Servitude, submission to God, and repentance

I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify, at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth. There is none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

O Shaykh, O thou who hast surrendered thy will to God! By self-surrender and perpetual union with God is meant that men should merge their will wholly in the Will of God, and regard their desires as utter nothingness beside His Purpose. Whatsoever the Creator commandeth His creatures to observe, the same must they diligently, and with the utmost joy and eagerness, arise and fulfill. … The station of absolute self-surrender transcendeth, and will ever remain exalted above, every other station.

The glory of existence is for one to make his own will fade away in God's will - that is, to have no will, thought or imagination of his own, but to move by God's will and act accordingly. Deem not this matter imaginary. Whosoever today hath drunk of the sealed wine and acted according to that which hath proceeded from the Source of Command, hath attained unto God's will, and he is of the people of truth.

Say: True liberty consisteth in man's submission unto My commandments, little as ye know it. Were men to observe that which We have sent down unto them from the Heaven of Revelation, they would, of a certainty, attain unto perfect liberty. Happy is the man that hath apprehended the Purpose of God in whatever He hath revealed from the Heaven of His Will that pervadeth all created things. Say: The liberty that profiteth you is to be found nowhere except in complete servitude unto God, the Eternal Truth. Whoso hath tasted of its sweetness will refuse to barter it for all the dominion of earth and heaven.

Say: O people of Baha! By the True One! The essential liberty hath submitted to that servitude which hath appeared through the love of God and His Cause. It behooveth you to see yourselves above the world and all therein of creation, and what they possess of conjectures, idle fancies, and statements arising from darkened and heedless hearts.

Say: Whosoever hath transgressed the bounds of servitude, is not of the people of Baha. To this doth My Supreme Pen bear witness in this mighty Book. Say: Through servitude the Cause of God and His dominion are made manifest amongst mankind.

They should establish beyond a shadow of doubt that by "Unity of God" is meant that the Manifestations of God Who inaugurate each Dispensation are to be regarded as one soul, unique and peerless, and all others, whether high or low, are, without exception, to be regarded as servants, utterly submissive before the Dawning-Place of God's Revelation. Even as the Commander of the Faithful, the Imam 'Ali, has stated: "I am but a servant of the servants of Muhammad."

Awe-struck ye listened as I gave utterance to these three most holy words: O friends! Prefer not your will to Mine, never desire that which I have not desired for you, and approach Me not with lifeless hearts, defiled with worldly desires and cravings.

The source of all good is trust in God, submission unto His command, and contentment with His holy will and pleasure.

… The source of all glory is acceptance of whatsoever the Lord hath bestowed, and contentment with that which God hath ordained.

… The essence of understanding is to testify to one's poverty, and submit to the Will of the Lord, the Sovereign, the Gracious, the All-Powerful.

All are servants of God and all are submissive unto Him. All are servants of God and all bow down before Him. All are servants of God and all worship Him. All are servants of God and all shall return unto Him.

It is the day of servitude and the breath of freedom. … Therefore we must all place the ring of His servitude in our ear and play to the melody of the divine call. We are servants of that King, enchanted by that Moon, guides on that Path.

In brief, voluntary and willing submission to God, and the station of contentment and resignation, is more specific than faith and certitude from the standpoint of the knowledge of certainty, for faith in this station means accepting as true the tidings proceeding from the Truthful, the Trusted One. As for the eye of certainty and the truth of certainty, the lamp thereof can scarcely shine forth in the glass of hearts except after willing submission and resignation to the Lord of the worlds.

We are utter nothingness and complete non-existence. We possess neither benefit nor harm, neither life nor resurrection for ourselves. We are all captives in the grasp of power and utterly poor before absolute wealth, for all who dwell in the kingdom exist in the realm of being, and the earth is held within His mighty grasp.

O Ibrahim! Fix thy gaze upon this blessed Word which is even as the sun in the heaven of utterance: "Create in me a being that I may be for Thee."

I claim nothing save servitude. I have called all to the path of God, the Mighty, the All-Praised, through what God hath graciously bestowed upon me of His bounty.

Reflect upon thy Lord's favor and be of them that prostrate themselves.

All have been created for Him and have been adorned with the ornament of existence for His service.

Therefore as much as you can, plant your feet firmly in servitude that you may understand the freedom of oneness and become detached from estrangement.

O thou servant of the Most Glorious Beauty!

Servitude is great. It is a great trust from God and a mercy from the Lord.

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And I bear witness, O my God, to all truth as Thou lovest for Thyself, and to all falsehood as Thou abhorrest in Thy Book. I love not to will aught save as Thou willest. There is no power nor strength except through Thee, and Thou art God, the Lord of the worlds.

Regarding what you asked about the steadfastness of believers' hearts and the joy of believers' hearts -- beware, beware of exaggeration and mentioning God's names in the Book. For I am but an owned and sustained servant who possesses no benefit or harm for myself. I know nothing in the heavens or earth except what God wills.

By Thy glory! I have not wished that this Tree should ever bear any branch, leaf, or fruit that would fail to bow down before Him, on the day of His Revelation, or refuse to laud Thee through Him, as beseemeth the glory of His all-glorious Revelation, and the sublimity of His most sublime Concealment.

Today is the day of servitude. Would that I had attained unto it! This servitude--its essence is servitude itself. The way is barred and the search rejected. This is complete servitude which hath shone forth from the Dayspring of the mouth of the Will of the King of Oneness. Whosoever attaineth unto this station hath attained unto all good.

This is the day wherein it behoveth every soul, when he heareth the Call from the kingdom of his Lord, the Most Glorious, to sever himself wholly from all things that have been created between earth and heaven; to turn, with his most radiant countenance, toward the Most Great Vision; and to say, with the tongue of his inmost being and of his outward speech---nay, with the tongues which God hath created in every member of his body---'Here am I, here am I, O Lord of Names!

O 'Abdu'llah! True servitude is a mighty station. Blessed is he who hath held fast unto it, and woe betide him who hath failed to recognize its station, been heedless of it and transgressed by even a fingerbreadth. For all things there is fixed a station, measure and limit. He who attaineth unto true servitude unto God, verily he hath attained unto all good.

But hear from me and seek counsel: Take up the way of servitude and pursue the path of humble service.

… Servitude and childlike humility is freedom, while lordship and greatness is eternal bondage.

To be in prison but in the path of servitude to God is like being in an everlasting palace of glory but to be seated in the throne of sovereignty without servitude and service to the one true God will have as its end the abyss of degradation.

O servant of the Ancient Beauty! Though thou art His servant, yet art thou the master of the world, for thou art the devoted bondsman of the Abha Beauty, the King of Kings. That is, thou dost exercise sovereignty in the inner world and rulest over the realm of meanings. Thou art seated upon the throne of glory and grandeur, and dwellest in the lofty palaces of sovereignty. Therefore, arise thou, even as this servant, to servitude at His Holy Threshold, for this is the greatest gift in all existence.

O Dawning-Place of pure servitude! If you desire the sovereignty of both worlds, place the ring of servitude in your ear, and if you seek heavenly glory, place the mantle of slavery upon your shoulders, and if you wish for the effulgence of the lights of oneness, remain firm and steadfast in the station of servitude, and if you desire the all-encompassing grace of His Lordship, establish yourself in the station of utter nothingness.

O Shah-Vali! The sovereignty of both worlds lies in servitude to the Ancient Beauty, and kingship over both realms consists in thralldom to the Most Great Name. If thou seekest lordship, be a servant, and if thou desirest greatness, show forth submission. Such is the way and path of the people of Baha, and such is the character and conduct of the denizens of the most glorious Kingdom.

Discord and disagreement are impossible among those who adhere to the Manifestation and sever themselves from human opinion.' There are no ' heads' in this Cause; all are 'Servants.'

Say, God is the Lord and all are worshippers unto Him. Say, God is the True One and all pay homage unto Him.

All this was revealed at the time when Thou didst cause me to hear the disputation of Thy servants regarding my station, after Thou hadst ordained for me no station save servitude to Thyself, humility before the gate of Thy mercy, and lowliness before the manifestations of the lights of Thy countenance. For Thou hast ever been sovereign over me, and I have ever been a servant before Thy face.

Inquiry was made about the established mirrors of this most wondrous and most impregnable Revelation. Today no one is bound by such matters, for the Sun shines forth and radiates by itself, and all must move by the thread of servitude and hold fast to the truth. By Him Who holds my soul in His hand, this station is greater than all stations and is regarded as the most exalted of ranks in the sight of God, for through pure servitude the truth has been and will be established among humanity.

O Rafi'! Confession of thy powerlessness is the essence of worship, and acknowledgment of thy weakness is the very strength of thy heart in the divine Cause. Ask thou of God to be ever adorned with this robe. Powerlessness and contrition have ever been beloved in the most holy court. This is the station of servitude which none have attained save the near ones among the servants of God.

Soon it will become evident and clear that servitude at the Sacred Threshold is sovereignty over both worlds, and bondage at the court of oneness is lordship over all existence.

