“O thou attracted one!...”
'Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas, (1909) · Read original
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When in Bahá'í history
O thou attracted one!
Thy letter was an evidence of the happiness and rejoicing of thy heart and soul and a proof of knowing the True One and severing thyself from all else save Him. When thou beholdest with the eye of Truth, then thou wilt realize that in this world neither known or unknown, neither kind father or beloved son, mother or sister, help us. No persons assist except the Benevolent Almighty.
When thou knowest Him, thou art independent from all else. When thou art attached to His love, then thou art detached from every kith and kin.
O thou attracted one of the Kingdom! Complete thou the study of the art of music and sacrifice thyself more or less to the Lord of the Kingdom.
The spiritual lily reached [me] in the world of the Merciful and its sweet fragrance perfumed the nostril.303 I ask God that thou mayest find a soul overflowing with glad-tidings, seek a heart of joy and attain to tthe beautiful ideal! That thou mayest sever thyself from this world and soar up to the Universe of the Creator!
Source: 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas (1909). Public domain text from Project Gutenberg eBook #19312.
Discuss this story
For adults
- If you were to share this story aloud at a devotional gathering, which sentence would you read first?
- How does this story complicate or deepen your understanding of tablets?
- Where do joy and kindness meet in this story?
For teens
- What is one quality you'd want to carry forward from this account?
- Which line in this story surprised you the most?
Reflection
- How does joy show up in your life right now — and where is it being asked of you?
- Is there someone in your life who would be helped by hearing this story?
- Sit quietly for a moment after reading. What does this story stir in you?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "“O thou attracted one!...”" drawn from?
What period of Bahá'í history does this story belong to?
Which historical figure is featured most prominently in this story?
Which virtue does this story most clearly illustrate?
Cite this story
'Abdu'l-Bahá. (1909). *Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas*. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/19312/pg19312-images.html
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