Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Part 73

O thou spiritual friend!

Thy services are accepted in the Kingdom of Abha, mentioned in this merciful a.s.semblage and the cause of joy and gladness to Abdul-Baha.

Thank G.o.d, thou art a believer and an a.s.sured one, firm and steadfast; a truthful servant of the divine Kingdom and an agreeable lover of His Holiness Baha'o'llah. Thou hast spent thy time in spreading the fragrances of G.o.d and thy possession in the promotion of the Word of G.o.d.

Rest a.s.sured in the great bounty and bestowal, be attracted by the fragrances of the Kingdom of Abha. Fatigue not thyself on account of any difficulty and give not up because of any ordeal. Be not grieved because of any trial nor hindered by any hindrance.

Night and day confine thy time to the education of the world of humanity.

Arise to guide the creatures and spend time in promulgating the teachings of His Holiness Baha'o'llah, so that lives may find glad-tidings, hearts gladness, the souls eternal life and the minds extraordinary advancement.

In respect to the Mashrak-el-Azcar: Brevity must now be observed; that is, as much as possible endeavor should be made so that by the a.s.sistance of all the friends and the sincerity of your intentions it may become inst.i.tuted and built in Chicago even though it be not possible to build a most solid, lofty and great (edifice). Whatever is now possible should be erected.

And the question of giving the glad-tidings (i.e., teachings of this religion) should be given moment. The holy souls who are free from the ties of this mortal world and attain the confirmation of the Holy Spirit, although they live on earth, yet, verily, they are heavenly, illuminated, spiritual, divine. Such souls must appear and engage, with simplicity, freedom and purity, in training the public and in guiding all people. If such souls arise, the Holy Spirit will aid them, the hosts of the heavenly angels will render them victorious, the bounties of the Kingdom of Abha will surround them, the ray of the Sun of Truth will shine, the breezes of the Paradise of Abha will give spirit, the ocean of favors will boil and the good scent of the fragrances of holiness will perfume the nostrils of the inhabitants of the world.

By the bounty and grace of the Educator, I hope thou mayest attain to this providence and bounty!

Convey greeting of reverence of utmost kindness to all thy relations, [thy wife] and thy respected daughter, and others, and to all the beloved and the maid-servants of the Merciful.

"O thou my spiritual companion!..."

O thou my spiritual companion!

Two letter have reached me from you, and the contents of both I have considered. Communication of the beloved of G.o.d from all parts of the world with America, and the correspondence of America with all parts is most agreeable and the cause of attracting the hearts. Endeavor greatly to accomplish this important matter and write to all parts.

The beloved of G.o.d must, like the roses of the rose-garden, send fragrant messages from one to another, receive strength from one another, and co-operate together, by the strength of the Kingdom. There is no greater means than communion and communication. "Communication is half a meeting."

Send a copy of this letter to all parts and write to them. Thus may the beloved of G.o.d, in every city, send collectively letters to other cities, especially America. This shall be the means of growth and the cause of attraction. he souls will be made happy, the spirits revived, the hearts dilated and the b.r.e.a.s.t.s expanded. Convey greetings and longing to all the beloved of G.o.d.

"Honorable Dr. ............"

Honorable Dr. .........

According to what is heard you have received the permission of medication and the certificate of graduation (diploma) from the College of Medicine.

Now experience is necessary in order to attain skill and proficiency. The greatest of all these is the confirmation and the strength of His Majesty, the One (G.o.d), through the favor of the Blessed Perfection. I am hopeful that will also be thine.

For the physician the first qualifications are: Good intentions, trustworthiness, tenderness, sympathy for the sick, truthfulness, integrity, and the fear of the Lord.

With life and heart strive thou to be both a spiritual and physical physician. Thus mayest thou be Ameen and Fareed (Trustworthy and Unique).

Thy honorable father night and day prays, hopes and supplicates that thy life, like his, may be entirely devoted to the service of the Threshold of G.o.d, that thou remain the servant of the Holy Cause.

"O Spiritual ........!..."

O Spiritual ........!

Thy letter is received; likewise that of Mr. ........ Print soon the booklet (Mirza Badi Ullah's Epistle to the Bahai world) and spread it broadcast.

