefore, copy the Tablets and spread them among the beloved. The meanings of those leaves are the spiritual table, the heavenly blessing and the means for the life eternal.

Thou hast written concerning the organization of a council for the building of the Mashrak-el-Azcar. This news brought much spirit and fragrance, for the nine delegates, sent by the various assemblies, gathered in that meeting and consulted concerning the building of the Mashrak-el-Azcar.

The Mashrak-el-Azcar is the most important matter and the greatest divine institute. Consider how the first institute of His Holiness Moses, after His exodus from Egypt, was the "Tent of Martyrdom" which He raised and which was the traveling Temple. It was a tent which they pitched in the desert, wherever they aobde, and worshipped in it. Likewise, after His Holiness Christ - may the spirit of the world be a sacrifice to Him! - the first institute by the disciples was a Temple. They planned a church in every country. Consider the Gospel (read it) and the importance of the Mashrak-el-Azcar will become evident.

+P 634

In fine, I hope that all the beloved of God, collectively, in the continent of America, men and women, will strive night and day until the Mashrak-el-Azcar be erected in the utmost solidity and beauty.

O thou who art attracted to the Kingdom!

Thy likeness (photograph) was seen. The Sun of the Kingdom hath shed a light on thee, so thy likeness is made radiant and thy face happy.

Beneath the photograph the word "faithfully" was inscribed which indicated that thine heart is attracted to faithfulness and that thou seekest faithfulness. No attribute is more commmendable than faithfulness. It is of the greatest of the virtues in the world of humanity. I hope that thou mayest be faithful to the Lord of the Kingdom, be attracted to His Beauty, serve in His Threshold and strive in His vineyard.

O ye two merciful assemblies!*\0

Praise be to God! that through the outpouring of guidance, India is rapidly becoming a Rose-garden of Abha, for many souls have lately embraced the truth and are in the utmost attraction and enkindlement.

Forward ye, as soon as ye can, a few copies of every Tablet and epistle which is translated into the English and the books which are written by the believers, in this language, to the merciful assembly of Bombay and to his honor ......... in Rangoon.

O ye spiritual friends of Abdul-Baha! At this moment when danger is threatening to surround all

------------------------ 1. This Tablet bears the following heading: "To the members of the Spiritual

Assembly of Chicago and the Spiritual Assembly of New York." +P 635 directions, Abdul-Baha is attracted to the fragrances of the Kingdom of Abha and with infinite joy and happiness is begging providence and favor from the Threshold of Oneness in your behalf. Now is the time of firmness and resolution and the moment of steadfastness and constancy and the period of showing forth divine power by the strength of proof, the solidity of argument, the eloquence of utterance and the grandeur of spirit!

O thou who art set aglow with the fire of the Love of

God!

The letter was received. Thou hast commended the meeting held at the home of Miss ......... In reality it was a goodly meeting. Although I was absent in body, yet in life and heart I was present. it is as thou hast written: Thy services at Green Acre were accepted in the Kingdom of Abha. Every year a number of the beloved ones and the maid-sevants of the Merciful must go to Green Acre and raise the divine call there. The more who go, the better.

Convey greeting of reverence to the dear maid-servant of God, Mrs. ......... I pray for her and wish her the joy, the happiness, the tranquility of the godly.

Convey loving greeting to his honor Mr. ......... and say: "It is hoped, through the favor and confirmation of God, that thou mayest organize a spiritual meeting at Leominster and become the cause of guidance to many souls."

O thou dear maid-servant of God, Florence! Rest assured in the bounty and favor of God. I hope thou wilt achieve great services.

+P 636 O thou advancer to God!

Verily, I have read thy brilliant letter which is elegantly composed. I supplicate God to alleviate thy trials and look upon thee with the eye of His mercy under all aspects. Turn thou to the Kingdom of thy great Lord with a truthful heart and with all devotion, sincerity and great spirituality and ask to be healed from pain and passions and be confident in the great bounty of thy Lord.

O thou pure soul who art turning toward the Lord of the creatures!

Verily, I received thy letter*** and was informed of its meanings and contents which indicated thine humbleness before God and thy meekness to His great realm of might.

O my dear one! This day is the day of purification, the day of sanctification, the day of turning toward God, the day of severance from all else save God, the day of lowliness and humiliation, the day of serving the beloved ones of God, the day of becoming utterly destitute of and free from egotism and desire and the day of purity and sacrifice in the path of God. This is incumbent upon thee, so that thou mayest be accepted in the court of the Almighty and praised in His lofty Threshold of Holiness.

O thou whose heart is pure and whose souls is rejoiced!

Verily, thy revered wife sent unto us thy photograph and we say and rejoiced at witnessing thy face, even though it was a (mere) image, for, verily, this image indicateth the reality. Verily, I saw in thine eyes the sign of acuteness and thought. Let thy thoughts be

+P 637 an eternal thought, a spiritual reflection and divinely full of meaning. This is but truth and there is naught beyond truth except extinction.

O maid-servant of God!

Thank thy Lord for confirming thee unto this wonderful day and new century and giving thee to drink the cup of His love with the hand of His providence. Verily, this is a great favor.

Be not sorrowful on account of the maid-servant of God, Madam ......... This is a test on the part of God and its wisdom (or reason) is concealed. We ask God to gaze on her with the eye of mercy. Verily, He is the Merciful, the Clement!

O thou who hath advanced to the Kingdom of his

Lord, the Glorious!

Know thou that the Kingdom of God hath pitched its tents, hoisted its banner and uplifted its pavilions in this extensive space. The hosts of the angels of God have come down with standards of signs; marched off towards all horizons; opened the cities of the hearts of the servants by the power of thy Lord, the Generous; and have blown the great trumpet. The Hoy Spirit hath freely given eternal life to every pure heart, and the souls became attracted through the effulgence of the Beauty of the Glorious Kingdom and through the brilliancy of the Light of Truth over all regions. The clamor of the spiritual people hath risen with praise and glory to God, the All-glorious!

As to thee, thank thou thy Lord for that He hath

+P 638 enabled to see the sins of His Kingdom in this wonderful day. Arise to serve the Cause of thy Lord and devote thyself to God's service as a penitent servant.

O thou servant of God!

I was assuredly informed of thy confessing the unity of God and that thou hast drawn from the ocean of the gift of God and thine insight hath brightened by the light of guidance and by the dependence of thine heart upon the lights of the Beauty of God. The, glad-tidings be unto thee for this bounty which God hath assigned unto every holy and spiritual being in the Kingdom of God.

