Tag: Soul, Human

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Tag: "Soul, Human"

tag name Soul, Human type: Philosophy; Principles, teachings; Religion, general

web link bahai-library.com/tags/Soul,_Human
variations or
mis-spellings rational soul, human spirit, nafs (نفس), rúḥ (روح), raván (روان), ján (جان); See full list at the end of the notes section below.
related tags – Concepts, Philosophical; – Concepts, Religious; – Tags with many search results on bahai.org; Human nature; Life after death (afterlife); Mystery (mysteries); Purpose of life; Spirit (general); Spiritual reality; Spirituality; Tags with multiple Inventory subjects (selected)
referring tags - Virtues and spiritual qualities; Abhá Kingdom; Abortion; Bird, water and clay; Bird and cage; Birds; City versus country life; Death; Dreams and visions; Forces of light and darkness; Heart; Heaven and hell; Human flight (flight of the soul); Immortality; Infinite; Journey (spiritual); Mind, spirit, soul; Mirrors; Most exalted home; Nobility; Prayer; Purity of heart, chastity of soul, and freedom of spirit; Rational faculty; Realization of potentialities; Self; Some Answered Questions (book); Soul mates; Spirit of faith; Spirituality; Womb and embryo (metaphor)
Inventory subject Existence; immortality of the human soul; Human soul as mirror; divine light, attributes within; Immateriality; ineffability of soul; spirit; Origin of the soul; the soul as emanation; Proofs for the existence; immortality of the soul; Soul is the essential reality of man; Soul; spirit after death; The human soul; The human soul at midpoint of creation; the isthmus [barzakh]; The soul as soil; cultivation of the soul; Two aspects of the human soul; the higher and lower natures
notes

"The inner and essential reality of man which is not composed of physical matter and thus continues to exist after death. In the Bahá'í Writings the soul has been compared to a rider where the body is only the steed; to a light, independent of the lamp within which it shines; and to a caged bird which continues to exist after the cage is broken. Just as the bird, when released, is freed from constraints, the power of the soul is stronger without the intermediary of the body... As in the embryonic world the physical being acquires what is needed for life in the world, so in the physical world the soul must prepare itself for the next existence by acquiring spiritual virtues..."
– from A Basic Bahá'í Dictionary (1989)

See also:
– Bahai org: The Human Soul (rational soul)
– Chapters 4 and 14 of Bahá'í Sacred Writings
– Ruhi book 1: Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
– Covenant Library Unified Index

See also Rúh and Nafs, Wikipedia pages about this concept in Islam.

"Human soul" is usually nafs (نفس), ján (جان), or rúḥ-i-insání (روح انسانی).
"Rational soul" is nearly always nafs-i-náṭiqih (نفس ناطقه), though one also finds rúḥ-i-insán (روح انسان) and the nearly identical rúḥ-i-insání (روح انسانی), along with quvviy-i-‘áqilih (قوّۀ عاقله).
"Rational faculty" also tends to be nafs-i-náṭiqih (نفس ناطقه), but one also finds quvviy-i-‘aqlíyyih (قوّۀ عقلیّه) and ‘aql (عقل).

– Comment by Adib Masumian regarding how these terms in the original language are translated into English in the authorized translations of the Bahá'í Writings.

See also:
– Arabic and Persian Originals of Metaphysical Terms in the Bahá'í Writings

selected quotations
(authoritative sources)
These quotations reflect common presentations of Bahá’í views; the materials below may show a wider range of interpretations and contexts:

"... Verily I say, the human soul is, in its essence, one of the signs of God, a mystery among His mysteries. It is one of the mighty signs of the Almighty, the harbinger that proclaimeth the reality of all the worlds of God...
Thou hast, moreover, asked Me concerning the state of the soul after its separation from the body. Know thou, of a truth, that if the soul of man hath walked in the ways of God, it will, assuredly, return and be gathered to the glory of the Beloved. By the righteousness of God! It shall attain a station such as no pen can depict, or tongue describe...
...the human soul is exalted above all egress and regress. It is still, and yet it soareth; it moveth, and yet it is still. It is, in itself, a testimony that beareth witness to the existence of a world that is contingent, as well as to the reality of a world that hath neither beginning nor end..."

– Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, LXXXII (BH00328)

"... Know thou that the soul of man is exalted above, and is independent of, all infirmities of body or mind. That a sick person showeth signs of weakness is due to the hindrances that interpose themselves between his soul and his body, for the soul itself remaineth unaffected by any bodily ailments...
The soul of man is the sun by which his body is illumined, and from which it draweth its sustenance, and should be so regarded..."

– Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, LXXX (BH00060)

"... Say: Spirit, mind, soul, and the powers of sight and hearing are but one single reality which hath manifold expressions owing to the diversity of its instruments. As thou dost observe, man’s power to comprehend, move, speak, hear, and see all derive from this sign of his Lord within him. It is single in its essence, yet manifold through the diversity of its instruments. This, verily, is a certain truth. For example, if it directeth its attention to the means of hearing, then hearing and its attributes become manifest. Likewise, if it directeth itself to the means of vision, a different effect and attribute appear. Reflect upon this subject that thou mayest comprehend the true meaning of what hath been intended, find thyself independent of the sayings of the people, and be of them that are well assured. In like manner, when this sign of God turneth towards the brain, the head, and such means, the powers of the mind and the soul are manifested..."

– Bahá'u'lláh, Súriy-i-Ra'ís, ¶35 (BH00260)

"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..."

