Advanced Study Group of Spiritism

Your mission is proving that a love for the earth, and for the things of the earth, is possible without materialism, a love without greed... I entreat you not to be turned by the call of vulgar strength, of stupendous size, by the spirit of storage, by the multiplication of millions, without meaning and without end. Cherish the ideal of perfection, and to that, relate all your work and all your movements. Though you love the material things of earth, they will not hurt you and you will bring heaven to earth and soul into things.

After a temporary delay with the publication of the newsletter, we are once more able to resume distribution of the SM. GEAE is in constant need of good contributions to keep the SM running. We are often required to wait until a reasonable amount of material accumulates so that we are then able to publish the SM. Also, the material we receive is analyzed before it is published, since the aims and ideas within some material does not support Spiritism or is not considered suitable by the GEAE editorial board for whatever reason. In this manner, we guarantee a minimum level of quality of our publications, and thus it sometimes results in delays.

We hope that all subscribers understand this situation, and that it will do nothing to impact the aim of GEAE, which is to support a quality Spiritist publication.

Much peace,

GEAE Editors
 

SPIRITIST GROUPS

Due to the generosity of our very dear friends, Mona and Fares, and at their own expense, we now have a new and improved SS of FL website. It will contain our monthly newsletters, which will be archived, and  periodically other Spiritist articles. We bless them and we know God does, too! We thank them profusely!

The Spiritist Society of Florida website is:

This site will refer to The Advanced Study Group of Spiritism website for regular Spiritist articles in English and the continued chapters of the book The Memoirs of Father Germain by Amalia Domingo Soler.

Newsletter written by Yvonne Limoges
email: ylimoges@aol.com
5042 22 Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33710

The Spiritist Society of Florida

Explanations and messages regarding the moral teachings of Christ Jesus, in accordance with Spiritism,  and their application in life.

This site provides information about the principles of Spiritist doctrine on the immortality of the soul, the nature of spirits and their relations with men, the moral law, the present life, the future life, and the destiny of mankind.

New pages are added to this site weekly.This site's text is extracted from Spiritist books. They contain teachings of Christian spirits of high degree, transmitted through various mediums.

If you believe God and want convincing answers for your innermost questions, we invite you to carry on reading, even just a few words each time you visit us.

If you are not sure to keep on reading this work, we suggest you to close your eyes and sincerely think of Our Lord Jesus. Ask Him, with fervour in your heart, if you should or not carry on reading these pages. Afterawards, just await His answer, and decide it by yourself.

If you don't believe God, please excuse us, but the atheism doesn't resist to the sieve of reason. We have just to use logics to prove the existence of God.

By Claudio Teles

Hello Dear Spiritist Friends,

My name is Daniel Thorstensen-Assis and I am undertaking a new project regarding Spiritism on the web. I would like to ask you for a minute of your time so that you could read this brief email and, perhaps, respond. As you might already be aware, there are quite a good number of Spiritist resources available on the Internet; however, there are, also, a great number of Internet sites whose purpose seems to be that of discrediting the Spiritist Doctrine altogether, even attacking it and equating it to "satanic" cults at times. In an attempt to clearly and fairly depict the beauty of the Spiritist Doctrine as compiled by Allan Kardec, and to organize many of the resources available on the Internet under one easy-to-use place, I have decided to create SpiritistDoctrine.Net. The website is, naturally, a not-for-profit endeavor. I am hoping that you can be of assistance.

I am writing you today because I found your email address listed as the contact email address for a Spiritist Center/Institution on the web. Basically, at this stage I would like your help in making sure I have accurate information listed on the website when it comes to your Centers/Institutions. (Naturally, should you not like to be listed on the website, I will gladly remove your Institution before the website is actually "launched") If you visit http://www.spiritistdoctrine.net/modules.php?name=Web_Links you should arrive at the Web Links Section, which contains the "draft"
version of a directory of Spiritist Institutions throughout the world. At this point I am concentrating on non-Brazilian Institutions, as the goal of the website is to facilitate access to information in English -- harder to come by than in Portuguese, for example. In the near future we will try to expand it to encompass Esperanto, Spanish, French, Italian, German and, naturally, Portuguese. So, I am kindly asking that you check to see if your Insititution is listed correctly (name, address, phone, email, website), as well as to request to send any concise, important information you might think necessary. I suggest that you include schedule of your activities (meeting dates and times), as well as the languages they are carried out. (Please feel free to pass this email along to any other institutions you think may be interested in getting listed.) I am hoping this is the kind of information that will prove useful to those looking for a place in which to learn about Spiritism. Once again, I remind you that www.spiritistdoctrine.net is still in early "beta" -- that is, it is still in its early stages of production. Much of the information therein hasnt been validated yet, but it soon will. Still, your feedback would be much appreciated.

Thank you and may God Bless You All,
Daniel
daniel@spiritistdoctrine.net
Los Angeles, CA - USA
310.704.0999

15115 INTERLACHEN DR., APRT. 907
SILVER SPRING, MD 20906
TEL.: (301) 598-2104
FAX: (301) 598-2105
E-MAIL: GTEEP@AOL.COM
Regina D. Prince, Coordinator
 

TEXT

Humanity has its freewill but its actions are always subject to the Natural and Universal Laws of God. Mankind´s general lack of knowledge regarding two very important aspects of its being: the true purpose of material life AND the realities and mechanisms of the laws of spiritual science, currently cause it to interfere in the natural processes of birth and death which have dramatic and long term consequences of which it has no conception. There are particular consequences which occur with acts such as abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment, which are not what mankind truly intends, always viewing things only from a material point of view which encompasses only the perceived consequences of one life time.

Material life´s purpose is so a spirit will grow and progress spiritually, morally,  and intellectually; it acts as a sieve which filters out imperfection. Anything that cuts
short or interferes in this sacred process, generally only delays a spirit´s progress, AND, the repentance, expiation, and reparation each soul must make in order to advance and evolve. Therefore, abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment have tremendous spiritual consequences in this process. What a spirit does not complete or resolve in one existence, must be started anew in another material life through the continuing process of birth, death, and rebirth (i.e. reincarnation).

Scientists for years have disputed the extent of the impact on human beings regarding the influence of their nature (biology) versus their nurture (environment) but, these influences leave out the most important element of what makes up a human being’s personality and that is the existence of its soul, of which sadly the established scientific community does not believe exists.

A human being is affected by its biological element (its material body and the genetic material it has inherited), AND, by its environment, both of these factors are predetermined for that particular existence by the natural laws of cause and effect, due to the intents and consequences of a person´s own behavior from past incarnated lives, another fact of which most of mankind is unaware. The third but most important component, the spirit of a person, must also be included in this equation, for it affects how the individual manifests as a person and what they truly become, because a spirit incarnates into a body within its environment as an individual with a unique personality, shaped in various degrees by its past life abilities, knowledge, experiences, and aptitudes, which are more or less revealed, in each new material existence.

Now mankind has discovered a new process which affects the manifestation of  material life: cloning. Although a person may be cloned to be an exact biological replica of its original, scientists do not realize that it has a spirit which will be completely unique. his is the same situation with identical twins. Currently, the process to clone is at its beginning stages and imperfect; even the cloning of animals has brought about genetic defects and the natural life cycle of these beings seems to have also been affected. Again mankind, regarding this new scientific process, does not understand that there are  spiritual ramifications that will affect the spirits of any "cloned beings."

But what about breeding embryos for stem cells to alleviate conditions such as Parkinson´s disease, diabetes, and others? We know that natural spiritual law dictates that a spirit become attached, at first loosely, to its preordained organic host at the precise moment of conception, with the process complete upon the birth of a child. (See Kardec´s  The Spirits Book, Chapter VII for more detailed information regarding this process). We know this natural law process is automatic and continues to completion (to a viable birth) unless the material of that particular physical body is such that a live birth is not possible due to any number of organic defects, or, it had already been preordained that that particular body have no spirit assigned to it. This being the case, although God knows the future, we do not, so in the cloning process, natural law continues to dictate that spirits will continue to be assigned to these embryos as well, because universal natural laws are not subject to mankind’s arbitrary actions and ignorance. There is always cause and effect involved and there will be many spirits who will start the process of incarnation only to be terminated in this cloning process because mankind does not allow the embryo to continue its natural growth process.

I have a daughter who has had diabetes since one year old. She is now age 21 and although she might benefit by this process of the creation of embryos for the purpose of obtaining stem cells to assist in the possible curing of disease, the end does not justify the means. I have more faith in God, than in men. But, society may eventually support some sort of compromise on this aspect of cloning because there are many who have good intentions to help others (and they do not know about the consequences of spiritual laws) and there are also those who will push hard for it, only for the eventual financial profit they hope to reap. But, we shall see what further research will bring, for always man intentions and actions are subordinate to God’s Will and His Laws.

Nevertheless, in general, society must also think hard about the well being and welfare of any cloned individual. Since love and charity are the guide posts for all our actions, these must be a priority in determining if and when cloning would be appropriate, because to intentionally put another being in harm´s way (physically, psychologically, emotionally, etc.) is morally wrong even without knowledge of Spiritism.

Although due to mankind´s lack of the necessary spiritual knowledge, which
would greatly assist it in making more informed decisions regarding its actions involving abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, and now cloning, its ignorance will be dealt with as always, through the ever perfect accounting of our actions via the Universal Laws of Cause and Effect. In addition, due to God’s Immense Love for us, the true intent of the persons involved in all these acts are always taken into consideration. Mankind is ignorant and imperfect and so many uninformed decisions are constantly being made, and will continue to be made. Those involved who knew their actions were morally or ethically wrong, will be held more responsible than those who truly believed they were doing the right thing and sincerely acted out of ignorance. The scales of Divine Justice are Perfect.

For those whose spiritual knowledge is incomplete, decisions in these processes can be very complex, prayer provides some assistance. But in the end, due to our own free will, the final choice is always with the individual, and/or in society´s hands. The eventual final decisions made in each case may also seem imperfect, because this is an imperfect world, but whatever is decided, God’s knows what is truly in our hearts.

Humanity is still as a child in its current intellectual, spiritual and moral level. It will make mistakes and learn from those mistakes as it has in the past, down through the ages, regarding all new scientific discoveries and ideas. As we evolve and gain knowledge of our true spiritual natures, these errors will be less and less. Such is, and will continue to be, the law of progress…..

Inspirationally written by Yvonne Limoges
The Spiritist Society of Florida.
January 25, 2003
 

SPIRIT WORD

SPIRIT WORD THE ASTRAL CITY - "Nosso Lar"

A story of a doctor's odyssey in the Spirit World By Andre Luiz, through Francisco C. Xavier

(Translated from the 25th Portuguese edition entitled "Nosso Lar". First Portuguese edition published in 1944 by Federação Espírita Brasileira, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.)

Chapter 25  A GENEROUS INITIATIVE

Early the following morning we shared a light meal in Lysias' home. As  her children were about to take their leave and go off to their jobs, Laura announced to me cheerfully:

"I have arranged company for you today. Raphael, an old friend of ours who works at the Ministry of Regeneration, will call for you at my request. You may accompany him to the Ministry, and there he will introduce you to Minister Genesius in my name."

I could find no words to express my gratitude. I was radiant. Lysias was also pleased, and embraced me warmly on leaving. On kissing her son goodbye, Laura recommended that Lysias tell Minister Clarence that she would be along as soon as Raphael came for me. Her generosity touched me deeply, leaving me tongue-tied with emotion. When we were alone, my devoted hostess addressed me kindly:

"My brother, new paths are opening to you today. Since your mother doesn't live with us here in the Astral City, I hope you won't mind my taking her place in this moment to offer you a little motherly advice."

"Indeed, I am most grateful." I exclaimed, moved, "I shall never be able to express the extent of my appreciation for your kindness."

Laura smiled and added:

"I heard that you asked for work some time ago…"

"Yes, yes, I did… " I agreed, remembering Clarence's words on the subject.

I also know that you didn't obtain it then, but instead were given permission to visit different Ministries which connect us more with the Earth.

"It is in this regard that, pleading my greater experience, I would like to offer you a few suggestions. Now that you are finally allowed to frequent different departments of work as a preliminary stage of apprenticeship, try to curb, as much as possible, all impulses of mere curiosity. Don't be like a moth, fluttering about from light to light.

"I realize that the sense of intellectual search is very strong in you. As a studious physician, always in quest of new discoveries and problems, it wouldn't be difficult in your present position to drift along undesirable channels. Remember that there are many lessons to be learned far more precious and beneficial than mere analysis of things. Even a healthy curiosity, may, at times, be dangerous. Resolute, loyal spirits may overcome these obstacles and accomplish edifying tasks, but the timid and inexperienced ones may encounter pain and bitterness.

"Clarence has offered you a permit to visit the Ministries, beginning with Regeneration. Instead of giving vent to your curiosity, study the different lines of activities with searching attention, and lend a willing hand at the first opportunity should you be offered a chance to render a service, however humble, in this Ministry. Don't worry about acquainting yourself with the routine of the other Ministries. Try to gain the goodwill of all those around you, bearing in mind that the spirit of investigation should always be second to the spirit of service. To pry into one's neighbors' occupations without possessing the due credentials of good service might be considered a great impertinence. Numerous failures in material achievements have their roots in such anomalies. Everyone is ready to be a spectator, yet rare are those willing to accomplish something. Nothing but edifying work endows the spirit with the indispensable merit to claim any new prerogatives.

"There is plenty of hard work in the Ministry of Regeneration, because the lowest region of our spiritual colony is located there. All groups of generous entities entrusted with the most arduous missions are recruited from its working staff. But those lowly tasks are in no way humiliating. Remember that in all our planes, from the Earth to the highest spheres in the most spiritually evolved zones, in relation to the planet Earth, the greatest worker is the Master Jesus Himself, and He wasn't ashamed to wield a heavy saw in a carpenter's shop. Minister Clarence has kindly allowed you to learn, analyze and appreciate these values, but you may, as a wise worker, convert this period of observation into a stage of useful service. Those in authority may justly refuse a request for some special line of work whose practice is legitimately reserved for those who are duly qualified for it through great efforts and much suffering, but they will most certainly accept cooperation of the spirit of goodwill, from those anxious to serve in any capacity."

These words, spoken in an affectionate motherly voice, sank into my heart like soothing balm. Seldom in my life had I met such a deep, brotherly interest for my fate. Deeply affected by this wise exhortation, I listened with moist eyes. As if anxious to temper the seriousness of her warning, Laura added encouragingly:

"The ability to begin anew is one of the most sublime lessons we may learn. Very few indeed are those who fully understand it and extremely rare are the incarnate men who distinguish themselves in that line. We must remember, however, the name of Paul of Tarsus. A learned member of the Sanhedrin, and the hope of his people and enjoying an enviable position in Jerusalem, one day retired into the desert to begin his human experience again as a humble weaver."

I could no longer contain myself and took both her hands in mine like a son, and covered them with my grateful tears. Lysias' mother, gazing into the distance spoke softly:

"I am also grateful, my brother. I believe you weren't brought into this house by a blind stroke of fate. We are all bound by secular ties of affection. I shall soon return to the physical sphere, but we shall continue united by the bonds of our hearts. I hope to see you busy and happy before my departure. Please remember that this house is your home. Work with good cheer and put your trust in God."

I raised my eyes to her kind face and experienced the joy that is born of a pure spiritual friendship. I had the impression of having known her as a devoted friend for a long time, although I tried in vain to place her among my earliest recollections. Grateful, I felt like kissing her again and again, but just then there was a knock at the door. With a look of maternal affection, Laura said:

"It must be Raphael coming for you. Go now, my friend, and think of Jesus. Work hard for the good of others. It is the only way of finding your own."

Chapter 26 NEW PERSPECTIVES

Turning over the wise suggestions of Lysias' mother in my mind, I left with Raphael certain that I was about to begin, not the prospective visits of observation, but a term of apprenticeship and useful service.

I noted with surprise the imposing beauty of the new district we passed through on our way to where I was to be introduced to Minister Genesius. I was not in my usual inquisitive mood – I experienced instead a form of mental activity which was new to me – and I followed Raphael in silence.

Rapt in fervent prayer, I besought Jesus to assist me in these new ways, so that I might not lack work and the strength to accomplish it. Adverse as I had formerly been to the practice of prayer, I now turned to it as a valuable sentimental mainstay to my determination to serve. From time to time, Raphael cast a curious look at me, as if he did not expect such an attitude on my part.

The airbus stopped in front of a large building and we descended in silence. In a few minutes we were shown into the Minister's office. Genesius was an affable old man, whose countenance revealed uncommon energy. Raphael introduced me kindly.

"Oh, yes!" said the gracious minister, "So, this is our brother André?"

"At your service." I answered.

"Laura has told me about your coming. Please, don't stand upon ceremony."

