Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Alí-Akbar Furútan, The Human Soul and its Immortality, New Delhi: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1970, bahai-library.com.
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"The immortality of the spirit is the
fundamental basis of Divine Religions.”
—'ABDU'L-BAHA

THE HUMAN SOUL
AND

ITS IMMORTALITY

W
ll”
By Ali Akbar Furutan
Translated into English from the
original Persian.
© BA!-lA'l PUBLISHING TRUST
P. O. Box ‘I9
New Delhi-‘I
CHAPTER l

Divisions and Definition of the Spirit

The Sages and thinkers of old, have
often divided the Spirit, or the living
soul‘, into three categories.
1. The Vegetable Spirit. 2. The Animal
Spirit. 3. The Human Spirit. But even
then, some ancient philosophers believ-
ed that the mineral also possessed life.
For instance, Plotinusi has regarded
the Soul to be the cause of life and
movement, and that all moving objects
are animated by a Spirit. In this way it
is concluded that having an intrinsic
movement, the mineral is also posses-
sed of a Spirit.
in past ages, men of insight and learn-
ing gradually became aware, and were’
assured, that the mineral also had a
Spirit. For instance Fechner“ has con-
sidered that all creation that has move-
ment, has a Spirit; while Jean Marie
Guysu‘ ascribes life to the mineral,
but with the qualification that its life is
feeble.

(1) in this connection the “Spirit or the living
Soul" denotes the animating force which is
_ the origin and the cause of all actions.
(2) Plotinus the celebrated Greek philosopher.
(Died-270 A.D.)
(3) German philosopher. (1810-1887)
(4) French philosopher. (1854-1888)

in His Tablet to Professor Forel, Abdu'l-
Baha states :               l
“...The spirit . however possesseth
various grades and stations. As to the
existence of spirit in the mineral; it is
indubitable that minerals are endowed
with a spirit and life according to the
requirements of that stage. This un-
known secret, too, hath become known
unto the materialists who now maintain
that all beings are endowed with life,
even as He saith in the Quran, “All
things are living". In the vegetable
world, too, there is the power oi growth,
and that power of growth is the spirit.
in the animal world there is the sense of
feeling, but in the human world there is
an all-embracing power..."
Elucidating the degrees of Spirit, Abdu'l-
Baha in “Some Answered Questions"
makes the following definitions :
"The vegetable spirit: This is a power
which results from the combination of
elements and the mingling of substances
by the decree of the Supreme God, and
from the influence, the effect, and con-
nection of other existences. To use an-
other figure, electricity results from the
combination of elements, and when
these substances and elements are
seperated from each other, the power of
growth also ceases to exist.
"The animal spirit:...also results from the
mingling and combination of elements,
but this combination is more complete,
and through the decree of the Almighty
Lord a periectmingling is obtained, and
the animal spirit, in other words, the
power of the senses, is produced...Aiter
the dissociation and decomposition of
the combined elements, this spirit also
i

will naturally disappear...
“The human spirit: may be likened to
the bounty ' of the sun shining
on crystai...Nevertheless, if the crystal
breaks, the bounty of the sun con-
tinues; and if the crystal is destroyed
or ceases to exist, no harm will happen
to the bounty of the sun which is ever-
lasting. This spirit has the power of
discovery; it encompasses all things.
All these wonderful signs, these scie-
ntific discoveries, great enterprises and
important historical events...are due to
it. From the realm of the invisible and
hidden, through spiritual power, it
brought them to the plane of the
visible."

I
CHAPTER ll

Proofs of the existence          of the
Human Soul.

First Proof
“...The theologians say...Though man
has powers and outer senses in common
with the animal, yet an extraordinary
power exists in him of which the animal
is bereft. The sciences, arts, inventions,
trades, and discoveries of realities, are
the results of this spiritual power. This
is a power which encompasses all
things, comprehends their realities, dis-
covers all the hidden       mysteries of
beings, and through this knowledge con-
trols them: it even perceives things
which do not exist outwardly ; that is to
say, intellectual realities which are not
sensible, and which have no outward
existence, because they are invisible; so
it comprehends the mind, the spirit, the
qualities, the characters, the love and
sorrow of man, which are intellectual
realities. Moreover, these existing
sciences, arts, laws, and endless inven-
tions of man at one time were invisible,
mysterious, and hidden secrets;lt is
only the all-encompassing human power
which has discovered and brought them
out from the plane of the invisible to the
plane of the visible...lf there were not in
man a power different from any of those
of the animals, the latter would be
superior to man in inventions and the
-

lr
,.
ls

i
comprehension of realities. Therefore...           l
man hasa gift which the animal does
not possess.“                                          l

