s, correct
theories, scientific discoveries and inventions.

The other kind of conceptions is made up of vain thoughts and useless
ideas which yield neither fruit nor result, and which have no reality. No,
they surge like the waves of the sea of imaginations, and they pass away
like idle dreams.

In the same way, there are two sorts of spiritual discoveries. One is the
revelations of the Prophets, and the spiritual discoveries of the elect.
The visions of the Prophets are not dreams; no, they are spiritual
discoveries and have reality. They say, for example, "I saw a person in a
certain form, and I said such a thing, and he gave such an answer." This
vision is in the world of wakefulness, and not in that of sleep. Nay, it
is a spiritual discovery which is expressed as if it were the appearance
of a vision.

The other kind of spiritual discoveries is made up of pure imaginations,
but these imaginations become embodied in such a way that many
simple-hearted people believe that they have a reality. That which proves
it clearly is that from this controlling of spirits no result or fruit has
ever been produced. No, they are but narratives and stories.

Know that the reality of man embraces the realities of things, and
discovers the verities, properties and secrets of things. So all these
arts, wonders, sciences and knowledge have been discovered by the human
reality. At one time these sciences, knowledge, wonders and arts were
hidden and concealed secrets; then gradually the human reality discovered
them and brought them from the realm of the invisible to the plane of the
visible. Therefore, it is evident that the reality of man embraces things.
Thus it is in Europe and discovers America; it is on the earth, and it
makes discoveries in the heavens. It is the revealer of the secrets of
things, and it is the knower of the realities of that which exists. These
discoveries corresponding to the reality are similar to revelation, which
is spiritual comprehension, divine inspiration and the association of
human spirits. For instance, the Prophet says, "I saw, I said, I heard
such a thing." It is, therefore, evident that the spirit has great
perception without the intermediary of any of the five senses, such as the
eyes or ears. Among spiritual souls there are spiritual understandings,
discoveries, a communion which is purified from imagination and fancy, an
association which is sanctified from time and place. So it is written in