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  • quarta-feira, 29 de dezembro de 2010

    Religions and the sublime principle of beneficence




    Translation
    FELIPE DARELLA - felipe.darella@gmail.com


    We have many religions, but little religiosity. Christianity, nowadays, is the most popular religion, around 2 billion
    people, and is divided into three groups: Catholicism,
    Orthodox and Protestantism

    Jesus was the first social worker we had in History. Before the proposals of the modern psychological science, defended by renowned researchers, the Master, two thousand years ago, proved that the true happiness is not individual, but the sum of happiness of people we live with. Solidarity and beneficence are the chief foundations of living well. We talk about religion and label our belief; however, if we don’t help others, we’ll never get to spiritual maturity.

    On Earth, there were many denominations showing the path of beneficence. Some of them joined together, while others fought themselves and the message, which showed the way to charity, was stuck for the lack of love among us.

    We have many religions, but little religiosity. Christianity, nowadays, is the most popular religion, around 2 billion people, and is divided into three groups: Catholicism, Orthodox and Protestantism. The Christian movement is organized, first, in Jerusalem and is, at first, a movement inside Judaism. Later, Christians are persecuted by the Roman Empire. Situation changes in 313, when the emperor Constantine gave them freedom of religion. In 392, Christianity becomes the official religion of the Empire, and missionaries are sent too many parts of Europe to settle churches, occupying the whole continent. At the end of Middle Age, the European expansion takes Christianity to America and Asia. From the 19th century on the missionaries arrive, also, at Africa and East Asia, spreading the Gospel worldwide.

    In this point of the text, we take a break to define briefly some religious points [i] and we start with Catholicism. The term is derived from the Greek katholikos (universal). The adoption of this name comes from the idea of a church that can be accepted and take the message everywhere, by everyone. It is associated with the expansion of the Roman Empire and the appearance of new kingdoms inside this one. Its diffusion is due to the development of the western civilization and the process of colonization of other peoples. Today, Catholicism has more than 1 billion of followers, nearly 18,7% of world population. Most of them (about 39%) are in Latin America. O Brazil being the first one. According to IBGE, 120 millions of Brazilians in 1991 were said to be Catholics (about 83% of the population).[ii]

    Protestantism began with the so-called Protestant Reform, started by Martin Luther

    From the Church of Rome, appears the Catholic Charismatic Renovation in the USA, in the 60’s, in disagreement with some norms of the Vatican. In this trail, is born, in the same decade, the Theology of Liberty, mainly in Latin America, where we single out the Brazilian Leonardo Boff, one of the founders of the movement. In his book “Jesus Christ Redeemer” (1972), Boff admits some Marxist theories in the analysis of third-world societies.

    About Protestantism[iii], we know it began with the so-called Protestant Reform, started by Martin Luther, in the 16th century, when they break loose from the Catholic Church. Luther’s criticism to Catholicism started in 1517. The German defends that faith is the fundamental element for saving the individual and condemns the Sales of indulgence by the Church and the slackening of habits of the clergy at the time. Protestantism is divided into historical Protestantism, created at the Reform, and Pentecostal Protestantism, which started in the beginning of

    the 20th century. It’s calculated that Protestantism has around 500 million followers all over the world. Brazil has the largest base of Protestants in South America, around 13 million people, according to a Datafolha poll in 1994.[iv]

    Judaism is considered the first monotheist religion of mankind. Chronologically, is the first of the three religions originated from Abraham (the others are Christianity and Islamism). There are, currently, around 13.5 million of Jewish in the world, 4 million in Israel. In Brazil, according to IBGE, there were about 86 thousand in 1991. The Jewish Federation of the State of São Paulo says that, today, this number is of 110 thousand.[v]

    Islamism is a monotheist religion based on the teachings of Muhammad, contained in the Islamic book, the “Qur'an” (of Arabic al-Qur’an, reading)[vi]. The world Islam means submit and express the submission to the will of Allah (God in Arabic). It is believed to have more than 1 billion of followers (18% of world population), especially in North Africa, Middle East and Asia. There are two factions of Islamism – Sunni Islam and Shia Islam. It is believed that 83% of Muslims follow Sunni Islam. For them, the spiritual authority belongs to the community as a whole. Shia Islam followers (16% of Muslims) believe in Ali, Fatimah’s husband, Muhammad’s

    daughter. Their descendents would have the key to interpret the teachings of Islam. They are leaders of community and followers of the spiritual mission of Muhammad. The rivalry with Sunni Islam is tragically exaggerated, mainly after the Iranian revolution led by Ruhollah Khomeini.[vii]

    Spiritism is a religious doctrine based on the belief of existence
    of the Spirit, regardless of the body

    There are the principles of Hinduism, a set of concepts, doctrines and religious practices that started in India in 2000 b.C. They are based on Vedas[viii]. Its main characteristics are the polytheism and reincarnation. It’s believed that, today, there are more than one billion adepts.

