audio book of,
Adelma von Vay (1887), 
 Aeons.

Explanation for this translation.
The books that have come through she, Adelma, as a channel, I have found to room so much wisdom, and are almost completely unknown to those spiritual researchers and seekers who do not read German, andd thus often escapes us spiritual researchers who are not so accustomed to reading German, and therefore I have been inspired, in the same way as Anton Rozman, to have some of those books translated into English, so that they can "reach out" to more people. 
Yes, in my spiritual search, I discovered that there are some ’ancient/old’ wisdom books, really worth studying,  many of such in German language. (f.x this) This despite the fact that I also found, what I now see as the most important,  «new world Impulse» long ago, (in-79). As I interpret it, this comes from beings belonging to the plane that in this Martinus' cosmology, is called the «realm/plane of wisdom» - marked with green color in this symbol.(link.) 	
Since I am not very familiar with the German language, I have attempted, out of curiosity, to translate this German edition of book 'Aeonen’ into English using Google Translate, as I could not find a complete English translation online. However, since the copied text was not 100% proofread, errors may have occurred, also possible errors via the translation by Google Translate.
      There may also be footnotes that are not marked as such or have been removed, but otherwise may be integrated into the text, which may lead to confusion in some places. The page numbers from the original online book have been partially retained.

Rune Øverby,  Norway, January 2026. 



«The humble channel» - Adelma Baroness von Vay,
Born  Wurmbrand. Colorized picture here.

«To the memory of my dear, unforgettable mother-in-law, Baroness Catharina Bay, I dedicate this book—to her, who was my teacher, guide, and friend in the study of spiritualism—to her, who set a high example for us. For she knew how to comfort the unfortunate, to lead sinners back to the right path, to heal the sick, and to help the poor.

You, O beloved Mother, see and hear me, so intimately one in life—are we now even more so; to you, who took such a deep part in my spiritual works, I dedicate this book, knowing full well that your transfigured spirit was also close to me, helping me in this endeavor. « (image is copied from an association formed in her honor, i.e. a colorized copy of an original black-and-white photograph>>)

Your grateful Adelma. 
Editor's Preface.
This book is partly spoken in a deep sleep, partly written in a spiritual state. The prayers were all spoken through me in a deep sleep, and indeed, the spirit of my sister Elisabeth spoke them through me. Elisabeth can truly be called an angel of God—she died at sixteen months old and was an exceptionally sweet and gifted child. I saw the light of day four months after her death.

The reflections marked with an asterisk, the Sentences, were also spoken in a deep sleep by a spirit who calls herself Hera. The remaining reflections are all written in the median. When I had written the dedication of this book to my mother-in-law, Geist, I asked her to give the book a name, to christen it; she wrote: “Call the book: ‘Aeons.’

I must now confess to my shame that I did not know what “Aeons” actually meant—so I looked it up in the dictionary and found this splendid, accurate explanation: “Among the Gnostics, ‘Aeons’ means: —divine forces —that have emanated from God since the beginning of time, and as independent spirits (the firstborn in spirit, power, and matter) preside over the various ages and world orders.” I was quite pleased with the book's title, for I had never received the name of the writing spirit in connection with the reflections; it simply signed itself: "Your Ladder" or: "One recognizes the spirit by its language."

The agreement of the meaning of the word "Aeons" with the first works in "Spirit, Power, Matter" seemed to me confirmation that such spirits had indeed written the reflections—since I had arrived at the name "Aeons" in such a peculiar way, a word certainly not originating from my own mind.

Adelina Vay-Wurmbrand.
Gonobitz, late 1887.

Dependence.
Nothing is so difficult for humankind to bear as dependence! Everyone wants to be free, and no one is. All are born to serve one another, the highest to the lowly, and the lowly to the highest. Those who dream of freedom are chasing a delusion, and what they call freedom is merely a different form of servitude. Absolute independence does not exist on this earth; and even if you live as a hermit, independent of others, you are still dependent on circumstances, on yourself, on your health, on everything around you. Do not complain about dependence; accept it, and you will be content. Dependence develops gradually, like the links of a chain so tightly interwoven; whoever shakes it commits an act of destruction. To alleviate the plight of those in great dependence is the duty of those in positions of power. But I tell you: loyalty and a sense of duty in dependence are great virtues, and the truth lies in them.

The responsibility of those who are meant to lead and guide their dependents is the greatest of all.
Adelma and husband, picture.    

