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

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THE SPIRITS’ BOOK
he is born. For example, if he have to struggle against the instinct of brigandage, it is
necessary for him to be thrown among brigands."
- If, then, there were no evil livers upon the earth, spirits could not find in it the conditions
necessary to certain kinds of trial?
"Would there be any reason for complaining, if such were the case ? The case you suppose is
that of the worlds of higher order, to which evil has no access, and which are therefore
inhabited only by good spirits. Try to bring about such a state of things as soon as possible in
your earth."
261. Is it necessary for the spirit, in the course of the trials to which he has to submit in order
to arrive at perfection, to undergo every sort of temptation? Must he encounter all the
circumstances that can excite in him pride, jealousy, avarice, sensuality, etc. ?
"Certainly not, since there are, as you know, many spirits who take from the beginning a road
which spares them the necessity of undergoing many of those trials; but he who suffers
himself to be drawn into the wrong road, exposes himself to all the dangers of that road. A
spirit, for instance, may ask for riches, and his demand may he granted; and, in that case, he
will become, according to his character, avaricious or prodigal, selfish or generous, and will
make a noble use of his wealth, or waste it on vanity or sensuality; but this does not imply
that he will be compelled to run the gauntlet of all the evil tendencies that may be fostered by
the possession of riches."
262. As a spirit, at its origin, is simple, ignorant, and without experience, how can he make
an intelligent choice of an existence, and how can he be responsible for such a choice?
"God supplies what is lacking through his inexperience, by tracing out for him the road which
he has to follow, as you do for the infant in its cradle; but he allows him, little by little, to
become the master of his choice, in proportion as his free-will becomes developed; and it is
then that he often loses his way and takes the wrong road, if he do not listen to the advice of
the good spirits, who endeavour to instruct him; it is this which may be called the fall of
man."
- When a spirit is in possession of his free-will, does the choice of his corporeal existence
always depend solely on his own