By the life of God! verily, the gift of guidance, during this great century and this age of lights, is greater than reigning over the earth and all that is in it; because the earthly reign is mortal, banishing, imaginary and of no permanence; but this gift is permanent, eternal, everlasting and endless. consequently, it is confirmed that this (gift of guidance) is greater than the sovereignty of the world.

O servant of God! Rejoice, announce glad-tidings and be filled with the Spirit and preach and call in the Name of God in that region and hear the good-tidings of God in that land!

Thou shalt hear the sound of this glorious bell in every near and distant region, and the call of the True One will be elevated in the monasteries of the world of mankind, just as it was elevated in the assmeblies of the divine world, and the earthly people will be combined with the divine and heavenly concourse.

+P 639

Thereupon thy heart shall rejoice, thy soul shall become pure, thine eye shall brighten and thou shalt be inwardly revived. Praise be upon thee!

O thou who art advancing unto the Face of God!

Blessed art thou for that thou wert saved from the storm of doubts, wert healed from all manner of disease, wert rejoiced in spirit by the fragrances of God, held firm to the love of God and God helped thee through the trials. This we heralded unto thee before and it was an ordained and firm promise.

Draw night unto God and perservere in (thy) communion with (or prayer to) thy Lord, so that the fire of God's love may glow more luminously in the heart, its heat grow stronger and give warmth to that region and its sound reach the Supreme Concourse.

O thou maid-servant of God!

Truly, I say, complete capacity and ability is the cause of the appearance of the divine gifts. Souls are many who in the years gone by have listened to the glad-tidings, but up to this time they have remained veiled, deprived and unmoved. But, through the bounty of the Beauty of Abha, as soon as thou didst hear the call, thou didst turn thy face toward the Lord of Hosts and became a believer in God and assured of His divine verses. Immediately the Most Great Name made an impression upon thee. Therefore, I hope thy breath may become also effective and in a short time, like unto dry wood, become enkindled and ignited.

Do not wonder at the mercy and bounty of God.

+P 640 Consider thou how one spark sets on fire a great forest. Therefore, there is great hope, and the favor and grace of the Almighty is limitless.

O thou advancing maid-servant of God!

Thy letter was received and I was informed of its contents. Thanks be to God! thou art guided to the Light of guidance and hast attained to this most great gift. I hope thou mayest become a daughter of the Kingdom. Thou must be thankful to Mrs. ........., for she was the cause of thy guidance; and thou must forever seek the providence of God in her behalf, for she hath illumined thine eyes. The love that she hath shown to you, its value is not known at present, but after departing from this transient world, its value will become known and evident in the divine Kingdom, and even in this mortal world its value shall appear in future. In the days of Christ, guidance had no importance whatever to the deniers; now consider how much importance it hath gained.

Turn thou with thy heart ot he divine Kingdom and supplicate to Him, (saying):

"O Compassionate God! Thanks be to Thee for Thou hast awakened and made (me) conscious. Thou hast given me a seeing eye and favored me with a hearing ear; hast led me to Thy Kingdom and guided me to Thy Path. Thou hast shown me the right way and caused me to enter the Ark of Deliverance. O God! Keep me steadfast and make me firm and stanch. Protect me from violent tests and preserve and shelter me in the strongly fortified fortress of Thy Covenant and

+P 641 Testament. Thou art the Powerful! Thou art the Seeing! Thou art the Hearing! O Thou the Compassionate God! Bestow upon me a heart which, like unto glass, may be illumined wit the light of Thy love, and confer upon me a thought which may change this world into a rose-garden through the spiritual bounty. Thou art the Compassionate, the Merciful! Thou art the Great Beneficent God!"

O ye+F1 friends of God!

Do ye know in what cycle ye are created and in what age ye exist? This is the age of the Blessed Perfection and this is the time of the Greatest Name! This is the century of the Manifestation, the age of the Sun of the Horizons and the beautiful springtime of His Holiness the Eternal One!

The earth is in motion and growth; the mountains, hills and prairies are green and pleasant; the bounty is overflowing; the mercy universal; the rain is descending from the cloud of mercy; the brilliant Sun is shining; the full moon is ornamenting the horizon of ether; the great ocean-tide is flooding every little stream; the gifts are successive; the favors consecutive; and the refreshing breeze is blowing, wafting the fragrant perfume of the blossoms. Boundless treasure is in the hand of the King of Kings! Lift the hem of thy garment in order to receive it.

If we are not happy and joyous at this season, for what other season shall we wait and for what other time shall we look?

This is the time for growing; the season for joyous

------------------------ 1. To the Samarkand, Russia, assembly. +P 642 gathering! Take the cup of the Testament in thy hand; leap and dance with ecstasy in the triumphal procession of the Covenant! Lay your confidence in the everlasting bounty, turn to the presence of the generous God; ask assistance from the Kingdom of Abha; seek confirmation from the Supreme World; turn thy vision to the horizon of eternal wealth; and pray for help from the Source of Mercy!

Soon shall ye see the friends attaining their longed-for destination and pitching their tents, while we are but in the first day of our journey.

O thou servant+F1 of the Threshold of God!

I read what flowed from thy pen in the love of God, and found charming meanings from the contents (of thy letter). I hope, through the gift of the glorious Lord, that thou wilt be always refreshed and revived by the fragrances of the Merciful.

As to what thou hast written concerning "Reincarnation": Believing in reincarnation is one of the old tenets held by most nations and creeds, as well as by the Greek and Roman philosophers and wise men, the old Egyptians and the chief Assyrians. But all these sayings and superstitions are vanity in the sight of God.

The greatest [argument] produced by those who held to reincarnation has been this: "That it is necessary to the justice of God to give every one his due. Now everybody who is afflicted by any calamity is said to have sinned; but when a little child, which is still in the womb of its mother and hath just been formed, is found to be blind, deaf or imperfect, how could it have committed

------------------------ 1. To a believer in Baku, Russia. +P 643 any sin that we might say this imperfection is given to it as a punishment therefore - so, though such a child hath not done outwardly any sin in the womb of its mother, ye [they say] it must have sinned when it was in its former body, which hath caused it to suffer this punishment."

