Life and Teachings of Abbas Effendi/XI.—DISCOURSES (Continued)

Life and Teachings of Abbas Effendi XI.—DISCOURSES (Continued)

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[Page 205]

HEAVEN AND HELL

GOD has created all things wisely and with a purpose. For everything He has ordered a heaven and a hell; its heaven is its place of high degree — of fulness, maturity, and perfection; its hell is its place of low degree — of meagreness, immaturity, imperfection.

If a tree receive the careful attention of a gardener, it reaches luxuriance and brings forth good fruit. This is the place of high degree, the paradise, of that tree. But if the tree be neglected and fail of its leaves and fruit, it falls into a condition of low degree, which is its hell.

All things of the world have similar conditions. By the grace of God a perfection of good qualities is natural for every existing thing. In the attainment of that perfection is [Page 206]its high estate or paradise ; in the failing to attain thereto, or in its loss after it has been attained, is its low estate, or condition of hell.

The function of a lamp is to give forth light. If it be well trimmed and lighted, it is in the condition of its highest good ; but if its vase be broken and its oil spilt, if its light be extinguished, then it is in its condition of evil.

Thus it is that for everything there is a heaven and a hell.

Of all things in the world, man is the highest. Compare him with the mineral, the vegetable, and the animal. The vegetable is distinguished from the mineral and is higher than it, because, as well as form and substance, it has the power of growth. The animal has form and substance, as the mineral, and the power of growth, as the vegetable ; but, besides these, it has the capacity for sensation, and by this it is distinguished from the mineral and the vegetable.

But man, while possessing all the qualities and capacities of these three kingdoms, has besides them a perceiving power by which he may penetrate to the reality of all things. From this we see that man is higher than all things else : for him are perfections both material and spiritual. [Page 207]Therefore man needs a teacher by whom his spiritual powers may be developed — that his lamp may be lighted. For this is the coming of the Messengers of God : that man may be educated, that his latent perfections may be brought forth and made manifest, that his spiritual and heavenly estate may be realised.

The Divine Messengers are like gardeners. They are sent that the trees of mankind may be trained and refreshed until they reach their perfect growth, and that, when this is attained, they may bring forth their perfect fruit. If mankind come under the training of these real teachers and be directed to true understanding and knowledge, all will be manifested and made known.

THE TWO SORTS OF HAPPINESS

Happiness is of two kinds : physical, possessed by animals and men, and spiritual, which is known only by those men who have attained to holiness. Physical pleasure is something casual and temporary only — is due to an adventitious and transient condition of the nerves. But spiritual joy is of God and is unending.

The ignorant and the wise man both enjoy ; [Page 208]but the enjoyment of the ignorant man is dependent upon eating and drinking, or upon external conditions ; while that of the wise man is drawn from the unfolding of the secrets of the universe — from the revelation of the mysteries of the Kingdom. The former passes away, but the latter is undying and eternal.

The joy of the prophets of God endures unto this day, and so also that of those saints and holy men who have been perfected under the care and training of those Divine Teachers.

The material kingdom is of time ; affliction and calamity attend it. It is the womb of pain. But the spiritual kingdom is unpassing, it has no end, it is beyond danger and fear, it is exalted day by day, its sun is shining ever more, the voice of its grandeur arises higher and higher. All that belongs to this visible world is corruptible, mortal ; all that belongs to the divine world is incorruptible, eternal.

This is why holy, perfect men seek to find the other world. They are attracted by the beauty of God, they have drunk of the cup of God. The cup of the material world is followed by pain, but the Divine cup, the cup of the Love of God, has an everlasting intoxication, and pain follows it not. Happy are those who are intoxicated with this intoxication! [Page 209]May it please God that those who are faithful may receive this cup of joy—a joy which does not fade, and after which there is no sorrow, a life after which there is no birth, a light after which there is no darkness, a grandeur after which there is no littleness.

LOVE¹

Have thou full assurance that love is the mystery of the appearance of God ; that love is the divine aspect of God ; that love is spiritual grace ; that love is the light of the Kingdom ; that love is the breath of the Holy Spirit in the spirit of man. Love is the cause of the manifestation of truth in the material world. Love is the essential bond of union which exists between God and all things in their ultimate reality. Love is the source of the greatest happiness of the material and the spiritual worlds. Love is the light by which man is guided in the midst of darkness. Love is the communication between truth and man in the realm of consciousness. Love is the means of growth for all who are enlightened.

