Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Part 25

How many of the Pharisees were waiting for the appearance of the Spirit (i.e., Jesus) then were veiled from it. But ye have taken away the veil and were guided unto the light, have given up imitating forefathers and directed your eyes to the Sun of Truth, which is s.h.i.+ning in the Supreme Horizon. This is a favor to you on the part of your Lord, and a gift for you.

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

O maid-servant of G.o.d!

Thy letter was understood. Thou hast asked, very humbly, for certain things and all were worthy to be coveted. Thou desirest forgiveness of sins; didst ask for great unity and peace; sought nearness to the Threshold of G.o.d; hoped to be detached from thine own will, seeking the will of G.o.d; prayed for rescue from self-love (or selfishness); hoped for progress in the station of knowledge; desired to serve G.o.d; and prayed that thy honorable husband and thy children may be set aglow with the fire of the love of G.o.d and may manifest light on their brows through the radiance of the knowledge of G.o.d. All these wishes are well worthy of asking. Especially the rescue from self-love. This is a strange trait and means of the destruction of many important souls in the world. If man be imbued with all good qualities but be selfish, all the other virtues will fade or pa.s.s away and eventually he will grow worse.

I hope the beloved of G.o.d and the maid-servants of the Merciful will be entirely freed from selfishness. Should this become their nature, they will indeed become manifestations of great bounties, and the doors of the divine grace will open.

Be thou grateful to Mrs. ........ for having led thee to the Straight Path and guiding thee to the Kingdom of G.o.d. If thou shouldst thank her a thousand times an hour, thou wilt fail to thank her sufficiently for the attainment.

"***O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of G.o.d!..."

***O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of G.o.d!

Know thou that the heart of Abdul-Baha is overflowing with great love for thee, and verily he is night and day invoking and beseeching the Kingdom of G.o.d that He may make thee a sign of His mercy among His creatures, a cause of love and harmony and a means of hinging [or a pivot for] every good among the people of all regions, and to make thee announce to the people the opening of the door of the Kingdom. "Verily G.o.d will appropriate His mercy unto whom He pleaseth."

O thou servant of G.o.d! Turn thy face thoroughly unto G.o.d, so that He may make thee to show forth the Greatest Gift and make thee to be a source of those signs which may prove thy proper relations.h.i.+p unto G.o.d and the joy of thy heart, through the fragrances of the Holy Spirit, in every moment and instant.

Be thou sure that, verily, thy deceased child is now one of those babes who are suckled in the Kingdom of Life, under the charge of the Beauty of El-ABHA. "Verily, G.o.d confirmeth whom He wisheth!"

"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 excellent letter which contained thy praises of the Supreme Lord. Verily I supplicate G.o.d to confirm thee in that which He desireth, to protect thee from conceit and self-exaltation and from selfish concerns, to make thee devoted unto Him and resigned unto Him and to be the means of promoting the divine love amongst the dearly beloved of G.o.d. And I beseech Him to preserve thee from the confirmed tests and great trials which break backs and perish souls and to make thee a sign of submissiveness and a standard of meekness, lowliness and humility before the Kingdom of the Mighty and Omnipotent G.o.d.

"O thou who art advancing unto the Kingdom of G.o.d!..."

O thou who art advancing unto the Kingdom of G.o.d!

Verily I noted thy writing and was made glad by thy letter. I pray G.o.d to cause thee to attain the bounties of the Kingdom, so that thou mayest arise for the service of the Cause of G.o.d and that of the world of humanity-and (may G.o.d's) blessing descend upon thy honorable wife. Verily my Lord is kind unto His servants and is the Generous, the Giver of Bounty!

Know that the return of Christ for a second time doth not mean what the people believe, but, rather, signifieth the One promised to come after Him. He shall come with the Kingdom of G.o.d and His power which hath surrounded the world. This power (or reign) is in the world of hearts and spirits and not in that of matter (or bodies). For the material world is not comparable to a single wing of a fly, or rather less in the sight of thy Lord, wert thou of those who know! Verily Christ came with His Kingdom from the beginning which hath no beginning and will come with His Kingdom to the eternity of eternities, inasmuch as in this sense Christ is an expression of the divine reality, the simple essence and heavenly ent.i.ty which hath no beginning or ending. It hath appearance, arising and manifestation and setting in each of the cycles.

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

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

Thy letter was read. Its contents indicated thy devotion to the Horizon of the Living G.o.d and thy love for the Promised Perfection. Firmness is, however, a requisite. Thou must remain solid and firm as a great mountain.

Regarding thy revered wife, thou hast written that a warmer place is more suitable than the cold. If this winter thou shouldst go to those regions, it is better. I ask G.o.d that thou, thy wife and thy friends may draw nigh unto the Spiritual Beauty.

"Rejoice, O maid-servant of G.o.d!..."

Rejoice, O maid-servant of G.o.d!

-for that thou hast known G.o.d and heard His call and art attracted to His breaths! Then prostrate thyself and kneel down before the gracious Lord, in His great Kingdom, and say:

"My Lord! My Lord! I praise Thee and I thank Thee for that whereby Thou hast favored Thine humble maid-servant, Thy slave beseeching and supplicating Thee, because Thou hast verily guided her unto Thine obvious Kingdom and caused her to hear Thine exalted Call in the contingent world and to behold Thy Signs which prove the appearance of Thy victorious reign over all things.

"O my Lord, I dedicate that which is in my womb unto Thee. Then cause it to be a praiseworthy child in Thy Kingdom and a fortunate one by Thy favor and Thy generosity; to develop and to grow up under the charge of Thine education. Verily Thou art the Gracious! Verily Thou art the Lord of Great Favor!"

"O thou who art afflicted by a visitation by which thine..."

O thou who art afflicted by a visitation by which thine eyes are overflowing with tears!

Be not grieved and afflicted for this calamity which hath befallen thee; nay, rather, rejoice that G.o.d hath favored (thy babe) with His heavenly gifts. Truly, I say unto thee, wert thou informed of that felicity which thy babe hath attained in the worlds of G.o.d, thy breast would be dilated and thy soul would be purified. Truly, I say unto thee, thy child will be fostered from the breast of the gift of G.o.d in the Exalted Kingdom and will be nursed in the bosom of mercy in the Supreme World of G.o.d.

Therefore, be filled with delight, for the favor of thy Lord is very great!

I beg of G.o.d to pour on thee becoming patience, so that thy heart may be consoled with the fragrance of His mercy and that thy breast may be dilated with His favors, that thou mayest attain to the spiritual states which are lasting forever and ever.

Thou oughtest to bear it with becoming patience. Again, thou oughtest to patiently bear this calamity which hath flowed thine eyes with tears and hath greatly afflicted thee.

"O thou who art advancing unto the Kingdom of G.o.d!..."