May / June 2016 – no 83 D.Villela CONSEQUENCES We have been
Transcription
May / June 2016 – no 83 D.Villela CONSEQUENCES We have been
SEI: Avenida Passos, 30 - 2o andar - Centro - 20051-040 Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brasil - site: www.boletimsei.com.br - e-mail: [email protected] FEB: SGAN 603 - Conjunto F - Av. L2 Norte - 70830-106 Brasília - DF - telfone 055 (61) 2101-6161 May / June 2016 – no 83 CONSEQUENCES D.Villela We have been used to studying the cause and effect law via Spiritism, observing its interactions in our daily actions. That is how we know that it is not a simple mechanical but, on the contrary; it is a very complex process, as it takes into consideration personal and circumstantial factors, that reciprocally influence each other, and whose actions are, in addition, not limited by time, that is, when faced with the consequences of actions practiced many decades or even centuries ago, these can be affected by different attitudes we have taken on a few days or even mere hours before. Undoubtedly the old religions also knew about those, but only as an undefined concept, distorted by lack of information and superstition (eternal material punishment, impossibility of communication with the dead, the action of demonic beings, etc.). Another significant aspect which the Spiritist Doctrine came to reveal regarding this subject, is the significant amazing influence of the good we do, as its effects are permanent, while the effect resulting from our mistakes are invariably limited, at some point ending, but leaving us with a number of valuable experiences. It is important to understand that this asymmetry is natural, since goodness, expressing an alignment with the divine Laws, will always strengthen itself, whilst evil – the voluntary deviation from these laws – weakens and disappears as the result of the Law of Progress, via our corrective actions and our inner reform. Once again the goodness and wisdom of the Creator is evident, as it causes even mistakes and faults to produce results that contribute to our evolution. In the book “Heaven and Hell,” as well as in other doctrinal works posterior to the main Codification books, this Law is studied in more detail, through carefully analysed examples. There are yet two important aspects to consider. Firstly, when studying Causality – which most people do not considered, even when they have some notion about it, through religious information – we are, within Spiritism, invited to consciously make use of this principle, identifying positive and negative aspects of our own behaviour, with a view to strengthening the first and correcting the latter. On the other hand, although the result of goodness is always happiness, we begin to interpret it in a new way, more consistent with reality that removes us from the traditional, individualistic view, that proposes helping others in order to “enter into heaven,” a heaven full of happiness, rest and the absence of problems. With the Spiritist message we begin to realize that living goodness amplifies our potential for action, enabling us to broaden our scope to hope to spread happiness, joy and peace in the hearts of others, by identifying our own happiness with that of our fellowmen and so applying the divine commandment “love your neighbour as yourself.” “The Gospel According to Spiritism” (chapter 2, item 3). ILNESSES Orson Peter Carrara I t is already public knowledge and scientifically proven that overeating and the lack of care when consuming some foods, cause a great number of disturbances to the human organism, creating long term infirmities and with it, suf- fering and afflictions, and this is even before even considering addictions. There is yet a greater cause of serious organic imbalances and one that has been largely ignored or disregarded, that is: emotional imbalances. These are the setbacks that have not been forgotten; the acknowledged or disguised antagonisms, expressed hopelessness, hatred or open dislikes, or even rebellion against difficult or unavoidable events. Well, it is exactly that resentment that has not been forgotten, the absence of forgiveness, lack of patience or even the ugly habit of intolerance that may become the true cause of many infirmities. This happens because we forget that beyond that which can be perceived by our eyes, there are mental and emotional links that connect people, and every time we shelter feelings antagonistic to fraternity towards anyone, we throw mental darts against ourselves, which will inevitably affect our