Human soul “acts in two ways”: (1) through means such as eyes, ears and tongue; and (2) without such means as in dreams and visions

 The spirit 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. …

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.

An example of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s amazing scientific knowledge

While walking in the stern of the ship [sailing to America] in the afternoon ‘Abdu'l-Bahá said:

“It is the twelfth day of our voyage. We have traveled a quarter of the way around the globe and have traversed six degrees of longitude. Here it is afternoon, while in Egypt it is the middle of the night at this time.” 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, April 6, 1912, aboard the Cedric, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

Máh-Kú 1848: The Báb’s last words to Mullá Husayn: - “You are destined to exhibit such courage, such skill and heroism as shall eclipse the mightiest deeds of the heroes of old.”

As the Báb bade His last farewell to Mullá Husayn, He addressed him in these words: “You have walked on foot all the way from your native province to this place. On foot you likewise must return until you reach your destination; for your days of horsemanship are yet to come. You are destined to exhibit such courage, such skill and heroism as shall eclipse the mightiest deeds of the heroes of old. Your daring exploits will win the praise and admiration of the dwellers in the eternal Kingdom. You should visit, on your way, the believers of Khúy, of Urúmíyyih, of Marághih, of Milán, of Tabríz, of Zanján, of Qazvín, and of Tihrán. To each you will convey the expression of My love and tender affection. You will strive to inflame their hearts anew with the fire of the love of the Beauty of God, and will endeavour to fortify their faith in His Revelation. From Tihrán you should proceed to Mázindarán, where God’s hidden treasure will be made manifest to you. You will be called upon to perform deeds so great as will dwarf the mightiest achievements of the past. The nature of your task will, in that place, be revealed to you, and strength and guidance will be bestowed upon you that you may be fitted to render your service to His Cause.” 

- Nabil (‘The Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)

A broad list of ‘Abdu’l-Baha's counsels: - summarized by the Universal House of Justice

[2018] Three brief years remain until the centenary of the Master’s passing, when Bahá’ís the world over will gather and take account of the distance traversed over the first century of the Formative Age. May His loved ones, individually and collectively, little by little and day by day, increasingly embody His counsels:

• to be united in the Cause and firm in the Covenant;
• to avoid calumny and never speak ill of others;
• to see no strangers but regard all as members of one family;
• to set aside divergent theories and conflicting views and pursue a single purpose and common goal;
• to ensure that the love of Bahá’u’lláh has so mastered every organ, part, and limb as to leave no effect from the promptings of the human world;
• to arise with heart and soul and in one accord to teach the Cause;
• to march in serried lines, pressed together, each supporting the others;
• to cultivate good character, perseverance, strength, and determination;
• to know the value of this precious Faith, obey its teachings, walk in this road that is drawn straight, and show this way to the people.

- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 26 November 2018 to the Bahá’ís of the World; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 2001-2022’)

The “divinely-ordained function” of Baha’i Temple

It is with hearts brimming with joy that we greet you on this historic occasion, when the doors of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Colombia are opened to all. The Temple that has been built through strenuous effort over four years is now ready to assume its divinely-ordained function—a place “solely designed and entirely dedicated to the worship of God”; “a place of great happiness and joy”; “a collective centre for men’s souls” which “forgeth bonds of unity from heart to heart”; “a means for the exaltation of the Word of God”. 

- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 22 July 2018 to ‘The Friends Gathered in Norte del Cauca, Colombia, for the Dedication of the House of Worship’; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001’)

“evils and vices, which are, for the most part, the direct consequences of the 'weakening of the pillars of religion'”

Not only must irreligion and its monstrous offspring, the triple curse that oppresses the soul of mankind in this day, be held responsible for the ills which are so tragically besetting it, but other evils and vices, which are, for the most part, the direct consequences of the "weakening of the pillars of religion," must also be regarded as contributory factors to the manifold guilt of which individuals and nations stand convicted. The signs of moral downfall, consequent to the dethronement of religion and the enthronement of these usurping idols, are too numerous and too patent for even a superficial observer of the state of present-day society to fail to notice.

• The spread of lawlessness, of drunkenness, of gambling, and of crime;
• the inordinate love of pleasure, of riches, and other earthly vanities;
• the laxity in morals, revealing itself in
• the irresponsible attitude towards marriage,
• in the weakening of parental control,
• in the rising tide of divorce,
• in the deterioration in the standard of literature and of the press, and
• in the advocacy of theories that are the very negation of purity, of morality and chastity —

these evidences of moral decadence, invading both the East and the West, permeating every stratum of society, and instilling their poison in its members of both sexes, young and old alike, blacken still further the scroll upon which are inscribed the manifold transgressions of an unrepentant humanity. 

- Shoghi Effendi ('The Promised Day is Come')