way, the record and the mention of a thing in the Book does
not become the cause of its existence. The Prophets, through the divine
inspiration, knew what would come to pass. For instance, through the
divine inspiration They knew that Christ would be martyred, and They
announced it. Now, was Their knowledge and information the cause of the
martyrdom of Christ? No; this knowledge is a perfection of the Prophets
and did not cause the martyrdom.

The mathematicians by astronomical calculations know that at a certain
time an eclipse of the moon or the sun will occur. Surely this discovery
does not cause the eclipse to take place. This is, of course, only an
analogy and not an exact image.

PART THREE: ON THE POWERS AND CONDITIONS OF THE MANIFESTATIONS OF GOD

36: THE FIVE ASPECTS OF SPIRIT

Know that, speaking generally, there are five divisions of the spirit.
First the vegetable spirit: this is a power which results from the
combination of elements and the mingling of substances by the decree of
the Supreme God, and from the influence, the effect and connection of
other existences. When these substances and elements are separated from
each other, the power of growth also ceases to exist. So, to use another
figure, electricity results from the combination of elements, and when
these elements are separated, the electric force is dispersed and lost.
Such is the vegetable spirit.

After this is the animal spirit, which also results from the mingling and
combination of elements. But this combination is more complete, and
through the decree of the Almighty Lord a perfect mingling is obtained,
and the animal spirit--in other words, the power of the senses--is produced.
It will perceive the reality of things from that which is seen and
visible, audible, edible, tangible, and that which can be smelled. After
the dissociation and decomposition of the combined elements this spirit
also will naturally disappear. It is like this lamp which you see: when
the oil and wick and fire are brought together, light is the result; but
when the oil is finished and the wick consumed, the light will also vanish
and be lost.

The human spirit may be likened to the bounty of the sun shining on a
mirror. The body of man, which is composed from the elements, is combined
and mingled in the most perfect form; it is the most solid construction,
the noblest combination, the most perfect existence. It grows and develops
through the ani