|
Gebaldo José de Sousa |
|
|
|
Life, Always
life!
“Oh Death, where
is your spur?”
I Corinthians
15-55.
|
Somerset
Maugham
-
quoted by
Eli Brasiliense,
a writer born in
Goias in Brazil
-
refers to
an Eastern
legend that
illustrates the
fatalism
of death and
the futility of
fearing it.
In the city of
Baghdad,
a
dealer
sends
a servant
to the market to
buy
food.
Moments
later,
he
returns
terrified,
asking
for
a horse
to escape
towards the city
of
Samarra,
because he saw
Death
in the crowd,
looking at him
and making a
threatening
gesture.
The boss gives
him the horse
and he leaves
the city
quickly.
The boss,
himself, also
went to shop and
he too came
across Death and
asked it:
- Why did you
threaten my
servant?
To
which
Death answered,
innocently:
- I?!
I did not
threaten him!
I was only
surprised to
find him in
Baghdad, since
it was arranged
that I should
meet him tonight
in
Samarra.
(1)
Fear and
doubt about
survival have
always disturbed
the
human being.
Over the
millennia,
thinkers and
philosophers
have looked
upon
this theme.
The
Doctrine,
from the
second
half of the
nineteenth
century onwards,
clarified this
matter,
confirming
afterlife, by
means of
testimonials of
those who called
themselves
Spirits, stating
they had lived
on this Earth in
carnal bodies,
besides
revealing
several truths
that man did now
know and proving
others, such as:
the existence of
God,
reincarnation,
the successive
lives,
the Law of Cause
and Effect,
and so on.
Allan
Kardec,
the
Encoder
of this Doctrine,
approached this
matter in detail
in the book
Heaven
and Hell
or
Divine
Justice
According to
Spiritism
(2),
the first
edition being
published on
August 1,
1865,
in Paris, France.
After our
disembodiment,
we will have
joy
or
suffering.
If we loved
and learned,
we will be happy.
If we were
proud,
selfish,
ignorant and
evil, we
will suffer.
After death
occurs, the
disconnection is
never abrupt
In the second
part of the work
to which we
refer, entitled
"Examples",
Kardec focuses
on the issue
from various
angles, in eight
chapters:
1 - The
extinction of
organic life
separates the
soul from the
body: and this
separation is
never abrupt. It
is only
completed when
there is not one
atom left of the
Perisprit
connected to a
molecule of the
body (item 4,
page 167).
2 - If during
the separation
the bond between
these elements
is at the peak
of its force,
death is
painful. Thus,
usually the
Spirit suffers
with the
decomposition of
the body in
tragic deaths:
accidents,
murders,
suicides, etc.
3 -
If the
bond
is weak,
separation is
easy and
with no
difficulty:
death
by
old age or
due to a long
illness
(item 5,
page
168).
4 -
In this
transition from
one
life
(body)
to another (spiritual),
the Spirit is in
turmoil. It
experiences a
torpor
that paralyzes
its
faculties:
"It's
like a state of
catalepsy,
so that
the soul
almost never
consciously
witnesses
the
last breath".
This
turmoil
can last
indefinitely,
ranging from a
few
hours to a few
years.
The release
of this state
is
the same as when
one is in
deep sleep
and
wakes up;
the ideas
are vague,
confusing,
until the Spirit
becomes aware
of its
condition.
The awakening
is quiet
for some,
but
"(...)
macabre,
terrifying
and anxious for
others,
like a terrible
nightmare".
(Item 6,
pages
168/9).
5 - The
detachment is
more easy or
difficult,
depending on the
moral state of
the soul: the
attachment to
matter, or to
material
pleasures, makes
the separation
difficult and it
becomes painful
and prolonged.
"On the
contrary, in
pure souls, who
in advance
identify
themselves with
the spiritual
world, the
attachment is
almost none”.
And the bonds
break easily
(Item 8, page
169).
There are
Spirits that
although
disembodied, do
not know it
It depends on us
therefore, to
make this
detachment easy
or painful.
Cleansing,
eliminating evil
tendencies,
letting go of
worldly things,
suffering with
resignation and
humility, these
are the means to
facilitate this
outcome, making
it painless.
Sometimes the
Spirit thinks it
is still
incarnated: it
thinks his
fluidic body (Perisprit)
is still
materialized. It
talks to people,
one and another,
but nobody
answers. He gets
angry, instead
of praying and
seeking
spiritual help
from friends and
accepting the
fait accompli.
The mentioned
work also
contains
messages from
Spirits,
classified
according to
their nature:
Happy Spirits;
Spirits in
medians
conditions;
Suffering
Spirits:
suicide;
repentant
criminals;
Hardened
Spirits; and
many who have
gone through
terrestrial
atonement.