own health. The usual belief that every infirmity is the result of wrongs committed in past lives, loses its logic when faced with the reality of the daily emotional and mental aggressions with which we daily sustain against one another and even against life itself. It is true that the cases of illnesses originating from past errors are not uncommon; however, in the majority of cases, we are the ones responsible for our illnesses. This is the result of well known human attitudes such as hatred, revolt and lack of resignation. Happy are those who have a happy and optimistic outlook on life. Happy are those who already know how to forgive the aggressions received from others and who make an effort to understand others’ behaviours. Happy are those who try to live a balanced life, harbouring positive thoughts linked with goodness. These al- 2 ready act according to Jesus’ teachings and are able to protect themselves. And this is no extraordinary did: it is simply a natural law that returns to everyone that which they have created, according to the Gospels teachings as well as Spiritism. We, ourselves are responsible for our infirmities. So, let’s try to change our behaviour if we wish to live a happy and healthy life, now and in future existences. AROUND THE WORLD ARGENTINA A Beginners Study on Spiritism, Mediumship Study and Education, Study of the Gospel According to Spiritism and Comparative Studies on Spiritism and Religions are some of the courses offered free of charge by the Argentinean Spiritist Confederation. The courses will be available online, and you can enrol at more than one course, as they are available at different days. For additional information visit: www.ceanet.com.ar/cursos. AUSTRIA The Allan Kardec Spiritist Study Association in Vienna promotes many Doctrinal activities. For example, on Tuesdays 19h and Saturdays 15h there are public talks, usually with a significant and increasing number of participants take part. Mediumship study, which also takes place on Tuesdays from 18h till 18.45 is another activity that has attracted a lot of interest. The address for “Verein fur Spiritistische Studien Allan Kardec” is: Spengergasse, 10/3 (entrance by 28 Jahngasse) – 1050 Austria, Vienna. Website: www.spiritismus.at. FRANCE Nowadays it is possible to find a great number of Spiritist videos with French subtitles. Amongst the videos is the film “Chico Xavier,” which can be watched on: www. youtube.com/watch?v=8HNic8W-nmo. Other important historical works like Chico Xavier’s program “Pinga Fogo,” which was shown at the now extinct Tupi TV on July 28th in 1971. To watch it go to: www. youtube.com/watch?v=F6SgOJHqppU. To watch another beautiful two minutes video of Chico talking about love, please go to: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ZN8XgaRTTec. GERMANY In May, the medium and speaker Divaldo Pereira Franco has completed a series of activities in Germany, where he visited Spiritist groups in different Cities. He was in FAK-Mannheim on the 24th; on the th 25 he was in the FAK-Frankfurt, and on the 26 he was in the U.E.A/SEELE-Stuttgart Group. He has gave a seminar on the 28th and 29th in the Bad Honnef – Spiritual retreat FAK Dusseldorf. All the details about his agenda are on: www.spiritismus-dsv.de. JAPAN Virtual Bimonthly issued by International Spiritist Council Senior Editor: Danilo Carvalho Villela Editors: Jorge Pedreira de Cerqueira Eloy Carvalho Villela Staff Office: Av. Passos, 30 - 2o andar Centro - Rio de Janeiro - RJ 20051-040 - Brasil Tel. 55 (21) 2242-8872 “Spiritist Education and Bullying at Schools” is the theme developed at the 6th Japanese Spiritist Symposium, which took place on May 2nd in the Japanese City Isesaki. The study was led by the president of the Union of the Spiritist Societies of Sao Paulo, Julia Nezu, who returned to Japan after 10 years. The event lasted for two hours, from 19h to 21h on the Kariya Sangyo Shinko Centre. There was only a limited number of places available, and the event was free of charge. The event was promoted by the Allan Kardec Spiritist House of Prayer, with the support of the Japanese Spiritist Disseminators Association, which Julia Nezu is one of the founders. Other information can be found on: https://www.facebook.com/ evangelhonojapao or by e-mail: spiritism. [email protected]. NEW ZEALAND The New Zealand Spiritist Group Allan Kardec promotes weekly Spiritist studies on Wednesdays, between from 19h to 21h, at the Jubelee Building, Pukekawa Room, 545 Parnell Road – Aukland – New Zealand. For more information