Chapter 7
Excerpt from a Tablet of `Abdu'l-Bahá
O thou who art firm in the Covenant!*
The International Congress of Religions was organized this year (1906) in the
capital of Japan. Many souls hastened to that empire from different parts of
the world, in order that they might talk of and discuss the principles of their
own religions, each one longing to convert that assembly to his own religion
and establish the validity of his own particular belief. This congress had
under discussion the politics of the religions. In truth, it is a political
affair and not the attraction of the heart, faith, advancement toward God nor
enkindlement with the fire of the love of God. This congress will not produce a
lasting effect, for it is essentially politico-religious. What is effective and
conducive to the penetration of the Word of God and the attraction of hearts is
the fragrances of holiness and the divine glad-tidings, which the members of
the congress do not in the least comprehend.
Consequently, if the believers of God go to that country — not to the
congress — and through the power of the Word of God, the breath of the Holy
Spirit, the reading of the verses of Oneness and associating with the
individual inhabitants of that kingdom, undoubtedly untold and tremendous
results will be realized and the sweet fragrance of the rose-garden of
mysteries will perfume the nostrils of the people of those regions. It is
significantly useful if some of the friends of God put forth an effort and
hasten from America to those parts (Japan)...
(1906)
__________
* Addressed to Ahmad Sohrab.
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