Whennightfoldstheworldinitsblackimpenetrablemantle,nomatterhowdensethedarkness,itcoversbutthesmallspaceofhalfourlittleplanet,whilethewholeuniverseisablazewithlivinglight,andeverysoulknowsthatitwillawakeinthelightinthemorning.
Know,then,thatwhenthedarknightofsorrow,pain,ormisfortunesettlesdownuponyoursoul,andyoustumblealongwithwearyanduncertainsteps,thatyouaremerelyinterceptingyourownpersonaldesiresbetweenyourselfandtheboundlesslightofjoyandbliss,andthedarkshadowthatcoversyouiscastbynoneandnothingbutyourself.
Andjustasthedarknesswithoutisbutanegativeshadow,anunrealitywhichcomesfromnowhere,goestonowhere,andhasnoabidingdwellingplace,sothedarknesswithinisequallyanegativeshadowpassingovertheevolvingandLightbornsoul.
“But,”IfancyIhearsomeonesay,“Whypassthroughthedarknessofevilatall?”Because,byignorance,youhavechosentodoso,andbecause,bydoingso,youmayunderstandbothgoodandevil,andmaythemoreappreciatethelightbyhavingpassedthroughthedarkness.
Asevilisthedirectoutcomeofignorance,so,whenthelessonsofevilarefullylearned,ignorancepassesaway,andwisdomtakesitsplace.
He,therefore,whowouldshakehimselffreeoftheevilwhichencompasseshim,mustbewillingandreadytolearn,andmustbepreparedtoundergothatdisciplinaryprocesswithoutwhichnograinofwisdomorabidinghappinessandpeacecanbesecured.
Amanmayshuthimselfupinadarkroom,anddenythatthelightexists,butitiseverywherewithout,anddarknessexistsonlyinhisownlittleroom.
SoyoumayshutoutthelightofTruth,oryoumaybegintopulldownthewallsofprejudice,self-seekinganderrorwhichyouhavebuiltaroundyourself,andsoletinthegloriousandomnipresentLight.
Byearnestself-examinationstrivetorealize,andnotmerelyholdasatheory,thatevilisapassingphase,aself-createdshadow;thatallyourpains,sorrowsandmisfortuneshavecometoyoubyaprocessofundeviatingandabsolutelyperfectlaw;havecometoyoubecauseyoudeserveandrequirethem,andthatbyfirstenduring,andthenunderstandingthem,youmaybemadestronger,wiser,nobler.
Whenyouhavefullyenteredintothisrealization,youwillbeinapositiontomouldyourowncircumstances,totransmuteallevilintogoodandtoweave,withamasterhand,thefabricofyourdestiny.
