Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Part 5

O Lord of the Kingdom! Although we are a.s.sembled, yet we are Thy scattered ones; captives of Thy Shining Face. Although we are incapable, yet we antic.i.p.ate the manifestation of Thy strength and ability. Although we are without capital and commodity, yet we are aided by the treasury of the Kingdom. Although we are a drop, yet we emanate from Thy sea of seas.

Although we are an atom, yet we are illumined by Thy most bright Sun.

O Lord! Confirm us so that each one in this gathering become a bright candle, a witness of the meeting, a caller to the Kingdom; that the world of matter become the mirror of heaven.

O ye dear friends of mine! The a.s.semblies of those regions must be connected with one another and must communicate (correspond) with each other. Even communicate with the a.s.semblies of the East, so that this may become the means of the great unity and concord.

O ye spiritual friends! Firmness (constancy) must reach a degree that if all the souls (Bahais) be destroyed by the evil wishers and there remain but one, that one singly and alone should be capable of withstanding all who live on earth, and of spreading the fragrances of holiness.

Therefore, when any terrible new or calamitous tidings reach you from the land of desire (Acca), ye should not grow cold, sad, or be affected thereby. Nay, rather, ye must immediately in the utmost firmness, arise for the service of the Kingdom.

This servant of the Threshold of His Majesty the eternal G.o.d, hath always been and is in danger; there hath never been a hope for rest. The utmost of his hopes is that in the arena of martyrdom the cup of grace become replete and the wine of great bounty lend the wondrous ecstasy. This is the utmost of my hopes and desires.

The Tablets of Israghat, Tarazat, Bescharat, Tajaliat and Kalamat,(22) according to what is heard have been translated and printed in those regions. Hasten to become imbued with the qualifications and attributes set forth therein.

And this letter(23) will close with reverential greetings, in the utmost kindliness, from me to the beloved ones and to the maid-servants of the Merciful.

"*** Thou has written concerning the Board of..."

(24) *** Thou has written concerning the Board of Consultation.

It is very proper thou shouldst exert thyself with heart and soul so that this a.s.sembly shall become a source of merciful events, and enter the shadow of the protection and preservation of His Highness, the One G.o.d.

The more this gains strength and becomes effective, the greater will become the penetration of the Word of G.o.d, and the more will the doors of confirmation be opened.

As to the a.s.sembly of Teaching, the revered members of which are the maid-servants of the Merciful, they are also a.s.sisted by the help and the providence of the Beauty of El-ABHA. They will soon discover that they are strengthened by the invisible hosts, and rendered successful by the abundant bounty of the Kingdom of the Forgiving Lord. They will set such a flame to the regions as will kindle the heart of the universe, and will cause the pillars of the world to tremble. But all of their mention and thought in their meeting should be confined to teaching the truth, and to constantly persuade people in pure and divine brilliancy and in absolute G.o.dlike spirituality. They should not interfere with the affairs which have regard to the Board of Consultation, because confusion of thought conduces to division and causes disturbance to the mind, and then pure spirituality would cease. But if all mentions are turned into one mention, and all thoughts concentrated in one point, then man will find (a higher) spirit, and witness (a higher) confirmation. His power and penetration will increase, and his armies and hosts will gain successive victories. By this it is intended that the a.s.sembly of the maid-servants of the Merciful should be with pure spirituality and with absolute brilliancy, and become a torch of that blessed fire, a center of the merciful feelings.

The a.s.sembly of Teaching is in this day of the first importance, and is promised to be a.s.sisted and protected through the a.s.sistance of His Highness, the One G.o.d.

Announce infinite glad-tidings to the revered maid-servants of G.o.d-the members of the merciful a.s.sembly, so that they may arise with the utmost tranquillity (to further) prosperity and success, because Abdul-Baha is their strong and firm a.s.sistant through the help and the providence of the Lord of Hosts.

Concerning organizing Houses of Justice of men and a.s.semblies of Teaching of maid-servants of G.o.d, the more endeavor is made, the more agreeable it will be. It is very useful. Likewise, electing men and women teachers, and their traveling and journeying in all parts, and their going and coming in cities and villages, is greatly conducive to the solidity of the Cause.***

"O ye leaves of the Paradise of El-ABHA, and the maid-servants..."

O ye leaves(25) of the Paradise of El-ABHA, and the maid-servants of the Merciful!

Verily, I read your words of thanksgiving to G.o.d, and of celebrating the praise of G.o.d, for that He hath illuminated your faces with the lights of guidance, hath transfigured Himself on your hearts with the bounties of spirit, and hath made you as lofty and magnificent trees bearing ripened fruits in the Paradise of El-ABHA. These signs will surely become manifest in your faces, these lights will shine within your hearts, the splendor of oneness will envelop you, and your brows will glitter with rays shining from the Kingdom of El-ABHA.

