We continue the methodical study of the Pentateuch Kardec, which focuses on the five major works of the spiritual doctrine, in the order they were first published by Allan Kardec, the Encoder of Spiritualism.
The answers to the questions presented, founded in the 2th edition published by FEB, based on translation of Anna Blackwell, are at the end of the text below.
Questions for discussion
A. What is the cause of death in the organic beings?
B. How can we define the spirits?
C. Spirits have a specific way?
D. What is most important in the order of things: the world of spirits or the corporeal world?
Text for reading
56. The cause of death in humans is the depletion of organic bodies. You can compare death to the cessation of movement in a disarray machine: if the body is sick, life is gone. (L.E., 68 and 68-A)
57. The vital fluid gives all parts of the body an activity that allows them to communicate among themselves, in the case of certain injuries, and restore functions momentarily suspended. But if the essential elements of the functioning of the organs were destroyed or deeply modified the vital fluid cannot pass them to the movement of life, and be killed. (L.E., 70)
58. The quantity of vital fluid is not the same in all organic beings. This amount is exhausted and may become incapable of entertaining life, if not renewed by the absorption and assimilation of substances that contain it. (L.E., 70)
59. The vital fluid is passed from one individual to another. One who has a greater amount can give it to that has less and, in some cases bring back a life about to be extinguished. (L.E., 70)
60. Intelligence is not attribute of the vital principle, because plants do not live and think. Its source is universal intelligence. (L.E., 71 and 72)
61. Instinct is a kind of intelligence. It is a non-rational intelligence, and he is by all beings meet their needs. (L.E., 73)
62. The instinct is always there in individuals, regardless of intellectual progress, but the man neglects it. The instinct can lead man to the good, because he never makes mistakes. (L.E., 75)
63. The reason, as opposed to instinct, is not always an infallible guide because sometimes it is distorted by poor education, pride and selfishness. Instinct is not rational, reason allows man to choose, giving you free will. (L.E., 75-A)
64. Spirits, intelligent beings of creation, are intelligent principle of individualization, as corpses are individualization of the material principle. Are unknown, only the time and manner of such training. (L.E., 79)
65. The creation of the Spirits is permanent, which means that God never ceased to create. (L.E., 80)
66. The existence of spirits no end. (L.E., 83)
Answers to questions
A. What is the cause of death in the organic beings?
The extinction of the organs. Death can be compared to the cessation of motion of a machine in disarray, because if the machine is poorly assembled, the motion ceases if the body is sick, life is extinguished. (The Spirit’s Book, question 68.)
B. How can we define the spirits?
Spirits are the intelligent beings of creation, which populate the universe, outside the material world. (Work cited questions 76 to 79.)
C. Spirits have a specific way?
For us, the incarnate beings, not; for them, the disembodied, yes. The Spirit is for us like a flame, a flash or sparks an ethereal, whose color ranges from dark colored and opaque to a bright color, which the ruby, as the Spirit is more or less pure. (Work cited questions 88-91.)
D. What is most important in the order of things: the world of spirits or the corporeal world?
The spirit world, which pre-exists and outlives everything, is the principal. Strictly speaking, the world body could even cease to exist or never existed, without changing the essence of the spirit world. But while independent, is the constant correlation between them, because on each other incessantly react. (Work cited issues 85 and 86.)
