"When you reflect attentively, you will find that the Word is what we have hereby said and that all else save this is pure imagination, is of no stability and is evanescent.
"The tree must have roots in order to yield fruit. The trees of the forest of Asia have yielded no fruit for thousands of years, except the blessed Trees of the Divine Manifestations, for each one of these Trees hath so developed and flourished that it hath trained and nourished the whole earth with fruits and yields."
"O thou beloved maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou beloved maid-servant of G.o.d!
What thou hast written was considered. It indicated purity of heart and advancement toward G.o.d.
O thou maid-servant of the Blessed Perfection! Be thou not sad, neither be thou unhappy, although the divine tests are violent, yet are they conducive to the life of the soul and the heart. The more often the pure gold is thrown into the furnace of test, the greater will become its purity and brilliancy and it will acquire a new splendor and brightness. I hope that thou art thyself in such a position.
Consider thou the lives of the former sanctified souls; what tests have they not withstood and what persecutions have they not beheld; while they were surrounded with calamities they increased their firmness and while they were overwhelmed with tests they manifested more zeal and courage. Be thou also like unto them.
The utmost favor is shown toward thee and the divine bounties are thy guide. endeavor thou, as far as thou canst, in order that thou mayest be like unto a chaste and clear mirror, cleansed and purified from every dust, so that the outpouring of the rays of the Sun of Truth may descend and thou mayest illumine those who are around thee. This is my counsel to thee. I pray always in thy behalf and supplicate for thy confirmation and a.s.sistance, in order that thou mayest become a sign of the Most Great Bounty and be the cause of the guidance of many souls. If thou art mindful, seek thou the favor everlasting and the illumination eternal. Do thou some work, that thou mayest become favored in the Threshold of the Almighty and a beloved maid-servant of the Blessed Perfection, in the Kingdom.
His honor ........ hath delivered thy message. I entreat G.o.d that thine utmost hopes and desires may become realized.
Every one in the Holy Household is engaged in thy remembrance and sends thee their longing greeting.
Convey to ........ my respectful greeting and announce to him: "No matter how brilliant a receding star is, its light never reaches to this world.
Worship thou the newly ascendant Shining Luminary whose lights are glittering and whose proof is self-evident. Become thou the cause of guidance of the person whom thou art respecting. No matter how much endeavor and effort is shown, a tree which hath been in existence for two thousand years or more will never bring new and fresh fruits. This is the truth and there is nothing beyond the truth but manifest error."
"O thou who art favored in the Kingdom of the..."
O thou who art favored in the Kingdom of the almighty!
The letter that thou hast written with the utmost eloquence, compa.s.sion, humility and submission of heart and spiritual emotions, hath been read.
If the people live and act in accord with the General Tablets which are revealed to the beloved of the East and of the West, this universe will become another universe and the whole existence of this world will be clad in another garment. You must encourage and reinforce the beloved of G.o.d and the maid-servants of the Merciful that they may live and act in accord with the teachings in the General Tablets.
Consider thou how vast is the arena of the Kingdom-it hath environed the whole world. The splendor of Providence hath encircled all races, nations, communities and religions; the foundation of foreignness is swept away and the basis of Oneness is established; love hath become universal and the spiritual ties are strengthened.***
"O thou favored maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou favored maid-servant of G.o.d!
The meeting which thou hast formed and therein a.s.sembled the faithful (or believers) together and engaged with them in the commemoration of G.o.d, caused the Supreme Concourse to praise and the angels of heaven to applaud.
Be thou a cause of unifying hearts as much as thou canst and guide thou the heedless souls, and in this spiritual springtime perfume thou nostrils with the sweet fragrances of the rose-garden of the Kingdom. This is eternal life; this everlasting Glory! And this is a peace which is not followed by any trouble! All else save this is a plaything of children and is useless and nonsense!
"O thou who art advancing towards the Shining Orb of..."
O thou who art advancing towards the Shining Orb of the Horizons!
Verily, the East and West have already glittered through the light which is shining forth from the Horizon of the mercy of thy Lord, the Clement, the Merciful, but the blind are still in great error.
The Call of G.o.d is already raised throughout all concourses of the earth; but the deaf are still m.u.f.fled in thick veils. All things have already uttered the praise of G.o.d; but the dumb are still continuing in their astounding silence.
As to thee: Listen to the Supreme Concourse and hear the call, "Glory be unto my Lord, the El-Baha!"
"O thou who art spreading the Cause of G.o.d!..."
O thou who art spreading the Cause of G.o.d!
I hope thou wilt become as a rising light and obtain spiritual health-and spiritual health is conducive to physical health-so that thou mayest be enabled to liquidate thy debts and be strengthened to attain the blessing of the Forgiving Lord; that thou mayest become a mirror of truth and reveal the spiritual brilliancy of the heavenly universe to all eyes, direct large numbers of people under the shadow of the Powerful Lord and guide all thy family and relations unto the Greatest Guidance; and that thou mayest be honored with a visit to the Holy Threshold after having attained to all these gifts.
"O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!
Acquire the Persian tongue, so as to learn of the meanings of the divine words and to know the divine mysteries, to develop an eloquent speech and to translate the blessed Tablets of Baha"o"llah. The Persian language shall become noteworthy in this cycle; nay, rather, the people shall study it in all the world.
"O thou rose of the Rose-Garden of the Love of G.o.d!..."
O thou rose of the Rose-Garden of the Love of G.o.d!
His Holiness Christ-may my spirit be His sacrifice! -said in the Gospel, "Many are called, but few chosen." That is, many have been invited to faith, but few chosen for guidance. Praise be to G.o.d that thou wert of the chosen, realized the Day of the Lord, heard the divine Call and attained the Light of Reality! Endeavor and make an effort that certain souls may be trained, of whom His Holiness Christ said, "Ye shall know the tree by its fruits." That is to say, every soul is known by (his) conduct, manners, words and deeds. Therefore, we must strive with life and heart that, day by day, our deeds may be better, our conduct more beautiful and our forbearance greater. That is, to cultivate love for all the world; to attain beatific character.
O maid-servant of G.o.d! Study Persian and acquire it more day by day, for by the study of this language great and boundless results are obtained.
Convey greeting and praise to thy revered mother and also to all thy sisters. I hope that all may become bright as the candle through the light of the love of G.o.d.