The appearances of the Manifestations of God are the divine
springtime. When Christ appeared in this world, it was like the vernal bounty;
the outpouring descended; the effulgences of the Merciful encircled all things;
the human world found new life. Even the physical world partook of it. The
divine perfections were upraised; souls were trained in the school of heaven so
that all grades of human existence received life and light. Then by degrees
these fragrances of heaven were discontinued; the season of winter came upon
the world; the beauties of spring vanished; the excellences and perfections
passed away; the lights and quickening were no longer evident; the phenomenal
world and its materialities conquered everything; the spiritualities of life
were lost; the world of existence became life unto a lifeless body; there was
no trace of the spring left.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 13 April 1912, New
York; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)
