But that Essence of Essences, that Invisible of Invisibles,
is sanctified above all human speculation, and never to be overtaken by the
mind of man. Never shall that immemorial Reality lodge within the compass of a
contingent being. His is another realm, and of that realm no understanding can
be won. No access can be gained thereto; all entry is forbidden there. The
utmost one can say is that Its existence can be proved, but the conditions of
Its existence are unknown.
That such an Essence doth exist, the philosophers and
learned doctors one and all have understood; but whenever they tried to learn
something of Its being, they were left bewildered and dismayed, and at the end,
despairing, their hopes in ruins, they went their way, out of this life. For to
comprehend the state and the inner mystery of that Essence of Essences, that
Most Secret of Secrets, one needs must have another power and other faculties;
and such a power, such faculties would be more than humankind can bear,
wherefore no word of Him can come to them.
If, for example, one be endowed with the senses of hearing,
of taste, of smell, of touch—but be deprived of the sense of sight, it will not
be possible for one to gaze about; for sight cannot be realized through hearing
or tasting, or the sense of smell or touch. In the same way, with the faculties
at man’s disposal it is beyond the realm of possibility for him to grasp that
unseeable Reality, holy and sanctified above all the sceptics’ doubts. For
this, other faculties are required, other senses; should such powers become
available to him, then could a human being receive some knowledge of that
world; otherwise, never.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