I
ll
Second Proof                                           :2
l
I

“..-Man from known things proves un-
known things, and discovers unknown
truths. For example, man sees the curve
of the hoiizon, and from this he infers
the roundness of the earth...This is im-
possible for the animal to perceive. In
the same way, it cannot understand that
the sun is the centre and that the earth
revolves around it. The animal is the
captive of the senses and bound by
them; all that is beyond the senses, the
things that they do not control, the
animal can never understand ; although
in the outer senses it is greater than
man. HENCE IT IS PROVED AND
VERIFIED THATIN MAN THERE IS A
POWER OF DISCOVERY BY WHICH HE
IS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE ANI-
MALS AND_THlS IS THE SPIRIT OF
MAN..."'

Third Proof
“...AlI things are subdued by the hand
of man; he can resist nature while all
other creatures are captives of nature,
none can depart from her requirements.
Man alone can resist nature. Nature
attracts bodies to the centre of the earth;
man through mechanical means goes
far from it, and soars in the air. Nature
prevents man from crossing the seas,
man builds a ship, and he travels and
voyages across the great ocean...AlI
this is contrary to nature...What then,
is the power in this small body of man
(5) "Some Answered Questions"
(6) “Some Answered Questions"
which encompasses all this ? What is
this ruling power by which he subdues
all things ?...""
Fourth Proof
"...Man hath the powers of will and
understanding, but nature hath them
not. Nature is constrained, man is free.
Nature is bereft of understanding, man
understandeth. Nature is unaware of
past events, but man is aware of them.
Nature forecasteth not the future; man
by his discerning power seeth that which
is to come. Nature hath no conscious-
ness of itself, man knoweth about all
things.
"Should any one suppose that man is but
apart of the world of nature, and he
being endowed with these periections,
these being but manifestations _of the
world of nature, and thus nature is the
originator of these pertections and is not
deprived therefrom, to him we make reply
and say: the part dependeth upon the
whole; the part cannot possess perfec-
tions whereof the whole is deprived---"‘
Fifth Proof
Man often consults with himself; he
counsels and withholds himself from
entry into selfish desires, anger and
rage. It is obvious that this counsellor
is distinct from limbs and organs of the
body.
That comprehending, wise and intelligent
entity, which acts as an excellent adviser
and a skilful director, guiding the person
and protecting the body from physical
dangers and spiritual pitfalls, is the
Rational Soul ;the reality of man, which
(7) “Some Answered Questions"
(8) ‘Tablet to Dr. Forel" by 'Abdu'l-Baha
i

is totally different from, and completely
independent of, alllimbs and organs of
the body.

Sixth Proof
In dreams, sometimes, a person may
discover solutions to difficult problems,
which seemed beyond his capacity to
visualise in wakefulness. And yet when
asleep, the body is fully resting and all
the powers and senses are inoperative
and idle.
The discovery, in one's dreams, of some
abstruse mysteries, would have been im-
possible if it were not for the existence
of a spiritual reality other than the body.

Seventh Proof
In his book, “The Miracle of the Spirit",
Dr. KarlSchleich,° an eminent German
surgeon, refutes with ample proofs and
testimonies, the arguments of some
materialistic scientists who regard the
brain as the focal point and even the
cause of such things as love, emotions,
thoughts and will. Whereas, a surgeon
removes some of the brain and disposes
of a great quantity of this grey substance,
yetthe personality, the identity and the
reality of the patient remain unaltered.
This notable surgeon has testified that
frequently he had removed some part of
the brain, and the patient had remained
in perfect health.

Eighth Proof
The shape of an object is dependent on
the obj-ect itself. No object can take on
a different shape unless the original one
is first removed. For example. an article
(9) Bom 1859 A.D.
cannot remain both a triangle and a
square at the same time. One has to
alter the contour of atriangle in order to
create a square. This is a characteristic
of matter. The human spirit becomes
more enriched in capacity and per-
ceptivity when it becomes a carrier for
additional learning. It is capable of
acquiring difierent forms at the same
time, For instance, in the store of human
knowledge all geometrical shapes ‘exist
simultaneously; at every moment one
can refer to them and yet the soul re-
mains unalterd and unaffected. There-
fore we conclude that the soul is not a
physical object and is independent of
the body.

