Sometimes a child appears to see and understand very much of what is going on in his surroundings, from his infancy. Sometimes a young man sees and understands more than an old person. These are supposed by the average person to be old souls, and the reincarnationists take it as a proof of the doctrine of reincarnation. But, really speaking, knowing and understanding do not depend upon learning; knowledge is the soul's quality. The knowledge of the spirit has been man's in all ages. An old person does not need to read many books in order to know that he was once a little child; he has experienced it. So the soul knows its own experience; it needs only a little awakening to make it self-conscious. And if God wishes to awaken the soul, He can do so directly.