Indeed, these people have been negligent of the fact that had the creation been carried out in a uniform fashion, how could the statement be true, that "God doeth whatever He wisheth and God doeth whatever He desireth!"+F1

Though the fact of "Return" is mentioned in the Divine Books, by this is intended the return of the qualities, characters, perfections, truths and lights (of the past age), which re-appear in every age, and not (the return) of certain persons and souls. For example: If we say this lamp is the return of that of last night, or that the last year's flower hath returned in the garden (this year), in this sense the return of the individual, or identity, or personality is not meant; nay, rather, it is intended that the same qualities and states existing in that lamp or flower, which are now seen in this lamp or flower, have returned. That is, the same perfections and virtues and properties which existed in the past springtime have returned during this present springtime. For instance: When one says, these fruits are the same as those of last year; in this sense, he hath reference to the freshness and delicacy of the fruit, which hath returned,

------------------------ 1. Abdul-Baha elucidated Jesus' teaching against the theory of "blindness from birth" and the defects being caused by the sin of the individual former state (see St. John 9:1-3), thus: "Jesus states that this defect exists in order to prove and show that the gift of sight is from

God alone and is one of his bounties. Because were all created with sight the people would consider it a mere natural fact that they must be so made, and not give God thanks for His great gift." - Translator. +P 644 although there is no doubt that the identical fruit of last year hath not returned.

Have the friends of God found such enjoyments and respose during their existence on this visible earth, that they might wish to have their return renewed and repeated constantly? Are all these calamities, injuries, trials and difficulties of the once coming not sufficient for them that they should wish a repeated life in this world? Hath this cup been of such sweetness that they should long for it successively and repeatedly? No! the friends of the Beauty of El-Baha neve seek any recompense or reward except the meeting and the visit (of God) in the Kingdom of El-Baha; and they never walk but in the valley of desire to attain the Supreme Height. They only wish the immortal blessing and the eternal gift, which are sanctified above the worldly understanding.

Because, when thou lookest with the iron sight, thou wilt find that all mankind is suffering in this earthly world; there is no one in such tranquility that this (state) might have been a reward for his good deeds in a former life and there is no soul so happy that this might be the fruit of his past pain! Had the life of a man in his spiritual being been only confined to his life in this world, the creation would have proved useless; the divine qualities would have no result and effect; nay, all things, created beings and the world of creation would have proved abortive. I ask pardon of God for such false imaginations and for such errors!

As the usefulness and powers of the life (of a child) were not seen in that dark and narrow world (of the womb), but when it is brought into this vast world, all

+P 645 the use of its growth and development becometh manifest and obvious in it, so likewise, reward and punishment, paradise and hell, and the requital of deeds and actions done by it in the present life become manifest and evident when it is transferred to the world to come - which is far from this world! Had the life and growth of the child in the womb been confined to that condition, then the existence of the child in the womb would have proved utterly abortive and unintelligible; as would the life of this world, were its deeds, actions and their results not to appear in the world to come.

Therefore, know thou that the True One possesseth invisible worlds which human meditation is unable to comprehend and the intellect of man hath no power to imagine. When thou wilt purify and clarify thy spiritual; nostrils from every worldly moisture, then thou wilt inhale the holy fragrances diffusing from the merciful gardens of these worlds.

El-Abha be upon thee and upon all those who are gazing and turning unto the Kingdom of El-Baha, which God hath sanctified above the understanding of the heedless souls and from being perceived by the eye of those who deny!

O my spiritual friends!+F1

What you have written is perused, all of which was an entreaty and invocation unto God and a desire for devotion unto the Most High. I hope through the bounty of God, day by day, your assurance, belief and faith will increase; moment by moment the flame of the love of God will be intensified; louder and louder

------------------------ 1. To the Cincinnati (O.) assembly. +P 646 will the proclamation of the Word of God be heard in that country; the breeze of sanctity will begin to blow; the attraction of the inner consciousness will cause these districts to be animated; the mercy and aid of God will be your associates and the assistance from the Kingdom of compassion will be momentarily bestowed. Now is the time for those spiritual friends, (i.e., yourselves,) to adorn the divine meetings, endeavor to spread the Cause of god, arise to diffuse His breaths and stand for the promotion of His Word; that the breath of the Holy Spirit may bestow life to the hearts, causing the spirits to attain the Beloved.

The letter you have previously written is not yet received; if it were you may be sure it would be answered, because this servant hath great love and attachment for the believers in that city and will always communicate with them.

O Thou pitiful God! These friends are perfectly infatuated with Thy nearness; they have given their hearts for the beauty of Thy face; are devoted to Thy Kingdom and are intoxicated by the wine of belief. In the meeting of the covenant they are bearing in their hands the cup of anxiety, needing Thy benevolence and yearning for the heavenly blessings.

O Mighty Creator! Cause these souls to be the receptacle of Thy mercy, regarded by divine attention, and render each one as a lighted candle, that they may illuminate that region with the light of righteousness. Make them the companions of and partaker with this servant [Abdul-Baha] in the devotion of Thy Threshold. O my God! Strengthen the weak ones and open the eyes of those who are anxious to behold the

+P 647 beauty of the Kingdom, that they may arise with divine strength, heavenly bounty, spiritual blessing, ethereal breaths and mighty assistance for Thy service, dispelling the superstitions of the doubters, elucidating the proofs and evidences before all seekers, healing the sick, being kind to the poor, a refuge and home for the helpless and a light for the hopeless.

Thou art the Powerful and the Able, the Pitiful and Compassionate God!

O my friends! Endeavor to your utmost ability that, day by day, unity and harmony will increase and the love of God will so firmly capture the hearts that they will forget all save Him and be engrossed, night and day, in mentioning the Kingdom, the heavenly signs and the divine verses. If love, friendship, association and unity be established among the believers, the door of all significances will be opened and each believer of God will be able to explain and interpret all of the holy Books.

O believers! The tests of God are very severe; you should beseech and cry unto Him that you may be firm and steadfast during all temptations.

+F1 As to [what thou hast heard concerning] the child born from Russian parentage, this is pure imagination. Yea, certain persons shall in this divine dispensation produce heavenly children and such children shall promulgate the teachings of the Beauty of Abha and serve His great Cause. Through a heavenly power and spiritual confirmation they shall be enabled to promote

------------------------ 1. The following extract from a Tablet as received bore no opening line of address. +P 648 the Word of God and to diffuse the fragrances of God. These children are neither Oriental nor Occidental, neither Asiatic nor American, neither European nor African, but they are of the Kingdom; their native home is heaven and their resort is the Kingdom of Abha. This is but the truth and there is naught after truth save superstitions (or fancy).

O thou spiritual beloved!

I have carefully looked at thy picture and found that from thy face emanates the spiritual glad-tidings, the merciful complaisance and the heavenly brightness. Their traces shall appear and their lights shall shine.

O thou who art gazing toward the Kingdom of the

Testament!

I already received thy letter which announced thy receipt of the loving letter sent to thee by the pen of Abdul-Baha. By God the True One! Verily, those letters are as gifts of God to thee, to thy noble wife and to thine honorable daughter. I beg of God to enable thee to perfectly endeavor to practice according to their contents.

