"O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of Holiness!..."
O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of Holiness!
Verily, I read thy words in which thou hast thanked G.o.d for His great kindness and providence after those Tablets reached thee, for the bounty of their significances which hath shone forth upon thee. Verily, they are Tablets the words of which have proceeded from a heart which is filled with the love of G.o.d, is free and isolated from all else save G.o.d, is illumined and over-flowing with the bounties of the Kingdom of El-Abha and in which the verses of unity are traced through the breath of the spirit of the gift of G.o.d.
O maid-servant of G.o.d! It is inc.u.mbent upon thee to learn that which the spirit of Abdul-Baha poureth upon thee. Look not at thy capacity and ability; nay, look at the grace of thy Lord in these days and at the gift of His Kingdom, the like of which hath never been seen by the eye of existence in former cycles.
Verily existence is a parched ground and the bounty of the Kingdom is a copious rain. The ground of existence shall surely be developed into myrtles of the wisdom of G.o.d, for the fragrances of holiness have encompa.s.sed the earth, east and west, the glad-tidings of G.o.d have successively come from the Kingdom of heaven and the Sun of Truth hath shone forth to all regions with the greatest effulgence. Impart thou the Greatest Name to the ears, so that all may call out among nations: "O Thou Baha" of the world! O Thou Sun of Pre-existence!"
Truly, I say unto thee, this blessed Name is the spirit of life, the deliverer from death, the word of salvation and of manifest signs! Thou shalt surely hear from all parts the cry, "Ya Baha El-Abha!" reaching to the Supreme Concourse.
Deliver my spiritual greeting to thy spiritual son and to his revered wife whose name is near to thy name. Deliver my greeting to thy spiritual daughter, the revered ......... and tell her: "O my dear daughter! Turn unto the Kingdom of thy Lord and be benefited by spiritual bounties. Be attracted by the fragrances of holiness-such an attraction which may breather life into dead souls, quicken them by a pure life and may illumine their sights with the light which is shining forth to all the world in this glorious century and new age."
Deliver my praise to the maid-servant of G.o.d, ......... and say unto her: "Verily, thou hast seen the physical picture of Abdul-Baha printed by the rays of the phenomenal sun (i.e., his photograph) and thine eyes became overflowing with tears. Beg thou of G.o.d that He may show unto thee his (Abdul-Baha"s) spiritual picture printed by the ray shining forth from the Merciful Kingdom. Then the attractions of G.o.d shall overtake thee and make thee as a spark of fire aflame with the heat of the love of G.o.d."
O maid-servant of G.o.d! It is inc.u.mbent upon thee to visit his holiness Mirza Abul Fazl, so that thou mayest learn from him the arguments and decisive texts in the holy Bible concerning the appearance of the Kingdom of G.o.d in this great cycle. Verily, his visit(313) is a prize unto thee, a h.o.a.rd(314) unto thee, a consolation unto
O maid-servant of G.o.d! Verily, Mr. ......... is an excellent man, exerting all his powers to diffuse fragrances of G.o.d. G.o.d shall surely strengthen him in a great matter and make him a banner waving through the winds of confirmation upon this glorious castle.
As to my drinking the sup of sacrifice: By the Lord of heaven, this is my utmost hope, the joy of my heart, the consolation of my soul and my final desire. Thou shouldst pray G.o.d that He may prepare this hope for me and ordain for me this mighty gift and that he may give me to quaff this cup which is overflowing with the wine of faithfulness in the path of Baha".
O maid-servant of G.o.d! When I had thy letter in my hand, I was in such a condition that the breeze of the love of G.o.d cheered me and I was thereby moved with such joy that the place was filled with the spirit of the love of G.o.d. No doubt thy heart hath been also impressed by this spiritual joy, merciful attraction and ecstatic love.
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of G.o.d!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of G.o.d!
Verily, I read thy letter of graceful expressions and eloquent composition and was rejoiced in heart at the feelings sent forth from thy pure heart.
