Leonardo Machado Tavares:

“It is not up to us to convert people to Spiritism, but to raise better individuals”
 

The young confrere Leonardo Machado Tavares (picture) started really young in the Spiritist works. Born and raised Recife (PE), the youngster, which is about to graduate from the Medical School in Pernambuco, was born to Spiritist parents and since he has been working in activities connected to the Spiritist Group Investigadores da Luz (NEIL). Currently, Leonardo speaks in lectures and writes his own songs, having already released four CDs. Besides travelling to the cause of Spiritism, He takes part in Spiritist meetings in his hometown and helps  with   articles   in   various  Spiritist

journals, like this magazine, where he has been a valuable asset.

In his opinion, the Spiritist servers have worked hard spreading the word about the Doctrine, as he says in the following interview where he also talks about other interesting topics. 

O Consolador: How did you start off in Spiritism?

I started off in Spiritism helping Campanha do Quilo (food campaign) and also preaching the Gospel to kids, when I was 13. At 15, when I studied music at Conservatoire Pernambucano of Music, I started writing several orchestral songs inspired in the Spiritist Doctrine, finishing the Symphony n.1 in C minor – “The evolution of worlds” (for the orchestra) – in which, in early 2006, I had the opportunity to release an album. At 17, I gave my first lecture. I also had the opportunity to become the monitor, for some time, of the Systematized Study of the Spiritist Doctrine (ESDE).

O Consolador: In the Spiritist scene, what else have you been doing?

I deliver Spiritist lectures, conferences and seminars, not only in Pernambuco, but also Ceará and the UK, in London. I write songs with Spiritist techniques and I have already released four albums since 2006. I also help with Spiritist articles to various Spiritist and non-Spiritist journals, such as the magazine Reformador; The International Magazine of Spiritism, Jornal do Comércio from Pernambuco and to this very magazine- O Consolador. We write Spiritist books, having released our first “Quando a Terra imita os céus” – at Saraiva bookstore in Recife in June/07, and there are others in the making. I established in 2004 a group called Grupo União Carlos Gomes, where I teach classical music emphasized to Spiritism, for free. We also work through psychography and mediumistic appointments, at Núcleo Espírita Investigadores da Luz, currently in charge of the programs at the Spiritist centre as a director.

O Consolador: Is it true you were born to Spiritist parents? 

Yes. I had the opportunity, along with my elder brothers, to be born to a Spiritist family, since my folks have been Spiritist for over 30 years. We have also been linked to the Spiritist group Núcleo Espírita Investigadores da Luz (NEIL) since we were kids, by the way, this year the group is turning 70 years old. 

O Consolador: From the three aspects of Spirtism – scientific, philosophical and religious –, which one is more appealing to you? 

As I consider the Spiritist Doctrine wonderful, I like the fact it can actually explain these three aspects. I would not be able to say which of them I like best, because I love science – Genesis was certainly the book that called my attention the most. I Love philosophy, having written a book in which I compare Socrates to the Spirtitist teachings, and it is going to be released soon; and I admire Jesus and His message. To me, Spiritism is the Christianity reborn. So, this triad of the Gospel of Jesus has been really meaningful in these 150 years. 

O Consolador: What are your favourite Spiritist authors? 

Allan Kardec, Léon Denis, Emmanuel, André Luiz, Victor Hugo (by Divaldo and by Zilda Gama), Manoel Philomeno de Miranda and Joanna de Ângelis. 

O Consolador: What are the most important books for those who are starting off in Spiritism? 

Allan Kardec’s books; the classic ones, mainly Léon Denis and Gabriel Delanne; Brazilian Spiritist Federation (FEB) series “A vida no mundo espiritual” (Life in the spiritual world), by André Luiz; “Paulo e Estevão” and “A caminho da Luz” (In the search of light), by Emmanuel; and “Devassando o Invisível” (Understand the invisible), by Yvonne A. Pereira. 

O Consolador: If you went to a distant place, away from Spiritist activities, which books would you take? 

Allan Kardec’s, the Bible and some books by Léon Denis. 

O Consolador: The disagreements in the Spiritist scene are reduced to a few. One of them talks about the fundamentalist Spiritism. To you, is Spiritism a religion? 

I agree with Allan Kardec, who wrote the books. Spiritism is not in fact a religion, since there is no hierarchy, nor boss; but, without a shadow of a doubt, it has a strong religious character, because all its function is to spiritualize the individual and reconnect him to the Creator. One can never forget, though, that the Spiritist Doctrine is Christianity back at its sheer purity and strength in our lives and in our hearts. 

