Daily Frameworks for 26 October 2023

Istijlál, 11 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 180 B.E.

Reflections on the Life of the Spirit

Quote for Reflection:

The rational soul, or the human spirit, does not subsist through this body by inherence—that is to say, it does not enter it; for inherence and entrance are characteristics of bodies, and the rational soul is sanctified above this. It never entered this body to begin with, that it should require, upon leaving it, some other abode. No, the connection of the spirit with the body is even as the connection of this lamp with a mirror. If the mirror is polished and perfected, the light of the lamp appears therein, and if the mirror is broken or covered with dust, the light remains concealed. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ¹

Question for Consideration:

Determine whether the following are true:

The soul does not belong to the physical world.
The soul is within the body.
The body is the owner of the soul.
The soul is immortal.
The individual has his or her beginning when the soul associates itself with the embryo.
Life begins when the individual is born into this world.
The individual’s material existence continues after death.
Life consists of the things that happen to us every day. ²

Google Bard Response:

True:

• The soul does not belong to the physical world.
• The soul is immortal.
  

False:

• The soul is within the body. (The soul is not located within the body in the same way that the body is located within the physical world.)
• The body is the owner of the soul. (The soul is not owned by the body. The soul is a spiritual being that is independent of the body.)
• The individual has his or her beginning when the soul associates itself with the embryo. (The soul is eternal and existed before the embryo was formed.)
• Life begins when the individual is born into this world. (Life begins at the moment of conception when the soul associates itself with the embryo.)
• The individual’s material existence continues after death. (The body dies, but the soul continues to exist after death.)
• Life consists of the things that happen to us every day. (Life is more than just the things that happen to us every day. It is also about our thoughts, feelings, and experiences.)
  

In the analogy of the lamp and the mirror, the lamp represents the soul and the mirror represents the body. The soul is not within the body in the same way that the light of the lamp is within the mirror. The soul is a spiritual being that is independent of the body. The body is simply a vessel for the soul to express itself in the physical world.

The individual’s beginning is at the moment of conception when the soul associates itself with the embryo. This is when the individual’s spiritual journey begins. The individual’s material existence comes to an end at death, but the soul continues to exist.

Life is more than just the things that happen to us every day. It is also about our thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Life is about our spiritual journey and our quest to become closer to God.

1. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Some Answered Questions. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed October 26, 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/some-answered-questions/11#987219024. ↩
2. Ruhi Institute. Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. 4.1.2.PE May 2020. Vol. Book 1. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Institute, 2020, 32. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