The Spirit in Relation to Itself

 

The great thinker of antiquity, Pythagoras, rightly stated that Earth was the home of opinion. If in his time there was this acknowledgement, we can certainly say that today we are not far from this definition. It seems that we are getting closer and closer to it, and gradually distancing ourselves from the most important and suggestive process that has ever happened among us, also brought by a wise man, and which showed that development is

from within.

 This sage, Socrates, taught, or rather led his followers and listeners through the rough paths of opinion until the recognition that human beings knew much of others, but knew nothing of themselves.

 The Socratic concept and irony, applied in the development of the truest and deepest of all knowledge, knowing oneself, directed thought and reasoning, in a natural way, to another moment. Get to know yourself and then be sincere with what you discover. Not knowing yourself shows that there is a crucial difference between true self-awareness and the current superficial human existence.

We are in this process and that is where sometimes we deviate from the path. People become accustomed to reducing their understanding of things to the superficial perceptions of their own mind, because it is difficult to break with the structures of references already created and for the Spirit to make qualitative leaps into other dimensions of knowledge, transcending the limits imposed by successive lives of structured thinking.

 The moment of natural transition that we go through, although painful, mobilizes our attention to focus on the necessary inner cleansing. This is when we are faced with our most serious issues, in all aspects considered. By rehabilitating ourselves with the divine laws in our consciousness, we will reach higher levels where real perception of ourselves will lead us to one day be with the Father. Just as promised by Jesus, without disagreements, without fads or guesses. Then we will understand that all this is part of just one moment and, as such, can never be our true identity.

Sonia Theodoro da Silva

Philosopher

CEFE-Centro de Estudos Filosóficos Espíritas

SPSC - Spiritist Philosophy Studies Center

www.filosofiaespirita.org

Pubisher: The Journal of Psychological Studies, London, England

Translator: Cintia C. dos Santos  

COEXISTENCE IN TIME OF CRISIS

 

 

 

 It is said that living together is an art. Art demands sensitivity, perception, visual acuity, cognitive abilities and intuition. I refer to good Art, that which expresses and conveys well-being when viewed, heard and felt. That which invites us to return again, that rests the eyes, and radiates peace.     

Some scholars go further and claim that art cannot even be understood by rational discourse because words reduce the meaning. We live in a world surrounded by art and creativity, as they are present in music, drama, dance, architecture, literature and the visual arts.   

  Good coexistence is like good art. It radiates trust, well-being, spontaneity and, in some cases, makes us happy. Not that illusory happiness, created by consumerist minds, but agape, a full happiness, even if of short duration, for on the Earth of tests and atonements, we still cannot enjoy the happiness of the just.    

 Our life is made up of moments, like a building built on a base and foundations of bricks, concrete, and all the materials necessary for the building to become habitable and comfortable. If the base is flawed, the building will collapse. Like in the parable of Jesus, to live well is above all to respect others and at times to feel empathy for their pain and suffering. Without that, it would be better to isolate ourselves on a desert island. But then we would die of boredom, or of deep sorrow.

 

  Sonia Theodoro da Silva - Philosopher

The Journal of  Psychological Studies  -  Year XI l 61th

 Issue  l November and December l 2018