a hundred thousand years ago from these earthly
elements with the same measure and balance, the same method of combination
and mingling, and the same influence of the other beings, exactly the same
man existed then as now. This is evident and not worth debating. A
thousand million years hence, if these elements of man are gathered
together and arranged in this special proportion, and if the elements are
combined according to the same method, and if they are affected by the
same influence of other beings, exactly the same man will exist. For
example, if after a hundred thousand years there is oil, fire, a wick, a
lamp and the lighter of the lamp--briefly, if there are all the necessaries
which now exist, exactly the same lamp will be obtained.

These are conclusive and evident facts. But the arguments which these
European philosophers have used raise doubtful proofs and are not
conclusive.

47: THE UNIVERSE IS WITHOUT BEGINNING; THE ORIGIN OF MAN

Know that it is one of the most abstruse spiritual truths that the world
of existence--that is to say, this endless universe--has no beginning.

We have already explained that the names and attributes of the Divinity
themselves require the existence of beings. Although this subject has been
explained in detail, we will speak of it again briefly. Know that an
educator without pupils cannot be imagined; a monarch without subjects
could not exist; a master without scholars cannot be appointed; a creator
without a creature is impossible; a provider without those provided for
cannot be conceived; for all the divine names and attributes demand the
existence of beings. If we could imagine a time when no beings existed,
this imagination would be the denial of the Divinity of God. Moreover,
absolute nonexistence cannot become existence. If the beings were
absolutely nonexistent, existence would not have come into being.
Therefore, as the Essence of Unity (that is, the existence of God) is
everlasting and eternal--that is to say, it has neither beginning nor
end--it is certain that this world of existence, this endless universe, has
neither beginning nor end. Yes, it may be that one of the parts of the
universe, one of the globes, for example, may come into existence, or may
be disintegrated, but the other endless globes are still existing; the
universe would not be disordered nor destroyed. On the contrary, existence
is eternal and perpetual. As each globe has a beginning, nec