Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Part 122

I have read thy letter in which thou showed thy desire toward the divine teachings and the texts of the knowledge of Truth. Blessed thou art and more blessed thou shalt be if thy feet be firm, thy heart tranquil through the fragrance of His Holy Spirit and thy secret and hidden thoughts pure before the Lord of Hosts! Then, by G.o.d the Truth! the hosts of the angels of the Kingdom shall surround thee and convey to all thy limbs and veins the Spirit of Life; thy tongue shall utter fluently and distinctly the most eloquent and clear words and thoughts; thy bosom shall be cheered with joy through the appearance of the evident texts; thy face shall be illuminated, among the daughters of the Kingdom, with the light of firmness; the door of glad-tidings shall be opened before thy face and thou shalt receive knowledge through the symbolic signs descending from the heavenly Kingdom in the Books and Tablets!

"O thou who are supplicating to G.o.d and turning to..."

O thou who are supplicating to G.o.d and turning to the Spirit of His Kingdom!

I have read the texts of thy praise to G.o.d on the occasion of the arrival of my letter to thee. Know thou, that letter sent to thee by me, was only because of my perfect love for thee and my pity upon thee, for I had the desire that the fragrance of the Holy Spirit, which hath perfumed all regions and imbued the entire body of the world with the Spirit of Life, should pa.s.s over thee and abide with thee. Notwithstanding the high position it occupieth, still, with an eloquent tongue, through which the Spirit moveth, hearts are attracted and bosoms burn, it speaketh to the pure hearts and to the good and righteous souls in every spot of the earth. This is the powerful Spirit, the dazzling light, the brilliant star and the overwhelming and universal abundance. And, from its traces, spread and divulged everywhere, thou wilt know and realize its influence and comprehend its radiance. I ask G.o.d to expose thee by its coals of fire and illuminate thee by its brightness. Turn thyself wholly to it-thus thou shalt be enabled to ascertain its influence and power, the strength of its life and the greatness of its confirmation. Verily, I say unto thee, that if for the appearance of that Divine Essence thou desirest to have a definite proof, and indisputable testimony and a strong, convincing evidence, thou must prepare thyself to make thy heart empty and thine eye ready to look only toward the Kingdom of G.o.d. Then, at that time, the radiance of that widespread effulgence will descend upon thee successively, and that motion rendered thee by the Holy Spirit will make thee dispense with any other strong evidence that leadeth to the appearance of this Light, because the greatest and strongest proof for showing the abundance of the Spirit to the bodies is the very appearance of its power and influence in those bodies.

Think deeply of this in order to know the reality of my explanation and demonstration.

"O thou that virtuous soul and individual who art ready..."

O thou that virtuous soul and individual who art ready for the confirmation of the Holy Spirit!

I, with the utmost clemency, have read thy brilliant letter which showeth thine advancement toward the Kingdom of G.o.d and the excessive preparation for the effulgence of the lights of G.o.d and the greatest tendency for the baptism of the Spirit of G.o.d and thy pleasure at the glad-tidings of G.o.d, thine attraction by the fragrance of G.o.d and thy gladness in the love of G.o.d. May G.o.d strengthen thee so thou mayest come nearer to G.o.d, to separate thyself from aught else save Him and to a.s.sist thee in spreading His lights and uttering the abundance of His mysteries, to perfume thy nostrils with the fragrance of His holiness and to prepare for thee the heavenly table, that thou mayest taste the delight of His loving-kindness.

I now a.s.sure thee, O servant of G.o.d, that, if thy mind become empty and pure from every mention and thought and thy heart attracted wholly to the Kingdom of G.o.d, forget all else besides G.o.d and come in communion with the Spirit of G.o.d, then the Holy Spirit will a.s.sist thee with a power which will enable thee to penetrate all things, and a Dazzling Spark which enlightens all sides, a Brilliant Flame in the zenith of the heavens, will teach thee that which thou dost not know of the facts of the universe and of the divine doctrine. Verily, I say unto thee, every soul which ariseth today to guide others to the path of safety and infuse in them the Spirit of Life, the Holy Spirit will inspire that soul with evidences, proofs and facts and the lights will s.h.i.+ne upon it from the Kingdom of G.o.d. Do not forget what I have conveyed unto thee from the breath of the Spirit.

