ence. In the
same way, the existence of creation in relation to the existence of God is
nonexistence. Thus it is evident and clear that although the beings exist,
in relation to God and to the Word of God they are nonexistent. This is
the beginning and the end of the Word of God, Who says: "I am Alpha and
Omega"; for He is the beginning and the end of Bounty. The Creator always
had a creation; the rays have always shone and gleamed from the reality of
the sun, for without the rays the sun would be opaque darkness. The names
and attributes of God require the existence of beings, and the Eternal
Bounty does not cease. If it were to, it would be contrary to the
perfections of God.

81: REINCARNATION

Question.--What is the truth of the question of reincarnation, which is
believed by some people?

Answer.--The object of what we are about to say is to explain the
reality--not to deride the beliefs of other people; it is only to explain
the facts; that is all. We do not oppose anyone's ideas, nor do we approve
of criticism.

Know, then, that those who believe in reincarnation are of two classes:
one class does not believe in the spiritual punishments and rewards of the
other world, and they suppose that man by reincarnation and return to this
world gains rewards and recompenses; they consider heaven and hell to be
restricted to this world and do not speak of the existence of the other
world. Among these there are two further divisions. One division thinks
that man sometimes returns to this world in the form of an animal in order
to undergo severe punishment and that, after enduring this painful
torment, he will be released from the animal world and will come again
into the human world; this is called transmigration. The other division
thinks that from the human world one again returns to the human world, and
that by this return rewards and punishments for a former life are
obtained; this is called reincarnation. Neither of these classes speak of
any other world besides this one.

The second sort of believers in reincarnation affirm the existence of the
other world, and they consider reincarnation the means of becoming
perfect--that is, they think that man, by going from and coming again to
this world, will gradually acquire perfections, until he reaches the
inmost perfection. In other words, that men are composed of matter and
force: matter in the beginning--that is to say, in the first cycle--is
imperfect, but