Selections from the writings of ‘Abdu'l-BaháʻAbdu'l-Bahá
Religion
Selections from the writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá
ʻAbdu'l-Bahá
Bahai Faith
O handmaid of God! Although the reality of Divinity is sanctified and
boundless, the aims and needs of the creatures are restricted. God’s grace
is like the rain that cometh down from heaven: the water is not bounded by
the limitations of form, yet on whatever place it poureth down, it taketh
on limitations—dimensions, appearance, shape—according to the
characteristics of that place. In a square pool, the water, previously
unconfined, becometh a square; in a six-sided pool it becometh a hexagon,
in an eight-sided pool an octagon, and so forth. The rain itself hath no
geometry, no limits, no form, but it taketh on one form or another,
according to the restrictions of its vessel. In the same way, the Holy
Essence of the Lord God is boundless, immeasurable, but His graces and
splendours become finite in the creatures, because of their limitations,
wherefore the prayers of given persons will receive favourable answers in
certain cases.
O handmaid of God! It is with the Lord Christ even as with Adam. Did the
first human being who came into existence on this earth have a father or
mother? It is certain that he had neither. But Christ lacked only a
father.
O handmaid of God! The prayers which were revealed to ask for healing
apply both to physical and spiritual healing. Recite them, then, to heal
both the soul and the body. If healing is right for the patient, it will
certainly be granted; but for some ailing persons, healing would only be
the cause of other ills, and therefore wisdom doth not permit an
affirmative answer to the prayer.
O handmaid of God! The power of the Holy Spirit healeth both physical and
spiritual ailments.
O handmaid of God! It is recorded in the Torah: And I will give you the
valley of Achor for a door of hope. This valley of Achor is the city of
Akká, and whoso hath interpreted this otherwise is of those who know not.
140: THOU DIDST ASK AS TO THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS, ...
Thou didst ask as to the transfiguration of Jesus, with Moses and Elias
and the Heavenly Father on Mount Tabor, as referred to in the Bible. This
occurrence was perceived by the disciples with their inner eye, wherefore
it was a secret hidden away, and was a spiritual discovery of theirs.
Otherwise, if the intent be that they witnessed physical forms, that is,
witnessed that transfiguration with their outward eyes, then there were
many others at hand on that plain and mountain, and why did they fail to
behold it? And why did the Lord charge them that they should tell no man?
It is clear that this was a spiritual vision and a scene of the Kingdom.
Wherefore did the Messiah bid them to keep this hidden, ‘till the Son of
Man were risen from the dead,’(46)—that is, until the Cause of God should
be exalted, and the Word of God prevail, and the reality of Christ rise
up.
141: O THOU YEARNING FLAME, THOU WHO ART AFIRE WITH ...
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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