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Basics
For the Scientific Study of Spiritism |
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Basic Elements of the Universe: Spirit
| Matter | Cosmic
Principle/ Fluid(s)
The Role of Spiritual Fluids as The
Vehicle of Thought
The Life Giving Substance: Vital Principle
In
order for us to understand the physical nature of spirits, the
spirit realm, and the interaction between the material and spiritual
worlds, it is imperative that we have an understanding of some basic
concepts regarding spirit and matter.
Some of these concepts were, in part, proposed by scientists
and philosophers even before the codification of Spiritism.
The revelations of the superior spirits, then, confirmed
and/or clarified elements of the scientists’ theories and provide
added explanation. These revelations teach us about the two general
elements of the universe- matter and spirit - and their intermediary
element, the cosmic principle.
Upon these elementary concepts, we are able to build our
knowledge about our own nature and that of the world(s) we inhabit.
MOST
BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE UNIVERSE
The two general elements of the
universe are matter and spirit. Above them is God, the creator of all things.
The three, together, are the essence of all that exists.
Between spirit and matter as we know it, there is an
intermediary, called the cosmic principle. Here, we will take a closer look at spirit, matter,
and the cosmic principle as outlined by the higher spirits in the
“Spirit’s Book” (with additional explanations, where
mentioned, from the spirits found in “Genesis”)
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Spirit
The
essential nature of spirit has yet to be revealed to humans.
In fact, the spirits tell us that it is impossible to explain
in the present scope of human language.
However, they tell us that we can understand spirit as “the
intelligent principle of the universe” (Keep
in mind that by “spirit”, we are referring here to a general
element of the universe, and not to singular spirits, which are an
individualization of this element).
They tell us that intelligence is actually a quality of
spirit, whereby spirit and intelligence are not true synonyms, but
that because the two merge in a unitary principle, they can, from
the human perspective, be said to be the same.
Spirit
is distinct from matter.
However, the union of spirit and matter is necessary
to give intelligent activity to the latter.
And from the human perspective, since our senses aren’t
designed to perceive spirit apart from matter, this union is also
necessary for the manifestation of intelligent activity.
When we speak of Spirits as individual beings, we are
referring to the individualization of Spirit (the intelligent
principle /major universal element). These Spirits are the
intelligent beings of the universe, created by God. They are found
either as incarnate spirits- meaning that they are, at the
time of reference, incorporated in a material body and living in the
material world as part of the process of reincarnation, or as discarnate
spirits- meaning that they are, at the time of reference, freed from
a material body and living in the spiritual realm. (We have devoted
a separate section of our website to Spirits [as individual beings]
and the concept of reincarnation- please see All
about Spirits and The Process of Reincarnation.)
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Matter
From the human point of view, matter is generally conceived
of as something that occupies space, that can be perceived by one
or more senses, and that is impenetrable.
The spirits clarify that matter exists in other states as
well, that are unknown to us.
While it may be too ethereal and subtle to make an impression
on our senses, it is still matter.
They define matter, then as “the element that surrounds
the spirit, and upon which the spirit exerts its action.”
In
addition to its union with spirit being necessary for it’s
intelligent activity, the other key point to understand about matter
is that it is formed of one basic element.
The elements that we regard as basic (such as hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and their chemical/physical building
blocks) are really transformations of a more fundamental
matter (the cosmic principle-
see below).
Essentially, matter has only two essential properties-
force & movement. All other properties, conditioned by
the intensity, direction, and movement, are really only secondary
effects of the other two, according to the different molecular
arrangements of matter.
These secondary effects (such as flavors, colors, sounds,
poisonous vs. medicinal qualities, etc) occur when elementary molecules
undergo changes due to the interaction and combination with other
molecules, or in response to environmental pressure.
The spirits also point out that what we refer to as a
molecule is still very far from being the most elementary molecule.
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The
Universal
Fluid/ The Cosmic Fluid
and its Derivatives (Fluids)
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As stated previously, the two general elements of the universe are spirit
and matter.
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The primitive, most elementary condition of spirit is known
as the "Intelligent Universal Principle" or the
"Spiritual Universal Principle", and is the generating
source of what we common refer to as Spirit, meaning an
individualization of this element, an intelligent being of the
universe.
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Comparatively, the most elementary condition/state of the 2nd
universal element (matter) is referred to as the "Universal Fluid"
or the "Material Principle"; it acts as an intermediary
between the individualized Spirit and less primitive varieties of
matter, a function that is carried out through its great derivative,
known as the Cosmic Fluid.
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Principle
/ Fluid / Energy- Which is it?
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The
original French texts from Kardec (and several texts
written more recently in Portuguese) use both the words
"fluid" and "principle". Some feel
that with the connotation that "fluid" carries
in present-day English, it's better to simply use
"principle". Click HERE
to see why we have chosen to continue using
"principle" and "fluid", as well as
"energy." |
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The
cosmic fluid (or principle) is the irreducible and fundamental constituent
of all matter.
