Part I--From the Arabic

Ascend unto My heaven, that thou mayest obtain the joy of reunion, and from
the chalice of imperishable glory quaff the peerless wine.

Many a day hath passed over thee whilst thou hast busied thyself with thy
fancies and idle imaginings. How long art thou to slumber on thy bed? Lift up
thy head from slumber, for the Sun hath risen to the zenith, haply it may
shine upon thee with the light of beauty.

The light hath shone on thee from the horizon of the sacred Mount and the
spirit of enlightenment hath breathed in the Sinai of thy heart. Wherefore, free
thyself from the veils of idle fancies and enter into My court, that thou mayest
be fit for everlasting life and worthy to meet Me. Thus may death not come
upon thee, neither weariness nor trouble.

My eternity is My creation, I have created it for thee. Make it the garment of
thy temple. My unity is My handiwork; I have wrought it for thee; clothe thyself
therewith, that thou mayest be to all eternity the revelation of My everlasting being.

My majesty is My gift to thee, and My grandeur the token of My mercy unto
thee. That which beseemeth Me none shall understand, nor can anyone
recount. Verily, I have preserved it in My hidden storehouses and in the
treasuries of My command, as a sign of My loving-kindness unto My servants
and My mercy unto My people.

Ye shall be hindered from loving Me and souls shall be perturbed as they
make mention of Me. For minds cannot grasp Me nor hearts contain Me.

By My spirit and by My favor! By My mercy and by My beauty! All that I have
revealed unto thee with the tongue of power, and have written for thee with the
pen of might, hath been in accordance with thy capacity and understanding,
not with My state and the melody of My voice.

Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should
exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were
created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is
incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with
the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by
your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment
may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light!
Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of
wondrous glory.

Ye are My treasury, for in you I have treasured the pearls of My mysteries and
the gems of My knowledge. Guard them from the strangers amidst My
servants and from the ungodly amongst My people.

Know thou, that I have wafted unto thee all the fragrances of holiness, have
fully revealed to thee My word, have perfected through thee My bounty and
have desired for thee that which I have desired for My Self. Be then content
with My pleasure and thankful unto Me.

Write all that We have revealed unto thee with the ink of light upon the tablet
of thy spirit. Should this not be in thy power, then make thine ink of the
essence of thy heart. If this thou canst not do, then write with that crimson ink
that hath been shed in My path. Sweeter indeed is this to Me than all else,
that its light may endure for ever.