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Diffusing the Divine Fragrances

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DIFFUSING THE DIVINE FRAGRANCES

PRAYERS AND EXCERPTS FROM THE TABLETS OF THE DIVINE PLAN

PRESENTED BY THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL BAHÁ’Í COUNCILS [Page ii]

DIFFUSING THE DIVINE FRAGRANCES

PRAYERS AND EXCERPTS FROM THE TABLETS OF THE DIVINE PLAN

The Tablets of the Divine Plan are fourteen in number and were revealed at two separate times: eight of them in 1916 and six in 1917.

With authorization from the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States has established four Regional Bahá’í Councils, to function within the regions defined by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine Plan. [Page iii] Produced by The American Bahá’í Bahá’í Media Services 1233 Central St Evanston, IL 60201

© 1997 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States All rights reserved

First Edition

Extracts from the following works included in this edition: By ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Tablets of the Divine Plan, copyright © 1977, 1993 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. By Shoghi Effendi: Messages to America, copyright © 1947 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. Other works: Lights of Guidance: A Bahá’í Reference File, copyright © 1983, 1988 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India.

Design/Imaging by Amethel Parel-Sewell Editing by Artis P. Mebane, Jr. [Page 1] As you are no doubt aware, the Tablets of the Divine Plan, which were revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during the First World War, are the Charter for the Teaching of the Faith. All the teaching plans launched by the beloved Guardian, as well as those subsequently directed by the Universal House of Justice, are stages in the implementation of this master plan conceived by the Centre of the Covenant for the diffusion of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

—From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, Lights of Guidance [Page 2] he promulgation of the Divine Plan, unveiled by our departed Master in the darkest days of one of the severest ordeals which humanity has ever experienced, is the Key which Providence has placed in the hands of the American believers whereby to unlock the doors leading them to fulfill their unimaginably glorious Destiny. As the proclamation of the Message reverberates throughout the land, as its resistless march gathers momentum, as the field of its operation widens and the numbers of its upholders and champions multiply, its potentialities will correspondingly unfold, exerting a most beneficent influence, not only on every community throughout the Bahá’í world, but on the immediate fortunes of a travailing society.

-Shoghi Effendi, Messages to America, p. 8 [Page 3] ‘Abdu’l-Bahá [Page 4]

REVEALED FOR THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE NORTHEASTERN STATES

The following supplication is to be read by the teachers and friends daily:

Thou kind Lord! Praise be unto Thee that Thou hast shown us the highway of guidance, opened the doors of the kingdom and manifested Thyself through the Sun of Reality. To the blind Thou hast given sight; to the deaf Thou hast granted hearing; Thou hast resuscitated the dead; Thou hast enriched the poor; Thou hast shown the way to those who have gone astray; Thou hast led those with parched lips to the fountain of guidance; Thou hast suffered the thirsty fish to reach the ocean of reality; and Thou hast invited the wandering birds to the rose garden of grace.

O Thou Almighty! We are Thy servants and Thy poor ones; we are remote and yearn for Thy presence, are athirst for the water of Thy fountain, are ill, longing for Thy healing. We are walking in Thy path and have no aim or hope save the diffusion of Thy fragrance, so that all souls may raise the cry: "O God, Guide us to the straight path." May their eyes be opened to behold the light, and may they be freed from the darkness of ignorance. May they gather around the lamp of Thy guidance. May every portionless one receive a share. May the deprived ones become the confidants of Thy mysteries.

O Almighty! Look upon us with the glance of mercifulness. Grant us heavenly confirmation. Bestow upon us the breath of the Holy Spirit, so that we may be assisted in Thy service and, like unto brilliant stars, shine in these regions with the light of Thy guidance.

Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Wise and the Seeing. [Page 5] n brief, in these nine blessed states ‘Abdu’l-Bahá journeyed and traveled from place to place, explained the wisdom of the heavenly books and diffused the fragrances. In most of these states he founded the divine Edifice and opened the door of teaching. In those states he sowed pure seeds and planted blessed trees.

Now the believers of God and the maidservants of the Merciful must irrigate these fields and with the utmost power engage themselves in the cultivation of these heavenly plantations so that the seeds s may grow and develop, prosperity and blessing be realized and many rich and great harvests be gathered in.