Old age.
To people, old age appears so dreary and incapable. They perceive the decline of the body too materially—the spirit, after all, does not age; it is supposed to increase in abilities and good qualities, and become ever more perfect as a person grows older. Consequently, to the spiritual eye, old age appears far more beautiful than youth. The short-sighted person always associates death with old age, and never with youth, while death spares no age, and all kinds of things can come. Every day, O human being, you must be ready to depart, for you know neither the day nor the hour of your calling from this earth.
—Why then do you grieve, dear friend, when your hair turns gray, and when your body is no longer in the bloom of youth? Are these not external matters? Only that which belongs to the grave, that which you cannot take with you, that which is transient, withers away. But that which endures forever, your spirit, rises above all things—immortal, unforgettable! Do not grieve over old age; it shall heal you of all the vanity and vanity of youth; it shall show you how all outward charms fade and only the inner beauty of the spirit endures. Surrendered to God, patient, old age shall find you, more perfect than in youth; thus old age will be for you the golden gate through which you enter the kingdom of God.
Work.
Work is the bread of the spirit and the body; work means: creation. Everyone who works, creates. God is the greatest and first worker. He never rests! He is never idle. Restless, too, are the forces of nature, driven by God. Tireless the earth in its fertility, the sea in its movement! Plants and animals are restless in their growth, flourishing, and development. Everything in nature does what life, the laws of nature, command it to do. Only humans can be idle, because they possess free will, which leads them to good and fulfillment, but also astray. Humans should work with mind, intellect, and reason; they should think. The idler and lazybones are inferior to animals because they do not use their abilities and leave them dormant. Work gives the poor their daily bread, for work should be intellectual bread for the rich—they should work tirelessly, tirelessly, for others. Using money for idleness is a great injustice. Many who have done this will, after their death, wish they had been a poor day laborer, for the years spent in idleness will weigh heavily on their conscience and spirit.
—Work is the health of mind and body. O people, do not rest. Work:
—for yourselves and on yourselves—but above all, work for others with joy and enthusiasm!

Poverty
People consider poverty the greatest misfortune, yet it is often the path to eternal salvation. Poverty is the surest and best penance for the spirit. And if the poor knew that through hunger and hardship they were atoning for the sins of a past life and gaining liberation and salvation for their spirits, they would bear their difficult lot more patiently. There are those who want to eradicate poverty at once by overthrowing social conditions. They are not so much driven by the desire to help the poor; rather, they are guided by ambition, overconfidence, and the desire to be the leader of a reform and revolutionary party. They act against God's commands, and these cannot be overturned. Has a social revolution ever helped the poor? Has it not always brought murder, destruction, hardship, and misery?

Since poverty exists on earth, it must have its moral and spiritual purpose in a completely different light than that of the materialist or socialist. A poor spirit, or a poor, good Christian, will never complain about their poverty, for both will submit to God's order, knowing full well that there must be a reason for it. People consider poverty a disgrace; they are ashamed of poor relatives, and yet Christ, the Lord, was poor! He owned nothing in this wide world, and all his apostles and disciples were poor, and there wasn't a rich person among them either. Did Christ ever speak out against poverty, as today's self-proclaimed world improvers do? On the contrary, Christ pitied the rich because salvation is harder for them to attain than for the poor. Poverty is a path to heaven. It teaches prayer and is a master of patience and trust in God. And when despair grips the heart of the poor, believe me—God is near—He hears the voice of the poor. Christ.


He was the friend of the poor! He, the Most High, loved the poor. Doesn't that soften your sorrow? Human beings, you too should love the poor, be their friends, help them in the penance they must endure; do not be ashamed of the poor; they are your brothers; give them this physical bread. Human aid—they will repay you with spiritual bread, with prayer, and one day with spiritual help.

Resurrection.
The Lord is risen! In this cry of joy and rapture, you find your own resurrection. This is what the Christian faith focuses on. Jesus is risen! Therefore, you too must rise. There is no death, but there is a resurrection. The perishable body will pass away, an incorruptible one will rise. This is how the Spirit understands the resurrection, not in the sense of the resurrection of the flesh and bones we have laid aside here. Christ never expressed himself in that sense anywhere. The body we lay down here is of the earth, it belongs to the earth; but the spirit is of God—it is God's—it does not die and rises after physical death. 
There is no death; Christ, through his appearance after death, destroyed all death. You will say: Christ rose with his body, the body had disappeared from the grave. Yes—for Christ came and was born on earth under entirely different circumstances than humans. He had the power of self-incorporation, so he also had the power of self-transformation or dissolution of this body; this lies in Christ's power and is divine power. For you, resurrection means immortality, and should you be born a hundred times on earth, you will rise from death each time until you have reached the degree of excellence that transcends these transformations, then there is no more death, no more resurrection, then there is—eternal life!