Ninth Proof
Some people perform all kinds of work
while asleep with their eyes closed. For
example they write, or walk down the
stairs and along narrow pathways with-
out the slightest deviation or faltering.
This condition is technically known as
“somnambulism". Therefore there must
be a spiritual force within man, which
manifests such marvellous phenomena.
it is the spiritual force that causes man
to see without eyes; to hear without
ears ; to solve difficult problems when
his faculties are inoperative ; to walk in
twisting and unsafe pathways ; to con-
trol without any physical contact the
influence of the outside environment ; to
suppress the sensitivity of the nervous
system and to produce various physical
and chemical changes in the body.

We cannot find any explanation for this
extraordinary behaviour. Scientists have
clearly acknowledged their failure to
discover the cause of all this.

J1.
_

Scientists with materialistic persuasion
have described hypnotism as follows:
“Hypnotism is an act of inducement,
which affects the hypontised person
through the ‘hypnotiser. it results in a
hypnotic sleep, whereby the hypnotised
carries out the instructions of the
hypnotiser, without the former using his
own brain or will power.‘:

How can such affairs take place without
the existence of a spiritual non-material
force ?
Man must possess an intangible reality
which we regard as the spirit or soul ;
and it is this reality which manifests
such amazing and fascinating pheno-
mena.

In concluding this chapter, the readers
are asked to note the following. points :

In this material world, every lower being
is unable to understand the creatures of
a -higher grade. For example, the mineral
kingdom cannot comprehend the vege-
table    kingdom; the vegetable is
unaware of the animal world; and the
animal cannot fathom the station of man.
It is the same. within human society,
where men of a lower calibre cannot
comprehend the knowledge and virtues
of greater souls.
Now, if through our limitations-both
physical and spiritua|—we fail to under-
stand the worlds of God, the reality of
man and all the spiritual values, we
should not then try to introduce into our
minds a negative attitude.
On the contrary, through concentration
of effort ; through perseverance; through
prayer and meditation ; and through con-

tempiation on the words of the Mani-
festations of God, we should endeavour
to discover and understand spiritual
realities. indeed many people through
perseverance and abstinence from
selfish desires,‘ have attained to very
great heights of spirituality and have set
an example in the field of virtue and
nobility.
CHAPTER Ill

Proofs of the Immortality of the
Human Soul.               f

First Proof
“...No sign can come from a non-exist-
ing thing ; that is to say, it is impossible
that from absolute non-existence signs
should appear, for the signs are the con-
sequence of an existence, and the con-
sequence depends upon the existence
of the principle. So, from a non-existing
sun no light can radiate, from a non-
existing sea no waves appear, from a
non-existing cloud no rain falls ; a non-
existing tree yields no fruit; a non-
existing man neither manifests nor pro-
duces anything. Therefore as long as
signs of existence appear, they are a
proof that the possessor of the sign is
existent.     f
Consider that to-day the Kingdom of
Christ existszfrom a non-existing king
how could such a great kingdom be
manifested ?..."1°

Second Proof
“...The power and the comprehension
of the human spirit are of two kinds :

“.--One way is through instruments and
organs : thus with this eye it sees, with

(10) "Some Answered Questions"
l

l
l

this ear it hears, with this tongue it
talks    The other manifestation of the
powers and actions of the spirit is without
instruments and organs. For example, in
the state of sleep without eyes it sees,
l    without an ear it hears, without a tongue
it speaks, without feet it runs...How
often it happens that it sees a dream in
the world of sleep, and its significance
becomes apparent a year afterwards in
corresponding events. In the same way,
how many times it happens that a ques-
tion which one cannot solve in the world
of wakefulness, is solved in the world of
dreams...The spirit of man is not in the
body, because it is freed and sanctified
from entrance and exit, which are bodily
conditions. The connection of.the spirit
with the body is like that of the sun
with the mirror...Therefore...the spirit is
different from the body, and that its dur-
ation is independent of that of the
body..."“
Third Proof                         »
“...The body becomes weak, or heavy,
or sick, or it finds health ; it becomes
tired or rested...briefly, the body may
have all the imperfections. Nevertheless,
the spirit in its original state, in its own
spiritual perception, will be eternal and
perpetual ; it neither finds any imperfec-
tion nor will it become crippled...""
For example, many famous scholars have
had prolonged spells of illness during
which they suffered agonising pains
for long periods; and yet during mo-
ments of relief, they have continued
their studies and demonstrated the
genius and power of their minds. Now,

