Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Part 16

Be not grieved nor troubled because of the loss which hath befallen thee-a loss which caused the tears to flow, sighs to be produced, sorrow to exist and hearts to burn in great agony; but know, this hath reference only to the physical body, and if thou considerest this matter with a discerning and intelligent eye, thou wilt find that it hath no power whatsoever, for separation belongeth to the characteristics of the body. But concerning the spirit, know that thy pure son shall be with thee in the Kingdom of G.o.d and thou shalt witness his smiling face, illumined brow, handsome spirit and real happiness. Accordingly, thou wilt then be comforted and thank G.o.d for His favor upon thee.

"O thou who art patient and resigning thyself to the..."

O thou who art patient and resigning thyself to the judgment (of G.o.d)!

Be not grieved at the calamity which hath unexpectedly come upon thee and for the misfortune which heavily weigheth upon thee. It behooveth one like thee to endure every trial, to be pleased with the decree and to commit all thy affairs to G.o.d, so that thou mayest be a calm, approved and pleasing soul before G.o.d. Know thou, that thy beloved son hath soared, with the wing of soul, up to the loftiest height which is never-ending in the Kingdom of G.o.d. Rejoice at this great prosperity which the chosen ones were longingly asking from the Holy and Exalted Threshold (of G.o.d). Truly, I say unto thee, wert thou informed of the position in which is thy son, thy face would be illuminated by the lights of happiness and thou wouldst thank thy forgiving Lord therefor and thou wouldst long for ascending to that praiseworthy position.

"O thou who hast humbled thyself before the Kingdom..."

O thou who hast humbled thyself before the Kingdom of G.o.d!

Blessed art thou that thine heart is attracted to the Beauty of G.o.d, is illumined with the light of knowledge and the ray of the Kingdom hath shone within it.

Know thou, verily, G.o.d is with thee under all circ.u.mstances and guards thee from the concerns of the world and makes thee a servant in His great vineyard.

As to thy question concerning training children: It is inc.u.mbent upon thee to nurture them from the breast of the love of G.o.d, to urge them towards spiritual matters, to turn unto G.o.d and to acquire good manners, best characteristics and praiseworthy virtues and qualities in the world of humanity, and to study sciences with the utmost diligence; so that they may become spiritual, heavenly and attracted to the fragrances of sanct.i.ty from their childhood and be reared in a religious, spiritual and heavenly training. Verily, I beg of G.o.d to confirm them therein.

As to thy revered husband: It is expedient that thou shouldst behave toward him in the best way and persevere in his good pleasure (i.e., please him) and treat him with kindness under all aspects; until (or so that) he may find that through thy turning toward the Kingdom of G.o.d (i.e., by becoming a believer) thy affection toward him and thy love for G.o.d is increased and that thou hast regard for his good will in every condition.

Verily, I beg of G.o.d to make thee steadfast in His love and to cause thee to diffuse the fragrances of sanct.i.ty in those places (i.e., to teach the Truth).

"O thou loving torch, flaming by the fire of the Love of..."

O thou loving torch, flaming by the fire of the Love of G.o.d!

Verily, I read thy letter sent by thee and was rejoiced in heart by the wonderful meaning and eloquent content, which proved thy extreme sincerity in the Cause of G.o.d, thy steadfastness in the path of the Kingdom of G.o.d and thy firmness in the religion of G.o.d, forasmuch as this is of the utmost importance before G.o.d.

How many souls advanced unto G.o.d, entered the shadow of the Word of G.o.d and became celebrated in the world, as Judas Iscariot. Then, when the tests became severe and trials great, their feet turned from the path; turned from confession to denial; changed from love and affection to severe enmity. Then the power of tests, whereby the foundations shake, were manifested.

Judas Iscariot was one of the greatest disciples, was called unto Jesus; he thought that Jesus increased his kindness to Peter, the disciple, when saying to him: "Thou art Peter; upon thee I shall build my church." This speech affecting Peter with special impression whereby envy was created in the heart of Judas and, therefore, he turned after advancing, denied after confessing, hated after loving, until he became the cause of the crucifixion of the Glorious Lord and Manifest Light. This is the end of envy which causes people to turn from the right path. Such has taken place and will occur in this Great Cause; but there is no harm in it, as it is the cause of manifesting the firmness of the rest and the arising of the firm souls who are as solid as the lofty mountains in the love of the Manifest Light.

As to thee, convey unto the maid-servants of the Merciful that they must be firm in the love of El-Baha at the time of the severe trials and tests; forasmuch as the storms and winds occur during the winter seasons; then comes the spring with the wonderful scenery and it adorns the hills and plains with flowers and beautiful birds sing the melodies of joy on the branches of the trees and warble beautiful tunes on the roofs of bowers, in wonderful melodies. Soon shalt thou see that the lights have shone forth, the banners of the Kingdom have been raised, the fragrances of G.o.d diffused, the hosts of the Kingdom descending, the angels of heaven confirmed and the Holy Spirit breathed into those horizons (regions). Then shalt thou see the waverers frightened and at loss. This is a complete matter on the part of the Lord of Signs.

Blessed art thou for keeping firm in the Cause of G.o.d. I pray G.o.d to give thee a divine spirit, spiritual blood and to make thee a growing and thriving leaf on the Tree of Life, so that thou mayest serve the maid-servants of G.o.d in fragrance and spirituality.