Rise up in servitude to the Ancient Beauty and the Greatest Name - may my spirit, my essence and my being be sacrificed for His loved ones - and give glad tidings to your soul of service at His threshold. I swear by the Beauty of the Desired One that today there is no station greater than servitude. It is the jeweled crown of the people of the Supreme Concourse and the diadem of those who dwell in the heights of the Abha Kingdom.

O King, if thou seekest royal grandeur and kingly glory, serve at the threshold of God and seek servitude at the Most Great Court.

Therefore, if you seek lasting honor, enter beneath the shelter of the Lord. If you seek strength and power, choose your dwelling in the shade of the Tuba tree. If you seek an absolute protector, take refuge in God. If you desire the greatness of both worlds, be seated upon the throne of the love of God. If you wish for the tribal leadership of the heavenly hosts, serve at the Sacred Threshold.

A hundred thousand sovereignties of both worlds are sacrificed for such servitude, and a hundred thousand instances of freedom are offered up for such bondage.

Thou must arise to serve at God's holy Threshold, that thou mayest attain unto freedom from both worlds. Be His servant and be freed from all bonds. Be submissive and humble.

Since human reality, through the pure bounty of the All-Merciful, has been honored with the distinction of existence, it has, by virtue of its coming into being and existence itself, made a promise to arise in servitude before His Lordship. Therefore, the Truthful in Promise is that blessed soul who, in this Most Great Cycle, arises to fulfill the requirements of servitude.

O 'Ali, humble and submissive one! Today the eternal glory of the human world lies not in attributes and qualities of pride. I have addressed thee as the humble 'Ali for this reason: the greatness of you and me and the honor and station of all lies in servitude and lowliness at His blessed Threshold.

By the light of His oneness I swear that servitude to Him is lordship over both worlds, and bondage to Him is freedom from all existence, nay rather it is eternal sovereignty and the crown-bearing and principles of lordship in the Abha Kingdom.

O thou that hast attained certain faith in the signs of God! Implore the one true God that thou mayest become a true servant at His threshold and be like a moth that encircles the flame of His shining Reality. One meaning of "parvaneh" in Persian is a true and constant servant at the court of the king.

O servant of truth! Wouldst thou obtain the sovereignty of earth and heaven, seek naught but true servitude at the threshold of the Abha Beauty. Wouldst thou win the joy of liberty in this world and the next, desire naught but submission unto His holy Will. Wouldst thou discover the true way of God, follow the Path of His Covenant. Wouldst thou behold the light of eternal splendour, fix thy gaze upon His bountiful grace vouchsafed from the Abha Kingdom.

O servant of the Court of Oneness! The Supreme Nawwab is the doorkeeper of the Most Great Threshold - that is to say, the guardian of the Sanctuary. How excellent are the words: "I became the master of all creation when I became Thy servant." The lordship of both worlds lies in servitude at the threshold of the Kind Friend....

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We beseech from the favors of the Hidden Essence of Identity that you may place that crown of service and servitude to the Court of Divine Unity upon your head and glory over all the nobles of the world, for the jewels and rubies of the crown of servitude are from the mine of reality while the gems of crowns are from the mine of dust.

O servant of God! Every servitude is a bond and every worship a fetter, except servitude at the Divine Threshold, which is freedom. This servitude is a remedy for pain, and this bondage is a healing balm from the All-Merciful.

She said:- "We must work really hard to reach to the station of Servitude."

"It is evident," he said, "the station of Servitude is very great."

Now, when hair turns white in servitude to the Glory (Baha), when hair turns white in love of the Glory, it is light.

The glory of God, the Lord of Names, Who speaks between earth and heaven, be upon those who remember Him morning and evening, who hold fast to the cord of His grace and cling to the hem of His justice. These are servants who move not except by His command, incline not save by His will, and choose naught but what God has chosen for them through His bounty. Verily, He is the Munificent, the Generous.

O my God, my God! My deplorable state has reached such a pass that all remembrance is cut off, and my rebellion has attained such a degree that neither turning to Thee, nor remembrance, nor return, nor seeking forgiveness can profit me. I have violated Thy sanctity after Thou didst enjoin me to preserve it amongst Thy loved ones. By Thy glory! My transgression has become as fire consuming my deeds and devotions. Is there for me, O my God, any station of return whereat I might turn in repentance unto Thee?

We ought to pray for Miss X, that she may become just as God wishes her to be. If she be so, it will be very good, because God always loves those who repent and are sorry for what they have done. Such people are ashamed before God and become very humble.

O Lord, remove the grief, conceal the sin, and turn in mercy to Thy servant who has come to Thy door bereft of provisions, with an empty heart, relying upon Thee and depending on Thy forgiveness on the Day of Return.

I praised God for casting into your heart remorse for what has passed and hope to make amends for what is past in the future.

Most assuredly make amends for this corruption, for today the True One will not be well pleased with you save through redressing what hath gone before. God is witness that grievous injury hath in truth befallen you.

Concerning that person, thou hadst written that according to the account of his Honour the idle Hasan Aqa, he hath begun to think of repentance. As thou hast said, let him declare his repentance. Assuredly, if he doeth so, it is evident that the doors of repentance and forgiveness are open.

Repentance is the return from rebelliousness to obedience. It is after experiencing remoteness and deprivation from God that man repents and purifies himself. Thus, this purification is a symbol saying: "O God! Render my heart goodly and pure, and cleanse and sanctify it from all save Thy love."

My sole duty is to remind you of your failure in duty towards the Cause of God, if perchance ye may be of them that heed My warning. Wherefore, hearken ye unto My speech, and return ye to God and repent, that He, through His grace, may have mercy upon you, may wash away your sins, and forgive your trespasses.

… Place not thy reliance on thy treasures. Put thy whole confidence in the grace of God, thy Lord. Let Him be thy trust in whatever thou doest, and be of them that have submitted themselves to His Will.

I know not for which sin to beg Thy forgiveness and implore Thy pardon, nor from which of mine iniquities to turn aside unto the Court of Thy bounteousness and the Sanctuary of Thy favor. Such are my sins and trespasses that no man can number them, nor pen describe them.

… Verily, the breezes of forgiveness have been wafted from the direction of your Lord, the God of Mercy; whoso turneth thereunto, shall be cleansed of his sins, and of all pain and sickness. Happy the man that hath turned towards them, and woe betide him that hath turned aside.

Hearken unto the Voice of the Wronged One: Turn from oppression to justice, and from tyranny to equity. Present thyself before the Face, that thou mayest behold the waves of the ocean of thy Lord's utterance and the effulgences of the light of the Sun of proof.

O my Lord! My heedlessness reached such a point that it deprived me of the sweet waters of certitude and guided me to the bitter waters of idle fancies. I became forgetful of Thy remembrance, yet Thou didst not forget me. I grew cold in my love for Thee, yet the fire of Thy loving-kindness remained ablaze.

It is related that Fudayl of Khurasan was among the most wicked of men and a highwayman. He fell in love with a maiden and one night went to her, climbing over a wall. Then he heard someone reciting this verse: "Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe to submit to the remembrance of God?" It affected his heart and he said: "Yes, my Lord, the time has indeed come!" He turned back, repented, and made his way to the Sacred House where he dwelt for thirty years until his spirit ascended to the supreme horizon.

O God, my God! I have returned to Thee, and verily Thou art the the Ever-Forgiving, the Gracious.

O God, my God! I have clung to the cord of Thy bounty, and with Thee is the storehouse of all that is in heaven and earth.

Although this evil state in which I am, O my God, maketh me deserving of Thy wrath and punishment, Thy good pleasure and Thy bounties demand Thy forgiveness to encompass Thy servants and Thy good favour to reach them.

Say: O people! Turn ye unto God in repentance for what ye have neglected in His presence, then call upon Him secretly and openly that He may forgive you through His grace, for verily He is the Answerer of prayer and the Observer.

When the Mullah left the room in haste, while I was alone in the room, he fell on his knees and out of the depth of his heart he cried out: 'O Lord! O Lord! I am a real sinner and thou art the just God! I beg Thy Mercy! I have committed many sins. I have not done that which Thou hast commanded me and have practiced those things thou hast made unlawful. With humility and contrition I am standing in thy presence.

Then it behooveth them to return unto God and seek His forgiveness seventy times, that perchance He may forgive them through His grace and remit their evil deeds, and make them to be of those who have repented and returned with their souls, spirits and bodies unto God, the Mighty, the Praised.

By Thy glory, O God of Names and Creator of heaven! My heart has melted from shame and my being is aflame with the fire of my sorrow. In my days I have done that which Thou didst forbid in Thy Books and through the tongues of Thy Messengers. I confess, O my God, to having wronged my soul. I have forsaken what was meet and proper and have committed that which hath caused the dwellers of the cities of Thy justice to lament.

Then, O my God, did I return from all this unto Thee, disappointed, in loss, remorseful and abased, and I beseech Thee by the Sun of Thy Oneness and the Light of Thy Eternity and the Pavilion of the glory of Thy concealment, that Thou show mercy unto me and forgive me and pardon me and take me not to task for that which Thou hast reckoned from me and that which Thou hast witnessed of my deeds.

Therefore with tongue, heart and soul we must acknowledge our weakness and inadequacy in thanks for these favors and seek abundant pardon and forgiveness. There is no other remedy than this and no other excuse is available.