Love is the highest law in this great universe of God. Love is the law of order

¹ Part of a Tablet written to a believer by Abbas Effendi. 14 [Page 210]betwixt simple essences, whereby they are apportioned and united into compound substances in this world of matter. Love is the essential and magnetic power that organises the planets and the stars which shine in infinite space. Love supplies the impulse to that intense and unceasing meditation which reveals the hidden mysteries of the universe.

Love is the highest honour for all the nations of men. To that people in whom God causes love to appear the Supreme Concourse, the angels of heaven, and the hosts of the kingdom of The Glorious One make salutation. When the hearts of a people are void of this Divine power — of the love of God — they will descend to the lowest estate of mortals, they will wander in the desert of error, they will fall into the slough of despair and there is no deliverance for them. They become like worms which delight in grovelling in the earth.

O friends of God! be ye manifestations of the love of God and lamps of guidance in all the horizons, shining by the light of love and harmony.

How beautiful is the shining of this shining! [Page 211]

LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP

I wish that I could be with you always, but my time is not my own. Yet my heart is with you. The important thing is to be with each other in union of the heart. Why? Because the communications of the heart are not limited by place or time. The things which are subject to place and time will end; that which is free from place and time is eternal and established. By the grace of God I hope that you will be with me always.

This love is good. It will purify and illumine the world. As when swiftly moving bodies collide there is a radiation of heat, so when hearts come together light will be spread abroad. Such friendship is good—as the love of the spring wind to the flowers, as the love of the falling rain to the meadows. Such love is good, is good. Such, I hope, will be our love.

The wind when it comes to a garden of flowers gathers the perfume and spreads it abroad. You also must, like the wind, gather the perfume of the garden of God and spread it throughout the world. The people of the world are very ignorant. They are wholly occupied with the enjoyments of the world. They have quite forgotten God. They are [Page 212]like the worm : all their growth and increase is under the ground. The more they increase (in the things of the world), the lower they go (farther from God). They have no wings to fly through the air, to ascend upwards to heaven.

Whether or not men will reach the higher place, under the wings of God, depends upon the efforts which they put forth.

Birds satisfy themselves with some few grains of food, and then on the branches of the trees, with many different songs, give praise and thanks to Almighty God. I pray God that you may be as the birds ; that spiritual attraction may draw all your hearts together, and that while you are on the earth your flight may be towards the heavens ; that while you are in the finite world, your seeking and your striving may be for the godly world. This is the path.

LOVE AND CONCORD

To-day we will occupy ourselves with the glad tidings of God.

It is for us to consider how we may educate men that the darkness of ignorance and heedlessness may disappear and that the radiance of the kingdom may encompass the world ; [Page 213]that the nations of men may be delivered from selfish ambition and strife, and be revivified by the fragrance of God ; that animosity and hatred may be dispersed and wholly disappear, while the attracting power of the love of God so completely unites the hearts of men that all hearts beat as a single heart ; that the arteries of all mankind may pulsate with the love of God ; that contention and war may utterly pass away, while peace and reconciliation lift their standard in the midst of the earth and men become enamoured of one another ; that the joys of spirituality may prevail over material pleasures ; that East and West may delight in one another as lovers, and North and South embrace each other in closest affection ; that the visible world may be the mirror of the world of the kingdom ; that the image of the Supreme Concourse may be reflected in all gatherings of men ; that the earth may be changed into the paradise of the Glorious One, and the Divine Jerusalem embrace the terrestrial globe.