– 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, 55.5 (AB02018)

"... The foremost degree of comprehension in the world of nature is that of the rational soul. This power and comprehension is shared in common by all men, whether they be heedless or aware, wayward or faithful. In the creation of God, the rational soul of man encompasses and is distinguished above all other created things: It is by virtue of its nobility and distinction that it encompasses them all. Through the power of the rational soul, man can discover the realities of things, comprehend their properties, and penetrate the mysteries of existence. All the sciences, branches of learning, arts, inventions, institutions, undertakings, and discoveries have resulted from the comprehension of the rational soul. These were once impenetrable secrets, hidden mysteries, and unknown realities, and the rational soul gradually discovered them and brought them out of the invisible plane into the realm of the visible..."

– 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, 58.3 (AB00747)

"... to be confined to place is a characteristic of bodies and not of spirits: Time and place encompass the body, not the mind and the soul. Observe that the body of man abides in a limited space and occupies no more than two spans of earth. But the spirit and mind of man traverses all countries and regions and even the limitless expanse of the heavens; it encompasses all existence and makes discoveries in the spheres above and in the infinite reaches of the universe. This is because the spirit has no place: It is a placeless reality, and for the spirit earth and heaven are the same, since it makes discoveries in both. But the body is confined in space and is unaware of that which lies beyond... Our meaning is that the life of the Kingdom is the life of the spirit, and that it is eternal and sanctified above time and place, even as the human spirit, which is placeless. For were you to search throughout the human body, you would be unable to find a specific place or location for the spirit. The spirit is absolutely placeless and immaterial, but it has a connection with the body, even as the sun has a connection with this mirror: The sun occupies no place within the mirror, but it has a connection with it...."

– 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, chapter 67 (AB00336)

"... The soul is not a combination of elements, it is not composed of many atoms, it is of one indivisible substance and therefore eternal. It is entirely out of the order of the physical creation; it is immortal! ... The soul, being of that one indivisible substance, can suffer neither disintegration nor destruction, therefore there is no reason for its coming to an end..."

– 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, 29.13, 15 (ABU0054)

bahaidata.org Q4698 · Links to Bahá'í wikis (bahai9, bahaipedia, etc.)

references en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul; bahaiquotes.com/subject/inner-temple; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q=Soul; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q="Rational soul"

"Soul, Human" has been tagged in:

