y
of the lamp is not cut off. Briefly, in the Holy Manifestations the
Preexistent Bounty is like the light, the individuality is represented by
the glass globe, and the human body is like the niche: if the niche is
destroyed, the lamp continues to burn. The Divine Manifestations are so
many different mirrors because They have a special individuality, but that
which is reflected in the mirrors is one sun. It is clear that the reality
of Christ is different from that of Moses.

Verily, from the beginning that Holy Reality(127) is conscious of the
secret of existence, and from the age of childhood signs of greatness
appear and are visible in Him. Therefore, how can it be that with all
these bounties and perfections He should have no consciousness?

We have mentioned that the Holy Manifestations have three planes. The
physical condition, the individual reality, and the center of the
appearance of perfection: it is like the sun, its heat and its light.
Other individuals have the physical plane, the plane of the rational
soul--the spirit and mind.(128) So the saying, "I was asleep, and the
divine breezes passed over Me, and I awoke," is like Christ's saying, "The
body is sad, and the spirit is happy," or again, "I am afflicted," or "I
am at ease," or "I am troubled"--these refer to the physical condition and
have no reference to the individual reality nor to the manifestation of
the Divine Reality. Thus consider what thousands of vicissitudes can
happen to the body of man, but the spirit is not affected by them; it may
even be that some members of the body are entirely crippled, but the
essence of the mind remains and is everlasting. A thousand accidents may
happen to a garment, but for the wearer of it there is no danger. These
words which Baha'u'llah said, "I was asleep, and the breeze passed over
Me, and awakened Me," refer to the body.

In the world of God there is no past, no future and no present; all are
one. So when Christ said, "In the beginning was the Word"(129)--that means
it was, is and shall be; for in the world of God there is no time. Time
has sway over creatures but not over God. For example, in the prayer He
says, "Hallowed be Thy name"; the meaning is that Thy name was, is and
shall be hallowed.(130) Morning, noon and evening are related to this
earth, but in the sun there is neither morning, noon nor evening.

40: THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DIVINE MANIFESTATIONS

Question.--One of the powers possesse