Allan Kardec-THE Spirit's Book_ The Principles of Spiritist Doctrine (1989)

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THE SPIRITS’ BOOK
sciousness of himself, and nevertheless there still remains in him a faint breathing of vitality.
The body is a machine that is kept in movement by the heart. It continues to live as long as
tile heart causes the blood to circulate in the veins, and has no need of the soul to do that."
157. Does the soul sometimes at the moment of death, experience an aspiration or an ecstasy
that gives it a foreglimpse of the world into which it is about to return?
"The soul often feels the loosening of the bonds that attach it to the body, and does its utmost
to hasten and complete the work of separation. Already partially freed from matter, it beholds
the future unrolled before it, and enjoys, in anticipation, the spirit-state upon which it is about
to re-enter."
158. Do the transformations of the caterpillar-which, first of all, crawls upon the ground, and
then shuts itself up in its chrysalis in seeming death, to be reborn therefrom into a new and
brilliant existence-give us anything like a true idea of the relation between our terrestrial life,
the tomb, and our new existence beyond the latter?
"An idea on a very small scale. The image is good; hut, nevertheless, it would not do to
accept it literally, as you so often do in regard to such images."
159. What sensation is experienced by the soul at the moment when it recovers its'
consciousness in the world of spirits?
"That depends on circumstances. He who has done evil from the love of evil is overwhelmed
with shame for his wrong-doing. With the righteous it is very different. His soul seems to be
eased of a heavy load, for it does not dread the most searching glance."
160. Does the spirit find himself at once in company with those whom he knew upon the
earth, and who died before him?
"Yes; and more or less promptly according to the degree of his affection for them and of
theirs for him. They often come to meet him on his return to the spirit-world, and help to free
him from the bonds of matter. Others whom he formerly knew, but whom he had lost sight of
during his sojourn on the earth, also come to meet him. He sees those who are in erraticity,
and he goes to visit those who are still incarnated."