It is essentially a more refined form of matter with an
independent existence of its own.
Every form of matter as we know it, as well as the energy
phenomena that we know of today, such as heat, magnetism, and
electricity are only modifications of this basic element.
Because
it holds properties common to both elements, spirit and matter,
the cosmic fluid acts as an intermediary between them, allowing
the individualized Spirit to act on matter, which is otherwise
too dense for the Spirit to act upon directly. Hence,
under guidance of Spirits, and in combination with denser matter
(already modified forms of the cosmic principle), the cosmic fluid
can be used to produce an infinite number of things (many of
which we still have much to learn about).
In
Chapter
14 of
“Genesis” Allan Kardec provides an elaboration on this definition of
the cosmic principle,
clarifying concepts that are essential to our
understanding of the interaction between spirit, matter, and the
environments of the spiritual and material worlds.
The following is a summary of that explanation:
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The universal cosmic fluid is the fundamental constituent of all
matter.
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It assumes two extreme states, with a gradient of variations within each
state and between the two. One state is that of materialization,
which gives rise to phenomena of the visible (material) world. The second
state is that of etherealization and gives rise to the phenomena of
the invisible world.
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All the varieties and modifications found along the above mentioned
gradient constitute derivatives of the initial, basic element. These
derivatives are known as fluids. These fluids, whether
tangible/perceptible to us or not, are all considered to be matter.
They can be found in an infinite range of degrees of purity, from a
starting point of absolute purity, all the way to that of transformation
(in a way, a "condensation"), into that which is tangible to us.
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Modifications of the cosmic fluid, while still in the state of
etherealization form an infinite variety of distinct fluids (with
varying levels of purity), referred to as spiritual fluids, which
form the material of the spiritual world.
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Many of these spiritual fluids escape the perception of our human senses
and instruments. Others are intimately tied to the corporeal life. These
are the fluids that are closest to the point of materialization (the least
pure) and are referred to as the spiritual atmosphere of the Earth.
These latter fluids are in constant interaction with the material realm,
whereby they affect, and are affected by, the beings that inhabit it. |
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Click HERE
to read in more detail about The Universal Cosmic Fluid in an
another excerpt from Allan Kardec's "Genesis". |
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OTHER
KEY POINTS ABOUT SPIRITUAL FLUIDS
Spiritual
Fluids: The Vehicle of Thought
As you read above, the spiritual
fluids are like the material of the spiritual realm. The spirits act upon these
fluids, manipulating them by combining them, dispersing them, etc., in other
words organizing them in such a way to create a desired appearance or form,
just as we do with the solids, liquids, and gases of the material world. This is
done with everything, from the appearance of their own perispirit, to the
formation of a small (still ethereal or even materialized) object, even a
building (in the spirit realm), etc. The mechanism used for doing this is thought
and will. Sometimes these transformations are the result of intention. Other
times, they are produced by unconscious thought.
There are some other key
points to understand regarding the role spiritual fluids as the vehicle of
thought:.
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Fluids carry thoughts just as the air carries sound. This means
that in these fluids, there are waves and rays of thoughts, crossing one
another without mixing, just like diverse sound waves traveling
simultaneously through air.
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Fluidic images are created when a spirit focuses its thought on a
particular idea, action, person, thing, etc. Via these fluidic images, the
Spirits thoughts are are then reflected in its perispirit (spirit body)
where they take form, as if photographed. This is how one Spirit can read
the thoughts of another-- it's day-to-day preoccupations, desires, and
intentions (good and bad).
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Fluids, not having their own intrinsic qualities, acquire their
qualities from the environment in which they are found.
As the vehicle of thought, they are imprinted with the
good or bad qualities of those thoughts that cause their degree of
vibration.
This is how Spirits, both incarnate and discarnate,
affect the fluidic quality of their given environment (anywhere from a
Spirit's personal energy field [the fluids that circulate close to the
Spirit's body] to a room in a building, or to a planet as a whole, depending
on the strength of the thought waves and the space & number of Spirits
in question). Negative, adverse thoughts (morally speaking) from inferior
spirits pollute the fluids, while positive, virtuous thoughts purify the
fluids and the environment. |
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The fluids also lack any particular denominates. They are characterized
by their properties, their affects, and their originating types. As
Kardec says in "Genesis", "From a moral standpoint, they
hold the nature of sentiments like hate, greed, jealousy, pride,
selfishness, violence, hypocrisy, as well as those such as good will,
benevolence, love, compassion, tenderness, etc. From a physical
standpoint, they can be calming, exciting, penetrating, stringent,
irritating, sweetening,
soporific [tranquilizing], narcotic, toxic, medicinal, expulsive
etc.; they can become a force of transmission, propulsion, etc."
