A Gratuitous Mediumnity , 02 04 2013 - Cópia

7/28/2019 A Gratuitous Mediumnity , 02 04 2013 - Cpia

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Study given at the Center Joana dArc, So Joo de Meriti, RJ, on 02/ 04/ 2013 1

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Gratuitous Mediumship, 02/ 04/ 2013.Theme: Give gratuitously what you have received gratuitously.

Source: the gospel according to Spiritism, XXVI: 7-10.

GRATUITOUS MEDIUMSHIP

7. Mediums today (since the Apostles also possessed mediumship) have equally received a faculty gratisfrom God. This is of being interpreters of the Spirits for the instruction of mankind, to show them the pathway ofgoodness, conducting them along by means of faith. Not to sell words which do not belong to the mediums, seeingthat they are not fruits of their conception, nor of WHAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED GRATUITOUSLY their research,nor of their personal work. God wants the light to reach everyone. He does not want the poorest to be deprived of itso they can say they have no faith because they could not pay for it, nor that they did not have the consolation ofreceiving encouragement and testimony of affection from those they weep for, because they were too poor. This is

why mediumship is not a privilege, and is to be found in all places. To make someone pay for it is to turn it awayfrom its providential objective.

8. Those who understand the conditions in which good Spirits communicate, the feeling of repugnance theyhave towards everything which shows selfish interest, and know how little it takes to drive them away, could neveraccept that Superior Spirits are at the disposal of the first who comes along and evokes them, at so much persession. Simple good sense rejects such an idea.

Would it not also be profanity to evoke for money those we respect or those who are dear to us? Beyonddoubt communications can be obtained in this manner. But who can guarantee their sincerity? Spirits of a frivolous,deceitful, mocking nature, and all the bank of inferior Spirits who are not at all scrupulous, always come runningready to reply to whatever is asked with no regard for the truth. Those then who desire serious communicationsshould before all else ask with seriousness, and following this, should inform themselves of the nature of thesympathies the medium may have with the beings from the Spirit world. Therefore the first conditions necessary toattract the benevolence of the good Spirits are humility, devotion, abnegation, and total disinterest, both moral andmaterial.

9. Besides the moral question an effective consideration also presents itself which is no less important.This refers to the actual nature of the faculty itself. Serious mediumship cannot be, and never ever will be aprofession; not just because it would be morally discredited and rapidly become mere fortunetelling; but becausethere is a material obstacle in opposition. Mediumship is a faculty which is essentially unstable, elusive, andvariable, whose permanency no one can count upon. It is a very uncertain source for anyone wishing to exploit it,and can fail at the moment it is most needed. A talent acquired by study and work is another matter, and is for thisvery reason a skill which can be legitimately used to advantage. But mediumship is neither an art nor a skill;therefore it cannot become a profession. It only exists through the cooperation of the Spirits. If they are absentthere is no mediumship. The aptitude can exist, but the exercise of it would be annulled.

Also there is not a single medium in the world who can guarantee the obtaining of a spiritual phenomenonat any given moment. So then to exploit mediumship is to make use of something which does not really belong tothat person. To state the contrary is to deceive the person being charged. What is more, it is not they themselfwhom the exploiter commands, but rather the concourse of Spirits, the souls of the dead, whose cooperation theyput a price on. This idea causes instinctive repugnance. It was the trafficking, the exploitation by charlatans thatdegenerated into abuse, the ignorance, the incredulity and the superstition which motivated its prohibition byMoses. Modern Spiritism, understanding the serious nature of this question, has completely discredited thisexploitation, so elevating mediumship to the category of a mission. (See THE MEDIUMS' BOOK, 2nd part,chapter 28 and also HEAVEN AND HELL (1) 1st part, chapter 11).


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10. Mediumship is something sacred which should be practiced in a saintly and religious manner, and ifthere is one type of mediumship which requires this condition even more absolutely than the others, it is that ofhealing (2). A doctor gives the fruits of his study, which were often gained at the cost of painful sacrifices. Amagnetizer gives his own fluids, sometimes even his health. A price can be put upon these. A curing mediumhowever, retransmits healing fluids from the good Spirits, and consequently has no right to sell them. Jesus and HisApostles, although poor, did not charge for the cures they obtained.