TALK TO CHILDREN

The Beha’is in Akka have a boys’ school. Every Friday the pupils are brought by their [Page 214]teacher to the Master’s house, to submit to his inspection exercises which they have prepared in Persian and English penmanship and in translation from Persian into English. I was present on one of these occasions. There were eighteen boys, ranging in age from about six to eighteen years, with intelligent faces and quiet and respectful demeanour, ranged against the wall of the large court. The Master passed down the line inspecting the papers which they held in their hands. Then, pacing up and down before them, and taking as his text this verse written by one of them, “ The son of Lot associated with evil persons, whereby his succession to the prophethood was lost,” he talked to them somewhat as follows :

Ponder upon this and understand what it means. One who associates with evil companions loses his reputation and his good name ; from being good he becomes bad, from being virtuous he becomes impure, from being holy he becomes depraved. Do not take example from the vicious, do not permit yourselves to be corrupted by the evil-minded. Whenever you who are believers meet with one another, your conversation should not be about worldly things ; you should advise each [Page 215]other how to live noble lives, and seek good examples in one another. You should speak about spiritual and godly things, in order that your souls may be revived and your minds be made pure. You should think much of your lessons and your writing, which will fit you to be useful men. You should not think of things which will separate you from God.

You are the children of the new time. Your thoughts should always be as to how you may become wise and good. You should seek sagacity and prudence, and to make progress in the right path.

THE POOR

The poor of this world suffer : we should care for them.

The poor are nearer the kingdom of heaven than the rich. The hope of the rich is in their wealth, but the trust of the poor is in God. If one make a poor man happy, it is better than countless services to a rich man. Kindness to a poor man is better than service to thousands of rich men. If we work for a rich man or serve him, it does not give him great happiness ; but if we are kind to a poor man, his heart will be glad. If we give water to a [Page 216]field of grain which is not dry, we do not greatly benefit it ; but if we water parched ground, we do it much good.

The man whose heart is kind and pure is near to the kingdom. The hearts of the poor are sensitive ; the hearts of the rich are hard. But if a rich man be compassionate, he is very near to God, for he has come out of temptation.

PRAYER¹

The heart of man is like a mirror upon which dust ever accumulates. To cleanse it he must constantly supplicate God that it may be purified. The act of supplication removes earthly desires from the heart, as polishing removes dust from the mirror. Without prayer the heart ceases to be a mirror of the divine perfections ; it becomes as a rough and unpolished stone.

The delight in prayer severs the heart from the world. Prayer is the key by which the doors of the kingdom are opened. There are many questions which it is difficult for man to solve ; but by prayer these are unveiled. There is nothing which man cannot learn through prayer.

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¹ Part of a discourse by Abbas Effendi, previously published. [Page 217]

PRAYER

Mahomet said that prayer is a ladder, by which man can ascend to heaven. If one's heart is free from attachment to the world, praying is the act of ascension to God. But we must pray only because we love God; not because we fear Him, or fear hell, or hope for Divine bounty or for heaven. [Page 218]

FROM THE WRITINGS OF BEHA ULLAH

For the following Tablets and extracts from the writings of Beha Ullah I am indebted to my friend, Mr. Hussein Rouhy of Cairo. Mr. Rouhy furnished me with literal translations from the original Arabic and Persian. In order to avoid obscurities and forms of expression and figures of speech unfamiliar to Western readers, these have been somewhat modified in form ; but in all cases without departure, I think, from the meaning of the originals.

LOVE AND BROTHERHOOD

O children of Beha, ye who have drunk from the pure wine of Reality, associate with all the people of the world, with the men of all religions, in concord and harmony, in the spirit of perfect joy and fragrance. Remind them also of that which is for the benefit of all; but beware that ye make not the Word of God the cause of opposition and stumbling, or the source of hatred among you.

If ye have a word or an essence which another has not, say it to him with the tongue of love and kindness. [Page 219]If it is accepted and impressed, the end is attained; if not, leave him to himself and pray for him, but do not molest him.

The tongue of kindness is attractive to the heart, and it is the sword of the spirit; it furnishes the true relation of thought to utterance; it is as the horizon for the arising of the Sun of Wisdom and Knowledge.

Blessed is he who at night approaches his couch with heart purified from malice and hatred.

Verily the Lord is the Compassionate, the Generous.

Creatures were created through love ; let them live in friendship and unity. This is the commandment of the Wronged One to his Saints and Sincere Ones.

And ye were commanded by your God, the Glorious, when He was sitting under the swords of the strangers, that if ye know of any sin or wrong committed by others ye reveal it not, nor make it public, lest He unveil you; for He is the One who veils often, the Giver, the Bounteous.

The most glorious attainment is the understanding of this great saying: “All beings are the fruits of one tree, the leaves of one branch, the drops of one sea. Honour is for him who loveth men, not for him who loveth his own.”

