He Is God!
O ye two seekers of Truth!
Your letter was received and I became informed of its contents.
Some of the letters you have forwarded have not been received, while others
have been received at the time of the intense persecutions of the enemy, so it
was impossible to reply. When this last letter was received I found opportunity
to answer it, notwithstanding the multiplicity of occupations, so that you may
know how much ye are beloved in this spot and accepted in the Kingdom of God.
As there is little time, brief answers are given to your questions:
Answer to the first question: The spirits of the sons of the
Kingdom after the disintegration of this body ascend to the world of Eternal
Existence; but should you ask of the place, know thou that that world of
existence is the world of unity, but the grades are different. For instance,
the mineral existence has a grade, but that mineral being has no knowledge of
the vegetable kingdom. It (the mineral existence) has no information of a
higher realm nay, rather, according to appearances, it may deny the higher
grade. Likewise the vegetable life has no knowledge of the animal kingdom. It
is entirely heedless and unconscious of that kingdom, because the grade of the
animal is higher than that of the vegetable. The vegetable, according to its
limited environment, is veiled from the knowledge of the animal kingdom, and it
may deny it, although the animal, the vegetable and mineral live in the world
of existence. Likewise, the animal
cannot comprehend the intelligence of the faculties of man, which is the
generalizer of the universal and the discoverer of the mysteries of beings, so
much so that while living in the East he organizes and founds institutions in
the West, and he reveals hidden things. Though he abides in Europe he discovers
America. Though he dwells upon the earth, he unravels the realities of the
solar system. The animal is entirely unconscious, nay, rather, a denier of this
intelligent force, which penetrates into the unknown and comprehends the
general as well as the particular ideas of this illimitable universe. Likewise
the people of the world lack the knowledge of the world of the Kingdom, nay,
rather, they deny it. Do we not hear
from their lips the words, such as these:
"Where is the Kingdom? Where
is the Lord of the Kingdom?" But these souls are like unto the mineral and
vegetable who know nothing of the animal and human kingdoms. They neither see
nor search. However, the mineral, the vegetable and the animal kingdoms all
live in this world of existence.
Answer to the second question: The Divine trials are in this world not in the world of the Kingdom.
Answer to the third question: The human reality in the other world has no
physical likeness, nay, rather, it has the likeness of the Kingdom, which
consists of the harmonious element of the realm of the Spiritual Kingdom.
Answer to the fourth question: The centre of the Son of Truth and of the
Supreme World is the Divine Kingdom. Those souls who are purified and
sanctified, after the disintegration of this elemental tabernacle, hasten to
the Divine Realm, and that Realm is in this universe, but the people of this
world have no knowledge of it, just as the mineral and vegetable kingdoms have
no knowledge of the animal and human kingdoms.
Answer to the fifth question: His Highness, Bahá'u'lláh, has raised the
Canopy of the Oneness of the Kingdom of Humanity. Whosoever enters under the
shade of this all-inclusive Tent, his heart and soul become detached from other
tents.
Answer to the sixth question: Whenever a difference of opinion arises between
two parties, refer it to the Centre of the Covenant; so that the difficulty
might be solved.
Answer to the seventh question: His Highness, Bahá'u'lláh,
has appeared for the benefit of all humanity, summoning all to the Divine Table
upon which is spread the Heavenly Food. But today the majority of those who
partake of this Heavenly Food are poor. That is why His Highness, Christ, said:
"Blessed are the poor." Wealth prevents the people from entering the
Kingdom, as it is stated by Christ: "It is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of
God." But should a rich person not be prevented from entering the Kingdom
because of wealth and riches, glory and influence of this world, that rich person
will become favoured in the threshold of the Almighty and accepted by the Lord
of the Kingdom.
To be brief, Bahá'u'lláh has manifested for the education
and training of all humanity. He is the Teacher of all, whether rich or poor,
black or white, oriental or occidental, northern or southern.
Regarding the people who come to 'Akká; some of them make
wonderful progress; extinguished lamps they were, they became ignited, withered
were they, they became fresh and young; dead were they, and they became alive,
returning to their respective countries electrified with the dynamic forces of
the Most Great Glad-Tidings. On the other hand, others have come and left
without being touched by this great force.
O ye two attracted ones towards the Kingdom: Thank ye God
that ye have made your house the gathering-place and the assembly of the
believers.
Upon thee be Bahá'u'l-Abhá!
Signed) 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas
(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 5, June 5, 1911)
