Care body and the spirit
 

We present in this issue the topic #146 from the Systematized Study of the Spiritist Doctrine, that is being presented weekly, according to the programme elaborated by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation (FEB), structured in 6 modules and 147 topics.

If the reader uses this program for a study group, we suggest that questions proposed be discussed freely before the reading of the text that follows. If you would like to study alone, we ask you to try to answer the questions at first and only then read the text that follows. The answer key can be found at the end of the lesson. 

Questions 

1. Used by Jesus, the words "the flesh is weak" is correct or not is just a misunderstanding?

2. As Spiritualism suggests taking care of our physical body?

3. The proposal contained in the old maxim "healthy mind in healthy body" should be interpreted that way?

4. The neglect of the body can lead to unpleasant consequences?

5. Why, after having examined André Luiz, the doctor Henrique de Luna, the colony spiritual "Our Home", said André disembodied due to a suicide? Andrew was suicidal? 

Text 

Macerate the body does not produce moral perfection 

1. Used once by Jesus, as we read in the Gospel texts, the term "the flesh is weak" has been repeated by people who certainly attributed to the physical body attitudes unhappy and, by extension, falls moral human beings. Probably, another is not the reason why there are creatures that seek to weaken and even plague the body, in order to avoid temptation.  

2. The maceration of the body, however, does not produce or means moral perfection because, of course, one does not lead to another. What is known is that the care of the material body, promoting health and preventing disease, so important influences on the soul, because for that prisoner alive to expand, develop and reach the illusions of freedom, has the body to be healthy, willing, strong.  

3. Indeed, we in the human body the most sublime of sanctuaries and one of the wonders of God's work. From head to toe, we feel the glory of the Supreme Organizer, in the incessant flow of millennia, organized for the Spirit in the growth of home meat in which the soul manifests itself.  

4. It is widely accepted that isolated the shell miraculous body, the spirit is reduced by their perceptions that the limits are needed. Vision, hearing, touch suffer many restrictions. The physical brain is dark cabinet, which provides an opportunity to recapitulate and relearn. Knowledge and ingrained habits lie there in a static way of insights and trends. 

The physical body is the passive instrument of the soul 

5. Within the grids of physiological senses, the spirit receives, however, glorious opportunities in search of overcome itself. Understand, because: The material body is an instrument of manifestation of the flesh. Is not it, the body, which is weak in relation to falls moral, but the Spirit.  

6. The body is nothing more than a passive instrument and is the perfect condition that depends on the perfect manifestation of the faculties of the Spirit. The cessation of activity of this or that organic center results the end of the demonstration that it is matched. Therein lies the source all the wisdom of the old maxim "healthy mind in healthy body".  

7. The material body does not work separated from the soul - it is, in fact, its representation. Their cells are organized in accordance with the trends of perispirit the individual, so that the body portrays a sick Spirit.  

8. With regard to the "body", the sport has an important role and its action would be the most edifying with regard to human health if the man in his vanity and selfishness had not hooked also the source of fitness and sport, turning it often a stage of enthronement of violence and moral degeneracy of youth, misled by brute force and deceived by the imperatives of so-called eugenics.   

Not care for the body to reject the law of God 

9. The man has a duty to ensure the preservation of his body. This is an absolute law, which is not given to destroy, and therefore he should be right to sacrifice the unnecessary care that the physical vehicle claims. 

10. We love our soul, yes, also taking care of health of the body, an instrument that serves the evolution of that. Disregard the needs that Nature herself prescribes is to disregard God's law, and such an approach generates inevitable effects, such as Andre Luiz in his first recorded work. 

11. When Andrew, after being examined by Henry de Luna, listened to him telling him he was sorry he had "been by suicide," Andrew protested: “I fought over forty days trying to overcome death. I suffered through two serious operations because of an intestinal occlusion..." The spiritual doctor explained to him that occlusion rooted in causes. “Perhaps you haven't thought it over enough. The spirit body presents within it a complete history of the actions practiced on Earth", he explained Henry. (Our Home, chapter 4, pp. 28). 

12. Let's look at the intestinal zone, he said, the occlusion was due to cancerous elements turn which in turn arose from some indiscretions of yours, in which you contracted syphilis. The disease might not have assumed such grave characteristics had your mental attitudes been firmly based on the principles of moderation and brotherly love. Instead, you chose a dark, exasperating way of life which attracted destructive vibrations from those around you. You never imagined that anger attracts negative forces, did you? Your lack of self control and your thoughtlessness in dealing with others, whom you so often unthinkingly offended, frequently left you under the influence of sickly and inferior beings. These circumstances greatly aggravated your physical state.

(...) Your entire gastronomical system was destroyed as a direct result of your harmless excesses in food and drink, and your essential energies were devoured by the syphilis you contracted through still other excesses. As we see, the diagnosis is incontestable. (Our Home, chapter 4, pp. 28 and 29)

Answer Key

1. Used by Jesus, the words "the flesh is weak" is correct or not is just a misunderstanding?

The phrase used by Jesus has the sense that some attribute to it. However, the physical body is not responsible for actions and the unfortunate fall of the moral individual. The Master was referring, of course, the condition of the reincarnated spirit, suffering greatly influence the environment they live and the constraints that imposes the incarnation. 

2. As Spiritualism suggests taking care of our physical body?

We have a duty to ensure the preservation of the body. This is an absolute law, which is not given to man to destroy and, therefore, he should be right to sacrifice the unnecessary care that the physical vehicle claims. We love our soul, yes, also taking care of health of the body, an instrument that serves the evolution of that. 

3. The proposal contained in the old maxim "healthy mind in healthy body" should be interpreted that way?

The body is nothing more than a passive instrument and is the perfect condition that depends on the perfect manifestation of the faculties of the Spirit. The cessation of activity of this or that organic center results the end of the demonstration that it is matched. The material body does not work separated from the soul - it is, in fact, its representation. Their cells are organized in accordance with the organizations of perispirit the individual, so that the body portrays a sick Spirit.  

4. The neglect of the body can lead to unpleasant consequences?

Yes to disregard the needs that nature prescribes is to disregard the law of God, and this attitude generates unpleasant effects. 

5. Why, after having examined André Luiz, the doctor Henrique de Luna, the colony spiritual "Our Home", said André disembodied due to a suicide? Andrew was suicidal?

Yes Some follies committed by Andre Luiz in the field of syphilis, his special way of acting, a lot of time angry and dark, the lack of restraint, the oversight in dealing with people, who often offended without reflection, led him to frequency to the sphere of human patients and lower. All gastric device was destroyed at the cost of excess food and beverages; syphilis devoured her essential energy, his suicide, although not conscious, was undeniable.  

Bibliography: 

The Gospel According to Spiritism, Allan Kardec, chapter XVII, item 11.

Gospel's Clarifications, Luiz Antonio Lobato, p. 459.

The Comforter, Emmanuel, psychographed by Francisco Cândido Xavier, in issue 127.

Emmanuel, from  Spirit Emmanuel, psychographed by Francisco Cândido Xavier, P. 184.

Book of Hope, Emmanuel, psychographed by Francisco Cândido Xavier, P. 49.

Roadmap, Emmanuel, psychographed by Francisco Cândido Xavier, pp. 15, 16, 20 and 21.

Our Home, André Luiz, psychographed by Francisco Cândido Xavier, chapter. 4.