ATTACHMENT

Ponder carefully upon this supreme word, which was before revealed by the August Pen: — “ O Children of Knowledge! The physical eye will be hindered from seeing the world and what is in it by a very thin veil; then what will follow if the veil of attachment covers the eye of the heart! ”

Say! The sword of Wisdom is stronger than the [Page 220]summer heat, and sharper than the sword of steel. Draw out this sword in My Name and Power and invade with it the cities of the hearts of those who are fortifying themselves with the fortifications of desire.

DIVINE WISDOM

He is the Sovereign of the Expounders of the Law.

We had pondered over the wisdom of the earth, its traditions, and prophecies.

Then from the chamber of the Heart of Man, clad in the raiment of his Mind, came forth a Beauteous Damsel, radiant and fair; and standing in the midst of the air she cried out in a glad voice:

“O people of the Heavens and the Earth! Verily I am she who is called the Spirit of Wisdom, the knower of that which has been written and concealed. By the grace of the Eternal who sent me forth I unveil my face, that ye may behold me as I am; that ye may know the perfections of Thought, of Wisdom, of Life, and Soul, which are hidden within yourselves.

“By the Lord of men I charge ye, O ye People of the World! Veil me not with the veils of unfaithfulness, attachment, and lust; deliver me not into the hands of these.

“As God liveth, unfaithfulness is my enemy, and it is the companion of vice and strife.

“By the One, the Lonely, I exhort ye! Let not my foe triumph over me, O ye People of the Earth; be not of those who ignorantly exult and trample me beneath their feet.”

Thus have we made known to thee by a parable that which lies concealed in the heart of man, and that which happened to us in the Greatest Imprisonment, that ye [Page 221]may be of those who understand. For all that has come to pass, for the calamities which have befallen us in God’s right way, we praise Him.

Verily if thou receivest this tablet and understandest what is written therein, greet our Beloved, and offer praise before their faces on the part of the Wronged One, the Stranger.

ADDRESSED BY BEHA ULLAH TO ONE OF HIS SONS

O Zia, be patient in calamity, tranquil at all times, confident in God. Heed the counsels of the wise, revere God, look with charity upon the mistakes of men. Follow not after desire, but hasten to God. Be as the cloud which gives its bounty to all the creatures of the earth. Have mercy for the guilty, forgive the disobedient, be steadfast in the Covenant, and firm in the Cause.

Thus commandeth thee the Wronged One.

And again revere God.

He commandeth thee also to keep faith and righteousness. Hold fast to these two. And again I say, Hold fast to these two.

JEWELS OF WISDOM

From the Arabic of Beha Ullah.

Of the Utterances which descended from the Majestic Might through the tongue of Power and Strength on the prophets of the past, we have taken the essence and in the garment of Brevity clothed it. And this is a kindness to the Beloved, that they may be enabled to fulfil the Covenant of God and to perform in themselves that which He has entrusted to them, that through the excellence of devotion, which is of the Spirit, they may win the Victory. [Page 222]O Son of Spirit! The first Utterance declareth: Possess a good, pure, and enlightened heart, for therein is the Kingdom, Eternal, Unpassing, Ancient.

O Son of Spirit! The best of all to Me is Justice. Cast it not aside if thou desirest Me. Neglect it not. By it thou wilt be strengthened to see all things, not with the eyes of men, but with thine own, to know all things, not by the knowledge of any in the world, but of thyself. Upon this meditate — how thou oughtest to be. The power of discernment have I given thee. This is My Providence for thee; keep it ever before thine eyes.

O Son of Man! I was in My Ancient Essence and My Everlasting Being. I foreknew My Love for thee; therefore I created thee and laid upon thee My Likeness and manifested in thee My Beauty.

O Son of Man! Because thy creation rejoiced Me, therefore I created thee. Love Me, that I may acknowledge thee and in the Spirit of Life confirm thee.

O Son of Existence! Love Me, that thou mayest know My Love for thee. If thou lovest Me not, My Love can never reach thee. Know this, O Servant!

O Son of Existence! Thy rose-garden is My Love, thy paradise is My Nearness. Therefore enter in and tarry not. In My Supreme Majesty, in My Highest Kingdom, it is this which has been ordained for thee. [Page 223]

O Son of Humanity!

