Allan Kardec, the Incarnate Modesty

From an early age I learned to admire Allan Kardec. As soon as I began to read his books, I was struck by his belief that the Spiritist work was not his, but belonged to the Spirits who conceived it.

Allan Kardec’s intellectual honesty made me have a glimpse of his moral and material detachment regarding everything that might have benefited him from this work.

Just as he warned the mediums not to brag about the material they received from the Spirits – which belonged to them - he also did not feel entitled to take credit for the content of the books he published.

Evidences of his talent

Despite this sincerely modest attitude of Kardec, everyone knows his real importance in the construction and development of the extraordinary philosophical doctrine - Spiritism.

There are several evidences of his talent throughout the work of Codification, in which he analyzes, reflects, contests, refutes, always in the interest of clarifying doctrinal principles, so as to avoid, as far as possible, false interpretations - all with logic, respect and moderation.

If, on the one hand, he asked the Spirits to give instructions and advice on the progress of certain issues, and also to receive them spontaneously, on the other hand, the conception of the doctrinal structure and the organization of the work were his sole responsibility. This is the case, to mention an example, of the Spiritist Magazine. He consulted the Spirits and was guided to found the periodical, about which he later said; (…) "The Magazine is a personal work, the responsibility of which we assume entirely and by which we should not, nor do we want to be hindered by any strange will; it is designed according to a determined plan to compete for the goal we must attain".

Kardec made a huge effort and edited the first issue with great success. According to the Spirits' prediction, the editions had continuity and for many years under his direction they kept the "public informed about the progress of this new science", preventing it "against overstatements, both caused by excessive credulity and by skepticism".

His experience, his method, the scientific criteria he adopted, associated with his knowledge, his power of philosophical argumentation, rationality and intrinsic love for humanity, all this made his friend astronomer Camille Flammarion say, at his tomb, that he considered Kardec "the good sense embodied". This opinion is endorsed by all those who thoroughly study Spiritism.

The humbleness of the great souls

Modesty led Allan Kardec not to believe that he could be invested with the important missionary role that some Spirits had assigned to him. Even because, according to him, there were so many others who possessed talent and qualities that he did not have. After the confirmation of the Spirit of Truth concerning his mission (June 1856), Kardec says: "If therefore I am destined to serve as an instrument to the views of Providence, may it dispose of me. In this case, I claim for your assistance and that of the good Spirits" (my highlights).

The Spirit of Truth then gives him careful instructions and warns him about the terrible struggles and sacrifices he will face in performing the risky mission. And Kardec, in a demonstration of faith, trust, and humbleness: "Lord! If you have deigned to look upon me, to fulfill your plans, may your will be done! My life is in your hands; have your servant. For such a high commitment, I acknowledge my weakness. My good will shall not fail, but it can betray my strength. Supply my shortcomings, and give me the physical and moral strengths that are necessary for me. Support me in difficult times and with your help and that of your heavenly messengers I will endeavor to meet your purpose. Thank you for the wise counsel, Spirit of Truth. I accept everything, without restriction, nor reserved thinking" (my highlights).

Great souls are modest. Kardec demonstrated this by humbly acknowledging the superiority of the Spirit who identified himself as The Truth and who helped and protected him throughout the implementation of Spiritism on Earth. Kardec gratefully wrote: "The protection of this Spirit, whose elevation I was far from evaluating at the time, never left me. Its solicitude, and that of the good Spirits at his command, extended to all the circumstances of my life, both in relation to material difficulties, to make my work easier and to preserve myself from the malevolence of my enemies".

Parcimonious habits

Of very simple habits, Allan Kardec led a controlled and modest life. In response to a slanderer who published lies about his personal life, claiming that he had enriched himself with Spiritism, Kardec writes a lengthy text where, among many explanations, he gives information about his private routine: "Whoever once visited my house and who visits me today can attest that nothing has changed in the way I live (...). We live, my wife and I, just as before. (...) We have always had to live modestly, although what for some would have been little, it was enough for us, thanks to our tastes and our parcimonious habits".

A lover of a calm and secluded life, Kardec, due to Spiritism, found himself involved in a whirlwind of commitments and relationships that prevented him from remaining anonymous as he intended at the beginning, when he idealized The Book of Spirits.

It was no longer possible for him to maintain his previous pace, as the new jobs created new demands on time and resources. Understanding the importance and extent of his obligations, he embarked on extra intellectual tasks in continuous vigils, with which he paid with his own resources much of the setup needs of the Doctrine. This gives us the measure of his detachment and the extent of the consciousness he had about the historical moment he lived for which he had been summoned to take on greater responsibility.

"That was the work of my life – said Allan Kardec later - I consecrated all my time, sacrificed my rest, my health, because the future was written before me in irrefutable characters".

The universal man

Over the centuries, many advanced and even Higher Spirits have reincarnated on Earth to aid the progress of men. They bring missions to their people, to their race, to the country where they reincarnate, and their humanitarian contribution ends up serving as an example for the whole world. They become reference values ​​of immense meaning such as love, justice, fraternity, and moral integrity.

As for Kardec, he addressed all mankind, inasmuch as he revealed, under the guidance of the Superior Spirits, the world of Spirits and their relations with the world of men, and the important consequences of this knowledge for the human race.

In What is Spiritism, the Encoder says: "The discovery of the Invisible World has much more scope than that of the infinitely small; it is more than a discovery, it is a revolution in ideas”. Expanding this realization of Kardec, the illustrious thinker Deolindo Amorim states: "Without a doubt the discovery of the Invisible World imposes an total revolution in ideas, which allows to understand the resistance that certain scientists demonstrated in the acceptance of the Spiritist phenomena, as this would cost them the overthrow of the materialistic building in which they have settled"¹.

With Spiritism, Allan Kardec became the "universal man," as Andre Moreil, one of his biographers called him, delivering to the world a universalist Doctrine.

The cause for which he devoted his life was inspired by the Spirit of Truth: "Love and study." His greatest desire was to "contribute to the propagation of the truth". He raised the banner of freedom, equality and fraternity high, while establishing charity as a principle of "salvation".

Kardec opens his heart

In a document found in his papers, after his death, Allan Kardec gives an intimate testimony, in a text full of feeling, where he opens his heart and shows how the true Spiritist should think and act. With a fair and truthful narrative, Kardec reveals his humanitarian thoughts: "I do well, as much as my conditions allow; I render the services I can; the poor have never been thrown out of my house or treated harshly, but are always welcomed with kindness. I never hurt the steps I took in favor of someone. Many parents were taken out of prison due to my efforts".

Speaking of ingratitude, of which he was often targeted, he says in this same text: "Ingratitude is one of the imperfections of humanity and since there is no one exempt from them, it is necessary to relieve others so that they may come to us in order to be able to say with Jesus Christ: “Let him who is cleansed of guilt throw the first stone”. I will continue to do what is good for me, even to my enemies, because hatred does not blind me".

Serious men respect Kardec

A Spirit of this moral character must be known and his work studied by all. Spiritists especially those who have easy access to this unmistakable philosophy of love and truth, cannot miss the unique opportunity to deepen this knowledge.

Allan Kardec is respected by serious men. Known names in world culture and science took advantage of the paths opened by him to carry out studies and conclusive experiments in favor of Spiritist theses. Not only did Flammarion eloquently praise the master, but also the philosopher Leon Denis and many scholars from so many countries followed his thought.

Gabriel Delanne, a tireless researcher of spiritual phenomena, faithful and loyal to the principles of the Doctrine, wrote: "By replacing blind faith in a future life, by the unshakeable certainty resulting from scientific findings, such is the invaluable service rendered by Allan Kardec to humanity". This "service" provided by Kardec simply represents the definitive disruption of modern thought with today's unsustainable dogmas, which can no longer continue to delay the progress of humanity. Spiritism struck in materialism, in unbelief and in human pride.

In the same line as Delanne's thought, here in Brazil, among many examples of respect to Kardec, I found a testimony of the Spirit Guaracy Parana Vieira - a Spiritist leader in the State of Parana - by the psychograph of Divaldo Franco, who expressed himself about the Encoder : "In a time of cultural transition and the affirmation of science, he remained faithful to his commitment to Jesus, contributing to the liberation of creatures by offering them the resources of the laboratory and of thought set on the moral foundations of the Gospel".

With all the qualities of a good man, and considering the greatness of his work on Earth, Allan Kardec must be seen as a benefactor of mankind. No one will ever regret to study his works with good will, without any prejudice and with an effective disposition to grow as a person.

¹ Deolindo Amorim (Spirit), Spiritism in motion, psychographics by Elzio Ferreira de Souza, "Fidelidade a Kardec", Circulus Publisher, Salvador, Bahia, 1999.

References:

Allan Kardec, Posthumous Works, trans. Bezerra de Menezes, LAKE, 17th edition.

Allan Kardec, Spiritist Journey in 1862, trans. Wallace Leal V. Rodrigues, The Clarim, 2nd edition.

Allan Kardec, Spiritist Magazine, November 1864, trans. Julio Abreu Filho, Edicel, 1st edition.

Andre Moreil, Life and work of Allan Kardec, trans. Miguel Maillet, Edicel, 1st edition, 1986.

Guaracy Parana Vieira (Spirit), Profiles of Life, psychographics by Divaldo P. Franco, chapter 1, LEAL, 1992.

Allan Kardec, What is Spiritism, Second Dialogue, "Opposition of Science," FEB, 1973.

Translation:
Eleni Frangatos - eleni.moreira@uol.com.br