, during all those forty years I was supremely happy! Every
day, on waking, it was like hearing good tidings, and every night infinite
joy was mine. Spirituality was my comfort, and turning to God was my
greatest joy. If this had not been so, do you think it possible that I
could have lived through those forty years in prison?

Thus, spirituality is the greatest of God's gifts, and 'Life Everlasting'
means 'Turning to God'. May you, one and all, increase daily in
spirituality, may you be strengthened in all goodness, may you be helped
more and more by the Divine consolation, be made free by the Holy Spirit
of God, and may the power of the Heavenly Kingdom live and work among you.

This is my earnest desire, and I pray to God to grant you this favour.

THE PERFECT HUMAN SENTIMENTS AND VIRTUES

November 23rd

'Abdu'l-Baha said:

You should all be very happy and thankful to God for the great privilege
that is yours.

This is purely a spiritual meeting! Praise be to God, your hearts are
turned to Him, your souls are attracted to the Kingdom, you have spiritual
aspirations, and your thoughts soar above the world of dust.

You belong to the world of purity, and are not content to live the life of
the animal, spending your days in eating, drinking, and sleeping. You are
indeed men! Your thoughts and ambitions are set to acquire human
perfection. You live to do good and to bring happiness to others. Your
greatest longing is to comfort those who mourn, to strengthen the weak,
and to be the cause of hope to the despairing soul. Day and night your
thoughts are turned to the Kingdom, and your hearts are full of the Love
of God.

Thus you know neither opposition, dislike, nor hatred, for every living
creature is dear to you and the good of each is sought.

These are perfect human sentiments and virtues. If a man has none of
these, he had better cease to exist. If a lamp has ceased to give light,
it had better be destroyed. If a tree bear no fruit, it had better be cut
down, for it only cumbereth the ground.

Verily, it is better a thousand times for a man to die than to continue
living without virtue.

We have eyes wherewith to see, but if we do not use them how do they
profit us? We have ears wherewith to hear, but if we are deaf of what use
are they?

We have a tongue wherewith to praise God and proclaim the good tidings,
but if we are dumb how useless it is!

The All-loving God created man to radiate the