Echoes from the 1st South American Spiritualistic Congress

Close to 500 people attended the event held in Punta del Este, where an important manifesto was signed by the South American spiritist leaders

Having as the general theme the slogan: “Health and Happiness: Challenges of Science and Spirituality”, the 1st South American Spiritualistic Congress held between October 14th and 16th of this year, together with the 1st Spiritualist Congress of Uruguay, was a great success. The site chosen was the city of Punta del Este, Uruguay, and the entities that promoted the event were, respectively, the Coordination of the International Spiritualistic Council for South America and the Uruguayan Spiritualistic Federation – FEU. FEU’s former president was in charge of both events.

The activities in both events took place at Cine Libertador, with the attendance of around 500 people, worth pointing out that night lectures were also open to the general public, regardless of subscription (pics). The Congresses’ opening ceremony held speeches from Mirta Cal, president of the Uruguayan Spiritualistic Federation; Eduardo dos Santos, congress coordinator; Antonio Cesar Perri de Carvalho, representative of the International Spiritualistic Council – CEI; Fabio Villarraga, Coordinator of CEI-South America; Horácio Díaz lópez, representative of the regional mayor of Maldonado; and Martin Laventure, mayor of Punta del este. The conferences were held by fellow members Antonio Sabino Luna and Gustavo Martinez (Argentina), Moacir C. de Araujo Lima and Antonio Cesar Perri de Carvalho (Brazil), David Ochoa Jara (Peru), Angelica Bedoya (Chile), Fabio Villarraga and Jorge Berrio (Colombia), Eduardo Nani (Bolivia), José Vasquez (Venezuela),  Milciades Lezcano Torres (Paraguay), Marianel Gandolfo and Magdalena Roberto (Uruguay). Attending the congresses and also the IV Meeting of the Coordination of the International Spiritualistic Council (South American branch), which lasted for 2 days, there were representatives of entities associated with CEI from the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguai, Peru, Venezuela and Uruguay. Representatives of Ecuador also attended as visitors.   In the artistic area, there were performances from the choir and dance group from Maldonado and the Dolce Corde group from Brasilia.  It’s worth pointing out that prior to the Congress, there were many lectures taking place in various Centers as well as TV interviews. Here are the links: http://intercei.com ; http://intercei.com/2011/10/ The next meeting of CEI-South America and the 2nd South American Spiritualistic Congress will take place in Asuncion (Paraguay) in October, 2013. Further information at www.espiritismouruguay.com   At the Congresses, the representatives of the South American Spiritualistic Movement have signed an important Manifesto, which came along based on a few movements and actions that have started in Brazil and reached other countries. Here’s the content of the Manifesto, originally written in Spanish:   POINTS TO BE CLARIFIED ABOUT THE SPIRITUALISTIC MOVEMENT  The representatives of the South American Spiritualistic Movement, organized and based on the teachings of Allan Kardec, gathered in the city of Punta del Este, Uruguay, on the 14th and 15th of October 2011, during the 4th Meeting of the International Spiritualistic Council (South American branch), decide to present to all its affiliated institutions the following directives and clarifications in the face of certain circumstances that have currently presented themselves on both national and international levels, creating conflict, division and diversion from the main essential objectives of the Spiritualistic Doctrine. In this sense, CEI respect every individual’s freedom of thought and free will; it’s not, however, in its interest to censor or discriminate other existing movements; nevertheless it is its duty, in philosophical, statutory and legal terms, to defend and promote, among other things: I. The fundamental principles and teachings of the Spiritualistic Doctrine, transmitted by Superior Spirits and codified by the renowned French pedagogue Allan Kardec, contained in the books that comprise the aforementioned Codification. II. Guard the coherence, ethics and prestige of the Spiritualistic Ideal at both national and international levels and in all its connotations, expressions and presentations, especially concerning its methods and forms of study, practices, basis and interpretation of the Doctrine by means of the Institutions and their workers and sympathizers, in order for it to always retain its purity in the directives offered by the Guides of Mankind and shaped in the basic and complementary works of the Codification.  BACKGROUND  Regarding the essence and purity of the Spiritualist Doctrine, the encoder Allan Kardec in his fundamental works and the Guides of Mankind in the complementary works, warn with striking clarity about the effects and circumstances that would lead to the weakening and deviation of Spiritualists from the true objective of the ideal, “the moral law”, in the following terms:	Público presente na abertura
	Palestra de abertura com a presidente da FEU
	Eduardo dos Santos, coordenador do Congresso
	Representantes de dez países
	Apresentação do Coral de Maldonado
	Apresentação do Grupo Dolce Corde
	Palestra de Anonio S. Luna (Argentina)
	Palestra de Moacir C. Araújo Lima (Brasil)
	Palestra de Cesar Perri (Brasil)
	Palestra de Milciades Lezcano (Paraguai)
	Palestra de Jorge Berrio
	Equipe da F.E. Uruguaia

