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O Consolador:
What are the
activities you
develop related
to Spiritism?
Besides
representing the
Polish Society
for Spiritist
Studies
(Polskie
Towarzystwo
Studiów
Spirytystycznych),
I also translate
spiritist
lectures from
Brazilians who
come to Poland
to bring the
spiritist
message. I have
translated
speeches from
Divaldo
Franco and
Sérgio Thiesen.
I have also
translated
several articles
from French and
Portuguese to
Polish. I have
now started to
translate the
first book from
the André Luiz
series into
Polish: OUR
SPIRITUAL HOME (Nosso
Lar).
Nosso Lar
(Our Spiritual
Home) gives us
valuable
insights into
the workings of
the next life
and the many
ways the higher
spirits can
teach us for the
spiritual
improvement of
our souls.
O Consolador:
How was your
first contact
with Spiritism?
I read THE
SPIRIT'S BOOK
for the first
time in Brazil.
My wife comes
from Rio de
Janeiro, and I
found this book
at her house.
Philosophical
topics have
always intrigued
me, which was
why I read the
book in a few
hours.
Interesting
enough, THE
SPIRIT'S BOOK
didn’t seem to
be a new
revelation for
me. I felt I
knew those
answers already,
and it opened up
a new door
within my mind.
It took me
another year to
start getting
involved with
Spiritism, since
my mind needed
time to process
all this. I then
came to
conclusion this
was the
philosophy of
life I was
searching for,
and now I want
to share it with
everyone.
O Consolador:
What was your
family’s
reaction?
90% of the
Polish
population is
catholic. Even
those who are
not involved
with religion
have a catholic
mind, let’s say.
This religion is
part of our
culture and
tradition. A
part of my
family accepted
Kardec’s ideas
out of
curiosity.
Nevertheless,
some people
didn’t like the
fact I followed
a different
path.
O Consolador:
How do you
Spiritism?
Only Spiritism
can explain
where we came
from, who we are
and where we are
going.
Spiritism is the
answer to all
questions
Humanity has
been wondering
for centuries.
It makes us be
able to say: «I
know»; not «I
believe». It is
the only
doctrine that
places love in a
spot-light, but
never above
charity. It is a
patch worth to
be followed.
O Consolador:
Which of the
threes aspects
of Spiritism
(Science,
Philosophy or
Religion)
attract you the
most?
The aspects of
Spiritism that
matter the most
for me are
Science and
Philosophy.
Allan Kardec
defined
Spiritism as a
science by
saying it will
be a science, or
it won’t exist.
I will always
support the work
aimed to prove
spiritist
phenomena, but
what attracts me
the most in
Spiritism is
Philosophy.
Spiritist
philosophy
explains the
reason for
suffering in
such a logical
way, and it also
shows us the
path we should
be following.
O Consolador:
How do you see
abortion and the
discussion that
is going on
around this
topic?
Education
throughout
society is very
important, and
we need to talk
about abortion
as well. Even
Allan Kardec
developed a
pedagogical
educational
work, since this
is the best way
to obtain good
results from
society. If a
person receives
good moral
education, I
believe this
individual will
know which path
to choose.
Abortion is
being discussed
in Poland for
many years. The
church has an
important role
here and has our
support on it. I
believe the
polish society
is also
conscious about
impact of
abortion, which
is why we don’t
believe to be
important now to
focus on it.
O Consolador:
Have you had
contact with the
Brazilian
Spiritist
Movement?
I am in constant
contact with
spiritists from
different parts
of Brazil and
worldwide. I had
the opportunity
to take part on
different events
organised by the
Brazilian
Spiritist
Movement, and I
admire the
social work
developed in
Brazil through
Spiritism.
Therefore, I
believe
Brazilian
spiritists are
struggling to
disclose the
Doctrine outside
Brazil. I have
noticed in many
countries that
its members are
mostly
Brazilians. As a
consequence, the
work is being
developed in
Portuguese. We
go through the
same
difficulties
over here. In
the beginning,
the polish
movement had
mostly
Brazilians
involved and the
meetings were
held in
Portuguese. I
knew deep down
we couldn’t move
forward if we
kept working
like that. We
needed to get
into the hearts
of the Polish
people. There
are not many
Brazilians here,
let alone
Brazilian
spiritists,
which is why we
had to change
our attitude.
The meetings are
all held in
Polish now, and
the foundation
of our group is
made of mostly
Polish
colleagues.