Sacrifice.
Many people call even the simplest act of love a sacrifice; but true sacrifice is much more than that. When you do something loving and good for your neighbor at the expense of your own ego, at the expense of your comfort, at the risk of harming yourself—that is true sacrifice! When you do something, completely forgetting yourself, putting yourself last, thinking only of others. Many works of mercy and dutiful charity are already called sacrifices, and are simply acts of love for one's neighbor and Christian duty. If, for example, you feed an elk while being full yourself, this is not a sacrifice; it is a simple act of kindness. Sacrifice puts one's life at risk; it is an extremely rare quality. How often do pride and ambition call themselves sacrifices? Appearances are deceiving. If you want to see true and genuine sacrifice, look to Jesus. Here you will find self-sacrifice in its highest perfection. Learn from Jesus, follow him.
Sincerity.
Sincerity is born with a person; it is an innate quality. Some spirits possess it; it can be difficult to cultivate. It is often a blessing, often a curse. In any case, sincerity is the reflection of a faithful, good heart. The sincere person will have both friends and bitter enemies. If all people were sincere, the world would be a better, happier place. The sincere person is like a sunflower that fearlessly turns its full face to the light, free and open. The sincere person is God's friend; blessed is the one whose soul is free from false appearances and illusions. Though the world may persecute them, they are a child of God.

Mercy.
Be merciful, just as your Father in heaven is merciful. Does he who is harsh and unjust toward his brothers truly deserve mercy? If God were to you as you often are to your neighbor, who could stand? Alas, dear friends, you cannot be merciless enough. God's mercy opens the gates of heaven for you;—do not close your door to the weary traveler. God's mercy refreshes you daily and blesses you with a thousand undeserved gifts—oh, so refresh the hungry and the sick, and give from the abundance of a good, merciful heart. The Good Samaritan, of whom Jesus speaks, be your example; act as he did. But be merciful without expecting anything in return, for whoever does good with calculation does it only halfway.

Vocation.
Every person in this world receives a vocation upon their incarnation, i.e., He is called to accomplish and do something specific. God sends spirits to Earth for a particular calling and purpose. Being born is not a matter of chance, as many say; it is a special law for each individual. Understanding one's calling is a difficult matter; it requires, first and foremost, self-knowledge. Can I tell you
Do this or that? Do I have the skills, the strength for it? Overestimating yourself will never lead you to discover your true calling.
Follow the voice of your heart, your innermost feelings, ask God for enlightenment, and you will find the path to your calling. A wrongly chosen profession has often destroyed entire lives and been a wasted existence—oh, sad words! Reason and intellect alone cannot choose a profession, for the heart also wants its pursuits in this life. Woe to him who silences his heart and lets only ambition speak. His life is no longer a life; it is a greed to reach a goal that is set too high. If you have children, observe them closely, study them, let them speak freely and openly, and strive to discern from them the profession best suited to them. Everything is best formed in early childhood; later, external factors exert a great influence on the growing youth. People are often too reckless in choosing their profession. Many force themselves into a life that is their moral death; most are not content with the position God has given them and yearn for something more. Pray earnestly to God for insight into your life's calling, so that you may fulfill the task God has set before you.

Humility.
"Few qualities make a person as beloved as modesty, for it is full of charm, gentleness, and kindness; it is not arrogant, it does not consider itself great. Modesty makes one great through this very quality. In modesty there is nothing pompous, no pride, no overestimation of oneself; it wins people's hearts, it is rooted only in noble natures. Some claim that modesty harms a person's progress, that it is a hindrance. This is a misconception; immodesty makes one unpopular and will harm you in every way. In modesty lies inner virtue, humility, the most beautiful adornment of humankind. Modesty makes you warm friends, but immodesty makes enemies, is arrogant and ignoble. Those who do not grasp the inner value of modesty are blind to one of the most beautiful flowers in the wreath of virtues.