(11) "Some Answered Questions"
(12) "Some Answered Questions"

if the spirit and the body were to be one
and the same thing ; or the spirit a pro-
perty of matter, then man's spiritual
powers, like a lamp whose light grows
dim as the oil runs out, should diminish
along with bodily weakness and infirmity.
Fourth Proof
The body is subject to the laws of
nature. The spirit is not. The physical
and chemical laws do not control the
rational soul. The love for beauty, the
social sentiments, human affection,
friendship, and intelligence, all these and
other manifestations of the soul are not
under the control of the laws of nature.
Therefore the spirit is different from the
body, and the immortality of the soul
does not depend upon it.
Fifth Proof
The working of the human body is sub-
ject to the principle of metabolism ; i.e.
the specific chemical conversion of
substances within the body. When the
body is completely resting the ratio bet-
ween oxygen inhaled, and carbon dioxide
exhaled, constitutes the          standard
measure of metabolism. Against this
standard one can assess different
degrees of metabolism.

For example, metabolism increases when
through the expansion and contraction
of muscles, the body performs some
physical work.
The exception to this however, as attes-
ted by great scientists, among them Dr.
Alexis Carrel, is the act of meditation
which is regarded as one, of the three
manifestations of the human spirit.
The gist of Dr. Carrel's conclusions is
as follows : strangely, mental work does

not increase metaboIism...It is surprising
that mental energy used during medit-
ation—meditation which brings about
such profound changes on the surface
of the earth, or causes the discovery of
new worlds in this limitless space—is so
insignificant that one cannot         even
I       measure it.
l
l

The most profound mental activity does
not raise the measure of metabolism, as
would, the contraction of a muscle when
lifting a book from the table. The mental
exertions of Newton, the inspired works
of Beethoven, the deep thoughts and pro-
l
[.
fl
found studies of Pasteur, did not increase
the degree of metabolism, as the exer-
l   tions of a few microscopic creatures, or
a slight increase in the activity of the
thyroid glands.

Sixth Proof                       .
According to the law of nature the
nervous system feels pain. When pain
becomes intolerable man's endurance
comes to an end, and often under such
circumstances he will collapse and faint.
But there have been, and will be, men
who through the power of faith, can so
master their nervous system as to over-
come pain. These men willingly endure
all forms of calamity and affliction with
joy and gratitude. in the path of their
beliefs they welcome death and, with
feelings of ecstasy and rapture, rush to
the scene of martyrdom. The history of
religions is replete with such moving
accounts.
The study of Nabil's narrative and other
documents depicting the lives of the
martyrs in the Baha'i Faith will provide
ample testimony on this point.

-A
ll

Seventh Proof
The spirit or the rational soul, is original,
independent and self-subsisting. It is
free from any form of composition or
combination. Therefore it cannot be
destroyed or obliterated; nor can change
overtake it. Immortality is an inherent
quality of the soul.

Eighth Proof
The cause of death is that as a result of
constant work, the body gradually
degenerates and is worn out. When
weakness and infirmity overtake it, the
body looses its resistance, and the
limbs and organs fail to respond in their
natural functions. At this point death,
which can be described as “inactivity of
all faculties", takes place and the body
disintegrates. The spirit does not follow
this pattern. Hard work and passage of
time do not weaken it. On the contrary,
the more strenuous the exertions the
more will it grow in strength and vitality.
In this way death cannot be considered
for the soul. When the body is
weak and frail the spirit does not with-
draw from activity. How many a master-
piece, whether in arts, literature, or
science has come into the world through
tne genius of some man who was pass-
ing through the rigours of old age, and
yet till the end, continued to enrich
posterity with his brilliant mind.
We, therefore, conclude that since the
spirit is not affected by weariness and
old age, it is immortal.

Ninth Proof                   _
In one sense, death can be described as
“change in the state of an object". In
other words, when the original form is
1.6

dissociated from a created being, and
the body decomposed and disintegrated,
thendeath takes place.
But as the human soul can assume all
forms at the same time, and all geometri-
cal patterns exist in the mind simulta-
neously, there can be no transformation
from one form into another. In other
words death cannot overtake the soul.

