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Paris Talks
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Pages 168-172
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THE LAST MEETING
15 Rue Greuze, Paris,
December 1st
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1 |
When I arrived in Paris some time ago for the
first time, I looked around me with much
interest, and in my mind I likened this beautiful city
to a large garden.
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2 |
With loving care and much thought I examined the
soil, and found it to be very good and full of possibility
for steadfast faith and firm belief, for a seed of God's
love has been cast into the ground.
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3 |
Clouds of Heavenly Mercy showered their rain upon
it, and the Sun of Truth fell warmly upon the young
seeds, and today one can see in your midst the birth
of belief. The seed cast into the ground has begun to
spring up, and day by day you will see it grow. The
bounties of the Kingdom of Bahá'u'lláh shall indeed
bring forth a wondrous harvest!
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4 |
Behold! I bring you glad and joyful tidings! Paris
will become a garden of roses! All kinds of beautiful
flowers will spring up and flourish in this garden, and
the fame of their fragrance and beauty will be spread in
all lands. When I think of Paris in the future, I seem
to see her bathed in the light of the Holy Spirit!
Verily, the day is dawning when Paris will receive her
illumination, and the Goodness and Mercy of God will
be visible to every living creature.
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5 |
Do not allow your minds to dwell on the present,
but with eyes of faith look into the future, for in truth
the Spirit of God is working in your midst.
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6 |
Since my arrival a few weeks ago, I can see the
growth of spirituality. At the beginning only a few
souls came to me for Light, but during my short sojourn
among you the numbers have increased and
doubled. This is a promise for the future!
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7 |
When Christ was crucified and left this world, He
had only eleven disciples and a very few followers; but
as He served the Cause of truth, look today at the result
of His life's work! He has illumined the world, and
given life to dead humanity. After His ascension little
by little His Cause grew, the souls of His followers
became more and more luminous, and the exquisite
perfume of their saintly lives spread on all sides.
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Now today, thank God, a similar condition has begun
in Paris. There are many souls who have turned to
the Kingdom of God, and who are attracted to unity,
love and truth.
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Try so to work that the goodness and mercy of Abhá
may enfold the whole of Paris. The Breath of the Holy
Spirit will help you, the Celestial Light of the Kingdom
will shine in your hearts, and the blessed angels of God
from Heaven will bring you strength and will succour
you. Then thank God with all your hearts that you
have attained to this supreme benefit. A great part of
the world is plunged in sleep, but you have been
awakened. Many are blind, but you see!
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10 |
The call of the Kingdom is heard in your midst.
Glory be to God, you have been born again, you have
been baptized by the fire of the Love of God; you have
been plunged in the Sea of Life and regenerated by the
Spirit of Love!
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11 |
Having received such favour be thankful unto God,
and never doubt His Goodness and Loving Kindness
but have undying faith in the Bounties of the Kingdom.
Consort together in brotherly love, be ready to
lay down your lives one for the other, and not only for
those who are dear to you, but for all humanity. Look
upon the whole human race as members of one family,
all children of God; and, in so doing, you will see no
difference between them.
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Humanity may be likened to a tree. This tree has
branches, leaves, buds and fruit. Think of all men as
being flowers, leaves or buds of this tree, and try to
help each and all to realize and enjoy God's blessings.
God neglects none: He loves all.
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13 |
The only real difference that exists between people
is that they are at various stages of development. Some
are imperfect--these must be brought to perfection.
Some are asleep--they must be awakened; some are
negligent--they must be roused; but one and all are
the children of God. Love them all with your whole
heart; no one is a stranger to the other, all are friends.
Tonight I come to say farewell to you--but bear this
in your minds, that although our bodies may be far
apart, in spirit we shall always be together.
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I bear you one and all in my heart, and will forget
none of you--and I hope that none of you will forget
me.
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I in the East, and you in the West, let us try with
heart and soul that unity may dwell in the world, that
all the peoples may become one people, and that the
whole surface of the earth may be like one country--
for the Sun of Truth shines on all alike.
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All the Prophets of God came for love of this one
great aim.
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Look how Abraham strove to bring faith and love
among the people; how Moses tried to unite the people
by sound laws; how the Lord Christ suffered unto
death to bring the light of love and truth into a darkened
world; how Muhammad sought to bring unity
and peace between the various uncivilized tribes among
whom he dwelt. And last of all, Bahá'u'lláh has
suffered forty years for the same cause--the single noble
purpose of spreading love among the children of men
--and for the peace and unity of the world the Báb
gave up his life.
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Thus, strive to follow the example of these Divine
Beings, drink from Their fountain, be illumined by
Their Light, and to the world be as symbols of the
Mercy and Love of God. Be unto the world as rain
and clouds of mercy, as suns of truth; be a celestial
army, and you shall indeed conquer the city of hearts.
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Be thankful unto God that Bahá'u'lláh has given us
a firm and solid foundation. He left no place for sadness
in hearts, and the writings of His sacred pen contain
consolation for the whole world. He had the words of
truth, and anything that is contrary to His teaching is
false. The chief aim of all His work was to do away
with division.
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The testament of Bahá'u'lláh is a Rain of Goodness,
a Sun of Truth, Water of Life, the Holy Spirit. Thus
open your hearts to receive the full power of His
Beauty, and I will pray for you all that this joy may be
yours.
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21 |
Now I say `Good-bye'.
This I say only to your outer selves; I do not say it to your souls, for our souls are always together.
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Be comforted, and rest assured that day and night
I shall turn to the Kingdom of Abhá in supplication for
you, that day by day you may grow better and holier,
nearer to God, and more and more illumined by the
radiance of His Love.
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