Man has two aspects: the physical, which is subject to
nature, and the merciful or divine, which is connected with God. If the
physical or natural disposition in him should overcome the heavenly and
merciful, he is, then, the most degraded of animal beings; and if the divine
and spiritual should triumph over the human and natural, he is, verily, an
angel. The Prophets come into the world to guide and educate humanity so that
the animal nature of man may disappear and the divinity of his powers become
awakened. The divine aspect or spiritual nature consists of the breaths of the
Holy Spirit. The second birth of which Jesus has spoken refers to the
appearance of this heavenly nature in man. It is expressed in the baptism of
the Holy Spirit, and he who is baptized by the Holy Spirit is a veritable
manifestation of divine mercy to mankind. Then he becomes just and kind to all
humanity; he entertains prejudice and ill will toward none; he shuns no nation
or people.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 21 April 1912, Washington, DC; ‘The
Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His
Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)
