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the path leading unto the knowledge of the Ancient of Days, he must,
before all else, cleanse his heart, which is the seat of the revelation of
the inner mysteries of God, from the obscuring dust of all acquired
knowledge, and the allusions of the embodiments of satanic fancy. He must
purge his breast, which is the sanctuary of the abiding love of the
Beloved, of every defilement, and sanctify his soul from all that
pertaineth to water and clay, from all shadowy and ephemeral attachments.
He must so cleanse his heart that no remnant of either love or hate may
linger therein, lest that love blindly incline him to error, or that hate
repel him away from the truth. Even as thou dost witness in this Day how
most of the people, because of such love and hate, are bereft of the
immortal Face, have strayed far from the Embodiments of the Divine
mysteries, and, shepherdless, are roaming through the wilderness of
oblivion and error.

That seeker must, at all times, put his trust in God, must renounce the
peoples of the earth, must detach himself from the world of dust, and
cleave unto Him Who is the Lord of Lords. He must never seek to exalt
himself above any one, must wash away from the tablet of his heart every
trace of pride and vain-glory, must cling unto patience and resignation,
observe silence and refrain from idle talk. For the tongue is a smoldering
fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the
body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The
force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the
latter endureth a century.

That seeker should, also, regard backbiting as grievous error, and keep
himself aloof from its dominion, inasmuch as backbiting quencheth the
light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul. He should be
content with little, and be freed from all inordinate desire. He should
treasure the companionship of them that have renounced the world, and
regard avoidance of boastful and worldly people a precious benefit. At the
dawn of every day he should commune with God, and, with all his soul,
persevere in the quest of his Beloved. He should consume every wayward
thought with the flame of His loving mention, and, with the swiftness of
lightning, pass by all else save Him. He should succor the dispossessed,
and never withhold his favor from the destitute. He should show kindness
to animals, how much more unto his fellow-man, to him w