    Buddhism is an ethical, religious and philosophical system, founded by the Hindu prince Siddhartha Gautama (563 b.C.?-483 b.C.?), Buddha, around VI b.C. It teaches how to overcome suffering and reach nirvana[ix] through mental discipline and a correct form of life. Confucianism is another religious doctrine of the Western world, and, also, a philosophy, political ideology. It’s a legacy of literary tradition, based on the ideas of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551 b.C.-479 b.C.). It remained as the official doctrine of China, for almost two thousand years, from the 2nd until the beginning of the 20th century. Currently, 25% of the Chinese population claim to live according to this doctrine. Outside China, Confucianism has about 6.3 million followers, mainly in Japan, South Korea and Singapore.[x] In Confucianism, there are no priests or churches. The five essential virtues are: love, justice, follow the rules of conduct, auto conscience of the Will of Heaven and disinterested sincerity. Only those who respect others are able to carry out their social duties.

    Spiritism is a religious doctrine based on the belief of existence of the Spirit, regardless of the body, and its return to Earth for successive incarnations, until being perfect. Its main current is, for some, Kardec’s, formulated in 1857, with “The Spirits’ Book”, by the French professor, Allan Kardec (1804-1869), pseudonym of Hippolyte Leon Denizard Rivail. Spiritism claims that reincarnations allow the constant evolution of the spirit to make up for their previous mistakes. All faults can be repaired. There is no worldwide statistic about the number of followers of Spiritism. In Brazil, according to IBGE, around 1.6 million people said they were Spiritist in 1991. According to a poll released in 1994, by Datafolha, this number gets to 5.5 million.[xi] Currently, nearly 20 million of Brazilians have some bond with Spiritism.

    The religions teach about the importance of beneficence. Spiritism says that “Out of charity there is no salvation”. The High Spirits warn us that without charity all religious faith is a useless worship; hope is nothing but a flower unable to bloom and philanthropy itself is a game of shiny words, in which the naked and hungry, the needy and sick used to perish uttering curses.

    Christ asks us cooperation for planting the Gospel that Spiritism teaches

    The Spirit Neio Lúcio says, in the last chapter of his book “JESUS AT HOME”, the following excerpt: "(...) after the last domestic service at the house of Peter, at the eve of embarking to the city of Sidon, the Master opened the book of Isaiah and commented on it wisely, and after the prayer he said: - Lord, help those who are happy despite being poor, miserable and alone.(...)Rise those who fell under the excess of material comfort ".[xii] (our highlight).

    “In a beautiful apologue, says Rabindranath Tagore that a farmer, homebound, with the day’s harvest, noticed that, on the other way, a beautiful carriage, covered with stars. Amazed, in awe, he saw it pulling over, and along with it, he recognized the presence of the Lord of the World, who asked him something, anything...

    What? – he said, astonished – the Lord of Life asking something from me, being a slave to the soil? Excited and silent, he went for his pocket and gave him a grain of his precious cargo. The Lord thanked and left. When, however, the poor man of the field realized, he noticed some glitter coming out of his pocket... The grain of wheat, from what he gifted the Lord, was back to the back, but in the shape of a grain of gold... Astonished, he said:

    -Fool of me!... Why didn’t I give it all to the Lord of Life? [xiii]..

    Nowadays on Earth, when materialism compromises edifications of faith, in the way of men, we know that Christ asks us cooperation for planting the Gospel that Spiritism teaches. And, proposing this humble article to the kindness of Jesus, I say it out:

    “-Oh! Lord!... I understand the meaning of your requests and the greatness of your munificence, but forgive me for little I am, if I can’t give you anything else!” [xiv]

    The lesson is clear and expressive enough. That’s why, shall we reflect upon it, so that we don’t remain in the shadow of egoism, in the form of religious practice, just for the sake of etiquette.


