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Letter of 4 November 1926 |
The wine mentioned in the Tablets has undoubtedly a spiritual
meaning for in the book of Aqdas we are definitely forbidden to
take not only wine, but every thing that deranges the mind. In
poetry as a whole wine is taken to have a different connotation
than the ordinary intoxicating liquid. We see it thus used by the
Persian Poets such as Sa’dí and Umar Khayám and Háfiz to mean
that element which nears man to his divine beloved, which makes
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him forget his material self so as better to seek his spiritual desires.
It is very necessary to tell the children what this wine means so
that they may not confuse it with the ordinary wine.
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The books of laws or Aqdas has not yet been properly
translated because as you mentioned we do not have any competent
person for the work. When the Cause was first introduced to
west one of the Arab friends made such an attempt but it was so
misleading and confusing that the Master forbade any individual
to make another trial. He said that it is the work of a group of
competent translators and not of one person. Most of the important
subjects mentioned there are, however, quite familiar to the
friends through other tablets and there is no pressing need for
such a work at present.
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Your welcome letter, indicative of your perseverance in service,
despite the great loss you have sustained, was a source of great comfort
and strength to me. I hope and pray that your dear children will
grow in spiritual understanding, wisdom and virtue and by their
life, their conduct and future services to the Cause make the soul of
their departed father radiant and joyous and prove a solace to your
heart. Rest assured that you all occupy a warm and abiding place in
my heart and are the object of my constant and fervent prayers at
the holy Shrines.
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