5 Time was when man was not; and then he was a bit of formless substance in the molds of time; and then a protoplast.
6 By universal law all things tend upward to a state of perfectness. The protoplast evolved, becoming worm, then reptile, bird and beast, and then at last it reached the form of man.
7 Now, man himself is mind, and mind is here to gain perfection by experience; and mind is often manifest in fleshy form, and in the form best suited to its growth. So mind may manifest as worm, or bird, or beast, or man.
8 The time will come when everything of life will be evolved unto the state of perfect man.
9 And after man is man in perfectness, he will evolve to higher forms of life.
10 And Jesus said, Barata Arabo, who taught you this, that mind, which is the man, may manifest in flesh of beast, or bird, or creeping thing?
11 Barata said, From times which man remembers not our priests have told us so, and so we know.
12 And Jesus said, Enlightened Arabo, are you a master mind and do not know that man knows naught by being told?
13 Man may believe what others say; but thus he never knows. If man would know, he must himself be what he knows.
14 Do you remember, Arabo, when you was ape, or bird, or worm?