confer its radiance on the whole surface of the earth than to confer it on a single particle.
Second Comparison: This concerns the Mystery of Reciprocity.
For example, let us suppose there is a vast ring composed of living beings, that is, of human beings, each holding a mirror. At its centre is an individual holding a candle. The radiance and manifestation reflected in all the mirrors surrounding the central point will be the same, and its relation will be without obstacle, fragmentation or being diminished.
Third Comparison: This concerns the Mystery of Balance.
For example, there are an enormous set of scales which are extremely accurate and sensitive. Whichever of two suns or two stars or two mountains or two eggs or two particles are placed in its two pans, it will require the same force to raise one pan of those huge sensitive scales to the sky and lower the other to the ground.
Fourth Comparison: This concerns the Mystery of Order.
For example, a huge ship can be turned as easily as a tiny toy boat.
Fifth Comparison: This concerns the Mystery of Disengagedness.
For example, a nature disengaged from individuality regards all particulars from the smallest to the greatest as the same and enters them without being diminished or fragmented. The qualities present in the aspect of external individuality do not interfere and cause confusion; they do not alter the view of a disengaged nature such as that. For example, a fish like a needle possesses such a disengaged nature the same as a whale. Or a microbe bears an animal nature the same as a rhinoceros.
Sixth Comparison: This demonstrates the Mystery of Obedience.
For example, a commander causes a single private to advance with the command “Forward march!” the same as he causes an army to advance. The truth of the mystery of this comparison about obedience is as follows:
As is proved by experience, everything in the universe has a point of perfection, and everything has an inclination towards that point. Increased inclination becomes need. Increased need becomes desire. Increased desire becomes attraction, and attraction, desire, need, and inclination are each seeds and kernels which together with the essences of things conform to the creative commands of Almighty God. The absolute perfection of the true nature of contingent beings is absolute existence. Their particular perfections are an existence peculiar to each which makes each being’s abilities emerge from the potential to the actual. Thus, the obedience of the whole universe to the Divine command “Be!” is the same as that of a particle, which is like a