The Kingdom of God is like unto a farmer who comes into possession of a piece of pure and virgin soil. Heavenly seeds are scattered therein, the clouds of divine providence pour down and the rays of the Sun of Reality shine forth.

Now all these bounties exist and appear in full in these nine states. The divine Gardener passed by that holy ground and scattered pure seeds from the lordly teachings in that field; the rain of the bounties of God poured down and the heat of the Sun of Reality-that is, the merciful confirmations-shone with the utmost splendor. It is my hope that each one of those blessed souls may become a peerless and unique irrigator and the East and the West of America may become like unto a delectable paradise so that all of you may hear from the Supreme Concourse the cry of "Blessed are you, and again blessed are you!"

-Excerpt from the Tablet revealed for the Northeastern States on February 2, 1917

Northeastern States

MAINE NEW HAMPSHIRE MASSACHUSETTS RHODE ISLAND CONNECTICUT VERMONT PENNSYLVANIA NEW JERSEY NEW YORK [Page 6]

REVEALED FOR THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE SOUTHERN STATES

Every soul who travels through the cities, villages and hamlets of these states and is engaged in the diffusion of the fragrances of God, should peruse this commune every morning:

my God! O my God! Thou seest me in my lowliness and weakness, occupied with the greatest undertaking, determined to raise Thy word among the masses and to spread Thy teachings among Thy peoples. How can I succeed unless Thou assist me with the breath of the Holy Spirit, help me to triumph by the hosts of Thy glorious kingdom, and shower upon me Thy confirmations, which alone can change a gnat into an eagle, a drop of water into rivers and seas, and an atom into lights and suns? O my Lord! Assist me with Thy triumphant and effective might, so that my tongue may utter Thy praises and attributes among all people and my soul overflow with the wine of Thy love and knowledge.

Thou art the Omnipotent and the Doer of whatsoever Thou willest. [Page 7] ow these sixteen Southern States of the United States are situated in the temperate zone, and in these regions the perfections of the world of nature have been fully revealed. For the moderation of the weather, the beauty of the scenery and the geographical configuration of the country display a great effect in the world of minds and thoughts. This fact is well demonstrated through observation and experience. in these sixteen states, because they are contiguous to other states and their climate being in the utmost of moderation, unquestionably the divine teachings must reveal themselves with a brighter effulgence, the breaths of the Holy Spirit must display a penetrating intensity, the ocean of the love of God must be stirred with higher waves, the breezes of the rose garden of the divine love be wafted with higher velocity, and the fragrances of holiness be diffused with swiftness and rapidity.

... Therefore, rest ye assured in the confirmations of the Merciful and the assistance of the Most High; become ye sanctified above and purified from this world and the inhabitants thereof; suffer your intentions to work for the good of all; cut your attachment to the earth and like unto the essence of the spirit become ye light and delicate. Then with a firm resolution, a pure heart, a rejoiced spirit, and an eloquent tongue, engage your time in the promulgation of the divine principles so that the oneness of the world of humanity may pitch her canopy in the apex of America and all the nations of the world may follow the divine policy. This is certain, that the divine policy is justice and kindness toward all mankind.

-Excerpts from the Tablet revealed for the Southern States on February 3, 1917

SOUTHERN STATES

DELAWARE MARYLAND VIRGINIA WEST VIRGINIA NORTH CAROLINA SOUTH CAROLINA GEORGIA FLORIDA ALABAMA MISSISSIPPI TENNESSEE KENTUCKY LOUISIANA ARKANSAS OKLAHOMA TEXAS [Page 8]

REVEALED FOR THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE CENTRAL STATES

Let the spreaders of the fragrances of God recite this prayer every morning:

Lord, my God! Praise and thanksgiving be unto Thee for Thou hast guided me to the highway of the kingdom, suffered me to walk in this straight and far-stretching path, illumined my eye by beholding the splendors of Thy light, inclined my ear to the melodies of the birds of holiness from the kingdom of mysteries and attracted my heart with Thy love among the righteous.

O Lord! Confirm me with the Holy Spirit, so that I may call in Thy Name amongst the nations, and give the glad tidings of the manifestation of Thy kingdom amongst mankind.

