The spirit [or the soul] 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 (Excerpt from ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s address to the Alliance
Spiritualiste of Paris, November 9th, 1911; Star of the West, vol. II, no. 17)