O Consolador:
Why can’t
Brazilians
disclose
Spiritism
efficiently in
other countries?
A few years ago
I went to a
spiritist
congress in
Boston.
There were 100
people there,
but only two
were not
Brazilians: me
and a Spanish
guy who came
with his
Brazilian
girlfriend.
I thought to
myself: what
have we missed?
I had the same
experience in my
home country. I
talked to my
Brazilian
friends about
that, and came
to conclusion
two factors had
a big influence
on that. First,
we have this
sense of pride,
which I know I
also struggle
with, of knowing
Spiritism. We
know a lot about
the Doctrine and
are based in a
country which
needs this
knowledge so
deeply. Second,
I used to think
I was one
disciple who was
in Poland to
convert people,
but I was wrong.
My work does not
involve
converting
anyone.
My work involves
learning,
especially
learning to
respect others
point of views,
their
convictions and
talk about mine
without hurting
anyone. Once I
have spoken to a
friend of mine
about Spiritism.
He said
something I will
never forget: «I
like what you
say, but I will
continue being
Catholic». These
words were very
important for
me. Our work is
to talk about
Spiritism,
without imposing
our ideas to
anyone.
That’s why I
focused on the
internet.
I here present
what I believe
to be the most
beautiful
Philosophy of
Humanity. The
Spiritist
Doctrine is so
logical that
sooner or later
everyone will
accept it. Some
people need more
time, perhaps
many
incarnations. If
they feel their
religion is the
right one to be
followed, we
should not force
them to change.
I learn a lot
from Catholic
friends. Allan
Kardec said: «Without
charity there is
no salvation».
Chico Xavier
said: «If Allan
Kardec had said:
without
Spiritism there
is no salvation,
I would have
chosen a
different path.
Thanks God, he
said: Without
charity there is
no salvation».
O Consolador:
What other
factor is making
it difficult to
disclose the
Spiritist
Doctrine outside
Brazil?
Societies are
made of people,
and people have
varied cultures.
The way to
present
Spiritism in
different
countries should
also change.
Spiritism in
India or will
need to be
different from
the way we
present it in
America or
Europe. In these
countries,
people have
different points
of reference,
hence Krishna’s
image will be
closer for them
to Jesus’
imagine. This is
beautiful. If we
all were
similar, the
world would be
boring, wouldn’t
it? Different
views, different
ideas enrich our
planet; our
Humanity.
We need to think
about the person
who is listening
to our words
when we disclose
the spiritist
message. The
important part
will always be
the individual
we are talking
to, rather than
our EGO. Jesus
knew that very
well. He never
used difficult
words. When he
talked to
fishermen, he
used metaphores.
We need to
follow his
example. We need
to look for the
links that unite
us to our
audience, which
are points we
have in common.
We have many. If
a person comes
to me saying
they want to
develop
Spiritism in
another country
rather than his
own, I always
advice them to
ask themselves:
«What can I
learn from the
people I am
surrounded by
now? How can I
show them
Spiritism in a
way they feel
this Doctrine is
suitable for
them?».
Quite often
spiritist
centres in
America or
europe are
simply centres
where Brazilians
who live outside
their country
meet. Locals go
there and
sometimes might
like to get
involved,but
they feel
uncomfortable.
The first
barrier is the
language. Let us
imagine someone
who needs help
and goes
somewhere in
Brazil where
Chinese is
spoken. Even if
you identified
yourself with
the Doctrine
they would stay
there for long.
The meetings
need to be held
in local
language. Even
if there are
only Brazilians,
the language
needs to be the
local one. This
is usually not
done in some
groups, but it
is fundamental.
O Consolador:
When and how has
the spiritist
movement in
Poland started?
Poland is
country that
suffered from
many wards, and
has gone through
many changes on
the last two
centuries. That’s
why it’s never
been possible to
develop
spiritist
activities here.
Our history is
connected to
scientific work
that is linked
to spiritist
phenomena.
Before the II
World War, we
had mediums
known worldwide
such as Kluski
ou Guzik.
Nevertheless, we
never had a real
spiritist
movement similar
to one that now
exists in many
countries. There
were groups,
maganizes and
scientific
research but it
was not strong
enough to
survive through
the difficult
times.