Verily, it is the s.h.i.+ning morning and the rosy dawn which will impart unto thee the lights, reveal the mysteries and make thee competent in science, and through it the pictures of the Supreme World will be printed in thy heart and the facts of the secrets of the Kingdom of G.o.d will s.h.i.+ne before thee. Christ said-glory be to Him! -"Many are called but few chosen."

Thank thou thy Lord for He hath made thee of the chosen. By my life!

verily, this is a station which G.o.d giveth to whomsoever He pleaseth. Know its value and appreciate it according to its desserts! Arise with all thy power to answer [i.e., to perform] all that is necessary to obtain this grace and bounty and be strengthened in all circ.u.mstances and conditions of this existence. how many n.o.ble-minded women, who were the queens of all provinces and countries, have died and pa.s.sed away and thou no longer hearest any mention of them; but every servant of the servants of the Merciful, who were in the past decades and centuries, owing to their bright faces illumined by the lights of truth and knowledge, their stars s.h.i.+ne until today in the horizon of the highest and their rays dazzle in the mirrors of the world and their fame is divulged in the Supreme World and their sanctification spread in the Kingdom of G.o.d; and if-G.o.d forbid!

-the foot of man deviate as did that of Judas, so that he became human after he was divine and sold the blood of Christ for a small and trifling sum-verily, there is in that a great lesson to the people of understanding!

Although I am far away from thee in body, still I am near unto thee in spirit. But I ask G.o.d that the body will follow the spirit and out meeting will be facilitated. The most essential thing is the spiritual relation, the hearty friends.h.i.+p and the heavenly attraction. Thou must accomplish this.

"O thou gem of the Kingdom and brilliant leaf!..."

O thou gem of the Kingdom and brilliant leaf!

Verily, I have read thy letter which showeth how thou art turning unto G.o.d, moved by the breath of G.o.d, drawn by the Spirit of G.o.d and how the mystery of existence, the image of the Lord of Hosts, was revealed unto thee. This indicates that G.o.d shall open before thee the doors of revelation and the Spirit of Truth shall confirm thee with evident signs.

Seeing this servant in thy prayers is a proof of the ideal nearness, of the spiritual unity and of the impression that was printed within thine own consciousness. At all times I do supplicate to the divine Kingdom to make thy heart a pure, clear and polished mirror, facing the most glorious Kingdom, El-Abha, that the pictures of the Supreme Concourse may be printed in it, and this is exactly what was meant in the Bible by this text: "Let us create man after our own image and likeness."

To see repeatedly is an evidence that the vision will take place both in the spirit and body; but separation and union, parting and meeting are things which belong to the material body. The spirit is sanctified from a.s.sociation, departure, nearness, remoteness, connection and separation, for these are of the properties of material bodies and of the characteristics of the elementary facts; but the Spirit is everlastingly in the station of its loftiness and supremacy in a similar way to the sun which is continually stationed in its sphere orbit; its appearance and disappearance signify the clearness of the place and the fineness of the body which is facing it, and as long as the confronting surface continues to be in a well-polished condition, the lights of the sun will then appear in it; but when it becometh rough and impure, the lights disappear.

Consequently, it hath been proven that nearness and remoteness signify smoothness, clearness and fineness; or rust, impurity and roughness, respectively.

And if G.o.d wisheth, through the clearness of the heart, we will be continually in the a.s.sembly of alliance and friends.h.i.+p, resting permanently in the spiritual and heavenly realm, adoring and wors.h.i.+pping G.o.d, meeting and uniting by the holy fragrances, drawn by the magnet of the love of G.o.d and thanking Him for this great bounty and evident victory.

