The world

From the fifth cosmic principle, therefore, came forth the world. The world is the expression of the fifth cosmic principle, which is, in turn, the expression of the fourth cosmic principle, and so on, all of the way back to the first cosmic principle, the res divina, the divine will, the ‘aql, the finite projection of the absolute. Now, since man is the quintessence of this world, which originated as a spark from the ‘aql and, since the ‘aql, as the finite projection of the absolute, is eternal, then so is man’s reality—his soul. The human soul is to the human body as its meaning is to a word. Just as a meaning makes sense only when expressed through its word, so must the human soul be expressed in a human body. The human soul realizes itself in the human body. The human body, therefore, serves as the sole medium for the human soul to achieve actualization and to participate in the progress of man toward knowledge and self-realization. The true knowledge of the oneness of God, through which man realizes his purpose of feeling as much in union with the One as is humanly possible, can only be achieved through man’s gradual yet continuous spiritual experience and through his constant preparedness for the gnostic discovery of human union with the One. For the Druze, the span of a single life is not enough for an individual to realize this ultimate purpose.