Improvement.
Improvement is possible for everyone!" Christ gave you the parable of the prodigal son; read it carefully; it is touching and moving in its simplicity and depth. How lovingly the father welcomes the prodigal son back. All his sins are forgiven and forgotten because of his repentant conversion—the father forgives! How much more will God, the Father of all goodness, forgive your sins if you ask Him for forgiveness in full repentance. I appeal to the hearts of all mothers; let them say if there is no forgiveness. I know many a mother whose heart threatened to break because of wayward children, whose head turned gray early with grief over her child's ingratitude; and look, as soon as the child fell into need and misery, into illness—the mother was there, forgiving, forgetting! Better is the great, reconciling element, the annihilation of sin, the conversion of all evil to good. To the worst sinner, therefore, we cry out: Man, stop! Repent, do not despair; improvement is possible; it never comes too late. Call upon Jesus. He came for all sinners! You will find grace in the Redeemer! There you will find comfort and strength for your repentance. No sin is too great for God to forgive you if you repent. — Christ came for all of you; — look to Him, the Redeemer from all sin.

Pray.
It was night. All was quiet; I had just been praying and was wondering whether the dear God, among the many prayers being spoken to Him, had heard mine. What am I, a poor little human creature, among the trillions of living and thinking beings in the universe? Does God hear everyone? — Then my faint vision expanded, a blessed feeling came over me, an angel approached me, laid His shining hand on my forehead, and a glorious image unfolded before my mind's eye!
15
“Come,” said the angel who called him/-herself Hera, “come, child, and see!
We found ourselves in a sea of ??worlds. Guided by Hera, I floated in the ether. We were already high above the earth, surrounded by clouds and stars.
“Now,” Hera said, “you shall see, feel, and hear the prayers of the earth.”
At first, I perceived a chaotic noise, a jumble of voices, pleas, cries, raging, sobs, praise, and thanksgiving. “Must the dear Lord listen constantly?” I asked Hera. “Yes,” the angel answered; “to the omnipresence, much more is revealed that no one sees or hears except He, the Most High! Only God can comprehend it! These are only the voices of the earth that you hear—but He, God, can hear it all.”
“He hears the voices of the universe!”
Out of the chaos of the worlds arose little golden clouds, magnificent to behold. From them resounded a wondrous harmony; alas, only a few such golden clouds emerged from the whole; they seemed to me like rare, precious gems. From them came sweet voices, singing: “Lord, Thy will be done! As You will, O God! God is our love, our faith, our hope!” Heavy tears of resignation, sighs, deep sorrow lay in the golden cloud—all borne in God.
“Look, this is the purest and best prayer,” said Hera; “they ask for nothing but the fulfillment of God’s will; they do not complain, they are resigned, patient; this is the prayer of faith, of love. Like arrows, it pierces the ocean of ether—swiftly—this prayer is with God the moment it is spoken.” — Gone were the glorious golden clouds; their wondrous harmony echoed in my soul. — Now came all sorts of little silver clouds; they floated so lightly and were so fresh and lovely; like a breath of spring they came towards me, sparkling with fragrance; a wondrously sweet chime sounded from them.
“These are the prayers of children,” said Hera; “God loves them. Listen how pious and faithful they sound! How full of conviction that God hears them. Here rings the prayer of poor children in need and misery, it is the strongest of all; there the death knell of the angels who leave the earth. This silver cloud, too, blares in swift flight, ringing, singing, borne on angels’ wings, up to God!”

17

Now the clouds grew ever darker; my gaze fell upon some light gray clouds, which were quite pretty to look at; only the sounds emanating from them were discordant; That was unpleasant; they also made no progress; they lay leaden in the ether.
... “Look,” said Hera, “these clouds, so beautiful yet full of dissonance, are the prayers of the hypocrites, the shams, and the Pharisees. It is lip service, a torrent of words that moves only slowly and cannot find its way to God! How these clouds were pierced by the prayers of repentance; they shot up to God like lightning, like sparks of fire flying to heaven. They were the prayers of great sinners, repentance carried them high! The prayers of the dying came, rising from angels. But, look! What stretches up to heaven like tongues of fire? “That is the praying and crying of those who are in mortal danger and misery,” said Hera sadly, “cries of lamentation from those who only learn to pray at the last moment; this prayer is in haste; here, see the prayer of despair, how it stretches out from all the others! Now we have only the last thing to see,” said Hera. Furthermore,

"Here in the black, chaotic clouds, which, like an impenetrable mess, constantly revolve around themselves, have no power to reach God and remain stuck on the earth—these are earthly prayers. Requests for gold and splendor, senseless prayers of superstition, spoken without faith in the great God, cannot reach God, since they contain nothing divine, nothing spiritual. — Do you now know how you should pray?" Hera asked me. "Yes," I said, "God, Thy will be done! Amen, Amen!"

Evil.

'We are sent to earth to overcome evil. Where does evil come from, since God is goodness itself and everything comes from Him? Evil comes from the fall of spirits. (Footnote ¤footnote). Where does the fall of spirits come from? From pride. But how could well-created spirits become proud?

