In the human, worldly soul signifies the "rational being, or mind." This has a potential existence before its appearance in human life. It is like unto the existence of a tree within the seed. The existence of the tree within the seed is potential: but when the seed is sown and watered, the signs thereof, its roots and branches, and all of its different qualities, appear. Likewise, the "rational soul" has a potential existence before its appearance in the human body, and through the mixture of elements and a wonderful combination, according to the natural order, law, conception, and birth, it appears with its identity.
Be it known that to know the reality or essence of the soul of man is impossible, for, in order to know a thing, one must comprehend it, and since a thing cannot comprehend itself, to know one's self in substance or essence is impossible. As the comprehended cannot be comprehended, man cannot know himself in reality or essence. In order to obtain knowledge of any reality, or soul of man, the student must study the manifestations, qualities, names and characteristics of man. This much can be stated, that the reality of man is a pure and unknown essence constituting a depository, emanating from the Light of the Ancient Entity God. This essence or soul of man, because of its innate purity, and its connection with the unseen Ancient Entity, is old as regards time, but new as regards individuality. This connection is similar to that of the ray of the sun the effect to the primal cause. Otherwise, the thing that is generated, or the creature, has no connection with or relation to its Generator or its Creator. (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from ‘Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab’, February, 1914; Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 19, March 2, 1917) (Please visit the Baha’i Points to read additional explanations provided by ‘Abdu’l-Baha)
