culty of meditation man attains to eternal life; through it
he receives the breath of the Holy Spirit--the bestowal of the Spirit is
given in reflection and meditation.

The spirit of man is itself informed and strengthened during meditation;
through it affairs of which man knew nothing are unfolded before his view.
Through it he receives Divine inspiration, through it he receives heavenly
food.

Meditation is the key for opening the doors of mysteries. In that state
man abstracts himself: in that state man withdraws himself from all
outside objects; in that subjective mood he is immersed in the ocean of
spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of things-in-themselves. To
illustrate this, think of man as endowed with two kinds of sight; when the
power of insight is being used the outward power of vision does not see.

This faculty of meditation frees man from the animal nature, discerns the
reality of things, puts man in touch with God.

This faculty brings forth from the invisible plane the sciences and arts.
Through the meditative faculty inventions are made possible, colossal
undertakings are carried out; through it governments can run smoothly.
Through this faculty man enters into the very Kingdom of God.

Nevertheless some thoughts are useless to man; they are like waves moving
in the sea without result. But if the faculty of meditation is bathed in
the inner light and characterized with divine attributes, the results will
be confirmed.

The meditative faculty is akin to the mirror; if you put it before earthly
objects it will reflect them. Therefore if the spirit of man is
contemplating earthly subjects he will be informed of these.

But if you turn the mirror of your spirits heavenwards, the heavenly
constellations and the rays of the Sun of Reality will be reflected in
your hearts, and the virtues of the Kingdom will be obtained.

Therefore let us keep this faculty rightly directed--turning it to the
heavenly Sun and not to earthly objects--so that we may discover the
secrets of the Kingdom, and comprehend the allegories of the Bible and the
mysteries of the spirit.

May we indeed become mirrors reflecting the heavenly realities, and may we
become so pure as to reflect the stars of heaven.

PRAYER

97 Cadogan Gardens, London,
December 26th, 1912

'Should Prayer take the form of action?'

'Abdu'l-Baha.--'Yes: In the Baha'i Cause arts, sciences and all crafts are
(counted as) worship. The