in the loci of manifestation. The loci of manifestation cannot themselves appear, while appearance within them is necessary. The One manifest cannot admit His contrary, for He is not a locus for His contrary. The locus of manifestation is the receptacle: it has received what appears within it and receives nothing else. If something else exists, that is another manifestation and another locus of manifestation. Every locus of manifestation for something manifest remains inseparable from it after its appearance within it.
Nothing therefore remains within possibility without appearing, endlessly, for possible things are without end. This is a depth difficult to conceive, received only through surrender or exceedingly subtle consideration. It quickly slips from thought and can be held only by one who has tasted it; expression proves difficult.
Question One Hundred and Twenty-Two
What does He do to them within the grasp?
The answer
Churning, which is what they undergo. He raises and lowers, expands and grasps, unveils and covers, hides and manifests, stirs up conflict, joins, and alienates. His general treatment of them is changing states. This is an intrinsic act, for were He not to bring about change, His being God would become ineffectual. His being God is an intrinsic description of Him. Changing His workmanship among possible things is therefore necessary and inseparable, just as they are always within the grasp.
Question One Hundred and Twenty-Three
How many times does He look toward the friends of God each day?
The answer
Notlar
Translator’s note TN3767-1: The unvowelled maḥāl/muḥāl in the opening is read as muḥāl, impossible: the loci do not themselves appear, while manifestation within them is necessary. This reading follows the distinction between the One manifest and His loci, rather than reading the same spelling as the plural “locations.”