    [i] Cf. Almanaque Abril 98

    [ii] idem

    [iii] The name protestant is attributed, at the time, to the backers of the Reform who protest against the Diet (assembly summoned up by the kings) of Speyer (1529). The Protestant Church, also known as Evangelical, claims the re-approximation of Church with the primitive Christianity.

    [iv] Cf. Almanaque Abril 98

    [v] idem

    [vi] Selection of diverse transcendental revelations received by Muhammad from 610 to 632.

    [vii] Cf. Almanaque Abril 98

    [viii] knowledge, in Sanskrit, set of sacred texts composed of hymns and rites

    [ix] State of soul in total peace and tranquility

    [x] Cf. Almanaque Abril 98

    [xi] idem

    [xii] Xavier, Francisco Cândido. Jesus at Home, Dictated by the Spirit Neio Lúcio, RJ: Ed. FEB, 2002

    [xiii] Dedicatory by Ismael Gomes Braga in the book Letters and Chronicles, psychographed by Chico Xavier, dictated by the Spirit Irmão X, RJ: ed. FEB, 1966.

    [xiv] Idem



    Reflections on the impact of thoughts in the therapy of cancer


    Translation
    Alcíone Fagundes dos Santos - alcionefagundes1@gmail.com

    Faith does not change the laws of nature, does not make miracles, but can help the work of a very good medical team, making big difference in a hospital treatment

    It is common, after overcoming a cancer, that patients need emotional support for returning to their routine of life, because they are still need special care, physically and emotionally, knowing that each case involves specific aspects. Because steps are many and painful: diagnosis, examinations, research, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other medical procedures, the recovering person is fragile and requires careful monitoring.

    Winning a cancer and immediately return to an active life, although there isn’t the rule, does not mean that the disease cannot be won. According to reports of patients, suffering is not only from the disease itself, but also from treatments themselves, often marked by side effects. It is common to observe emotional wounds and changes in the style of living of patients and their family. To minimize a little the traumas left by the therapeutic process, emotional support relieves distress and fear of recurrence.

    Spiritists are aware that patients, when arrive at the hospital, brings with themselves, in addition to their disease, their history of past and current life. Their emotional state is the result of vectors and structure of personality, interpretation and experience of events, considering aspects of imaginary and real, and other variables of causes of disease.

    Science and technology increasingly allow early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of disease, monitoring its development and even obtaining success in many cases.

    Mind can influence the outcome of treatment

    However, even with such scientific advances, many diseases promote organic, emotional and social changes, that require constant care, and therefore adaptive processes. Remember, above all, "the valuable contribution of academic medicine, when is not accompanied by a good doctor-patient relationship, results incomplete to achieve the excruciating causes of disease and distress." (1)

    Currently, studies are made on optimism, spirituality, creativity, religious faith and especially, the complex universe of thought that have been associated with the welfare and quality of life of people with chronic diseases. Furthermore, research on human health that is analysing if mind, through a psychological or emotional state has the ability to cure disease.

    A study done by scientists of the University of Pennsylvania, in the United States, attempts to demonstrate that the fact that people with cancer are optimistic or pessimistic does not directly influence the chances of survival to the disease. For consistent reasons, we disagree with these arguments; since evidence suggests that in several cases of serious illnesses (such as advanced cancer), mind (the way of thinking) can influence the outcome of treatment, not disconsider the value of doctors, of course.

    Strictly speaking, faith (in the concept of common sense) does not change the laws of nature, does not make "miracles", but it may help, concurrently, the work of a good medical team, making large difference in hospital treatment.

    Facing disease many people transform pain into hope

    It is imperative and appropriate to consider, that stating that one has religious faith to "feel" powerful when facing disease does not solve the issue of pain, because the "titles of faith” are not mere words to cover our deficiencies and weaknesses. They express duties of improvement that we cannot escape without further obligations. In our circles of work, thus, it not enough simply believe and convince. " (2)

    There are specialists who support this argument, considering that the look optimistic about disease, and firm thought in healing are powerful mechanisms that can help patients cope better with the treatment of cancer and resume a normal life. As an example we have what happens to the Vice-President of Brazil - José Alencar. Currently, more and more people are surviving cancer and this survival, are related, without doubt, to emotions and thoughts, rich content of vibration between the patient and the Creator. Many patients, before the diagnosis of disease, transform pain into hope, and awaken in them the will to fight for a better life. Others, however, give up, assuming they are under a death sentence.