If thou desirest Me, love not thyself. If thou seekest My Grace, value not thine own. Thus thou wilt be transient in Me, but in thee I will be everlasting.

O Son of Spirit!

For thee no peace has been ordained save by turning from thyself and advancing towards Me. Verily it is the Law that thy glory is in My Name and not in thine own; that thy dependence is on My countenance and not on thine. For verily I am to be beloved above all that is.

O Son of Existence!

My Love is My Kingdom. Whosoever enters it is safe; whoever seeks it not is led astray and perishes.

O Son of Truth!

Of My Kingdom art thou; come into it, that thou mayest attain to Eternal Truth.

My Love is in thee; know it to be thyself, that thou mayest find Me near.

O Son of Existence!

My Vase thou art; My Light is in thee. Be enlightened by it and seek not any besides Me; for I have made thee rich and abundantly bestowed My Grace upon thee.

O Son of Existence!

By the Hand of Power I made thee, by the Fingers of Strength I created thee, and in thee I placed the essence of My Light. Therefore depend upon this and upon naught else; for verily Mine Action is perfect and My Decree shall prevail. Doubt not this, question it not. [Page 224]

O Son of Spirit!

I created thee rich. How is it that thou makest thyself poor? I made thee mighty. How is it that thou holdest thyself cheap? From the essence of Knowledge I brought thee forth. How is it that thou seekest aught besides Me? From the clay of Love I kneaded thee. How is it that thou turnest from Me?

Direct thy sight to thine own being, that thou mayest find Me standing in thee, Powerful, Mighty, Supreme.

O Son of Man!

Thou art My Possession, and My Possession will never be destroyed. How is it that thou fearest thy destruction? Thou art My Light, and My Light will never be extinguished. How is it that thou apprehendest thy extinction? Thou art My Garment, and My Garment will never be worn out. Therefore rest thou in thy love for Me, that thou mayest find Me in the Highest Horizon.

O Son of Truth!

Turn to My Face and withdraw from all else besides Me; for verily Mine Authority is enduring and will never end, My Kingdom is eternal and will never be overthrown. If thou seekest something besides Me, thou wilt find it not—yea, even though thou searchest the universe for ever and ever.

O Son of Light!

Forget all else in Me, be comforted by My Spirit. This is the essence of My Command; therefore abide in it steadfastly.

O Son of Man!

Let thy satisfaction be in Me—not in the things of [Page 225]the world. Seek no refuge besides Me; for verily there is naught else that will ever satisfy thee.

O Son of Spirit!

Ask thou not of Me that which I desire not for thee. Be thou satisfied with what I have ordained to thy countenance; for that will benefit thee — if with it thou art content.

O Son of Divine Wisdom!

I placed in thee a spirit from Me that thou mightest be My Lover. Why hast thou left Me and sought another lover?

O Son of Spirit!

My Right to thee is great and cannot be denied; My Bounty to thee is ample, and cannot be ignored; My Love for thee is real and cannot be forgotten; My Light for thee is shining and cannot be concealed.

O Son of Humanity!

I have ordained for thee from the Tree of Wisdom the Holiest Fruits. How is it that thou hast turned from them and been content with what is common? Return thou to thy heritage in the Highest Horizon.

O Son of Spirit!

I created thee sublime, but thou hast made thyself ordinary. Ascend to that for which thou wert created.

O Son of the Unseen Supreme Kingdom!

I beckoned thee to life, but thou preferrest death. Wherefore hast thou turned from My desire and followed thine own will? [Page 226]O Son of Man! Transgress not the bounds of thy limitation, claim not for thyself what thou shouldst not claim. Adore the Countenance of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Powerful.

O Son of Spirit! Dost thou boast thyself over the poor? Verily I walk before them; and I behold thee in thy miserable state and for ever grieve for thee.

O Son of Existence! How is it that thou hast forgotten thine own faults, and occupiest thyself with the shortcomings of My People? In that thou doest thus thou condemnest thyself.

O Son of Man! So long as thou thyself sinnest, breathe not of the sins of any. If thou violatest this command, of the earth art thou. To this I bear witness.

O Son of Spirit! Lay not upon any man what thou wouldest not have placed against thyself, and promise not what thou wilt not fulfil. This is My Command to thee; obey it.