Poland was
always an
importnat
country for
Allan Kardec,
who related at
the Spiritist
Review some
projects done
here. Besides
that he also
included at the
Gospel According
to Spiritism
some messages
received in
Cracow. Poland
was veryy
important for
Léon Denis who
had many polish
friends. He
wrote a special
preface for the
Polish reader in
the translation
of the book «After
Death». The war
and the Comunism
changed
dramaticaly
Spiritism in our
country. The
Catholic Church
grew from
strength to
strength. It got
even stronger
when a Polish
person, Karol
Wojtyła, was
chosen to become
the Pope. He was
one of the most
important Popes
in the history
of the Church.
The spiritist
work that was
done here before
the war stoped
completely,
Kardec’s books
desappeared from
the bookshops
and the Doctrine
was left aside.
We had to wait
more than 50
years for the
spiritist
message to come
back to our
country. At
aroud 1890’s the
first spiritist
group was
founded in
Bydgoszcz, but
it is no longer
working now. At
that time, the
first books from
Kardec were
translated into
Polish, and we
started to take
part on
international
spiritist events.
It is all very
small in
comparison with
Brazil or France.
Therefore, I
believe Poland
will increase
its role in the
spiritist
movement. Polish
people are able
to establish a
link between the
materialistic
west, but
developed from a
scientific point
of view, and the
east where
misticism
dominates. They
know here is
where people
seem to be
closer to God.
O Consolador:
How is the
Spiritist
Movement in
Poland today?
The Spiritist
Movement in
Poland is going
well; taking its
first steps. We
don’t have an
official
organization,
apart from our
spiritist group,
which was
founded in May.
It is registered
as the
Polish Society
for Spiritist
Studies
(Polskie
Towarzystwo
Studiów
Spirytystycznych).
We have an
online portal,
which is growing
bigger everyday:
www.spirytyzm.pl
O Consolador:
Are there
spiritist books
translated to
the Polish
language?
The Mediums'
Book and The
Spirit's Book
have been
translated to
Polish. Heaven
and Hell will be
published this
year. We have 2
or 3 books from
Léon Denis,
which were
translated
before the War.
They were
re-edited in the
90’s. We have
just finished
translating the
book «Happy
Life»
psychographed by
Divaldo Franco,
but it will take
a while for it
to be found in
bookshops. We
are now
concentrating on
the books that
were translated
before the war.
We want to
promote small
spiritist
events, and
disclose the
study of the
Doctrine. There
are people
interested in
the Doctrine
from all over
Poland, which is
why most of the
work is being
done through
internet. This
is the perfect
tool to be able
to reach people
from different
parts of the
country.
O Consolador:
How accepted are
the spiritist
teachings in
Poland?
People are
generally
curious about
life after death
here. This is
something the
Church can not
help with. At
the time of a
relative’s
death, people
tend to look for
more information
about what
happens next. I
have noticed the
consciousness
about the
spiritual world
is quite high
among 20 to 30
year olds. Most
people who
coordinate the
work are around
this age, and
some of them are
students of
Philosophy and
History.
A big obstacle
is the strong
connect the
Church has with
our tradition. I
see people who
are afraid to
say: «I am
spiritist». They
are afraid to
declare being
spiritists,
since they will
need to reject a
tradition that
was part of
their lives for
many years. We
can say it has
improved nowm,
but Spiritists
keep finding
challenges on
their way. I
know some people
lost their jobs
due to their
involvement with
Spiritism or had
personal
problems because
they organised a
spiritist
lecture.
O Consolador:
How do you see
the level of
criminality and
violence that
seems to
increase
throughout the
country? How can
we, spiritist,
collaborate to
revert this
situation?
Education is the
answer to this
problem. If we
increase the
level of
education we
will change the
world, since we
will show
through study
people can get
whatever they
want.
The level of
violence
increases in
countries where
the level of
education is low.
This happens in
Brazil where
violence takes
place first at
the slums. In
Europe, it
happens with
immigrants, who
didn’t have the
opportunity to
study, and end
up using guns.
As Joanna de
Ângelis says, we
live at a time
where love is
more present
than any other
time in the
world. Humanity
has progressed
hugely in the
last 100 years,
and increased
the level of
education. It is
hard, for
example, to find
someone in my
country who can’t
read or write,
and this is the
reality since
the beginning of
the 20th century.
Spiritists
should make an
effort to
increase the
level of
education and
organise courses
to help poor
children who are
not able to
attend schools
with high
quality. |