I have two windows
one is my eyes
It draws me to the wonder of the world outside
the other one is my heart
It draws me to the mystery of the Kingdom of God

我有兩個視窗
一個是眼睛
它讓我看見了這世界的美麗
另一個視窗是我的心
它讓我看見上帝王國的奧秘

I see from my eyes
hear from my ears
feel in my heart
I feel the breath of life

我用肉眼與心眼看
用肉耳與洞察之耳聽
用心去感受
我感覺到內在生命在呼吸

When I close my eyes to the world
Listen and see through my heart
I hear the melody of the Word of God
it’s like the heavenly bird singing a sweet song
It echos in my head
like the echo in the land (of the heart)
I feel the breeze of joy in the valley
I smell the fragrance from the meadow
I taste the sweetness of the wind
I feel the rain, the heat, the refreshing air in the secret land
Through the window of my heart
I discover the wonderment of spirit
There is no noise in that realm
Only Love, peace, and joy

當我閉上看世界的肉眼
用心去聽、去看
我聽見上帝的話語向我呼喚
那像天堂之鳥的甜蜜歌聲
那歌聲在我腦海迴盪
那回音就像山谷裡的餘音繚繞
在心谷中我感受到沐浴在神聖氣息中的悅愉
我聞到草地飄送來的芳香
我沉醉在香醇酒中的甘甜
我領受著那神秘界域的甘霖、熱火與清新氣息
從心的那道視窗
我發現了靈性世界的奧秘
在那裡沒有世界的吵雜音
只有愛、祥和與快樂

I feel the world is bigger than I can imagine
it is more perfect than I ever knew the world could be
its beauty can never be changed
it has everything we ever need
in there I am free with no need to worry
I am protected
Beneath that shadow is where I can abide
我感覺那世界比這世界寬廣
那完美超乎我對這世界的認識與想像
它的美麗不會受到任何影響與改變
在那裡心可以得到一切的滿足
在那裡心得到釋放、不再有擔心害怕
我感受到保護
那是我心安居的宅地

That is the Kingdom of God
The permanent home of my soul
That is the place we all can seek
Through the Word of God
His voice
We can follow His voice
no matter what the world is happening
As long as we keep following
It will lead us into the realm of eternity

那是上帝的國度
我們靈魂永恆的家
那個家在我們每個人心中
我們每個人都可以向內尋求
藉著上帝的話語
跟隨著那無形的聲音
只要緊緊跟隨上帝的聲音
不管世界正發生著什麼事
只要我們緊握那聲音的靈弦
那聲音終將帶領我們回歸那永恆的界域

In this world we are influenced by two sentiments, Joy and Pain.

Joy gives us wings! In times of joy our strength is more vital, our intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded. We seem better able to cope with the world and to find our sphere of usefulness. But when sadness visits us we become weak, our strength leaves us, our comprehension is dim and our intelligence veiled. The actualities of life seem to elude our grasp, the eyes of our spirits fail to discover the sacred mysteries, and we become even as dead beings.

There is no human being untouched by these two influences; but all the sorrow and the grief that exist come from the world of matter—the spiritual world bestows only the joy!

If we suffer it is the outcome of material things, and all the trials and troubles come from this world of illusion.

For instance, a merchant may lose his trade and depression ensues. A workman is dismissed and starvation stares him in the face. A farmer has a bad harvest, anxiety fills his mind. A man builds a house which is burnt to the ground and he is straightway homeless, ruined, and in despair.

All these examples are to show you that the trials which beset our every step, all our sorrow, pain, shame and grief, are born in the world of matter; whereas the spiritual Kingdom never causes sadness. A man living with his thoughts in this Kingdom knows perpetual joy. The ills all flesh is heir to do not pass him by, but they only touch the surface of his life, the depths are calm and serene.

……

If sorrow and adversity visit us, let us turn our faces to the Kingdom and heavenly consolation will be outpoured.

If we are sick and in distress let us implore God’s healing, and He will answer our prayer.

When our thoughts are filled with the bitterness of this world, let us turn our eyes to the sweetness of God’s compassion and He will send us heavenly calm! If we are imprisoned in the material world, our spirit can soar into the Heavens and we shall be free indeed!

When our days are drawing to a close let us think of the eternal worlds, and we shall be full of joy!

~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ~