And, now, returning to the main path of our thought—­let us stand here at the beginning of the dawn of a Day of Brahm.  It is verily a beginning, for there is nothing to be seen—­there is nothing but Space.  No trace of Matter, Force or Mind, as we know these terms.  In that portion of Infinite Space—­that is, of course, in that “portion” of the Infinite Mind of the Absolute One, for even Space is a “conception” of that Mind, there is “Nothing.”  This is “the darkest moment, just before the dawn.”

Then comes the breaking of the dawn of the Brahmic Day.  The Absolute begins the “creation” of a Universe.  And, how does It create?  There can be no creation of something out of nothing.  And except the Absolute Itself there is but Nothing.

Therefore The Absolute must create the Universe out of Its own “substance,” if we can use the word “substance” in this connection.  “Substance” means, literally, “that which stands under,” being derived from the two Latin words, sub, meaning “under,” and stare, meaning “to stand.”  The English word “understand” means, literally, “to stand under”—­the two words really meaning the same.  This is more than a coincidence.

So the Absolute must create the Universe from its own substance, we have seen.  Well, what is this “substance” of the Absolute?  Is it Matter?  No! for Matter we know to be, in itself, merely a manifestation of Force, or Energy.  Then, is it Force or Energy?  No! because Force and Energy, in itself, cannot possess Mind, and we must think of the Absolute as possessing Mind, for it manifests Mind, and what is manifested must be in the Manifestor, or Manifesting Agent.  Then this “substance” must be Mind?  Well, yes, in a way—­and yet not Mind as we know it, finite and imperfect.  But something like Mind, only Infinite in degree and nature—­something sufficiently greater than Mind as we know it, to admit of it being the Cause of Mind.  But, we are compelled to think of it as “Infinite Mind,” for our finite Minds can hold no higher conception.  So we are content to say that this “substance” from which the Absolute must create the Universe is a something that we will call Infinite Mind.  Fix this in your mind, please, as the first step in our conception.

But, how can the Infinite Mind be used to create finite minds, shapes, forms, and things, without it being lessened in quantity—­how can you take something from something, and still have the original something left?  An impossibility!  And, we cannot think of the Absolute as “dividing Itself up” into two or more portions—­for if such were the case, there would be two or more Absolutes, or else None.  There cannot be two Absolutes, for if the Absolute were to divide itself so there would be no Absolute, but only two Relatives—­two Finites instead of One Infinite.  Do you see the absurdity?