Yes, some of the intellectually cultured people in those countries exert themselves to reach the loftiest summits of prosperity in worldly affairs and most of them are desiring wealth and are making an effort to attain it somehow. But they are unmindful of the treasury of the Kingdom, the spiritual affluence and the wealth of mind; therefore, thou findest them subject to the rage of lusts and under the influence of egotistic and selfish desires, sinking into intemperance and engaged

+P 649 in drinking the cup of lust. Were they to become mindful of their heedlessness and awakened from the sleep of ignorance, they would become intoxicated by the cup of the love of God and exhilarated by the good cheer of the wine of the knowledge of God.

I beg of God to shine forth unto you with the lights of His sanctity and send to you divine souls, that they may fully reveal to you the divine teachings.

The letters which I sent to you are as the fragrant breezes of the garden of the knowledge of God, which can be smelled by every one whose sense of smelling is clean and purified from any rheum, because they are glad-tidings proceeding from pure lips which are fluent in explaining the mysteries of God. I beg of God to ordain for us to meet one another.

O thou who art assuredly believing in God!

Verily, I read thy letter which showed how thou art believing in God, assured of the signs of God and art attracted by the love of God.

I thank God for that He hath ignited the fire of His love in thy heart, hath drawn thee by the magnet of His guidance, hath dilated thy heart through the light of His knowledge, hath assisted thee to be firm in His Testament, hath sent down His blessing upon thee, upon thy household and upon thy children, hath illuminated thy house by igniting therein the lamp of the praise of God, hath caused those souls who have drawn nigh unto the Kingdom to abide in thy house+F1 - those who deliver the Cause of God, who speak the praise of God and

------------------------ 1. The first teachers of the Bahai Cause to come to America from the Orient dwelt in the household of the recipient of this Tablet. +P 650 explain the indisputable proofs of God unto the servants. It behooveth thee to thank God for this great gift and say:

"O my Lord! Confirm me to serve Thy beloved and to be submissive and humble before Thy chosen ones. Make me to know the meaning of Thy Words and inform me of the mysteries of Thy signs. Place me in the shadow of the standard of Thy Testament and preserve me from Thy tests which break backs and unveil the sins of the back-sliders and tend to disgrace the party of deception and the people of wickedness (i.e., the nakazeen). Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Pardoner!"

O thou confident soul who art content and patient!

Verily, I read thy welcome letter and was informed of its contents which gladdened the hearts of the unitarians (i.e., the believers at Acca) of thy desire for God's confirmation in the service of His Cause among the sincere servants. Do not consider the weakness of the people, but observe the power of attainment in this manifest day. Separate thyself from all thoughts, strip thyself from the unclean garment of attachment to this drossful (or earthly) world, arise for the service of thy Lord, the Clement, and be clothed with the robe of assurance (or certainty), so that thou mayest behold the hosts of confirmation from thy Lord arising from all sides.

As to thy information concerning the services of Mirza Assad Ullah to the holy and brilliant Threshold, verily, it gladdened Abdul-Baha and he thanked God for this great bounty unto him (Mirza Assad Ullah)

+P 651 and the chosen of God. Verily, I hope, through the favor of my Lord, that He will confirm ye unto that which he (Mirza Assad Ullah) was confirmed; because the treasury of the favors of thy Lord are full of bounties. Verily, he granteth to whomsoever He wisheth what He desireth, and, verily, He is the Generous, the Giver and the Forgiver!

O thou spiritual person and heavenly man - may God confirm thee!

Know, that the divine springtime hath come with its rains and abundance, with the heat of its sun, the breeze of its life and the scent of its fragrance; and through this universal and great abundance, the land of the holy truth and facts hath moved and brought forth of every kind, good and beautiful fruits. But the barren, wicked land will not bring forth save the thorn of denial, of haughtiness and disdain. Therefore, thank thou God for He hath made thee a good, fertile land by the clouds of the abundance of God the Chosen.

Convey my greetings to thy esteemed wife and daughter, who are honored by the people of the Kingdom of Perfection.

O thou who art esteemed and guarded!

Thank God for that by reason of which thy picture hath come into the court of holiness of perfumed breaths. I supplicate to God to confirm thee in that which beseemeth this station.

O thou who art rejoiced by the Appearance of God!

Blessed art thou for that thine eyes were brightened by the light of guidance, thine ears heard the calling of

+P 652 God from the Supreme Concourse, thine heart was gladdened by the love of God and attracted unto the Beauty of God. Verily, by the Lord of Hosts, thou wilt find thyself in the Kingdom surrounded by favors on the part of thy Lord, the Clement, and the angels of mercy will herald to thee glad-tidings which are the greatest gift from the King of Might.

Upon thee be El-Baha and upon thee be praise! O thou who art attracted by the fragrance of God in this manifest day!

O thou who art exhilarated by the Wine of the Love of

God - young in age and old in soul!

Truly, truly, I say unto thee, thy thanksgiving for my brilliant letter, which was sent thee, caused me to address thee repeatedly with the greatest affection of soul and spirit. By the life of God! verily, this letter will make thee and thine household [rejoice] throughout the eternity of the eternities, because the tongue of Abdul-Baha is addressing thee from this lofty and sublime threshold of the Blessed Perfection.

I assuredly cast mine eyes on the picture traced by thine hand and smelled the fragrance of the love of God from its flowers, because it is painted while thine heart hath been overflowing with the love of Baha' and thou hast made it as a token for thy remembrance.

I beg of God to make thee cut thine heart from this world and whatever is in it, to devote thy life to the service of the maid-servants of God, to kneel down, worship and glorify the affectionate Lord, the Exalted, the Lord of angels and spirit!***

The brilliant leaves (i.e., the ladies of the household)

+P 653 who are overshadowed by the protection of Baha', present their greetings and love to thee.

To the servant of God!

I ask God to make thee a growing, developing branch in His vineyard, bearing flowers, leaves and fruits, with widespread branches, blooming, verdant and watered by the abundance of the clouds of His Kingdom and the heat of the sun of His Word.

To the servant of God, .........:

What thou hast written is understood. In reply I will elucidate briefly, the purport of which you, with your intelligence, will surely comprehend:

The world of humanity is encompassed by the darkness of conventionalities, disagreements, discords, avoidance, animosity, enmity, ignorance, folly, lustful desires and animal tendencies; the gloomy night had darkened the horizon of the world in such manner that all had forgotten the light and deemed the darkness inevitable in the world of humanity, and its solution impossible; when, unexpectedly, the Light of Reality appeared and enlightened the horizon of the world, diffusing its rays throughout the East and West, the beholding of which instantly delighted the perfect and perceiving eyes; but the imperfect eyes, afflicted by the darkness, were dazzled by the radiance, while the negligent closed theirs and turned away entirely. That light is the Love of God, the Spirit of God, unity, concord, science and knowledge, bounty and perfection, redemption of life, spiritual perception, universal peace, alliance of the nations, unification of all peoples and

+P 654 the reality of the attributes of the Merciful One, which I hope thou wilt fully attain.