    Regarding the process of human thought, the academic science, which is materialist by excellence, purpose that the phenomenon is purely physiological, due to incessant activity neuronal. But the Spiritists know that the mental matter is the creation of energy that externalises from the spirit and spreads by a flow of particles and waves, as any other form of propagation of energy in the universe. As in physical field, thought, in vary degrees of excitement, generates waves of length and frequency correspondents to the content of the creator impulse of will or desired objective.

    The reflections of thoughts returns to ourselves

    Thinking is a process of projection of mental matter and this matter "is the subtle instrument of will, working in formation of physical matter, generating the motives of pleasure or grief, joy or pain, optimism or despair, which do not reduce, effectively, abstractions, because they represent eddies of force where soul creates its own states of inductive mind, drawing to itself the players [for now imponderables] of light or shadow, victory or defeat, happiness or misfortune. " (3) In this respect, thought is not intangible anymore to substantiate in the condition of matter in motion.

    The reflections of negative feelings and thoughts that we feed ourselves come back to us, after being transformed in mental waves, confusing our organics functions. So, thought, as a subtle form of energy, acting in a kind of wave, with a speed much higher than light, when passing by places and creatures, situations and things, affects integrally our health. "When we surrender ourselves to imbalance or disruption or when we establish perturbation against us (...), we reflect in the psychosomatics tissues certain fields of rupture in cells harmony, creating morbid predisposition for this or that disease, and therefore the entire area affected becomes susceptible to microbial invasion. " (4)

    By thoughts of fear, exacerbated anxiety, disappointment, we slave ourselves in trunks of painful punishment, sentencing us, sometimes, to years of pilgrimage in the tracks of spiritual uneasiness. And to shorten the torment that plagues us in many ways our conscience, it is essential the renewal of our mind, the only way of recovery of spiritual harmony and physical health.

    Never discouraged when facing challenges of any disease

    Given this, try adopting strict discipline of mental and moral habits, setting as goals putting our duties above worldly pleasures and keeping us calm with the unique opportunity of current physical experience, which help us with spiritual information. Seek, above all, healthy habits of prayer, meditation and work, trying to enrich us with hope and joy, so we will never discouraged when facing the challenges any disease. "We must watch and pray so we will not fall in temptations, because it is better cry on the prods the resistance than smile under drugs of fall." (5)

    For all ills, and any diseases, focus our thoughts on Jesus, because "our medicine is and will always be Jesus”. We should adjust ourselves to the Redeemer Gospel, because Christ is the goal of our renovation. "By regenerating our existence by His standards we restructure the intimate lives of those that are around us. The Gospel of the Lord explains that the pure and working thought is the force that excels us from the darkness to light, from hatred to love, from pain to joy. " (6)


    Sources:

    1. Divaldo Franco Pereira. Page dictated by the Spirit Joanna de Angelis, in mediumistic session of the night of 15/12/1997 in Path of Redemption Spiritist Center in Salvador, Bahia. Text taken from the preface of the book: Attendance Fraternal spirit dictated by Philomena Manoel de Miranda.

    2. Xavier, Francisco Cândido. In the areas of Mediumship, dictated by the Spirit Andre Luiz, 14th edition, Rio de Janeiro: FEB Ed., 2001, pages: 118 to 125.

    3. Xavier, Francisco Cândido. Mechanisms of Mediumship, Spirit led André Luiz, RJ: FEB Ed., 2001.

    4. Article "An Integral Vision of Man," Spiritist Group Socorrista Euripides Barsanulfo available on site http://www.geocities.com/Athens/9319/chacras.htm, accessed on 25/04/2006.

    5. Xavier, Francisco Cândido. Viva Source, dictated by the Spirit Emmanuel, Rio de Janeiro: Feb Ed., 2002, ch. 110.

    6. Xavier, Francisco Candido. In the areas of Mediumship, dictated by the Spirit Andre Luiz, 14th edition, Rio de Janeiro: FEB Ed., 2001, pages: 118 to 125.

