hich thou didst behold in thy dream, that
was the Promised One, and its spreading rays were His bounties, and the
translucent surface of the mass of water signifieth hearts that are
undefiled and pure, while the surging waves denote the great excitement of
those hearts and the fact that they were shaken and deeply moved, that is,
the waves are the stirrings of the spirit and holy intimations of the
soul. Praise thou God that in the world of the dream thou hast witnessed
such disclosures.

With reference to what is meant by an individual becoming entirely
forgetful of self: the intent is that he should rise up and sacrifice
himself in the true sense, that is, he should obliterate the promptings of
the human condition, and rid himself of such characteristics as are worthy
of blame and constitute the gloomy darkness of this life on earth--not that
he should allow his physical health to deteriorate and his body to become
infirm.

I do earnestly and humbly supplicate at the Holy Threshold that heavenly
blessings and divine forgiveness will encompass thy dear mother, as well
as thy loving sisters and relatives. Especially do I pray on behalf of thy
betrothed, who hath suddenly hastened away from this world into the next.

154: O THOU SON OF THE KINGDOM! THY MOST AGREEABLE ...

O thou son of the Kingdom! Thy most agreeable letters, with their pleasing
style, ever gladden our hearts. When the song is of the Kingdom, it
rejoiceth the soul.

Praise thou God that thou hast travelled to that country(50) for the
purpose of raising up His Word and spreading abroad the holy fragrance of
His Kingdom, and that thou art serving as a gardener in the gardens of
heaven. Erelong shall thine efforts be crowned with success.

O thou son of the Kingdom! All things are beneficial if joined with the
love of God; and without His love all things are harmful, and act as a
veil between man and the Lord of the Kingdom. When His love is there,
every bitterness turneth sweet, and every bounty rendereth a wholesome
pleasure. For example, a melody, sweet to the ear, bringeth the very
spirit of life to a heart in love with God, yet staineth with lust a soul
engrossed in sensual desires. And every branch of learning, conjoined with
the love of God, is approved and worthy of praise; but bereft of His love,
learning is barren--indeed, it bringeth on madness. Every kind of
knowledge, every science, is as a tree: if the fruit of it be the love of