O seeker of the truth!

There are two ways of healing diseases, the material way and the spiritual way. The first is the remedies of the physician; the second prayers and turning one's self to God. Both must be practiced and followed. The diseases that happen to be caused by physical accident are cured by medical aid; others, which are due to spiritual causes, will disappear by spiritual means. For instance: For a disease due to grieving, fear, nervous impressions, the spiritual remedies will take more effect than the physical. Therefore, these tow kinds of remedies must be followed; neither is an obstacle to the other. You must take care of the physical remedies. These also came from the bounty and mercy of God who revealed and made evident the science of medicine, so that His servants may also be benefited by this mode of healing. In the same way take care of the spiritual healing, because it giveth wonderful results.

And if thou art looking for the divine remedy which will cure the spirit of man of all diseases and make him obtain the health of the divine Kingdom, know that it is the precepts and teaching of God. Take the greatest care of them.

+F1 Thy letter was received and its contents noted. In truth, thou hast been thrown amid dire ordeals, enduring agonizing afflictions. These trials were according

------------------------ 1. The following Tablet as received bore no opening line of address. +P 655 to the consummate wisdom, therefore they were for the best. It is good for man to endure (in such moments).

Reflect upon his holiness Job: What trials, calamities and perplexities did he not endure! But these tests were like unto the fire and his holiness Job was like unto pure gold. Assuredly gold is purified by being submitted to the fire and if it contain any alloy or imperfection, it will disappear. That is the reason why violent tests become the cause of the everlasting glory of the righteous and are conducive to the destruction and disappearance of the unrighteous.

The wisdom of all these tribulations that poured successively upon thee was this, that thou shouldst be prepared and made ready for this Cause, that thou mightiest expect the attainment to the greatest guidance, for all these trials were but a preparation for thine entrance into the Most Exalted Paradise and the beginning of obtaining this most great benefit.

Unless the season of winter appear, thunder roll, lightening flash, snow and rain fall, hail and frost descend and the intensity of cold execute its command, the season of the soul-refreshing spring would not come, the fragrant breeze would not waft, the moderation of temperature would not be realized, the roses and hyacinths would not grow, the surface of the heart would not become a delectable paradise, the trees would not bloom, neither would they bring forth fruits and leaves. That was the beginning of the manifestation of these roses, hyacinths, buds, blossoms and fruits.

Therefore, be not distressed on account of those adversities which fell upon thee; nay, rather, arise and

+P 656 render thanks that the ultimate goal is the attainment to this eminent bounty and the enjoyment of this highest gift of the almighty God. Consequently gird up the loins of thine endeavor, that thereby some results might be produced, some fruits gathered, the lamp of everlasting life ignited and the gifts of the Lord of the Kingdom be manifest, so that thou mayest accomplish again, with great yearning and exaltation, the worship of the Lord of Hosts.

O thou who art firm in the Covenant!

Thy last letter, sent by Mirza ........., hath arrived. It is not a very long time since I wrote thee a letter in which I said how contented I was with thee and I explained to thee the importance of thy visit to India and showed thee the results and the fruits of that visit.

At this moment hath arrived a letter in which thou hast praised the believers of Rangoon, especially Seyed ........., Mirza ........., Mirza ......... and Khai Khosroe+F1 who sacrificed his life for thine; ea, this is the truth! Consider what a difference exists between his country and thine and what a great effect this Bahai spirit hath manifested that an oriental sacrificed his life for an Occidental! What attraction, what love, what relationship is this! Blessed are those who are able to arrive at an understanding of the reality of the power of this love!

Concerning Mr. ........., one of the Hindus of

------------------------ 1. Khai Khosroe was a Zoroastrian Bahai of Bombay, India, who left his home and went to Lahore to nurse Mr. Sydney Sprague who was sick of a fever. Mr. Sprague recovered, while the great Khai Khosroe died. He was the first Oriental friend to give his life for a Western

Bahai brother. +P 657 whom thou hast written: Say to him, "To me thou art not a stranger, but a friend; thou art not unknown, but known."

Thou hast spoken of a spiritual wave. This is not a wave, but a sea; nay, the very ocean! But his is not to destroy the cities, but to purify them; and soon it will submerge them all. This does not mean destruction, but salvation; it is not death, but life; it is not enmity, but love; it is not pain; it is a remedy. The world of existence is the body, and this is its spirit; this immense world is the glass [chimney], and this is the lamp [lighted wick]; humanity is the heaven, and this is its sun. The signs of this bounty are clear and visible. The proof is the changing of the characters of the friends and the perfection that the believers have made in their actions and words: They were dark, they became luminous; they were terrestrial, they became celestial; they were human, they became divine; they were diabolic, they became angelic; they were a drop, they became the sea; they were an atom, they became the sun. These are the signs of those who are entirely submerged by this wave; that is to say, this ocean.

O thou .........! I hope that thou wilt progress more and more; that thou wilt increase thy knowledge and science; and that thou wilt ever strive for gentleness and love.

Perhaps it will be possible for thee, next winter, to go to Persia.

O thou maid-servant of God!

thank ye that God hath enkindled the light of guidance in this darkness of ignorance, hath quickened those

+P 658 who were asleep, made mindful those who were heedless, made unproductive trees full of blossoms and fruit, and old men laden with years, fair and graceful youths.

Praise be unto God! What an effect there lies in divine guidance! It endoweth the blind with sight, granteth strength to the impotent, maketh the darkened ones illuminated, changeth youth to the aged; nay, rather it breatheth life into the dead!

O thou maid-servant of God! If thou seeketh after a work which is brighter and more attractive, sweeter and more delightful than all the affairs, it is the thralldom in the Threshold of the Almighty and servitude to His Highness the Lord of Might.

Forget thou entirely the ease, tranquility, composure and living of this transitory world and occupy thyself with the well-being and the service of the human world and conduct thyself in accord with the advices and exhortations of God.

O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!

I have read thy beautiful letter containing beautiful significances and indicating that which hath occurred to thy heart of spiritual events, and that which hath encompassed thy spirit of merciful thoughts. This is from the bounty of Thy Lord upon thee and upon every maid-servant chosen by His mercy in this new age.

