"O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!
Be happy for thou hast found guidance, witnessed the light of Truth and hearkened unto the exhortations of Abdul-Baha. Though the worth and value of this gift is not apparent and manifest in this world of mortality, in the divine world this gift is abundantly radiant and brilliant. Thou shall of course perceive (or behold) this.
I have not forgotten thee nor will I do so, and I always beg of G.o.d that thou wilt day by day increase in love and that thy heart will become more illuminated. I was rejoiced with the kindness shown by the dear maid-servants ........ toward ......... For G.o.d hath guided the maid-servants of the Merciful in order for kindness (to appear) so that they may become a mercy to all mankind (or all the creatures) and a gift to the world of humanity.
"O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!
The tongues have spoken of thy attraction to G.o.d and the pens testified of thy burning by the fire of the love of G.o.d. Indeed the heart of Abdul-Baha approveth of this, because it feeleth its heat from this distant and Blessed Spot.
O maid-servant of G.o.d! By G.o.d, the Truth, the Spirit of Christ from the Supreme Concourse doth in every time and aspect announce to thee this great good news.
Be, therefore, a divine bird, proceed to thy native country, spread the wings of sanct.i.ty over those spots and sing and chant and celebrate the name of thy Lord, that thou mayest gladden the Supreme Concourse and make the seeking souls hasten unto thee as the moths hasten to the lamp, and thus illumine that distant country by the light of G.o.d.
"O thou bird warbling in the Garden of the Love of..."
O thou bird warbling in the Garden of the Love of G.o.d!
Thank G.o.d that He hath illumined thine insight, led thee unto the Fire glowing in the Tree of Man, caused thee to utter His praise among the creatures and guided certain women to whom thou delivered the Word of G.o.d.
O maid-servant of G.o.d! Verily thy Lord lighteth the lamp of love in the heart of whomsoever He chooseth. This is indeed the great happiness. He confirmeth him in the service of His Supreme Vineyard.
I pray G.o.d to confirm the relatives in attaining to the Brilliant Light, to let the light of insight shine forth to the hearts and sights, to aid thy friends in being illumined by the light of El-Baha and [being] fed from the heavenly table, and to make thee empty, void from the thoughts of the life of this world and filled with the love of thy Lord, ready for His service, uttering His praise and demonstrating with proofs the appearance of the Kingdom of G.o.d.
"O thou who art conscious!..."
O thou who art conscious!
At last thou didst learn of the path of salvation and didst find the straight way. Now remain firm that thou mayest attain confirmation and victory.
The powers of the sympathetic nerve are neither entirely physical nor spiritual, but are between the two (systems).(131) The nerve is connected with both. Its phenomena shall be perfect when its spiritual and physical relations are normal.
When the material world and the divine world are well co-related, when the hearts become heavenly and the aspirations grow pure and divine, perfect connection shall take place. Then shall this power produce a perfect manifestation. Physical and spiritual diseases will then receive absolute healing.
The exposition is brief. Ponder and thou shalt understand the meaning.
Although, on account of lack of time, the answer is short, by close reflection it shall be made long.
"O thou who art advancing to the Kingdom of G.o.d!..."
O thou who art advancing to the Kingdom of G.o.d!
On perusing the contents of thy brilliant letter, I became cognizant of the secrets of thy heart, which is illumined by the clear light.
Verily, I supplicate my Lord to cause to descend upon thee an abundant grace of the spirit of His Holiness, that thine eyes may become clear and thy mind rejoiced by the gift which hath shone over all regions.
Know that the poor people hasten by parties to the Kingdom of G.o.d; the weak become mighty before thy Lord, and the slaves when entering the shadow of thy Lord attain the station of masters, lords and freed slaves in the presence of G.o.d.
Grieve not because of my confinement, for it is a joy to my heart, a pleasure to my spirit, a good news to my soul, an utmost desire of my hope, an intended aim of my aspiration; because it is a confinement in the path of G.o.d, the Lord of the worlds.
"O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!
I have read thy letter which indicated thy straightforwardness in the love of G.o.d and thy desire in spreading this brilliant light among the offspring of the Africans. How good is the intention! And what an excellent aim this great aim is! Indeed the hearts of the Africans are as a blank scroll of paper upon which thou canst write any phrase; but thou must have patience and a heart as firm as a mountain, owing to the innumerable hardships that may intervene, which could be endured only by one who surrenders to grievous calamities.
If thou art of the people of this field (race-course) let loose the reins and rely upon the Merciful, and He will indeed a.s.sist thee with the hosts of the unseen at all times. Use thy utmost power to affiliate the hearts and, with the whole of thy might, bring the scattered souls into union.***
Look not unto thy weakness, but rely upon thy Lord, and He will then grant thee all thy desires and reveal to thee the answer without asking.
"O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of G.o.d!..."
O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of G.o.d!
Thou hast said aright, that verily, Abdul-Baha looketh to deeds and not to words. Even as it was said by Christ, "Ye shall know them by their fruits."
Be not grieved if the affairs are made difficult and troubles have waxed intense upon thee from all sides! Verily thy Lord changeth the hardships into facility, troubles into ease and afflictions into greatest composure.
Verily, thy Lord is on the right path!