the possessions of sense. To such as
these, the agonies of mind; the physical hardships; the ever-ready
forgiveness and the desire for peace and love of the Illuminate seem almost
weaknesses. Therefore, they can not fully comprehend the satisfaction which
comes to the one who has come into a realization of illumination, through
the years of mental tribulation such as that endured by Mohammed and Jesus
and Buddha.

We are told that the prophet repeatedly refuted the suggestion of his
adoring followers that he was God himself come to earth.

"It is wonderful," says one of his commentators, "with his temptations,
how great a humility was ever is, how little he assumed of all the godlike
attributes men forced upon him. His whole life is one long argument for his
loyalty to truth. He had but one answer for his worshippers, 'I am no more
than a man; I am only human.' * * * He was sublimely confident of this
single attribute that he was the messenger of the Lord of the daybreak, and
that the words he spake came verily from him. He was fully persuaded that
God had sent him to do a great work among his people in Arabia. Nervous to
the verge of madness, subject to hysteria, given to wild dreaming in
solitary places, his was a temperament that easily lends itself to
religious enthusiasm."

While it may be argued that Mohammed did not possess cosmic consciousness
in the degree of fullness which we find in the life of St. Paul, for
example, we must take into consideration the temperament of the Arab, and
the conditions under which he labored. But that he had attained a high
degree of Illumination is beyond dispute. This fact is evidenced by the
following salient points characteristic of cosmic consciousness: A fine
sensitive, highly-strung organization; a deep and serious thoughtfulness,
especially regarding the realities of life; an indifference to the call of
personal ambition; love of solitude and the mental urge that demands to
know the answer to life's riddle.

Following the time of illumination on Mount Hara we find Mohammed
possessing a conviction of the truth of immortality and the goodness of
God; we find him also with a wonderful power to draw people to him in
loving service; and the irresistible desire to bring to his people the
message of immortal life, and the necessity to look more to spiritual
things than to the things of the flesh. Added to this, we find Mohammed
changed from a shrinking, sensitive youth, given t