(Question: "Master, who art thou? Art thou the Christ?")

As to what thou asked concerning me: Verily, I say unto thee, that I am indeed an humble, submissive and

+P 659 imploring servant of God; a servant of His Beloved; a messenger of the exaltation of His Word; a spreader of His Fragrances; an extoller of the banner of love and harmony; a promoter of the greatest peace among all nations and tribes; a kindler of the fire of the love of God in the hearts of the people; a runner to the place of martyrdom in the Cause of God; a yearner for every calamity in the love of God; a longer for suspension upon the cross for the love of the beloved; a herald of the Kingdom of God among the sects of all horizons. This is my station and condition; this is my blazing crown; this is my glorious throne; because my servitude to the Holy Threshold is my brilliant light, my shining star and my drawn sword; and beside this I have no other name.

Then know that for the dominion of the reality of Christ there is no beginning and there is no end. Everlastingly that luminous Entity hath been sitting on the throne of might and everlastingly It will have a penetrating dominion over the worlds of existence. This dominion is eternal and everlasting and has no abrupt end.

(Question: "When is the time of the millenium? Will I see it?)

Concerning the one thousand years as recorded in the Book: It signifieth the beginning of this Manifestation until the end of its predominance throughout the contingent world; because this Cause is great, its powers are growing and its signs are dazzling. It shall continue in elevation, exaltation, growth, promulgation and promotion until it shall reach the apex of its glory in one thousand years - as the day of this Manifestation

+P 660 is one thousand years. Thou shalt see its conquering power, its manifest dominion, its eternal might and its everlasting glory.

(Question: "At the time of thy departure will there not be some great spiritual manifestation all over the earth?")

As to the question of "after my departure" to the neighborhood of the mercy of my Lord: Know there shall appear wonderful traces; the breath of God shall pass by; the fragrance of God shall spread and the Spirit of God shall run in the body of the contingent world both before and after my departure; but I supplicate God that He may grant the greatest spirituality in these days. Endeavor, therefore, that thou mayest have a great portion in it.

(Question: "What did the vision of a paper signify in my dream?")

Concerning the appearance of a paper in thy dream, before thine eyes, which thou wast unable to read: Thou shalt read it through the permission of God and thou shalt comprehend its meanings. It is a diary of the Word of God and the divine mysteries.

O ye+F1 who are attracted by the Fragrances of God!

Verily, this mundane world is as the mirage of the desert, but the Kingdom is like unto a sea of great surges and rolling waves. Those who longed for the mirage have indeed become more thirsty the more they hastened toward it and have perished in grief after a drop of water.

Ye see, as the condition really is, that the people of

------------------------ 1. To the California maid-servants. +P 661 the world are striving day and night for the sake of attaining perfect happiness and tranquil life, but the result is none other to them than disappointment, affliction, lamentation and destruction.

But those who have advanced to the Kingdom of God have assuredly advanced to a sea of clear and limpid water and thus have attained unto the greatest bounty, the perfect rest and the eternal life to which there is no abrupt end. Their faces have shined with joy, their souls delighted with pleasure, their hearts illumined and their cups overflowed with abundance. Their edifice hath risen high, their palaces have been adorned, their suns shone, their stars gleamed and their diadems radiated with a dazzling light. Their dominions have expanded and their lights have spread to all ages and generations. These are their set-up thrones, their high palaces, their luminous lamps and their shining moons throughout all horizons. These are their traces in the world; how much more then would be their lights in the highest of the high - consider, therefore, O ye maid-servants of the Merciful!

This being the case, care no more for the world and its desires, but cling to the spiritual world and its gifts, spread the fragrances of God, be submissive to the Word of God, establish a spiritual meeting-place wherefrom theincense of sanctity and purity will rise up to God, assemble there with fragrance and spirituality and celebrate the Name of your Lord by day and by night. At that time ye would become illumined lamps, spiritual stars; rather, eternal suns. This is a favor that was longed for by the spirits of the godly people and the hearts of the queens in the former ages.

+P 662 O ye maid-servants+F1 of God and leaves of the Tree of

Eternal Life!

Blessed are ye for attaining to that which was the greatest hope of Mary the Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jacob! This gift was shining on the face of the Virgin Mary like unto a brilliant gem glistening on the great crown of glory.

Happy are ye for this favor, the likeness of which was not seen by the eye of existence, not its similitude heard by the ears of the creatures; because it is the greatest favor on the part of the Lord of the Kingdoms in the world of existence; that is, the greatest guidance, the attainment unto the day of the Lord and listening unto the call of God. How blessed is this great favor!

O ye maid-servants of God! All the palaces shall be destroyed and become like graves, buried beneath the ground, but god, through His mighty hand, will build for ye solid palaces in His Kingdom which will not be destroyed forever and evermore; nay, rather its foundation will be strengthened in the course of ages and centuries.

Therefore, call in His Name, spread the fragrances of God, guide unto the path of God and cause souls to enter the Kingdom of God!

+F2 If you arise in accord with the exhortations and commands of the Blessed Perfection - may my life be a sacrifice to His beloved ones! - before long agreeable results will be obtained, the great newspapers of the

------------------------ 1. To the California maid-servants. 2. The following Tablet as received bore no opening line of address. The

Tablet is to husband and wife. +P 663 world will all engage in praising you and such activity will be brought about in the West as will increase the motion and activity in the East.

You have written concerning the meetings in Cambridge and Boston. The more such meetings increase, it will increase the diffusing of the fragrances.

The news concerning the unity, harmony, affinity and oneness of the maid-servants of the Merciful One and the friends of God in those parts, imparted the utmost joy and happiness (to me). This indicated that the Cause will before long yield results in that country.

Convey on my behalf respectful greeting to the favored and attracted maid-servant of God, the daughter of the Kingdom, Miss .........

O thou .........! Exhort thou all the believers and say: "The Beauty of Abha - may my life be a sacrifice to the dust of His footsteps! - hath opened a great door before your faces and bestowed a weighty gift upon you. We must know the value of this and sacrifice ourselves entirely; nay, we must forget ourselves. We must wish for no rest and seek no joy. We must seek no name nor fame, no ease, amplitude nor convenience; nay, we must sacrifice everything in order that we may be clad in the kingdom of immortality!"+F1

The letter which thou hast written was received and its perusal brought me joy, for it indicated that you are extremely pleased with the beloved ones (i.e., men) and the maid-servants of God in Persia. forsooth, their love is heartfelt and real; they are devoted in service with all their soul and they are attracted by the

------------------------ 1. Literally, in order that we may emerge our head out of the bosom of the kingdom of immortality. +P 664 love of the friends with all their heart. If any occasion befalleth and cases of tests come up, they will sacrifice their precious lives for the sake of the friends and freely give up all their possessions.