Meanwhile, Raphael respectfully took his leave and gave me an encouraging handshake. He left hurriedly, as he was urgently expected at his work. Genesius then turned his clear eyes to me an said:

"Clarence has already mentioned you with interest. The Ministry of Assistance frequently sends us groups of its residents on visits of observation, which, as a rule, are transformed into periods of service."

I understood his subtle allusion, and replied:

"That's exactly what I greatly desire. I have prayed for the Divine Forces to assist my feeble spirit, so that my stay in this Ministry might also be converted into a period of apprenticeship."

My words seemed to have touched Genesius; therefore, availing myself of the moment, I begged hem:

"Worthy Minister, I realize now that my passage through the Ministry of Assistance was due exclusively to God's mercy, perhaps in answer to my devoted mother's constant intercessions. But I also realize that up to the present moment I have received innumerable benefits without offering the least useful retribution. Surely my place is here amidst the redeeming activities. Please, if possible, let my permission to visit be transformed into the possibility to serve. Now I understand as never before the urgent necessity of redeeming myself. I have wasted too much time in useless vanities and misspent a tremendous amount of energy in ridiculous self-worship."

He noticed that I was speaking sincerely. When I had asked Clarence for work, I was not yet clear on what I wanted. I had certainly wanted to work, but perhaps not to serve. I had not yet realized the value of time, or learned to appreciate the sublime blessing of opportunity. I suppose the truth of it was that I really wished to continue being what I had been until then the proud and respected physician, a slave to my preposterous claims of self, imprisoned within my own opinions. Now, after all I had seen and heard, and realizing the responsibility of each child of God in the infinite scheme of Creation, I gave utterance to the best there was in me. At last I was sincere; I was not in the least worried about the kind of work I was to do, but really anxious to carry it out in the sublime spirit of service. He looked at me with questioning eyes.

"Are you really the former doctor?"

"Yes, I am." I answered timidly.

Genesius was silent for some time before speaking, as if adjusting himself to my unexpected attitude.

"Your resolutions are most praiseworthy." He said at last,  "May the lord help you to adhere to them."

And, as if anxious to raise my spirit with new hope, he continued:

"When the disciple is ready, the Father sends the master. The same occurs with work. When one is willing to serve, he never lacks opportunities. In your case, my friend, Divine Providence has been extremely generous. You are eager to serve, you understand your responsibility and accept your duty. Such attitude is undoubtedly leading you to  the accomplishment of your wishes. On the physical plane many applaud the person who attains financial prosperity or an outstanding position. Here, however, the case is different. To us, comprehension, effort and sincere humility are the things that really matter."

Sensing my anxious expectation, he added:

"It's quite possible for you to obtain work. However, for the time being, it would be wiser for you to frequent our numerous departments, and to observe and study their different activities."

Then he contacted the next office saying aloud: "I should like to see Tobias before he goes down to the Chambers of Rectification."

In a few minutes, a gentleman with pleasant manners came into the room.

"Tobias," exclaimed Genesius courteously, "here is a friend who came from the Ministry of Assistance for a period of observation. I believe a visit to the Chambers of Rectification would be greatly beneficial to him."

I offered the newcomer my hand, which he grasped firmly, saying affably:

"At your service."

"Take him with you," continued the Minister kindly,  "André must become thoroughly acquainted with our different activities. Please see that he is granted every available opportunity."

"I am on my way there now," Tobias added obligingly, "if you wish to accompany me..."

"Certainly." I answered eagerly.

I took my leave of the Minister, who addressed me with further inspiring words of encouragement. Then I resolutely followed Tobias, and together we walked along great city blocks, whose numerous building gave me the impression of busy centers of work. Perceiving my silent questions, my new friend informed:

"These are the great plants of the Astral City. Here, over one hundred thousand spirits are employed in the preparation of juices and in the manufacture of woven goods and all kinds of commodities, while working at the same time at their own rehabilitation and enlightenment."

I a few minutes we entered an imposing building. After crossing long galleries where numerous workers hurried to and from, we came to a monumental stairway leading to the lower floors.

"Let's descend." Said Tobias gravely. Noting my surprise, he added solicitously:

"The Chambers of Rectification are located closer to the Lower Zone. On first arriving in the Astral City, the unfortunate entities who are lodged here cannot bear either light or open air.

Next chapters: 27 & 28.