154 results from the Main Catalog

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n.d.. Human Soul, The. Adib Taherzadeh. — The human soul is an eternal reality that develops virtues in this world, preparing for spiritual pr... Audio.
n.d.. Reincarnation and the Nature and Progress of the Soul. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Research Department, comp. . Compilations.
n.d.. مقام انسان از نظر فلسفی (The status of man from a philosophical perspective). Alí Murád Dávúdí. — Transcript of a talk. Date and location not known. Articles.
n.d.. روح و لزوم دين ; لزوم دین و مراتب روح (The Spirit and Necessity of Religion and the Levels of the Soul). Alí Murád Dávúdí. — Three separate talks, transcribed from recordings. Talks.
2025-07. Bahá'í Sacred Writings. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í World Centre, comp. . — A comprehensive collection of selections from the Writings of Baha’u’llah and the Writings and u... Writings.
2025-07. Tablet of the Ascent of the Soul and the Hour of Departure. The Báb, Mohammad Norozi, trans. . — Meditation on the nature of the soul, the illusion of worldly existence, and the eternal reality bey... Translations.
2025. List of Transcripts at bahai.works. Various. — Links to 121 transcripts offsite. Transcripts.
2024/2026. Arabic and Persian Originals of Metaphysical Terms in the Bahá'í Writings. Adib Masumian. — Transliteration with Arabic and Persian script of the following words: soul, spirit, self, mind, hea... Glossaries.
2024-12. Lawh-i-Abdu'r-Razzáq: Parallel Translation (English). Bahá'u'lláh, A. Bolhuis, comp. . — Comparison of three English language translations, from River of Life (1914), Baha'i Scriptures (192... Translations.
2023-2026. BWNS Podcasts: Conversations and Insights from the Field. Bahá'í World News Service. — Links to 46 interviews highlighting how Baha’i individuals and communities worldwide apply spiritu... Audio.
2023-07. Mind: "The Power of the Human Spirit". Gerald Filson. — Correlating Baha’i concepts of the mind with insights from philosophy; conceptual ways of knowing;... Articles.
2023-07. Mizán of Affect in Material v. Metaphysical Models of Human Consciousness, The. John S. Hatcher. — Though Baha'i teachings hold that the soul progresses after the body ceases to exist, the physical b... Articles.
2023-01-17. Crisis of Identity, The. Shahrzad Sabet. — Exploring how the Baha’i principle of the oneness of humanity can resolve the seemingly intractabl... Articles.
2023-01-02. Tablet of the Manifestation, The (Lawh-i-Zuhur). Bahá'u'lláh, Joshua Hall, trans. . — Tablet on the metaphysical reality of the Manifestations of God, and their divine station as cosmic,... Translations.
2023-01. The Quantum State Function, Platonic Forms, and the Ethereal Substance: Reflections on the Potential of Philosophy to Contribute to the Harmony of Science and Religion. Vahid Houston Ranjbar (published as Vahid Ranjbar). — Science and philosophy correlate to concepts from the knowledge system of religion; the ethereal sub... Articles.
2023-01. Discerning a Framework for the Treatment of Animals in the Bahá'í Writings: Ethics, Ontology, and Discourse. Michael Sabet. — Baha'i exegesis can discern a framework governing the treatment of animals and our relationship to t... Articles.
2022-11-01. Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Nine Year Plan. Universal House of Justice. — Matters relating to the Nine Year Plan (2022-2031), ethnic and cultural diversity, humanity's crisis... UHJ-letters.
2022. Reis naar het Hart van de Qur'án: Het Heilige Boek van de islam voor hen die nadenken (door een niet-moslim). David Russell Garcia, Kees Poolman, trans. . — Een overzicht van de Koran en zijn thema's: islam versus het christendom; wetten, geestelijke en soc... Books.
2022. Confessions of a Child of the Half-Light. Jack McLean. — Philosophical essays; recollections of 'Abdu'l-Baha by Laura Dreyfus Barney, Curtis Kelsey, and othe... Books.
2021. List of Articles by John Hatcher on BahaiTeachings.org. John S. Hatcher. — List of online essays and articles by Dr. John Hatcher. Bibliographies.
2021. Light and Mercy: Mental Health and Tests and Difficulties. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Australia, comp. . — The physical and mental impact of the continuing pandemic is evident around us, and the members of t... Compilations-NSA.
2020-2026. Online Course on the Bahá'í Faith. John S. Hatcher. — Links to 117 Youtube videos on Baha'i history and teachings. Video.
2020. Portal of God's Grace, A: Passages on Life after Death in the Baha'i Writings. William F. McCants, comp. — This fleeting life; death as a portal of joy and grace; the nature of the next life and other worlds... Compilations-personal.
2019-12-08. Philosophical Statements by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Some Answered Questions. Abdu'l-Bahá, A. Bolhuis, comp. . — Quotations extracted from Ian Kluge's article "Some Answered Questions: A Philosophical Perspective"... Compilations-personal.
2019. Mystery of Consciousness, The: Learning from Neuroscience and Insights from Bahá'í Sacred Writings. Jena Khadem Khodadad. — On the neural basis of consciousness; the concepts of mind and soul as presented in the Baha’i wri... Articles.
2019. Exploring the Concept of the Soul in Some Answered Questions: Implications and Insights. Behrooz Sabet. — Abdu'l-Baha's view of the soul in Some Answered Questions is both emergent and transcendent, bridgin... Articles-unpublished.
2018-01-21. Resurrection and the World to Come. Bahá'u'lláh, William F. McCants, trans. . — Extract from the Lawh-i-Yusuf (Tablet of Joseph), explaining the meaning of 'paradise', 'hellfire', ... Translations.
2017/2022. Bahá'í Teachings on The Universe. Ernie Jones, comp. — Compilation of writings related to the cosmos, the worlds of God, and spiritual evolution. Study.