Let them in the hour of prayer turn their face to God and He will cleanse them from all the impurities; He will make them as pure and innocent as the suckling babes.

If God turns us away from His Gate; then whose garment should we hold? If He shuts the Door of His Mercy to us; then at what door should we knock?

O my God! Thou knowest my station and beholdest my inner being, and Thy knowledge encompasseth my disobedience.

… And since Thou didst forbid it, this is disobedience, and I seek Thy forgiveness and turn to Thee in repentance, and confess my sin and the evil my hands have wrought, hoping for Thy forgiveness, even though what I count as good in myself is evil.

And if words have flowed from my pen contrary to His good-pleasure, my intent was not disobedience, and in all conditions I seek His forgiveness and repent before Him.

Whensoever I consider my existence, my rising up and my sitting down, my movement and my stillness, my sleep and my wakefulness, my attention and my thoughts and my mention, I am abashed and ashamed, and I say with my inner and outer tongue: I seek Thy forgiveness, I seek Thy forgiveness, O God of the worlds, and I turn in repentance unto Thee, O Thou Goal of them that know Thee!

My Lord! I am Thy servant who hath confessed his transgressions before the waves of Thy forgiveness and his sins before the dawning-places of the Day-Star of Thy pardon. How many nights did I sleep upon my couch, heedless of Thy manifestation and of hearkening to Thy most sweet call as it was raised between earth and heaven! And how many days was I occupied with my affairs, hesitating in Thy Cause!

Turn thou thy face to the Divine Kingdom, and, with the utmost humility, contrition, supplication and submission, ask forgiveness and pardon. Be thou penitent regarding what has happened, and say:

O Thou Almighty God! Although my sin is the cause of regret and disappointment, yet Thou art forgiving and compassionate. O God! Make me mindful and awakened, and cause me to be penitent of my action.

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O Amin! Such souls have ever been the cause of the Faith's abasement among the people. Beseech God to grant the doer the grace to return, that he may repent like unto Nasuh and take refuge with the Truth, exalted be His glory, from sins and transgressions.

Excellent is what thou hast mentioned concerning Asadu'llah and what thou hast desired for him regarding the proof of servitude. Blessed art thou, O Zayn! By My life, this is a station that no other station can equal, were people possessed of insight. Blessed is he who hath adorned his temple with the ornament of servitude unto God, the Truth, and blessed is he who layeth his face upon the dust in humility before the Lord of Lords, turning unto Him.

Then thou wilt say: "I repent, O my God, for what I wrote. I testify that Thou art my Companion and Friend, my Purpose and my Beloved. Thou hast not severed from me the cord of Thy loving-kindness, nor withheld from me the wonders of Thy grace.

O My servant Husayn! Hearken with thine inner ear unto the divine call, and cause thy will and desire to be extinguished in His will and desire - that is, desire naught save that which He hath desired. God hath forgiven what is past.

O Samandar! The recompense of deeds has become a mighty barrier - naught but the power of return and repentance will remove it from their midst.

Verily, I have been the first of sinners and the last of penitents.

O my God, so immersed am I in transgression that I am ashamed of the very act of transgression itself, let alone standing before Thy most holy presence. How can I render thanks for Thy perpetual and abundant blessings and favors?

The Blessed Beauty knows how merciful is the heart of 'Abdu'l-Baha. In brief, I could not read it in one sitting; each day I read a portion of that letter until I reached its end. Immediately I supplicated and implored at the threshold of the Blessed Beauty, offered prayers, and sought forgiveness from the Kingdom of Pardon.

A prayer is being sent enclosed - please consider it. Mr. MacNutt has repented from that letter he wrote about Dr. Nutt, but it is a superficial repentance. Now if he truly regrets what transpired and desires firmness and steadfastness in the Covenant, it would be better to make a Pauline repentance - for Paul initially denounced the Cause of Christ but in the end became the first faithful servant. Therefore, a clear and evident repentance leads to eternal firmness and steadfastness and the attainment of divine confirmations.

What fear has he of the ocean's waves who has Noah for his helmsman? We place no trust in our own deeds and actions, but rather in the grace and favor of the Lord.

With complete humility and supplication we implore You, and place our trust in You, and turn to You, beseeching that You disappoint not our hopes and make us not prisoners of despair in the valleys of descent, and cut not off our hope at the time of our death.

He was asked whether he thought those on the Other Side were able to see what happened to those they love still on earth.

To this he replied: "They see all as it affects the spirit. A great joy, a great sorrow, a sin, or a good deed: as these things darken or cloud the soul, or cause it to rise into greater light, so they see every earth event that touches you for good or ill, reflected in your soul. That is the meaning of 'the angels who rejoice over one sinner who repents.'"

Until the sun rises in the West, the door of repentance will remain open.

By the might of God, I occupy no station that would make it lawful for men to follow me, nor to promulgate what God granted me of the knowledge of Divine Unity and of eloquence. I ask forgiveness of God, my Lord, and turn unto Him in penitence.

Today it is incumbent upon all to turn unto God, exalted be His glory, in repentance and contrition, that perchance the all-encompassing tribulations and afflictions visited upon this favored community may be lifted, and that its lost glory may be raised aloft like a banner upon the most exalted station in all the world.

Return unto God Who created and nurtured thee, and say:

"O my Lord! I testify that I was heedless of the ocean of Thy knowledge and the heaven of Thy wisdom, and turned away from the Dayspring of Thy Revelation and the Source of Thy signs. I beseech Thee by Thy mercy that hath preceded all created things, and by Thy grace that hath encompassed all contingent beings, to forgive me and remit my sins. Thou, verily, art the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Thou art, in truth, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous."

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We beseech God to forgive him. Verily He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Let him turn towards the prison, repentant, remorseful, humble and lowly, and after attaining the presence, let him return. Give him the glad-tidings of this manifest bounty.

Fear God, then hear My word, then turn to God with sublime turning and repent unto Him, then entrust your affairs to His sovereignty and rely upon Him, and be of those who trust in Him. And say at all times: "We have entrusted all affairs unto Thee, for Thou art the Lord of all worlds."

O my Lord! I am he who was heedless of the revelations of Thy grandeur in Thy days, and was asleep upon the couch of negligence after the exaltation of Thy Word. Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having rent asunder my veil and guided me unto Thee. I beseech Thee, therefore, by Thy Self, to accept from me that which escaped me when the breezes of Thy grace were wafting. Forgive me, O my God, my grievous trespasses and my grave transgressions.

Be submissive to Baha'u'llah; Do not think of this world, do not think of name, or acquiring any glory, or receiving any rest; or acquiring any wealth - None of these thoughts must you have. Put all these thoughts out of your mind. Forget thyself, be submissive, put everything in the hands of God.

How many matters appear outwardly disagreeable, yet contain hidden causes and perfect wisdom which, were one to discover them, would bring complete comfort. This matter is among these - later it will become clear and evident to you. Therefore lamentation and anxiety are not permissible; rather, submission and contentment are necessary.

Two mighty calamities have befallen Abdul-Baha one after another - I cannot express their severe impact, but I have no choice except submission and acceptance of God's decree, and I cannot complain as there is consummate wisdom in it.

Be thou content with what God hath decreed for thee. We desired to preserve thee that thou mightest aid thy Lord through utterance. He, verily, ordaineth as He pleaseth.

There has been and will be no station higher than submission. Hold fast unto it, O ye who put your trust in God, the Forgiving, the Bountiful.

O Abu-Talib! Fix thy gaze upon this blessed word which is as a crown for the head of mystical understanding: "Set aside what thou desirest and take what thy Lord desireth." Blessed is the soul that hath attained unto this most exalted word.

He doeth as He doeth, and what recourse have we? He carrieth out His Will, He ordaineth what He pleaseth. Then better for thee to bow down thy head in submission, and put thy trust in the All-Merciful Lord.

A man asked another: "In what station are you?" He answered: "In the utmost happiness." "Where does this happiness come from?" He answered: "Because all the existing things move according to my wish; therefore I do not find anything contrary to my desire; thus I have no sorrow. There is no doubt that all the beings move by the will of God, and I have given up my own will, desiring the will of God. Thus my will becomes the will of God, for there is nothing of myself. All are moving by His will, yet they are moving by my will. In this case, I am very happy."

O Lord! I testify that Thou didst create me and all things to attain Thy presence, to stand before the throne of Thy grandeur, and to appear at the gate of Thy mercy. Despite my knowledge of all this and my certitude in what Thou hast willed before Thy face, should Thou command me to stand still, I would be content with Thy command, and should Thou forbid me, I would say: "Praise be unto Thee, and Thine is the command, O Thou in Whose hand lies the kingdom of all things and in Whose grasp is the dominion of names.

Therefore, submit thine affairs to the Hand of power, and ask not of Him. Assuredly His grace will come and that which is best for thee will be obtained.

Put thy trust in all things in God and He will suffice thee, sending down upon thee that which is ordained for thee. Verily He doth watch over His servants. He will never forsake His loved ones for a moment, but will be with them in all conditions, causing the melodies of the spirit to surge within their breasts.