So then, those who lack the necessary means of financial support can seek their funds wherever they like,except within mediumship, and if necessary only dedicate their spare time to this work after material needs havebeen satisfied. The Spirits will take into consideration the devotion and sacrifices, whereas they will turn away fromthose who expect to turn them into a ladder for material ascension.

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(1) by ALLAN KARDEC.

(2) In Spiritism the word HEALING is understood to mean restorative work carried out by Spirits usingsomeone, possibly a medium, as their instrument. (Translator's note.)

CONSIDERATIONS:

those who lack the necessary means of financial support can seek their funds wherever they like, except withinmediumship, and if necessary only dedicate their spare time to this work after material needs have been satisfiedThis advice is worth what it is because mediumship is not gained by education or donated by religions,

but by God who placed a trust in the medium that receives it to serve his neighbor and not to fill hispocket or his pride, that in this case he should live humbly in submission to God in the use and practice of

his mediumship. Misusing it can cause him the withdrawal of his mediumship or Superior Spirits to allow

him to be left to his own devices where only succeed by stubbornness access to lower spirits thatinfluence him and he can enter into obsession.

As for the common service to the neighbor of those who serve them without significant

mediumship, should bear in mind 'the maximum not do to others what one does not want for oneself' (1)and also the commandment "love your neighbor as yourself ' (2), these maxims or this attitude certainlywill respect others and not to abuse beyond his own needs, he will always regard the desire for others as

the wishing for himself.

In the spirits baggage many come into the world bringing a bag of priceless gifts to this or thataim they are merits which belong to them and that they will not be taken from them, hence they serve the

world and their neighbor great and useful contributions, but they should not allow in themselves to grow

pride or possessism which might offend others and be liable to the 'laws of cause and effect',(3) honestlyyou should always use your gifts (4) gratefully to God for its possession and for God to have allowed

ones coming to the world on the proper time designated by God for the best use of the gifts one may

have.

That's where a man cannot even guess what time to embody when yet as a spirit in erraticity whenand where God enters with his permission to his proper time for ones coming and also the most proud

that one may be one must always be humbly thanking God for the opportunity to come to work in this

world which one will always be paid recompensed by God forones effort and desire, in as much that

ones working for others one does work for oneself because work gives one progress and magnifies thespirit and virtues, also adds to ones personality, character or 'self' spiritual.

Many come to the world with special gifts 'everything they touch turns to gold' as the saying goes

and generally as they being good persons many people approach them to exploit them as if they had that


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right, because they are needy they believe themselves entitled to their neighbors which in fact were

acquired by their merits, now, it is not so likely, each one must be resignedly in the situation where one is

and should not desire what belongs to his neighbor, but try to work to get ones desires, ones dreams,

ones realization, we have not come to the world to fatten the body and for abusing the material world norto offend others, but to work and strive to overcome our inferiorities (5) and to gain spiritual progress in

terms of morality and virtues, and hence 'our works will follow us',(6) because the soul in its immortalityretains its works and only withdraws himself from his own treasuries or assets in the form of intuitions,impulses or vocations ones needs at the right time.

Living at the expense of others is to go to the beyond in 'empty hands', and not having a savings

saved up for when ones return to have, but return in empty hands and to have to start all over so we say,because we have free will,(7) hence responsibility to sow or not to sow, but we assume the consequences

be them good or bad.