First: “Some will openly attack Spiritualism in words and in actions and will even prosecute its followers, trying to discourage them by the means of intrigue, whilst others, illicitly, by indirect means, will try to undermine them in an insidious manner. Rest assured that the fight is not over. I’m aware they will try hard; but fear not, as the guarantee of success lies in this divide, which is the one of every true spiritualist: Outside charity there’s no salvation. Hold it up high, for this is the Medusa head for the selfish.” (Allan Kardec. Spiritualist Magazine – Journal of Psychological Studies. Year 5, No 2, February 1862).

Second: “The tactics applied by the enemies of Spiritualism, which will be used with renewed vigor, is to try to create a rift by creating divergent systems and raising distrust and jealousy among us. Do not allow yourselves to fall into this trap, and rest assured that the one, who seeks, by whichever means, to break the good harmony, cannot be motivated by good intentions. Here’s why I urge you to be very cautious when forming your groups, not only for your peace of mind, but also in the interest of your works.” (Allan Kardec. Spiritualist Magazine – Journal of Psychological Studies. Year 5, No 2, February 1862). 

Third: “The nature of the works of Spiritualism demands calm and privacy. Well, there’s no possibility of privacy if we are distracted by arguments and the expressions of evil feelings. If there’s fraternity, there won’t be feelings of hostility; but there can’t be fraternity among the selfish, ambitious or proud. With the proud who are shocked when not granted supremacy, and the selfish who only think about themselves, the rift won’t take long to set in, and along with it, dissolution. That’s what the enemies would like to happen and that’s what they’ll try to do.”  (Allan Kardec. Spiritualist Magazine – Journal of Psychological Studies. Year 5, No 2, February 1862).

Fourth: “I must call your attention to another tactics of our adversaries: to try to undermine spiritists by misleading them from the true objective of the Doctrine which is the moral, to approach matters that are beyond their competence and that could, by all means, bring up vulnerabilities and distrust. Also, do not allow yourselves to fall into this trap, carefully steer away from your meetings everything that has to do with politics and other annoying issues; in this case, an argument won’t lead to anything and will only bestir, as long as nobody questions the moral, if it is a good one. Seek in the Spiritism whatever can improve yourself, here’s the essential.(…)” (Allan Kardec. Spiritualist Magazine – Journal of Psychological Studies. Year 5, No 2, February 1862).

Fifth: “Let’s speak candidly and state clearly that there are obstacles which are useless trying to overcome and they continue more because of pride and self interest than conviction; it’d be useless to bring them about; they’ll only recede with the power of public opinion. Let’s recruit supporters among people of good will, who are aplenty; let’s increase the numbers of those who are, weary of the uncertainty and frightened by materialistic nothingness, only trying to believe, and soon their numbers will be so staggering that others will finally surrender to the evidence. This outcome is already being manifested, wait and see, very soon, within your ranks, there will be those you only expected to see last.” (Allan Kardec. Spiritualist Magazine – Journal of Psychological Studies. Year 6, No 3, February 1863).

Sixth: “In our frequent conversations with the mentors, we always noticed their natural concern with incarnated associates, bearers of responsibilities in the spiritual realm, and are mislead by useless quarrels and unjustifiable debates in the defense of doctrinarian points of view, taking different turns, overlooking the essential in favor of the secondary. On the other hand, I notice that this passionate behavior, in the spiritual realm and in a small number of workers, becomes more noticeable and grievous in the social behavior that involves the masses, and the game of interests take up unpredictable proportions, leading individuals to aggressiveness and to violence, therefore releasing high loads of inferior passions, which stem from egotism. The faithful and firm dedication to any cause is always a great challenge to man, especially for it demands tolerance when dealing with the ones who don’t share his opinion (…).” (Manoel Philomeno de Miranda. Divaldo Pereira Franco. Trails of Liberation. Chapter Reflections and Expectations.)

Seventh: “A truly free man is conscious of his responsibilities, and does not need anything to carry out the high duties he undertakes. It becomes essential a real knowledge, that comes from meditation and the observation of statutes in order to keep marching with the necessary uplifting towards victory. This was certainly the idea that Jesus had when He advised to seek the truth that will set you free.” (Manoel Philomeno de Miranda. Divaldo Pereira Franco. Trails of Liberation. Chapter Works of Disobsession.)