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Not only do Spirits affect their Spiritual environment, they are also
affected by it. This is because, as Kardec says, "As the
environmental fluids are modified by a Spirit’s thought projections
Spirit’s perispirit, a constructive part of its entire being,
receives a direct and permanent impression made by those thoughts,
and will hold their good or bad qualities." This impression is made
by a Spirit's own thoughts, and to some degree, by the qualities of the
the thoughts of other Spirits occupying the same environment and that have
affected the fluids of that environment. Under the influence of these
fluids, the perispirit, in turn, reacts upon the material organism with
which it is molecularly attached, whereby the material body will
experience a healthy or negative impression, depending on the fluids'
qualities.
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The qualities of these fluids are the key to understanding how Spirits are
attracted to one another through a spiritual affinity, be it of a
positive or a negative moral nature.
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The fluids and their qualities, along with the perispirit (or the
semi-material, fluidic "envelope"/body of the spirit) play a
very important role in the occurrence and process of mediumistic
phenomena (see our section on mediumship for more information). |
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Click HERE
to read in more detail about action of the spirits upon the fluids,
fluidic creations, thought photography, and qualities of the fluids
in an excerpt from Allan Kardec's "Genesis".
These are very important
topics, key in understanding how we influence and are influenced by our
environment, and a must read in order to understand mediumship
phenomena. |
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THE
LIFE GIVING SUBSTANCE: The Vital Principleital
Principle
The
Vital Principle (also referred to as vitality, animal
magnetism or animal electricity /energy) is a substance
that gives life to all beings that absorb it, whereby life is an
effect produced by the action of an agent (vital principle) on
matter. This agent, without matter, is not matter, just
as matter has no life without it.
This life giving substance is a necessary element in the universe's
structure, but is not a distinct, primitive agent. It results
from a special modification of the cosmic principle (For
us, it's like oxygen, hydrogen, etc- a basic element, however still
only a modification of the cosmic principle).
The basic Vital Principle is
the same for all organic beings, but it is modified for each
species, giving that species its power of movement and activity, and
distinguishing it from inert matter.
Vitality
= Matter + Vital Principle
It is important to understand that the movement of matter itself is
not life or vitality (as matter is moved; it does not originate
movement). When the Vital Principle is not united with matter,
we can say that it is latent. Vitality is only developed
in connection with a body. This union brings forth
life. An analogy to this is a battery when united to an
electronic device. A battery contains electricity in a state
of potentiality. When set in motion by a special cause (ex:
completion of a circuit), we become aware of electricity's
particular effects. They battery "becomes alive". If
you remove the cause, the battery (like organic beings) becomes
inert. The Vital Principle acts as a catalyst to
organs; the interaction of organs then develops and keeps up
the vital principle, just like friction develops heat.
What
happens at Death ?
Bodily organs are saturated with vital energy, which communicates
necessary activity to all organs (ie-
response to disease & injury by reestablishing bodily functions
that have been temporarily suspended).
When organs are destroyed or too deeply injured, the vital energy is
powerless to animate them, and the being dies. Upon death, the
inert matter decomposes and becomes part of other
bodies. The Vital Principle returns to the general mass
of the cosmic principle.
The
reserves of vital energy in a given organism (upon or after
death):
- can be exhausted & thus become incapable of sustaining
life
- can be replenished through absorption & assimilation of
substances that contain it
- can be transmitted, for instance, from one individual to
another (one in which it is more abundant passes to one in which it
is lacking) ---> Translator’s Note in Spirit’s Book-
A.K.E.S. 1996
edition-
Laboratory evidences of transfer of energy were obtained through use
of Kirlian photography- process discovered in Russia. Book, 1970
Kardec, Allan.
"The Vital Principle." The Spirits' Book. Trans. Allan
Kardec Educational Society (translated from 2nd edition in French).
Philadelphia, PA. Allan Kardec Educational Society. 1996. 23-28.
Kardec, Allan.
"Explanatory Notes." The Spirits' Book. Trans. Allan
Kardec Educational Society (translated from 2nd edition in French).
Philadelphia, PA. Allan Kardec Educational Society. 1996. 369.
Kardec, Allan.
"Os Fluidos" [Fluids] A Genese [Genesis]. 37th ed. Trans. Guillon Ribeiro (translated
from 5th edition in French). Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil: Federação Espírita
Brasileira [Brazilian Spiritist Federation].1987. 273-288.
Melo, Jacob. "Assuntos
Complementares" [Complementary Subjects]. O Passe [Passes].
Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil: Federação Espírita Brasileira
[Brazilian Spiritist Federation].1987. Os Fluidos, 53-69.
Melo, Jacob. "Considerações
Sobre Os Fluidos" [Considerations Regarding the Fluids]. Cure-se
E Cure Pelos Passes [Heal Yourself And Others With Passes]. Sao
Paulo, Brazil: Editora Martin Claret. 2002. 41-52