Reflections about the soul
The Holy Writings, the Qur'an and the Bible all evidence that everything in this world was made as signs to mirror the things of the divine realm. For example...
- The fetus in the mother's womb is likened to the soul's existence in this world.
- The birth of the fetus is likened to our physical death.
- The fetus receives its life from a female (which was directly created from male), and the soul receives spiritual life from the Holy Spirit (which directly emanates from God).
- Male and female were once one, and must reunite to become one flesh again (Gen. 2:24). In a similar way the soul's purpose is a spiritual reunion with God.
- Male and female are not ashamed of each other when they are united (Gen 2:25). The soul is similarly not ashamed of God when it is united with Him.
- But when the soul has separated from God, it becomes ashamed of Him and seeks to hide from His presence (Gen. 3:7). And vice versa, when the male is not united with female, they cannot see each other naked and will cover themselves up with clothes ("hiding" from each other).
- Etc...
So logically speaking it would make sense that the soul has its sign in this world. After some thoughts I've pretty much come to the conclusion that the physical body is to the soul what the shadow is to the physical body.
The shadow has no will on its own. Whatever the physical body does, the shadow imitates exactly. Wherever the physical body goes, the shadow follows. Although the shadow may be seen doing all these things, it is not truly the shadow, but rather the physical body, that does them. And just as the physical body is wholly incapable of comprehending the soul, the shadow is unable to comprehend the physical body (think about it, the shadow is 2-dimensional and lacks even the ability to think). When one's shadow disappears, such as when one enters into a well-lit space, the physical body remains. And similarly when we leave this world of darkness and enter the light, our soul remains though our physical body perishes...
Thought I'd share since this was on my mind for a while. I wonder if there's anything in the Holy Writings to corroborate this.