Ghazzali's Alchemy of Happiness. 



99 



passing beyond the due limits, and on the contrary might 

 dispose the soul to rest satisfied with the degree of energy 

 and force necessary for it, and by learning the design for 

 which it had come into the world, might spend its days ac- 

 cordingly. 



After you have learned, O student of the divine mys- 

 teries, what this world in its meaning really is, it is import- 

 ant that you should look at the world in detail. Every 

 thing in the world of matter which grows, has been in- 

 cluded under three classes, animal, vegetable and mineral, 

 which are called the three generations or kingdoms. An- 

 imals were created some for riding, some for food, and some 

 for tilling. Vegetables were created to afford food and 

 conveniences to man, and sustenance to various animals. 

 Minerals, like gold, silver, copper and iron, were created to 

 serve as instruments to provide means of sustaining life in 

 man. It was designed that by means of these three king- 

 doms, the spirit of man, while dwelling for a few days in the 

 body, should be employed in making preparation for the 

 future world. Man, however, forgetful of the end for 

 which he had come hither, heedless of the fact that he was 

 soon to depart, and that he would then repent to find that 

 he was going unprepared, became engaged in strife with 

 his fellowsabout the things of the world, fell in love with 

 its ways, and attempted to gain its wealth. In consequence 

 various qualities began to appear in the heart, such as 

 avarice, envy, ambition and hatred, which are sources of 

 its ruin. Finally the heart, forgetful of the duties for the 

 performance of which it had come into the world, exhausted 

 all its energies in building up the world. 



As man's primary necessities in the world are three, viz : 

 clothing, food and shelter, so the arts of the world are 

 three, viz : weaving, planting and building. The rest of 

 the arts serve either for the purpose of perfecting the others, 

 or for repairing injuries. Thus the spinner aids the work 



