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Baha'i Faith - Relationship between the mind and the soul

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  • Baha'i Faith - Relationship between the mind and the soul

    In the Baha'i Faith the soul (human spirit) is distinctly separate from the mind. The mind is the product of the brain, and the spirit is the light of the lamp.

    Source: http://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/some-answered-questions/#f=f10-680


    The human spirit, which distinguishes man from the animal, is the rational soul, and these two terms—the human spirit and the rational soul—designate one and the same thing. This spirit, which in the terminology of the philosophers is called the rational soul, encompasses all things and as far as human capacity permits, discovers their realities and becomes aware of the properties and effects, the characteristics and conditions of earthly things. But the human spirit, unless it be assisted by the spirit of faith, cannot become acquainted with the divine mysteries and the heavenly realities. It is like a mirror which, although clear, bright, and polished, is still in need of light. Not until a sunbeam falls upon it can it discover the divine mysteries.

    As for the mind, it is the power of the human spirit. The spirit is as the lamp, and the mind as the light that shines from it. The spirit is as the tree, and the mind as the fruit. The mind is the perfection of the spirit and a necessary attribute thereof, even as the rays of the sun are an essential requirement of the sun itself.

    © Copyright Original Source

    Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep.
    Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man;
    But will they come when you do call for them? Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, Act III:

    go with the flow the river knows . . .

    Frank

    I do not know, therefore everything is in pencil.

  • #2
    Originally posted by shunyadragon View Post
    In the Baha'i Faith the soul (human spirit) is distinctly separate from the mind. The mind is the product of the brain, and the spirit is the light of the lamp.

    Source: http://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/some-answered-questions/#f=f10-680


    The human spirit, which distinguishes man from the animal, is the rational soul, and these two terms—the human spirit and the rational soul—designate one and the same thing. This spirit, which in the terminology of the philosophers is called the rational soul, encompasses all things and as far as human capacity permits, discovers their realities and becomes aware of the properties and effects, the characteristics and conditions of earthly things. But the human spirit, unless it be assisted by the spirit of faith, cannot become acquainted with the divine mysteries and the heavenly realities. It is like a mirror which, although clear, bright, and polished, is still in need of light. Not until a sunbeam falls upon it can it discover the divine mysteries.

    As for the mind, it is the power of the human spirit. The spirit is as the lamp, and the mind as the light that shines from it. The spirit is as the tree, and the mind as the fruit. The mind is the perfection of the spirit and a necessary attribute thereof, even as the rays of the sun are an essential requirement of the sun itself.

    © Copyright Original Source

    But the the soul and mind do interact with each other - correct? So the immaterial has an effect on the material.
    Last edited by seer; 08-01-2016, 08:26 AM.
    Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by seer View Post
      But the the soul and mind do interact with each other - correct? So the immaterial has an effect on the material.
      Yes, the mind is like a window to the soul. As for the mind, it is the power of the human spirit. The spirit is as the lamp, and the mind as the light that shines from it.
      Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep.
      Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man;
      But will they come when you do call for them? Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, Act III:

      go with the flow the river knows . . .

      Frank

      I do not know, therefore everything is in pencil.

      Comment


      • #4
        Is spirit of reason and spirit of faith different or same?

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by siam View Post
          Is spirit of reason and spirit of faith different or same?
          Unsure of the interpretation here, but reason and faith are likely attributes of the soul. The spirit is equivalent to the soul and the soul is distinct and separate from the mind.

          Source: http://bahai-library.com/mihrshahi_ether_quantum_physics


          The soul, according to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, is completely immaterial and therefore free from all physical limitations and independent of time and space[25]. It interacts with the brain through a medium called "common faculty" (Some Answered Questions 210). This faculty, which seems to be identical with or at least related to the human mind, is a partly spiritual ("pre-existent") and partly physical ("contingent") entity that "is connected with the brain" (242) and controls the functioning of the human body:
          The mind force—whether we call it pre-existent or contingent—doth direct and co-ordinate all the members of the human body, seeing to it that each part or member duly performeth its own special function (Selections 48).

          © Copyright Original Source

          Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep.
          Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man;
          But will they come when you do call for them? Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, Act III:

          go with the flow the river knows . . .

          Frank

          I do not know, therefore everything is in pencil.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by shunyadragon View Post
            Unsure of the interpretation here, but reason and faith are likely attributes of the soul. The spirit is equivalent to the soul and the soul is distinct and separate from the mind.

            Source: http://bahai-library.com/mihrshahi_ether_quantum_physics


            The soul, according to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, is completely immaterial and therefore free from all physical limitations and independent of time and space[25]. It interacts with the brain through a medium called "common faculty" (Some Answered Questions 210). This faculty, which seems to be identical with or at least related to the human mind, is a partly spiritual ("pre-existent") and partly physical ("contingent") entity that "is connected with the brain" (242) and controls the functioning of the human body:
            The mind force—whether we call it pre-existent or contingent—doth direct and co-ordinate all the members of the human body, seeing to it that each part or member duly performeth its own special function (Selections 48).

            © Copyright Original Source

            so there is a soul and a mind-force? Is the soul singular (one/collective) or a plural (many/individual) ?

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by siam View Post
              so there is a soul and a mind-force? Is the soul singular (one/collective) or a plural (many/individual) ?
              Each individual has a soul, singular. Mind-force equivalent to the mind.
              Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep.
              Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man;
              But will they come when you do call for them? Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, Act III:

              go with the flow the river knows . . .

              Frank

              I do not know, therefore everything is in pencil.

              Comment

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