Wisdom of attending Baha’i events

Attendance at the gatherings of the friends is specifically to keep them alert, vigilant, loving and attracted to the divine Kingdom. (Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 205)

Body & Spirit

The body is like the crystal and the spirit is like the light. Though the crystal be extremely transparent, its brilliancy and splendor belong to the brightness of the light. To be luminous, the light does not need the crystal, but the crystal to be bright needs the light. Even so the spirit does not live by the body, but the body lives by the spirit.
(From ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s address to the Alliance Spiritualiste of Paris, November 9th, 1911; Star of the West, vol. II, no. 17)

Healing comes from God

Healing comes from God. If the heavenly benediction be upon us while we are being healed, then only can we be truly healed. All depends upon God. Medicine is merely an outward form or means by which we obtain heavenly healing; without the Heavenly Benediction it is worth nothing. (From a talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Paris, France, on October 19th, 1911; Star of the West, vol. II, no. 16)

Condition of Soul Before Becoming Associated with Body

Question: In what condition is the soul before entering the body?

Answer: In a state of potentiality, possessing no consciousness as we understand it.
(From a talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Paris, France, October 18, 1911; Star of the West, vol. II, no. 6)

The Effect of Our Prayers on Souls in the Next Life

Question: Are we not able, through love and faith, to make those on the other side hear of the Cause who had not heard of it while on earth?

Answer: Yes, surely, sincere prayer always has its effect, and it has a great influence in the other world. We are never cut off from those there. The real and genuine influence is not in this world but in that other. (From a talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Paris, France, October 18, 1911; Star of the West, vol. II, no. 6)

To Hear about the Baha’i Faith in the Next World

Question: If one refuses the Cause of Baha’u’llah during his lifetime, may he hear of it after death?

Answer: Yes, he will hear of it in his next life, but through the mercy of God alone, and not through his own ability. (From a talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Paris, France, October 18, 1911; Star of the West, vol. II, no. 6)

The Relation between Thought and Action

You must not only think thoughts, but do actions. The reality of man is their thoughts and their spirits, not their material bodies. Man and animal with regard to matter are partners. The difference is that man has the power of thought.

Thoughts may be divided into two classes:

1. The world of thought alone.
2. The world of thought which expresses itself in action.

For instance, philosophers belong to the first class, for they only think heavenly thoughts and do not do heavenly deeds. Whereas spiritual teachers belong to the second class, for they express their high and noble thoughts in actions as soon they think them.
(From a talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Paris, France, October 18, 1911; Star of the West, vol. II, no. 6)