A Violet from Breakwell's Grave
bahaistories.com archive · Read original
When in Bahá'í history
Yunis Khan recounts the following story regarding the Master's continuing attachment to Thomas Breakwell, after his passing from this earthly plane: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá called me one day to His presence, to give me letters to translate. There were many envelopes sent from various places. While examining them still sealed, He, all of a sudden, picked out one and said: "How pleasing is the fragrance that emanates from this envelope. Make haste, open it and see where it comes from. Make haste." . . . In it there was a postcard . . . The postcard was coloured a beautiful shade, and attached to it was one solitary flower -- a violet. Written in letters of gold were these words: "He is not dead. He lives on in the Kingdom of God." Further, there was this sentence: 'This flower was picked from Breakwell's grave.' When I told the Master what the message of the postcard was, He at once rose up from His seat, took the card, put it on His blessed brow, and tears flowed down His cheeks.
Source: Rajwantee Lakshiman-Lepain, The Life of Thomas Breakwell, p. 45; also in H. M. Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The Centre of the Covenant, p. 80.
Collected from bahaistories.com.
Cite this story
Various. *bahaistories.com archive*. https://bahaistories.com/subject/breakwell
Record yourself reading this story
Recording stays on this device only. Nothing is uploaded.
Related stories
The Master Grieves for Breakwell
Thomas Breakwell died in June 1902, hardly a year after becoming a Bahá’í. Yúnis Khán recalls how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá told him of the death, though no news of it had passed through his hands, and wrote a prayer of visitation for Breakwell.
Thomas Breakwell, a Living Spirit
In Paris in 1901, Thomas Breakwell heard a voice in the wind say “Christ has come again!” He learned of Bahá'u'lláh from May Bolles, visited 'Abdu'l-Bahá in 'Akká, and gave the rest of his short life to service.
A Question Outside the Khan
In 'Akká in 1897 Dr Yúnis Khán asked 'Abdu'l-Bahá whether the one who would follow Him had already been born. 'Abdu'l-Bahá said it was true, and Yúnis Khán kept the answer to himself for many years.
Thomas Breakwell Meets the Faith in Paris
In the summer of 1901 a young Englishman met May Bolles in Paris and within three days accepted the Bahá'í Faith. On pilgrimage to 'Akká he told 'Abdu'l-Bahá that the mill he worked for relied on child labour, and resigned at the Master's word.