It is worth
studying and
meditating about
this work, since
all of us
already have a
return ticket
issued to go to
the Spiritual
homeland, but
ignore the
departure date.
The Doctrine is
illuminating: to
study, and
understand it,
helps not only
us, but the ones
with whom we
live, and the
disembodied too.
This is why we
Spiritists do
not go to the
tombs once a
year. We pray
for the
disembodied
every day, or
whenever we
remember them,
wherever we are,
with no special
time or
particular
location. Love
needs no
formalities!
In 1936, with
the publication
of Letters of
a Dead, a
work dictated to
the psychic
Francisco C.
Xavier by the
Spirit of his
mother, in her
most recent
incarnation,
brought new and
numerous
revelations.
In 1944, the FEB
(Brazilian
Spiritist
Federation edits
Our Home,
by the Spirit
Andre Luiz, a
psychographic by
Francisco C.
Xavier, and new
reports about
life after death
are brought to
the attention of
the general
public, in this
book and in
other similar
books. As a
reporter, who
goes to a
foreign land,
the author tells
of his
experience in
the spiritual
plane.
Numerous books
deal with Death
and the facts
that follow it
In 1949, the FEB
(Brazilian
Spiritist
Federation),
with the
publication of
the book I
returned
(3),
adds new data,
not only
regarding
"Death", but the
experiences that
follow it.
From 1974
onwards with the
book
Astronauts
Beyond
(4),
edited by
Editora GEEM,
private messages
of consolation
multiplied, from
the Spirits to
their relatives,
not only through
the good hands
of the medium of
the city of
Pedro Leopoldo,
but by many
others.
At the same
time, from the
60's onwards,
books written by
physicians, and
psychologists,
contributed for
the profane
side, not
religious,
through reports
obtained from
Memory
Regression,
leading the “sujets”
to mention facts
occurred in
previous
incarnations
experienced by
them as well as
by people who
have experienced
clinical death,
for a few
minutes. The
study of these
experiences
lived and told
by hundreds of
individuals,
while their
clinical death
was confirmed,
resulted in the
publication of
numerous works
on the
intriguing and
alluring
subject.
The comparison
of these reports
[Memory
Regression and
Near Death
Experience (NDE)
with those of
the disembodied
Spirits through
automatic
writing, since
the nineteenth
century] show an
amazing
concordance due
to the great
similarities
they present.
Among them, we
emphasize those
contained in
some works:
Life Afterlife
(5),
The Light
Beyond
(6),
Recalling
Past Lives
(7)
Returning
from Tomorrow
(8),
Spiritism and
Eternal Life
(9)
and After
This Life
(10).
What the Spirits
experience when
they disembody
According to
several
different
sources, when
the Spirit
disembodies, it
experiences the
following:
1 - It sees
itself outside
the body.
2 – It does not
perceive the
transition from
this life to
afterlife. It
goes through a
state of
numbness, a deep
sleep, or
fainting and
some see a
peaceful,
friendly
spiritual entity
before and/or
after sleep.
3 – Some
experience
feelings of
peace and
quietness, while
others of
suffering.
4 – It sees
itself in a
tunnel.
5 – He goes
through a
flashback of his
life in the
presence of the
Being of Light:
he reviews all
his last
existence, to
the smallest
detail. He is
naked in front
of himself. He
evaluates his
conduct, his
thoughts and
actions.
"I found myself
in front of all
that I had
dreamed of,
devised and
performed in
life.
Insignificant
ideas that I had
issued, as well
as my minimum
acts, paraded,
absolutely
precise, before
my afflicted
eyes, as if they
were revealed
all of a sudden
by a strange
power in an
ultra-fast
camera installed
inside me. It
transformed my
thought in a
suddenly and
mysterious
unfolded motion
picture,
unfolding with
astonishing
elasticity to
its surprised
creator that was
me."(3)
"In this
situation, the
person not only
sees all his
actions, but
also and
immediately
realizes the
effects of each
of his actions
on the lives of
others. (...) If
I see myself
committing a
heinous act,
(...) I can feel
your sorrow,
your pain and
your grief.
(...) If I
practice a
generous act,
(...) I feel
your joy and
happiness”
(6).
6 – He is helped
by the Spirits,
family and
friends; before
and/or after the
deep sleep.
7 – He feels the
effects of what
caused the death
of the material
body.
8 – He becomes
aware of his
condition and of
the new phase of
life that is
presented to
him.
"Death was the
best part of the
trip." (He
refers to the
regression.) "To
die was like
being released,
coming back home
again".
(7)
The near-death
experience and
its effects on
the lives of
those who went
through it
The effects are
many and
diverse:
1 – The person
does not fear
death anymore.
All changes for
the better. They
now believe in
afterlife.
2 - Those who
have gone
through this
experience (of
"near-death"),
returned
believing that
the most
important thing
in life is love.
