A CLARION CALL

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Whosoever Thou exaltest

 is raised above the angels, and attaineth the station: 
'Verily, We uplifted him to a place on high!'
- Baha'u'llah -

Dear Ones,

Just as the worlds of God vary in their divine tones and hues, so do the souls in their stations. In the divine realm of Jabarut—accessible solely to the most ardent and severed souls, THE BEAUTY OF ABHA proclaims :

Blessed is the soul which, at the hour of its separation from the body, is sanctified from the vain imaginings of the peoples of the world. Such a soul liveth and moveth in accordance with the Will of its Creator and entereth the all-highest Paradise. The Maids of Heaven, inmates of the loftiest mansions, will circle around it, and the Prophets of God and His chosen ones will seek its companionship. With them that soul will freely converse, and will recount unto them that which it hath been made to endure in the path of God, the Lord of all.

This supreme station, attainable by the human soul, is unveiled with radiant clarity in THE STAGES OF THE SOUL: 

And when the soul hath unfolded the wings of the spirit, been attracted by the Joy of God, hath soared to the most exalted horizon, hath sought the most glorious Companion, it doth ascend to the divine station of JABARUT... It becomes aware of the secrets of hidden and invisible realities which consumes in envy the hearts of the mystic knowers. 

Only the sincere ones among them receive the great bounty of the rays of this most luminous light in their haste and progress toward the state of nothingness at the gate of the mighty King. (provisional translation)

 

Here shines an example of a most refined soul—the very archetype we are called to become: Thomas Breakwell (1872-1902). 

By a wondrous miracle of mystical love and unshakable faith, this young Englishman attained that supreme station in mere months during his final year on earth. His story—recounted HERE—earned him the titles of “hero” and “our luminary” from the Master. Abdu’l-Baha’s Tablet to him echoes with tender grief and boundless joy, a heartfelt lament and celebration:

Grieve thou not over the ascension of my beloved Breakwell, for he hath risen unto a rose garden of splendours within the Abha Paradise, sheltered by the mercy of his mighty Lord, and he is crying at the top of his voice: 'O that my people could know how graciously my Lord hath forgiven me, and made me to be of those who have attained His Presence!'

O Breakwell, O my dear one!
Where now is thy fair face? Where is thy fluent tongue? Where thy clear brow? Where thy bright comeliness?

O Breakwell, O my dear one!
Where is thy fire, blazing with God's love? Where is thy rapture at His holy breaths? Where are thy praises, lifted unto Him? Where is thy rising up to serve His Cause?

Thus spoke the Master in an eternal cry of love…

 

This humble wayfarer reached his exalted position through the aid of the heavenly Concourse. Baha’u’llah assures us that such swift ascent is possible along the Path:

These journeys have no visible ending in the world of time, but the severed wayfarer—if invisible confirmation descend upon him and the Guardian of the Cause assist him—may cross these seven stages in seven steps, nay rather in seven breaths, nay rather in a single breath, if God will and desire it. And this is of "His grace on such of His servants as He pleaseth."

This is the new Garden, "the Supreme Heaven" brought by the Revelation of Baha’u’llah, to which He calls us with insistent tenderness:

O YE DWELLERS IN THE HIGHEST PARADISE! Proclaim unto the children of assurance that within the realms of holiness, nigh unto the celestial paradise, a new garden hath appeared, round which circle the denizens of the realm on high and the immortal dwellers of the exalted paradise. Strive, then, that ye may attain that station, that ye may unravel the mysteries of love from its wind-flowers and learn the secret of divine and consummate wisdom from its eternal fruits. Solaced are the eyes of them that enter and abide therein!

Thomas has shown us the ultimate way. Will we, too, respond to this clarion call from the Master of our hearts?

Give ear unto that which the Spirit imparteth unto thee from the verses of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, that His Call may attract thee to the Summit of transcendent glory and draw thee nigh unto the Station where thou shalt behold thine entire being set ablaze with the fire of the love of God in such wise that neither the ascendancy of the rulers nor the whisperings of their vassals can quench it, and thou wilt arise amidst the peoples of the world to celebrate the praise of thy Lord, the Possessor of Names. This is that which well beseemeth thee in this Day.

And further:

In this day, all those ranks (asked about) are witnessed; therefore, blessed is the soul who victoriously succeedeth in attaining the Paradise of ‘Abhá, which is, was and ever will be supreme of all paradises.

- Baha'u'llah (provisional translation)

Be wonderfully blessed !

Loesha

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