O maid-servants of the Merciful! Know that, verily, this day is the day of teaching, this day is the day of diffusing the fragrances of G.o.d, being severed from aught else save G.o.d, attracted to the Word of G.o.d, and clinging to the Covenant of G.o.d. There is no work greater than this. Be ye entirely spiritual, purely brilliant, cut your dependence from any other mention, thought or purpose, and confine your mentions, thoughts and occupations to spreading the fragrances of G.o.d, and devote your attention to this great work. By G.o.d, the True One, verily, the Sun of Truth will cast forth its lights in your a.s.semblies and will make you shining lamps, glittering stars, brilliant signs, and as souls attracted to the Holy Spirit. This is the great prosperity! This is the manifest light!

Upon you be greeting and praise!

"When you a.s.semble in the meeting of teaching (the..."

When you a.s.semble in the meeting of teaching (the truth), it is inc.u.mbent on you to chant the following supplication and commune:

O G.o.d, O G.o.d! We are Thy humble and submissive servants, leaves of Thine exalted and verdant paradise, drops from the basins of Thine abundant mercy, and scattered particles flying about in Thy shining rays.

O Lord, O Lord, render us successful through Thy conquering power, in that which Thou lovest and approvest, so that we may become standards of guidance, signs of Thy Kingdom, the El-ABHA [and that we may] adore Thee, supplicate before the Kingdom of Thy mercy, beseech Thy realm of might, be submissive to Thy servants, humble before Thy maid-servants, severed from aught else save Thee, sincerely turned unto Thy face, aflame with the fire of Thy love, diffusing Thy fragrances, united in Thy Cause, of one accord in Thy religion, and firm in Thy Covenant. O G.o.d, strengthen us through the fragrances of Thy sanct.i.ty, that we may become sanctified from the stain of egotism and l.u.s.t, baptized with Thy Holy Spirit, with the fire of Thy love and the water of Thy bounty.

Verily, Thou art the Bestower, the a.s.sister, the Confirmer, the Beneficent, the Merciful!

"O ye verdant and flourishing leaves of the Blessed..."

O ye verdant and flourishing leaves(26) of the Blessed Tree!

Verily, I read your letter, which expressed your spiritual attraction to the fragrances of G.o.d, your service to the Cause of G.o.d, your firmness in the Covenant of G.o.d, your joy in this blessed and great day, your union and harmony in the religion of G.o.d, your happiness in diffusing the light of the knowledge of G.o.d, and your work in the Vineyard of G.o.d-the Paradise of El-ABHA. Such prosperity, success, blessing and salvation behooveth one like you! Blessed are ye, O ye stars who are beaming with the light of the love of G.o.d! Blessed are ye, O ye lamps lighted with the fire of the love of G.o.d! Blessed ye are, O ye who are attracted to the Kingdom of G.o.d!

Glad-tidings be unto you, O you who are severed from aught else save G.o.d!

Blessed ye are, O ye pure and chaste ones! Glad-tidings be unto you through the gift of the Covenant, from the light of which all regions are illuminated! Be rejoiced that the lights of the Sun of Truth are shining forth unto all parts; be gladdened at the gifts of your Lord, which have surrounded all the universe; dilate your b.r.e.a.s.t.s by chanting the verses of G.o.d, and console your eyes by witnessing the bounties of the Supreme Concourse.

By G.o.d, the True One, verily, the angels of heaven praise you every morn and eve from the loftiest apex, and announce to you a favor which will surely appear as clear and lucid as the sun in mid-day. Then your faces will shine with a light which will gleam forth unison and harmony, in diffusing the fragrances of G.o.d, in preaching the Beauty of El-ABHA, and promoting the word of G.o.d. Let each one of you be attracted to the love of the other, so that ye may become as fountains flowing from one source, stars beaming with one life, myrtles verdant and flourishing by the abundance of one rain. By this your hearts will be purified, your consciences illumined, your souls made clear, your banners hoisted, and ye will become signs of guidance among the maid-servants, standards of chast.i.ty and piety throughout all the nations of the earth, and the appearances of the gifts of your Lord among women.

Verily, I implore G.o.d to gaze upon you with the eye of His mercy, to raise you through a G.o.dlike power, to move you by the breezes of His glory, to make you fluent in irrefutable and divine proofs and arguments, to sever you from the world and all therein, to purify and sanctify you from every material grade, and enable you to diffuse the bounties of the Divine Worlds.

"O ye maid-servants of the Merciful!..."

O ye maid-servants of the Merciful!

Be rejoiced with the glad-tidings of G.o.d and thank your Lord for that He a.s.sembled you in the brilliant gathering with illumined faces, pure hearts, wherein the mysteries of G.o.d are printed, and spirits gladdened by the fragrances of G.o.d. This is from His favor to you in this glorious century.

I ask G.o.d to adorn your heads with the pearls of His favor, to ignite in your hearts the fire of the love of G.o.d, to free your tongues in utterance of eloquent words and excellent meanings and mysteries in the gathering of the pious, to make ye roses of the paradise of El-ABHA, angels of heaven, united in opinions, harmonious in thoughts and to manifest in your faces signs of holiness of the Kingdom among the people.

Soon will your Lord make you growing trees in His wonderful vineyard, blossoming, leafing and bearing fruits of the paradise of El-ABHA through the shadow of His Name, the Merciful, the Clement.

"O ye crying voices in the region of America!..."