O Son of Spirit! Know verily that he who exhorts men to equity and himself does iniquity is not of Me, though he bear My name.

O Son of Man! Hinder not My servant in whatsoever he may ask of thee; for his face is My Face, and Me thou must revere.

O Son of Existence! Ponder well thy deeds each day, as though thou wert to be judged for them; for verily death cometh to thee, and then thy deeds will judge thee. [Page 227]O Son of the Unseen Spiritual Kingdom!

I made death as glad tidings for thee. How is it that thou despairest at its approach? I gave thee enlightenment to guide thee. How is it that thou veilest thyself from it?

O Son of Spirit!

The Gospel of Light I herald to thee; gladden thyself with it. To the State of Holiness I call thee; enter its shelter that thou mayest rest for ever.

O Son of Spirit!

The Holy Spirit heralds comfort to thee. How is it that thou art sorrowful? The Spirit of Command confirms thee in the Cause. How is it that thou tarriest? The light of My countenance shines before thee. How is it that thou goest astray?

O Son of Man!

Be not sorrowful save when thou art far from Me; be not happy save when thou art returning to Me, when thou art near Me.

O Son of Man!

Cheer thy heart with delight, that thou mayest be fitted to meet Me and become a mirror of My Splendour.

O Son of Man!

Clothe thy nakedness with the Splendour of My Garment. Deprive thyself not of thy portion of My Beautiful Fountains, lest thirst possess thee for ever.

O Son of Existence!

Keep My Commands because thou lovest Me. Cut thyself off from thine own desires, if thou seekest My Pleasure. [Page 228]O Son of Man!

Neglect not My Laws, if thou lovest My Beauty; forget not My Commandments, if thou desirest My Blessing.

O Son of Man!

Speed thee to the land of the Supreme Kingdom, haste to the space of Heaven. Thou wilt not find rest save in obedience to My Command and in devotion before My Face.

O Son of Man!

Glorify My Cause, that I may make known to thee the secrets of My Greatness and shine upon thee with the Enlightenment which is eternal.

O Son of Man!

Obey Me that I may come to thee. Advance My Cause that thou mayest be crowned a Victor in the Kingdom.

O Son of Existence!

Mention Me in Mine Earth that I may mention thee in My Heaven; that thine eye and Mine Eye may be content.

O Son of the Throne!

Thy hearing is My Hearing; hear thou with it. Thy sight is My Sight; see thou with it. Attest for Me in thine inmost soul a supreme holiness, that I may attest for thee in Myself an exalted place.

O Son of Existence!

Suffer in My Cause with a joyful heart, receive with thankfulness that which I have destined for thee; that thou mayest rest with Me in the tents of Glory behind the veils of Might. [Page 229]O Son of Man!

Consider what it behooves thee to do; act wisely. Is it dearer to thee to die upon thy bed, or to be martyred in My Name upon the dust and become the Dawning-place of My Cause and the Manifestation of My Light in the highest estate of Paradise? Be wise, O Servant!

O Son of Man!

By my Splendour! Thy will to tinge thy hair with thy blood is dearer to Me than the two realms of the universe, than the brilliance of the two Great Lights. Therefore cherish it, O Servant!

O Son of Man!

To everything there is a sign; and the sign of Love is patience to endure the trials, the destiny, ordained by Me.

O Son of Man!

The true lover longs for the test as the rebel for pardon, as the criminal for mercy.

O Son of Man!

If thou avoidest affliction how canst thou walk in the hard way of those who are content with that which pleaseth Me? If thou fearest lest calamity befall thee on My Path, how canst thou gain the Enlightenment of My Splendour?

O Son of Man!

My Calamity is My Providence. Without, it is fire and vengeance; within, it is Light and Mercy. Therefore welcome it with joy, that thou mayest become Everlasting Light and an Eternal Spirit. This is my Command; know thou it. [Page 230]O Son of Humanity!

If good fortune come to thee, let it not rejoice thee ; if humiliation overtake thee, mourn not because of it ; for verily there shall be a time when both shall cease and be no more.

O Son of Existence!

If thou art stricken with poverty, sorrow not ; for verily riches shall one day be thine. Fear not abasement, for exaltation shall be thy portion.

O Son of Existence!