2017. Tablet of Consolation. Bahá'u'lláh, Joshua Hall, trans. . — Letter to an early believer following the death of his father, in which Baha'u'llah teaches that dea... Translations.
2017. Suffering of the Exalted Letters. Bahá'u'lláh, Joshua Hall, trans. . — Tablet written in Baghdad about death and the development of the human soul. Translations.
2017. Depression, Stigma, and the Soul. Patricia McIlvride. — New recovery models, like interpersonal neurobiology, are challenging the medical model in the treat... Articles.
2017. Bahá'í Philosophy of Human Nature, The. Ian Kluge. — How the essential reality of the individual — the human soul and its powers of rational thought, w... Articles.
2017. Explanations Concerning Passage No. 1 of the Persian Hidden Words. Dariush Maani. — Chapter #4 from the book, provided as a sample by the publisher. Articles.
2016-02-21. Science and Sacred Scriptures. Universal House of Justice. — On scientific findings vs. personal interpretation of the Sacred Writings, and a paragraph regarding... UHJ-letters.
2016. Tablet on the Right of the People (Lawh-i haqq al-nas). Bahá'u'lláh, Keven Brown, trans. . — On some situations relating to a person’s private rights, in this case theft and debt, with a larg... Translations.
2016. Beauty of the Human Psyche, The: The Patterns of the Virtues. Rhett Diessner. — Insights from science and the Baha'i Writings combine to show how the human soul is a shining of div... Articles.
2015. On Existence and Qualities of the Human Soul. Farjam Majd. — On the existence, nature, and necessity of a human soul vs. the souls of animals. Is the concept of ... Articles.
2015. Human Nature and Mental Health: A Bahá'í-Inspired Perspective. Michael L. Penn. — Overview of one research-practitioner’s understanding of the nature of mind from the perspective o... Articles.
2015. Primum Non Nocere: Reflections of a Bahá'í Oncologist about Treating the Dying Patient. Aaron Alizadeh. — Doctors must learn how to bring the topic of death into the physician-patient conversation. The Baha... Articles.
2015. Achieving Universal Participation of Older Adults: An Exploration of Its Challenges and Spiritual Foundations. Catherine Bigonnesse, Jean Marc Bigonnesse. — On involving older adults in the process of participation in society; some of the root causes of age... Articles.
2014. Life After Death from a Bahá'í Perspective. Diane Robinson Kerr. — Quotations from the Writings with some explanations, to trace the journey of the soul, the purpose o... Essays.
2014. Origins of Creation. Farjam Majd. — Some classical proofs of the existence of God; the meaning of proof, types of proof, and conditions ... Articles.
2014. Comparison of God and Soul Concepts from a Bahá'í and Hindu Point of View: Conceptions and Experiences of the Afterlife. Diane Robinson Kerr. — Common ground between Hinduism’s Brahman and the Baha'i conception of God, and the complex underst... Articles-unpublished.
2014. Answered Questions, Some. Abdu'l-Bahá. — 'Table talks' given by ‘Abdu’l‑Baha in ‘Akka between 1904 and 1906 in response to questions ... Writings.
2014. Index to Some Answered Questions. — Topic references to chapter and paragraph numbers of the 2014 revised authorized translation of this... Bibliographies.
2013-04. Spontaneous Talks by Dr. Khan, at His Sunday Morning Classes, Answering Some of His 95 Questions. Ali Kuli Khan, Terry Nelson Randolph, ed. . — Proofs of the Baha'i Faith, written by a prominent translator and companion of Abdu'l-Baha. Includes... Books.
2013. Human Station in the Bahá'í Faith: Selected Sections: Philosophy and Knowledge of the Divine. Alí Murád Dávúdí, Riaz Masrour, trans, Vahid Rafati, comp. . — A collection of talks by the Baha’i teacher and philosopher Dr. A. M. Davúdi on selected philosop... Books.
2013. Reason and the Bahá'í Writings. Ian Kluge. — The Baha'i Faith has much to say on the importance of reason, logic, and a "rational God," but the m... Articles.
2013. Materials Studied at the 114 Global Youth Conferences in 2013. Bahá'í World Centre. — Compilation presenting materials studied during the global Baha’i youth conferences in 2013, organ... Study.
2012/2015. Near Death Experiences and the Bahá'í Faith. Steven Kolins, comp. — Literature search and research notes on the Baha'i Faith and death, near death experiences (NDEs), a... Resources.
2011/2026. Guide for Bahá'í Funerals and Burial in Canada, A. Diana Dainty, comp, Don Dainty, comp. — Baha'i teachings on the body, soul, mind, spirit, and life death; preparations for burial; the grave... Compilations-personal.
2011-04. Forces of Our Time: Lecture Series. Hooper Dunbar. — Six lectures series at Bosch Baha'i School, April 15-17 2011. Audio.
2011. Birth of the Human Being, The: Beyond Religious Traditionalism and Materialist Modernity. Nader Saiedi. — We have arrived at a turning point in human evolution: the moment of the birth of the human being. T... Articles.
2010-12. Material and Spiritual Worlds. Peter J. Khan. — Four talks on the Five-Year Plan given at the North Island Baha'i Summer School, Hamilton, New Zeala... Audio.
2010. Historical Consciousness and the Divine Plan. Douglas Martin. — A series of eight short talks (total around two hours), in both audio and video formats, on the evol... Audio.
2010. Bahá'í Physicians: Emerging Roles and Responsibilities. Hoda Mahmoudi, Gloria Teckie. — The role of a Baha'i doctor; the relationship between medical intervention and health of the mind, s... Articles.
2009-2025. Translation List: Provisional Translations of Baháʼí Texts. Adib Masumian, trans. — Index to talks, letters, and other items translated from Persian and Arabic to English by Adib Masum... Bibliographies.
2009-05. Elements of Immortality: A Nexus of Proofs by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Some Answered Questions. James B. Thomas. — This paper approaches the mystery of immortality in four steps that are based on objective reasoni... Articles-unpublished.