Verily, I invoke G.o.d that He may bestow upon thee the confirmation of the Spirit in all moments, so that thou mayest direct (or guide) people to the glorified and praised One, hold the cup of the love of G.o.d in thy hand, give it to drink to every thirsty [one], heal every sick person and nourish every hungry one with this table (or food) which hath descended from heaven.
As to thy question concerning the registering of the names of those to whom thou hast given the "Greatest Name," there is no obstacle (or harm) in this. Verily, thy Lord will enroll their names upon the scroll of the Kingdom and the angels of heaven will bless them with the glad-tidings of the Kingdom of Abha.
As to what thou hast said concerning the longing and the burning of thy revered daughter with the fire of the love of G.o.d: I beg of G.o.d to make her a sign of salvation and a light scintillating in the Supreme Apex.
As to what thou hast written concerning thy coming (to Acca): For the present this is not consistent with wisdom. When the opportunity cometh, at an appointed time, we will summon thee to come; and this is a glad-tidings unto thee and the greatest joy and happiness.
O maid-servant of G.o.d! It is inc.u.mbent upon thee to boil forth like unto the fire ablaze in Sinai, so that thou mayest attract hearts unto the Kingdom of the Merciful. This is a gift which the dominion of the world cannot equal!
"O thou lamp who art enkindled with the fire of the..."
O thou lamp who art enkindled with the fire of the Love of G.o.d!
Verily, I read thy recent letter which showed thy strong love, thy being ablaze with the fire of the love of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Praised, and the penetration of the Spirit of Truth in thy limbs, nerves, veins, arteries, bones, blood and flesh, until it hath taken the reins of power from thy hands and moveth thee as it willeth, causeth thee to speak in what it willeth and attracteth thee as it willeth. This is becoming of whatever heart is replenished with the spirit of the love of G.o.d. Thou shalt surely behold wondrous traces and shalt discover the signs of thy Mighty Lord.
O maid-servant of G.o.d! The meaning which thou hast apprehended from my former statement is the real fact. It is the meaning of (my) statement; G.o.d hath strengthened thee therein and shall surely confirm thee in still greater than this. At that time thou wilt say: "This is that which was promised by Abdul-Baha and His promise was certain and decided."
O maid-servant of G.o.d! Verily, thy Lord hath breathed the spirit of argument into thy mouth. Speak thou in the most wonderful explanation and meditate not at the time of advancing proofs, evidences and signs, and speak thou that which the Spirit inspireth thee. This is a proof unto thee and unto every just one among the possessors of understanding.
O maid-servant of G.o.d! Verily, I am with thee in spirit and reveal unto thee the word of guidance at every moment and time.
O maid-servant of G.o.d! We have sent thee nine ring stones of the Greatest Name. This is an allusion unto thee of a matter which thou shalt surely understand henceforth. We have also sent unto thee a photograph of His Holiness the glorious Badi whom thy Lord did send to His Highness Na.s.sir-ed"Din-Shah with a manifest epistle by which He perfected the proof and evidence to the people of Persia. this faithful messenger (Badi) took the epistle of Baha" with all power and authority and repaired to the threshold of His Highness the Shah, while cheered and smiling in joy. He then presented himself before the Shah and said: "This is an epistle from Baha"o"llah," and then presented it to him. They arrested him and after severe torture and punishment, delivered him to the executioners. he was sitting between the executioners at the time of his death with all dignity, while turning unto G.o.d.
"O thou candle of the Love of G.o.d!..."
O thou candle of the Love of G.o.d!
