O thou who art attracted to the Kingdom of God! Every soul
seeketh an object and cherisheth a desire, and day and night striveth to attain
his aim. One craveth riches, another thirsteth for glory and still another
yearneth for fame, for art, for prosperity and the like. Yet finally all are
doomed to loss and disappointment. One and all they leave behind them all that
is theirs and empty-handed hasten to the realm beyond, and all their labours
shall be in vain. To dust they shall all return, denuded, depressed, disheartened
and in utter despair.
But, praised be the Lord, thou art engaged in that which
secureth for thee a gain that shall eternally endure; and that is naught but
thine attraction to the Kingdom of God, thy faith, and thy knowledge, the
enlightenment of thine heart, and thine earnest endeavour to promote the Divine
Teachings.
Verily this gift is imperishable and this wealth is a
treasure from on high! (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