2009. Answered Questions, Some: A Philosophical Perspective. Ian Kluge. — Philosophical foundations of the Baha’i teachings, including ontology, theology, epistemology, phi... Articles.
2008-05-28. Bhagavad-Gita and the Bahá'í Faith. Anil Sarwal, M. M. Sreenivasan. — A discussion on the most important aspects of human life in Srimad Bhagawat Gita and the Baha'i Fait... Audio.
2008. Resurrection and Return of Jesus. Universal House of Justice. — The body of Christ; the burial of Christ; His return; and explaining the Baha'i view to Christians. UHJ-letters.
2008. Compilation on the "Inner Reality". Ehsan Bayat, comp. Compilations-personal.
2008. Lifetime with 'Abdu'l-Bahá, A: Reminiscences of Khalíl Shahídí. Ahang Rabbani, ed. and trans. — Extensive recollections of four decades with the Holy Family in the time of Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi E... Books.
2007. Introduction to the Lawh-i Haqqu'n-Nas, An. Jean-Marc Lepain, Peter Terry, trans. . — Summary of the tablet Lawh-i Haqqu’n-Nas, Tablet of the "Right of the People," on the metaphorical... Articles.
2007. مقالات داودی (Davudi's Articles). Alí Murád Dávúdí, Ibrahim Ashk Shirin, ed. . — Seven articles on philosophy. Books.
2006-09-05. Bahá'í Perspective on the Concept of "Karma". Universal House of Justice, Research Department. — Summary of the meaning of karma in Hinduism and Buddhism; Baha'i views on karma and reincarnation as... UHJ-letters.
2005-11. Collected Essays. John Wiegley. — Dozens of essays on numerous topics of Baha'i thought and practice. Books.
2005-08-13. Mind and Spirit: Convergence of Neuroscience and Revealed Knowledge. Faraneh Vargha-Khadem. Audio.
2005. Unveiling the Huri of Love. John S. Hatcher. — Three versions of this paper: Powerpoint presentation, audio file, and published article. Articles.
2005. Bahá'í Faith and the World's Religions. Moojan Momen, ed. — Papers presented at 'Irfan Colloquia. Books.
2005. Bahá'í Understanding of Reincarnation in Relation to the World's Faiths, A. Sateh Bayat, Vafa Bayat. — Concepts of reincarnation in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; the Baha'i religi... Articles.
2004-2014. Powerpoints for Deepening. Duane Troxel. — 26 presentations in Powerpoint format, on a variety of topics covering Baha'i history, Central Figur... Presentations.
2004. Reality, Soul, and the Worlds of God. Marian Lippitt, comp, J. Michael Kafes, ed. — Lengthy compilation organized to set forth an ontological and cosmological paradigm of all existence... Compilations-personal.
2003-10-19. Nature of the Soul. William S. Hatcher. — Fireside talk at the Baha'i Center in St. Petersburg. Video.
2003-10. Voyage to the Heart of the Koran: The Holy Book of Islám for Thinking Minds (By a Non-Muslim). David Russell Garcia. — A lengthy overview of the Qur'an and its themes for a Baha'i audience; holy war and fighting; reason... Books.
2003-05-19. In Vitro Fertilization and Related Issues. Universal House of Justice. — Short compilation of excerpts from the House on IVF, artificial insemination, surrogate motherhood, ... UHJ-letters.
2003. Perspectives on the Inseparable Twin Duties Prescribed in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Eamonn Moane. — Religions differ in the balance of faith versus good works, the grace of God versus human strivings,... Articles.
2003. Celestial Pavilion, Inmates of. Universal House of Justice. UHJ-letters.
2003. Death and Dying in the Bahá'í Faith. Moshe Sharon. — Brief summary of Baha'i history and theological background; the three layers of existence; death as ... Encyclopedia.
2003. Why Are We Here: Meaning of Life: Warwick Leaflets. Warwick Bahá'í Bookshop. Essays.
2003. Aristotelian Substratum of the Bahá'í Writings, The. Ian Kluge. — There is a pervasive and far-reaching congruence of Aristotle and the Baha’i Writings. This Aristo... Articles.
2002/2012. Reflection on the Theory of Alchemy as Explained in the Bahá'í Writings, A. Keven Brown. — Baha'u'llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha referred to the 'hidden craft' of alchemy as part of divine philoso... Articles-unpublished.
2002-12. Music - The Ladder for the Soul. Sylvia Schulman-Benatar. — How music can elevate our spirit; brief overview of some highlights of music history from different ... Essays.
2002. Selections from the Writings of His Holiness 'Abdu'l-Bahá': 3. Abdu'l-Bahá, Khazeh Fananapazir, trans. . — Provisional translations of three selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha'. Translations.
2002. Life after Death: Warwick Leaflets. Warwick Bahá'í Bookshop. Essays.
2002. Extract from the Súriy-i-Ra'ís about the Nature of the Soul. Bahá'u'lláh. — Paragraphs 29-35 only, published as a standalone page here for ease of reference. Writings.
2001-09-02. Reason and the Bahá'í Writings: The Use and Misuse of Logic and Persuasion. Ian Kluge. — How to study the Baha'i Writings through the use of logic. Articles-unpublished.
2001. "By the Fig and the Olive": `Abdu'l-Bahá's Commentary in Ottoman Turkish on the Qur'ánic Sura 95. Necati Alkan. — A translation and discussion of an Ottoman-Turkish Tablet by `Abdu'l-Baha: his commentary on the Qu... Articles.
2001. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Commentary on the Qur'ánic Verses Concerning the Overthrow of the Byzantines: The Stages of the Soul. Moojan Momen. — Commentary on the first few verses of the Quranic Sura of Rum; nine esoteric or mystical interpretat... Articles.
2001. Perception Into Faith: A Radical Discontinuity Within Unity. William Barnes. — Entering into eternal life is both a change of being and of perception; the two natures of man; fait... Articles.
