José Raul
Teixeira:
“Our biggest
priority as
spiritists
should be to get
to know all
basic principles
of the doctrine
and have the
courage to talk
about them”
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|
You will be able
to read the last
part of the
interview done
with Jose Raul
Teixeira
(picture), in
which he
answered several
questions about
the Spiritist
movement in
Brazil and
worldwide. In
the previous
edition, the
interview
focused on
‘Problems and
Questions of the
Present Time’
and ‘Themes of
doctrine
nature’.
As said
previously, 26
questions were
formulated by
José Passini,
Ricardo Baesso
de Oliveira,
Arthur Bernardes
de Oliveira,
Jorge Hessen,
Astolfo O. de
Oliveira Filho,
and Célia Xavier
Camargo –
members of the
Editorial
Department.
In addition, the
following
interview
editors for our
magazine also
got a chance to
formulate
questions: Orson
|
|
Peter Carrara,
Fernanda Borges,
Wellington Balbo,
Antonio Augusto
Nascimento and
Katia Fabiana
Fernandes. |
Here it is, the
final part of
this interview:
O Consolador:
Why are there
fewer
disobssesion
sessions
nowadays, which
have benefited
so many people,
in the spiritist
centres?
There are lots
of reasons why
this is
happening, but
the main ones
are spiritist
centres it
selves and the
mediums who work
in these
institutions.
We know that
these meetings
used to be a
sacred moment at
the spiritist
centres. For a
person to become
part of them,
he/she had to be
a medium with
strong inner
moral values.
These mediums
would then have
what we call
moral authority,
through inner
reformation.
Most of the
mediums at that
time were modest
and dedicated a
lot of their
time to others,
working
continuously to
deserve being in
contact with the
spiritual
workers.
A lot of people
nowadays have
difficulties to
assume personal
commitments with
the mediumship
group due to
inner
indiscipline
with the
spiritual work.
It became common
in some centres
for mediums not
to turn up for
the weekly
sessions, and/or
arrive late due
to their busy
personal or
professional
life. As a
consequence,
these mediums
don’t create
strong bonds
between them and
the spiritual
workers.
In many
spiritist
centres we can’t
see accurate
criteria for the
selection of the
person in charge
of the
mediumship
group. The
person usually
chosen has good
intentions, but
might lack the
dynamism and/or
the level of
knowledge needed
for this role.
Sometimes they
might not have a
strong voice
within the
group, which is
reached via
moral authority
and consistent
work with its
members. This
person might not
even demand the
members’
presence on the
studies and/or
lectures held by
the spiritist
centre, which
leads people to
think they could
only be present
at the day of
mediumship work.
Doing so, these
members show no
consciousness
regarding the
need for
continuous
study, analysis,
and inner
reformation.
Very few
spiritist
leaders are
aware that not
all mediums
could be invited
to participate
on these
sessions. It’s
not because
someone has a
certain type of
mediumship, they
could be part of
such serious and
important group
sessions. I
recommend not
inviting the
following people
to these
mediumship
sessions:
smokers,
alcoholics, drug
users, or sex
workers. We
should also
avoid colleagues
who can’t avoid
gossiping, as
discretion is a
must for this
type of work.
Colleagues who
have deep-rooted
emotional
difficulties are
not ideal as
they might also
not be prepared
for this job.
It’s really sad
to see mediums
who are working
on the same
group sessions
not talking to
each other, or
even fighting.
It seems to me
these are not
‘disobssesion
sessions’ but
turning into
‘obsession
sessions’! One
of the main
causes for this
is down to us,
mediums. We are
incapable of
being more
disciplined;
desire to do
what comes first
into our minds
or even decide
to move away
from the group,
due to our own
lack of
knowledge and
maturity. We
might end up
becoming an
instrument of
spirits who want
us to waist our
time and
reincarnation;
developing
fascination
or mystification
in each of us.
We can change
this by working
towards
continuous
study, fraternal
behaviour, and
helping those in
need around us.
Let us aim to
get back to
having group
sessions
considered to be
a sacred moment
at the spiritist
centres.
O Consolador:
What should be
the spiritist
leaders’
attitude towards
mediumship books
that are
available in the
market but are
not very
reliable? Do you
think Kardec at
his time would
have left it as
it is; or
complained about
it?
