nd 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.

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 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.

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!

W