SPIRITISM EASILY EXPLAINED (PART  I)
Allan Kardec

Translated into English by A. L. Xavier Jr. and Carol de Macedo. Based on the essay " O Espiritismo em  sua  mais  simples  expressão"  by  A. Kardec, 2nd ed., FEESP (1989).

1. Historical Background

By the year 1848, several strange phenomena were gaining notoriety  in the United States, consisting in noises, raps and movement of  objects with no apparent  cause.  They  would  happen  spontaneously,  several times, with a characteristic intensity and frequency. However, it soon became clear  that  these  phenomena  could  also  occur  through  the presence of certain people  whom  were  known  as  ''mediums''.  These people  could  provoke  the  phenomena  at  will,  making  experiments possible. Such experiments were made using tables, not  because  these objects are more favorable than others, but  because  they  were  more convenient, movable, and because it was easier to sit round them  than any other furniture. In this way the rotation of tables was  achieved, and  subsequently,  movements  in  all   directions;   jumps,   turns, fluctuations, violent strokes etc.  These  phenomena  were  originally called 'table dancing' or 'table turning'.

Initially the facts could be perfectly explained by the action  of  an electric or magnetic current or unknown kind of fluid,  and  such  was the first formed explanation. But within  a  short  time,  intelligent effects were recognized in them, such that  the  movement  obeyed  the will. The table could move to the right or to the  left,  toward  some certain person, it could stand on one or two feet upon command,  knock the ground a number of ordered times,  knock  regularly  etc.  It  was clear that the cause was not  purely  physical  and,  based  upon  the principle:  ''To  every  effect  a  cause  is  associated,  to   every intelligent effect there is an intelligent  cause'',  an  intelligence was appointed as the cause.

However, what was the  nature  of  this  intelligence?  Such  was  the question. Initial impressions were that it could be the reflection  of the medium's intelligence or of his assistants.  But  experience  soon disproved this, since responses  totally  alien  to  the  thought  and knowledge of the present people and even in opposition to their ideas, wills or desires were obtained. Therefore this intelligence could only belong to an invisible being. The way  to  ascertain  this  was  quite simple: a discussion with such entity sufficed. A conventional  number of knocks to signify a yes or no answer or to  designate  alphabetical letters was  created  and,  in  this  way,  several  chosen  questions obtained  answers.  This  phenomenon  was  called  `talking   tables'. Interrogated in this way about their nature, all the  beings  declared themselves to be spirits and belong to  an  invisible  world.  As  the phenomena  were  produced  in  different  locations,  through  several different people and observed by serious and  intelligent  people,  it was not possible they were an illusion.

From America the phenomena spread to France and the  rest  of  Europe, where the talking and turning tables were the rage and became a  means of entertainment in public halls. But when people  began  to  tire  of them, they turned their attention toward other things.

However, within a short time, the phenomenon presented itself under  a new aspect that remove it from the domain of a simple  curiosity.  Due to space limitations all the  phases  can  not  be  described  herein, therefore we will proceed to the most renown  aspect  which  attracted the most attention of serious people.

End of the first part.

LIVING SMARTLY
M  Bertolucci
 
By what signs can we  recognize  a  man  as  having  accomplished  the progress that will raise him in the  spirit  hierarchy?  Elevation  is demonstrated by the conformity of a person's acts with the law of God, and by a person's comprehension of her spiritual nature.

Our daily life is a continuous stream of choices among many paths that lead to our personal development. If we just stop and  think,  looking backwards, reflecting on our actions and  attitudes  during  the  past week, or even during the day just ended, we will notice that  we  made many important choices. Unfortunately, many of  them  did  not  always reflect a high understanding of the real meaning  of  life,  in  other words, that we have followed God's  laws.  In  this  confusing  modern times, we are often living for  the  moment,  trying  to  extract  the maximum pleasure from each instant, without considering  appropriately the future consequences.

We are called upon to examine our own position with  respect  to  sex, our attitude at work, our understanding of friendship,  what  kind  of education we are giving our children, how we relate to and  treat  our parents, and many other important ethical issues. It is vital that  we try to to set personal goals aiming to become better human beings.  We can be absolutely sure  that,  if  we  do  not  stop  periodically  to seriously consider these issues, life itself will force us to do  so. Life has its special ways of calling our attention, either  through  a serious  illness,  the  loss  of  a  loved  one,  a   great   personal disappointment or, at the least, by the natural process of aging.

As ordinary persons living in this world, worrying  about  keeping  or finding a job, or balancing the monthly budget, we must  be  conscious of our limitations and try to focus on the things  that  we  have  the power to change- things that depend on our day-to-day decisions. It is not imperative that we aim too high, that we should be living as  some great soul that came to Earth, such as Ghandi or Mother Theresa.  This kind of expectation can only bring us  frustration.  Nevertheless,  we need to prepared ourselves for these moments, when  important  choices must be made. Our lives can be compared to a college  class  in  which the day of the final examination is unknown but we know it  will  come eventually.