    Climate change and its consequences




    In the face of natural disasters that have struck our planet,remember that in Jesus' hands rests
    the fate of the Earth

    Translation
    Marcelo Damasceno do Vale - marcellus.vale@gmail.com


    Research indicates that "climate change has killed about 315 people a year, hunger, disease or natural disasters, and the number will raise to 500 thousand by 2030." (1) The study estimates that the climate problem affects 325 million people annually and that in two decades, which number will double, reaching the equivalent of 10% of the world today. To minimize the impact, "we should multiply by a hundred efforts to adapt to the change in climate in developing countries."(2) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, its acronym in English) in its vast assessment of the issue, made in 2008, concluded that since temperatures began rising rapidly in 70 years, the greenhouse gases produced by man, had a weight 13 times more global warming than the variation of solar activity.

    Almost 25% of the world is threatened by flooding as a result of melting of the Arctic, according to a study published in August 2009, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). As the ice extent decreases, and the ocean surface increases, the amount of solar energy absorbed also increases. Recently, a glacier melted and Switzerland won 150 meters of land, originally Italian. The line, which determined the border, since 1942, moved. There was melting fields, permanently covered with snow in the Alps, as a result of global warming also can destroy 85% of the Amazon. Global warming releases large amounts of methane [greenhouse gas] in the polar region. Until now, these gases were "trapped in the ice." This effect contributes, in turn, to the acceleration of melting in the Polar Regions.

    Given this change, an ice bridge [one block the size of Jamaica], which connects two islands in Antarctica, broke up - they said. The break may indicate that the block Wilkins, (3) is known as the territory, float freely, which will be one of the effects of changes caused by global warming.

    The company must format new models of coexistence, backed brotherhood and love

    In fact, many of the ice decreased in recent years in Antarctica, and six of them have collapsed completely, the sample from the glaciers of Prince Gustav Channel, Larsen Inlet, Larsen A, Larsen B, Wordie, Muller and Jones. Analysis shows that when the blocks are broken, the glaciers and ice masses begin to move toward the ocean. In 1985, scientists identified a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica, which continues to expand, frighteningly. The ozone depletion contributes to the "greenhouse phenomenon. The consequences of this syndrome are catastrophic, like global warming and climate change, precipitating the occurrence of hurricanes, severe storms and even earthquakes. The effects of El Nino and La Nina, too, are terrifying, because that accelerate the melting of polar ice caps, increasing consequently the sea level and flooding coastal areas. They include the records of shrinking glaciers in the Himalayas, the Andes, on Mount Kilimanjaro, and the only ski resort in Bolivia, Chacaltaya, ended his activity, the scarcity of snow in the region.

    It is urgent to create a critical mentality, which would establish new behaviors with a focus on sustainability of human life. The company must format new models of coexistence, backed brotherhood and love. The lack of awareness, of interdependence and complementarity between individuals, creates ever more intensely, the imbalance of nature.

    The scientist Stephen Hawking in his book "The Universe in a Nutshell", explains, in a curious way, that: "A butterfly flapping its wings in Tokyo can cause rain in Central Park in New York." (4) Hawking explains that "it is the beating of wings, simply to generate the rain, but the influence of this little movement on other events in other places it can lead ultimately to influence the climate." (5)

    In the United States, 55 million people think that lack little to end the world

    Because these throes of acute pain of nature, arise in various parts of the world, fanatical groups of people, creating sects and cults strangers, leave employment, family, waiting for the "doomsday". Only in France, according to the magazine ISTOÉ of 4 August 1999, nearly 200 of them, with 300 thousand followers. In Japan, many "gurus" predict the "end of the world." In the United States, 55 million Americans think that lack little for the world over. For them, the hurricanes that have destroyed the central region of the country are angels sent to punish men, announcing the "high end". (6) It is not comforting in any way, the appearance of people with these bizarre beliefs, which are proliferating around the world, obscured the reason for the expectation of a "new era". Unfortunately, even in spirit hosts, there have been some books with ideas that lead the unsuspecting to the hypnosis panic or catastrophic worst possible scenario ...!