please visit: www.allankardec.org.nz or e-mail: [email protected] PERU The Spiritist Centre Joanna de Angelis radio program has been on air for four years, at the Capital Lima. The transmission happens every Saturday from 12h till 13h, by the Latin Radio 900kHz Am frequency. You can also listen to it online on: http://radiolatina.com.pe/index.html. Please visit: http:// vocesespiritas.blogspot.com.br. SWITZERLAND The Lausanne City Spiritist Study Group Paul and Stephen celebrated its 20th anniversary in April. The celebrations took place on 17th at Yverdon Castle. Doctor Alberto Almeida, a member of the International Spiritist-Medic Association, was present and gave a talk with the theme “Saul or Paul? Who is winning inside you?”; Charles Kempf, the International Spiritist Council General Secretary, gave a talk about “Paul and Stephen: lessons for the present and Spiritists.” For more information please visit: www.ucess.ch. ♦ “See with goodness and hear with discernment.” – Andre Luiz (From the book “Green Light”, psychography Chico Xavier). 3 THE ARAB EMIRATES “The work here is moving like ant steps, but we continue to lovingly move on” – these are the words are that of Patricia Farias, of the Christian Spiritist Group Awakening, in the Arab Emirates. The institution will celebrate its 10th anniversary in August, and as well public meetings, twice a month they hold study groups for the study Andre Luiz’s books, study and practice of mediumship, and a family moral education group. They also weekly distribute 220 lunches for the needy. Other information about the group can be found on: http://espacodespertar.blogspot.com or by e-mail: [email protected]. UNITED KINGDOM The medium Divaldo Pereira Franco was in London on 8th and 9th of May, giving talks on “Mediumship, Spiritual Obsession, and Today’s Psychiatry.” The talks took place at the Perrin Theatre, Queen Marry, University of London Campus, 4, Newark Street, E1 2AT, London. The talks lasted two hours from 19h till 21h, on both days and were free of charge. For more information please visit the British Union of Spiritist Societies: www.buss.org.uk. UNITED STATES An Interesting study on the “Law of Action and Reaction,” delivered by Kirsten de Melo in English is now available online. The talk was given at the Spiritist Society of Baltimore, USA. The video is 58 minutes long and can be watched on: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=RRcBH4hyZJA. BOOK REVIEW AMONG BROTHERS OF OTHER LANDS ublished in English by the International Spiritist Council (ISC), “Among Brothers of Other Lands” contains pages psychographed by mediums P Francisco Candido Xavier and Waldo Vieira while traveling to the United States, United Kingdom and France during a period from June to September 1965. This book is divided into two parts: first with 32 messages from spirits such as Andre Luiz, Emmanuel, Kelvin Van Dine, Hilario Silva, Bezerra de Menezes, Brother X (Humberto de Campos) and Valérium, including interviews with key workers from important spiritual spheres in these countries, including: William James and Gabriel Delanne. The second part of the book consists of ten incoming messages written by Ernest O’Brien and Anderson. While they were dirctly received in English by renowed mediums and afterwards translated by well-known Brazilian writer Herminio Miranda Correia. From one of the manifestations of Brother X, still with his reporter style on his veins, he describes a meeting held in the U.S. between Frederick Figner – author of a book (written in Portuguese) called “Voltei,” which was also channeled by Francisco Candido Xavier – and a distinguished (discarnate) lady who had been brought in for some conversation. This woman interviewed had also been working “since the early days of Spiritism in America, and a close friend of wellknown Judge John Edmonds, Professor Robert Hare, Mrs. James Mapes, Emma Harding and other pioneers of the spiritist movement on earth.” When she was asked about medi-umship nowadays in our planet, she replied that it was still “a very new question, so fresh both from asking and also practicing from exactly a century ago. We have a long time before us, to look at it, to know it and to educate it.” “But, how about Science and Religion?” – asked the spiritual reporter: “Two forces that, until now, have not been able to understand it (mediumship). With the reverence we owe and at the same time complying with some exceptions it is not permitted to ignore that scientists until today are almost always striving, not to study