I believe that
we are going
through a
difficult period
in the planet.
As Kardec said
in Genesis, the
Spiritist
movement is
being constantly
tested: either
by individuals
who are looking
for a lucrative
means of earning
money or by
disincarnated
entities who are
against all
efforts made by
the spiritual
world, who never
gave up on
spreading Jesus’
teachings in the
world.
As soon as
spiritist
leaders become
more aware of
the basic
principles of
the doctrine,
they will
understand it’s
not worth going
public with a
workmanship just
because it has a
title that is
related to
Spiritism or
mediumship, and
we can profit
from it. First,
not all
mediumship work
is related to
Spiritism, since
mediumship is
available to
everyone.
Second, the
criteria used to
select and
publish all
Spiritist texts
should be
extremely
careful and
rigorous. If
someone wants to
publish and
commercialise
unreliable
material, this
person will face
the consequences
of the impact
these materials
will have on
those who read
them.
Regarding Allan
Kardec, I am
sure he wouldn’t
accept such
level of
passiveness
towards these
workmanships.
There are lots
of spiritist
leaders who
don’t have the
courage to
confront the
status quo of
these
workmanships,
either not to
get annoyed or
involved with
it; or because
they lack
critical sense
and/or knowledge
to see elements
that are against
the doctrine on
these books.
At the Spiritist
magazine
published by
Kardec on May
1863, he
examined several
mediumship
communications
that were sent
to him.
He said when
these
communications
were analyzed,
the testimony of
the ignorance
and the lack of
serious
observation of
the facts were
encountered in
most of them.
Due to this
fact, it would
be difficult to
publish them.
This proves to
me Kardec very
carefully
verified all
texts. I have
seen lots of so
called
mediumship books
mentioning ideas
that are against
Spiritism from a
doctrinal and
practical
perspective.
Let’s have a
look at what
Kardec wrote on
that text:
everything that
is to be
delivered to the
public demands
careful review.
Unfortunately,
we are inclined
to assume that
everything that
pleases us must
please everyone
else. There are
many spirits who
enjoy mystifying
mediums. This is
one of the
reasons it’s
best not to work
on your own, but
to work in
groups: multiple
opinions would
be heard and the
most assertive
ones would be
chosen. If one
person refuses
what the
majority
accepted as the
real truth, this
individual might
be under an
obsessing
influence or
dealing with a
mystifying
Spirit.
Allan Kardec
also stated
that, from 3.600
mediumship
communications,
3.000 were
impeccable.
Therefore, 300
could be
published and
only 100 there
were no doubts
about the
quality of them.
From here it can
be seen how
extremely
careful and
picky we need to
be in terms of
the materials
chosen to be
published as
they will have a
massive impact
on the public.
We all
understand
Kardec would not
silence about
it. Let’s not
keep it quiet if
we doubt the
quality of
mediumship
books. We need
to be more
committed to the
Spiritist
doctrine.
O Consolador: In
the USA and
Europe most of
the spiritist
centres are
founded and
maintained by
Brazilians,
whose audience
is made of
Brazilians as
well; very few
groups managed
to reach locals
natives from
these countries.
What shall we do
in order to
change this
reality?
We shouldn’t
believe that
Brazilians
living abroad
are in any sort
of ‘Messianic
Mission’. It’s
important to be
humble and keep
this in mind. If
we want to work
together with
the Spiritual
world, let’s not
feel too proud
when comparing
ourselves to
other countries
and/or cultures.
We need to
realise that in
these countries
where many
Brazilians are
living there are
already one or
more existing
cultures. We
can’t expect to
arrive at any of
these countries
and impose
ideas, just like
the Portuguese
have done in
Brazil. They
built altars and
celebrated the
first mess
against the
habits and
beliefs of the
local
population.
It is clear to
me that many
Brazilians who
were spiritists
in Brazil
decided to start
study groups
abroad in their
own homes as
they missed the
spiritist
activities that
happen in their
home country.
They usually
meet other
compatriots in
these groups,
who also wish to
get to know
Brazilian people
as they feel
very isolated in
a foreign
country.