    Today, according to the Law of Cause and Effect, we do not have the talent of prophecy to predict the future landscape of the land. Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters are inevitable and will be part of the dynamics of nature. This does not mean we cannot do anything to make us less vulnerable. "Learning from the disasters of today to deal with future threats." (7) We are informed by the world famous Lyonnais, Allan Kardec, that the great phenomena of nature, those who are considered a disturbance of the elements, there are unforeseen circumstances, because "everything has a purpose and nothing happens without God's permission. (8) and the cataclysms "sometimes have a reason to be direct to the man. However, in most cases, aim to restore balance and harmony of the physical forces of nature." (9)

    The health concern is which results in uplifting achievements for the good of all

    Pessimists insist, always, in thinking that way, negative and dark, to see things in the world is a realistic way to live. In fact, if we look at life with a lot of emotion (far from thinking) will find plenty of reasons that we kill the animals, anywhere and in any situation, for example, we are faced daily with needy children; hunger universal wars, urban violence, kidnappings, famine, social insecurity, corruption, etc. catastrophic accidents. However, it is a duty towards our well-being, we adapted to life with all she has good and bad, without, necessarily, it stays stuck to the situations.

    Be concerned only and remain passive in the face of warning signs that nature gives us, is to model a chaotic future for generations to come. The health concern is which that results in gains uplifting for its own sake and for the good of all, fundamentally, for the next sister to come to reincarnate. This is a legitimate Christian. However difficult the challenges they are facing, due to the very human carelessness, spurred the desire to find harmony with Mother Nature. We must remember that Jesus is the Way that leads us to the enlightened concepts of Truth, where we received the glorious seed of wisdom, which dominate the centuries to come, preparing our earthly life to the heights of universal love in the deepest respect for nature.

    References:

    (1) Report as Global Humanitarian Forum (FHG), an institution based in Geneva.

    (2) Available in http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Ciencia, Available in
    http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Ciencia , accessed on August 27, 2009.

    (3) Details: The block Wilkins, the Antarctic Peninsula, is decreasing in size since the 1990s.

    (4) Hawking, Stephen. The Universe in a Nutshell, São Paulo: Ed. Mandarim, 2a Edition, (2002).

    (5) idem.

    (6) Published in the Journal ISTOÉ, edition of 4 August 1999.

    (7) Message from the former Secretary-General, Kofi Annan on the occasion of International Day For Disaster Reduction, 11 October 2006, as conveyed by the Regional Information Center of the UN in Brussels - Runic.

    (8) Kardec, Allan. The Spirits’ Book, RJ: Ed. FEB, 2001, question 536.

    (9) idem.

    segunda-feira, 13 de dezembro de 2010

    Spiritual obsession, cause of the great human anguishes





    Translation
    Renata Rinaldini - renatarinaldini@hotmail.com

    Spiritual obsession, cause of the great human anguishes

    To secure ourselves against its influences one must strengthen faith through mental renewal and through the practice of good within the framework of evangelical codes


    Dear Colleagues, once in a while we are asked why living on Earth is so complicated and life is so often bitter? I answer by saying that this sensation can eventually be an aspiration to happiness and freedom and that, as we are handcuffed to a physical wrapping which serves us as a prison, we apply useless effort to get out of it. However, some fall into discouragement, and reverberate their lamentations all the time. However, we need to resist energetically despondency and sensations of despair, because the dreams of happiness of living are intrinsic to all men, though we must not eagerly look for them only in the material and the transitory experience of earthly life.

    Commenting on melancholy, we find the Spirit François de Geneve dictating the following passage in the book The Gospel according to Spiritism:

    Remember, during your exile here on Earth, you have a mission to fulfil that you do not even suspect; be it dedicating yourself to your family or fulfilling the various obligations bestowed upon you by God. If within the course of this exiled probation, while seeking exoneration, you feel about to collapse through anxiety, uneasiness, or tribulations, be strong and courageous enough to support these pressures. Stand up to them with resolution for they will soon pass. These are the only means by which you may reach those for whom you pine and who, jubilant at seeing you once again amongst them, will hold out their hands towards you so as to guide you to regions inaccessible to earthly afflictions. FRANÇOIS DE GENEVE (Bordeaux).*

    There are, however, many disappointments which can have their origins in the infidelity to Christian commitments, hence melancholy is installed in the being, which can result in an obsessive process. Etymologically speaking, the term obsession has its origin in the word obsessione, a Latin word meaning impertinence, persecution. For some studious spiritist people, obsession is perceived as a great worldwide scourge. This view is of utmost gravity in society, which is nowadays well advanced technologically, be it in the fields of communication and computing, or be it in other areas of knowledge, broadening and deepening the responsibilities of each one of us before collective life.

