en and never
shall be any change and alteration in Me.

59: MAN'S KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

Question.--To what extent can the understanding of man comprehend God?

Answer.--This subject requires ample time, and to explain it thus at table
is not easy; nevertheless, we will speak of it briefly.

Know that there are two kinds of knowledge: the knowledge of the essence
of a thing and the knowledge of its qualities. The essence of a thing is
known through its qualities; otherwise, it is unknown and hidden.

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.

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 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.

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
comprehe