it but to dissect it, as those who try to anatomize green wheat grains, trying to find an already baked bread; religious folks often try to curtail scientists’ flights under mythological excuses, interested only to maintain the prestige of superstition.” And she later added: “Psychic occurrences belong to the realm of truth, and therefore should be part of all creatures freely in the evolutionary scale in which they belong, although we know that every medium will be accountable to the Guiding Powers of Life as to what they do with these faculties.” Gabriel Delanne was another interviewee who, “despite living beyond Earth,” answered 20 questions asked by Andre Luiz, the spiritual benefactor. One of these questions was related to the slow speed of spreading Spiritism, to which he replied: “I do not think so – replied Dellane, who was one of the authors who continued the works of Allan Kardec – Spiritist activities are around for just little over a century, and a century is too short, when it comes to spiritual matters. “Further concluding the interview, Andre Luiz asked: “What advice can you give us in the harvesting of Spiritism through our modest efforts?” And Delanne replied: “First understand that hope is synony-mous with patience, studying and serving always, with the certainty that, if eternity is our divine heritage, each day is a treasure of infinite resources that we shall not ignore.” “Among Brothers of Others Lands” can be purchased at www.amazon.com. SPIRITIST FILM ABOUT JESUS The film “On The Masters’ Footsteps” has been released in Brazilian cinemas, at the end of March, Wednesday during the Holy week. The film is an unprecedented documentary about Jesus’ life, that for the first time presents the Spiritist view about the One who divided time as before and after His passage through earth. The film has been produced by the Greater World Films, which is part of the Andre Luiz Spiritist Foundation, from Guarulhos, Sao Paulo state. The Film-maker, screenwriter and executive director Andre Marouço, who is also responsible for other productions with Spiritist themes like, “Cause and Effect” and the “Spirits’ Film” said: “The film is going to surprise you.” According to Marouço, the release is going to help to better understand the messages left by Jesus, by showing the true objective of the Masters’ mission, who never intended to create any religion. “The film will change that image of Jesus suffering on a cross, of a miraculous, dogmatic Christ and open the way for a loving, more rational message, which is going to change many people’s lives” – he added. Fabio Maloso will play Jesus, he has a lot of experience as he also plays Jesus on the great open air staging of “Christ’s Passion,” traditionally held during Easter in the Brazilian City New Jerusalem in Pernambuco. The same goes for the rest of the cast. 4 “On the Masters Foot Steps” was shot in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Italy and Brazil, with scenes not only from Jesus' life but also from Allan Kardec, the codifier of Spiritism. In addition, the documentary is enriched with individual testimonies, and overseen by the Spiritist researchers Celestino and Adao Nonato, who are experts in the Old and New Testaments. “The main objective of this work is to break with dogmas” – says Celestino. The film had already been played at the 5th Transcendental Cinema Festival, which took place in August last Year, in Brasilia. It was produced with the help of a collaborative loan uniting more than 900 participants. “On The Masters Foot Steps” is 100 minutes long and the producers hope that in future it will be available in other languages. You can follow information about the film on Facebook on: http://www. facebook.com/DocNosPassosDoMestre. There is also an official website: http:// nospassosdomestreofilme.com.br. You can also watch the trailer on: www. youtube.com/watch?v=RPFRiUqhlN4. FROM OUR FEELOWS THE WOMEN Andre Marinho In his public life, Jesus went around the many Galilean cities, to teach about the Kingdom of God, was then beginning to be implemented on Earth. Expelling evil spirits and performing remarkable cures (Matthew, 4:23-25), He was the centre of attention in all of the cities and villages He visited. Being especially followed by twelve chosen men, called disciples, Jesus was also followed by other people wherever He went. The Gospels are unanimous in affirming that women were also amongst them (Mark, 15:40-41; Lucas, 23:49; John, 19:25). They mention the names of Maria Magdalena, Joana of Cuss Susana