    Obsession is a maleficent influence upon the mind

    The Portuguese language Dictionary “Aurélio Buarque” defines obsession as being a preoccupation with a determined fixed idea, which dominates the spirit in a sickly manner, resulting or not from repressed feelings; fixed idea; mania. In the same way the term “obsession” is used in a vulgar way, to mean a fixed idea on something, a nervous tic, a generator of manias, strange attitudes, and so on. However, according to the spiritist point of view, the term has a broader meaning and interpretation. It is embodied in a maleficent influence relatively persistent which discarnated and/or incarnated, as much as or less spiritually developed than ourselves, can exercise on our mental life.

    For the classical school of psychiatry, obsession is a thought, or a persistent or recurrent impulse which is unwelcome and distressing and which comes involuntarily to the mind, despite an attempt to ignore it or repress it. Psychiatrists who do not admit anything beyond matter cannot understand a hidden (spiritual) cause, but when the scientific community moves beyond its materialistic view, it will recognise in the action of the invisible world that surrounds us and in the environment in which we live, a force that acts upon physical stuff as well as upon moral things. This will be a new open way to progress and the key of a multitude of badly understood phenomena of the human psychism.

    Obviously the possibility of a psychosomatic anomaly is not discarded, but the Spiritist Doctrine allows us to acknowledge other sources of human misery, maintained through the moral frailty of the beings.

    We recognise that the use of anti-depressive chemicals establishes a chemical harmony of the brain, improving the patient’s mood, however, they simply act on the effects, as these medicines do not cure obsession in its intrinsic causes, only re-establish the transit of neuronal messages, correcting the neuro-chemical functioning of the central nervous system. Socrates already affirmed way back that “if doctors are unsuccessful in treating most diseases, it is because they treat only the body without treating the soul”.

    By insincerity, in our tenuous effort for inner moral reform, we prevent balanced and balancing relationships with others and with ourselves. Our entire disharmony leads to the development of vicious tuning in with other sick minds, be it discarnated or incarnated, which greatly sharpens our own inner disarrangement.

    In the intimacy of the home, of the family, of the Spiritist Centre or of the work environment, bitter adversaries from the past get to meet up. Invited to readjustment by the Benefactors from Beyond, they are rarely able to overcome the aversion which they feel for each other, and feed this aversion again with passion in the inner essence of themselves and the toxic rays of aversion which, when concentrated, become magnetic sharp darts, susceptible to provoke illnesses and death itself.

    Spiritual obsession is tuning in or exchange of similar vibes. Kardec defines obsession as a persistent action that a morally inferior Spirit exerts on an individual, presenting varied characteristics which go from a simple moral influence, without perceptible exterior signs, up to complete perturbation of the organism and of mental faculties. Obsession is the encounter of inferior forces portraying each other.

    The multiple facets of obsession

    There are cases of obsessions bursting out throughout everywhere and in all levels, be it discarnated upon incarnated or vice-versa; incarnated upon incarnated, as well as discarnated upon discarnated.

    Our mental world rules the life which is peculiar to us in all its dimensions; however we find ourselves still at the beginning of understanding the implications of mental force, of the meaning and coverage of the mental formations in life. The obsessors1 are skillfull and intelligent, perfect strategists who plan every step and have been following their prey for some time, observing their tendencies, their relationships and their ideals. They identify their prey’s vulnerable points (which are almost always to do with misguided sexual choices)

    Thought is exteriorised and is projected, forming images and suggestions which are hurled into the objectives that one proposes to reach. When thought is good and edifying, it is adjusted to the Laws which rule us, creating harmony and happiness; however, when unbalanced and depressing, it establishes anguish and ruin. Mental chemistry acts as a basis of all transformations because we really evolve in deep telepathic communion with all those incarnated and discarnated who are similar to us.

    Our mental universe is like a sky, but beneficial sunbeams and rain fall from the heavens towards planetary life, as well as, during the instant of friction between atmospheric elements and from the same sky, destructive electrical arcs. From it, balancing and restorative forces are originated for the trillions of cells of the physical body, but, when perturbed, it emits magnetic rays of highly destructive content towards our psychic structure.