2001. Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá on the Relation between Science and Religion, A. Abdu'l-Bahá, Keven Brown, trans. . — Historical examples (re astronomy, the human soul, and death) showing that when a scientific theory ... Translations.
2000. Reproduction and other Biological Subjects. Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Universal House of Justice, Research Department, comp. . — Embryology; reproduction; biology; genetic engineering Compilations.
1999. Knowledge and Civilization: Implications for the Community and the Individual. Farzam Arbab. — Exploration of the relationship between science and religion as two great systems of knowledge that ... Articles.
1998. Soul in Chinese and Bahá'í Belief, The. Phyllis Ghim-Lian Chew. — On Chinese religions and the Baha'i Faith; their beliefs in the presence of a soul and an afterlife;... Articles.
1998. Body, Mind, Soul and Spirit. Anjam Khursheed. — The Baha'i view of human nature involves an interaction between spirit, soul and body — these thre... Articles.
1998. Mystic Journey of the Soul, The. Gul Afroz Zaman. — On the journey a soul must make to attain union with the Eternal from the confines of material life ... Articles.
1998. Introduction to the Doctrines of Soul and Enlightenment in Mahayana Buddhism and the Bahá'í Faith, An. Yeo Yew Hock. — The development of Mahayana and how the Chinese people adopted and adapted it; non-self/enlightenmen... Articles.
1998. Tractatus on Philosophy. Jean-Marc Lepain. — A concise attempt to translate the teachings of Baha'u'llah in contemporary philosophic jargon, in p... Essays.
1997. Metaphor and the Language of Revelation. Ross Woodman. — To enter the realm of metaphor as the language of the soul is to come into direct contact with the W... Articles.
1997. Life, Death and Immortality: The Taoist Religion in Singapore and the Bahá'í Faith. Phyllis Ghim-Lian Chew. — Main features of Taoist practices in Singapore compared with Baha'i which, at first glance, could no... Articles.
1996. Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986: Third Epoch of the Formative Age. Universal House of Justice, Geoffrey W. Marks, comp. . Books.
1996. Bahá'u'lláh's Teachings on Spiritual Reality. Paul Lample, comp. — The quest for spirituality, the spiritual life, material and spiritual reality, the progress of the ... Introductory.
1996. Multidimensional Approach to Consciousness, A. Wm. Keith Bookwalter. — Thoughts on a Baha'i approach to human consciousness which the author terms "A Physical / Psychospir... Articles-unpublished.
1995-10. Dimensions in Spirituality: Presentation. Jack McLean. — A summary of some concepts found in the book Dimensions in Spirituality: care of the soul, wisdom, p... Articles-unpublished.
1995-04-25. Reincarnation, Rebirth and the Progress of the Soul. Universal House of Justice. — On reincarnation, the soul and the concept of “return,” and the mind and “former life memories... UHJ-letters.
1995-03-09. Animal Spirits. Universal House of Justice. — Letter to an individual believer on the question if animals possess a surviving spiritual reality. UHJ-letters.
1995 Spring. Mysticism and the Bahá'í Faith. Farnaz Ma'sumian. — An examination of the Baha'i Faith's relation to mysticism and mystic themes and ideas present in th... Articles.
1995. Seasons of the Soul: Reflections on "The Seven Valleys of Bahá'u'lláh" - The Valley of Search. Hedi Moani. Essays.
1995. Heaven. Robert Stockman. Encyclopedia.
1995. Abdu'l-Bahá's Phrasings about the Next World in Memorials of the Faithful. A. Bolhuis, comp. — In Memorials of the Faithful, 'Abdu'l-Baha describes the lives of around 80 Baha'is. He closes these... Compilations-personal.
1995. Bahá'í Cosmological Symbolism and the Ecofeminist Critique. Michael W. Sours. — Constituents of Baha'i cosmological symbolism; introduction to the main feminist/environmentalist ar... Articles.
1994-07-06. New Religious Movements, Tolkien, Marriage. Universal House of Justice. — Various questions: new religious movements; Indian Letter of the Living; J.R.R. Tolkien; eternality... UHJ-letters.
1994. Dimensions of Spirituality: Reflections on the Meaning of Spiritual Life and Transformation in Light of the Bahá'í Faith. Jack McLean. — The search for truth; models and profiles of spiritual transformation; the mystical sense — prayer... Books.
1993. Light after Death: The Baha'i Faith and the Near-Death Experience. Alan Bryson. — The parallels between the NDE and the Baha'i writings concerning life after death. Books.
1993. "In the Beginning Was the Word": Apocalypse and the Education of the Soul. Ross Woodman. — Hidden meanings in scripture and the soul are metaphorically identified with the huris, or brides. T... Articles.
1993. Near Death Experience. Reinee Pasarow. — Video talk by a person who had a life-changing near death experience as a teenager, became a seeker ... Video.
1992-06. El Desarrollo Sostenible y el Espíritu Humano. Bahá'í International Community. — El Desarrollo Sostenible y el Espiritu Humano, presentado Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, junio de 1992. BIC.
1992. Covenant of Baha'u'llah, The. Adib Taherzadeh. — Link to book (offsite). Books.
1991-08-28. Condition of non-Bahá'í Relatives after Death, The. Universal House of Justice. — Four questions: Do the non-Baha'i parents of believers become Baha'is in the next world? What is the... UHJ-letters.
1990. Soul, Life of the: Warwick Leaflets. Warwick Bahá'í Bookshop. Introductory.
1990. Iqbál and the Bábí-Bahá'í Faith. Annemarie Schimmel. — One of the more influential Muslim thinkers of the first half of the 20th century, Iqbal expressed v... Articles.
1989. Eternal Quest for God: An Introduction to the Divine Philosophy of Abdu'l-Baha. Julio Savi. — A philosophical theology based on the Baha'i writings. Books.
1988-06-13. Consciousness, Creation, and the Soul. Hooper Dunbar. Audio.