I believe the
main objective
of our fellow
compatriots
should be to
live to the
basic principles
of the doctrine
wherever they
are. Locals in
their native
countries should
see us
Brazilians as
people with
different
habits, but with
very balanced,
respectful,
harmonic and
correct
behaviour. This
would no doubt
make a good
impression on
others and
intrigue them to
find out more
about the way
Brazilians live.
They would
definitely try
to find out how
our compatriots
live in a
foreign
country.
One of the main
issues found is
the language
barrier. If you
want to
establish a
strong
relationship and
be able to
maintain an
explanatory
dialog in a
local language,
you need to
communicate
well. Another
issue is the
legal situation
of a high number
of Brazilians
living abroad,
who do not have
full rights to
be living in
these countries.
How do you
expect to become
a ‘missionary’,
if you are
living illegally
in a foreign
country?
We have other
elements to
consider. Lots
of spiritists
outside Brazil
didn’t use to be
spiritists when
living in
Brazil. They got
to know
Spiritism when
they went
abroad. They
might lack
knowledge of how
to manage a
spiritist
centre, a
mediumship
session, or a
study group.
They start
listening and
copying
information
received from
other people who
might not be
able to
orientate them
well. That’s why
we can see
spiritist
centres abroad
not following
the rules of the
Brazilian
Spiritist
Federations.
Our Brazilians
compatriots who
are living
abroad need to
improve their
knowledge about
what is
Spiritism. They
need to
seriously study
all basic
principles of
the doctrine and
avoid copying
the way we work
in Brazil. A
closer attention
needs to be paid
to the culture
of the country
they are based
at.
It’s common to
find spiritist
centres outside
Brazil which
were named after
spiritual guides
only known in
Brazil. As much
as we respect
and love them,
these names
don’t represent
anything for the
country they are
based at. It’s
important to
look for names
that could
relate to the
country we are
at, so we can
instigate
sympathy and
support among
the public. How
many noble
spiritists,
researchers or
spiritualists we
know in Germany
or in the USA?
Some of the
names that come
into my mind in
Spain are:
Amália Domingo y
Soler, José
Fernandez
Colavida (who is
known as the
‘Spanish
Kardec’),
Francisco
Ballester Galés,
and Angel
Aguarod. In
France we can
find names such
as Léon Denis,
Gabriel Delanne,
Alexandre
Delanne, Albert
De Rochas, Paul
Leymarie,
Camille
Flammarion, Jean
Meyer; in Italy
Eusápia
Paladino,
Ernesto Bozzano,
César Lombroso;
or in England
Arthur Conan
Doyle, Alfred
Russel Wallace,
Stainton Moses,
William Crookes,
and Florence
Cook.
I also remember
some very
important names
in Germany such
as Johann
Fredrich Zöllner,
Gustav Fechner,
Wilhelm Weber;
in America Henry
Slade, Cora
Scott Hatch,
Edgard Cayce,
Harriet Beecher
Stowe, Abraham
Lincoln, Horace
Hambling, Frank
Carpenter,
Charles Schockle,
and Joseph Banks
Rhine. I am sure
there are many
other mediums,
researchers, or
writers in
several
countries who
would be worth
mentioning.
I believe these
Brazilian
communities
abroad are
learning to live
in foreign
countries,
adapting
themselves,
learning the
local cultures
and trying to
develop studies
in local
languages as
well. I also
believe they
will instigate
sympathy and
support among
those who would
like to find out
more about
Spiritism, as
time goes by.
For now, these
spiritist
centres abroad
need to pay
attention to
Spiritism and
the reality
around them:
their duty is to
study, work,
serve and, as
the Italian
leader Chiara
Lubich would
say, learn to
flourish where
God placed us…
O Consolador:
There are not
many spiritist
centres
affiliated to
its State
Federations.
What should be
done in order to
minimise this
issue?
My understanding
is that the
Brazilian
spiritist
centres are not
obliged to
become a member
of State
Federations.
Their decision
is based purely
on the level of
relationship
established
between both
parties. There
might be cases
where the
spiritist centre
requires to be
affiliated to
the State
Federation; the
centre might
want to be
closely
connected to the
teachings of the
spiritist
doctrine.
I believe the
centres benefit
from becoming
affiliated to
the State
Federations.
