O thou distinguished personage, thou seeker after truth! Thy letter of 4
April 1921, hath been read with love.
The existence of the Divine Being hath been clearly established, on the
basis of logical proofs, but the reality of the Godhead is beyond the
grasp of the mind. When thou dost carefully consider this matter, thou
wilt see that a lower plane can never comprehend a higher. The mineral
kingdom, for example, which is lower, is precluded from comprehending the
vegetable kingdom; for the mineral, any such understanding would be
utterly impossible. In the same way, no matter how far the vegetable
kingdom may develop, it will achieve no conception of the animal kingdom,
and any such comprehension at its level would be unthinkable, for the
animal occupieth a plane higher than that of the vegetable: this tree
cannot conceive of hearing and sight. And the animal kingdom, no matter
how far it may evolve, can never become aware of the reality of the
intellect, which discovereth the inner essence of all things, and
comprehendeth those realities which cannot be seen; for the human plane as
compared with that of the animal is very high. And although these beings
all co-exist in the contingent world, in each case the difference in their
stations precludeth their grasp of the whole; for no lower degree can
understand a higher, such comprehension being impossible.
The higher plane, however, understandeth the lower. The animal, for
instance, comprehendeth the mineral and vegetable, the human understandeth
the planes of the animal, vegetable and mineral. But the mineral cannot
possibly understand the realms of man. And notwithstanding the fact that
all these entities co-exist in the phenomenal world, even so, no lower
degree can ever comprehend a higher.
Then how could it be possible for a contingent reality, that is, man, to
understand the nature of that pre-existent Essence, the Divine Being? The
difference in station between man and the Divine Reality is thousands upon
thousands of times greater than the difference between vegetable and
animal. And that which a human being would conjure up in his mind is but
the fanciful image of his human condition, it doth not encompass God's
reality but rather is encompassed by it. That is, man graspeth his own
illusory conceptions, but the Reality of Divinity can never be grasped:
It, Itself, encompasseth all created things, and all created things are in
Its grasp. That Divinity which man doth imagine for himself existeth only
in his mind, not in truth. Man, however, existeth both in his mind and in
truth; thus man is greater than that fanciful reality which he is able to
imagine.
The furthermost limits of this bird of clay are these: he can flutter
along for some short distance, into the endless vast; but he can never
soar upward to the Sun in the high heavens. We must, nevertheless, set
forth reasoned or inspired proofs as to the existence of the Divine Being,
that is, proofs commensurate with the understanding of man.
It is obvious that all created things are connected one to another by a
linkage complete and perfect, even, for example, as are the members of the
human body. Note how all the members and component parts of the human body
are connected one to another. In the same way, all the members of this
endless universe are linked one to another. The foot and the step, for
example, are connected to the ear and the eye; the eye must look ahead
before the step is taken. The ear must hear before the eye will carefully
observe. And whatever member of the human body is deficient, produceth a
deficiency in the other members. The brain is connected with the heart and
stomach, the lungs are connected with all the members. So is it with the
other members of the body.
And each one of these members hath its own special function. The mind
force--whether we call it pre-existent or contingent--doth direct and
co-ordinate all the members of the human body, seeing to it that each part
or member duly performeth its own special function. If, however, there be
some interruption in the power of the mind, all the members will fail to
carry out their essential functions, deficiencies will appear in the body
and the functioning of its members, and the power will prove ineffective.
Likewise, look into this endless universe: a universal power inevitably
existeth, which encompasseth all, directing and regulating all the parts
of this infinite creation; and were it not for this Director, this
Co-ordinator, the universe would be flawed and deficient. It would be even
as a madman; whereas ye can see that this endless creation carrieth out
its functions in perfect order, every separate part of it performing its
own task with complete reliability, nor is there any flaw to be found in
all its workings. Thus it is clear that a Universal Power existeth,
directing and regulating this infinite universe. Every rational mind can
grasp this fact.
Furthermore, although all created things grow and develop, yet are they
subjected to influences from without. For instance, the sun giveth heat,
the rain nourisheth, the wind bringeth life, so that man can develop and
grow. Thus it is clear that the human body is under influences from the
outside, and that without those influences man could not grow. And
likewise, those outside influences are subjected to other influences in
their turn. For example, the growth and development of a human being is
dependent upon the existence of water, and water is dependent upon the
existence of rain, and rain is dependent upon the existence of clouds, and
clouds are dependent upon the existence of the sun, which causeth land and
sea to produce vapour, the condensation of vapour forming the clouds. Thus
each one of these entities exerteth its influence and is likewise
influenced in its turn. Inescapably then, the process leadeth to One Who
influenceth all, and yet is influenced by none, thus severing the chain.
The inner reality of that Being, however, is not known, although His
effects are clear and evident.
And further, all created beings are limited, and this very limitation of
all beings proveth the reality of the Limitless; for the existence of a
limited being denoteth the existence of a Limitless One.
To sum it up, there are many such proofs, establishing the existence of
that Universal Reality. And since that Reality is pre-existent, It is
untouched by the conditions that govern phenomena; for whatever entity is
subject to circumstances and the play of events is contingent, not
pre-existent. Know then: that divinity which other communions and peoples
have conjured up, falleth within the scope of their imagination, and not
beyond it, whereas the reality of the Godhead is beyond all conceiving.
As to the Holy Manifestations of God, They are the focal points where the
signs, tokens and perfections of that sacred, pre-existent Reality appear
in all their splendour. They are an eternal grace, a heavenly glory, and
on Them dependeth the everlasting life of humankind. To illustrate: the
Sun of Truth dwelleth in a sky to which no soul hath any access, and which
no mind can reach, and He is far beyond the comprehension of all
creatures. Yet the Holy Manifestations of God are even as a looking-glass,
burnished and without stain, which gathereth streams of light out of that
Sun, and then scattereth the glory over the rest of creation. In that
polished surface, the Sun with all Its majesty standeth clearly revealed.
Thus, should the mirrored Sun proclaim, 'I am the Sun!' this is but truth;
and should It cry, 'I am not the Sun!' this is the truth as well. And
although the Day-Star, with all Its glory, Its beauty, Its perfections, be
clearly visible in that mirror without stain, still It hath not come down
from Its own lofty station in the realms above, It hath not made Its way
into the mirror; rather doth It continue to abide, as It will forever, in
the supernal heights of Its own holiness.
And further, all the earth's creatures require the bounty of the sun, for
their very existence is dependent upon solar light and heat. Should they
be deprived of the sun, they would be wiped out. This is the being with
God, as referred to in the Holy Books: man must be with his Lord.
It is clear, then, that the essential reality of God is revealed in His
perfections; and the sun, with its perfections, reflected in a mirror, is
a visible thing, an entity clearly expressing the bounty of God.
My hope is that thou wilt acquire a perceptive eye, a hearing ear, and
that the veils will be removed from thy sight.