11.07.2015 Views

Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

96 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE SPIRIT WORLD.laws and things. The more refined and developed <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong>, <strong>the</strong> less itrequires <strong>of</strong> gross aliment. Refined, intellectual, and moral beings arenourished and sustained by refined, intellectual, and moral nutriment.Their food is derived from <strong>the</strong> '^ Tree <strong>of</strong> Knowledge," and <strong>the</strong>y slake <strong>the</strong>irthirst at <strong>the</strong> crystal streams which continually flow from <strong>the</strong> inexhaustiblefountain <strong>of</strong> God's wisdom and love. The lowest undeveloped <strong>spirit</strong> liveson comparatively refined aliment to that on which mortals subsist.It consists<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> more refined elements <strong>of</strong> <strong>spirit</strong>ual fruits and vegetables.<strong>spirit</strong>'s need <strong>of</strong> rest depends on its particular degree <strong>of</strong> development,diminishing in proportion to its advancement from <strong>the</strong> material plane.The403. Though <strong>the</strong> principles embodied in our teachings and philosophymay be regarded, by <strong>the</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> mankind, as strange and incomprehensible,<strong>the</strong>y arc, never<strong>the</strong>less, no more so than <strong>the</strong> principles <strong>of</strong> naturalscience would be to <strong>the</strong> unlettered mind. As <strong>the</strong> ability to comprehend<strong>the</strong> principles on which <strong>the</strong> natural sciences are based increases with<strong>the</strong> expansion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> intellectual faculties, in like manner is <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong>perceiving <strong>spirit</strong>ual things and relations increased by <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> interior or <strong>spirit</strong>ual faculties.464. As <strong>the</strong>re are no words in <strong>the</strong> human language in which <strong>spirit</strong>ualideas may be embodied so as to convey <strong>the</strong>ir literal and exact signification,we are obliged <strong>of</strong>ttimes to have recourse to <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> analogisms and metaphoricalmodes <strong>of</strong> expression.In our communion with you we have tocomply with <strong>the</strong> peculiar structure and rules <strong>of</strong> your language; but <strong>the</strong>genius <strong>of</strong> our language is such that we can impart more ideas to each o<strong>the</strong>rin a single word than you can possibly convey in a hundred.I have endeavoured to show you that465. I have thus given you a general outline <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> leading facts connectedwith <strong>the</strong> destiny <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> race.man is a progressive being, that he possesses a refined material (440) organization,which, going with him atwhich he may communicate with <strong>the</strong> visible world.death, serves as a medium throughI will here add that,under certain circumstances, this <strong>spirit</strong>ual organization has <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong>reflecting <strong>the</strong> rays <strong>of</strong> light, so as to be rendered visible to <strong>the</strong> natural eye,as are certain gaseous bodies.466. I have attempted to show you, too, that <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong> on entering <strong>the</strong>spheres, being governed by its aflinity, takes its position in that circle forwhich it is morally and intellectually adapted ; hence <strong>the</strong> first sphere is <strong>the</strong>abode <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> most degraded <strong>spirit</strong>s, and that <strong>the</strong>ir advancement, howeverslow it may be, is never<strong>the</strong>less sure, since "onward and upward" is<strong>the</strong> motto emblazoned on <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong>ual banner.467. I have endeavoured to show you, also, that <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong> is a finitebeing like man in <strong>the</strong> form, and, <strong>the</strong>refore, fallible, and that as he advancesin knowledge, he grasps more <strong>of</strong> truth and drops more <strong>of</strong> error. I haveattempted to show you that <strong>the</strong> <strong>spirit</strong> world is a counterpart <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> naturalworld, and that we, no less than you, are subject to surrounding conditions

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!