Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Part 77

We are always gazing toward those parts in order to find from what corner (or place) the voice will be raised! We hope Baltimore will become an a.s.semblage of light and that city may become a mirror of the love of G.o.d!

"O ye my dear friends!..."

O ye(209) my dear friends!

Your letter was received and its contents were wonderful and beautiful for it evinced the spreading of the light of Guidance. Praise be to G.o.d! the lights of the Morn of Eternity have cast their rays upon that city, and in the future it will become enlightened, and luminous stars will dawn, gleam and sparkle from its horizon.

Today the Sun of the Most Great Guidance hath appeared with the greatest splendor from the horizon of the world, and the rays of the Sun of Truth shine with utmost light and power therefrom. Therefore, the world hath become another world and the bounties, other bounties!

A little earnestness and endeavor is enc.u.mbent upon you, so that the pages of the soul may be cleansed and purified from the rust of attachment to this ephemeral world. At that time you will consider how dazzling and brilliant is the effulgence of the Kingdom.

The maid-servant of G.o.d, Mrs. ........, and the maid-servant of G.o.d, Mrs.

........-praise be to G.o.d!-have made their homes the nest and shelter of the heavenly birds, and have arranged meetings. I hope that these two meeting places will become more illumined day by day, adding to the knowledge, faith and a.s.surance of the audience, and increasing their resolution and steadfastness.

In fact, those two gathering places are my homes, and the nest and shelter of the birds of the field of G.o.d. Convey my loving greetings to each and every believer!

Likewise present my respectful greetings to the dear maid-servants of G.o.d in Baltimore and Washington.

"O thou who art advancing toward the Kingdom of..."

O thou who art advancing toward the Kingdom of Abha!

Be thankful that thou art inebriated with the cup of the love of G.o.d, hast partaken of the graces of the Supreme Concourse and art quickened with the fragrances of holiness.

Night and day lament and implore, with the utmost supplication and humility, before the Threshold of the Presence of the One G.o.d, that thou mayest be strengthened to guide people with all steadfastness on this path and take a plenteous share from this Most Great Sea.

The hosts of the Kingdom will a.s.sist (thee) and the heavenly armies will protect and defend thee. Wherefore seek bounties as much as thou canst.

"O thou who art supplicating unto G.o.d!..."

O thou who art supplicating unto G.o.d!

Verily I mention thee always and shall never forget thee forever and ever.

I beseech G.o.d to make thee a sign of guidance among the people and a lamp of dazzling light in that extensive and large city, so that pure and good souls may be illuminated by the light of the knowledge of G.o.d and thus serve the Merciful Threshold by showing earnest desire for love, peace, affinity and harmony with the people of all religions. Verily the Spirit through which the temple of the contingent world shall be quickened in this time is indeed the founder of peace, the spirit of affinity and the light of love. This is that whereby this being of existence shall evolve and develop and the world of humanity be adorned with the raiment of glory and honor. Therefore it is inc.u.mbent upon thee to enkindle thyself with the fire of the love of G.o.d in order that thy words may have an effect in hearts which are as of hard stone.

"O thou young, incomparable tree of the Rose-garden..."

O thou young, incomparable tree of the Rose-garden of the Love of G.o.d!

Thank thou G.o.d that thou art planted beside this heavenly stream, has been favored with the inexhaustible outpouring, hast been trained and developed by the rain of the cloud of the Kingdom of G.o.d and hast brought forth fruit under the care of the Divine Gardener. Now it is the time to cast the shade and produce delicious fruits and impart sweetness to the palate of the spiritual ones. Exert [thyself] with heart and soul. Do not rest one moment, neither do thou seek after composure. Give thou to others the glad-tidings of the Kingdom and announce to them the manifestation of the signs of the Realm of Might! This is from the bounty of G.o.d. He bestoweth to whomsoever He willeth. Verily G.o.d is the Possessor of great gifts!

"O thou who hast approached toward G.o.d!..."

O thou who hast approached toward G.o.d!

Verily I have received thy letter and my heart was dilated by the content of thy expression, for it indicated the illumination of thy heart, the spirituality of thy soul, thy detachment from all the grades of this nether world and thy yearning after the effulgences of the Realm of Light.

By the glory of my Lord, I declare: "Verily the splendors of divinity are continually descending upon the pure, enlightened souls and the outpouring of the Kingdom fall tumultuously, like unto torrents, upon the favored realities from the rains of the providence of thy Lord, the Merciful, the Clement!

"Cast behind every single thought and idea and attach thyself to the commemoration of thy Master, the Ancient. Be thou soaring in the Kingdom of G.o.d, the Mighty, the Beneficent. Live thou in Paris until the fragrance of the love of G.o.d may emanate from thee in the college wherein thou art studying sciences and unfurl thou the standard of universal peace, reconciliation, agreement and security among all men. Rejoice thou by the bounty of thy Lord which hath encompa.s.sed the whole existence and sing and warble with the most wonderful melody in the rose-garden of knowledge.

Verily thy Lord, the Beneficent, will confirm thee in every moment and second and will empower thee with such a power that the columns of warfare and bloodshed shall shake and the foundation of peace and harmony shall arise."

"O thou who art firm in the Covenant of G.o.d!..."

O thou who art firm in the Covenant of G.o.d!

Mayest thou enjoy this cup which is overflowing with the pure wine of the love of G.o.d! Glad-tidings unto thee for that by reason of which thou hast become an acceptable servant before G.o.d!

Verily I have read thy brilliant letter and praised G.o.d for He hath made the cup of thy heart filled with the pure wine of His love and hath chosen thee to enter the Kingdom of His Guidance.

Now as to what thou askest concerning giving up the scientific attainment in Paris for the sake of confining thy days to the delivery of this Truth, it is indeed acceptable and beloved, but if thou acquire both it would be better and more perfect, because in this new century the attainment of science, arts and belles lettres, whether divine or worldly, material or spiritual, is a matter which is acceptable before G.o.d and a duty which is inc.u.mbent upon us to accomplish. Therefore, never deny the spiritual things to the material, rather both are inc.u.mbent upon thee. Nevertheless, at the time when thou art working for such a scientific attainment, thou must be controlled by the attraction of the love of thy Glorious Lord and mindful of mentioning His Splendid Name. This being the case, thou must attain the art thou art studying to its perfection.

I implore G.o.d to a.s.sist thee in all cases and aspects and perfume thy nostrils with the holy fragrance during all times. Be tranquil through my love unto thee and rejoice at my compa.s.sion upon thee.

As to the tribute thou hast sent: We have accepted it as a treasure because it was presented by thee with all love and great sincerity and we shall use it in building the Holy Tomb(210), that thy name may become immortal forever and ever.

"O thou who art directed toward the Light of Guidance!..."

O thou who art directed toward the Light of Guidance!

In this moment the heart of Abdul-Baha is rejoiced at thy remembrance and he is writing an answer to thy letter so that thou mayest be so moved by the breezes of the love of G.o.d that thou mayest become the envy of the cypress of the rose-garden and cause joy, yearning, longing and ecstasy to the friends.