Tenth Proof
In another sense, death is realised when
man's limbs and orans become inoper-
ative, and the power of the senses, both
physical and intellectual, cease to exist.
So the eyes cannot see ; the ears cannot
hear ; the legs cannot move ; and the
lamp of intellect and intelligence is
extinguished. Under these circumstances
if the soul is still able to function with-
out physical limbs and organs, then we
can be assured that it is not affected by
death, and cannot be disintegrated or
decomposed.

The mightiest proof and the most
eloquent testimony for this is the con-
dition of sleep.

When sleeping the body is at complete
rest and according to scientific discove-
ries, during sleep the following changes
take place :                       ‘
a) Heartbeat is reduced and respiration
is slowed down.

b) Metabolism, i.e. conversion of chemi-
cal substances, is considerably
reduced.

c) The body's response to environmental
stimulation is lost, and the Central
l

Nervous System (except the Auto-
nomic Nervous System) is insensi-
tive.
dl Mental activity is ceased.
Not withstanding all this, in the world of
dreams man walks without the use of
feet; sees without eyes; hears without
ears; solves difficult problems which
are beyond him in wakefulness ; and dis-
covers future events exactly as they take
place in reality.

it is interesting to note that Mendelief,
the notable scientist, discovered his
famous "periodic classification of the
atomic weight of elements" in a dream.

Eleventh Proof
According to materialists, man, like
animal, is composed of elements; and
after decomposition his life comes to an
end for ever. If this is true, then what is
the wisdom of creation and what is the
purpose of so much suffering and hard-
ship ? In this case is not an animal in a        v
I

much more enviable position than man ?
Our intellect and conscience cannot
accept this theory. Instead it confirms
that the Worlds of God, after this one,
are innumerable, and that the human
spirit is everlasting and indestructible.
in this way creation reaches its ultimate
purpose and bears its fruits in the
Worlds of God.
l
l
Twelfth Proof
Assuming that the human spirit is not
immortal and the life-after a more fraud,
and there is no punishment or reward in
the next life, then it seems that creation
as a whole is founded on injustice.
l
r
l
l

The word justice becomes meaningless
when people neither reap reward nor
receive punishment for their deeds.
Does it not seem inconceivable that the
Creator who has fashioned this universe
with marvellous regularity and order, has
in the end, established such a feeble
foundation for His Creation that there is
no distinction between good and evil or
just and unjust?
Thirteenth Proof
If we suppose that the soul is not im-
mortal, and man's life is only limited to
this physical domain, then let us see for
what reason the Messengers of God and
His Manifestations, who are regarded
by their supporters as well as their
i               enemies, as the wisest and the most
discerning among all people, allow them-
selves, in spite of their power and fore-
sight, to be persecuted by their adver-
saries? They sacrifice their lives and
l
l
their families and possessions with
l
forbearance and meekness.
The same applies to men of God and
His Chosen Ones, who with much long-
ing enthusiasm enter the arena of
l            sacrifice, discarding their rank, their
honour and their possessions, and leav-
l        ing the world and all its pleasures to
those who are attached to them.
If we assume that all this is done to
obtain fame, it seems strange that they
did not compromise in their attitude, and
did not employ adulatory and flattering
methods in their dealing with man.
indeed, their detachment from this world
is ample testimony to men of insight that
there must be spiritual worlds beyond
this mortal life and that the soul of man
E
-is above destruction and death.

L._._
CHAPTER IV

Miscellaneous matters relating to the
human soul

“. . . Though in infancy the signs of
the mind and spirit appear in man,
they do not reach the degree of per-
fection; they are imperfect. Only
when man attains maturity do the
mind and the spirit appear and be-
come evident in utmost perfection. . .
. . . In the womb of the world, mind
and spirit also existed in the embr-
yo, but they were concealed; after-
wards they appeared. So it is that in
the seed the tree exists, but it is hid-
den and concealed; when it develops
and grows, the complete tree
appears . . . "1’

