down. I am the vital principle of all that is. Nothing is that does not live, and of that life I am the source. As it is written: “First the stone, then the plant, then the animal, then the man.” But before the stone I am the Fire, distributed equally in space, nowhere absent, filling all; and before the Fire, hidden within it, I am the pure Knowing, whence all forms flow forth.

Apart from Me there is neither wisdom, nor knowledge, nor understanding. Into every state of knowledge do I enter, into false knowledge as well as into true; so that I am none the less the ignorance of the deluded than the wisdom of the sage. For what thou callest ignorance and folly is My pure knowing, imperfectly expressed through an incomplete image of My Divine Perfection. Woe unto them who condemn these, My works unfinished! Through many a fiery trial of sorrow must they pass ere the clear beauty of My Wisdom may shine out from their hearts, like unto a light burning in a lamp of alabaster.

I am the doer of all. Nothing moveth but by My Power. Mine is the healing influence flowing down from consecrated hands; Mine the venom of the adder’s fang. Nothing falleth but by Me; and in whatsoever riseth, Mine is the power that lifteth up.

My Presence is the substance of all things; I am the virgin snow on mountain heights, I am the fruitful loam in valley depths. I am the gold and silver of the temple vessels; I am the mire on the sandals left by the faithful at the temple gate. See Me and regard Me equally in all, O Israel, and thou shalt see Me indeed.

For seeing thus, shalt thou see, too, that nothing is, or can be, My antagonist. All, and in all, shall I fight Myself