1988. Lights of Guidance: A Bahá'í Reference File. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Helen Bassett Hornby, comp. . — The classic Baha'i reference book. This is its first online edition. Compilations-personal.
1987-2025. Ruhi Books. Ruhi Institute. — Published volumes of the Ruhi Institute books. (Links to documents, offsite.) Books.
1987. انسان در آئین بهائی: جلد اول: فلسفه و عرفان (Station of Man in the Bahá'í Faith: Volume 1, Philosophy and Mysticism). Alí Murád Dávúdí, Vahid Rafati, comp. and ed. . — 19 collected works of 'Ali-Murad Davúdi. Books.
1986. Forces of Our Time, The. Hooper Dunbar. — Excerpt from a talk presented at the "Prepare for Peace" conference, Long Beach, California, August ... Talks.
1986. Concept of Spirituality, The. William S. Hatcher. — Widely-read ABS monograph, re-published in the Baha'i World. Includes chapters "The Nature of Man," ... Articles.
1985/2011. Baha'i Faith, The: The Emerging Global Religion. William S. Hatcher, Douglas Martin. — Overview of Baha'i history and teachings, designed as an introductory textbook. Available in English... Introductory.
1985-10. Promise of World Peace, The. Universal House of Justice. — Call to global unity, affirming peace as humanity’s next evolutionary stage and urging moral, spir... UHJ-documents.
1984. Growing in the Bahá'í Faith. Adib Taherzadeh. — Talk at an Alaskan summer school, covering topics such as the nature of the soul, our purpose, and p... Audio.
1982. Concept of Manifestation in the Bahá'í Writings, The. Juan Cole. — Lengthy overview of Baha'i theology and prophetology and their Islamic roots. Articles.
1982. Spiritualization of the Bahá'í Community: A Plan for Teaching. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Ireland, Adib Taherzadeh. — A three-part collection consisting of a letter from the NSA of Ireland, a letter from Taherzadeh to ... NSA-letters.
1979. Seven Mysteries of Life, The: An Exploration in Science and Philosophy. Guy Murchie. — A poetic exploration of life’s unity, consciousness, love, and purpose, blending science, philosop... Books.
1977. Spiritual Body and Celestial Earth: From Mazdean Iran to Shi'ite Iran. Henry Corbin, Nancy Pearson, trans. . — An analysis of interrelated themes in Iranian religion, including the angelology of Mazdaism and Isl... Books.
1976 [1921]. Tablet to Auguste Forel. Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, trans. . — A letter of ʻAbdu'l-Baha written in 1921, in reply to questions asked by the Swiss scientist August... Writings.
1970. Human Soul and its Immortality, The. Alí-Akbar Furútan. — On the three kinds of spirit — human, animal, vegetable; 9 proofs for the existence of the soul; 1... Articles.
1970. درباره نفس ارسطو (Aristotle's On the Soul). Aristotle, Alí Murád Dávúdí, ed. and trans. . — Persian translation and annotation of Aristotle's De Anima (On the Soul). [No relevance to the Baha'... Books.
1967-2007. Alí Murád Dávúdí, Collected Works. Alí Murád Dávúdí, Adel Shafipour, comp. . — دکتر‌علی مراد دائدی : Various published and unpublished academic works by Dr. D... Books.
1963/1977. Ocean of His Utterances, The. Howard Colby Ives. — Unpublished study course in the Revelation of Baha'u'llah using the books of Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l‑B... Books.
1956. Path to God, The: 1956 edition. Dorothy Baker. — Some elements for spiritual success: power through prayer and nine benefits of prayer, victorious li... Essays.
1949/1975. Glad Tidings of Bahá'u'lláh, The: Being Extracts from the Sacred Writings of the Bahá'ís. Bahá'u'lláh, George Townshend, comp. . — A compilation with some notes, on the topics of building the world, God’s command and exhortation,... Books.
1946-06-07. Letter to Dr J. W. Freudenberg, Auckland, New Zealand. Shoghi Effendi. — Letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi about philosophy, body, mind, soul, evolution, and about not taki... Guardian.
1945. Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl in America. Ali Kuli Khan, Marzieh Gail. — Khan's personal recollections of Gulpaygani, with mentions of other early American Baha'is. Biographies.
1940/1944. Tests: Their Spiritual Value. Mamie L. Seto. — Abdu'l-Baha's views on the spiritual effects of suffering and trials, and their necessity for person... Essays.
1939. Heart of the Gospel: The Bible and the Bahá'í Faith. George Townshend. — Using only the text of the Bible, Townshend provides a new reading of Scripture as a guidebook for t... Books.
1937. Path to God, The: 1937 edition. Dorothy Baker. — Essay published as a pamphlet about the goal of life, revelation and access to heaven, self-improvem... Essays.
1921. Prayer for Fathers. Abdu'l-Bahá, Ahmad Sohrab, trans. . — Tablet revealed for Albert Windust, first American publisher of the Baha'i Writings and founder of S... Translations.
1918. 'Abdu'l-Bahá on Divine Philosophy. Abdu'l-Bahá, Elizabeth Fraser Chamberlain, comp. . — An early collection of writings and talks of Abdu'l-Baha. Writings.
1918. Essential Mysticism, The. Stanwood Cobb. — Clarification of some of the spiritual problems of humanity; the real value of Oriental mysticism; t... Books.
1917. Pilgrim Notes. Myron Henry Phelps. — Notes taken by Phelps during his second visit to Acca, 1917, from the words of Abdul-Baha. Pilgrims.
1912. Bahá'ísm, the religion of brotherhood and its place in the evolution of creeds. Francis Henry Skrine. — An outsider's sympathetic portrayal of the Baha'i history and teachings, written with "express appro... Books.
1908. Development of Metaphysics in Persia, The: A Contribution to the History of Muslim Philosophy. Muhammad Iqbal. — Short philosophical observations on the theology of the Bab and Baha'u'llah. Excerpts.
1907-10. Extracts from Notes Taken at Acca. Aline Shane-Devin. — Discussion on spiritual concepts, prayer, the importance of loving and understanding God; creation a... Pilgrims.

