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

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THE SPIRITS’ BOOK
"The only sufferings that can elevate you are those which come upon you naturally, because
they are inflicted by God. Voluntary sufferings count for nothing when they are not useful to
others. Do you suppose that those who shorten their lives by superhuman hardships, like the
bonzes, fakirs, and fanatics of various sects, advance their progress thereby? Why do they not
rather labour for the good of their fellow-creatures? Let them clothe the naked; let them
comfort those who mourn; let them work for the infirm; let them impose privations upon
themselves for the sake of the unfortunate and the needy; and their life will be useful, and
pleasing to God. When your voluntary sufferings are undergone only for yourselves, they are
mere selfishness; when you suffer for others, you obey the law of charity. Such are the
precepts of Christ."
727. If we ought not to create for ourselves voluntary sufferings that are of no use to others,
ought we to endeavour to ward off from ourselves those which we foresee, or wit h which we
are threatened?
"The instinct of self-preservation has been given to all beings to guard them against dangers
and sufferings. Flagellate your spirit, and not your body; mortify your pride; stifle the
selfishness that eats into the heart like a devouring worm; and you will 4 o more for your
advancement than you could do by any amount of macerations out of keeping with the age in
which you are living."