Briefly, O thou dear maid-servant of God! Praise be to God! thou didst see with thine own eyes, thou didst hear with thine own ears and thou didst comprehend with thine own heart. Thou didst witness the qualities and the life and conduct of Abdul-Baha and thou didst behold the love and kindness, faith and assurance of the friends of Persia. Thou didst see the exaltation (or progress) of the Cause of God and thou didst test the general character (or qualities) of the friends; and thou didst know with perfect assurance that the Cause of Baha'o'llah is the means for the quickening of the world and for the extraordinary progress of mankind; that it hath quickened Persia and hath removed the darkness of ignorance, that the friends are kind unto all the people of the world and self-sacrificing servants of mankind.

O thou who art firm in the Covenant!

I am ever busy with the remembrance of the friends, praying and supplicating at the threshold of His Majesty, the Merciful One, and seek aid and assistance for the beloved.

Concerning the journey of Mr. .........: The friends of the west put forth their efforts and helped until the means for the trip were made ready and he left for India in perfect comfort and is now busy with the diffusion of the fragrances. This service of the beloved to the Kingdom of Abha will be the means of

+P 665 great bounty, a magnet of strength and power attracting assistance and providence in the divine realm.

The beloved of God must take thought night and day for the spread of the fragrances and for the promotion of the Word of God. They must send criers and messengers (teachers) to all parts of the world. Every soul who is himself able must ignite the candle of guidance, illumine the hearts with the light of knowledge and, if possible, they must travel to other countries of God. Thus may the confirmation of the Holy Spirit arrive and the breath of life reach other souls.

The purport is this: I am made happy and am pleased with the souls who have furnished the means for the journey of Mr. ......... I pray for them and supplicate for bounty and blessing on their behalf.

+F1 Convey my respectful greeting to Mr. ......... and say: "Praise be to God! that there exists in thee capacity and endowment to enter into the Kingdom of God, and that thy wisdom and intelligence are known to the republic.+F2 Therefore, tarry thou not. Enter thou immediately into the Kingdom of God. Enlist thyself in the roll of the army of the Lord of Hosts, in order that thou mayest become the cause of salvation to the people, endow sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and life to the dead. This is the divine gift! This is the supreme guidance! make thou thy meetings a palace for the heavenly beloved and thy residence a glass for the light of Deity. Suffer thy home to become a nest for the dove of the Holy Spirit and thine

------------------------ 1. The following extract from a Tablet as received bore no opening line of address. 2. The believers are sometimes referred to as a republic. +P 666 eye the mirror for the reflection of the Beauty of the Almighty."

O ye beloved friends of Abdul-Baha!+F1

The news of your spiritual assembly reached this Illumined Spot and the heart of this yearning one was rejoiced on account of your concord, unity and affinity. What wonderful meetings and brilliant gatherings were those, whose fame will become world-wide and whose melody will ere long reach to all the kingdoms! that in the region of America the believers are real companions and associates with each other and are as beloved friends among themselves; that they bring about gatherings of friendship, engage themselves in the praise and glorification of the glorious Lord, deliver eloquent speeches, establish the proofs and arguments of the Manifestation of the Sun of Truth, spread the divine teachings and shed broadcast the musk-diffusing fragrances of the Kingdom, so that the nostrils become perfumed and the eyes become brightened.

O ye friends! O ye maid-servants of the Merciful! Those assemblies are the emblems of the Supreme Concourse and the prototypes of the congregations of the spirits in the Kingdom of Abha. Avail yourselves of the opportunities of this time, neither let the occasion slip by unheeded. The season of the soul-refreshing springtime will not appear at all time, neither will the breezy dawn be at every moment. Now is the time of proclamation and the occasion of supplication and invocation toward the Kingdom of Abha.

Therefore, sing ye the sweet melody in the assemblages,

------------------------ 1. To the Brooklyn (N.Y.) assembly. +P 667 entreat ye at the Threshold of the Kingdom of the Lord of Hosts and beg ye for confirmation and assistance. The Guide of Providence will appear and the "beloved of divine gift" will unveil her luminous countenance.

O thou dear maid-servant of God!

thou hast learned of thy Lord and engaged thyself in the servitude of the Lord of Hosts. In the promised day thou art adoring the beloved Countenance and thou shalt be aided and confirmed in that which is the greatest desire of the saints.

The cause of eternal glory to man is faith and certainty and then living (or acting) according to the behests of His Majesty the Eternal God. My hope is that thou wilt attain to the three.

As long as thou canst, wish thou the most great peace for all mankind: Associate with all in perfect love and kindness; hold all dear and count all friends and familiar ones; know no enemies; imagine no strangers. Thus mayest thou be a mercy to the people of the world and a source of bounty to the world of humanity.

O thou who art waiting for the Appearance of the

Kingdom!

Glad-tidings be unto thee, for the Kingdom of God hath raised its tent and tabernacle upon the apex of the world, the standard of the Kingdom is hoisted, the call of the Kingdom is sent forth and the hosts of the Kingdom have appeared.

Therefore, there are many fortresses and castles of

+P 668 hearts which are conquered and many regions of spirits which are subdued. The lights of the Kingdom have shone forth from the horizon of the East and West. Praise be to God! that thou hast entered therein and hast received manifest outpouring from the Most Great Beauty.

Although thou art old in age, yet thou art young in spirit and have freshness and vivacity, vigor and strength, beauty and sweetness. Thank thou God for this.

O thou maid-servant of God!

The breeze of Life is wafting from the rose-garden of the Kingdom; become thou undoubtedly moved thereby. The rays of light are emanating from the Luminary of regions; become thou unquestionably illumined thereby. Drink thou as much as thou canst from this overflowing cup of the love of God and then cause others to drink; take thou a portion from this ocean of guidance and then suffer others to share.

I hope that God will become thy helper and the outpouring of the manifest Light will shine in thy heart.

O thou who art attracted to the Kingdom!

Thy letter was received and i supplicated and implored at the Divine Kingdom that He may bestow real health to thee, thy husband and thy child and confirm all of you by the heavenly assistance and grant you happiness and joy in both worlds!

+P 669 O thou bird of the Rose-garden of the Love of God!

Thank thou God that, through the utterances of Mrs. ........., thou hast heard of the universe of the Kingdom, thy heart recognized (the Truth), thine eyes became seeing and thy soul became mindful. Shouldst thou remain firm and steadfast in faith, the desire of thy heart and soul will become realized, thou wilt find the utmost joy and wilt be assisted in visiting the holy Threshold.