What should we do to be ready for these moments of testing? Are  there rules that can better guide us in this guest  for  a  more  personally productive existence? Is there  an  infallible  recipe  for  achieving success in those matters? We could start living a more  virtuous  life by observing the only new commandment that Jesus left to us  "...as  I have loved you,...you also love one another. By this shall all... know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another".  These  are extremely simple words, but they can be the basis of a new philosophy, one that enlightens our daily lives. Of course,  we  will  still  make mistakes, we will still fail in many occasions, opting for  the  wrong course of action knowing full well that it is the wrong one.

Once we sow this seed  of  love  in  our  hearts,  it  will  germinate inevitably. Then, to cultivate it, we must focus on knowing  ourselves better. This is a hard and long process. In "The Gospel  According  to Spiritism", Saint Augustine gives us an extremely valuable advice, yet very simple and practical, on whether we are putting into practice the  command of Jesus: "At the close of each day I examined my  conscience, reviewed all that I had done, and  asked  myself  whether  I  had  not failed in some duty, whether someone might not have reason to complain of me. It was in this way that I succeeded in obtaining a knowledge of myself,  and  in  ascertaining  what  there  was  in  me  that  needed reforming." [1]

In this process, it is important to seek sources of encouragement, and to have achievable goals for ourselves. A set of  achievable  goal  is Allan Kardec's description of the qualities of  a  good  person:  "The truly good person is the one who practice the law of justice, love and charity  in  its  utmost  purity.  In  examining  his  conscience,  he questions himself whether he has not violated this law; whether he did not commit evil acts; whether he did all the good he could have  done; whether he did not voluntarily neglect an opportunity of being useful; whether anybody complains of him; finally, whether he  did  to  others everything he wanted others to do to himself." [2]

Let us try, therefore, to live smartly  according  to  this  guidance. Even if the goals seem distant, it's the effort that truly matters. In devoting ourselves to such a program, we may sometimes find moments of loneliness, but we will never  be  without  the  guidance  of  Divine Providence.

Miguel Bertolucci

Originally published in "New Horizons: Spiritist Perspectives for Centered Living". March/April 1995. By AKES.

Editorial Notes:

[1]
[2] The Gospel According to Spiritism: "The good person", Chapter 17.

Why do you hold that which shines and  enchants  the  eyes  in  higher esteem than that which touches the heart? Why do you make the vice  of opulence the object of your adulations, whereas you are disdainful  of true merit when it is obscure? Whenever a rich debauchee appears, even though he be lost in body and soul, all doors open, all rush  to  give him attention; whereas a godly person who lives by his work is  hardly given a good-day!  When  the  consideration  dispensed  to  others  is measured by the gold they possess or the name they use, what  interest can they have in correcting their defects?

But it would be very different  if  the  many  degrading  and  immoral practices which are gilded over, were censured by  public  opinion  as much as is the  failing  of  poverty.  But  pride  shows  itself  ever indulgent to all who flatter it. You say that this is the  century  of cupidity and money. Beyond doubt; but why allow material necessity  to overshadow your good sense and reason? Why must each one wish to place themselves above their brother? Society today suffers  the  consequences of this fact.

Never forget that this state of affairs is  always  a  sign  of  moral decay and decline. When pride reaches extremes it is an indication  of an imminent fall, for God never fails to punish the  arrogant.  If  He sometimes allows them to rise, it is only in order to  give  time  for meditation and to mend their ways under the blows which come to strike their pride from time to time, to serve as warnings.  But  instead  of becoming humble, they rebel. Thus when the cup is full God will  cause them to descend, and according to how high they have risen,  the  more terrible will be their fall.

Suffering humanity, whose selfishness has corrupted all things, we beg you to renew your courage despite everything. In  His  infinite  mercy God has sent you a powerful remedy for all your  ills,  an  unexpected help for all your miseries. Open your eyes to the light! Here are  the souls of those who no longer live upon the Earth,  who  have  come  to call you to the fulfillment of your true obligations.  They  will  tell you, with the voice of  experience,  that  compared  to  eternity  the vanities and grandeurs of this passing existence become mere  trifles. There, the greatest is the one who has been the humblest  amongst  the most humble of your world; he who has most  loved  his  fellow  beings will himself be the best loved in Heaven. If  the  powerful  on  Earth abuse their authority, they will find themselves reduced to a position of obedience to their own servants and lastly, humility  and  charity, who are as two brothers going hand in hand,  are  the  most  efficient means of obtaining grace before He who is Eternal.

Adolf, Bishop of Argel (Marmande,  1862).
In: "The Gospel according to Spiritism", Chapter 7.
Translation by J. Duncan  (Allan  Kardec  Study Group).