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The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »
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52: THE APPEARING OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BODY 200 |
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Answer.—The wisdom of the appearance of the spirit in
the body is this: the human spirit is a Divine Trust, and it
must traverse all conditions, for its passage and movement
through the conditions of existence will be the means of its
acquiring perfections. So when a man travels and passes
through different regions and numerous countries with
system and method, it is certainly a means of his acquiring
perfection, for he will see places, scenes and countries,
from which he will discover the conditions and states of
other nations. He will thus become acquainted with the
geography of countries and their wonders and arts; he will
familiarize himself with the habits, customs and usages of
peoples; he will see the civilization and progress of the
epoch; he will become aware of the policy of governments
and the power and capacity of each country. It is the same
when the human spirit passes through the conditions of
existence: it will become the possessor of each degree and
station. Even in the condition of the body it will surely acquire
perfections.
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Besides this, it is necessary that the signs of the perfection
of the spirit should be apparent in this world, so that
the world of creation may bring forth endless results, and
this body may receive life and manifest the divine bounties.
So, for example, the rays of the sun must shine upon
the earth, and the solar heat develop the earthly beings; if
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the rays and heat of the sun did not shine upon the earth,
the earth would be uninhabited, without meaning; and its
development would be retarded. In the same way, if the
perfections of the spirit did not appear in this world, this
world would be unenlightened and absolutely brutal. By
the appearance of the spirit in the physical form, this
world is enlightened. As the spirit of man is the cause of
the life of the body, so the world is in the condition of the
body, and man is in the condition of the spirit. If there
were no man, the perfections of the spirit would not appear,
and the light of the mind would not be resplendent in
this world. This world would be like a body without a
soul.
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Moreover, these members, these elements, this composition,
which are found in the organism of man, are an
attraction and magnet for the spirit; it is certain that the
spirit will appear in it. So a mirror which is clear will certainly
attract the rays of the sun. It will become luminous,
and wonderful images will appear in it—that is to say,
when these existing elements are gathered together according
to the natural order, and with perfect strength,
they become a magnet for the spirit, and the spirit will become
manifest in them with all its perfections.
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Under these conditions it cannot be said, “What is the
necessity for the rays of the sun to descend upon the mirror?”—for the connection which exists between the
reality of things, whether they be spiritual or material, requires
that when the mirror is clear and faces the sun, the
light of the sun must become apparent in it. In the same
way, when the elements are arranged and combined in the
most glorious system, organization and manner, the
human spirit will appear and be manifest in them. This is
the decree of the Powerful, the Wise.
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