December 9

The human soul is an essence spiritual in entity and material or physical in function. It is defined as essence because it is independent in itself, while the body is accidental and dependent upon the soul.

The personality and activity of the body are due to the individuality of the soul. Thus the soul is the cause of the life of the body, and the body, with all its organs, is but the vehicle of its expression. 
- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha quoted by Lua Getsinger in  her talk in San Francisco on December 17, 1911)
(To see the transcript of the entire talk please visit Baha’i Talks, Messages and Articles)