If thou lovest the Ancient and Unending Kingdom, the Unpassing and Eternal Life, turn from this transient and mortal state.

O Son of Existence!

Let this world not engross thee.

Verily fire is the test of gold; with gold We prove the hearts of men.

O Son of Man!

Thou desirest gold, but I desire thy separation from it. Thou hast thought to find thy riches in heaping it together ; I know that to purify thyself from it is thy wealth. By My Life ! That is thine imagining, this My knowledge ; how can thy thought agree with Mine ?

O Son of Man!

Distribute the gold which I have given thee among My Poor, that thou mayest in Heaven give from the Treasures of Exaltation which have no end, from the Stores of Glory which cannot be exhausted.

But by My Life! The sacrifice of thyself is more glorious, couldst thou behold it with Mine Eye. [Page 231]O Son of Humanity!

The temple of thy life is My Throne. Cleanse it utterly, that I may occupy it.

O Son of Existence!

Thy heart is My House; sanctify it, that I may enter it. Thy spirit is an aspect of My Essence; purify it for Mine Appearance.

O Son of Man!

Put thy hand into My Treasury, that I may raise My Head, shining with brilliancy, from above thy treasures.

O Son of Man!

Ascend to My Heaven that thou mayest come near to Me, that thou mayest drink from the Pure Wine which has no likeness—from the Everlasting Cup of Glory.

O Son of Man!

Many are the days that thou occupiest thyself with the superstitions and imaginings of thy fancy. How long wilt thou thus sleep upon thy bed? Lift thy head; for verily the Sun has arisen and ascended to the zenith, that He may shine upon thee with the Light of His Splendour.

O Son of Man!

Enlightenment has come to thee from the Horizon of the Mount, the Spirit of Holiness has breathed from the Sinai of thy heart. Therefore cleanse thyself from hindrances and imaginings; enter into the Court that thou mayest be prepared to meet Me—that thou mayest be fitted for the Everlasting Life where no trouble, weariness or death can befall thee. [Page 232]O Son of Man!

My Eternity is My Creation and I have created it for thee ; therefore make it the garment of thy temple. My Oneness is Mine Invention and I have invented it for thee ; therefore clothe thyself with it. Thus mayest thou be the Arising-place of My Omnipresence forever.

O Son of Man!

My Greatness is My Gifts to thee, My Majesty is My Mercy to thee ; but that which is due to Me none can realise or comprehend. I have kept it in the treasures of My Secrets, in the stores of My Mysteries,—as a kindness to My Worshippers and a Mercy to My Creatures.

O Children of the Unseen Essence!

Ye will be hindered from loving Me—your hearts will be disturbed when I am mentioned, for the mind cannot grasp Me, the heart cannot encompass Me.

O Son of Splendour!

By My Spirit and by My Providence! By My Mercy and by My Splendour!

All that which I have made known unto thee by the Tongue of Might and written for thee with the Pen of Power, is revealed according to thy place and station, not according to My Supreme Reality.

O Children of Men!

Know ye why I created ye from one dust? That no one should glorify himself over the other, that ye should always bear in mind the manner of your creation. Since I have created ye from one substance, it behooves ye to be as one, walking with common feet, eating with one mouth, living in one land ; until in your natures and your deeds the signs of the Unity and the essence of the Oneness shall appear. [Page 233]This is My advice to ye, O ye People of Light! Profit by it, that ye may pluck the fruits of Holiness from the Trees of Might and Power.

O Children of the Spirit!

Ye are my Treasuries ; for in ye have I stored the Pearls of my Secrets, the Gems of My Knowledge. Guard them, lest the unbelievers among My People, the wicked ones among My Creatures, should discover them.

O Son of Him Who stands in His own Essence in the Kingdom of Himself !

Know that I have bestowed the Fragrance of Holiness upon thee, have accomplished the Utterance unto thee, have perfected all Grace for thee, have willed for thee what I have willed for Myself. Therefore dwell in Me with love and gratitude.

O Son of Man!

On the tablet of thy soul write all that I have enjoined upon thee, with the ink of Light ; and if thou canst not, write it with ink taken from the essence of thy heart ; and if still thou canst not, write it with the red ink shed in My Cause, which verily is dearer to Me than all else; that its radiance may be confirmed for ever.