Selections from the writings of ‘Abdu'l-BaháʻAbdu'l-Bahá
Religion
Selections from the writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá
ʻAbdu'l-Bahá
Bahai Faith
Therefore do the lovers of the Abhá Beauty wish for no other recompense
but to reach that station where they may gaze upon Him in the Realm of
Glory, and they walk no other path save over desert sands of longing for
those exalted heights. They seek that ease and solace which will abide
forever, and those bestowals that are sanctified beyond the understanding
of the worldly mind.
When thou lookest about thee with a perceptive eye, thou wilt note that on
this dusty earth all humankind are suffering. Here no man is at rest as a
reward for what he hath performed in former lives; nor is there anyone so
blissful as seemingly to pluck the fruit of bygone anguish. And if a human
life, with its spiritual being, were limited to this earthly span, then
what would be the harvest of creation? Indeed, what would be the effects
and the outcomes of Divinity Itself? Were such a notion true, then all
created things, all contingent realities, and this whole world of
being—all would be meaningless. God forbid that one should hold to such a
fiction and gross error.
For just as the effects and the fruitage of the uterine life are not to be
found in that dark and narrow place, and only when the child is
transferred to this wide earth do the benefits and uses of growth and
development in that previous world become revealed—so likewise reward and
punishment, heaven and hell, requital and retribution for actions done in
this present life, will stand revealed in that other world beyond. And
just as, if human life in the womb were limited to that uterine world,
existence there would be nonsensical, irrelevant—so too if the life of
this world, the deeds here done and their fruitage, did not come forth in
the world beyond, the whole process would be irrational and foolish.
Know then that the Lord God possesseth invisible realms which the human
intellect can never hope to fathom nor the mind of man conceive. When once
thou hast cleansed the channel of thy spiritual sense from the pollution
of this worldly life, then wilt thou breathe in the sweet scents of
holiness that blow from the blissful bowers of that heavenly land.
The Glory rest upon thee, and upon whosoever turneth toward and gazeth on
the Kingdom of the All-Glorious, which the Lord hath sanctified beyond the
understanding of those who are neglectful of Him, and hath hid from the
eyes of those who show Him pride.
157: O YE WHO ARE STRONGLY ATTRACTED! O YE WHO ARE ...
O ye who are strongly attracted! O ye who are mindful! O ye who are
advancing unto the Kingdom of God! Verily with all my heart and soul and
with all lowliness do I supplicate the Lord God to make of you ensigns of
guidance, banners of righteousness, well-springs of understanding and
knowledge, that through you He may lead the seekers unto the straight path
and guide them to the broad way of truth in this mightiest of ages.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account