s the Kingdom of life everlasting; it
must be attained during this vanishing existence.

By what means can man acquire these things? How shall he obtain these
merciful gifts and powers? First, through the knowledge of God. Second,
through the love of God. Third, through faith. Fourth, through
philanthropic deeds. Fifth, through self-sacrifice. Sixth, through
severance from this world. Seventh, through sanctity and holiness. Unless
he acquires these forces and attains to these requirements he will surely
be deprived of the life that is eternal. But if he possesses the knowledge
of God, becomes ignited through the fire of the love of God, witnesses the
great and mighty signs of the Kingdom, becomes the cause of love among
mankind, and lives in the utmost state of sanctity and holiness, he shall
surely attain to second birth, be baptized by the Holy Spirit and enjoy
everlasting existence.

Is it not astonishing that although man has been created for the knowledge
and love of God, for the virtues of the human world, for spirituality,
heavenly illumination and life eternal, nevertheless he continues ignorant
and negligent of all this? Consider how he seeks knowledge of everything
except knowledge of God. For instance, his utmost desire is to penetrate
the mysteries of the lowest strata of the earth. Day by day he strives to
know what can be found ten metres below the surface, what he can discover
within the stone, what he can learn by archaeological research in the
dust. He puts forth arduous labors to fathom terrestrial mysteries but is
not at all concerned about knowing the mysteries of the Kingdom,
traversing the illimitable fields of the eternal world, becoming informed
of the divine realities, discovering the secrets of God, attaining the
knowledge of God, witnessing the splendors of the Sun of Truth and
realizing the glories of everlasting life. He is unmindful and thoughtless
of these. How much he is attracted to the mysteries of matter and how
completely unaware he is of the mysteries of divinity! Nay, he is utterly
negligent and oblivious of the secrets of divinity. How great his
ignorance! How conducive to his degradation! It is as if a kind and loving
father had provided a library of wonderful books for his son in order that
he might be informed of the mysteries of creation; at the same time
surrounding him with every means of comfort and enjoyment; but the son
amuses himself with pebbles and playthings, neglectfu