and many others. However there was a difference between the women and the disciples. Everyone was there to serve Him, (Matthew, 27:55), however, the men were called by Jesus, in a firm and clear invitation. The women by their own initiative believed His message, what demonstrates they were already searching for spirituality. Judaism was very harsh with women. Since the Creation it classed them as inferior and dependent on men, (Genesis 1:27), they never could occupy any important positions in religion. Religious male polygamy was also widespread; making everything possible to men which were denied to women. Jesus put a stop to these Jewish practices which kept women away from religious issues. There are 201 entries on the New Testament about women. Some of them used to serve Jesus with their riches, like Joana of Cuss and Susana, which is the equivalent to saying that they were able to break away from the social position they occupied, not allowing themselves to become intimidated by social prejudices, and following Jesus on His trips. The women had no doubt about the kingdom announced by Jesus. They were confident that the evangelical preaching was going to work, therefore, they fully trusted, and gained strength to overcome all diversities. At the time of the crucifixion, when Christ’s abandonment is at its highest and His followers scarce, Jesus’ loneliness is diminished by the brave women that, not from too far, accompanied the death of God’s Lamb. They believed He was the Divine Messenger, at all times Just. The King that reserves a whole Kingdom for His followers. The Messiah liberating the oppressed consciences. The Great Son of God, who came to represent Him on Earth. The moral worth of those kind women, rewarded them with Jesus’ first apparition of His resurrection after the crucifixion, (John, 20:14-17). Despite the chosen disciples rejecting the tidings brought to them by the women, the women carried on with unshakable faith believing that the Master was truly the living Bread (Lucas, 24:10-11). Jesus was the same either at the height of his preaching, on the cross and at the resurrection. And He deigned to appear to them, giving proof of the glorious immortality. The incomparable followers became witnesses and, although sometimes from a distance, they carried on what Jesus had begun. They testified what an unjust society can do to the innocent. That is why Paul, the apostle, very conscious of the value of women in the new order emerging with Christianity, but who living in a chauvinist society expressed the culture of the time in some of his epistles when he said: “Before the Lord, women do not exist without men, and men do not exist without women. As women come from men, men is also born from women and everyone comes from God” (I Corinthians, 11:11-12). IN THE SPIRITIST MOVEMENT UBERABA APPROVES THE CRIATION OF THE MEMORIAL CHICO XAVIER The Uberaba chamber, the Brazilian city of Minas Gerais State where the medium Francisco Candido Xavier lived, has approved the creation of the memorial Chico Xavier. The project was led by the Chico Xavier Institute, and is now being managed by the Cultural Foundation, through its newly founded Museums Department. The idea of the memorial is to exhibit material linked to Chico and also to hold cultural events, workshops, courses, talks and seminars, ensuring access to the local population, and fulfilling its social function. According to the Cultural Foundation’s president, Sumayra Oliveira, a technical team is already working on the necessary measures, overlooking the project, so that the memorial can be opened. The first step was hiring a museologist to help with the planning and implementation of public policies related to the historical and cultural patrimony, as well as the organization of displays and exhibitions. SPIRITIST FILMS SHOW IN RIO DE JANEIRO The first Spiritist Film Festival of Rio de Janeiro is expected to take place between 22nd and 28th of September. A meeting has been arranged to discuss the details. The Rio de Janeiro Radio’s president, Gerson Simoes Monteiro, and the documentary producer Oceano Vieira de Melo, who are part of the Organizing Commission informs that: “There will be an exhibition of a documentary followed by discussion”. It has been also confirmed that a Spiritist Book’s fair will take place at the same time, with the presence of some authors. The show will take place at the Cine Odeon – Centro Cultural Luiz Severino Ribeiro, in Cinelandia, Rio de Janeiro City Centre. More details will be made available soon.