The Power of the Infinite Light
The light of the infinite spirit came down to feeble nature for a short time until all of the impurity of nature became void, and in order that the darkness of nature might be exposed.1 I put on my garment, which is the garment of the light of the majesty—which I am. I came in the appearance of the spirit to consider the whole light, which was in the depths of the darkness, according to the will of the majesty2, in order that the spirit by means of the word might be filled with his light independently of the power of the infinite light. And at my wish the spirit arose by his own power. His greatness was granted to him that he might be filled with his whole light and depart from the whole burden of the darkness.3 For what was behind was a dark fire that blew and pressed on the spirit. And the spirit rejoiced because he was protected from the frightful water.4 But his light was not equal to the majesty. What he was granted by the infinite light was given so that in all his members he might appear as a single image of light5. And when the arose above the water, his dark likeness became apparent. And the spirit honored the exalted light: “Surely you alone are the infinite one, because you are above every unconceived thing, for you have protected me from the darkness. And at your wish I arose above the power of darkness.
“And that nothing might be hidden from you, Shem, The thought, which the spirit from the greatness had contemplated, came into being6, since the darkness was not able to restrain his evil. But when the thought appeared, the three roots became known as they were from the beginning. If the darkness has been able to restrain his evil, the mind would not have separated from him7, and another power would not have appeared.
“But from the time it appeared I was seen, the son of the majesty, that the light of the spirit might not become faint, and that nature might not reign over it, because it gazed at me8.
“And by the will of the greatness my equality was revealed, that what is of the power might become apparent. You are the great power that came into being, and I am the perfect light that is above the spirit and the darkness, …”
From The Paraphrase of Shem
1That we may become aware that matter is darkness.
2Spirit/Light/Soul was inserted into the realm of matter so that it may be redeemed.
3The Light Spirit can separate from the darkness of matter in which it is trapped.
4The frightful water of the lower dimension of pure matter.
5So that we may all unite into one Infinite Light one day rather than being individual light of limited power.
6When the Great Light (God) comtemplates something, or forms an image of it in his “mind”, it becomes real.
7The mind separated from spirit, resulting in a mind intellect that knows only the material and is therefore nearly blind to the reality of the complete universe.
8Because the light/spirit within us is linked to the Great Light of God, material nature cannot control it to any great degree.