As to our meeting materially (i.e., face to face), I ask G.o.d that He may ordain this for us in the way He deemeth best.

Then know, O thou virtuous soul, that as soon as thou becometh separated from aught else save G.o.d and dost cut thyself from the worldly things, thy heart will s.h.i.+ne with the lights of divinity and with the effulgence of the Sun of Truth from the horizon of the Realm of Might, and then thou wilt be filled by the spirit of power from G.o.d and become capable of doing that which thou desirest. This is the confirmed truth.

As to the desire shown by thee towards serving holy and spiritual souls, it is indeed of the best desires and of the most n.o.ble qualities. Blessed is he who is strengthened and confirmed by such a desire during all his life, in the hope of attaining eternal life.

As to thee, O thou being who art attracted to G.o.d, announce the glad-tidings of the Kingdom of G.o.d through the breaths of the Holy Spirit; for He will confirm thee in a similar manner to the confirmation He bestowed upon the holy souls in the past decades and former ages.

"O thou who art attracted to the "Spirit of Truth!"..."

O thou who art attracted to the "Spirit of Truth!"

At this moment I remember thee while the cup of my tongue is overflowing with the wine of G.o.d'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 speeches 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 raised from my abundant love for thee and my excessive kindness and great affection unto thee.

o maid-servant of G.o.d! Verily, the Holy Spirit breathes, in this day, unto the hearts which are moving, beating, pure and attracted by the love of G.o.d.

Abandon thou every occupation and be engaged in the affairs of thy Lord and serve the "Spirit of Truth" which hath poured a spiritual, divine and everlasting life upon the brilliant hearts.

O maid-servant of G.o.d! By G.o.d 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, that it may wear that glorious crown, the most precious gems of which illumine the eyes of all the world.

O maid-servant of G.o.d! Many spiritual women came (into the world) and pa.s.sed away in vain; no sound is heard of them and no trace is seen of them, 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, by the fire of the love of G.o.d, nor by the "Spirit of Truth" which speaketh in the a.s.semblies of the Kingdom and breatheth upon spirits the breezes which waft an eternal glory, the signs of which are everlasting.

"O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of G.o.d!..."

O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of G.o.d!

I was informed of thy recent letter which indicated thine abundant love for G.o.d, thine attraction to the Kingdom of G.o.d and thy reliance upon the Word of G.o.d.

Verily, I address thee, with the tongue of my spirit, such an address which is life to hearts and souls, light to existent beings and is joy and fragrance. Hearken unto this address and be dilated in breast for the emanation of this letter.

Be thou a breath of life, a banner of salvation and a manifest sign in this great world, so that thou mayest become a lamp of reconciliation and peace, a banner of love and attraction, a star of guidance among mankind, (and be thou) humble, meek and a servant to the maid-servants of the Merciful One. Unfurl the sail of spirit on the s.h.i.+p of guidance and hoist the banner of piety in those regions, so that the everlasting light may s.h.i.+ne forth upon all parts.

Verily, I am cognizant of the sincerity of thine intention and the purity of thine heart. Therefore, I address thee with this great address, so that thou mayest impart the "Greatest Name" to whomsoever thou findest prepared for entering the Kingdom of G.o.d.

We have sent letters for the names which were written in thy letter. We have also sent [stones of the] Greatest Name and roses which express the redness of my blood which I beg of G.o.d to be shed in the path of G.o.d.

Then, know thou, verily, I will always a.s.sociate thee with the fragrances of the Spirit and will continually rejoice thee at the glad-tidings of G.o.d. I beg of G.o.d to enable thee to diffuse the spirit of life (i.e., to teach this truth0, to herald the Kingdom of G.o.d, to speak the praise of G.o.d and to be wholly attracted to the Word of G.o.d, so that thou mayest become a well-rooted tree in the garden of the Kingdom, its fruits within reach, its wide-spread branches overshadowing those regions.