The spiritual ascent depends on mutual aid and work for each other where the one with greatest

conditions should be the servant of others and it is this procedure or coexistence between everyone that

peace and harmony as a just rule should be the moral way for us to make progress harmoniously.Love among all is a demand from God and if everyone contributing, this is the way it works, as out

of love there can only be contradictions in the world, little peace, little harmony, doubts,

misunderstandings, suspicions, jealousies, ambition, avarice, selfishness, overconfidence, pride,arrogance, injustice or anything that comes from or is not love because God being love (8) we ought to be

happy and have a fulfilled life to live within the laws and the divine essence, which is love, because only

love can build only love survives and transcends the vicissitudes of life in the matter.Faith in God and the knowledge by the use of reason of our immortality causes us to have an

intimate force to live worthily with each other in a hopefully better future in God's plans for us, neither in

dreams or thoughts has occurred to us the things which God has in store for His children,(9) obedientchildren who will certainly deserve their reward.

Children of disobedience will not be eternally punished in dismay, nonetheless they will be

corrected with delays in their happiness that is already a punishment in itself, but in accordance with what

Jesus said many will be 'punished with few stripes' and many will be' punished with many stripes,'(10)God has no pleasure that should happen, but for their own goodness be given these whips to cause

readjustment in their journey of ascent to God, these lashes are not like the slaves of old had received, but

as spiritists that we are we believe that means few or many incarnations as many as might be needed'(11)so as that the righteousness of the law of 'cause and effect'(12) be satisfied up to the payment to the last

farthing'(13) ones debt of the law applied to them, once the debt paid the debt will be paid off and the

debtor released to live and continue his own spiritual journey getting the necessary help of God.

There is no doubt that mediumship which in utility between the two worlds 'spiritual and material'be a temptation of a great scope that draws the will to use it in favor of money or material things forones

own benefit without occurring the consequences that may influence the extent of ones mediumship, it is

because of that the need of the medium to be evangelized and educated is firstly required so as to use

mediumship with acknowledgement of cause responsibly and with consideration worthy to the height ofthis gift and the gospel itself when imbued in ones heart will help one to overcome ones difficulties .

Well, many people in the world have mediumnity they may not necessarily be spiritists but it does

not leave out that mediumship should be used for free, be it whoever has it in spite of religions, sects orindividuals God grants them the same way that He grants to us all the rain and the sunshines,(14)

mediumship does not come for a person being fatter or thinner, nor comes of being tall or short, but

through gifts which God gives and which become pertinent to the spirit of the person who receives.And why not for everyone in much greater utility, no, no because it is the same we use to wonder

why everyone is not born rich, and all alike with the somewhat talent.


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On studying Spiritism one knows that many do progress more than others and that many spirits are

older than others, hence they raised and kept more merits in their past, even so all mankind is more or less

medium, (15) because if one understands better it is a law which we may call 'law of mediumship' and it

is this law that we all unconsciously pray to God and receive His benefits in prayer, be a short prayer orlong prayer, and in the laws of physics scientists give other names such as telepathy.

Well, God be with us as formerly, today and forever.(1) Matthew, VII: 12(2) Matthew, XXII: 34-40 - The gospel according to Spiritism, XV: 14(3) The Gospel according to Spiritism, V: 4-10.(4) I Corinthians, XII: 3-9(5) The Gospel according to Spiritism, XVII: 4(6) Matthew, XVI: 27(7) The Spirits Book, Q. 843.(8) I John, IV: 8(9) I Corinthians, XI: 9(10) Luke, XII: 47- 48(11) The Spirits Book, Q. 169.(12) The Gospel according to Spiritism, V: 4-10.(13) Luke, XII: 59 + Matthew V: 26.(14) Mathew, V: 45.(15) The Mediums Book, 14: 159.

Let us read as suggested in the item 10 the chapter XXVIII of the Mediums Book: CHAPTER XXVIII. CHARLATANISM. Mercenary mediumship - Sham Spiritism. Paid Mediums.

304. As everything may be made a source of pecuniary profit, it would not be strange if attempts were made to turnSpiritism to that purpose; but the spirits would probably be at no loss to show their opinion of such a speculation,should it be attempted, for it is e dent that nothing could be more easily abused by charlatans than such a trade.On the other hand, it is to be remarked that, although the turning of the medianimic faculty into a source of gainmust lay its genuineness open to suspicion, it would not be a proof that such suspicion is founded; for a mediummay possess real medianimic aptitude, and employ it with perfect honesty, while receiving payment. Let us see,then, what are the results that may be reasonably hoped for under such circumstances.

305. If our readers have carefully weighed what we have said of the conditions necessary for inducing superiorspirits to communicate, of the causes which repel them, and of the circumstances independent of their will that areoften an obstacle to their coming, they will see that no medium, whatever his faculty or moral worth, could pretendto have them constantly at his beck and call; while, on the other hand, the repugnance of the higher spirits toeverything connected with terrestrial aims and interests would indispose them towards any attempt to make a trafficof their manifestations.

306. The same considerations are applicable, not only to mediums who receive payment in money, but to all whoturn their faculty to the furtherance of their worldly affairs; for self-interest does not always take the form of seekingpecuniary gain, but is shown as certainly by every sort of contrivance for the furtherance of ambition or of anyother personal aim. To sum up: mediumnity is a faculty given for a high and holy purpose, and spirits of highadvancement withdraw from those who make it a stepping-stone to any other ends than those marked out for it byProvidence.

307. Physical mediums are not in the same category as those who habitually receive intelligent communications.The physical phenomena are usually produced by lower and less scrupulous spirits; and mediums of this category,desirous to turn their faculty to pecuniary account, may therefore find willing assistants among the spirits with whomthey are habitually connected. But the medium for physical effects, like the medium for intelligent manifestations,has not been endowed with this faculty for Isis own pleasure merely. It has been given him in order that he maymake a good use of it; should he do otherwise, it may be taken from him, or it may turn to his disadvantage, thelower spirits being always under the orders of the higher ones, who sometimes use them for the punishment ofunfaithful mediums.


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308. From the preceding considerations we conclude that the most entire disinterestedness, on the part of evokersand of mediums, is the best guarantee against deception; for, although it does not always suffice to insure theintellectual superiority of the communications received, it deprives evil spirits of a powerful means of action andshuts the mouths of detractors.

309. We need give but a few words to the comparatively innocent trickery of those who may be called amateurcharlatans; that is to say, those who imitate spirit-manifestations for the amusement of an evening-party. But,though such trickery may gratify the shallow and frivolous, every attempt of the kind must be regarded asexceedingly reprehensible when made in serious centers, or palmed off upon serious inquirers.

310. It may perhaps be said that a professional medium who gives up his time to the public cannot be expected todo so for nothing; for he must live. True but, even in this case, he must see to it that he adopts the medianimicprofession for the good of Spiritism, and not because he regards it as a lucrative calling. Let him never forget thatSpirits, whatever their superiority or inferiority, are the souls of deceased men and women, and that, while moralityand religion prescribe it as a duty to respect the bodily remains of the departed, it is still more incumbent on us torespect their souls. And neither mediums nor those who address themselves to them must ever lose sight of thefact that physical manifestations, as well as manifestations of the intellectual order, are only permitted byProvidence for our moral instruction and improvement.

311. While urging attention to these self-evident considerations, we have not the least intention of denying that paid

mediums may be found who are both honorable and conscientious. We only refer to those who misuse their faculty;and it must be conceded that, for the reasons we have given, such misuse is more likely to occur in thecase of paid mediums than in the case of those who, regarding their faculty as a talent entrusted to them for highand holy purposes, employ it solely as a means of rendering service to others.The degree of confidence to be accorded to a paid medium depends, in the first place, on the esteem commandedby his character and morality, and, in the next place, on circumstances. The medium who is prevented fromfollowing any other employment, by the fact that he is devoting his time and strength to a work which is eminentlyuseful and advantageous to the community at large, is thereby justified in taking payment for his services and sucha medium is not to be confounded with the mere speculator who, from no other motive than the desire of gain,makes a traffic of his mediumnity. The payment of mediums may therefore be condemned, absolved, or favored,according to the motive and aim of each individual medium; the intention of the medium, rather than the materialfact of payment, furnishing the basis of our judgments.

A Gratuitous Mediumnity , 02 04 2013 - Cópia

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