3 – Sense of
togetherness
with all things
(=
interdependence:
When we hurt
someone we feel
as if we have
hurt ourselves).
4 - Valuing
knowledge: for
most of them,
the second most
important thing
in life is to
acquire
knowledge
(6).
5 – They have a
new concept of
responsibility:
"The most
important thing
I learned from
this experience
was that I'm
responsible for
everything I do.
Excuses and
other
subterfuges were
impossible while
I was there with
him (the Being
of Light)
recapitulating
my life”.
6 - Appreciation
of life: they
claim that "life
is precious, and
that the “small
things” are what
counts and that
life is to be
lived to the
full. (...) The
simple acts of
kindness from
the heart are
the most
important
because they are
the most
sincere. He
wanted to know
how my heart
was, not my
head".
7 – They turn to
the spiritual
side: study and
accept the
spiritual
teachings.
8 – They change
their behavior
and become:
- More gentle,
warm, kind, and
have a good
sense of humor.
- More detached
from material
goods.
- More sincere
and honest.
"(...) I live my
life knowing
that someday I
will have to
submit myself to
another review
of all my
deeds".
(6)
"You can give
and receive
forgiveness. You
can break free
from vices,
addictions, and
anger, i.e., of
luggage you do
not want to take
with you to a
place where
everything is
light"
(8).
- Work more for
the benefit of
others; they are
more generous
and trusting.
- Study more. ("Spiritists
love more, so is
the first
precept! Acquire
more
instruction, is
the second
precept")
(11).
- More
optimistic and
more pleasant.
It is good to
live with them.
- Begin to worry
more about the
others, listen
to them, serve
them, and they
like to see them
happy.
Brother X, in
the beautiful
chronic
"Training for
Death," gives us
some important
tips on the
subject. It is
important to
become
acquainted with
them
(12).
Facts prove that
immortality is
unquestionable
Considering the
above, we can
arrive to
certain
conclusions:
1 - The state of
happiness or
unhappiness of
the Spirit
depends on:
- Being free
from material
life.
- The moral
conduct during
the embodied
life.
- The level of
enlightenment of
the Spirit and
the faculties
and
possibilities of
the spiritual
body.
- Attitudes and
behavior of
embodied
relatives during
the funeral and
later: prayer,
resignation,
acceptance.
2 - The
immortality of
the soul is
unquestionable
(its continuity
is confirmed by
regression of
memory).
- Man should
not fear death,
instead he
should live
well, being
helpful,
brotherly,
loving, and
always studying.
4 - All
disembodied are
supported by
Spirits that
were previously
their relatives
and friends -
the rebels, in
the future, when
they change,
even if it takes
many
incarnations.
God does not
abandon anyone.
Clearly, Jesus
warns us: "(...)
the Son of man
(...) will
reward every man
according to his
works". (Matthew
16-27).
We have we made
of our lives?
Let us learn to
value every
minute, every
opportunity to
become useful.
We will account
for everything
in front of our
consciousness.
Let us seek to
be worthy of
this everlasting
and wonderful
gift that God
gave us: life!
Bibliography:
01. BRASILIENSE,
Eli. The
Death of the
Eternal Man,
1st ed. Goiania,
Edicao do Autor,
1970, p. 50.
02. Kardec,
Allan. Heaven
and Hell.
37th ed. Rio de
Janeiro: FEB
1991.
03. XAVIER,
Francisco
Candido. I
returned. By
the Spirit
Brother Jacob.
7th ed. Rio de
Janeiro: FEB
1979.
04. PIRES, J.
Herculano-Miscellaneous
Spirits/XAVIER,
Francisco
Candido.
Astronauts
Beyond. 3rd
ed. Sao Bernardo
do Campo: GEEM
1974.
05. MOODY JR.,
Raymond. Life
Afterlife.
Sao Paulo: Book
Circle.
06. MOODY JR.,
Raymond. The
Light Beyond.
1 ed. Rio de
Janeiro: NORDICA
1988.
07. WAMBACH,
Helen.
Recalling Past
Lives. 1 ed.
Sao Paulo:
PENSAMENTO 1978.
08. RITCHIE,
George G.
Back
fromTomorrow.
6th ed. Rio de
Janeiro: NORDICA
1980.
09. Caversan,
Ariovaldo.
Spiritism and
Eternal Life.
3rd ed. Capivari:
EME Editora
1994.
10. ANDRADE,
Geziel. After
this life. 1
ed. Capivari:
EME Editora
1996.
11. Kardec,
Allan. The
Gospel According
to Spiritism.
105 ed. Rio de
Janeiro: FEB,
1991, p. 136.
12. XAVIER,
Francisco
Candido.
Letters and
Chronicles.
By the Spirit
Brother X. 7th
ed. Rio de
Janeiro: FEB,
1988, chapter 4,
pages 21-24.
|