Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Part 24

O thou who art partaking of the Heavenly Food!

Know thou verily the Divine Food is descending from heaven, but only those taste thereof who are directed to the light of guidance, and only those can enjoy it who are endowed with a sound taste. Otherwise every diseased soul disliketh the delicious and merciful food and this is because of the sickness which hath seized him, whereby the El-Zekk.u.m(74) is sweet (to his taste) while he fleeth from the ripe fruit of the Tree of the Living and Pre-existent G.o.d-and there is no wonder in that.

In a similar way, thou beholdest some women who have abandoned the Testament, and to them the bitterness of discord is sweet. They keep aloof from the Extended Shadow and dwell under the shade of a "black smoke."

Alas for them and grief for them! They will surely lament and find themselves in loss. Verily, this is but an evident truth!

"O thou tree, developed in the garden of the Love of..."

O thou tree, developed in the garden of the Love of G.o.d!

Be well watered with the abundant rain falling from the clouds of the Testament of G.o.d, that thou mayest bring forth fresh and ripe fruits which are beneficial to the hearts and souls.

"O thou spiritual man and merciful being!..."

O thou spiritual man and merciful being!

I have read thy brilliant letter which showeth the utterance of thy praise upon the Beauty of El-ABHA, the Most Glorious. Blessed thou art!

Glad-tidings unto thee for that by reason of which thou hast drunk from the cup which is overflowing with the wine of the love of G.o.d, and hast become intoxicated from that pure wine which was given to thee from the hand of Providence in the meeting of the knowledge of G.o.d.

Take the cup of sanct.i.ty in thy right hand and pa.s.s the gla.s.s of the Kingdom, in the social meeting-which is the wine of the love of G.o.d and the sweet, pure, cool water of the knowledge of G.o.d-and give to drink to those who are in attendance, that they may rejoice, be happy and sing the hymns of sanct.i.ty and unification, offering their praise to the Supreme Kingdom.

"O thou who art attracted to the Holy Fragrances!..."

O thou who art attracted to the Holy Fragrances!

The light of truth hath made thine eyes to see, the voice of G.o.d hath made thine ears to hear and the lights emanating from the beauty of the Light of the World both made thine heart attracted and astonished. I hope that thou wilt cut thyself from all that is in this world; wilt sever thyself from all desires of this transitory world; wilt attach thy heart entirely to the light of truth and wilt, at all times, rise in the service of truth in the rose-garden of G.o.d.

The deriding of the enemy addeth to the joy of the heart and taunting of the ignorant becometh the means of spirituality and fragrance.

Observe that the Pharisees called His Holiness, the sweet and the divine Christ, Beelzebub or the head of evil spirits. This people (the people of the world) are in the depths of ignorance and their reproach and detraction are like praise and congratulation.

I hope that, in the path of the love of G.o.d, thou wilt exert thyself exceedingly and thus wilt enjoy life.

The letter which thou hadst written to Mrs. ...... was perused by me.

Indeed, its contents were indicative of divine knowledge and showed that thou art really attracted to the Beauty of G.o.d. Thou hast very well explained the question of the progress of man in the higher stations and his reaching the life eternal. This explanation is indeed from the confirmation of the Holy Spirit.

"O thou who art accepted of G.o.d!..."

O thou who art accepted of G.o.d!

Know thou that, verily, the eye of favors is directed to thee and is beholding thee with a divine glance, so that thou mayest, with clear eyes, see the lights of the Kingdom upon the horizon. Remember, at all times, this great favor and thank thy Lord and supplicate to Him every day.

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

O thou servant of G.o.d!

According to what I have heard, thou hast experienced a great financial loss. Do not feel sorry, for thou wilt be compensated. I hope that whatever thou hast lost will come back to thee. But this material loss is not a very grave one; it is for a time and shall pa.s.s away.

Alhamdallah!(75)-that thou hast a share in the Kingdom of G.o.d and art receiving gifts from the treasury of the Holy Spirit. Do not feel sorry; do not brood over the loss; do not sit down depressed; do not be silent; but, on the contrary, day and night be engaged in the commemoration of thy Lord in the greatest joy and gladness.

"O thou who art attracted to the Beauty of the Deity!..."

O thou who art attracted to the Beauty of the Deity!

Verily, I have read thy clear letter, and was heartily cheered at its elegant style, because it indicated thy sincerity in the Cause of G.o.d, thy hearty adherence to the Word of G.o.d, and thy service in the vineyard of G.o.d.

O thou maid-servant of G.o.d! Be tranquil and know, verily, that indeed, the Holy Ghost in this glorious age teacheth every soul that is sincerely faithful, firm and drawn to the Kingdom of the Great Lord. Verily, I address thee with a heart overflowing with the love of G.o.d.

I beg of G.o.d to ordain for thee all that which thou desirest and grant thee the honors of meeting, and that thou mayest be a true maid-servant, emptied of all save Him, that thou mayest be apt in serving in His vineyard and in guiding thy two children into His Right Path.

Indeed thou wilt see the teachings of G.o.d spread in those regions by the breath of the Holy Spirit, and thou wilt discover the fragrances of the paradise of the Kingdom.

Verily, these glad-tidings are very great for thee, and also for the maid-servants of the Merciful One, and for the men of G.o.d in that wide region (i.e., America).

"O ye who are longing for the beauty of El-ABHA!..."

O ye(76) who are longing for the beauty of El-ABHA!

Verily that Light (i.e., the Light of the Manifestation) shone forth from the horizon of the Manifestation, appeared upon the horizon of existence, and the darkness was changed into light; the Sun of Guidance dawned in the horizon of heaven, whereby the eyes which were looking unto the Kingdom of G.o.d were illuminated, the b.r.e.a.s.t.s which were filled with G.o.d's love were dilated, and the heavenly spirits were attracted by the magnet of the Holy Spirit, so that the hearts became as pure mirrors reflecting the G.o.dlike appearances and manifesting the heavenly lights-except the eyes which were in the veil of imitation of the forefathers (i.e., those who followed the theories of their fathers) were hindered from or veiled from witnessing that brilliant and G.o.dlike illumination, and the people held to the superst.i.tions of the Pharisees and neglected the mystery of G.o.d and the glad-tidings (recorded) in the Holy Scriptures, which elucidated the appearance of the Lord of Hosts in the promised day.

As to you-O ye who are attracted to the fragrances of G.o.d! -kneel down and thank G.o.d for choosing you to enter His wonderful Kingdom.