“. . . The spirit, which . . . embraces
all beings, and as far as human abi-
lity permits discovers the realities of
things and becomes cognizant of
their peculiarities and effects, and of
the qualities and properties of beings.
But the human spirit, unless
assisted by the spirit of faith,
does not become acquainted with
the divine secrets and the hea-
venly realities. lt is likea mirror
which, although clear, polished, and
brilliant, is still in need of light. Until
a ray of the sun reflects upon it, it
(I3) “Some Answered Questions"

cannot discover        the     heavenly
secrets . . .""
c) “. . . The mind is the power of the
human spirit. Spirit is the lamp; mind
is the light which shines from the
lamp. Spirit is the tree and the mind
is the fruit. Mind is the perfection of
the spirit, and is its essential quality,
as the sun's rays are the essential
necessity of the sun . . ."“
d) “. . . As the spirit continues to exist
after death, it necessarily progresses
or declines; and in the other world,
to cease to progress is the same as
to decline; but it never leaves its
own condition, in which it continues
to develop. For example, the reality
of the spirit of Peter, however far it
may progress, will not reach the
condition of the Reality of Christ; it
progresses only in its own environ-
ment. . . . However far the disci-
ples might progress, they could never
become Christ. It is true that coal
could become a diamond, but both
are in the mineral condition and their
component elements are the same"“
e) ". . . The human spirit, does not des-
cend into the body; . . . for descent
and entrance are characteristics of
bodies . . . The spirit is connected
with the body, as this light is with
this mirror . . . the human spirit, has
neither entered this body nor existed
through it . . ."“
f) “The progress of man's spirit in the
divine world, after the severance of
(14) “Some Answered Questions"
(15) “Some Answered Questions"
(16) “Some Answered Questions"
(17) “Some Answered Questions”

its connection with the body of dust,
is through the bounty and grace of
the Lord alone, or through the inter-
cession and the sincere prayers of
other human souls, or through the
charities and important good works
which are performed in its name."1°

g) “. . . Children who die before attain-
ing the age of discretion, or before
the appointed time of birth: "these
infants are under the shadow of the
favour of God; and as they have not
committed any sin, and are not soiled
with the impurities of the world of
nature, they are the centres of the
manifestations of bounty, and Eye of
Compassion will be turned upon
them.""

Conclusion

In conclusion the following utterances
of the Bab and Baha'u'llah are quoted.
May Their exalted Words difiuse their
musk-laden fragrance on this article.
A) “To those who are endowed with
pure hearts, all the worlds are rea-
lised under the shadow of this world
and are manifested therein."’°

B) "Although all the worlds of God, hath
been and wilt ever be, revolving
around this world; yet, in every world
for each soul, a particular condition
hath been decreed and established
. . . The meaning of paradise in this
life hath been to attain to His good
pleasure and to enter into His Cause.
(18) “Some Answered Questions"
(19) Kita'b-i-Baya'n, Chapter 8, 2nd Va'hid
(20) “Some Answered Questions"

After their ascension from this earth-
ly life, the believers shall enter into
Paradises of incomparable glory, and
bounties of immeasurable greatness
will be vouchsafed unto them. These
Paradises are the deeds they have
performed in this wor|d.“'1
) “He Who is the Day Star of the
Heaven of Understanding beareth me
witness: that whatever hath been re-
vealed by the Pen of the Most High
for those who have ascended to the
Kingdom     of Abha, hath caused
those holy souls, at that moment, to
be endowed with power and might,
and to be invested with greater
measure of glory and bounty, of as-
cendency and wellbeing."”

D) “And now concerning thy question
whether human souls continue to be
conscious one of another after their
separation from the body        The
people of Baha, who are the inmates
of the Ark of God, are, one and all,
well aware of one another's state
and condition, and are united in the
bonds of intimacy and fellowship.
Such a state, however, must depend
upon their faith and their conduct.
They that are of the same grade and
station are fully aware of one ano-
l
ther's capacity, character, accomp-
lishments and merits. They that are
l
1r           of a lower grade, however, are inca-
l
pable of comprehending adequately
the station, or of estimating the
merits, of those that rank above them.
Each shall receive his share from thy
Lord.. .. it is clear and evident
that all men shall, after their physi-
(21) Tablets of Baha'u'llah
(22) Tablets of Baha'u'llah

I
j

cal death, estimate the worth of their
deeds, and realize all that their hands
have wrought.l swear by the Day
Star that shineth above the horizon
of Divine power! They that are the
followers of the one true God shall,
the moment they depart out of this
life, experience such joy and glad-
ness as would be impossible to des-
cribe, while they that live in error
shall be seized with such fear and
trembling, and shall be filled with
such consternation, as nothing can
exceed. Well is it with him that hath
quaffed the choice and incorruptible
wine of faith through the gracious
favour and the manifold bounties of
Him Who is the Lord of all Faiths.”*"

l23) Gleanings From the Writings of Baha'u'liah
Printed at Skylark Printers. New Delhi,

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