"O My friend, listen with heart and soul to the songs of the spirit, and treasure them as thine own eyes."

"O My friend, listen with heart and soul to the songs of the spirit, and treasure them as thine own eyes. For the heavenly wisdoms, like the clouds of spring, will not rain down on the earth of men’s hearts forever; and though the grace of the All-Bounteous One is never stilled and never ceasing, yet to each time and era a portion is allotted and a bounty set apart, this in a given measure. “And no one thing is there, but with Us are its storehouses; and We send it not down but in settled measure.” 5 The cloud of the Loved One’s mercy raineth only on the garden of the spirit, and bestoweth this bounty only in the season of spring. The other seasons have no share in this greatest grace, and barren lands no portion of this favor."

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys,pp. 37-38 

 5. Qur’án 15:21.

"For whatever the creatures have is limited by their own limits, and whatever the True One hath is sanctified therefrom ..."

"When the qualities of the Ancient of Days stood revealed,
Then the qualities of earthly things did Moses burn away. 1

He who hath attained this station is sanctified from all that pertaineth to the world. Wherefore, if those who have come to the sea of His presence are found to possess none of the limited things of this perishable world, whether it be outer wealth or personal opinions, it mattereth not. For whatever the creatures have is limited by their own limits, and whatever the True One hath is sanctified therefrom; this utterance must be deeply pondered that its purport may be clear. “Verily the righteous shall drink of a winecup tempered at the camphor fountain.” 2 If the interpretation of “camphor” become known, the true intention will be evident. This state is that poverty of which it is said, “Poverty is My glory.” 3 And of inward and outward poverty there is many a stage and many a meaning which I have not thought pertinent to mention here; hence I have reserved these for another time, dependent on what God may desire and fate may seal."

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys, pp. 36-37

1. The Mathnaví. 
 2. Qur’án 76:5. 
 3. Muḥammad.

"Make of thine effort a glass, perchance it may shelter this flame from the contrary winds ..."

"O Shaykh! Make of thine effort a glass, perchance it may shelter this flame from the  contrary winds; albeit this light doth long to be kindled in the lamp of the Lord, and to shine in the globe of the spirit. For the head raised up in the love of God will certainly fall by the sword, and the life that is kindled with longing will surely be sacrificed, and the heart which remembereth the Loved One will surely brim with blood. How well is it said:

Live free of love, for its very peace is anguish; Its beginning is pain, its end is death. 15

Peace be upon him who followeth the Right Path!"

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys, pp. 41-42

15. Arabian poem.

" ... the huntsman of envy stalketh this deer of the meadow of love."

"O My friend! Many a hound pursueth this gazelle of the desert of oneness; many a talon claweth at this thrush of the eternal garden. Pitiless ravens do lie in wait for this bird of the heavens of God, and the huntsman of envy stalketh this deer of the meadow of love."

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys, p. 41

"I do as bidden, and I bring the message, Whether it give thee counsel or offense."

"Likewise He saith, “Go straight on then as thou hast been commanded.” 5 Wherefore, this course is incumbent on those who dwell in the presence of God.

I do as bidden, and I bring the message, Whether it give thee counsel or offense. 6

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys, p. 48

 5. Qur’án 11:114; 42:14. 
 6. Sa’dí.

"The death of self is needed here, not rhetoric: Be nothing, then, and walk upon the waves."

"The death of self is needed here, not rhetoric: Be nothing, then, and walk upon the waves. 8

 Likewise is it written, “And be ye not like those who forget God, and whom He hath therefore caused to forget their own selves. These are the wicked doers.” 9"

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys, p. 52



 8. The Mathnaví. 
 9. Qur’án 59:19.

“Read thy Book: There needeth none but thyself to make out an account against thee this day.”

"This station hath many signs, unnumbered proofs. Hence it is said: “Hereafter We will show them Our signs in the regions of the earth, and in themselves, until it become manifest unto them that it is the truth,” 5 and that there is no God save Him.

One must, then, read the book of his own self, rather than some treatise on rhetoric. Wherefore He hath said, 6
“Read thy Book: There needeth none but thyself to make out an account against thee this day.”

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys, p. 51

 5. Qur’án 41:53. 
 6. Qur’án 17:15.