_No man shall attain the shores of the ocean of true understanding
except he be detached from all that is in heaven and on earth.
Sanctify your souls, O ye peoples of the world, that haply ye may
attain that station which God hath destined for you and enter thus
the tabernacle which, according to the dispensations of
Providence, hath been raised in the firmament of the Bayán._


The essence of these words is this: they that tread the path of faith,
they that thirst for the wine of certitude, must cleanse themselves of all
that is earthly—their ears from idle talk, their minds from vain
imaginings, their hearts from worldly affections, their eyes from that
which perisheth. They should put their trust in God, and, holding fast
unto Him, follow in His way. Then will they be made worthy of the
effulgent glories of the sun of divine knowledge and understanding, and
become the recipients of a grace that is infinite and unseen, inasmuch as
man can never hope to attain unto the knowledge of the All-Glorious, can
never quaff from the stream of divine knowledge and wisdom, can never
enter the abode of immortality, nor partake of the cup of divine nearness
and favour, unless and until he ceases to regard the words and deeds of
mortal men as a standard for the true understanding and recognition of God
and His Prophets.

Consider the past. How many, both high and low, have, at all times,
yearningly awaited the advent of the Manifestations of God in the
sanctified persons of His chosen Ones. How often have they expected His
coming, how frequently have they prayed that the breeze of divine mercy
might blow, and the promised Beauty step forth from behind the veil of