Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Part 28

In brief, translation is one of the most difficult arts. In both Persian and English utmost proficiency is necessary, that the translator be a writer and use as the vehicle of expression great eloquence and fluency of tongue.

I hope that thou mayest be confirmed with great service in the Cause of G.o.d.

Announce to ...... on my behalf longing greeting, and show to him kindness and love with thy whole energy, for he is very dear to me.

"O thou who art firm in the Covenant!..."

O thou who art firm in the Covenant!

The letter which thou hast written to his honor, Mirza ......, was received. Its contents imparted the utmost happiness. Thank G.o.d that thou hast crossed the ocean of the East and the West, reached to the Goal of Desire and attained to the visit of the Holy Threshold.

Although the length of thy stay in this Most Great Prison was very short, yet I hope that it may become like unto the oil, which no sooner comes in touch with the fire than it becomes ignited. Therefore, G.o.d willing, important results will be the outcome of this visit.

O thou who are firm in the Covenant! Be thou firm in the Cause and be engaged in service. Awaken the souls and make mindful the (heedless) minds. The spiritual outpouring will become uninterrupted and the meetings of heart to heart constant. Rest thou a.s.sured upon the favor and bounty of the Beauty of ABHA.

I became very sad upon hearing the news of the death of Mr. ......, but I implored and entreated the Threshold of Oneness and sought mercy in his behalf. Convey my greeting and love to his son and say: "Do thou not lament on account of the death of thy father. Trust thou in G.o.d. Rely upon the Kingdom of ABHA. That father of thine hastened to the world of immortality and took a share from the realm of the Merciful and with the utmost joy hath attained to eternal life in the everlasting universe. Walk thou also in the footsteps of thy father and be characterized with his attributes and qualities. Enkindle thou his lamp and fructify his garden, so that thou mayest become his real son and worthy of the favors and gift of the Almighty."***

"O my spiritual beloved!..."

O my spiritual beloved!

The days of a.s.sociation and intimacy(82) are not forgotten and the sweetness of that love and meeting is still tasted in my heart.

Praise be to G.o.d! Its signs are apparent and its results manifest. Thank thou G.o.d thou wast a.s.sisted in teaching the maid-servant of G.o.d, Mrs.

......, and supplicate Him that thou mayest be confirmed in the guidance of innumerable souls. The confirmation of the Kingdom is with thee. Rest thou a.s.sured. Loosen thy tongue with the utmost fluency and eloquence and summon the souls to the Kingdom, explain the proofs and give forth the arguments, and instruct the people in the exhortations and advices of G.o.d.

I pray in thy behalf and supplicate for thee from the Kingdom of Glory protection and providence.***

"O thou fresh, slender branch saturated with the abundant..."

(83)O thou fresh, slender branch saturated with the abundant rain of His bounty!

I ask G.o.d to continue the heavenly abundant gifts upon thee and to grant thee more freshness, tenderness and fineness day by day. Verily I say unto thee that man is likened unto a tree. And as the life of a tree and its tenderness and brilliancy depend on the abundant rain descending from the clouds, so also the happiness of man, his pleasure, dignity, loftiness of position and highness of rank depend on the abundant bounty of the Kingdom and the light of the Sun of Truth coming from the horizon of the gift of G.o.d.

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

O thou who art turned to the Kingdom!

Thou shouldst establish a divine and heavenly transaction. By G.o.d the Truth! Every divine transaction is eternal and everlasting and giveth the heavenly spirit to the pure hearts attracted to G.o.d, enlighteneth the world with the bright s.h.i.+ning [light] of love and unity, affinity and agreement. But every worldly transaction, although it be a gift through which the far and the near be profited, still it is transient and temporary and will not last for ages and its blessings will not extend successively to the righteous people in the ages to come. And as the heavenly abundance and the divine gifts and the omnipotent grace come in these days successively and uninterruptedly, therefore, thou shouldst establish a heavenly edifice to facilitate and level the way before the divine transaction, to carry out the divine order, to gladden the pure hearts of every one, to sanctify thyself from everything but G.o.d and to keep aloof from all the worldly things for the Cause of G.o.d; to be kindled with the fire of the love of G.o.d, to spread the fragrance of G.o.d and to expose thyself to the gentle breeze of G.o.d.

O my dear! If thou lovest to be happy and pleasant, this is the cup that is full of the wine of glee and delight; and if thou desirest to have the ancient glory, the eternal retinue and the everlasting dominion, thou must look after these gifts which wave in the horizon of bounty with a brilliant light to all sides and regions.

By my life! If thou knowest what thou art commanded and speak openly of it, the dominion is for thee, the Kingdom is for thee and thy s.h.i.+ning star will never set, thy brilliant light never sink, thy brimful treasure never be consumed and thy brave army never be deafeated.

"O thou who art nurtured from the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of the Kingdom..."

O thou who art nurtured from the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of the Kingdom of G.o.d, who wert brought up in the lap of the Guidance of G.o.d!

I supplicate to G.o.d-exalted and glorified is He! -with a submissive, imploring and attracted heart unto the Kingdom of G.o.d, to a.s.sist thee, while still very young and of small age, with that by reason of which the vigorous men and the greatest souls were a.s.sisted in attaining perfection.

Do not be amazed or astonished at the command of G.o.d, according to the ordinances of Christ-glory be to Him! -unto the children who have been fostered from the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of the bounty of G.o.d. I ask G.o.d that thou mayest be as one of them. This is glad-tidings emanating from a heart filled by the love of G.o.d. Therefore, know its value and station.

"O thou spiritual temple whose heart is drawn unto the..."

O thou spiritual temple whose heart is drawn unto the Horizon of Certainty!

Verily, I am now in the a.s.sembly of the beloved of G.o.d, whose hearts are kindled with a burning, blazing and flaming fire from the fragrance of G.o.d, and I have mentioned thee with a heart overflowing with thy love. By my G.o.d! It is love which hath surrounded me from all directions and thus I mention thee with a beating heart and with a spirit turned unto the horizon of El-ABHA.

Therefore, thank G.o.d for this bounty, the traces of which I hope will be spread, its lights s.h.i.+ne and the fragrance of its breath diffused in the whole world of existence forever and ever.

"O thou heavenly, brilliant and precious pearl!..."

O thou heavenly, brilliant and precious pearl!

I greet thee from this Holy Land with a fragrance from G.o.d and I desire that thy heart become animated through the gentle breeze of G.o.d, thy bosom dilated with joy by the miracles of the gifts of G.o.d, thine eye consoled by seeing the lights of G.o.d, thy tongue by uttering the mention of BAHA'O'LLAH, and thy taste to become sweet through the divine table descending from heaven. Verily, I say unto thee that the gifts of thy Lord are encircling thee in a similar way as the spirit encircles the body at the beginning of the amalgamation of the elements and natures in the womb; the power of the spirit begins then to appear in the body gradually and successively according to the preparation and capacity to receive that everlasting abundance. I ask G.o.d to help thee that the spirit will carry out its power in thee as desired and wished.

"O thou faithful servant of the True One!..."