knowing they shall perish? Rejoicest thou in that thou
rulest a span of earth, when the whole world, in the estimation of the
people of Baha, is worth as much as the black in the eye of a dead ant?
Abandon it unto such as have set their affections upon it, and turn thou
unto Him Who is the Desire of the world. Whither are gone the proud and
their palaces? Gaze thou into their tombs, that thou mayest profit by this
example, inasmuch as We made it a lesson unto every beholder. Were the
breezes of Revelation to seize thee, thou wouldst flee the world, and turn
unto the Kingdom, and wouldst expend all thou possessest, that thou mayest
draw nigh unto this sublime Vision.

157 We behold the generality of mankind worshipping names and exposing
themselves, as thou dost witness, to dire perils in the mere hope of
perpetuating their names, whilst every perceiving soul testifieth that
after death one's name shall avail him nothing except insofar as it
beareth a relationship unto God, the Almighty, the All-Praised. Thus have
their vain imaginings taken hold of them in requital for that which their
hands have wrought. Consider the pettiness of men's minds. They seek with
utmost exertion that which profiteth them not, and yet wert thou to ask of
them: "Is there any advantage in that which ye desire?", thou wouldst find
them sorely perplexed. Were a fair-minded soul to be found, he would
reply: "Nay, by the Lord of the worlds!" Such is the condition of the
people and of that which they possess. Leave them in their folly and turn
thy sight unto God. This is in truth that which beseemeth thee. Hearken
then unto the counsel of thy Lord, and say: Lauded art Thou, O God of all
who are in heaven and on earth!

Czar Alexander II

158 O Czar of Russia! Incline thine ear unto the voice of God, the King,
the Holy, and turn thou unto Paradise, the Spot wherein abideth He Who,
among the Concourse on high, beareth the most excellent titles, and Who,
in the kingdom of creation, is called by the name of God, the Effulgent,
the All-Glorious. Beware lest thy desire deter thee from turning towards
the face of thy Lord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We, verily,
have heard the thing for which thou didst supplicate thy Lord, whilst
secretly communing with Him. Wherefore, the breeze of My loving-kindness
wafted forth, and the sea of My mercy surged, and We answered thee in
truth. Thy Lord, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Whilst I