The dear maid-servant of G.o.d, ........, is indeed an a.s.sured believer; likewise ........, his honor Mr. ........, and his honor Mr. ......... In reality they are revered souls. I hope that they will soon arise for the Mashrak-el-Azcar and thus attain His favor.

All the beloved of G.o.d must strive so that this eternal edifice arise. ***

"O thou bearer of the Great-tidings of the Kingdom of..."

O thou bearer of the Great-tidings of the Kingdom of G.o.d!

Thy letter *** was received. It contained the good news of the a.s.semblage of the beloved ones, of the Meeting of Faithfulness which was held, the joy and fragrance obtained, the appearance of the lights of the love of the Beauty of Abha, and the good news that the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of the beloved ones were dilated (with joy). This news caused such joy that our afflictions, sufferings and calamities were wholly forgotten, a new carpet was spread and a great joy attained with the utmost exaltation! For Abdul-Baha serves with all devotion in order that union and affection may be created among the beloved of G.o.d; nay, in the whole of the human world.

My utmost hope and wish is to find that an a.s.semblage hath been arranged which hath become the cause of love and affection in the world of humanity which announceth the glad-tidings of the Kingdom of Abha, diffuseth the fragrances of the love of G.o.d, setteth the pillars of the world in motion through the power of divine guidance, and is quickening the dead through the spirit of divine knowledge!

O dear friend! The darkness of error hath encompa.s.sed the world; it is now the time to spread the light of guidance. The world hath wholly become the tomb of the dead; it is now time that it shall be transformed into palaces of the living. The East and the West have become a th.o.r.n.y desert of oppression; it is time they should become a rose-garden of faithfulness.

You have written concerning the Feast(190) of Remembrance which you arranged after the Persian manner, at which Mr. ........ and Mr. ........

engaged in serving the beloved ones like unto Abdul-Baha: This arrangement of festivities and affection, chanting of Tablets, explaining realities and significances, and this inculcating of the teachings and exhortations of Abdul-Baha causeth everlasting life and maketh the hearers as heavenly angels.

Whenever such an entertainment is arranged through spiritual sentiments, shining faces and merciful hearts, it is a "Lord's Supper." For the brilliancy of the Kingdom of Abha will shine and the spirituality of Abdul-Baha become manifest. This is that "divine table" (or food) of which mention is made in the prophecies: "On that day they shall gather together at the divine table"; and "people shall come from the East and West and arrive in His Kingdom."

Convey loving greetings to his honor ........ and say: "O dear one! The heart of Abdul-Baha greatly rejoiceth at thy reading of the Tablets and Words at the meetings of the merciful ones! I beg of G.o.d, that in all a.s.semblages thou mayest cause happiness unto the hearts of the friends and bestow joy and fragrance!"

Announce to his honor ......... my love and longing (for him) and say: "That Power which strengthened the apostles is now in full confirmation. I hope thou wilt receive an abundant portion from that confirmation."

Announce the utmost love from Abdul-Baha to his honor ........ and say: "O thou friend of my heart! The heavenly food is needed successively; be thou a server of the food and direct thou the people of the world to present themselves at that able and guide them to partake thereof."

Convey greetings and respect from Abdul-Baha to the esteemed maid-servant of G.o.d, ........, and say: "Thou art always in our midst and art not forgotten, even for a moment. I beg the Beauty of Abha for confirmation in thy behalf. It is some time since, by the dust of calamities and occupation of mind, the correspondence hath been delayed; but there is no harm in that. For my heart is engaged in prayer and I beg for confirmation in thy behalf."

Convey on my behalf, greetings and respect to the invoking maid-servant of G.o.d, ........, and say: "Thank thou G.o.d for thou hast arrived at the Holy City and at the Heavenly Jerusalem and hast found thy way to the Divine City and entered the Kingdom of Abha!"

O thou real friend! O Mr. ........! Seek not a single minute of rest and do not keep still. Travel more and more in cities and villages. Bear the glad-tidings and guide them. Strengthen the beloved (i.e., believers) and open the eye of perception of the strangers (those who do not believe).

As to chanting supplications in the Oriental tune, this is very agreeable.

His honor ........ must exert his endeavors in this matter.

In reality the friends of G.o.d are always present in my society and are a.s.sociated with the friends of G.o.d in the Sacred Spot; even though they be in the remotest lands of the earth.