Thy generous Lord will confirm thee in serving in His great vineyard and will make thee an instrument for spreading the spirit of concord and union among the maid-servants of the Merciful, will open thine insight by the light of knowledge and forgive thee thy sins and change them to good deeds.

Verily thy Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful and Possessor of Great Bounty!

"O maid-servant of G.o.d who art swayed like a strong..."

O maid-servant of G.o.d who art swayed like a strong branch by the breeze of G.o.d!

I have read thy letter which evinces the abundance of thy love and the warmth of thy devotion and thy zeal in acknowledging G.o.d.

Commit thyself to G.o.d; give up thy will and choose that of G.o.d; abandon thy desire and lay hold on that of G.o.d; that thou mayest be a holy, spiritual and heavenly example among the maid-servants of G.o.d.

O maid-servant of G.o.d! Know thou that in the sight of G.o.d, the conduct of women is the same as that of men. All are the creatures of G.o.d and He has created them after His form and likeness; that is to say, after the form and likeness of the Manifestations of His names and His attributes. From the spiritual point of view, therefore, there is no difference between women and men. "The nearer we draw to G.o.d, the nearer He comes to us"

without regard to whether the person be a man or a woman. How many women, thus drawn to G.o.d, have surpa.s.sed men in the shadow of Baha' in bringing men under it-women famous throughout the world!

The House of Justice, however, according to the positive commandments of the Doctrine of G.o.d, has been specialized to the men, for a (specific) reason or exercise of wisdom on the part of G.o.d, and this reason will presently appear, even as the sun at midday.

And as to you-you other maid-servants attracted by the perfume of G.o.d-establish spiritual gatherings (a.s.semblies) and heavenly meetings.

This work is the beginning of the diffusing of the perfume of G.o.d and the foundation of the elevating of the Word of G.o.d and the making known of the commandments of G.o.d. Is there a blessing greater than this? These spiritual gatherings (a.s.semblies) are sustained (reinforced) by the Spirit of G.o.d, and their protector is Abdul-Baha, who spreads his wings (over) above them. Is there a blessing greater than this? These spiritual gatherings (a.s.semblies) are glowing lamps and heavenly gardens which cast the light of knowledge upon the contingent world and cause the spirit of life to penetrate to every quarter. This, then, is the best means of the progress of the human race in all conditions and circ.u.mstances. Is there a greater blessing than this?

"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 beautifully composed letter and thank G.o.d for that He granted thee characteristics, attributes and deeds which made thee dear and loved by the maid-servants of G.o.d and chosen to be the president of the "a.s.sembly of Teaching." Thank G.o.d for that He confirmed thee by this wonderful bounty, and, verily, I supplicate unto Him to strengthen thee in rendering this great service in His great vineyard, and to strengthen thy respected husband in patience and forbearance in this test which will pa.s.s away, by the help of G.o.d, and the veil be removed; difficulty will be replaced by ease; hardships and trouble be changed into comfort, in the shadow of His great Kingdom.

"O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!..."

O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!

Thank G.o.d that thou hast come near unto the Holy Threshold and art dear in the Kingdom of His Glory. Thou art president of an a.s.sembly which is a type of the a.s.semblages of the Supreme Concourse and a reflection of the semblances of the Kingdom of G.o.d. With heart and soul, with entire devotion, supplication, humbleness and submissiveness, endeavor to promulgate the law of G.o.d and strive to diffuse the fragrances of G.o.d.

Exert yourself to become the real president of a.s.semblies of spiritual ones and a companion of the Kingdom of the Merciful.

Thou hast asked in regard to the 10th verse of the 21st chapter of Revelation and to the 17th verse:

Know that the firmament of the bright sun of the world of possibilities is divided into twelve sections, according to mathematical principles, which are called the twelve constellations; likewise, the Sun of Truth manifests and pours forth His bounty in twelve constellations of holiness. By these constellations are meant holy souls who are the manifestations of purity and the dawning-points of the lights of Unity. Observe that in the day of His Holiness the Speaker of G.o.d (Moses), there were twelve holy souls who were the leaders of the Truth. In like manner, in the cycle of His Holiness the Spirit (Jesus Christ), note that there were twelve apostles under the shadow of the light of the Most High, and the Sun of Truth was manifested through those bright dawning-places like unto the phenomenal sun. Likewise, in the time of His Holiness Mohammed, consider that there were twelve dawning points of holiness who were the manifestations of confirmation. Such is the case.

Accordingly, St. John, the divine, declared in his vision regarding the twelve doors and the twelve foundations. By the great and holy city of Jerusalem, which is descended from heaven, is meant the sacred law of G.o.d.

This subject has been repeatedly explained in many Tablets and in the Scriptures of the ancient prophets. For example, it is said in one place: "I beheld Jerusalem marching on to the wilderness." The purport is that this Heavenly Jerusalem has twelve doors through which the advancing souls enter into the City of G.o.d. These doors are the souls who are the stars of guidance and doors unto bounty and knowledge. "At the gates twelve angels stood." By "angel" is meant the power of the confirmation of G.o.d; that the candle of the power of the divine confirmation shines forth and is illumined in those souls. That is to say, that each one of those souls will be confirmed by the mightiest power. Those twelve gates surround the whole universe. This signifies that all existence is under the shadow of those souls; also, that these doors are the foundation of the city of G.o.d, the divine Jerusalem; that upon each of these foundations the name of one of the Apostles of His Holiness the Spirit(59) is written. That is to say, the manifestation of the perfections, glad-tidings, virtues and high attributes of that holy soul.