Material-Physical

Material/Physical defined

'Abdu'l-Bahá describes material education (here used for studies and affairs) in the following terms:

"Material education is concerned with the progress and development of the body, through gaining its sustenance, its material comfort and ease. This education is common to animals and man."

(Some Answered Questions Chapter 3)

Material/Physical studies and affairs

Pure science/Theoretical Material Studies

• Physical sciences
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Earth sciences
    • Geology
    • Physical geography (e.g., locations, etc.)
    • Astronomy
• Life sciences
  • Biology/Ecology

Applied Material Studies and Disciplines

(refers to physical concept or process)

Applied Material Sciences-Professions

(most directly) Applying Material Knowledge

• Agriculture, Gardening, Hunting
• Medicine (see also i.c. above for medicine pertaining to patient as protagonist)
• Domestic life (food sustenance and appearance maintenance: food preparation, cleaning) (see also Nutrition: Obtaining and Preparing Food and personal functions)
• Engineering and Technology (see also sciences)
  • Technology
  • Mechanical-electrical-civil-aeronautics-energy
  • Computer science, information and general works / Computer (Programming, applications, WEB design, robotics)
  • Communications (Amateur Radio/CB, Radio, TV, Internet)
  • Energy and Resources
• Business
  • Business-Marketing-Sales (see also sciences and social)
• Economics (Finance, Banking, etc.)
• Sports
• Military, Police, Fire-fighting
• Crafts (see arts section)

Personal material disciplines-ethics

Health and Healing (individual)

(Body's Health, Physical Needs of the Mind, Spiritual effect of the body (Beauty or grace))

• Exercise, Sports and Physical Games
• Nutrition
• Personal Medicine-Safety
• Personal functions (Hygiene, Grooming, etc.)
• Reflection-Travel-Rest-Games-Meditation (see spiritual section)

Finances/Ownership

(see also consolidation: Funds and section iv.e. and iv.f)

Financial management

• Management, investing, saving, etc.

Expenditures and Ownership

(material goods and services)

• Material resources and services (use, rent, lease, purchase, save for/layaway, etc.)
• Facilities-residence-property-transportation (see physical geography)
• Crafts-Furnishings-Clothing
• Appliances-equipment and supplies (transportation, communications, entertainment, security, waste, energy) (see also proclamation, expansion, consolidation)
• Materials-Consumables
• Energy (Light/Heat)
• Food
• Living things (plants, pets, etc.)

Financial Virtues

e.g., frugality, generosity, trustworthiness, etc.

Material processes of restoration-maintenance-enhancement

• Efficiency-reduce use (Energy, Materials) Transportation/Postal/Disposal (Include errands such as returning items, traveling for purchases, etc.)
• Cleaning-Preserve-Beautify
• Reuse-Recycle-Restore-Heal-Repair-Tinkering
• Construction-Grow-Purchase including Residence, Furnishings/Crafts, Appliances/Equipment (consider Beauty)

Material community infrastructure-planning

(Can be viewed with Intellectual and Spiritual Community Infrastructure, according to protagonist (e.g., local or national Mashrqu'l- Adhkár), etc.)

• Food Production and Distribution
• Resource Harvesting-Processing-Utilization (including Energy, Water, Air, Minerals, Timber, etc.)
• Environmental preserves-cemeteries
• Urban planning-housing (including hostels for travelers, homes for poor, aged, disabled, orphaned)
  • Business-residential zoning
  • Transportation (Systems)
• Communications (Systems, see also Media)
• Security-Protection-Inspection (police, prisons, fire, hospital, drug dispensary)
• Waste Collection-Recycling-Management
• Financial Institutions (charity, lending, saving, managing, etc.)