What thou hast written was considered. The contents were spiritual and the sentiments merciful. Praise be to G.o.d! that thou art attracted to the Beauty of Abha and severed from the world. Thy face hast glowed like unto fire and thou hast consumed the veils of superst.i.tions. Thou hast opened thine eyes to the Sun of Truth and inhaled the fragrant odor from the garment of the divine Joseph. Thy mission now is this: Travel as much as possible to different parts in America, pa.s.s through cities and villages (or towns), guide all to the Beauty of Abha and raise the call of the Kingdom and say: "O greatest of glad-tidings, for the Sun of Truth of the Beauty of Abha hath dawned from the horizon of the contingent world and illumined the regions with the lights of the mightiest guidance! The reality of the Pentateuch and the Gospel have become manifest and the mysteries of the heavenly Books have appeared! Now is the age of the Merciful One and the time of joy and gladness! O ye heedless ones, be ye conscious! O ye sleepers, be ye awake! O ye blind ones, see! O ye deaf ones, hear! O ye dumb ones, speak! O ye dead ones, be quickened! O ye dest.i.tute ones, receive a portion and share! It is the irradiation of the Merciful One and the moving of the boundless sea! It is the bounty of the wonderful springtime and the downpour of the rain of the gift of the Great Lord!" This is thy mission.
Send greeting to the maid-servant fo G.o.d, Miss ........, and say, "As the love of G.o.d hath the utmost penetration in thy heart, the ring-stone bearing the Greatest Name will take effect in thy heart like unto a strong wine, for capacity is great and the power of the wine is intense.
Therefore, there wilt not remain any power or resistance."(315)
Looking upon the picture which thou hast sent caused great delight, joy and fragrance. G.o.d willing, thine actual picture (or form) will also become present (here).
When thou wert present at Acca, the seeds of the love of G.o.d were sown in thy heart, through the power of the Spirit. At that time they were not so much manifest. Now that pure seed is growing more verdant and refreshed, day by day, and becometh more manifest. This is why thou findest thyself possessing more and more spiritual sentiments.
"The contents of thy last letter were extremely rejoicing,..."
(316) The contents of thy last letter were extremely rejoicing, for they were a glorious evidence of the glowing of the fire of the love of G.o.d, of attainment to the gift of G.o.d and of the spiritual connection of the spirits. Forasmuch as hearts are like unto mirrors, when the light of the love of G.o.d is enkindled, brilliant rays will reflect and merciful phenomena become manifest and clear. Physical nearness or remoteness is of no importance; the essential fact is the spiritual affinity and ideal nearness. Judas Iscariot was for a long time favored in the holy court of His Holiness Christ, yet he was entirely far and remote; while Paul, the apostle, was in close embrace with His Holiness. The Egyptian carrier of glad-tidings was the bearer of the garment of Joseph, yet he could not inhale the fragrance of the garment. His holiness Jacob, in Canaan, longed for meeting (Joseph), yet he was near and inhaled the fragrance of the garment. Consequently, it is evident that one can certainly and surely inhale the perfume of affinity even from a far distance. I beg of G.o.d that He may strengthen and solidify such connections between the friends (believers), so that the spiritual unity may become a manifest light and the earthly world may become a camping-place for the heavenly hosts.
O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d! Be thou aglow and illumined and be thou enkindled in soul with the fire of the love of G.o.d in every a.s.semblage. Be not quiet for a moment and do not seek composure even for an hour (i.e., be active in spreading the light). Be thou a cause for the illumining of hearts and spiritualizing of souls. Always communicate about this (truth) with that great personage in France and write to him: "No matter how clear, pure and polished a mirror may be, not until it is turned unto the Sun of Truth will it find glorious bounty and become reflective of rays."
"O thou servant of the Beauty of Abha!..."
O thou servant of the Beauty of Abha!
We considered all that thou hast written. It seems that the maid-servant of G.o.d, Mrs. ........., hath arisen to deliver (the truth). If she advanceth in this manner, maketh more effort and day by day groweth in spirituality, sincerity, devotion and severance, in a short time she will become purely merciful and will spiritualize others; she will progress in the stations of sanct.i.ty and purity; she will become the possessor of a fluent speech and will find her heart brilliant and full of serenity and faith to such an extent that her pure breath will so take effect even in stone, tree and clay (i.e., in all people), that she, herself, will be astonished. When the interior parts of musical instruments become clear and polished, their tone will take effect and warm the hearts. I hope the maid-servant of G.o.d, Mrs. ........., may attain to this degree, for she is capable.