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1. Thoughts are not only the impressions of outward things on our senses but are also our mind’s responses to impressions coming to us through our senses. Thus the growth and the progress of mind towards the attainment of perfection depends on external as well as internal conditions. A tree may have life in itself, but before its leaves can unfold, its flowers blossom and its fruit ripen, it needs air and light and warmth. The tree, that is, depends upon certain external as well as internal conditions for its growth and maturity.
2. Through the outer senses we come to know the outer world, and through the inner senses, the inner spiritual world. The rise of a thought about anything in the mind is a proof not only of the mind which thinks, but also of the existence of that thing. In other words, we might say that the thought is a reflection on our mind of that thing. Sometimes, even without intending to do so, we are led to think, which means that something outside is reflecting itself in our minds. Where there is fragrance, there must be flowers: the form or colour of these flowers may be hidden from our eyes, but the fragrance tells us that there are flowers. So thoughts imply objects. The mind is like a mirror. Images in the mirror imply that there are objects before the mirror. Whether the mirror likes it or no, these are reflected in it. On the other hand, the mirror has not life; but the mind has. The mirror cannot create images, it can only reflect; but the mind has also innate ideas. In other respects, the mind is like a mirror, in that in it are reflected ideas of things outside, sometimes without the mind itself participating in the reflection. Abstract ideas are the sparks which come out from the fire of Reality.
3. The reflections in our mind do not always correspond to the Reality. They may appear different to different people according to their different capacities.
Our ideas of God now are imperfect. But by living constantly in His Presence, we shall attain to a real understanding of His Being.