Cleto Vanderlei Macht Brutes (photo) is from the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. He was born in Giruá and lives in Santo Ângelo, where in 1998 he joined the Spiritist Centre Seara do Mestre (Harvest Field of the Master) and began his studies in Spiritism. His previous contact with Spiritism had been through his father, a medium. Mr Brutes is an accountant, with specialisation in farm management, and he works for the regional Income Tax Office. In this interview he talks about the activities of Seara do Mestre – their focus on education and the study of the Spiritist Doctrine, their website and the newsletter they publish.

O Consolador: You are engaged in teaching and debating the Doctrine at the Seara do Mestre. Has that task changed you in any way?

Whenever we make a commitment we become more responsible. For instance, the study of the Spiritist Doctrine gets another meaning. Those who are in charge of a study group or who seek to propagate the teachings of Spiritism know that they must put the theory into practice. They must leave their own world and engage with the dramas and suffering of others. One must serve without aiming to achieve personal gain, our only goal being doing good to others. Those are the best tools we have in order to evolve and become better Spirits. As we study and learn, our conscience is illuminated, but our hearts will only find peace through hard work. 

O Consolador: How do you assess the development of study groups and the interest not only for the study of the theory, but also for all other activities in your Spiritist Centre? 

I am delighted to say that there is growing interest in the study of the Doctrine. We are increasingly faced with a multitude of personal problems and difficult situations, and the Consoler promised by Jesus provides a safe path for all of those who are willing to get engaged, to study and learn. The Spiritist Doctrine will help us not only go through the difficult challenges of our daily lives, of our existence on Earth, but also to understand, in the light of reason, the need to go through painful experiences, that there is no other way. The more we study the more we feel to go further and learn more. That is why it is so important that all Spirist Institutions organise courses, seminars and conferences. 

O Consolador: Tell us about the newsletter you publish and your experience as an articulist. 

I am proud to contribute to the newsletter published by our Spiritist Centre. The publication is called Seara Espírita. There is a great deal of responsibility involved, like in any other task we commit ourselves to in Spiritism. First and foremost, we bear a responsibility towards our readers. And I feel there is some Spiritual guidance to help me choose the themes I write about. Wanting to write is not enough. One must be in tune with the goals and aims of the Spiritual world, which in effect coordinates all our activities. If the theme is not the right one, the ideas simply will not come up, however interesting that particular theme may seem. 

O Consolador: Tell us about your experience as a mediator in sessions where you have the presence of disincarnated spirits. 

Each task we perform in a Spiritist Centre is a valuable opportunity to learn. In our meetings, we learn from the experience of the disincarnated Spirits who come and tell us about their suffering. It works as a sound warning for all of us not to make the same mistakes. The words from those spirits remain engraved in our souls and encourage us to pursue the Good path. I would like to recommend a book on that subject, entitled “Falando com os Espíritos” (“Talking to Spirits”), by our friend Américo Sucena (www.mythoseditora.com.br). Another interesting point from those encounters is finding out that incarnated and disincarnated spirits are suffering for the very similar reasons. Incarnated and disincarnated alike are experiencing pain because they have not able to forgive, they have been careless, they have succumbed to addiction and the illusion provided by the pleasure of physical sensations. They have the remorse from their bad deeds and from the good deeds they could have made. In other words, they have all failed to live according to the Gospel of Jesus. 

O Consolador: What would you like to say about the Seara do Mestre’s website – the maintenance, reaction, interaction etc.? 

Our website is www.searadomestre.com.br. It has become like a database with articles, messages and material for study. All the material published there is available under “Articles” and “Live Better”. There is also a link for multimedia material, where the user will find about 50 lectures on Spiritism, excellent material on family issues and a vast research archive, particularly useful for those engaged in the evangelisation of young people and children. The feedback we get has been very positive. 

O Consolador: What do you think should be the qualifications of volunteers working in Spiritism? 

It is crucial that those working in Spiritist are well prepared and trained for the activities they perform. We are getting an ever increasing number of people who come for help at all Spiritist Centres and who expect more and more from us. The mere will to serve and help is no longer enough. We need to be prepared to offer a high quality service, following the principles of the Doctrine, with the aim of providing sound information as well as comfort and console. I believe we need to get better training methods for our workers, with films, videos, and professional assistance. We must not lose the good atmosphere we enjoy, but we must provide the tools which will allow those who come to us to become better people at work, in their families, in their social lives, and, therefore, in the Harvest Field of Jesus. 

O Consolador: What has been the demand for such training? 

As I mentioned before, the demand is as good as the quality of the training offered. The more productive and satisfying the activity, the more interest it will generate. The results will show through the number of people attending the courses, the low number of drop outs, through the quality of the lectures, the number of new workers joining our activities and through the level of satisfaction of those who come to our Spiritist Centres every week. 

O Consolador: Your group, Seara do Mestre, is known for having a busy schedule, with a great number of services offered. What keeps the group so motivated and working together? 

Our group began as a study group, and all the other activities have come from there. I would say that the pillars of our blessed school of souls are our learning programmes, hard work, an inclusive and participative management style, strict discipline to the principles of the Spiritst Doctrine and the fact that our workers are constantly learning new skills and improving. 

O Consolador: How much do you share with other Spiritist Centres in the region? 

As our group – Seara de Jesus – follows strictly the principles of the Spiritist Doctrine, we have become a source of inspiration for other groups. The groups’ directors work, above all, in order to strengthen the wider Spiritist Movement.  All our actions and initiatives are coordinated with the city’s directive organ (UME), so that the other groups can join and participate. 

O Consolador: What else would you like to add? 

My friends at Seara de Jesus: let us forget our personal differences and our individual interests so that we can work together for the cause we have embraced – regardless of the group we work for. Let us love each other like Jesus taught us. 

O Consolador: Please, your final thoughts… 

I thank you for this opportunity. We must be aware that the path lying ahead is not one of joy and happiness only. We will face very difficult periods, illnesses, losses, but we must know that the challenges come to us for a reason: to test our determination and the strength of our principles. We should not be contented with what we already know, with what we have already achieved. We must continue to study and learn, so that little by little we become the tools our Spiritual Friends need in order to assist so many who have not yet been fortunate enough to find the light of Spiritism.