Page:Book of Ighan (1915).djvu/183

Rh Among them is the tradition, "When the standard of Truth shall appear, the people of the east and west will curse it." One should drink a little of the wine of severance, establish himself upon the seat of impregnability and observe: " One hour's reflection is better than seventy years of pious devotion," (to discover) the reason of this base action, that the people, notwithstanding declaration of love and search for Truth, curse the followers of the True One after the Appearance, as is evidenced in the tradition. It is clear that the reason is none other than the abrogation of customs, ceremonies, habits and rites by which the people are bound. For should that Beauty of the Merciful conform to the same customs and ceremonies, and approve that in which the people are engaged, then by no means would such disagreements and violence appear in the world. This blessed tradition is confirmed and substantiated by the saying: " The day whereon the herald shall summon (mankind) to an objectionable affair" (K. S. 54).

To resume: Since the Herald of Oneness from behind the Veils of Holiness summons people to be entirely severed from that which they hold, and since this Divine Call is contrary to their desire, therefore all such tests and trials occur.

Consider that the people never mention these well-founded traditions, all of which are fulfilled, but hold fast to those traditions the validity or non-validity of which is not known, asking why they are not fulfilled,