A master had a slave who was completely devoted to him. … 'Yes, my Master,' the slave replied, 'it was bitter and unpleasant, but I have tasted so much sweetness from thy hand that one bitter melon was not worth mentioning.

The will and desire of the friends must, God willing, be annihilated in the will and desire of the All-Merciful--that is, they must be content with whatsoever He hath willed. Blessed is he who hath attained unto this most exalted station!

These are they of whom He saith: "They speak not until He hath spoken." Their hearing awaiteth the word "Listen," their eyes await the blessed word "Behold," and their tongues stand ready for the manifestation of the word "Speak," for such souls are extinct in themselves, in what they possess, in their will and desire, and are focused upon, speak of, utter and stand firm in that which God hath willed.

He saith: "Whoso belongeth to God, God belongeth to him." This servant beareth witness to that which hath been mentioned. Hold fast unto it, for it sufficeth thee if thou act according to it.

It is not possible for worldly affairs to always accord with one's wishes. The weather is sometimes clear and sometimes cloudy, sometimes bringing joy and delight and other times snow and storm, sometimes waves and tempest. The essential foundation is servitude to the All-Merciful Lord. When that is achieved, every difficulty becomes easy.

As much as you can, remain occupied with the remembrance of God and detached from all else. The secret of divine mysteries and the divine secret is servitude at the threshold and self-effacement and evanescence.

The chain of servitude to the Blessed Beauty is connected to and associated with the Greatest Name, and the keys are an indication that this chain of servitude is the means of opening doors and is in every way a protection for the heart and soul and a safeguard for the spirit and mind.

Indeed, if the drops of the sea could be counted and the sands of the deserts limited, these stations too would be bounded. Who can render thanks by hand or tongue? In all conditions I beseech for thee His aid and confirmation, and likewise for myself, though this too is wrong - man hath no self or self-will. He must be attentive to the Command and arise in service like a corpse in the hands of the washer.

Therefore have I fled from myself and from all directions unto the sanctuary of Thy holy oneness, and have hastened from all that is besides Thee unto the Ka'bih of Thy mighty Self-Sufficiency, and have turned away from all existence and faced toward Thy beauty.

Be thou assured through God's grace and mercy, then make thy remembrance My remembrance, thy purpose My good-pleasure, thy hope My favor, thy path My path, thy beloved My beautiful praise, and say: Praise be to God, the Mighty, the Wise.

Turn thou with thy whole being unto God, then detach thyself from thine own self and desires, and in all matters place thy trust in God, the Mighty, the Exalted.

O thou who standest in the stations of servitude! The requirements of servitude are purity of intention and complete effacement and self-abnegation. That is, in all conditions one must manifest absolute effacement, utter poverty and complete sacrifice, such that no trace or vestige of one's existence and being remaineth. One must arise to fulfill the duties of self-abnegation, which are among the conditions of servitude.

The station of contentment is among the most exalted of stations, and the state of resignation is among the most excellent of states. As far as thou art able, be content and resigned, and commit all to God. Seek none but His face, follow none but His path, and speak naught but His praise, so that thou mayest become the tranquil soul, content and well-pleasing, and become accepted and beloved at the Threshold of His Oneness.

I am only a servant of God. The station of servitude is very great. It is very difficult for any one to live in accord with the requirements of servitude.

In all conditions, give precedence to the will, purpose and good-pleasure of the Friend over thine own will, purpose and good-pleasure. Blessed is he who hath attained unto this most exalted station and moveth by naught save the will of his Lord, the Mover, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

We have heard thy call and have remembered thee with these sublime words: In this Day, they who attribute themselves to God must be seen as evanescent in themselves and abiding in God - that is, they must seek no desire save His desire and move according to His Will and Purpose. This is a station with which no other station can compare. This is the station of contentment, mention of which hath been made in the Books, Tablets and Scriptures of God, both of old and more recently.

The first station and the supreme rank is the station of submission and contentment. If thou attainest unto this lofty and most exalted station, thou shalt have attained unto all good.

Blessed is the soul that hath clung to the Will and Purpose of God, to such degree that it hath claimed no will or purpose of its own. Such a one is immersed in the ocean of divine submission.

This means that they should sacrifice and immolate all that pertaineth to them for the Beauty of God so that in this way they may reach the state of annihilation in God, which is none other than being a total sacrifice in His Lordship. This entails renouncing one's own wishes, one's own good pleasure, and desire and servitude to the servants of the Abha Beauty, may my life be a ransom unto His loved ones!

If the fruit of the existence of man is not servitude at the threshold of the Almighty I declare by the living, self-subsistent God that life is death, existence is non-existence, non-being is better than being, pleasure is pain, joy is sorrow, immortality is mortality.

One must be either a serpent or a servant: he must choose. The people who are arrogant are serpents not servants.

I am a servant of the friends of God, so you must excuse me for not sitting at the table with you.

… At another time He said: "The Blessed Beauty has trained me to serve... You must follow my example. I cannot be the Master if I don't serve.

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This is the first step - that a person must pass beyond their own desires and reach the station of submission and resignation, and serve the divine Kingdom.

As to thy desire to serve me - verily, I am a servant among the servants of God and I love to serve, with my soul and my body, those who have believed in God and His signs, and God is witness unto what I say. … I love to be a servant unto the loved ones of God and His chosen ones, and to lower my wing unto those who desire His face, according to His exalted Word: "And lower thy wing unto the believers."

The Lord, exalted and sanctified be He, speaks:

In My Name, the Compassionate, the Generous

O Haydar! The Lord of Power hath made mention of thee and continueth to mention thee, and He saith: What now is thy service and what is thy devotion? Where is thy effect and where is thy fruit? Speak, O speak! "O Thou Who art the Goal of all Prophets and Messengers! My life hath been spent in Thy path - this is my service. My devotion is to arise to serve Thy Cause and to praise and glorify Thee amongst Thy servants - this too is my service. My effect is to spread Thy laws and to make mention of Thy chosen ones and to love Thy friends - this too is my effect.

As for the fruit, it is in Thy hands. It is not for me to speak or utter a word in this station. Should Thy grace take hold, Thou wouldst cause the fruits of this tree of servitude to appear in such wise as to become the cause of deliverance and freedom for all the peoples of the world. The Command is Thy command, and sovereignty lieth within Thy grasp and in the hold of Thy power. Thou doest what Thou willest." What can one say? All praise be unto Thee! Thy command is to be obeyed and Thy decree is accepted like life itself - nay, life hath no station and the soul in this place hath no worth. Exalted is Thy grandeur and elevated is Thy power! There is no ruler but Thee, no commander but Thee, no goal but Thee, and no beloved but Thee.

Depend thou upon God. Forsake thine own will and cling to His, set aside thine own desires and lay hold of His, that thou mayest become an example, holy, spiritual, and of the Kingdom, unto His handmaids.

O friends of God! The first counsel of this servant is that you become partners and associates with 'Abdu'l-Baha in servitude to the Threshold of the Divine, and strive with heart and soul that we may succeed in attaining this great bounty, for in all existence, servitude at that Threshold is the most praiseworthy station, and in the realm of being it is the gift of the All-Loving Lord.

The fleeting hours of man's life on earth pass swiftly by and the little that still remaineth shall come to an end, but that which endureth and lasteth for evermore is the fruit that man reapeth from his servitude at the Divine Threshold. Behold the truth of this saying, how abundant and glorious are the proofs thereof in the world of being!

O thou harbinger of the Covenant!

Servitude to the Desired One and thraldom at the sacred threshold of the Lord of loving kindness is the very ornament of the seen and the unseen kingdoms. It is conducive to the exaltation of the realities of all created things. It is a magnificent garment with which He hath clothed the temple of creation and a most befittingly mantle by which means He hath distinguished them who are endowed with wisdom and insight.

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As for thy question regarding certain conduct - work purely for God's sake and see thyself in no state save that of finding thyself in obedience to the All-Merciful.

Lowly though we be, poor, abased, and captive, yet 'neath the shade of Thy favours, we are known and renowned by Thy Blessed Name. Thou art the defender and succourer of every suppliant one.

Spread the sail and let the ship sail on the sea of servitude to Baha, for this is the praiseworthy station, the extended shade, the supported support, and the arriving arrival.

Moral life consists in the government of one's self. Immortality is government of a human soul by the Divine Will.

Adorn thy temple with the ornament of servitude in such wise that the servants who slumber upon their couches may thereby be awakened after the Summoner hath proclaimed: "The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Mighty, the All-Praised!"

He had no desire except servitude to God and no aim except His good pleasure. He endured ultimate hardship and devoted himself to the threshold of oneness until he succeeded in service and servitude.

He has made the mat of servitude the envy of the throne of sovereignty and the lowest state of servanthood the highest eternal glory.

How honoured are ye to have had the ropes of thraldom to the Ancient Beauty lashed around your necks and to have been ringed even as bondslaves in your servitude to the Greatest Name. Act then as befitteth such thraldom, such servitude, that ye may stand amongst men with your faces aglow with the light of the Kingdom of Glory.

The life of Mirza Abul Fazl was God-controlled and God-propelled. Not for one second did he set his own will above the will of God. He effaced self and lived eternally in God.

