We hereby continue the methodical study of "The Gospel According to Spiritism" by Allan Kardec, the third of the works of the Kardecian Pentateuch. The first edition was published in April, 1864. The answers to the questions suggested for discussion are at the end of the text below.
Questions for discussion
A. Considering that nobody is perfect, have we the right to reprimand our neighbor's acts?
B. Are there cases when it is useful to reveal the evil of others?
C. Which is the Greatest Commandment in Law?
D. How does Spiritism define "love your neighbor"?
Reading text
156. "Go and reconcile with your brother before you place your offering at the altar". When saying this, Jesus is teaching us that the most pleasant sacrifice to God is the way man deals with his own resentment. Only then will his offering be accepted, because it comes from a clean heart with no evil thoughts. (Chapter X, section 8)
157. "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ". This is a known advertence made by Jesus. One of our follies is to see the evil practiced by others before we see the evil in ourselves. In order to be able to judge ourselves, it would be necessary that we see our inner self reflected in a mirror, this if we could transport ourselves out of our own selves, consider ourselves someone else and ask: What would someone else think if he saw us do what we do? Beyond all doubt, pride is what induces us not to see our own faults. (Chapter X, sections 9 and 10)
158. This is the reason why pride is the father of many vices. Pride is also the denial of many virtues. It is found to be the motive and base of all human deeds. This is the reason why Jesus tried so hard to fight it, as a main obstacle to progress (Chapter X, section 10)
159. Jesus said: "He that is without sin amongst you, let him cast the first stone". Therefore, indulgence is the first duty towards others, because there is no one who does not need it for himself. Jesus also teaches us that we must never judge others more severely than we judge our own selves. (Chapter X, section 13)
160. "Do not judge others, lest you be judged" It is important that this principle is not taken literally, because the letter kills but the spirit gives life. It is not possible that Jesus could have prohibited the destruction of evil, if Jesus himself gave us the example and in strong terms. What he meant is that the authority to reproach someone else is in direct proportion to the moral authority of the one who reproaches. If someone is guilty of what he condemns in someone else, he then renounces to the right of reproaching. He then deprives himself of the right to restrain. In the eyes of God, there is only one legitimate authority: it is the one based on the example of the practice of good deeds. (Chapter X, section 13)
161. Spiritists, always have in mind that, both by word and by deed, forgiveness of injuries should not be a word in vain. Since you call yourselves Spiritists, then be so. Forget all evil that has been done to you and think of nothing else except the good that you can do. Take care to remove all rancor from your mind. Happy is he who can sleep at night saying: I have nothing against my neighbor. (Chapter X, section 14, Simon)
162. Indulgence does not see the others' faults, and if it does, it avoids talking about them. On the contrary, it hides the faults with the purpose of not disclosing them to others. Also, if malevolence becomes aware of any fault, then indulgence will always have a prompt, plausible and honest excuse for it; not an excuse that pretends to mitigate the fault, but rather enlightens it with perfidious intention. (Chapter X, section 16, Joseph)
163. Be severe with yourselves, but indulgent to others. Remember that He, Who judges ultimately, sees the most private thoughts of each one, and thus, many a times, forgives the faults you reproach, and condemns those which you forgive, because He is aware of the real motive behind each action. (Chapter X, section 16, Joseph)
164. Be indulgent regarding others' faults, whichever these may be. Do not judge with severity any actions except your own. Then the Lord will be indulgent towards you. Raise the strong, encouraging them to perseverance. Strengthen the weak by showing them the goodness of God, Who takes into consideration even the smallest degree of repentance. Show to all the Angel of Penitence, stretching out his white wings over the shortcomings of humanity, veiling them from the eyes of God, Who cannot tolerate what is impure. (Chapter X, section 17, John, Bishop of Bordeaux)
165. Dear friends, be severe with yourselves, but always be indulgent with the weaknesses of others. This is the practice of saintly charity, however, followed by so few! We all have evil tendencies to be overcome, defects to correct and bad habits to modify. Everyone has a burden, more or less heavy, which we must get rid of in order to be able to ascend to the summit of the mountain called Progress. Why then have you shown yourself to be so clairvoyant with regard to your neighbor and yet so blind with regard to yourself? (Chapter X, section 18, Dufêtre, Bishop of Nevers)
Answers to the proposed questions
A. Considering that nobody is perfect, have we the right to reprimand our neighbor's acts?
No, certainly not, because we must work for the progress of all and, most important, for those who have been placed in our care. Thus, our action must be moderate in order to obtain a successful outcome, and not as most of the times, for the mere pleasure of denigrating someone. To reprimand someone in this manner is to act with cruelty. In the first case, it is our duty to act as careful as possible, based on charity. It is a mistake to allow that any reprimand becomes detrimental to our neighbor, discrediting him unnecessarily in public. It is reprehensible too, if you reprimand someone based on malevolence and the feeling of your inner satisfaction caused by the practice of faults by others. It is entirely different when you do not disclose someone else's imperfections and, for your own benefit, you avoid practicing what you reprimand in others. (The Gospel According to Spiritism, Chapter X, sections 19 and 20.) .
B. Are there cases when it is useful to reveal the evil of others?
If a person's imperfections only cause prejudice to itself, then there is nothing useful in disclosing them. However, if it harms others, then the interest of the majority prevails. According to the circumstances, it is a duty to unmask hypocrisy and lies, because it is better if only one man falls than if many become his victims. In this specific case, one must weigh the sum of the benefits and drawbacks.
C. Which is the Greatest Commandment in Law?
Jesus answered this question by saying: "Thou shall love thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets". (Ibid, Chapter XI, items 1, 2 and 4.)
D. How does Spiritism define "love your neighbor"?
To love, in the true sense of the word, is to be loyal, honest and conscientious. Doing this, you are doing to others what you would like them to do to you. It is to look around you and understand the inner sense of all pain afflicting your fellow creatures, and offer to sooth them; it is to consider the great human family as your own, because you will find this family in the future within more advanced worlds. Based on what Jesus teaches us, that we should love our enemies too, Spiritism explains that to love our enemies is not to bear towards them any hatred, rancor, or desire of revenge. It means to, unconditionally and without hidden thoughts, forgive them for any harm they might have caused us. It is to reconcile with them without creating difficulties and to wish them only good things instead of bad. It is to feel joy instead of regret for the good things that may come their way; it is to help them, whenever possible, and to abstain by words or acts from everything that might harm them. Finally, it is to always return goodness with no intention of humiliating them. The one who acts in this manner fulfills the conditions of the commandment: Love your enemies. (Ibid, Chapter XI, section 10, and Chapter XII, section 3.)
