ARTICLE

CROSSING THE GATE: PERSPECTIVE TO CONSIDER
M Bertolucci

"What becomes of the soul at the moment of death?

It becomes again a spirit, that is, it return to the world of  spirit, which it had quitted for a short time"

The Spirit's Book (Question 149)

Presumably simple, this answer by the spirits is of great depth for it reverses accepted notions concerning this important moment of life. It makes death into an ordinary event and life into  a  broader  and  far more meaningful experience. There are two  avenues  by  which  society sees death:  the  materialist,  which  defines  its  a  journey  into nothingness, and the traditional Christian, which presents life  after death under a veil of mystery. Consequently, it is to  one's  surprise that death is greatly feared and regretted. Freud himself deemed it as a fundamental lever of our behavior due to its pervading influence  in life.

Throughout history this fear has gone hand in hand with  our  concepts of life and eternity. In ancient Egypt, for example, the deceased  was mummified and buried with his clothes, jewelry and other  utensils  he might have needed in the world of  the  dead.  Similar  ideas  on  the continuity of life are also found in Hinduism, as can be seen  in  the following excerpt from the Bhagavad-Gita:

"The body, the cover of the soul that makes of it  his  residence,  is something finite; nevertheless, this soul is  invisible,  imponderable and eternal. The mystery  of  the  soul  after  dead  constitutes  the mystery of the rebirths. When the body starts its dissolution, if  the purity is what is dominant in it, the soul soars to the  pure  regions where the spirits have mastered Good. On the  other  hand,  if  it  is dominated by passions, the soul will come again to dwell together with those that are attached to the material life".

In ancient Greece, Socrates and Plato spoke of the continuity of  life after death and the rebirth  of  reincarnations.  They  shattered  old traditions with their  methods and  took  away  from  the  priests  the exclusivity over the "mystery", that constituted  the  core  of  their theology.

Early Christianity also admitted the possibility of communicating with the spirit of the dead. There are many  examples  in  the  Bible  that reinforces this argument and this theme has been extensively  explored by Leon Denis in his book Christianity and Spiritism and by Herminio Miranda in his book " Reincarnation in the Bible".

These practices were common in early  Chistian  communities.  However, they only lasted to the third century, when Christianity was organized as an institution and declared the  official  religion  of  the  Roman Empire. Unfortunately, the purer elements  of  the  faith  were  again hidden under thick veils and distorted to accommodate  the  designs  of earthly rulers. Thus, Christianity became in many ways an instrument of the  state.  It  is  thus  understandable  that  aberrations  such  as " hell " and  " eternal punishment " would  surface  to  control  those  who dared not behave in accordance with Church's doctrine.

Notwithstanding, throughout time men and women  of  genius  worked  to bring  back  a  measure  of  rationality.  A  variety  of  materialist doctrines appeared  invariably  defending  the  notion  that  life  is basically what we see and experience on Earth, and  that  life  beyond was impossible. The average person found even  less  comfort  in  such doctrines for the idea of annihilation was  no  more  satisfying  than that of hell or of an uncertain heaven.

According to modern "scientific materialists", life is an accident,  a simple  random  coincidence.  According  to  Carl  Vogt,  who   deftly summarized this  thinking  "...intelligence  is  a  secretion  of  the brain". For the opponents this an enormous absurdity, for it would  be the same as filling up a ox with all letters of the alphabet, throwing them on a table and then discovering a beautiful poem.

The crux of the matter is, however, that the sub-conscious  horror  of death may not be eased just by knowledge of  one's  future  state.  By examining the countries where reincarnation and life after  death  are accepted, one recognizes that knowledge is not an assurance of comfort and peace at death. It seems that a compassionate and  ethical  living are more conductive to eliminating fear and  anxiety  from  death  and dying than anything else.

Another angle on this matter is provided by the Spiritist Doctrine. By affirming the integrity and purposefulness of life in all its aspects, the Doctrine offers  a  perspective  that  parallels  early  Christian teachings while, at the same time, complies with  the  tenets  of  the scientific method. Accordingly, death is  just  a  necessary  step  of evolution. By clearly demonstrating the survival of  the  spirit,  the possibility of communication with those  in  the  hereafter,  and  the permanence of love bonds, the Spiritist Doctrine purges the specter of mystery from death.

