Know thou that every soul is fashioned after the nature of
God, each being pure and holy at his birth. Afterwards, however, the
individuals will vary according to what they acquire of virtues or vices in
this world. Although all existent beings are in their very nature created in
ranks or degrees, for capacities are various, nevertheless every individual is
born holy and pure, and only thereafter may he become defiled.
And further, although the degrees of being are various, yet
all are good. Observe the human body, its limbs, its members, the eye, the ear,
the organs of smell, of taste, the hands, the fingernails. Notwithstanding the
differences among all these parts, each one within the limitations of its own
being participateth in a coherent whole. If one of them faileth it must be
healed, and should no remedy avail, that part must be removed.
- ‘Abdu'l-Baha ('Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Baha')
