ot forced nor obliged by the government, but is
by the natural tendency of his good heart voluntarily and radiantly
showing benevolence toward the poor, such a deed is much praised, approved
and pleasing.

Such is the meaning of the good works in the Divine Books and Tablets.

79: THE REALITY OF THE EXTERIOR WORLD

Certain sophists think that existence is an illusion, that each being is
an absolute illusion which has no existence--in other words, that the
existence of beings is like a mirage, or like the reflection of an image
in water or in a mirror, which is only an appearance having in itself no
principle, foundation or reality.

This theory is erroneous; for though the existence of beings in relation
to the existence of God is an illusion, nevertheless, in the condition of
being it has a real and certain existence. It is futile to deny this. For
example, the existence of the mineral in comparison with that of man is
nonexistence, for when man is apparently annihilated, his body becomes
mineral; but the mineral has existence in the mineral world. Therefore, it
is evident that earth, in relation to the existence of man, is
nonexistent, and its existence is illusory; but in relation to the mineral
it exists.

In the same manner the existence of beings in comparison with the
existence of God is but illusion and nothingness; it is an appearance,
like the image reflected in a mirror. But though an image which is seen in
a mirror is an illusion, the source and the reality of that illusory image
is the person reflected, whose face appears in the mirror. Briefly, the
reflection in relation to the person reflected is an illusion.

Then it is evident that although beings in relation to the existence of
God have no existence, but are like the mirage or the reflections in the
mirror, yet in their own degree they exist.

That is why those who were heedless and denied God were said by Christ to
be dead, although they were apparently living; in relation to the people
of faith they were dead, blind, deaf and dumb. This is what Christ meant
when He said, "Let the dead bury their dead."(163)

80: REAL PREEXISTENCE

Question.--How many kinds of preexistence and of phenomena are there?

Answer.--Some sages and philosophers believe that there are two kinds of
preexistence: essential preexistence and preexistence of time. Phenomena
are also of two kinds, essential phenomena and that of time.

Essential preexist