ns. If we look
objectively upon the world of being, it will become apparent that from age
to age, the temple of existence has continually been embellished with a
fresh grace, and distinguished with an ever-varying splendor, deriving
from wisdom and the power of thought.

This supreme emblem of God stands first in the order of creation and first
in rank, taking precedence over all created things. Witness to it is the
Holy Tradition, "Before all else, God created the mind." From the dawn of
creation, it was made to be revealed in the temple of man.

Sanctified is the Lord, Who with the dazzling rays of this strange,
heavenly power has made our world of darkness the envy of the worlds of
light: "And the earth shall shine with the light of her Lord."(1) Holy and
exalted is He, Who has caused the nature of man to be the dayspring of
this boundless grace: "The God of mercy hath taught the Qur'an, hath
created man, hath taught him articulate speech."(2)

O ye that have minds to know! Raise up your suppliant hands to the heaven
of the one God, and humble yourselves and be lowly before Him, and thank
Him for this supreme endowment, and implore Him to succor us until, in
this present age, godlike impulses may radiate from the conscience of
mankind, and this divinely kindled fire which has been entrusted to the
human heart may never die away.

Consider carefully: all these highly varied phenomena, these concepts,
this knowledge, these technical procedures and philosophical systems,
these sciences, arts, industries and inventions--all are emanations of the
human mind. Whatever people has ventured deeper into this shoreless sea,
has come to excel the rest. The happiness and pride of a nation consist in
this, that it should shine out like the sun in the high heaven of
knowledge. "Shall they who have knowledge and they who have it not, be
treated alike?"(3) And the honor and distinction of the individual consist
in this, that he among all the world's multitudes should become a source
of social good. Is any larger bounty conceivable than this, that an
individual, looking within himself, should find that by the confirming
grace of God he has become the cause of peace and well-being, of happiness
and advantage to his fellow men? No, by the one true God, there is no
greater bliss, no more complete delight.

How long shall we drift on the wings of passion and vain desire; how long
shall we spend our days like barbarians in the depths o