They could
establish a
strong Spiritist
movement,
spreading
Spiritism within
society; get
access to more
funds and people
since they will
get to know
other
institutions;
exchange
experience and
knowledge. The
spiritist
centres and the
State
Federations
should get
closer and build
up a fraternal
relationship,
which will allow
them to create a
strong bond.
O Consolador:
Should we
understand that
the Spiritist
Movement is
responsible for
building and
maintaining
hospitals,
nurseries and
asylums?
No, the
Spiritist
movement is not
responsible for
that. What we
all do is on our
own interest not
only because we
are helping
someone, but
also because we
put into
practice some of
the aspects
learned within
Spiritism.
We, as
spiritists,
shouldn’t think
we are
responsible for
building and
maintaining
hospitals,
nurseries and
asylums. The
Government is
responsible
since society
pays a lot of
taxes for it.
Therefore, it’s
our duty to help
those around us
who are in need
as we might be
closer to them
than the
Government
itself. Giving
food to those in
hunger, visiting
patients and
prisoners are
teachings we
learned from
Jesus.
What we
shouldn’t do is
create buildings
and spend all
our time and
concerns around
it. We should
not just focus
our time raising
funds.
Unfortunately, a
lot of people
end up
organizing
charity bingos,
lunches, or
dinner parties
but forget to
study, or help
those in need
around them. We
should keep
working
constantly on
our own inner
reformation.
We shouldn’t be
complaining
about luck, the
Government or
the indifference
of the world.
Let’s work
according to our
capabilities and
be loyal servers
of the Immortal
life.
O Consolador:
One aspect to be
discussed is the
education given
to children. We
are faced with
virtual
communication
which brought to
parents and
teachers a
complex reality
to deal with.
This also had an
impact on the
spiritist
movement, which
used to be much
more dedicated
on spiritist
education for
children and
youth. We can
see a lot of
spiritist
leaders are not
very interested
in this area.
How should we
tackle this
issue?
We all have and
follow in our
whole life
scales of value,
which indicate
what we consider
to be most
important and
what has less
value. Education
could be more
important than
anything for one
person; whereas
for another
financial
resources would
be on top of the
scale.
If an individual
believes
financial
resources and a
busy social life
are more
important than
their children’s
spiritist
education, these
parents will be
faced with the
consequences of
their beliefs.
They will be
faced with
issues raised
either via the
media, or via
their children’s
friends.
We constantly
see violence,
worldwide
economic and
social issues…
Therefore, we
can still see
some colleagues,
who have
different
beliefs from
ours, going to
their churches
together,
singing and
getting on with
their lives. Why
can’t we,
spiritists,
educate our
children
according to
Spiritism and
help them become
good people,
with good
intentions?
There must be
something wrong.
For sure there
is nothing wrong
with Spiritism,
but with our
scales of
value.
We also need to
review in detail
this issue
within the
spiritist
centres and the
spiritist
education for
children and
youth. A careful
analysis needs
to be done in
terms of the
quality of the
classes, for
example, in
times where
virtual
communication is
available via
internet, blogs,
Facebook, etc...
We can’t just
expect to get
the same result
with classes that
are based around
Storytelling or
using
chalkboards. We
are aware that
not all
spiritist
centres have
resources
available to
offer the
children the
best
pedagogical
material
available. We
need to invest
on the best
qualification
possible for our
teachers so they
can reach the
children, gain
their trust and
sympathy, to
keep their
attention within
class.
When I look it
from a different
perspective, I
can see why
children don’t
like to go to
the spiritist
centres. They
can see that
their parents
not going there
or carrying out
their own inner
reformation.
Parents must
realise they
need to set up a
good example for
their children.
O Consolador: We
consider
Spiritism as a
religion that
requires
education and
reincarnation as
a process
carried by the
spirit in order
to improve
itself. Don’t
you think an
important
activity, such
as spiritist
education for
children and
youth, lack
support from the
spiritist
centres?
Why isn’t there
a bigger push
from the Spirits
in order to
clarify this
department’s
importance, and
give it a better
foundation and
support?
Yes, it’s
difficult to
find support
from the
spiritist
leaders for
spiritist
education for
children and
youth. It’s
important to
remember each
individual has
different scales
of value.
