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59: MAN’S KNOWLEDGE OF GOD 220 |
As our knowledge of things, even of created and limited
things, is knowledge of their qualities and not of their essence,
how is it possible to comprehend in its essence the
Divine Reality, which is unlimited? For the inner essence
of anything is not comprehended, but only its qualities.
For example, the inner essence of the sun is unknown, but
is understood by its qualities, which are heat and light.
The inner essence of man is unknown and not evident, but
by its qualities it is characterized and known. Thus everything
is known by its qualities and not by its essence.
Although the mind encompasses all things, and the outward
beings are comprehended by it, nevertheless these
beings with regard to their essence are unknown; they are
only known with regard to their qualities.
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Then how can the eternal everlasting Lord, Who is held
sanctified from comprehension and conception, be known
by His essence? That is to say, as things can only be
known by their qualities and not by their essence, it is
certain that the Divine Reality is unknown with regard to
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its essence and is known with regard to its attributes. Besides,
how can the phenomenal reality embrace the
Preexistent Reality? For comprehension is the result of
encompassing—embracing must be, so that comprehension
may be—and the Essence of Unity surrounds all and
is not surrounded.
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Also the difference of conditions in the world of beings
is an obstacle to comprehension. For example, this mineral
belongs to the mineral kingdom; however far it may
rise, it can never comprehend the power of growth. The
plants, the trees, whatever progress they may make, cannot
conceive of the power of sight or the powers of the
other senses; and the animal cannot imagine the condition
of man—that is to say, his spiritual powers. Difference of
condition is an obstacle to knowledge; the inferior degree
cannot comprehend the superior degree. How then can
the phenomenal reality comprehend the Preexistent
Reality? Knowing God, therefore, means the comprehension
and the knowledge of His attributes, and not of His
Reality. This knowledge of the attributes is also proportioned
to the capacity and power of man; it is not absolute.
Philosophy consists in comprehending the reality of
things as they exist, according to the capacity and the
power of man. For the phenomenal reality can comprehend
the Preexistent attributes only to the extent of the
human capacity. The mystery of Divinity is sanctified and
purified from the comprehension of the beings, for all that
comes to the imagination is that which man understands,
and the power of the understanding of man does not embrace
the Reality of the Divine Essence. All that man is
able to understand are the attributes of Divinity, the
radiance of which appears and is visible in the world and
within men’s souls.
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When we look at the world and within men’s souls, we
see wonderful signs of the divine perfections, which are
clear and apparent; for the reality of things proves the
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Universal Reality. The Reality of Divinity may be compared
to the sun, which from the height of its magnificence
shines upon all the horizons; and each horizon, and each
soul, receives a share of its radiance. If this light and these
rays did not exist, beings would not exist; all beings express
something and partake of some ray and portion of
this light. The splendors of the perfections, bounties and
attributes of God shine forth and radiate from the reality
of the Perfect Man—that is to say, the Unique One, the
supreme Manifestation of God. Other beings receive only
one ray, but the supreme Manifestation is the mirror for
this Sun, which appears and becomes manifest in it, with
all its perfections, attributes, signs and wonders.
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The knowledge of the Reality of the Divinity is impossible
and unattainable, but the knowledge of the Manifestations
of God is the knowledge of God, for the bounties,
splendors and divine attributes are apparent in
Them. Therefore, if man attains to the knowledge of the
Manifestations of God, he will attain to the knowledge of
God; and if he be neglectful of the knowledge of the Holy
Manifestations, he will be bereft of the knowledge of God.
It is then ascertained and proved that the Holy Manifestations
are the center of the bounty, signs and perfections of
God. Blessed are those who receive the light of the divine
bounties from the enlightened Dawning-points!
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