Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Part 114

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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d, 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!"(299)

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 G.o.d in Persia. forsooth, their love is heartfelt and real; they are devoted in service with all their soul and they are attracted by the 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 G.o.d! Praise be to G.o.d! 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 a.s.surance of the friends of Persia. Thou didst see the exaltation (or progress) of the Cause of G.o.d and thou didst test the general character (or qualities) of the friends; and thou didst know with perfect a.s.surance 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!..."

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 a.s.sistance 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 great bounty, a magnet of strength and power attracting a.s.sistance and providence in the divine realm.

The beloved of G.o.d must take thought night and day for the spread of the fragrances and for the promotion of the Word of G.o.d. 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 G.o.d. 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.

"Convey my respectful greeting to Mr. ......... and..."

(300) Convey my respectful greeting to Mr. ......... and say: "Praise be to G.o.d! that there exists in thee capacity and endowment to enter into the Kingdom of G.o.d, and that thy wisdom and intelligence are known to the republic.(301) Therefore, tarry thou not. Enter thou immediately into the Kingdom of G.o.d. 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 gla.s.s for the light of Deity. Suffer thy home to become a nest for the dove of the Holy Spirit and thine eye the mirror for the reflection of the Beauty of the Almighty."

"O ye beloved friends of Abdul-Baha!..."

O ye beloved friends of Abdul-Baha!(302)

The news of your spiritual a.s.sembly 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 a.s.sociates with each other and are as beloved friends among themselves; that they bring about gatherings of friends.h.i.+p, 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 a.s.semblies 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-refres.h.i.+ng 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 a.s.semblages, entreat ye at the Threshold of the Kingdom of the Lord of Hosts and beg ye for confirmation and a.s.sistance. The Guide of Providence will appear and the "beloved of divine gift" will unveil her luminous countenance.

"O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!..."

O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!

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 G.o.d. My hope is that thou wilt attain to the three.

As long as thou canst, wish thou the most great peace for all mankind: a.s.sociate 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..."

O thou who art waiting for the Appearance of the Kingdom!

Glad-tidings be unto thee, for the Kingdom of G.o.d 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 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 G.o.d! 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 G.o.d for this.

"O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!..."

O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!

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 G.o.d and then cause others to drink; take thou a portion from this ocean of guidance and then suffer others to share.

I hope that G.o.d will become thy helper and the outpouring of the manifest Light will s.h.i.+ne in thy heart.

"O thou who art attracted to the Kingdom!..."

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 a.s.sistance and grant you happiness and joy in both worlds!