It’s based on
their beliefs
they will handle
their
institutions
and/or
departments, and
establish what
we call the
mission of the
institution.
While the
spiritist’s
objectives are
not in line with
Spiritism
objectives,
these
departments
won’t develop as
well as they
should. I have
noticed a lot of
leaders give a
greater value to
the mediumship
sessions or to
social economic
activities
involving the
poor. They
possibly can’t
see why there is
a need to
orientate
children, who
happen to be
just restarting
their
experiences in
the planet.
However, people
don’t realise
that many of the
spirits who are
helped via
mediumship
meetings or
public meetings
at the spiritist
centre lacked
spiritual
education and
orientation.
That’s why we
mustn’t forget
about our
children and
youth. We can’t
just leave them
without guidance
of the doctrine
of Jesus through
the Spiritist
perspective. It
seems non-sense
to me not to
value this
department.
As far as the
spirits are
concerned, they
can’t try harder
than they
already have
tried to reach
us, incarnated
souls. The
spirit Stephen,
who was the
spiritual guide
of the medium
Júlio Cezar
Grandi Ribeiro
wrote a phrase
years ago that
the Brazilian
Spiritist
Federation (FEB)
adopted as a
slogan for
Spiritist
Education
campaigns:
Children and
Youth require
orientation to
become good
people, with
good intentions.
Teach, cooperate
with Jesus. We
have received a
high number of
instructions
from the
spiritual world
emphasising the
need to educate
children and
youth, either
via texts from
Emmanuel, Joanna
de Ângelis,
Stephen and many
others. It’s
down to the
spiritists to
pay a detailed
attention to
these messages,
reflect about
them and put
them into
practice.
O Consolador: A
recent research
done by an
important
Brazilian
magazine raised
a very sad
issue. Most of
youth spiritists
approve abortion
and death
penalty.
How do you see
this topic?
What is lacking
for our youth to
assimilate the
spiritist
principles,
which clearly
are against
abortion and
death penalty?
I think it’s
normal for youth
spiritist centre
attendees to
have this type
of opinion. They
have been
discussing this
issue at
schools,
universities,
with friends,
but not at the
spiritist
centres. We can
see that a lot
of the youth
spiritists are
full of energy,
enthusiasm and
open to talk to
at the centres.
Therefore, youth
teachers avoid
talking about
these issues due
to lack of
knowledge of the
basic principles
of the doctrine.
That’s why we
find lots of
groups, who are
being trained to
sing, play
instruments or
get involved
with theatre
lessons but lack
a deeper
understanding of
the spiritist
principles.
Everything we
used to dislike
in other
religions in
happening with
Spiritism. We
used to complain
about
individuals who
wouldn’t apply
religious
teachings to
orientate their
lives; or even
have access to
information
through religion
about death and
their role as
eternal spirits
in life with
need for
instruction and
love. We have
seen this happen
nowadays with
Spiritism.
The younger
generation is
facing
difficulties
involving drugs,
sex, and/or
violence, and
having a futile
life.
They carry
difficulties
from past lives
and reincarnate
around
Spiritists so
they could be
guided
accordingly,
with better
moral teachings.
You can see lots
of youth lost at
night clubs,
tattooed and
pierced, taking
no good care of
themselves.
The spirit
Emmanuel wrote
through Chico
Xavier on
chapter 151 of
his book The
Pathway, The
Truth and Life:
let’s not forget
that youth hood
is the period in
which the
individual needs
much more
direction and
guidance that on
others.
Why can’t we
dialog with
youth people
anymore? What is
going on through
the parents,
teachers,
spiritual
leaders’ minds?
These are
spiritual
commitments that
we need to
consider. We
urgently need to
study and
reflect on this,
in order to
understand
reasons for our
life in earth.
Let’s not waist
such
indispensable
opportunities!
Emmanuel says
that a young
person can and
will be able to
do a lot if the
experienced aged
spirit doesn’t
abandon the
work. Nothing
new will rise if
no efforts
preceded it.
Everything
relies on what
has been done
previously.
O Consolador:
How could
spiritist
leaders help
youth hood in
channeling their
energy and youth
vigor into the
construction of
a new world?
