s a language of the spirit and heart. It is as
different from our language as our own language is different from
that of the animals, who express themselves only by cries and
sounds.

It is the language of the spirit which speaks to God. When, in
prayer, we are freed from all outward things and turn to God, then
it is as if in our hearts we hear the voice of God. Without words
we speak, we communicate, we converse with God and hear the
answer.... All of us, when we attain to a truly spiritual
condition, can hear the Voice of God. (from a talk reported by
Miss Ethel J. Rosenberg).

Baha'u'llah declares that the higher spiritual truths can be communicated
only by means of this spiritual language. The spoken or written word is
quite inadequate. In a little book called The Seven Valleys, in which He
describes the journey of travelers from the earthly dwelling to the Divine
Home, He says, in speaking of the more advanced stages of the journey:--

The tongue is unable to give an account of these, and utterance
falls exceedingly short. The pen is useless in this court, and the
ink gives no result but blackness.... Heart alone can communicate
to heart the state of the knower; this is not the work of a
messenger, nor can it be contained in letters.

The Devotional Attitude

In order that we may attain the spiritual condition in which conversation
with God becomes possible, 'Abdu'l-Baha says:--

We must strive to attain to that condition by being separated from
all things and from the people of the world and by turning to God
alone. It will take some effort on the part of man to attain to
that condition, but he must work for it, strive for it. We can
attain to it by thinking and caring less for material things and
more for the spiritual. The further we go from the one, the nearer
we are to the other. The choice is ours.

Our spiritual perception, our inward sight must be opened, so that
we can see the signs and traces of God's spirit in everything.
Everything can reflect to us the light of the Spirit. (from a talk
reported by Miss Ethel J. Rosenberg).

Baha'u'llah has written:--"That seeker ... at the dawn of every day ...
should commune with God, and, with all his soul, persevere in the quest of
his Beloved. He should consume every wayward thought from the flame of His
loving mention. ..."--Gleanin