The First Way is direct, and without barrier or veil. This way represents the way of prophethood.

The Second Way: In this, barriers intervene. The capacities of the mirrors and places of manifestation add colour to the Sun's manifestations. This way represents the way of sainthood.

Thus, on the First Way, 'Flower', 'Droplet', and 'Atom' can each say: "I am a mirror to the Sun of all the world." But on the Second Way they cannot say that; they can rather say: "I am the mirror to my own Sun, or the mirror to the Sun which is manifested in my species.' For that is the manner in which they know the Sun. They cannot see a Sun which looks to the whole world; the Sun of that individual or species or genus appears to it within narrow confines and under limiting restrictions. And it cannot ascribe to that restricted Sun the works of the unrestricted, unconfined, absolute Sun. For within those narrow restrictions and limited confines it cannot attribute to the Sun with the certain witnessing of the heart its majestic works like furnishing the whole face of the earth with light and heat, stirring all plants and animals into life, and making the planets revolve around it. Indeed, even if those three things, which we suppose to have consciousness, ascribe those wondrous works to the Sun which they see under those restrictions, they can only do so with the mind and through belief, and through submitting to the fact that that restricted thing is absolute. Whereas these judgements of 'Flower', 'Droplet', and 'Atom', which we suppose to possess reason like a human being, that is, their ascribing those mighty works to the Sun, is through the mind and reason, it is not through illumination. Indeed, sometimes their judgements concerning belief clash with their illuminations about the cosmos. They can only believe them with great difficulty.

Now the three of us must enter into this comparison, which is narrow for reality, but in some of the corners of which the members of reality are to be seen and which is mixed with reality. The three of us shall suppose ourselves to be 'Flower', 'Droplet', and 'Atom'. For the consciousness which we suppose them to have insufficient. We must add our reasons to theirs. That is to say, just as they receive effulgence from their physical Sun, we too shall receive effulgence from our immaterial Sun, and must understand it.

And so, my friend, who has not forgotten the world, is preoccupied with materiality, and whose soul is dense! You be 'Flower'. 'Flower' takes on a colour dissolved from the Sun's light, and it mixes the Sun's image in with that colour and clothes itself in an adorned form. For your capacity resembles it as well. Then let this philosopher who has studied secular science and is plunged in causes like the Old Said be 'Droplet', which is enamoured of the Moon. For the Moon affords him the shadow of light it has received from the Sun, and it gives a light to the pupil of his eye. 'Droplet' too shines with the light, but he can only see the Moon with it, he cannot see the Sun. Rather, he can only see it through his belief. Then, let this poor man be 'Atom', who knows everything to be directly from Almighty God and considers causes to be a veil. He is such an 'Atom' that knows himself to be poor in his own self. He has nothing on which to depend so as to rely on himself like 'Flower'. He possesses no colour that he should appear through it. And he does not recognize other things that he should turn towards them. He has a sheer purity by which he holds the Sun's image directly in the pupil of his eye. Now, since we have taken the place of these three things, we must consider ourselves. What do we have? What must we do?