Gebaldo José de Sousa

Life, Always life! “Oh Death, where is your spur?” I Corinthians 15-55.

Somerset Maugham - quoted by Eli Brasiliense, a writer born in Goias in Brazil - refers to an Eastern legend that illustrates the fatalism of death and the futility of fearing it.

In the city of Baghdad, a dealer sends a servant to the market to buy food. Moments later, he returns terrified, asking for a horse to escape towards the city of Samarra, because he saw Death in the crowd, looking at him and making a threatening gesture. The boss gives him the horse and he leaves the city quickly.

The boss, himself, also went to shop and he too came across Death and asked it:

- Why did you threaten my servant?

To which Death answered, innocently:

- I?! I did not threaten him! I was only surprised to find him in Baghdad, since it was arranged that I should meet him tonight in Samarra. (1)

Fear and doubt about survival have always disturbed the human being. Over the millennia, thinkers and philosophers have looked upon this theme.

The Doctrine, from the second half of the nineteenth century onwards, clarified this matter, confirming afterlife, by means of testimonials of those who called themselves Spirits, stating they had lived on this Earth in carnal bodies, besides revealing several truths that man did now know and proving others, such as: the existence of God, reincarnation, the successive lives, the Law of Cause and Effect, and so on.

Allan Kardec, the Encoder of this Doctrine, approached this matter in detail in the book Heaven and Hell or Divine Justice According to Spiritism (2), the first edition being published on August 1, 1865, in Paris, France.

After our disembodiment, we will have joy or suffering. If we loved and learned, we will be happy. If we were proud, selfish, ignorant and evil, we will suffer.

After death occurs, the disconnection is never abrupt

In the second part of the work to which we refer, entitled "Examples", Kardec focuses on the issue from various angles, in eight chapters:

1 - The extinction of organic life separates the soul from the body: and this separation is never abrupt. It is only completed when there is not one atom left of the Perisprit connected to a molecule of the body (item 4, page 167).

2 - If during the separation the bond between these elements is at the peak of its force, death is painful. Thus, usually the Spirit suffers with the decomposition of the body in tragic deaths: accidents, murders, suicides, etc.

3 - If the bond is weak, separation is easy and with no difficulty: death by old age or due to a long illness (item 5, page 168).

4 - In this transition from one life (body) to another (spiritual), the Spirit is in turmoil. It experiences a torpor that paralyzes its faculties: "It's like a state of catalepsy, so that the soul almost never consciously witnesses the last breath".

This turmoil can last indefinitely, ranging from a few hours to a few years. The release of this state is the same as when one is in deep sleep and wakes up; the ideas are vague, confusing, until the Spirit becomes aware of its condition. The awakening is quiet for some, but "(...) macabre, terrifying and anxious for others, like a terrible nightmare". (Item 6, pages 168/9).

5 - The detachment is more easy or difficult, depending on the moral state of the soul: the attachment to matter, or to material pleasures, makes the separation difficult and it becomes painful and prolonged. "On the contrary, in pure souls, who in advance identify themselves with the spiritual world, the attachment is almost none”. And the bonds break easily (Item 8, page 169). 

There are Spirits that although disembodied, do not know it 

It depends on us therefore, to make this detachment easy or painful. Cleansing, eliminating evil tendencies, letting go of worldly things, suffering with resignation and humility, these are the means to facilitate this outcome, making it painless.

Sometimes the Spirit thinks it is still incarnated: it thinks his fluidic body (Perisprit) is still materialized. It talks to people, one and another, but nobody answers. He gets angry, instead of praying and seeking spiritual help from friends and accepting the fait accompli.

The mentioned work also contains messages from Spirits, classified according to their nature: Happy Spirits; Spirits in medians conditions; Suffering Spirits: suicide; repentant criminals; Hardened Spirits; and many who have gone through terrestrial atonement.

It is worth studying and meditating about this work, since all of us already have a return ticket issued to go to the Spiritual homeland, but ignore the departure date.

