Paulo Cezar
Fernandes:
“We are what we
do!”
The Brazilian
Spiritist
researcher talks
about the big
question,
“What is life?”
– a lifelong
query for him
|
Paulo Cezar
Fernandes
(photo), a
Spiritist since
1995, born
brought up in
Marília, in the
Brazilian state
of São Paulo, is
a researcher who
works as a
volunteer and
speaker at the
Núcleo Amor e
Paz (Love and
Peace) Spiritist
Centre. In this
interview he
talks about his
lifelong
investigation
into a big
question: what
is life? |
The question you
have tried to
answer, “What is
life?”, is the
result of any
particular life
experience? |
Since I was a
child I looked
for answers for
this Spiritual
state we call
life. However,
when I became an
adult I had a
number of
mediumship
experiences that
led me into
investigating
the nature of
the Intelligent
Being, as well
as the fact that
spiritual
communication
does exist. I
began reading
the core works
of Spiritism,
focusing on its
philosophic
aspect,
especially the
Law of Progress
and
reincarnation.
All that
enlightened me
and enabled me
to elaborate a
new concept of
life. I was
particularly
touched by the
analysis Allan
Kardec did in
the Introduction
of The Gospel
According to
Spiritism,
linking the
philosophy of
Socrates and
Plato on
reincarnation. I
began my
investigations
into the
hypothesis of
reincarnation,
which provided a
more rational
explanation to
life, despite
its conflicts
with my
religious
upbringing as a
Catholic.
What were the
criteria applied
for your
philosophical
investigation?
I compared the
two possible
explanations to
explain my own
existence:
either a single
existence,
sustained by all
religions that
do not believe
in
reincarnation,
or the approach
sustained by
Spiritism,
Hinduism and
Budism. My
conclusion was
that the
Spiritist
approach is much
more efficient
as an
explanation.
Spiritism helped
me by showing a
more lively and
truthful Jesus.
What have been
the main
developments of
your
investigation?
By admitting the
possibility that
I am a Spirit
that evolved
from the
Intelligent
Principle
created by God,
without any
knowledge but
driven by strong
will, it became
clear that my
life story was
built by me. It
began with a
blind force,
which developed
until I attained
free will and
became Spirits,
and, therefore,
Conscious
Intelligences.
Once we accept
the possibility
that we are
reincarnated
Spirits, most
facts of life
are interpreted
within a more
efficient
theoretical
framework. Our
existence also
gains a much
bigger
relevance, as we
have an
opportunity to
meet ourselves
to re-balance
old
relationships
and build future
ones in a much
more efficient
and productive
manner,
following the
moral value we
have adopted:
Jesus Christ.
How has this
knowledge
changed your
life?
The knowledge of
reincarnation
makes us a lot
more patient
with ourselves
and with one
another. This is
must be the
first conclusion
of an honest
study of
Spiritism. The
understanding
that we are
going through an
existential path
chosen according
to the spiritual
needs of each
one makes it
clear that we
have full
responsibility
for our present
state: we are
what we do!
Your final
thoughts,
please.
In the same was
as Socrates, the
philosopher,
Immanuel Kant
(1724-1804)
tells us that
self-knowledge
is the first
duty with have
towards
ourselves. The
spirit of Saint
Agustin tells us
in question 919
of The
Spirits’ Book
that by looking
for Virtue and
self-knowledge
we will achieve
happiness
already in this
existence.
Without full
knowledge that
we are incarnate
Spirits being
constantly
influenced by
the Spirits’
World, no
investigation
into
self-knowledge
will bear
fruits. Only
Spiritism is
guaranteed to
give us the key
to
self-knowledge!