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tag name	Soul, Human	type:	Philosophy; Principles, teachings; Religion, general
web link	bahai-library.com/tags/Soul,_Human
variations or mis-spellings	rational soul, human spirit, nafs (نفس), rúḥ (روح), raván (روان), ján (جان); See full list at the end of the notes section below.
related tags	– Concepts, Philosophical; – Concepts, Religious; – Tags with many search results on bahai.org; Human nature; Life after death (afterlife); Mystery (mysteries); Purpose of life; Spirit (general); Spiritual reality; Spirituality; Tags with multiple Inventory subjects (selected)
referring tags	- Virtues and spiritual qualities; Abhá Kingdom; Abortion; Bird, water and clay; Bird and cage; Birds; City versus country life; Death; Dreams and visions; Forces of light and darkness; Heart; Heaven and hell; Human flight (flight of the soul); Immortality; Infinite; Journey (spiritual); Mind, spirit, soul; Mirrors; Most exalted home; Nobility; Prayer; Purity of heart, chastity of soul, and freedom of spirit; Rational faculty; Realization of potentialities; Self; Some Answered Questions (book); Soul mates; Spirit of faith; Spirituality; Womb and embryo (metaphor)
Inventory subject	Existence; immortality of the human soul; Human soul as mirror; divine light, attributes within; Immateriality; ineffability of soul; spirit; Origin of the soul; the soul as emanation; Proofs for the existence; immortality of the soul; Soul is the essential reality of man; Soul; spirit after death; The human soul; The human soul at midpoint of creation; the isthmus [barzakh]; The soul as soil; cultivation of the soul; Two aspects of the human soul; the higher and lower natures
notes	"The inner and essential reality of man which is not composed of physical matter and thus continues to exist after death. In the Bahá'í Writings the soul has been compared to a rider where the body is only the steed; to a light, independent of the lamp within which it shines; and to a caged bird which continues to exist after the cage is broken. Just as the bird, when released, is freed from constraints, the power of the soul is stronger without the intermediary of the body... As in the embryonic world the physical being acquires what is needed for life in the world, so in the physical world the soul must prepare itself for the next existence by acquiring spiritual virtues..." – from A Basic Bahá'í Dictionary (1989) See also: – Bahai org: The Human Soul (rational soul) – Chapters 4 and 14 of Bahá'í Sacred Writings – Ruhi book 1: Reflections on the Life of the Spirit – Covenant Library Unified Index See also Rúh and Nafs, Wikipedia pages about this concept in Islam. "Human soul" is usually nafs (نفس), ján (جان), or rúḥ-i-insání (روح انسانی). "Rational soul" is nearly always nafs-i-náṭiqih (نفس ناطقه), though one also finds rúḥ-i-insán (روح انسان) and the nearly identical rúḥ-i-insání (روح انسانی), along with quvviy-i-‘áqilih (قوّۀ عاقله). "Rational faculty" also tends to be nafs-i-náṭiqih (نفس ناطقه), but one also finds quvviy-i-‘aqlíyyih (قوّۀ عقلیّه) and ‘aql (عقل). – Comment by Adib Masumian regarding how these terms in the original language are translated into English in the authorized translations of the Bahá'í Writings. See also: – Arabic and Persian Originals of Metaphysical Terms in the Bahá'í Writings
selected quotations (authoritative sources)	These quotations reflect common presentations of Bahá’í views; the materials below may show a wider range of interpretations and contexts: "... Verily I say, the human soul is, in its essence, one of the signs of God, a mystery among His mysteries. It is one of the mighty signs of the Almighty, the harbinger that proclaimeth the reality of all the worlds of God... Thou hast, moreover, asked Me concerning the state of the soul after its separation from the body. Know thou, of a truth, that if the soul of man hath walked in the ways of God, it will, assuredly, return and be gathered to the glory of the Beloved. By the righteousness of God! It shall attain a station such as no pen can depict, or tongue describe... ...the human soul is exalted above all egress and regress. It is still, and yet it soareth; it moveth, and yet it is still. It is, in itself, a testimony that beareth witness to the existence of a world that is contingent, as well as to the reality of a world that hath neither beginning nor end..." – Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, LXXXII (BH00328) "... Know thou that the soul of man is exalted above, and is independent of, all infirmities of body or mind. That a sick person showeth signs of weakness is due to the hindrances that interpose themselves between his soul and his body, for the soul itself remaineth unaffected by any bodily ailments... The soul of man is the sun by which his body is illumined, and from which it draweth its sustenance, and should be so regarded..." – Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, LXXX (BH00060) "... Say: Spirit, mind, soul, and the powers of sight and hearing are but one single reality which hath manifold expressions owing to the diversity of its instruments. As thou dost observe, man’s power to comprehend, move, speak, hear, and see all derive from this sign of his Lord within him. It is single in its essence, yet manifold through the diversity of its instruments. This, verily, is a certain truth. For example, if it directeth its attention to the means of hearing, then hearing and its attributes become manifest. Likewise, if it directeth itself to the means of vision, a different effect and attribute appear. Reflect upon this subject that thou mayest comprehend the true meaning of what hath been intended, find thyself independent of the sayings of the people, and be of them that are well assured. In like manner, when this sign of God turneth towards the brain, the head, and such means, the powers of the mind and the soul are manifested..." – Bahá'u'lláh, Súriy-i-Ra'ís, ¶35 (BH00260) "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..." – 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, 55.5 (AB02018) "... The foremost degree of comprehension in the world of nature is that of the rational soul. This power and comprehension is shared in common by all men, whether they be heedless or aware, wayward or faithful. In the creation of God, the rational soul of man encompasses and is distinguished above all other created things: It is by virtue of its nobility and distinction that it encompasses them all. Through the power of the rational soul, man can discover the realities of things, comprehend their properties, and penetrate the mysteries of existence. All the sciences, branches of learning, arts, inventions, institutions, undertakings, and discoveries have resulted from the comprehension of the rational soul. These were once impenetrable secrets, hidden mysteries, and unknown realities, and the rational soul gradually discovered them and brought them out of the invisible plane into the realm of the visible..." – 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, 58.3 (AB00747) "... to be confined to place is a characteristic of bodies and not of spirits: Time and place encompass the body, not the mind and the soul. Observe that the body of man abides in a limited space and occupies no more than two spans of earth. But the spirit and mind of man traverses all countries and regions and even the limitless expanse of the heavens; it encompasses all existence and makes discoveries in the spheres above and in the infinite reaches of the universe. This is because the spirit has no place: It is a placeless reality, and for the spirit earth and heaven are the same, since it makes discoveries in both. But the body is confined in space and is unaware of that which lies beyond... Our meaning is that the life of the Kingdom is the life of the spirit, and that it is eternal and sanctified above time and place, even as the human spirit, which is placeless. For were you to search throughout the human body, you would be unable to find a specific place or location for the spirit. The spirit is absolutely placeless and immaterial, but it has a connection with the body, even as the sun has a connection with this mirror: The sun occupies no place within the mirror, but it has a connection with it...." – 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, chapter 67 (AB00336) "... The soul is not a combination of elements, it is not composed of many atoms, it is of one indivisible substance and therefore eternal. It is entirely out of the order of the physical creation; it is immortal! ... The soul, being of that one indivisible substance, can suffer neither disintegration nor destruction, therefore there is no reason for its coming to an end..." – 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, 29.13, 15 (ABU0054)
bahaidata.org	Q4698 · Links to Bahá'í wikis (bahai9, bahaipedia, etc.)
references	en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul; bahaiquotes.com/subject/inner-temple; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q=Soul; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q="Rational soul"