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

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THE SPIRITS’ BOOK
"Can you suppose that they remain idle through eternity ? Eternal idleness would be eternal
torture."
- What is the nature of their occupations?
"They receive orders directly from God, transmit them throughout the universe, and
superintend their execution."
563. Are spirits incessantly occupied?
"Incessantly? yes, if it be understood that their thought is always active, for they live by
thought. But you must not suppose that the occupations of spirits are similar to the material
occupations of men; their activity is itself a delight, through the consciousness they have of
being useful."
- That is easily understood as regards good spirits; but is it the same in regard to inferior
spirits?
"Inferior spirits have occupations suitable to their nature. Would you entrust intellectual
undertakings to an ignorant labourer?"
564. Are there, among spirits, some who are idle, or who do not employ themselves in
anything useful?
"Yes; but that idleness is only temporary, and depends on the development of their
intelligence. Certainly, there are among spirits, as among men, some who live only for
themselves; but their idleness weighs upon them, and, sooner or later, the desire to advance
causes them to feel the need of activity, and they are glad to make themselves useful. We
speak of spirits arrived at the point at which they possess self-consciousness and free-will;
for, at their origin, they are like new-born children, and act more from instinct than from a
determinate will."
565. Do spirits examine our works of art, and take an interest in them?
"They examine whatever indicates the elevation of incarnated spirits and their progress."
566. Does a spirit who has had a special occupation upon the earth, as a painter or an
architect, for example, take a special interest in the labours 'which have formed the object of
his predilections during the earthly life?
"Everything blends into one general aim. A good spirit interests himself in whatever enables
him to assist other souls in rising towards God. Besides, a spirit who has been devoted to a
given pursuit, in the existence in which you have known him, may have been devoted to some
other in another existence; for, in order to