6.7.1 "A person, my dear, consists of sixteen parts. For fifteen days do not eat; drink water at will. Breath, which consists of water, will not be cut off from one who drinks water."

6.7.2 Then for fifteen days he did not eat. So then he approached him, saying, "What shall I say, Sir?"

"The verses, my dear, the formulas, the chants."

Then he said: "Verily, they do not come to me, Sir."

6.7.3 To him he then said: "Just as, my dear, a single coal of the size of a fire-fly may be left over from a great kindled fire, but with it the fire would not thereafter burn much, so, my dear, of your sixteen parts a single sixteenth part may be left over, but with it you do not now apprehend the Books. [4] Eat; then you will understand from me."

6.7.4 Then he ate. So then he approached him. Then whatsoever he asked him, he answered everything.

6.7.5 To him he then said: "Just as, my dear, one may, by covering it with straw, make a single coal of the size of a fire-fly that has been left over from a great kindled fire blaze up, and with it the fire would thereafter burn much, [6] so, my dear, of your sixteen parts a single sixteenth part has been left over. After having been covered with food, it has blazed up. With it you now apprehend the Books; for, my dear, the mind consists of food, the breath consists of water, the voice consists of heat."

Then he understood from him, yea, he understood.