Recent works from different fields have brought unparalleled support  to the views of the Spiritist Doctrine. Foremost is the research work  of Dr.    Raymond    Moody    published    in    _Life_After_Live_    and _Reflection_on_the_Life_After_Life_. Dr.  Moody  presents  fascinating accounts by people who had been considered clinically dead for a short period of time. It is amazing to note the similarities  between  these accounts and the ones received through  mediums.  Among  the  elements most common are the "playback"of one's  life  memories,  meeting  with deceased relatives and friends,  a  sense  of  weightlessness,  and  a profound state of joy.

Leon Denis, the renowned Spiritist philosopher, best captured the web and flow of this age old dilemma in this statement: "Death is nothing but an illusion, one of the agents of life that demands from us continuing renewal and incessant transformation".

Miguel Bertolucci.
Originally published in "Allan Kardec Newsletter" by AKES Group, June/July 1994.

LOOKING FOR A SPIRITIST CENTER IN NEBRASKA
G Couto (USA)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am living in Omaha/Nebraska, USA. I am looking for centers near  the city I am living. I really don't know where to search. Will you please help me?  Thank you very much,

Best regards
Geraldo

geraldo@radiks.net

NEW SPIRITIST GROUP IN GERMANY
Marlis Smith (Germany)

We are happily announcing  our  Spiritist  group  located  at  Erkrath, Germany:

FREUNDESKREIS ALLAN KARDEC (Allan Kardec  Friends  Circle) bei   HENIA SEIFERT
Gehardt-Hauptmann-Str. 11-F
40699-ERKRATH
GERMANY

Tel: 0211-252526
Fax: 02234-83281
E-mail: (Marlis.Smith@t-online.de)

Would it be possible to  post  the  address  in  German  in  the  GEAE web page?

ABOUT J. V. PRAAG
C Cappelossa (Miami-FL, USA)

Dear Carlos Iglesia,

I would like to  add  some  information  to  your  topic  "Talking  to Heaven".

I have read the book myself and  really   enjoyed   it.   There   were several cases described by Mr. Van Praag that  brought  tears  to   my eyes. It is definitely one of the best American books I've  seen  that deals with the issue of Spiritism seriously.

I was born  and  raised  in  Sao   Paulo,   Brazil   and   have   been following Kardec's doctrine since I was 11 years   old. I   know most  of Kardec's books and I also participate in a weekly study group in Miami, Florida.

I have to admit that while many things  in  "Talking  to  Heaven" were amazingly similar to what I know as  "Kardecismo",  I  noticed  a  few things that made me stop and think about it.

The issue of charging for his  sessions  was  something  that   really stood out like a sore thumb to me. I disagree with fees or any kind of personal financial benefit  obtained  from  something  that  has  been granted to you absolutely free by God!

I went further and discovered that James Van  Praag  also  has  a  web page. I tried to explore the page, and to my  surprise,  I  found  out that in order to pass from the initial  screens  one  would  also have to "subscribe" for it - yet another fee!

I sent Mr. Praag a message questioning his fees and  charges  and  his answer was devastating...something along the lines:

- I made  Spiritism   my  life  and   everybody   needs   a   way   of surviving. Things don't get paid by themselves. I have to  support  my work.

I don't know what you and other members  of  this  group  think  about this? I was very disappointed. If that would be  a  justification  for charges....what do we have to say  about  our  beloved  Chico  Xavier? Doesn't he also have to survive?..and hasn't he done that  beautifully so far without charging for a single cent?

Regards
Cassio Cappelossa

GREETINGS TO GEAE
R Santana (Lakeland-FL, USA)

Hi There,

First of all, i'd like to tell you guys how happy I feel right now  to have found this group webside. I am living in  USA,  after  has  moved from Brazil to marry my wife. I am starting a  new  life  here  and  I never thought I could keep on having contacts  with  the  spiritualism like I used to do in Brazil. And now I find out so many  things  about spiritist centers, bookstores and everything else. The closest one for me right  now  is  St.  Petesburg  or  Miami  since  I  am  living  in Lakeland-Fl, but anyway, that  completely satisfies me. I  am  emailing the group know if there is some event programed for here in the United States since the home page  just  showed  some  in  Brazil  (my  birth country).

Best regards
Santana, Raimundo
bmc61763@gte.net