In this issue, we end the study of the book, Practical Instructions on Spiritist Manifestations, work published by Allan Kardec in 1858. This work which we suggest you read, refers to the edition published by “Casa Editora O Clarim”, and is based on Cairbar Schutel’s translation.
Questions for discussion
A. Can Spirits predict the future?
B. Can the use of psychic powers be paid for?
C. Why does Kardec propose that, when studying Spiritism, we should start by the theory - and practice later?
Reading text
154. The spiritual world has as many varieties, intellectually and morally, as Humanity; we can even say: much more. (Chapter IX, page 177).
155. Until recently the fate that was reserved, was for us the object of simple theoretical teachings. The Spiritist manifestations uncover this fate and make us change it through exciting typical examples, the reality of which cannot be doubted. (Chapter IX, page 178).
156. If the evocation of the Spirits of illustrious men and of Higher Entities is eminently useful to teach us, those of the ordinary Spirits is not the least because they show themselves in their inferiority, and the smaller the distance that separates them from us, the greater we identify ourselves with them and with our own situation. (Chapter IX, page 178).
157. They often offer us specific features of the highest interest, and we add that it is in this circle, in some intimate way, that the identity of the Spirit appears in the most undeniable way. (Chapter IX, page 179).
158. The way of asking and coordinating the questions, is a key issue, as we mentioned before. There are numerous illustrations in this regard in the articles published in the "Spiritist Magazine", under the title of "Family Conversations from Beyond the Grave." (Chapter IX, page 180).
159. The knowledge of the Spiritst Science is based on convictions of a moral and a material order. The first is acquired by reasoning, the second by the observation of facts. (Chapter X, page 181).
160. To begin, a careful reading of our works will allow the waiting of the facts, or provide the means that, through the knowledge already acquired, will provoke them, if nothing opposes that. In these "Practice Directions" one will find all the basic principles necessary for beginners. In the "Spiritist Magazine", as well as extensive explanations, a considerable variety of facts and observations will be offered. Finally, in "The Book of Spirits," we have the very teaching of the Spirits of all Metaphysics and Moral issues that relate to the Spiritist Doctrine. (Chapter X, page 182).
161. Its opponents fought Spiritism by calling it ridiculous and classifying its supporters as crazy. This weapon not only proved to be harmless, but began to become ridiculous, as the number of those so called crazy increased throughout the countries. Then they changed their weapons and began to emphasize the dangers that would supposedly result from it. (Chapter XI, page 183).
162. If Spiritism is real, it is because it is in Nature, because it is not a theory, an opinion, a system: it involves facts. If it's dangerous, you need to give it a direction. We do not suppress a river, but we do direct its course. (Chapter XI, page 184).
163. The opponents point out two dangers in Spiritism: a) it would produce a damaging impression on the mental faculties; b) it ruins religion. (Chapter XI, pages 184 and 185).
164. The biggest enemy of religion is materialism. And it has no harsher opponent than the Spiritist Doctrine. Spiritism has already reappointed to Spiritualism many materialists, who until then had resisted all theological arguments. This is what Spiritism does better than discuss: it makes the things happen! (Chapter XI, page 188).
165. Spiritism is thus the most powerful auxiliary of religious ideas, because it gives men the conviction of their future destiny and, as such, it should be welcomed as a benefit to Humanity. It revived in more than a heart the Faith in Providence, it revived hope in place of doubt, recovered a victim to suicide, restored peace and harmony in families, calmed hatred, dampened brutal passions, disarmed vengeance and took resignation to the suffering soul. (Chapter XI, pages 188 and 189).
166. Is it subversive of social order and public order? A doctrine that condemns hatred and selfishness, which preaches selflessness, love of neighbor, without exception of sect or social levels, cannot give place to hostile passions. And it would be desirable for the peace of the world and the happiness of mankind that all men understand and practice these principles: we would have nothing more to fear from each other. (Chapter XI, page 189).
Answers to the proposed questions
A. Can Spirits predict the future?
It depends. Providence was wise hiding the future. This ignorance spares us torments, which we cannot imagine! Not to mention that, if we knew, we would live like the blind abandoned to their fate, abdicating from any initiative. The Spirits themselves do only know what is according to their level of enlightenment; that is why the inferior Spirits in their suffering believe that they will suffer forever. Those, who have knowledge of the future, do not reveal it. They can at best raise the veil that covers it. But then they do it spontaneously, because they believe it is useful, never because of a request of ours. The same is true with respect to our past. (Ibid, Chapter VIII, page 173).
B. Can the use of psychic powers be paid for?
No. Nothing would contribute more for quackery and deception than a similar procedure. If you have seen false sleepwalkers, more false mediums have been seen, and only this reason would be enough to increase the grounds of suspicion. Detachment, on the contrary, is the strongest answer to oppose those who only see in the Spiritist facts a skilled trick. There is no charlatanism free from some kind of interest! Moreover, how can we even think that a Spirit, with some enlightenment, could be at all times at the disposal of a consultation dealer and submit himself to the curiosity of the first to arrive? The Spirits dislike everything that savors greed and selfishness, disregarding the material things. Can we believe that they would help intermediating trade? We would have to know very little of the nature of the Spirit to allow this repugnant thought to cross our minds. (Chapter VIII, pages 174-176).
C. Why does Kardec propose that, when studying Spiritism, we should start by the theory - and practice later?
The phenomena of the purview of Chemistry and Physics can be replayed at will; one can therefore make them move gradually in the eyes of the students, starting from the simplest to the most complex. The same does not apply to the Spiritist phenomena: we do not use them as we use an electrical machine. We must take them as they present themselves, since it is not up to us to determine them in a methodical order. As a result, they are often unintelligible or inconclusive for beginners and therefore can cause admiration unconvincingly.
One can avoid this inconvenience by following a contrary motion, that is, starting with the theory, and this is the process we advise anyone who honestly wants to study. Through the study of the principles of Science - perfectly understandable principles even without practical experimentation - we acquire an initial moral conviction that only needs to be confirmed by the facts. Now, since in this preliminary study all the facts have been passed in review and commented, it results from this that when we see them, we understand them, independent of the order in which the circumstances allow us to watch them. (Chapter X, pages 181 and 182).