    In question 466 of “The Spirits’ Book”, the master from Lyon asked the Spirits “why does God permit spirits to incite us to evil?” Their answer was: "Imperfect spirits are used by Providence as instruments for trying men's faith and constancy in well-doing. You, being a spirit, must advance in the knowledge of the infinite. It is for this end that you are made to pass through the trials of evil in order to attain to goodness. Our mission is to lead you into the right road. When you are acted upon by evil influences, it is because you attract evil spirits to you by your evil desires, for evil spirits always come to aid you in doing the evil you desire to do; they can only help you to do wrong when you give way to evil desires. If you are inclined to commit murder, you will have about you a swarm of spirits who will keep this inclination alive in you; but you will also have others about you who will try to influence you for good, which restores the balance, and leaves you of your decision."

    Moral renewal as a basis for spiritual disobsession2

    The venerable Codifier, in The Mediums’ Book, affirms that moral imperfections give access to obsessors and the safest environment to get rid of them is to attract good Spirits through the practice of good. Obsession is impotent in face of redeemed Spirits! And what is a redeemed Spirit? It is one who recognises its limitations and, as announced by Apostle Paul, feels happiness in knowing itself to be “enrolled in the school of good”

    This psycho-spiritual disarrangement should be eliminated from society in the instant that the legitimate example of love is experienced and disseminated in all directions, according to what Jesus consolidated and experienced up to the bitterness of his death, continuing from apostolic times until today.

    Spiritism, unveiling the intervention of the Spirits hardened in evil in our lives, casts light on questions still ignored by materialistic sciences as a cause of psychopathology.

    Many times Christ was sought out by obsessed people and he penetrated the causes of their restlessness and, using of his moral authority, freed both, obsessed and obsessors, allowing them to awaken to an exciting life towards recuperation and the pacification of the conscience. However, it is very important to remember that Jesus did not free the obsessed without imposing upon them the non-transferable need for inner reform, nor did he drive out the unconscious pursuers without giving them the address of God.

    Conclusion

    In synthesis, we always identify in spiritual obsession the result of a lack of vigilance and moral deviations. In order to guard us against its influence we should strengthen faith through mental renovation and through the practice of good within the evangelical codes proposed by Jesus Christ, not forgetting the divine advice of Watch and Pray.

    JORGE HESSEN
    jorgehessen@gmail.com
    Brasília, Distrito Federal (Brasil)

    Sources:

    Kardec, Allan. The Gospel according to Spiritism Rio de Janeiro: published by FEB, 2001, Chapter 5, item 25

    Electronic Aurélio Dictionary; 21st century. Rio de Janeiro, Nova Fronteira e Lexicon Computer, 1999, CD-rom, 3.0 version.

    Xavier, Francisco Cândido. In the domains of mediumship, Rio de Janeiro: FEB edition, 2001, Chapter: Telepathic Domination

    Kardec, Allan.The Spirits’ Book, 2003, question 466

    Kardec, Allan. The Mediums’ Book, Rio de Janeiro: published by FEB, 1987- (Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38; LuKe 21:36 e Peter 5:8).

    Revue Spirite, February, March and June 1864. The obsessed young woman from Marmande.

    Kardec, Alan. What is Spiritism, Chapter 2, The pitfalls of mediums, Rio de Janeiro: published by FEB, 2003

    Kardec, Allan. The Gospel according to Spiritism, Summary of the doctrine of Socrates and Plato, item 19, Rio de Janeiro: FEB edition, 2001.

    *Transcript from Allan Kardec’s book The Gospel according to Spiritism – English translation from 3rd edition of the original French, translator Janet Duncan, 1987

    1Translator’s note: Obsessor: a perturbed and lost spirit attached to a person, thus, causing a maleficent impression on his victim. Hence its victim denomination - obsessed person.

    2*Translator’s note: Disobsession (Deobsession): “In Spiritism, it is the practice whereby mediums receive lost and perturbed spirits and whereby another member of the spiritist centre talks to the spirit and evangelizes or “indoctrinates” it. These lost and perturbing spirists are not necessarily linked to the specific victims, and the people who have spirit attached to them do not need to be present at the disobsession meeting. (Non-Spiritists may refer to disobsession as “exorcism” which is a word rejected by Spiritists because of its implication, that is, it implies demons or other non-human spirits)(David J. Hess – “Spirits and Scientists – Ideology, Spiritism and Brazilian Culture”, 1991)” - (Extract from book “Obsession, Passes, Counselling” by Herculano Pires – translation by Jussara Korngold and Marie Levinson –SAB, 2004, New York)