First of all, we
need to create a
fraternal and
pleasant
environment at
the spiritist
centre in order
to attract them.
We don’t need
to build a
swimming pool or
a court yard
there but a
place where they
can express
themselves,
question, give
their opinion,
present their
problems without
feeling awkward
about what the
others might
think. Second
of all, we need
to engage them
into the
activities held
within the
centre. These
activities
should always be
in accordance
with their own
level, which
could mean the
older ones
getting to know
and helping the
younger ones
within the
institution.
The young
generation won’t
engage in a
centre where
there is nothing
to be done, or
where he/she
just needs to be
there to listen
to people who
supposedly know
more than them.
They are much
more dynamic,
and are usually
willing to
participate
actively and
cooperate. There
might be more
complicated
cases but most
of them would
like to get
involved. We
should also
invite them to
visit nurseries,
hospitals and
asylums. These
visits will
engage them with
helping those in
need; let alone
touch their soul
on those early
years of life.
It’s so nice to
see a healthy
relationship
between older
and younger
workers at a
spiritist centre
since some need
the strength and
help of the
younger ones;
whereas they
need the
knowledge and
experience from
the older ones.
If this happens
with friendship
and respect, a
great conquest
is achieved for
freedom, ethical
experience and
work with Jesus.
O Consolador:
One of the
biggest concerns
we are faced is
the course of
the spiritist
movement.
Due to its
quantitative
growth, there
have been
serious
distortions on
the way.
It’s very
interesting to
see that a
growing interest
on the genuine
spreading of
Spiritism.
Are we living in
the middle of a
paradox? Or are
these the ways
of maturing the
human mentality,
or the spiritist
movement?
It’s
historically
proofed that
when a movement
becomes massive,
it ends up
loosing in
quality. This
happened with
Buddhism,
Christianity and
it won’t be any
different with
Spiritism. I can
see a very
worrying issue
within our
movement, which
is the lack of
commitment of a
lot of
colleagues who
are ahead of the
spiritist
activities. If
these leaders,
coordinators,
presidents, etc.
felt more
passion for
Spiritism, the
movement
wouldn’t loose
its quality.
They need to
realize we are
the ones who
grow when place
the Spiritist
Doctrine on a
higher level.
Spiritist
centres need to
be managed by
individuals who
know in detail
the basic
principles of
the doctrine,
and apply them
into their life.
They also need
to pay respect
to audience, who
come to the
centre eager to
learn and/or in
need of some
sort of help.
It’s
indispensable
for them to
understand what
the spirit
Bezerra de
Menezes wrote
through Chico
Xavier: the
spiritist centre
is an
educational
establishment
for the popular
minds. It has a
very important
mission of
educating the
human mind,
orientation the
human spirit so
that he can
follow the path
chosen for this
reincarnation.
In the meantime,
we can’t avoid
the spiritist
movement getting
involved with
individuals who
don’t really
care about our
good cause; the
development of
Jesus’ message
through the
world.
Even if we
notice loss of
quality, as our
movement grows
on the number of
people, those
who rank the
genuine spread
of Spiritism
should keep it
going. Each of
us will be asked
what we have
done with the
talents of the
Doctrine, based
on the
orientation
giving by Jesus
to the disciples
(Lc. 16,2). The
person
responsible for
managing of a
man’s wealth was
accused of
robbery. He was
called by his
boss and asked:
What am I
hearing about
you? Please show
me how you are
administrating
my wealth… We
will all need to
give account of
what we have
done with this
treasure: the
Spiritist
Doctrine.
O Consolador:
How do you see
the Brazilian
Spiritist
movement? Is it
advancing as it
should or is it
below the
expectations?
E mais:
considerando os
problemas que a
sociedade
terrena está
enfrentando,
qual deve ser a
prioridade
máxima dos que
dirigem o
movimento
espírita, aqui e
no exterior?
Our Brazilian
Spiritist
movement has
been growing in
proportion with
its leaderships.
The more
knowledgable,
dynamic and
polished, our
moviment becomes
the more it will
grow.
Our biggest
priority as
spiritists
should be to get
to know all
basic principles
of the doctrine
and have the
courage to talk
about them on a
day-to-day
basis.
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