In this issue, we continue the study of the book, Spiritism in its simplest expression, published in 1862 by Allan Kardec. The present work is based on the translation into Portuguese made by Salvador Gentile. 

Preliminary issues 

A. Why is fortune said to be a more difficult test than poverty?

The Spirits consider that fortune is a more difficult test because it is a temptation to abuse and excess, and because it is more difficult to be moderate than to be resigned. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits). 

B. Is charity a greater virtue than is commonly thought? 

Yes. It is not, as many people think, the act of helping, of giving alms, because charity can be expressed through thoughts, words and deeds. To be forgiving of the faults of others is a facet of charity in thought. Not saying anything that might harm your neighbor is part of charity in words. To help our neighbor, as we can, is what features charity through acts. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits). 

C. The so-called dead are more alive than we are?

Yes. According to the instructing Spirits, those we consider dead are more alive than we are, because they see what we do not see, hear what we do not hear, and therefore have a broader view of life and of the problems that affect us. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits). 

Text for reading 

152. Let each one pray according to his own convictions and the way he understands let it be the most convenient, because form is nothing, thought is everything; sincerity and purity of intention are essential; a good thought is worth more than many words, which resemble the noise of a mill and where the heart is nowhere. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

153. God made men strong and mighty to help those who are weak; the strong one that oppresses the weak is cursed by God; he often receives punishment in this life, without prejudice to the future. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

154. Fortune is a deposit of which the possessor has but to enjoy it, since he does not carry it with him in the tomb; he will give a severe account of the employment that he has made of it. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

155. Fortune is a more difficult proof than misery because it is a temptation to abuse and excess, and it is more difficult to be moderate than to be resigned. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

156. The ambitious one, who triumphs, and the rich man, who enjoy material pleasures are more to regret than to envy, because it is necessary to see the return. Spiritism, through the terrible examples of those who lived and who come to reveal their fate, shows the truth of this word of the Christ: "He who rises will be lowered, and whoever lowers himself will be elevated". (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima  extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

157. Charity is the supreme Law of Christ: "Love one another as brothers, love your neighbor as yourself, forgive your enemies; do not do to others what you would not like to be done to you"; all this is summed up in the word charity. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

158. Charity is not only in alms, because there is charity in thoughts, words and deeds. Charity is to have forgiving thoughts regarding the faults of your neighbor; Charity in words is to say nothing that could harm your neighbor; Charity in actions is to do everything you can to help your neighbor.  (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from  the Teachings of the Spirits).

159. The poor man, who shares his piece of bread with a poorer man than himself, is more charitable and has more merit in the eyes of God than he who gives of his superfluous, without depriving himself of anything. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

160. He, who has feelings of hostility, hatred, jealousy, holds a grudge against his neighbor is not charitable; he lies and calls himself a Christian, and offends God. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

161. Men of all castes, of all sects, and of all colors, are all brothers, for God calls you all to Him; therefore, reach out to one another, not minding how each one worships Him, and do not cast an anathema, for an anathema is the violation of the Law of Charity preached by Christ. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

162. With selfishness, men are in perpetual struggle; with charity, they will be at peace. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

163. You can assure your happiness in this world, if you make of charity the base of your foundations; according to the words of Christ, it alone can secure your future happiness, because it implicitly encloses all the virtues which can lead you to perfection. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

164. By practicing true charity, as taught and practiced by Christ, there will be no more selfishness, pride, hatred, jealousy, or slander; no unhealthy clinging to the material goods in this world. This is why the Christian Spiritism has the maxim: OUT OF CHARITY, THERE IS NO SALVATION. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

165. Those, who do not believe, can laugh at the Spirits, mock those who believe in their manifestations; if you dare, laugh at this maxim, which He has taught us and which is your own safeguard, because if charity disappeared from the Earth, men would tear each other apart, and you would perhaps be the first victims. The time is not far off when this maxim, openly proclaimed in the name of the Spirits, will be a proof of safety, and a title of trust in all those who carry it engraved on their hearts. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

166. One Spirit said: "Mock the spinning tables; you will never mock the philosophy and morals that originated from them”. In fact, today, we have distanced ourselves, after only a few years, from these first phenomena that served as an instant distraction to the idlers and the curious. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

167. This morality, you say, is old-fashioned: "Spirits should have enough spirit to give us something new" (witty phrase of more than one critic). So much the better! If it is old-fashioned, this proves that it is of all times, and men are guilty only for not having practiced it, because there are no true truths but those which are eternal. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits).

168. Spirits come to call you, not through an isolated revelation made to a single man, but by means of the voice of the Spirits themselves, who, in the same manner as the final trumpet, come and proclaim to you: 

"Believe that those you designate as dead, are more alive than you, for they see what you do not see, they hear what you do not hear: acknowledge those who come to you, your parents, your friends, and all those whom you have loved on Earth and who you believed were lost without return; unfortunate are those who believe that everything ends with the body, because they will be cruelly disappointed, unhappy are those who lack charity, because they will suffer what they have caused others to suffer! Listen to the voice of those who suffer and come to tell you: - We suffer because we did not acknowledge the power of God and doubted His infinite mercy, we suffered from our pride, our selfishness, our greediness and all the evil passions we do not repress; we suffer from all the evil we have done to our fellow men by forgetting charity". (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits). 

169. Unbelievers! Can you say that such a Doctrine that teaches things like this is to be laughed at? Is it good or evil? Considering it only from the point of view of the social order, would you say that the men who practiced it, would they be happy or unhappy, better or worse? (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Maxima extracted from the Teachings of the Spirits). 

The End