O thou who art uttering the mention of God!

Know, that the pure hearts upon which the mysteries of the Kingdom of God are printed and pictured, are reflectors one upon another and thus the once can discover the secrets of the other, because such hearts are only mirrors confronting each other on which the secrets of unity, affinity and concord are printed and reflected. Accordingly, it would be possible that a certain servant of the servants of the Merciful might discover a treasured mystery or a preserved sign, whatever his shortcomings or defects might be; yet we do indeed rely upon God the Forgiver. I supplicate Him to deliver us from the pangs of lust and its dangers and from the destructive conditions of passion.

Verily, I do testify that thine heart is moved by the fragrance of the love of God, that thy memory is a fountain overflowing with the water of the knowledge of God. Therefore, finish the poem which thou art composing and send it here, that through reading it the breast of the believers may be refreshed and dilated with joy.

+P 670 O thou who art kindled by the fire of the Love of God!

Rejoice through the fragrance of God and be attracted by the melodies of the holy birds in the garden of the gifts of God! Verily, I, with great humbleness and submissiveness before the abundance of His mercy, do roll my face upon the dust to make thee a sign of unity and a gift of mercy, that thou mayest be, in all aspects and cases, near to the Kingdom of God.

Blessed thou art for this great abundance! Glad-tidings unto thee because of this manifest light! By the life of God! a single drop of the ocean of His love is more profitable unto thee than the earth and that which is thereupon, because this will vanish and perish, but that drop of love will remain eternally and everlastingly in the worlds of God.

O thou dear servant of God!

During the time of thy visit here the meanings of the words of Christ, "Let the dead bury their dead," was explained to thee. Those souls who are not vivified and attracted by the Holy Spirit, are accounted among the dead, because their souls are deprived of the breath of the Holy Spirit, and these persons after physical death are in a certain condition, having feeling and discernment in their environment, but in comparison with the pure souls who have been vivified by the Holy Spirit, they are as dead and deprived.

For example: The mineral kingdom in comparison with the vegetable is lifeless; also the existence of the animal kingdom in comparison with that of man is death. The meaning is not that the neglectful souls will be non-existent.

+P 671

Give my loving greeting to all the servants of God and the sharers of divinity.

O thou attracted one!

Thy letter was an evidence of the happiness and rejoicing of thy heart and soul and a proof of knowing the True One and severing thyself from all else save Him. When thou beholdest with the eye of Truth, then thou wilt realize that in this world neither known or unknown, neither kind father or beloved son, mother or sister, help us. No persons assist except the Benevolent Almighty.

When thou knowest Him, thou art independent from all else. When thou art attached to His love, then thou art detached from every kith and kin.

O thou attracted one of the Kingdom! Complete thou the study of the art of music and sacrifice thyself more or less to the Lord of the Kingdom.

The spiritual lily reached [me] in the world of the Merciful and its sweet fragrance perfumed the nostril.+F1 I ask God that thou mayest find a soul overflowing with glad-tidings, seek a heart of joy and attain to tthe beautiful ideal! That thou mayest sever thyself from this world and soar up to the Universe of the Creator!

O thou beloved maid-servant of God!

Thy letter was received and from the rose-garden of its significances sweet fragrances were inhaled. Thank God that thou hast found guidance, become knowing, attached thyself to the Lord of the Kingdom and attained to spiritual attraction.

------------------------ 1. The recipient of this Tablet, when writing to Abdul-Baha, extended to him, in spirit, a lily. +P 672

Thou hast asked permission to come in the presence. If the means are brought about that traveling may be made with utmost ease, thou hast permission.

O thou spiritual leaf who art verdant and well-watered by the outpouring from the Kingdom of God!

Verily, I beseech His Presence, the Mighty and the majestic One, to enlighten the mind through the lights gleaming from the summit of the Kingdom, and by which thy tongue shall become eloquent with the remembrance of the Ever-living One (He who liveth and dieth not), to make thee a lamp shininng with the lights of knowledge in those far-distant horizons and vast countries.

Verily, I say unto thee, the Covenant of God and His Alliance is a Lamp diffusing lights from the Supreme Concourse unto the horizons of the earth and heaven. Whosoever hath this Divine Lamp before his face, his forehead shall glisten with manifest light and his speech shall take effect in all minds and spirits, and God shall assist him by the poser which penetrateth the essences of things.

O thou bird of the Garden of God!

Why art thou sad and sorrowful, disappointed and grieved! Praise be to God! the eternal bounty is in succession, the divine glory is apparent and manifest, the display of Providence and light of guidance is glistening and shining from the Kingdom of Abha and the appearance of the Greatest Sun is clear and evident. if thou art outwardly far, then thou art near in spirit, and

+P 673 if thou art absent in body, thou art present in heart and spirit.

Arise and wash thy body, wear a pure gown, and directing thyself to the Kingdom of God, supplicate and pray to Him. Sleep in a clean, well prepared and ventilated place, and ask for appearance (or display) in the world of vision. Thou wilt have visions which will cause the doors of doubts to be closed, which will five you new joy, wonderful dilation, brilliant glory. thou wilt comprehend realities and meanings.

Verily, the bounty of the Kingdom is unlimited and the favors of the Lord of Majesty are like unto the rains of springtime.

O thou maid-servant of God!

Dost thou remember when Mrs. ......... was talking with thee, what a cheerful feeling thou felt in thy heart? And what a gladness and rejoicing thou didst find? Even thy friends were astonished at what was the cause of this joy. Therefore, follow thou that rejoicing, and continue (saying) the Greatest Name every morning.

May thy soul be cheered!

O thou maid-servant of God!

Happiness consists of two kinds; physical and spiritual. The physical happiness is limited; its utmost duration is one day, one month, one year. It hath no result. Spiritual happiness is eternal and unfathomable. This kind of happiness appeareth in one's soul with the love of God and suffereth one to attain to the virtues and perfections of the world of humanity. Therefore, endeavor

+P 674 as much as thou art able in order to illumine the lamp of thy heart by the light of love.

O thou seeker of the Divine Kingdom!

The heavenly doors opened, the hosts of realities and significances rushed forth, the Lord of Hosts established a heavenly throne and spread the armies of peace and reconciliation in all parts of the world, in order that the reign of peace and love may be founded. Now that army is engaged in [diffusing] virtues throughout all regions.

As to thee: Be thou of God, that thou mayest become a leader of peace and reconciliation, hoist the banner of love and quicken the souls through the confirmation of the Holy Spirit.

O thou who art longing for the Heavenly Kingdom!