Jalál, 13 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
The spirit does not need a body, but the body needs spirit, or it cannot live. The soul can live without a body, but the body without a soul dies. — ‘Abdul-Bahá 1
Questions for Consideration:
Does the body need a soul?
Does the soul need the body?
What happens to the connection between the body and soul when we die? 2
Google Bard Response:
Does the body need a soul?
Yes, the body needs a soul to live. The soul is the animating force that gives life to the body. Without a soul, the body would be a lifeless vessel.
Does the soul need the body?
No, the soul does not need the body in the same way that the body needs the soul. The soul is a spiritual being that can exist independently of the body. However, the body does provide the soul with a means to interact with the physical world.
What happens to the connection between the body and soul when we die?
When we die, the connection between the body and soul is severed. The body decomposes and returns to the dust, but the soul continues to exist in the spiritual world.
The body is a temporary vessel that the soul inhabits. When the body dies, the soul is released from its physical encasement and it is free to return to its spiritual home.
The death of the body is not the end of our existence. It is simply a transition to another state of being. After death, the soul continues to grow and develop in the spiritual world.
- ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. Paris Talks: Addresses Given by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá in 1911. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 2006, 104. https://archive.org/details/paristalksaddres0000abdu/page/104/mode/2up. ↩
- 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, 33. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 