The rational soul—the human spirit—did not descend into this
body or subsist through it to begin with, that it should require some substance
to depend upon after the constituent parts of the body have decomposed. On the
contrary, the rational soul is the substance upon which the body depends. The
rational soul is endowed from the beginning with individuality; it does not
acquire it through the intermediary of the body. At most, what can be said is
that the individuality and identity of the rational soul may be strengthened in
this world, and that the soul may either progress and attain to the degrees of
perfection or remain in the lowest abyss of ignorance and be veiled from and
deprived of beholding the signs of God.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Table talks in Akka,
authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014 revised
translation by the Baha’i World Centre)
