Thy letter hath arrived and the contents have given glad-tidings that the ground for the Temple hath been bought and also told about the meeting which was held concerning the needs for the Temple. From this news great fragrance and joy were produced. Thanks be to G.o.d that thou wast helped to establish a meeting for this purpose. I hope that the members of this meeting will become the receivers of the divine benevolence and be aided by the heavenly a.s.sistances. But consult with the House of Spirituality of Chicago. Ye must all be perfectly united and harmonious until, through this harmony, ye may perpetually receive help from the Kingdom of G.o.d.
Concerning the members of this spiritual meeting, you suggested that they be selected from all the spiritual meetings of the other cities of America. I quite approve and am very much pleased with this plan. This will become the cause of harmony in the Word in all America. Therefore, ask every spiritual meeting in the other cities that they will each select one and send him, and from these selected ones and with those who are selected from the Chicago meetings, establish a new meeting for the provision of the needs of the Temple. If this be established with perfect fragrance and joy, it will produce great results. In this new meeting, especially for the establishment of the Temple, ladies are also to be members.
Give to all the divine friends the glad-tidings of the boundless heavenly blessings and tell them that the glances of the eyes of Providence are upon them and the perfect favor and bounty are descending upon them.
"O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!
Thy letter, concerning the celebration of the anniversary of the declaration of His Holiness the Supreme(60)-may my spirit be sacrificed for Him!-which was held on the land of the Mashrak-el-Azcar(61), was read.
The utmost joy was attained, for-praise be to G.o.d! -the friends of the Merciful pa.s.sed some time on that day joyous and singing in the land of the Mashrak-el-Azcar and enjoyed commemorating the Lord of the verses with the greatest joy.
That melody was heard by the Supreme Concourse and that rose-song of the nightingale of faithfulness gladdened the people of the rose-garden of ABHA.
I am hopeful that, during the coming Rizwan(62), a great feast shall be held in the land of the Mashrak-el-Azcar, a spiritual celebration prepared and the melodies of the violin and the mandoline and hymns in praise and glorification of the Lord of Hosts make all the audience joyous and ecstatic.
A few days ago an epistle was written-therefore, brevity is considered here.
Treat thy dear daughter, for me, with the utmost kindness and, likewise, the other friends and maid-servants of the Merciful.
"O attracted maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O attracted maid-servant of G.o.d!
The epistle written (and sent) through Mirza...... was received. The account of the land designated for the Mashrak-el-Azcar, of your placing therein, in company with Mrs. ........, nine stones and pouring thereon attar, water and olive oil, and of your commemorating the Beauty of ABHA and His Holiness the Supreme(63), was all understood.
That land is blessed because it is mentioned by the name of Mashrak-el-Azcar. Surely, the beloved of G.o.d and the maid-servants of the Merciful in all the cities of America must put forth the utmost of effort in order that the Mashrak-el-Azcar be raised in that land.
I am hopeful through the aids and confirmations of G.o.d that the beloved ones and maid-servants of the Merciful may achieve this service.
Express the utmost love and kindliness on behalf of Abdul-Baha to all the beloved and the dear maid-servants of the Merciful, especially Mrs.
.......... and thy dear daughter.
"O thou who art advancing to the Kingdom of G.o.d!..."
O thou who art advancing to the Kingdom of G.o.d!
I have considered thy writing, which indicates brightness of heart and the love of G.o.d. Blessed art thou for having been thus favored and for having attained to guidance.
You have asked me two questions: "That if the same spirit is manifest in all the Manifestations and Prophets, then what is the distinction or difference between Christ (or rather Jesus) and the other Prophets; also [what is the difference] between Father and Son?"
Know that the human spirit is one, but it manifests itself in various members of the body in a certain (measure or) form. The human spirit is existent in the sight (eyes); it is also existent in the brain, which is the location of great functions and powers; it is also existent in the heart, which organ is largely connected with the brain or the center of the mind, and the heart, or that center which is connection with the brain, has a distinct and separate function, effect and appearance. In this connection, the hair and nails have no command (nor direct feeling).
Figuratively speaking, the Father is the center of the brain and the Son is the center of the heart; the rest of the Prophets are members and parts. Fatherhood and Prophethood, in this case, are two expressions of the same thing, as man and creature are two names of the same reality. The word "man," however, is greater than the word "creature" because it bears a weightier meaning than the name "creature"; both are the same.
O maid-servant of G.o.d! I pray G.o.d to confirm thee forever anew. Give greeting to thy dear mother. Superst.i.tion hath somewhat overcome her. When the imagined Satan overpowers, let her say: "O Baha-el-ABHA!" She should then turn to the highest Kingdom. Thus will the imagined Satan leave her.
[She] has a form of obsession; therefore, you may not heed her sayings.
Cultivate the land and thus, through its fruits, you will obtain benefits.
G.o.d will relieve you from care (on account) of your mother.
Give your good husband my spiritual greeting. I pray that he may be made a recipient of the divine bounties and attain to the grace of G.o.d.
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of Holiness!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of Holiness!
Be dilated in thy heart by the gentle breeze which emanates from the garden of Eternal Life and enkindled in the Tree of Sinai in the center of Paradise; so that thou mayest be a pillar of fire and a cloud of light in this age, wherein a drop grows into a large wave of the sea, and a lamp glistens with the light of the dazzling stars, and this is from the power which is manifested by thy Lord, the Clement, the Merciful. ***
Be firm in the worship of G.o.d, fasting, praying, imploring and invoking unto thy G.o.d, the Generous; so that He shall destine to thee the honor of sacrifice in the path of thy Beloved, the Ancient.
I ask G.o.d to grant thee thy greatest wish in this wonderful time.
"O thou who art cheered through the Fragrances of..."
O thou who art cheered through the Fragrances of G.o.d!
When thou desirest and yearnest for meeting in the world of vision; at the time when thou art in perfect fragrance and spirituality, wash thy hands and face, clothe thyself in clean robes, turn toward the court of the Peerless One, offer prayer to Him and lay thy head upon the pillow. When sleep cometh, the doors of revelation shall be opened and all thy desires shall become revealed.
Endeavor to guide thy mother and confirm her in faith; when the heart becometh confident, the imagination of Satan and evil vanisheth away. If the heart becometh absolutely tranquil, suspicion and imagination will entirely pa.s.s away.
"O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!