O Lord! I am weak, strengthen me with Thy power and potency. My tongue falters, suffer me to utter Thy commemoration and praise. I am lowly, honor me through admitting me into Thy kingdom. I am remote, cause me to approach the threshold of Thy mercifulness. O Lord! Make me a brilliant lamp, a shining star and a blessed tree, adorned with fruit, its branches overshadowing all these regions. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful and Unconstrained. [Page 9]

Excerpts from the Tablet revealed for the Central States on February 8, 1917

God says in the great Qur’án: “He specializes for His Mercy whomsoever He willeth.”.

These twelve Central States of the United States are like unto the heart of America, and the heart is connected with all the organs and parts of man. If the heart is strengthened, all the organs of the body are reinforced, and if the heart is weak all the physical elements are subjected to feebleness.

Consequently, those souls who are in a condition of the utmost severance, purified from the defects of the world of nature, sanctified from attachment to this earth, vivified with the breaths of eternal life—with luminous hearts, with heavenly spirit, with attraction of consciousness, with celestial magnanimity, with eloquent tongues and with clear explanations—such souls must hasten and travel through all parts of the Central States. In every city and village they must occupy themselves with the diffusion of the divine exhortations and advices, guide the souls and promote the oneness of the world of humanity. They must play the melody of international conciliation with such power that every deaf one may attain hearing, every extinct person may be set aglow, every dead one may obtain new life and every indifferent soul find may ecstasy. It is certain that such will be the consummation.

ILLINOIS WISCONSIN OHIO MICHIGAN MINNESOTA INDIANA IOWA MISSOURI NORTH DAKOTA SOUTH DAKOTA NEBRASKA KANSAS [Page 10]

REVEALED FOR THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE WESTERN STATES

The following commune is to be read by them every day:

God! O God! This is a broken-winged bird and his flight is very slow-assist him so that he may fly toward the apex of prosperity and salvation, wing his way with the utmost joy and happiness throughout the illimitable space, raise his melody in Thy Supreme Name in all the regions, exhilarate the ears with this call, and brighten the eyes by beholding the signs of guidance.

O Lord! I am single, alone and lowly. For me there is no support save Thee, no helper except Thee and no sustainer beside Thee. Confirm me in Thy service, assist me with the cohorts of Thine angels, make me victorious in the promotion of Thy Word and suffer me to speak out Thy wisdom amongst Thy creatures. Verily, Thou art the helper of the weak and the defender of the little ones, and verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty and the Unconstrained. [Page 11] Praise be to God that through the divine bounty and providence, in that region the field of service is vast, the minds are in the utmost degree of intelligence and progress, sciences and arts are being promoted, the hearts like unto mirrors are in the utmost state of purity and translucency, and the friends of God are in perfect attraction. Therefore it is hoped that meetings for teaching will be organized and instituted, and for the diffusion of the fragrances of God wise teachers may be sent to cities, even to villages.

The teachers of the Cause must be heavenly, lordly and radiant. They must be embodied spirit, personified intellect, and arise in service with the utmost firmness, steadfastness and self-sacrifice. In their journeys they must not be attached to food and clothing. They must concentrate their thoughts on the outpourings of the Kingdom of God and beg for the confirmations of the Holy Spirit. With a divine power, with an attraction of consciousness, with heavenly glad tidings and celestial holiness they must perfume the nostrils with the fragrances of the Paradise of Abhá.

—Excerpt from the Tablet revealed for the Western States on February 15, 1917

CALIFORNIA OREGON WASHINGTON COLORADO NEW MEXICO WYOMING MONTANA IDAHO UTAH ARIZONA NEVADA [Page 12] Revealed in 1916 for the Bahá’ís of the NORTHEASTERN STATES

Revealed in 1916 for the Bahá’ís of the SOUTHERN STATES [Page 13] Revealed in 1916 for the Bahá’ís of the CENTRAL STATES

Revealed in 1916 for the Bahá’ís of the WESTERN STATES [Page 14] I desire for you eternal success and prosperity and beg perfect confirmation for each one in the divine world. My hope for you is that each one may shine forth like unto the morning star from the horizon of the world and in this Garden of God become a blessed tree, producing everlasting fruits and results.

— ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Excerpt from the Tablet revealed on April 8, 1916, in the garden outside the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, and addressed to the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada