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The objective of
this book is to
soften the fear
of the physical
death to us all
and disseminate
spiritist
concepts that
would help to
comfort us in a
difficult time.
It also
emphasises the
true reality of
life, trying to
open our eyes as
immortal
spirits.
O Consolador:
How did you
decide which
texts to use and
its sequence?
We decided to
select the texts
due to something
that happened in
Ecuador. One of
our colleagues
got completely
lost due to the
physical death
of her son
during a simple
procedure. She
was so afflicted
that during six
months she could
not due
something other
than starring at
her son’s
picture. We
decided to send
her a few
articles we
wrote about
Death and
Immortality and
the result was
quite positive.
She was able to
come out of this
crisis. We then
realised we
could turn this
into a book,
since it
consoled this
lady and would
be able to
console other
people as well.
O Consolador:
You have
approached the
concept of
immortality
according to the
Spiritist
Doctrine in your
book. You seem
to be concerned
of offering
console to the
ones who lost a
family member.
Would you be
able to share a
bit more with
us?
It is such a
good comfort for
us to have
access to the
Spiritist
Doctrine... Spiritism
reveals facts
and testimonials
from the reality
of a spiritual
world which
proves the
immortality of
the soul.
O Consolador:
What is the best
way for us to
prepare
ourselves for
death?
The practice of
rectitude during
the earthly
life, and a
clear conscience
are the
conditions which
lead us to get
ready for the
physical death,
according to THE
SPIRITS’ BOOK;
question 165.
O Consolador:
What would you
say to the ones
who have doubts
regarding the
concept of
immortality?
To the sceptics
I would suggest
to their pride,
presumption and
arrogance aside
and study the
spiritist
concepts in a
humble and
unprejudiced
way. Let’s
remember the
medical council
was against the
existence of
micro-organisms
until the
microscope
proved its
existence. Death
could be
considered to be
the microscope,
as it reveals
the immortality
of the soul.
There is no need
for us to wait
for it to start
believing: we
just need to get
to know the
Spiritist
teachings that
analysed
spirits’
phenomena.
Léon Denis
explains in his
extraordinary
book Life and
Destiny
(Original title:
Le Probleme
de l'etre et de
la destine -
French): In
the face of so
much phenomena
established by
experimentation,
in face of
accumulated
testimonials
from all
quarters, no
clear-seeing
intelligent mind
can deny the
proof of the
survival of the
soul, or elude
the moral
consequences and
responsibility,
which follow
that fact…
Christianity has
for its point of
departure
phenomena
similar to that,
which in our day
constitute the
proofs in the
domain of
psychical
research: facts
revealed through
the influence
and actions of a
spiritual
country of
souls. Through
these facts, and
only through
them, do we
behold a pathway
opening into
infinity, and
hope is born in
anguished
hearts, and
humanity is
reconciled with
death.
O Consolador: Is
it possible to
overcome the
fear of death?
We are, in
general, afraid
of the unknown.
Death causes
great fear in
many people!
This is a
natural feeling,
and is even
related to the
instinct of
conservation. We
all have this
instinct innate
on us, but it is
also worsened by
the fact that we
were ingrained
in a
Judaic-Christian
way of viewing
life that would
consider death
the end of
everything. As
soon as we
understand the
spiritual
destination of
the living
beings, the fear
starts to
disappear.
Allan Kardec
approaches this
issue in a very
clear and
objective way on
the book “Heaven
and Hell”, 1st
part, chapter
II: The fear
of death is at
once a proof of
the wisdom of
Providence and a
consequence of
the instinct of
self-preservation
that is common
to all living
creatures… The
certainty of a
future life
gives another
direction to his
thoughts,
another aim to
his activities….
The fear of
death diminishes
in proportion as
we obtain a
clearer
anticipation of
the future life;
it disappears
entirely when
that
anticipation has
become a
certainty... The
Spiritist
Doctrine of life
changes entirely
our views of the
future. The life
to come is no
longer a
hypothesis, but
a fact; the
state of the
soul, after
death, is no
longer a matter
of theory, but a
result of
observation.’
O Consolador:
What would you
say to the ones
who are dealing
with the
physical lost a
dear relative?
I would send
them my
solidarity,
appreciation and
warm regards. I
would also
suggest the
reading of the
Gospel
According to
Spiritism. I
would highlight
Chapters V and
VI, where the
content is quite
consoling for
those hearts
that are in
pain. It is very
beneficial to
pray for those
who returned to
the spiritual
world and for
those who
stayed.
O Consolador:
How can we
conceive the
binomial
immortality/reincarnation?
We should
actually
consider it to
be a trinomial:
Immortality,
Communicability
of the Spirits
and
Reincarnation. These
elements
highlight the
consoling
aspect of the
Spiritist
Doctrine, as it
gives us the
assurance ‘God
is not the God
of the dead, but
of the living’.
It proves life
continues after
the physical
death.
O Consolador:
What really
happens after
the physical
death?
We are taken to
a place in the
spiritual world
after the
physical death
which will be in
accordance with
our spiritual
progress. We
will need to be
faced with our
work, as Jesus
said according
to Matthew’s
Gospel: ‘For the
Son of Man is
going to come in
his Father’s
glory with his
angels, and then
he will reward
each person
according to
what he has
done’ (Matthew
16:27). It is
evident the
support and care
will be
available to
those who
deserve it. The
practice of
rectitude during
the earthly
life, and a
clear conscience
will be made
available to
each individual
in the spiritual
world.
O Consolador:
How can we
convince
ourselves we are
immortal
spirits?
We convince
ourselves we are
immortal spirits
by the study,
the rational
faith, logic…
Jesus was the
standard-bearer
for the concept
of ‘empty
grave’. He was
the one who
taught us the
physical body is
the one that
gets destroyed;
but we are
immortal living
beings. Why
would we doubt
His teachings?
O Consolador:
Can you please
give us your
final words?
I would like to
give my warm
regards to all
readers and
invite them to
study seriously
and continuously
the Spiritist
Doctrine. This
Philosophical
way of seeing
life fills us
with happiness,
strengthens our
faith and gives
us the right
orientation for
our life. It
also explains in
a clear and
reasonable way
our origin and
destiny: where
we come from,
what we are
doing here and
where we are
going. It
teaches us to
work constantly
without
demanding
anything in
return. It
teaches that
without Charity
there is no
salvation; this
is what will
allow our
spiritual
progress.
The Spirit of
the Truth gave
us the following
instruction:
‘Love one
another, that is
the first
precept; educate
yourselves is
the second’.
Within
Christianity you
will find all
the truths.
There is no
reason for us to
fear death as it
is just a
transition to
another plan of
life since we
will just be
continuing with
our spiritual
evolution. I
hope our book
can help console
the hearts of
those who are in
pain and miss
their beloved
relatives who
passed away.
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