Therefore, announce to all that in this radiant age each must be humble, meek, serving and worshipful before all, for worship of the Truth and servitude to the Ancient Beauty is conditional upon service to His servants.

And convey utmost longing from this unknown one to Mulla Bahram. Every moment he comes to mind, heart and soul seek joy and gladness arises. In truth he is a self-sacrificing servant of the Ancient Beauty and an evanescent servant at the threshold of the Greatest Name - evanescent and eternal: evanescent from his own desires and passions, eternal through the favors of the Most Glorious Beauty. And upon him be greetings and praise.

His is the praise, the grace, and the bounty upon all beings, and unto Him bow down in submission all who are in the heavens and on earth, whether willingly or unwillingly.

Although this servitude is the greatest burden and the supreme trust that has broken backs and destroyed mighty powers - among them the back of 'Abdu'l-Baha which, I swear by His Beauty, has been completely broken.

Whosoever desires to be first among you must be last. This is the way and path of 'Abdu'l-Baha. This is the ultimate desire of 'Abdu'l-Baha - to be a true servant of the divine friends.

The ultimate desire of 'Abdu'l-Baha is the organization of such assemblies and He is their Servant: for this servitude is the Crown of Eternal Sovereignty and this thraldom is freedom from both worlds.

O my true friend! A decisive proof of this claim is that thou hast arisen to serve the children of that kind companion, His Holiness the Chief of Chiefs. This service to children is service to God and servitude at the threshold of the absolutely Self-Sufficient.

For servitude unto the one true God can in no wise be attained save through service at the court of His servants.

By the life of God! From every doer of deeds, when a deed is manifested for God's sake, it has been and will be penetrating, moving, conveying, and victorious.

My God, my God, my Goal and my Adored One! Thou seest me detached from all save Thee and clinging to Thy cord. I testify that Thou didst create me to know Thee and didst manifest me to serve Thee and serve Thy loved ones.

However, for servitude there are certain conditions. The first is that thou shouldst manifest spiritual qualities among all people, that all may find and observe in thee the signs of servitude and servanthood.

O God, I call on Thee with a tongue that hath spoken no word of disobedience against Thee, imploring Thee, by Thy sovereignty and might, to keep me safe in the shelter of Thy mercy and to grant me strength to serve Thee and to serve my father and mother.

For servitude at the Divine Threshold requires merciful attributes, and attachment to the Sacred Court necessitates spiritual virtues. … Spiritual virtues and divine qualities and luminous deeds and conscientious attributes are the foundation, while servitude at the Divine Threshold is like the structure, and every structure requires a foundation and every tree requires roots.

O maid-servant of God! It is incumbent upon thee to supplicate thy Lord, to seek His nearness with thy heart, to be submissive and humble before His maid-servants, and to serve His great vineyard.

This exalted office, namely servitude to the servants of the Gracious Lord, is the crown of glory of 'Abdu'l-Baha and the bounteous robe of the Abha Beauty.

O servant of the Blessed Beauty! This name of servitude which you bear is the pride of the essences of existence and the glory of the pure souls of the Concourse on High. The souls of those drawn nigh yearn for it, and the sacred realities long to hear it but once. However, its conditions are mighty and its requirements most beautiful. It is an exalted trust.

For servitude to the divine friends is nobility, and service to the true friends is freedom - nay rather, it is sovereignty in the celestial realm.

O fellow worker and fellow thinker with this servant of the Threshold! Give thanks to God that thou art a servant of the friends and an attendant of the loved ones, a servant of the Threshold and a guardian of the court of the All-Merciful. In the world of being, servitude to the loved ones of God is freedom in both worlds and tranquility of heart and soul.

O thou servant of the Sacred Threshold!

The mystery of servitude is revealed when the light of the Divine Identity shines forth upon the world of the heart and the lamp of reality is kindled within the inner chamber of the soul.

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O namesake of 'Abdu'l-Baha in servitude, think not that you are forgotten for a moment. I remember you constantly and beseech God that we both may succeed in fulfilling the requirements of this glorious name, so that outwardly and inwardly, in word and in meaning, in speech and in deed, in essence and in form, in nature and in identity, we may be confirmed in servitude at the Sacred Threshold. That is, that we may arise to conduct ourselves in such a way as to be acceptable at the threshold of that King of Kings.

Therefore, arise to fulfill the requirements of this title, for this title indicates servitude and thralldom to the Most Great Name. A name must have its corresponding reality, and a title must have its befitting station. This servant was not successful in fulfilling the requirements of his own name, but God willing, thou shalt be successful and confirmed therein. And the Glory be upon thee and upon all who arise to fulfill what the meaning of their noble name requires.

Therefore rejoice at this Most Great Glad-Tidings and strive until, like 'Abdu'l-Baha, you become the dust of the threshold and the earth beneath the feet of the friends.

That will be conducive to the progress of human soul is servitude at the Divine Threshold. However much man may magnify himself he will not become even as big as an idol which is continually worshipped throughout ages and cycles as a channel for the intercession of heavenly Graces.

The servant of God's beloved ones is a servant of the Blessed Beauty. The slave of God's beloved ones is a slave of the Blessed Beauty.

But with complete sincerity of heart and perfect humility and submissiveness...

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Today all friends must, in complete humility, submissiveness and utter servitude, summon the people to God without observing in themselves the slightest trace of life. By the Sun of the horizon of utterance! There is no station higher today than pure servitude, nor hath there ever been.

Be ye My trustees among My servants, the dawning-places of My justice among My creation, and the daysprings of My courtesy among My creatures.

O dear one, soul and spirit, beseech the Eternal God that we may attain to that which befits this Day, which is to wholly forget ourselves and others, and arise to serve with a hundred thousand bodies and a hundred thousand souls. The first service is to purify the heart, sight, hearing, inner consciousness and all limbs from that which is unworthy. Then, when through the grace of the Ancient Living One you have attained this mighty station, it is fitting to gird up the loins of service and stand in the ranks of servants.

You had made a statement about the tradition "Servitude is an essence whose core is divinity," but the servitude of 'Abdu'l-Baha was a servitude whose core is servitude, whose essence is servitude, whose mystery is servitude, whose inner reality is servitude, whose beginning is servitude and whose end is servitude. Beyond this there is no desire of heart and soul, and other than this there is no ultimate hope.

We beseech the True One that each of us may arise in servitude at His exalted Threshold, and that we may not transform this servitude into the lordship conceived by the people of the world.

Arise to serve at the Sacred Threshold like 'Abdu'l-Baha in complete effacement and evanescence, that ye may bow your faces to the dust of lowliness and need, saying "We have not worshipped Thee as Thou deservest to be worshipped" and "We have not known Thee as Thou deservest to be known."

This servant has no station, rank or attribute except 'Abdu'l-Baha, and anything less than that is not acceptable at the threshold of the Divine Unity.

My highest desire in this world is to be confirmed in the service of the Threshold of the Blessed Perfection. No other title or station is pleasing to me. Baha'u'llah Himself has crowned my head with the Diadem of Servitude. I will not exchange this Crown of Bondage with that of Lordship, this mat of slavehood with the throne of Sovereignty, this earth of meekness with the heaven of grandeur.

Just as you are a servant of God I am also the Servant of God. I am the absolute Servant of Almighty without implication or interpretation. I glorify in my servitude. This Servitude is my glorious Crown, my Ultimate Hope, my highest aspiration and my holiest station! I have no other titles save this.

Thou knowest and seest, O Lord, that this lowly one hath buried his face in the dust, is beseeching Thee in his inmost heart, and saying: O God, my God! Confirm me in servitude to Thy pure and sanctified Threshold, and secure my thralldom to Thy blessed and sweet-scented Being. Suffer me to be selfless in the spacious court of Thy loved ones and humble in the vast precincts of Thy servants.

Our Lord! We have repented unto Thee and have awakened from our slumber, clinging to the hem of Thy forgiveness. Our Lord! We obeyed our leaders and our great ones; we led astray a few of Thy weak servants and misguided a small band of the foolish ones. Pardon us and forgive us, for Thou art the All-Forgiving."

The Blessed Beauty is established upon the Throne of Lordship, and we are all novices in the ranks of servitude and are linked together in thraldom to His Holy Threshold. Nothing greater can be imagined for the friends than to join 'Abdu'l-Baha in servitude to the Sacred Threshold. Since in His commentary on the Surih of Joseph, the Bab---may my life be offered up for His sake---hath identified Joseph as the Manifest Beauty, the true Joseph, and hath referred to Him as "our great and omnipotent Master", then whenever thou readest it, thou wilt but weep and grieve for the wrongs suffered by the Blessed Beauty.

This servant has no station except the reality of servitude - this is my Lote Tree of the Uttermost Boundary, this is my Farthest Mosque, this is my Paradise of Refuge, this is my Ultimate Goal.

The Blessed Beauty - may my spirit, being and essence be sacrificed for His loved ones - trained us for servitude at His Holy Threshold, so that each of us might become a clear standard on earth in service to His Cause and a brilliant star in the horizon of detachment.

O thou who art attracted by the fragrant breaths of loving-kindness!

Discover thou the mystery of God, and the secret of the All-Merciful, in the mirror of truth and the sea of servitude, and behold thou the world-enkindling ray of eminence and salvation in the dawning-place of thraldom and humility at the threshold of Almighty God. In the contingent world, even unto the very acme of the Placeless, loftiness, advancement and exaltation are impossible save on the wings of servitude; while nearness to the Holy Presence is unattainable unless the pinions of thraldom be unfurled.

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As for the matter of innate weakness and shortcoming, this is inherent to servitude. The more capable one becomes, the more incapable one feels, and the more independent one becomes, the more dependent one feels. This is inherently necessary and inseparable.

O Andalib! Since you are privy to this servant's secrets, I shall therefore share with you a mystery, which is that this servant's ultimate hope and desire is to prove his servitude at the Sacred Threshold throughout all worlds, and never to exchange this pure servitude for any rank or station. Whatever is mentioned of this servant's servitude brings joy to heart and soul and is the cause of spiritual delight. The pavilion of God's Cause is raised upon the pillar of servitude, and the Divine Tree is served through pure servitude and complete effacement.

We must look to God for all we desire, all we attain. The Will of God must out-work Its Purposes in us. Our human will must be laid down in sacrifice and love. 'Abdu'l-Baha has given everything in sacrifice and obedience to the Will of God. I am only His Servant, nothing more.

O thou herald of the Covenant and Testament! Thy numerous letters have been received, and the contents of all were a cause of joy and gladness. Praise be to God that thou hast been thus aided and confirmed to render service, and hast arisen in such a manner to evince thy servitude to the Sacred Threshold. This is an abiding sovereignty, this is a perpetual bestowal!

I am the servant of Baha - you too be a handmaiden of Baha. Ask God and pray that we both may be confirmed in service. This is eternal glory, this is everlasting pride, this is the greatest crown, this is the diadem of every mighty king of kings. What station shall we seek greater than servitude at His Threshold? What honor shall we desire higher than bondage at His Court?

This servitude is the manifest morn and the brilliant light and honeycomb. The eyes of the spiritual ones are illumined by it, and it is honey and sugar to the palate of the merciful ones. For the celestial beings it is living water, and for the divine ones it is the spring of Tasnim.

This one slain by Thee, thirsting for Thee, with heart distraught, sought after Thy face. All were lifeless, all were frozen, yet to all life-giving was Thy fragrance. To all claimants it became clear that Abbas was but a dog at Thy threshold.

I am the most humble servant of God. I would rather be a door keeper in the house of God than to be ruler of the nations.

We are all the servants of the threshold of Baha and the one who serves most in his holy threshold is the most beloved. My greatest wish and desire is submissiveness and servitude at the holy threshold.

O Lord! Make me evanescent, devout, prostrate, humble, serving, submissive, reverential, with face pressed to the dust, steadfast in true, essential, innate, inward, outward, primary, ultimate, eternal, everlasting servitude, for this is my highest summit and the utmost ascent to the apex of my greatest virtue. This is my eternal life, my everlasting existence, my joy, my gladness, the solace of mine eyes, the healing of my breast, the cure of my illness, the cooling of my burning, the rest of my spirit and my greatest victory.

In brief, from earliest childhood this servant has been nurtured in the cradle of servitude, suckled at the breast of self-effacement, and raised in the embrace of lowliness. That is, servitude to the Ancient Beauty has become intermixed with this servant's flesh, blood and bones, becoming like spirit in the body.

The attribute and praise of this servant is servitude at the Sacred Threshold. I seek no other distinction and know no other quality. The remedy for every pain of mine is servitude at the divine court, and the balm for every wound is servitude at the infinite threshold.

If you seek the desire of my heart and soul and the ultimate hopes of this remote servant, it is that you speak only of my pure servitude and servanthood at the threshold of the One. We are but dust of that threshold and guardians of that court.

I swear by the Ancient Beauty that this servant is repelled by even a whiff that suggests claiming, and in all degrees I would not transform an atom of servitude into the oceans of divinity and lordship.

But O friend, do not lose the rhyme - do not exceed proper bounds in attributing station to me beyond servitude at the Sacred Threshold, for this is the desire of my heart and the comfort of my soul, and my ultimate hope. And do not imagine that today any station in creation can be conceived of as more glorious than servitude at the Sacred Threshold. All stations are metaphorical while this is reality; all ranks are conceptual while this is realization.

However, in all gatherings and meetings, the opening of speech must be about the servitude and self-effacement of this servant at the Sacred Threshold. By the life of God, I am free from every title except the title of 'Abdu'l-Baha, and I am distant from every name except this noble name. For servitude at His Exalted Threshold is the light of my countenance, the brightness of my sight, the joy of my heart and the delight of my being, and I would not exchange His servitude for anything in existence.

O leaf attracted to the divine fragrances! Know thou this much: that in the realm of existence, both seen and unseen, there hath never been and never shall be for men any station more exalted or rank more sublime, nor for women any gift more glorious or position more magnificent, than servitude, thralldom, bondage and maidservice to the Ancient Beauty.

I have no further desire. I wish to reach Haifa and to settle again in the Holy Land. It is now your turn to serve, to render your servitude to the holy threshold. Occupy yourselves day and night in the diffusion of the divine fragrances. All confirmations encircle those who are engaged in rendering services to the court of oneness. Nothing avails except servitude to the Blessed Beauty. If, after the ascension of the Blessed Beauty, I had not risen in servitude to Him, these confirmations would not have descended.

The Ancient Beauty and the Most Great Name nurtured this servant from the breast of servitude, and reared Him in the bosom of servitude. From the beginning of life even unto this day, not a word implying any independent existence hath proceeded from My tongue or from My pen. In this servitude do I possess a radiant countenance and a heart even as a rose-garden and a meadow.

Thou bearest witness, O my Lord, to my servitude and lowliness, to my privation and abasement, my powerlessness and destitution before the portals of Thy divine unity, and Thou beholdest my selflessness, mine evanescence and non-existence, my humility and prostration, my meekness and submissiveness, mine ardent invocation, my tearful supplication and entreaty before the Threshold of Thy mercifulness.

O thou who art firm in the Covenant! The song is the song of servitude, and the melody is the melody of servitude to His Holiness the One. The Abha Beauty - may my spirit, my being, and my essence be sacrificed for the dust of His Threshold - praise be to God, hath so thoroughly leavened 'Abdu'l-Baha's nature with the pure waters of servitude that his reality and servitude have become one and the same thing, and his essence and bondage have become identical with that which is described.

Servitude in the path of the Blessed Beauty is a boundless ocean, and Abdul-Baha is like a nameless and traceless drop.

If you seek a response from me, raise loud the cry of "O 'Abdu'l-Baha!" If you seek the joy of my heart, mention my servitude at the Most Holy Court. For in this lies the desire of my heart, the comfort of my soul, and the ultimate hope of this homeless one. I would not exchange His servitude for sovereignty over both worlds, nor would I trade being His servant for lordship over both realms.

O 'Abdu'l-'Ali and servant of Baha! Whoever arose in true servitude to 'Ali (meaning the Exalted One, may my spirit be sacrificed for Him) attained the honor of servitude to the Abha Beauty.

We are watchful and waiting for universal confirmations that you may become successful in fulfilling the conditions of servitude at the threshold of the Blessed Beauty.

And the greatest servitude is to preserve and protect God's Covenant and Testament.

For with a burned heart and an illumined face, I have not yet learned a lesson in the school of servitude to the Beloved of Abha, and this is the cause of tenderness in this regretful heart.

This assembly must walk in the footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Baha - must become pure nothingness, absolute effacement and sheer non-existence, that is to say, embodied servitude and personified thralldom. It must be cleansed of every thought and mention save His, must know none but Him, must utter no name but His Name, must recognize none except His Beauty, and must cherish no desire apart from His love.

Regarding your request for permission to attain His presence, be patient for now. God willing, it will be granted at the appropriate time. At present, wisdom requires this. Today is the day of servitude at the Sacred Threshold. Come, let us all arise together in unity and agreement to serve at His Most Holy Court, that the radiance of His Cause may illumine the horizons.

It is evident that 'Abdu'l-Baha is the servant of the servants of Baha. His very being is in a state of prostration.

The meaning of this verse is that should they call me by any name and raise their voice, that call would not harmonize with my ear nor would it be heard, save when someone addresses me as His servant - then instantly the ear becomes attentive and the mind alert....

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And verily, O my God, realize me with a pure servitude containing no trace of lordship, until my servitude becomes so firm and established that the manifestation of scenes of grandeur cannot shake it nor am I distracted from it during the outpouring of the manifestations of the Most Glorious Kingdom.

Thou knowest, O my God, my lowliness and poverty, my destitution and need, my detachment and supplication, my humility and entreaty at the threshold of Thy oneness, and my pure servitude and absolute bondage at Thy holy doorstep. This servitude is the light of my reality, the manifestation of my essence, the honor of my being and the glory of my soul.

You must, God willing, be detached from all save God in all conditions and be focused on His bounties. Moreover, you must today adorn the temple of being with the ornament of servitude and move among the servants with pure and absolute servitude. By the Ancient Beauty! Any soul who today worships with pure servitude stands higher in the sight of God than all other souls, for the opponents of the religion of the Lord of the worlds appear at every moment with a new scheme and have placed novel notions in the hands of the ignorant that they might thereby deprive people from the path of the All-Glorious.

O faithful servant! This servitude is sovereignty, and this bondage is freedom, and this servanthood is kingship. Though hidden in this world of water and clay, yet in the divine realm it is clear and evident.

I have entrusted my spirit into Thy hands and relied upon Thee and returned unto Thee, arriving at the threshold of Thy mercy, approaching the fountain of Thy lordship.

Blessed are those souls who have annihilated their will and desire in the Will and Desire of God, and who have had and have no will of their own. These are the people of Baha.

Were I not mindful of Thy irrevocable decree, I would have manifested myself only in pure servitude among Thy creatures, but Thou hast ordained through Thy power what Thou didst desire.

I can utter no word, O my God, unless I be permitted by Thee, and can move in no direction until I obtain Thy sanction.

Was I not a dove of Thy house, or an ant in the valley of Thy oneness, or a gnat from the desert of Thy Self-Subsistence, or a mosquito from the wilderness of Thine eternity? By Thy glory! My bones have dried up and my pillars have crumbled.

I am the one, O my God, who, through the love I bear to Thee, hath been able to dispense with all who are in heaven and on earth. Armed with this love, I am afraid of no one, though all the peoples of the world unite to hurt me.

A further submission: Jinab-i-Aqa ['Azim], upon him be the Glory of God, has ascended to the Supreme Companion. … He had been completely transformed and manifested such love that most were filled with wonder. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Mighty, the Powerful.

O Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Countenance and the mysteries of destiny to ordain for me and for Thy loved ones that which will adorn us with the ornament of patience, forbearance and resignation.

Here am I with my body between Thy hands, and my spirit before Thy face. Do with them as it may please Thee, for the exaltation of Thy word, and the revelation of what hath been enshrined within the treasuries of Thy knowledge.

With utmost lowliness I raise my suppliant hands to Thy kingdom of beauty and fervently call upon Thee with my inner tongue, saying: O God, my God! Aid me to adore Thee, strengthen my loins to serve Thee; assist me by Thy grace in my servitude to Thee; suffer me to remain steadfast in my obedience to Thee; pour forth upon me the liberal effusions of Thy bounty, let the glances of the eye of Thy loving-kindness be directed towards me, and immerse me in the ocean of Thy forgiveness.

If I, like Abraham, through flames must go,

Or yet like John1 a bloodstained road must run;

If, Joseph-like, Thou'd cast me in a well, or shut me up within a prison cell--

Or make me e'en as poor as Mary's Son--

I will not go from Thee, but ever stand

My soul and body bowed to Thy command.

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Our purpose is to serve the Threshold of the Almighty, whether imprisoned or free.

I have no will before Thy will, and can cherish no desire in the face of Thy desire. By Thy grace I am, at all times, ready to serve Thee and am rid of all attachment to any one except Thee.

Thy will hath overruled my will, O my God, and I have shown forth what hath grievously vexed me. Have mercy, then, upon me, O Thou Who of all those who show mercy art the Most Merciful!

As to me -- and to this Thou art Thyself my witness -- I call upon Thee saying: "I have no will of mine own, O my Lord, and my Master and my Ruler, before the indications of Thy will, and can have no purpose in the face of the revelation of Thy purpose. I swear by Thy glory! I wish only what Thou wishest, and cherish only what Thou cherishest. What I have chosen for myself is what Thou hast Thyself chosen for me, O Thou the Possessor of my soul!"

I know not what the water is with which Thou didst create me, or what the fire Thou didst kindle within me. I swear by Thy glory! I shall not cease to mention Thee, though all that are in Thy heaven and on Thy earth rise up against me. Thee will I magnify, in all circumstances, with a heart wholly rid of all attachment to the world and all that is therein.

You know this servant, who from the beginning of the Cause has had no thought by day or night save to serve, according to his weakness and capacity, the Cause of God. I have not rested for a moment, nor found repose for a single night. No evening has brought me peace, no dawn has granted tranquility to my heart. At all times I have been in turmoil and strain, in all seasons in difficulty and tribulation.

I hope from the grace and gift of the Glorious Lord that the friends of God will shine like luminous candles with the light of the love of God, and day and night engage in supplication and entreaty, and offer prayers at the threshold of the Lord of Majesty, saying "Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate after Thou hast guided us."

In fact, you are my companions in servitude to the world, and you are in prison as I am, and in everything we are partners.

'Abdu'l-Baha's desire is such that he may adorn the gallows in the path of servitude to the Abha Beauty - what place is there to seek release from prison? The divine friends must supplicate and implore at the Threshold of Oneness with utter lowliness and neediness that He may make this abased servant honored in the place of sacrifice.

O steadfast servant at the Threshold of Truth! All people seek freedom, aspire to nobility, and desire lordship. But you take counsel from 'Abdu'l-Baha - seek servitude, pursue lowliness, and desire to be a servant.

We have no escape from trials and no alternative to servitude at the Divine Threshold. Whatever occurs is beneficial. We trust in God in all matters and conditions, and we pray for your glory and advancement.

There is no way unto Thee except through powerlessness and effacement, no drawing nigh unto Thy exalted threshold except through supplication and entreaty.

By Thy might! It is as though I see this station of mine as the summit of Paradise, for whoever can praise Thee cares not for the displeasure of Thy servants, and whoever delights in intimacy with Thy presence misses no good in the presence of Thy Divine Dominion.

And at that time was I confounded, by reason of the stings wherewith they, who have differed concerning my station, did vex me -- after that Thou hadst ordained for me no condition save servitude before Thy face, prostration before the manifestations of Thy sovereignty, and turning in penitence unto the doors of the outpourings of Thy mercy.

Then, standing with open hands, palms upward toward the face, let him say:

Disappoint not, O my God, him that hath, with beseeching fingers, clung to the hem of Thy mercy and Thy grace, O Thou Who of those who show mercy art the Most Merciful!

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I am Thy servant, O my Lord, and the son of Thy servant. Behold me standing ready to do Thy will and Thy desire, and wishing naught else except Thy good pleasure. I implore Thee by the Ocean of Thy mercy and the Day-Star of Thy grace to do with Thy servant as Thou willest and pleasest.

If I have sinned against Thee, I am but Thy servant, and if I have obeyed Thee, I am still but Thy servant.

… Therefore, unto Thee do I flee, O Bestower, and in Thee do I seek refuge, O Oft-Returning! If Thou forgivest none but the believers, whither shall the sinners flee? And if Thou pardonest none but the obedient ones, where shall the rebellious run? From Thee unto Thee do I flee, and from Thee unto Thy presence do I hasten. Thou art the King, the All-Powerful, and the Sovereign, the Administrator.

I shall find sufficiency in Thee apart from all others, O Thou Possessor of beauty and glory, and I shall find contentment in Thee apart from Thy creation, O Thou Lord of power and perfection, and I shall find satisfaction in Thee apart from all else, O Thou Lord of strength and action.

I desire naught but Thee in my remembrance, and I want none other than Thee.

Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants and all abide by His bidding!

Make me ready, in all circumstances, O my Lord, to serve Thee and to set myself towards the adored sanctuary of Thy Revelation and of Thy Beauty. If it be Thy pleasure, make me to grow as a tender herb in the meadows of Thy grace, that the gentle winds of Thy will may stir me up and bend me into conformity with Thy pleasure, in such wise that my movement and my stillness may be wholly directed by Thee.

I am, O my God, Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I have recognized Thy truth in Thy days, and have directed my steps towards the shores of Thy oneness, confessing Thy singleness, acknowledging Thy unity, and hoping for Thy forgiveness and pardon. Powerful art Thou to do what Thou willest; no God is there beside Thee, the All-Glorious, the Ever-Forgiving.

I testify that I was heedless - Thou didst guide me to Thy path; I was ignorant - Thou didst teach me the ways of Thy good-pleasure; I was asleep - Thou didst awaken me to Thy remembrance and praise. O my God, my Quest and my Hope! By Thy might! This servant of Thine confesseth his powerlessness, poverty, transgressions, sins, heedlessness and ignorance.

O peerless Lord! In Thine almighty wisdom Thou hast enjoined marriage upon the peoples, that the generations of men may succeed one another in this contingent world, and that ever, so long as the world shall last, they may busy themselves at the Threshold of Thy oneness with servitude and worship, with salutation, adoration and praise.

Cause me, then, to turn wholly unto Thee, to put my whole trust in Thee, to seek Thee as my Refuge, and to flee unto Thy face.

Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Every time I venture to make mention of Thee, I am held back by my mighty sins and grievous trespasses against Thee, and find myself wholly deprived of Thy grace, and utterly powerless to celebrate Thy praise.

I bear witness at this moment, O my God, to my helplessness and Thy sovereignty, my feebleness and Thy power. I know not that which profiteth me or harmeth me; Thou art, verily, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

I am Thy servant who hath laid hold on the cord of Thy tender mercies, and clung to the hem of Thy bounteousness.

We are Thy servants, O my Lord, and in the grasp of Thy power. If Thou chastisest us with the chastisement inflicted upon the former and the latter generations, Thy verdict would be assuredly just and Thine act praiseworthy.

