Though the human body is sensitive, its spirit is hidden; it
is the spirit which commands the body. The spirit acts in two ways: One way is
by instruments; that is, it sees with the eyes, it hears with the ears and
speaks with the tongue. These instruments work by the spirit, which is their
motor; though its senses are manifested by the body, they come from the faculty
of the spirit. The other way is that of being and acting without instruments;
as in dreams and visions, it sees without eyes, hears without ears, speaks
without the tongue, walks without feet. All the faculties of the spirit are
clear and distinct in the world of visions. Hence it is evident that the spirit
acts in two ways: First, by the instruments of the body; second, without the
instruments of the body.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk given at Alliance
Spiritualiste of Paris, Nov. 9, 1911; ‘Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 17,
January 19, 1912)
