Part I--From the Arabic

My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine
may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting.

The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if
thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou
shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt
know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor.
Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift
to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.

Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I
knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine
image and revealed to thee My beauty.

I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I
may name thy name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life.

Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise
reach thee. Know this, O servant.

Thy Paradise is My love; thy heavenly home, reunion with Me. Enter therein
and tarry not. This is that which hath been destined for thee in Our kingdom
above and Our exalted dominion.

If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if thou seekest My pleasure,
regard not thine own; that thou mayest die in Me and I may eternally live in thee.

There is no peace for thee save by renouncing thyself and turning unto Me; for
it behooveth thee to glory in My name, not in thine own; to put thy trust in Me
and not in thyself, since I desire to be loved alone and above all that is.

My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein is safe and secure, and he
that turneth away shall surely stray and perish.

Thou art My stronghold; enter therein that thou mayest abide in safety. My
love is in thee, know it, that thou mayest find Me near unto thee.

Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee. Get thou from it thy radiance and
seek none other than Me. For I have created thee rich and have bountifully
shed My favor upon thee.

With the hands of power I made thee and with the fingers of strength I created
thee; and within thee have I placed the essence of My light. Be thou content
with it and seek naught else, for My work is perfect and My command is
binding. Question it not, nor have a doubt thereof.

I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to poverty? Noble I made
thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself? Out of the essence of knowledge I
gave thee being, why seekest thou enlightenment from anyone beside Me?
Out of the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy thyself with
another? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within
thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting.

Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth not; wherefore fearest thou
thy perishing? Thou art My light and My light shall never be extinguished; why
dost thou dread extinction? Thou art My glory and My glory fadeth not; thou
art My robe and My robe shall never be outworn. Abide then in thy love for Me,
that thou mayest find Me in the realm of glory.

Turn thy face unto Mine and renounce all save Me; for My sovereignty
endureth and My dominion perisheth not. If thou seekest another than Me,
yea, if thou searchest the universe for evermore, thy quest will be in vain.

Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This is of the essence of My
command, therefore turn unto it.

Be thou content with Me and seek no other helper. For none but Me can ever
suffice thee.

Ask not of Me that which We desire not for thee, then be content with what
We have ordained for thy sake, for this is that which profiteth thee, if therewith
thou dost content thyself.

I have breathed within thee a breath of My own Spirit, that thou mayest be My
lover. Why hast thou forsaken Me and sought a beloved other than Me?

My claim on thee is great, it cannot be forgotten. My grace to thee is
plenteous, it cannot be veiled. My love has made in thee its home, it cannot
be concealed. My light is manifest to thee, it cannot be obscured.