The Doctrine is illuminating: to study, and understand it, helps not only us, but the ones with whom we live, and the disembodied too. This is why we Spiritists do not go to the tombs once a year. We pray for the disembodied every day, or whenever we remember them, wherever we are, with no special time or particular location. Love needs no formalities!
In 1936, with the publication of Letters of a Dead, a work dictated to the psychic Francisco C. Xavier by the Spirit of his mother, in her most recent incarnation, brought new and numerous revelations.

In 1944, the FEB (Brazilian Spiritist Federation edits Our Home, by the Spirit Andre Luiz, a psychographic by Francisco C. Xavier, and new reports about life after death are brought to the attention of the general public, in this book and in other similar books. As a reporter, who goes to a foreign land, the author tells of his experience in the spiritual plane.

Numerous books deal with Death and the facts that follow it

In 1949, the FEB (Brazilian Spiritist Federation), with the publication of the book I returned (3), adds new data, not only regarding "Death", but the experiences that follow it.

From 1974 onwards with the book Astronauts Beyond (4), edited by Editora GEEM, private messages of consolation multiplied, from the Spirits to their relatives, not only through the good hands of the medium of the city of Pedro Leopoldo, but by many others.

At the same time, from the 60's onwards, books written by physicians, and psychologists, contributed for the profane side, not religious, through reports obtained from Memory Regression, leading the “sujets” to mention facts occurred in previous incarnations experienced by them as well as by people who have experienced clinical death, for a few minutes. The study of these experiences lived and told by hundreds of individuals, while their clinical death was confirmed, resulted in the publication of numerous works on the intriguing and alluring subject.

The comparison of these reports [Memory Regression and Near Death Experience (NDE) with those of the disembodied Spirits through automatic writing, since the nineteenth century] show an amazing concordance due to the great similarities they present.

Among them, we emphasize those contained in some works: Life Afterlife (5), The Light Beyond (6), Recalling Past Lives (7) Returning from Tomorrow (8), Spiritism and Eternal Life (9) and After This Life (10). 

What the Spirits experience when they disembody

According to several different sources, when the Spirit disembodies, it experiences the following:

1 - It sees itself outside the body.

2 – It does not perceive the transition from this life to afterlife. It goes through a state of numbness, a deep sleep, or fainting and some see a peaceful, friendly spiritual entity before and/or after sleep.

3 – Some experience feelings of peace and quietness, while others of suffering.

4 – It sees itself in a tunnel.

5 – He goes through a flashback of his life in the presence of the Being of Light: he reviews all his last existence, to the smallest detail. He is naked in front of himself. He evaluates his conduct, his thoughts and actions.

"I found myself in front of all that I had dreamed of, devised and performed in life.  Insignificant ideas that I had issued, as well as my minimum acts, paraded, absolutely precise, before my afflicted eyes, as if they were revealed all of a sudden by a strange power in an ultra-fast camera installed inside me. It transformed my thought in a suddenly and mysterious unfolded motion picture, unfolding with astonishing elasticity to its surprised creator that was me."(3)

"In this situation, the person not only sees all his actions, but also and immediately realizes the effects of each of his actions on the lives of others. (...) If I see myself committing a heinous act, (...) I can feel your sorrow, your pain and your grief. (...) If I practice a generous act, (...) I feel your joy and happiness” (6).

6 – He is helped by the Spirits, family and friends; before and/or after the deep sleep.

7 – He feels the effects of what caused the death of the material body.

8 – He becomes aware of his condition and of the new phase of life that is presented to him.
"Death was the best part of the trip." (He refers to the regression.) "To die was like being released, coming back home again". (7)

The near-death experience and its effects on the lives of those who went through it 

The effects are many and diverse:

1 – The person does not fear death anymore. All changes for the better. They now believe in afterlife.

2 - Those who have gone through this experience (of "near-death"), returned believing that the most important thing in life is love.

3 – Sense of togetherness with all things (= interdependence: When we hurt someone we feel as if we have hurt ourselves).