This is Thy servant, O my Lord, who with his whole being hath turned unto the horizon of Thy bounty, and the ocean of Thy grace, and the heaven of Thy gifts.

O joy unto me, then joy unto me, for I am content with Thee in all Thy doings! Make my state before Thee like one who has no will when Thy Will is manifested, lest I love to hasten what Thou hast delayed or delay what Thou hast hastened. Rather, let my private and public self be like a corpse in the hands of the washer before the vast ocean of Thy decree and destiny.

This servant, O Lord, though helpless turneth to the Orb of Thy Power, though abased hasteneth unto the Dayspring of Glory, though needy craveth the Ocean of Thy Grace.

I entreat Thee by the plenteousness of Thy riches, whereby Thou didst dispense with all else except Thyself, to number me with such as have set their faces towards Thee, and arisen to serve Thee.

O God, and the God of all Names, and Maker of the heavens! I entreat Thee by Thy Name through which He Who is the Day-Spring of Thy might and the Dawning-Place of Thy power hath been manifested, through which every solid thing hath been made to flow, and every dead corpse hath been quickened, and every moving spirit confirmed -- I entreat Thee to enable me to rid myself of all attachment to any one but Thee, and to serve Thy Cause, and to wish what Thou didst wish through the power of Thy sovereignty, and to perform what is the good pleasure of Thy will.

Cause him, then, to be wholly devoted to Thee, to declare Thy name, and to fix his gaze upon the sanctuary of Thy Revelation.

O Lord! I am the supplicant and Thou art the One Who answereth; I am the needy and Thou art the All-Possessing; I am the weak and verily Thou art the Strong, the Trusted One.

I do confess unto Thee through the supreme declarations and ultimate --- that I have not truly glorified Thee and can never glorify Thee, I have not truly praised Thee and can never exalt Thee. Rather, in this state of utter helplessness and poverty, I have glorified Thee while certain that it befitteth not the court of Thy glory and confessing that it is unworthy of the sovereignty of Thy justice.

Verily I am Thy servant, O my God, and Thy poor one and Thy suppliant and Thy wretched creature. I have arrived at Thy gate, seeking Thy shelter.

By Thy glory, O my God! Whenever I contemplate Thy greatness and sovereignty, I find myself the most rebellious of all them that have rebelled in Thy realm, and whenever I behold the stations which Thou hast reserved for Thyself, I perceive my being more sinful than any that dwell upon Thy earth.

O my Lord! Sustain me that I may become one of those possessed by Thee, and one of those enamored of Thee. Make me the chief among those distracted by Thy countenance and those dishonored in Thy path. Make me worthy of this bounty and bestow freely upon me this grace.

Here am I, assured of what I am, and acknowledging that which I deserve. Do Thou with me, O my God, as befitteth Thee, not as befitteth me, for verily Thou art my Lord.

Thus do I seek Your forgiveness as You love and are pleased with, and I turn to You in repentance as You reckon. For my very existence in Your dominion is pure sin, so how much more when sin acquires another sin?

O my God! After all this, I am ashamed of my deeds before Thee and abashed at making mention of Thee. Yet since I know that all this cometh from none other than Thee and from Thy presence, my soul findeth rest and my being is calmed, for Thou art the Doer of all things and the Omnipotent over all things.

I am he, O my God, that hath clung to the resplendent hem of Thy robe, and taken hold on Thy strong cord that none can sever. I testify that Thou hast created me, and nourished me, and brought me up, and fed me, and sustained me, that I may recognize Him Who is the Day-Spring of Thy signs, and the Revealer of Thy clear tokens.

O my Lord! I am Thy handmaiden and the daughter of Thy handmaiden. Thou hast made me one of the leaves of the Blessed Tree in Thy days.

I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant, O my God! I have laid hold on the handle of Thy grace, and clung to the cord of Thy tender mercy.

Thou didst call me, and I answered Thee. Thou didst summon me, and I hastened unto Thee, entering beneath the shade of Thy mercy and seeking shelter at the threshold of the door of Thy grace.

O my Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I know not what beseemeth me to ask of Thee. Thou art more knowing of me than I am of myself.

I am all wretchedness, O my Lord, and Thou art the Most Powerful, the Almighty. Have pity upon me by Thy grace and bountiful favor, and graciously aid me to serve Thee and them that are dear to Thee.

O Lord! I am weak - strengthen me to exalt Thy Word; I am feeble - fortify my back for Thy worship; I am frail - gird up my loins for servitude unto Thee.

O my Lord! How sweet is the flow of the spirit of servitude in my spirit, my essence, my being and all my limbs and parts before Thy exalted threshold! And how delightful is the sweetness of bondage permeating my identity, my reality, my outer and inner being before the holy, sublime gate of Thy oneness!

Enable us to serve Thy friends and strengthen us to be servants to Thy loved ones.

This is the ultimate desire of my heart and soul, this is the ultimate hope of my conscience and consciousness. … Consider how through this precious crown the head of 'Abdu'l-Baha has risen above the Pleiades, and through this glorious light the brow of this lowly one has illumined the horizons. All shall soon know the glory of servitude at the Threshold of Baha.

Grant him an enlightened heart and an eloquent tongue in every gathering, that he may become detached from estrangement and captured by estrangement from Thee, that he may enter into Thy bondage and be freed from every other bond, become Thy captive and endure and be chained in Thy path.

O Kind One, O Self-Sufficient One! These servants of Thine have traversed mountains and deserts, and crossed plains and seas until they reached their intended destination. And now they are in the depths of depths and have no refuge and shelter save Thee, and seek no helper or supporter.

Make us firm in Thy Cause, submissive before the Throne of Thy Majesty Acknowledging Thy Dominion, arising in Thy Service, engaged in Thy adoration. Verily Thou art the Merciful! Thou art the Omnipotent. And Thou art the Clement and the Wise.

Draw me unto Thee, even if by chains and fetters.

… Then I beseech Thee, O my God, to consume what I possess with the fire of attraction, then cause me to dwell in the Garden of Eternity, the station of those among Thy servants who are at peace and those among Thy chosen ones who are steadfast, who have no will save what Thou hast willed and no purpose save what Thou hast decreed.

I long to place my face and my brow upon every spot of Thy earth that perchance it may fall upon dust that hath been honored by the footsteps of Thy chosen ones and Thy messengers.

Then make us, O my God, to walk in the ways of Thy good-pleasure and to be content at the descent of Thy decree, in such wise that we fear none save Thee and turn to none except Thee, for in Thy hands is the kingdom of all things and Thou art verily the Mighty, the Powerful, the Exalted, the Omnipotent.

Thou knowest, O my God, that I am abased before him who seeketh might through the power of Thy sovereignty, and am poor before him who findeth riches through the manifestations of Thy strength, and am as nothing before him who attaineth perpetuity through the perpetuity of Thine Essence. … Glory be unto Thee! I am before Thee among those who repent and worship.

O my Lord! Thou seest me turning toward Thee and holding fast to Thy Book. I beseech Thee to assist me in serving Thee and in serving those near ones among Thy loved ones whom neither the confederations of the oppressors nor the utterances of the infidels did frighten.

Thou knowest, O my God, that I have not followed my will, but rather Thy will, nor my desire, but rather Thy desire, and I love naught except what Thou lovest.

… Thine is the command and the bestowal in all conditions, and for Thy servant is submission and contentment.

O my Lord! I am Thy servant and within Thy grasp. Move me as Thou willest and cause me to stand as Thou desirest.

O Lord! Draw me through the breezes of Thy revelation in such wise that I may be set ablaze with Thy name amidst all worlds, and that every soul may find from me the warmth of Thy love and the radiance of Thy Cause. O Lord! By Thy glory, life is beloved if it ends in service to Thee and is spent in Thy path; and apart from this I love it not, nay rather, I utterly renounce it. O Lord! Make me a servant of Thy Cause, then accept me through Thy grace and bounty.

O Lord, we are weak, poor, submissive and humble; strengthen, enrich and uplift us above all earthly conditions.

O Lord! Thou art the Master and I am the servant. I ask Thee to assist me in serving Thee and enable me to remember Thee and praise Thee.

Be thou contented, in utter acquiescence and at all times, with the Decree of thy Lord, first in thy soul, and then in thine outward manifestation. Thou wouldst attain the utmost state of contentment with the good pleasure of God when thou art pleased with misery even as thou wouldst be with glory, with poverty as with wealth, with exertion as with tranquility, and with sorrow as with joy, in the states of thy soul and the outward condition that God hath destined for thee. Verily all the knowledge of ethics streameth forth out of the well-spring of this crystal, living water.

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Cook Ting laid down his knife and replied, "What I care about is the Way, which goes beyond skill. When I first began cutting up oxen, all I could see was the ox itself. After three years I no longer saw the whole ox. And now--now I go at it by spirit and don't look with my eyes. Perception and understanding have come to a stop and spirit moves where it wants. I go along with the natural makeup, strike in the big hollows, guide the knife through the big openings, and follow things are they are. So I never touch the smallest ligament or tendon, much less a main joint."

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified