St. Paul’s expression of this fact is concise, and to the point.  This observation alone, stamps him as one possessing a very high degree of realization of what cosmic consciousness is.

“If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.”

The worldly wise man or woman asks “how much do I get?” The truly wise person cares nothing at all for possessions.  He only asks “how much can I give?”

And although we find in the marts of commercialism a contempt for the gullible, and the credulous; the trusting and the confiding, let it be known that the “smart” bargainer will indeed smart for his smartness, for in the light of cosmic consciousness, this alleged “wisdom” of men, appears as utter foolishness; wasted effort; a perversion of opportunity.

Because “all these things shall pass away.”

Love alone is imperishable.

Love alone is the savior of the human race, and whenever we fail to act from motives of love, we are disloyal to the light within us.

Again says St. Paul: 

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.

“And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

“And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.

“LOVE NEVER FAILETH.

“But whether there be prophecies they shall be done away; whether there be tongues they shall cease; whether there be knowledge it shall be done away.  For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.”

It must be remembered that in the days of St. Paul the high priests and the prophets were accounted the wisest and most exalted persons in the community.

The ability to prophecy presupposed a special favor of the God of the Jews.  St. Paul’s exposition of the changed viewpoint that comes to one who has entered into cosmic consciousness, was therefore aptly illustrated by his open avowal that there was a far greater power—­a more exalted state of consciousness, than that of the gift of prophecy and of “knowing all mysteries;” that state of one in which love was the ruler, and in order that they might the more fully comprehend the simplicity, and yet the perfection, of this state of consciousness, he made clear the fact that no one truly who became “a new creature”, as he characterized this change, ever exalted himself, or made high claims; or became exclusive, or “superior,” or “holy,” in the sense the latter word had been used.

How, then, would they know when they had attained to this state of consciousness, of which he spoke, and which they but dimly understood?