4 - Valuing knowledge: for most of them, the second most important thing in life is to acquire knowledge (6).

5 – They have a new concept of responsibility: "The most important thing I learned from this experience was that I'm responsible for everything I do. Excuses and other subterfuges were impossible while I was there with him (the Being of Light) recapitulating my life”.

6 - Appreciation of life: they claim that "life is precious, and that the “small things” are what counts and that life is to be lived to the full. (...) The simple acts of kindness from the heart are the most important because they are the most sincere. He wanted to know how my heart was, not my head".

7 – They turn to the spiritual side: study and accept the spiritual teachings.

8 – They change their behavior and become:

- More gentle, warm, kind, and have a good sense of humor.

- More detached from material goods.

- More sincere and honest.

"(...) I live my life knowing that someday I will have to submit myself to another review of all my deeds". (6)

"You can give and receive forgiveness. You can break free from vices, addictions, and anger, i.e., of luggage you do not want to take with you to a place where everything is light" (8).

- Work more for the benefit of others; they are more generous and trusting.

- Study more. ("Spiritists love more, so is the first precept! Acquire more instruction, is the second precept") (11).

- More optimistic and more pleasant. It is good to live with them.

- Begin to worry more about the others, listen to them, serve them, and they like to see them happy.

Brother X, in the beautiful chronic "Training for Death," gives us some important tips on the subject. It is important to become acquainted with them (12). 

Facts prove that immortality is unquestionable

Considering the above, we can arrive to certain conclusions:

1 - The state of happiness or unhappiness of the Spirit depends on:

- Being free from material life.

- The moral conduct during the embodied life.

- The level of enlightenment of the Spirit and the faculties and possibilities of the spiritual body.

- Attitudes and behavior of embodied relatives during the funeral and later: prayer, resignation, acceptance.

2 - The immortality of the soul is unquestionable (its continuity is confirmed by regression of memory).

 - Man should not fear death, instead he should live well, being helpful, brotherly, loving, and always studying.

4 - All disembodied are supported by Spirits that were previously their relatives and friends - the rebels, in the future, when they change, even if it takes many incarnations. God does not abandon anyone.

Clearly, Jesus warns us: "(...) the Son of man (...) will reward every man according to his works". (Matthew 16-27).

We have we made of our lives?

Let us learn to value every minute, every opportunity to become useful. We will account for everything in front of our consciousness. Let us seek to be worthy of this everlasting and wonderful gift that God gave us: life! 

Bibliography:

01. BRASILIENSE, Eli. The Death of the Eternal Man, 1st ed. Goiania, Edicao do Autor, 1970, p. 50.

02. Kardec, Allan. Heaven and Hell. 37th ed. Rio de Janeiro: FEB 1991.

03. XAVIER, Francisco Candido. I returned. By the Spirit Brother Jacob. 7th ed. Rio de Janeiro: FEB 1979.

04. PIRES, J. Herculano-Miscellaneous Spirits/XAVIER, Francisco Candido. Astronauts Beyond. 3rd ed. Sao Bernardo do Campo: GEEM 1974.

05. MOODY JR., Raymond. Life Afterlife. Sao Paulo: Book Circle.

06. MOODY JR., Raymond. The Light Beyond. 1 ed. Rio de Janeiro: NORDICA 1988.

07. WAMBACH, Helen. Recalling Past Lives. 1 ed. Sao Paulo: PENSAMENTO 1978.

08. RITCHIE, George G. Back fromTomorrow. 6th ed. Rio de Janeiro: NORDICA 1980.

09. Caversan, Ariovaldo. Spiritism and Eternal Life. 3rd ed. Capivari: EME Editora 1994.

10. ANDRADE, Geziel. After this life. 1 ed. Capivari: EME Editora 1996.

11. Kardec, Allan. The Gospel According to Spiritism. 105 ed. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 1991, p. 136.

12. XAVIER, Francisco Candido. Letters and Chronicles. By the Spirit Brother X. 7th ed. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 1988, chapter 4, pages 21-24.