Advanced Study Group of Spiritism

EDITORIAL

TEXTS

The name learned behavior is used to designate changes that occur in behavior as a result of the experience of the individual organism. There are several types of learned behavior: Imprinting is a type of behavior that although learned has an innate mechanism. Imprinting is acquired during a specific and limited period of the organism’s life. Ducklings, for instance, will identify as their parent (protector) and similar species individual any moving and calling object that they see from the moment of their birth to a very short period after. From then on they will follow the object to wherever it moves. Imprinting lasts for the whole life of the individual. This kind of behavior is called imprinting because it looks as if the behavior was imprinted forever on the organism. Only less evolved species are subject to imprinting. Habituation is when there is a reduction in a previously shown response to a stimulus when no reward or punishment follows. If a watchdog hears a strange sound it becomes alert. If the same noise keeps happening at the same time and under the same conditions, the watchdog will get used to it after a certain amount of time and will no longer become alert when it hears the noise. Classical conditioning consists in associating a pre-existing response to a new or substitute stimulus. It’s important in modifying Fixed Action Patterns so that the animal can more precisely adapt to environmental circumstances. If a dog’s owner rings the bell before serving its meal, the dog will be conditioned to salivate whenever it hears the bell although the sound of a bell has nothing to do with food. Operant conditioning or trial and error learning is that which involves modifying pre-existing responses or creating new responses to stimuli. It happens for instance when the animal learns which foods are tasty and which are not. Examples of tests designed to evaluate if the animal is able to learn by trial and error are mazes where the animal has to find its way to a food it likes. Once the animal succeeds in finding the food it usually memorizes the solution and from then on always goes straight to the food, showing to have learned a logical and visual sequence. Insight learning is a kind of behavior that undoubtedly requires intelligence since the animal has to analyze the situation, examine which elements are available and then create an entirely new solution to achieve its aim. An example of this behavior is when a chimpanzee stacks crates underneath a reward that has been put out of its reach so that it can reach it. Another one is when a New Caledonian crow bends a wire with its beak in order to get food placed inside a tube after having seen another crow achieve the same aim making use of the only hooked wire available.

When a beaver builds a dam, for instance, it’s assumed that the dam building solution is a fixed action pattern. The knowledge that dam building is a good solution to provide a deep enough lake so that it can build its lodge protected from predators and its food cache reachable in winter, when the surface of the lake is frozen, is something present in the genetic memory of the species, according to scientists or in the soul’s memory of the species, according to the Spiritist understanding. However, both the realization that the depth of lake needs to be increased as well as the wisdom needed to choose the material that will be used to accomplish this task and to build the food cache and the lodge were learned by trial and error when the animal was an adult but surely some learned earlier from the animal’s parents.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

SPIRIT MESSAGES

Where love is, God is, and where love is, joy is. The highest spirits of life are in harmony with this great design for living. If our way is troublesome and obscure, God’s love gives us strength and guidance within.

Do you believe in immortality? Then be of good cheer. Believe it or not, you live in the beyond even when you live in your earthly body.

Pessimistic man likes to close his eyes to shut out the light, and to visualize in darkness. In the world, you have pain and tribulation, but God is on your side. You do not work alone. You know this.

A problem becomes difficult only when you suppose it is hard. Visualize a definite goal, exactly what you want to do. Believe in yourself; help yourself. When we accept God’s blessing, life abounds with peace and happiness within us and around us.

If you make mistakes, begin again. Be constructively self-critical. Do not disturb yourself. Carry with you joy and strike out ahead. Keep an open mind. Your thoughts are important, very important.

There is no darkness with power over light.

God speaks to you through voices of good conscience. Be calm, but be active. Do not waste time. Be a volunteer who acts, who gives and receives. Be sure of your effort and give your complete attention to accomplishing it. Help and you will be helped.

SPIRIT WORLD

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

The festive atmosphere still prevailed at the Ministry of Regeneration despite the departure of the Governor and his closest advisors. There was much talk about the ceremony just over, and hundreds, in response to the appeal of our spiritual leader, were volunteering for the strenuous work of defense. I sought Tobias to consult him about the possibility of my following their example, but my generous brother smiled at my innocence and said:

"André, you are just beginning a new job. Don't be in a hurry to ask for more responsibilities. The Governor has just told us that there will be work for everybody. Don't forget that our Chambers of Rectification are centers of active work both day and night, and that as thirty thousand workers will be detailed for permanent vigilance, there will be great gaps in the rear guard which will have to be filled somehow."

Perceiving my disappointment, my kindly companion added, good-humoredly, after a short pause:

"Cheer up. You can always enroll yourself in a course against fear. Believe me, it will do you a lot of good."

Meanwhile, Lysias, who had come to the festival in the delegation from the Ministry of Assistance, sought me and with Tobias' permission I followed him for a quiet talk.

"Have you met Minister Benevenutus, of Regeneration?" He inquired, "The one who has just arrived from Poland?"

"I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure."

"Let's go to find him, then. I'll introduce you to him." Lysias continued, sharing with me the vibrations of his great brotherly heart. "I've had the honor of counting him among my personal friends for a long time."

In a few minutes we found ourselves in a large green park where Benevenutus usually worked. Several groups of visitors were talking here and there under the wide-spreading trees. Leading me to the largest gathering where the minister was exchanging impressions with several friends, Lysias introduced me with kind references. Benevenutus welcomed me amiably and cordially included me in his circle. As the conversation proceeded, I noticed that the topic under discussion was the situation on Earth.

"So painful, the scenes we witnessed. Accustomed as we are to peace in America, none of us had imagined the tremendous difficulties in the work of spiritual aid on the battlefields of Poland. All is darkness and difficulty there. One cannot expect sparks of faith either from aggressors or from the majority of victims, who give themselves up entirely to hideous impressions. Our incarnate brothers offer us no help whatsoever, but merely consume our strength. I must say that, since the beginning of my work, I have never seen such terrible mass suffering."

"And did the delegation remain there for long?" One of those present asked with interest.

 "As long as we could". Replied the minister, "The head of the expedition, our colleague from Assistance thought it advisable that we apply ourselves solely to the task so that we might take full advantage of the opportunity. I'm afraid we are far from possessing the extraordinary capacity of resistance of those devoted spirit workers on duty there. All the first-aid service are working efficiently there, in spite of the suffocating atmosphere, saturated with destructive vibrations. The battlefield, invisible to our Earthly brothers, is a real hell of indescribable proportions. Never does the human spirit show so ostensibly the conditions of a fallen soul, with all its diabolic features, as in war. I saw intelligent and cultured men apply themselves with the utmost care to localizing districts of peaceful activity to carry out what they call 'direct hits'. Bombs of high explosive power destroy the patient labors of years. The pestilent emanations of hatred mingled with the poisonous fluids of guns render any service of aid almost impossible. However, what distressed us most was the pitiful conditions of the military aggressors. As they were cut off from their fleshly forms, most of them passed over under the influence of the forces of darkness, and ran away from missionary spirits, calling them all 'ghosts of the cross'.

"And weren't any rescued?" Someone interrupted. The minister answered significantly:

"It will always be possible to help peaceful lunatics in their home, but what can we do with the furiously insane but shut them up in an asylum? There was nothing to be done with such entities but leave them to the abysses of darkness, where they will, in due course, be compelled to change their mental attitude, and open their minds to a new trend of thought. So it's only just that the assistance patrols limit their rescue to those with some probability of assimilating help from above. Thus, my dear friends, you see that on every account our observations were sad indeed."

Availing himself of the pause in the conversation, one member of the group remarked:

"Lack of religious preparation, my friends". Declared Benevenutus, "A cultivated intelligence is not enough. Man must, above all, enlighten his spirit in things eternal. All creeds are holy in their fundamentals and their representatives only carry out a divine mission when they teach the Truth of God. They'll never be able to quench the spiritual thirst of civilization if they drift into political or worldly channels. Without the divine breath, religious personalities may inspire respect and admiration, but never faith and trust."

"But what about spirit communication?" Someone asked abruptly, "Didn't its first manifestations take place in America and Europe over fifty years ago? Isn't that new movement continuing to spread the eternal truths?"

Benevenutus smiled, and gestured, and went on explaining:

"The Spiritist Doctrine is our great hope, and in every respect the Comforter for incarnate man, but its progress is still very slow. It is a divine gift, which most men haven't eyes to see, as yet. An overwhelming percentage of new adepts approach the divine source still under the influence of old religious vices. They want to reap its benefits, but are unwilling to give anything of themselves. They invoke the truth, but don't go in search of it. While the studious ones reduce mediums to mere human guinea pig, numerous believers act like certain patients who, though completely healed, believe more in sickness than in heath, and never come to stand on their own feet. In a word, over there, they're after materialized spirits for the performance of transitory phenomena, whereas here we spend our time looking for spiritualized men to carry out serious work."

The minister's play on words brought a good-humored response from his listeners.

"Our task is really astronomical, " he resumed gravely, "however, we must bear in mind that every man is a divine seed. Let's undertake our mission with hope and optimism, for if we do our share to the best of our power, we may rest assured that God will do the rest."

Chapter 44  THE DARK REGIONS

Adding to the happiness of this reunion, Lysias surprised me with his great culture and sensitivity. He played some old songs expertly on his zither, reminding me of music on Earth. What a wonderful day! More spiritual joys followed in succession, as if we were in heaven. When at last I found myself alone with my kind friend from Assistance, I tried to tell him of my impressions.

"Have no doubt," he said, smiling, "that when we are in the company of those we love, something comforting and constructive goes on inside us. It's the nourishment of love, André. When souls join in the pursuit of some common interest, their thoughts mingle, forming centers of living forces through which, from the general vibration, each member of the group will receive his share of joy or suffering. That's why, on the planet, environment is such an important factor in every man's life. Wee shall always feed on what we cultivate. If we give in to feelings of sadness, we shall become slaves of them. If we are unduly absorbed by the ideas of sickness, we shall suffer their consequences. There's no mystery. It's a law of life which works for good or evil. Wherever an atmosphere of brotherhood, hope, love or joy prevails, we shall carry with us a share of those feelings. On the other hand, when we shall leave a gathering where inferior tendencies of selfishness, vanity or crime predominate, we carry the destructive vibration of those feelings."

"You're right!" I exclaimed. "I can see that life in earthly homes is equally ruled by these principles. Whenever there is mutual understanding, life becomes a fore state of heavenly bliss, but if misunderstandings and unkindness prevail, home becomes a real hell on Earth."

Lysias agreed with a smile. I then took the opportunity to ask about something which had been puzzling me. The Governor, in his address, had mentioned the spheres of Earth, the Shadowy Zone, and Darkness. I had never heard any mention of Darkness previously. I wondered whether that Dark Region could be the Shadowy Zone itself, where I myself had spent several wandering in dense shadows. Weren't there numerous deranged entities and patients of all sorts from the Shadowy Zone in the Chambers? Remembering that Lysias had given me some valuable information about my own condition on my arrival in the Astral City, I told him of my doubts and questions. With a noteworthy expression on his face, my friend explained:

"We call the lowest regions we know 'Darkness'. Let's consider all the creatures as travelers in life: a few of them advance resolutely on the way towards the essential object of the journey. These are already spiritually evolved and, conscious of the divine essence within themselves, they progress without hesitating towards their sublime goal. Most, however, linger along the road. Numberless souls spend centuries repeating the same experience. While the former advance along straight lines, the latter travel along the same circular path. Thus failing, recommencing, and failing again, they are exposed to endless vicissitudes. Many will go astray in the forest of life bewildered by the labyrinth they have themselves traced. To that class belong the millions of beings wandering in the Shadowy Zones. Others, because of their selfish thoughts, walk in the dark and will often fall into precipices where they will remain for an indefinite time. Do you see now?

The explanation could not have been clearer. Impressed by the length and complexity of the subject, I went on with my questions:

"But what about those falls? Do they only happen on the Earth? Are only the incarnate likely to be hurled into abysses?"

After a moment's reflection, Lysias replied:

"That is a good observation. Wherever he is, the spirit may hurl himself into the abysses of evil. However, in the higher spheres the defenses are stronger. Therefore the responsibility of the fault committed is also greater."

"Yet," I insisted, "I thought that a fall wouldn't be possible except on Earth. It seemed to me that the divine atmosphere, the knowledge of truth and of higher aid would be infallible protection against the poison of vanity and temptation."

My friend smiled and went on:

"The problem of temptation is more complex. The Earth itself is filled with divine atmosphere, knowledge of the truth, and heavenly assistance. Yet so many fight destructive battles while surrounded by sheltering trees and flowering fields. Many others commit murders by moonlight, insensible to the soothing language of the stars. Others oppress the weaker fellow while hearing around them sublime revelations of truth. Indeed, the Earth doesn't lack expressions of divine presence."

Lysias' words sank deeply into my spirit. It is true that, in general, battles are fought in Spring and Summer when Nature displays its treasures of color, perfume and light on the ground and in the sky, while burglary and murder are preferably committed at night, when the moon and stars involve the Earth in an atmosphere of celestial poetry.  Most earthly tyrants are men of great culture who have turned their backs on divine inspiration. Although my conception about the spiritual fall had changed, my curiosity was not yet satisfied:

"Now, Lysias, could you give me an idea where the region of Darkness is located? If the Lower Zone is connected with the human mind, where is this place of suffering and horror?"

"There are sphere of life everywhere." My friend resumed, "The void is merely a literary image. Everywhere there are living forces and each species of beings moves in a special zone of life."

After a short pause, during which he seemed to reflect deeply, he went on:

"Of course, as happens to most of us, you placed the sphere of life after the death of the physical body in the zones right above the surface of the globe, unaware of those below it. Yet life pulsates in the depths of the ocean and the bowels of the Earth. Besides, the spirit obeys the principles of gravity, just as do material bodies. The Earth isn't only a field of action which we may disregard and misuse at our will. It is a live organization, with certain laws which will either enslave us or set us free, according to our actions. It's obvious that the soul overburdened with faults won't be able to ascend to the surface of the wonderful lake of Life. We must bear in mind that free birds may rise to great heights; those encircled in dense thickets of reeds will find great difficulty in taking flight, and those tied to great weights become mere slaves of the unknown. Do you grasp my point?"

Lysias didn't need to ask that question. All of a sudden, the immense field of the redeeming struggles in the lowermost zones of life seemed to flash before my spiritual eyes. As if in need of carefully weighting his next words, Lysias thought and thought, and then began again: