at spiritual
susceptibilities may chasten the hearts and heavenly bestowals sanctify
them. What is the dust which obscures the mirror? It is attachment to the
world, avarice, envy, love of luxury and comfort, haughtiness and
self-desire; this is the dust which prevents reflection of the rays of the
Sun of Reality in the mirror. The natural emotions are blameworthy and are
like rust which deprives the heart of the bounties of God. But sincerity,
justice, humility, severance, and love for the believers of God will
purify the mirror and make it radiant with reflected rays from the Sun of
Truth.

It is my hope that you may consider this matter, that you may search out
your own imperfections and not think of the imperfections of anybody else.
Strive with all your power to be free from imperfections. Heedless souls
are always seeking faults in others. What can the hypocrite know of
others' faults when he is blind to his own? This is the meaning of the
words in the Seven Valleys. It is a guide for human conduct. As long as a
man does not find his own faults, he can never become perfect. Nothing is
more fruitful for man than the knowledge of his own shortcomings. The
Blessed Perfection says, "I wonder at the man who does not find his own
imperfections."

TALKS 'ABDU'L-BAHA DELIVERED IN DUBLIN

5 August 1912
Talk at Dublin Inn
Dublin, New Hampshire

Notes by Howard MacNutt

The people of Christianity have clung to literal interpretation of the
statement in the Gospel that Christ came from heaven. The Jews, likewise,
at the time of His manifestation held to outward and visible expectation
of the fulfillment of the prophecies. They said, "The Messiah shall appear
from heaven. This man came from Nazareth; we know his house; we know his
parents and people. It is only hearsay that he descended from heaven; this
cannot be proved."

The text of the Gospel states that He came from heaven although physically
born of the mother. The meaning is that the divine reality of Christ was
from heaven, but the body was born of Mary. Therefore, He came according
to the prophecies of the Holy Book and, likewise, according to natural
law--His reality from heaven, His body earthly. As He came before, so must
He come this time in the same way. But some arise with objections, saying,
"We must have literal proof of this through the senses."

The reality of Christ was always in heaven and will always be. This is the
intention of