We can best understand a universe in man first by comparing a drop of water with the sea. The water has the same tendency of responding to the air, whether it be in the ocean, the sea, in a river, or in a glass of water. Even in the glass of water it responds to the air, and if there were room there would be waves. In the river there are waves, in the sea there are bigger waves, in the ocean they rise much higher still. The same tonic, properties, that doctors find in the water of the sea we can find in the drop of water. The microbes, the germs that exist in the ocean, live also in a drop of water.

So we see that the water in the ocean, in the sea, the lake, the river, is the same as it is in a drop of water. The best way to explain what the ocean is like to a child that has never seen it, would be to show him a little pool and tell him, "It is like that, all water." He at once imagines what it is like. From the part he imagines the complete. All that is in God, the Whole Being, is in man. Because it is seen in man, we understand that it is in God. If man had no mercy he would not know that God is merciful. If man had no wisdom he would never have known the wisdom of God.

Therefore it is no exaggeration to say that man is made in the image of God. If a person wishes to know what the Taj Mahal is like, he can go to the Victoria and Albert Museum and see the model. That shows him at least what it is like. It is only man who is made in the image of God. It is not the lion, the elephant, however big and strong a creature he is, who is made in the image of God.

Someone may say: "Why is it man who is made in the image of God? Why is not the lion, the elephant, the dog made in the image of God?" If you take the model of a turret or a roof of the temple at Benares, that cannot give you the idea of the whole temple.

In man's physical constitution the elements of which the whole universe is made, are found.

In the bones the earth element, the rock.
The flesh is made of the water element a little solidified.
The fire-element is the heat in man's body, the glow, the expression in the face. When the fire is less, the expression of the face becomes faded.
The skin shows the effect of the air element. It changes in accordance with the effect of the air upon it.
The ether is shown in the hair, which is much less sensitive than any other part of the body. If we cut the skin or the flesh, we feel pain. When the hair is cut we feel nothing.

Poison is also found in man. In all animals, in the fishes, there is a small bag of poisonous substance which is taken out before the meat is cooked. Otherwise it would all become poisonous. In the snake there is poison in its teeth.

It is a great mistake that people often make, and the sciences such as phrenology, physiognomy, and so on, encourage them in this, that they say: "I have not this attribute, it is not in me. I am not musical, I have no musical gift," not thinking that it is all in him, if he could bring it out. And by thinking that he has not the faculty, he makes it less and less.

There are some whose thoughts are like jewels. They are collected and treasured and valued more than diamonds. Sometimes a thought brings us a peace, a joy, in whatever difficulties or sorrows we may be. There are others whose thoughts are like pebbles. When he speaks his wife is annoyed, his friends want to fight with him.

There are the feelings of love and sympathy. These are in the soul. This is the angelic world in man. Muhammad said:

"At every moment man creates an angel."

One may think, "How can man by his thought create an angel?" But to me the thoughts are more living than the living beings.

We may say: "If the whole universe is in man, then Shaitan must be in us too." He is. The thought that we are something different from others, better than others, and deserving all that is best, looking down upon others and thinking: "they are foolish," or "he is a thief," not thinking that these same attributes are in us, that is all Shaitan. If they were not in us, we should not know what they are. If you ask a little child what a thief is, he does not know, because that quality is not yet developed in him. There is no pride in saying: "This bad attribute is not in me." There is no wisdom in saying: "I have not this faculty."

It is that which prevents our being sociable, being kind. It is this that makes us unhappy. Have you known what it is to give your meal to another and to go without yourself? It gives a happiness that no dinner eaten by yourself can give. Have you known what it is to give your coat to another and do without it yourself? It gives a joy that the satisfaction of your own wants cannot give you. Even that perfect peace and calm which is the eternal life is in man and can be attained by man.