Eight: “(...) In a private meeting with the leaders of the groups, the program to be applied in every directive was described in every detail.” “First: Men, as redefined by the new Lord of Darkness – are sexual animals that get satisfaction from pleasure. They should be stimulated to exhaustion, taking advantage of their tendencies, and when they get weary lead them to abuses and aberrations. (…) “Second: Narcissism is egotism’s favorite son and the father of pride and vanity, inherent to human beings. To foment presumption in the modern schools of Spiritualism, giving rise to fascination, is a point of utmost relevance for the disastrous fall of the ones who desire to preserve the ideals of freedom and growth. (…) “Third: Power prevails in human nature. Reminiscent of aggressive, arbitrary and overbearing instincts, it expresses itself in many ways, without disguise or concealment, exploiting the ones who are subdued by it as well as despising them at the same time, by the subservience they are subject to, and hating the competitors and the indomitable, for reflecting its shadow. (…) “Fourth: The money which buys lives and enslaves souls will also be a decisive recourse. The greed for riches, even if disguised, overcomes false humility, and comfort softens up the character, discouraging sacrifices. (…)”(Manoel Philomeno de Miranda. Divaldo Pereira Franco. Trails of Liberation. Chapter The Wizards of Darkness.)

Ninth: “The question that arises concerns the rifts that may grow in the heart of the Doctrine. Will Spiritualism be safeguarded from them? No, certainly, for it will have, especially at the beginning, to fight individual ideas, always downright, tenacious and stubborn and blend in with other people’s ideas; and also against the ambition of the ones who, despite everything, try to have their names attached to whichever innovation; or the ones who create innovations just to say that they don’t think or act like everybody else, for their self-love hurts when they occupy a secondary position. If, however, Spiritualism cannot escape human weaknesses, with which it has to deal constantly, it can nevertheless neutralize its consequences, and this is a must. (…)  (Allan Kardec. Posthumous Works – Second Part, The Schisms).

Tenth: “(…) brothers must realize, more and more, the spirit of service and resignation, solidarity and goodness that Jesus has bequeathed us with. (…) A troubled world requires, effectively, transformative action. (…) let’s unite on the same path of love, labor, assistance, education, solidarity, valor and sacrifice that marked Christ’s communion with men, serving and hoping for the future, in his example of self-denial, for us all to be one, in sublime tune with the will of the Supreme Lord”. (Emmanuel. Francisco Cândido Xavier. In the name of the Gospel, psychography, from 1948. At: Orientações aos Órgãos de Unificação, FEB: Rio de Janeiro, 2010.)     

DIRECTIVES AND CLARIFICATIONS 

Based on the resounding warnings left by the eminent Master of Lyon and the Guides of Mankind, we urge all affiliated Spiritualistic Institutions, workers and supporters of the ideal, to be warned of the following, and take caution, permanently and decisively against:

First: All persons, groups, associations or movements which show the signs of” superficial Spiritism”, namely, and are only superficially grounded in the teachings of Allan Kardec, openly exposing new conceptions or practices that, by common sense and logic, are driven away from the doctrinarian principles and directions. Having strategically and tactically penetrated many different areas, both nationally and internationally, they are apparently supported by Spiritualistic principles, however presenting and advertising fundaments, theories, activities and practices that are contrary to the teachings and purposes of the Spiritualistic Doctrine.

Second: Reinforce strict vigilance and verification in the acquisition and study of works, which are supposedly channeled by Superior Spirits, by both individuals and institutions. Their content incorporates both spiritualistic and non-spiritualistic approaches, breeding confusion and feelings of guilt. They also show distorted psychological characteristics and personalities of renowned Spirits, who are recognized by their missionary work in the spreading of the Spiritualistic Doctrine.

Third: The International Spiritualistic Council and the affiliated Spiritualistic Movements of South America performing as recognized doctrinarian and legal entities, offer clarifications, orientations and representations before any of the noted aspects. However, the Presidents of the respective affiliated Federations, as well as the leaders and workers of Spiritualistic Institutions, must guard the fulfillment of their directives and continually inform or, if necessary, request information and orientation regarding the afore mentioned warnings, always trying to clarify, guide and resume our objectives as a movement, which is going towards unification and consolidation, under the motto: “Labor, solidarity and tolerance”.

Fourth: The recommendation regarding the movements that are not coherent with the guidelines of the International Spiritualistic Council – CEI is to show respect, however, without commitments or support, urging leaders of the Spiritualistic Movement to occupy spaces in the sense of stimulating the study, the practice and the diffusion of Spiritualism, based on the Kardecian Codification. 

Cordially,