O Consolador: Another topic of controversy is a book written in France y J. B. Roustaing. What do you make of it? 

Unfortunately, I haven’t read this book, since I was so young; I preferred to start from scratch, which is Kardec, when I was 13, my first Spiritist book ever.

O Consolador: What is your opinion about standardized passes? 

I see the passes as something taught in the Gospel of Jesus, when in several opportunities, through the imposition of hands, He would give his love and heal. It’s worth it to remember that in certain occasions He would apply passes not even moving His hands, when He told Pedro, for example, that, having touched someone, He felt a virtue, something special. This way, the most important is not the exterior, but the interior. Passes are donation of bioenergy, of love. So, many times, too much embezzling is actually ineffective. It does not mean that, inside the Spiritist Centre, passes are applied with no orientation nor technique by the passer, but that the technique must be really simple, just like was Jesus’.   

O Consolador: What can you make of the discussion about abortion?

I have been following the Brazilian Spiritist Federation (FEB) and the Association of Spiritist doctors of Brazil, as well as names of the Brazilian Spiritist scene, such as Divaldo Franco, Alberto Almeida and Raul Teixeira, and all of them have an utter principle in defending life. Particularly, I think that what is actually missing is our personal effort to give our opinions when the opportunities come by, based on Kardec, obviously. However, never imposing on anyone. Sometimes, we get confused and impose things and also judge them. And it can be dangerous. The most important is not to doom abortion and condemn those who practice it, but above all defend life itself. Jesus once said: “I came for ye to have life, and life shall ye have”. That’s what we need to show: after a while full of doubts joy of life will ease any pain. In this context, it is necessary to make the teenagers aware, where lies the accidental pregnancy, discussing their questions and fears. To give youth, according to their level of maturity, opportunities of work in the Spiritist Centre. Bring them to work for the good so that the energy they possess abundantly may be well focused. This is also a great work on behalf of life. 

O Consolador: Euthanasia, as we know, has no support from Spiritism. Lately, we have heard about the orthanasia, backed even by Spiritist doctors. What do you think about it? 

Euthanasia would be the “good death”; a disthanasia, making life longer needlessly. Orthanasia appeared being the death “right on time”. It is hard to tell when one should die, isn’t it? Again, we need to defend life, trying to improve it until the last second, be cautious, do not impose your desires on the patient, study death to get acquainted with it, face it as a natural law and, above all, don’t play God. 

O Consolador: What is your opinion about the current state of the Spiritist movement in our country? 

Since it is made up of people, sure there are mistakes. Nonetheless, I can see that the good things have been overpowering, by far, the bad ones, that are little by little being forgotten, as years and fads go by. We actually need a real union, common sense, do not judge others, respect, love and charity to one another. In this sense, FEB (Brazilian Spiritit Federation) has been outstanding, teaching by example. How can one be pessimistic before the relentless work of so many servers on behalf of Spiritism in our country and the world? 

O Consolador: How do you see criminality and violence in our country? How can Spiritists help in this situation? 

We are going through a transitional period. As for us, we can increase the assistance and the social promotion of our Spiritist Centres, not only by donations, but also with spiritual clarifying, showing that love and forgiveness taught by Jesus are possible. It is not up to us to convert people to Spiritism, but to raise better individuals in our society, even though we need to do it in the light of the Doctrine, by being reasonable with what we preach. Besides, the most important is to build inner peace and harmony in our homes and our relationships, teaching by example. 

O Consolador: How long do you think it will take for Earth to be promoted from his current status, world of tests and atonement, to the condition of regenerating world, according to Saint Augustin, the word love will be written in all fronts and a perfect balance will ensure relationships? 

It is nearly impossible to precise a date, especially due to the relation space-time. I hope it is in my next reincarnation. 

O Consolador: About the problems that the earthly society is facing, what should be the top priority for Spiritism in Brazil and the world? 

I would like to answer – EDUCATION – written in gold. But in the wake of the current scenario, we first need HONESTY. Not only for the politicians (even though they should lead by example), but for all the voters, who, many times, vote for their personal interest. Also for all those who are dealing with public money; all the entrepreneurs who look for huge profits; to sum up, for all those who, just as Machiavelli, think that the ends justify the means. Honesty urgently, remembering “Yea, yea; Nay, nay” taught by the Master Jesus.