All created things are originally unmanifest. They manifest in their transitory state, and once dissolved, they become unmanifest.

There are two kinds of philosophers: those who believe in the existence of the soul, and those who do not. But neither have reason to complain. Those who follow the principles of spiritual wisdom call those who deny the existence of the soul “atheists.” Now, suppose for a moment that we accept the atheistic philosophy, what reason could we have to complain?

Before creation, in the absence of the soul, the material elements already exist in an unmanifest state. From this subtle state later arises the manifested state, just as ether gives rise to air, air to fire, fire to water, and water to earth, which, in turn, gives rise to so many phenomena. Take the example of a skyscraper, an assemblage of earthly elements that is demolished. From manifest, it becomes unmanifest again, and finally decomposes into atoms. The law of conservation of energy continues to apply. The only difference is that objects are sometimes manifest, sometimes unmanifest. However, whether they are in one state or the other, what reason could we have to lament?

Even if they become unmanifest again, they are not lost. At the beginning as well as at the end, everything is unmanifest; manifestation appears only at the intermediate stage. However, even materially speaking, this difference has no real importance. In reality, the material body deteriorates over time, while the soul remains eternal. Anyone who understands this must remember that the body is only a garment; there is no reason to lament a change of clothes. Before the eternity of the soul, the existence of the body passes like a dream. In a dream, we may believe we are flying in the sky or sitting in a king's chariot, but upon waking, we must come back from our illusions. Spiritual wisdom encourages us to spiritual realization by demonstrating the precariousness of the material body. Whether or not one believes in the existence of the soul, there is no reason to lament the loss of the body.

God reveals to us the splendor of the soul.

The Lord says: Some see the soul, and it is an astonishing wonder to them. Likewise, others speak of it, and still others hear of it. Yet there are those who, even after hearing of it, cannot comprehend it.

That the infinitesimal soul can occupy the body of a gigantic or tiny animal, or that of a great banyan tree or a blade of grass, as well as those of the billions of germs contained in every cubic centimeter of space, is undoubtedly something extraordinary.

The Lord adds: He who dwells in the body is eternal; he can never be killed.