' Footnote: Deepest seen, it (the so-called Fall-) springs from the saturation of light, harmony, and love in the highest cosmic spheres. With this saturation, the being seeks contrast, which then manifests as a longing for the opposite, which is spiritual darkness and is so "programmed" as a self-preservation instinct as soon as a new cycle begins in the plant- but more significant in the animal- kingdom, it will be led into in this coming cycle. This is logically explained in Martinus' cosmology. RØ-remark.

God gave them free will and reason; he placed love in their minds—they were now to learn and develop, they were children, meant to grow in goodness. — Well, then some outliers emerged—degenerate children—and from this came evil. The children of God, the spirits, were not meant to be slaves, but free, self-thinking, self-acting beings; but some broke the law, and so came the opposite of sin, evil, pain, misery, incarnation, death! Evil must be overcome, the degenerate children must be converted—but how? Through love, kindness, and patience. Only God's long-suffering can achieve it. Hasty ranting and raving against evil only brings bitterness. Intolerance has always only harmed, never helped or even converted. Be strict and harsh only with yourself; begin with yourself and stifle every seed of evil, but foremost 
Be gentle with others. All evil must yield to the power of love. The concepts of evil and good are very different. When the disciples called Christ "Good Master," the Lord said, "Who is good? — Only God is good." He would have admonished the disciples in the same way had they called someone "evil." God alone sees into the hearts of people; leave judgment to God. Jesus condemned no one, so do not condemn anyone either. He who is an enemy of evil cannot be harmed by it; he who is good need not fear evil. Look the enemy in the face and conquer him, God is with you.


The bread of the spirit and the body.
Therefore, we want to tell you a few things about the division of your spiritual and physical duties, about the enjoyment of spiritual and physical bread. Every excess of one or the other is harmful to either the spirit or the body. Thank God that you have physical labor alongside your intellectual pursuits, that you must work for your life; for work keeps the mind fresh, supple, and energetic. Look at the idlers, at those who, living in comfort, sink into the sleep of the mind. They think of the body and its comfort and pleasure; their hours creep by slowly and sluggishly; yawning and with pale faces, you encounter them on your business trips, in the streets and promenades, often envying them in your innermost heart. Oh, if you knew what emptiness dwells within, you wouldn't want to exchange places with them. They drive, ride, make visits, talk of trifles, and, weary from doing nothing, lie down listlessly, to begin and end the new day in the same way. They grasp at stimulants, harmful to the body and destructive to the mind, to kill the tedious time. Amidst such a sluggish life, their minds lose all elasticity, all capacity for deep thought. Death approaches, and what do they gain from their wealth? A fearful, arduous tearing away from the earth. 
For they enter a realm entirely foreign and unknown to them; they know nothing of the spirit world. Their awakening in the spiritual realm will be slow and anxious. Indeed, even then they will pursue their former needs; even then they will want to travel, eat, drink, and gamble, for their minds have grown accustomed to them. Yes, human failings haunt the mind even into the afterlife! Therefore, the more you familiarize yourselves with spiritual life, the easier your death will be, the more quickly you will find yourselves at home in the spirit realm.
Here we have described to you the extreme of physical nourishment. The extreme of spiritual nourishment would be if a spirit who possesses spiritual doctrine were to completely neglect their earthly affairs and work, relying solely on spirits for their advancement and doing nothing but indulging in spiritual pursuits, abandoning all human and professional obligations. What should be recreation would then become excess; it would be a departure from the prescribed path of work. Excessive indulgence in spiritual matters is also harmful; you would soon tire of it, lose heart in the face of so-called deceptions of spirits, to which you attribute divine power, and ultimately, disbelief would destroy all previously gained work. The thoughtful researcher in the spiritual realm will strike the right balance. They will fulfill their daily work with pleasure and joy, carrying within them the treasure of the spiritual. The Spirit will think to itself: I will work diligently and faithfully, for this is inherent in my voluntary incorporation into my earthly mission; since I voluntarily assumed the task of providing for my daily bread, I will work with joy and enthusiasm; the high, good spirits always surround me, even in the midst of my work; they give me joy and strength. How blessed I am that, in the toils of the day, I carry within me the awareness of their existence and presence. This is a precious treasure that the richest, if they are not Spirits or believers in the Spirit, do not possess.
When you have done enough work and the hours of rest arrive, which you otherwise spent in worldly chatter or games, squandering your earnings, make these hours a true rest; withdraw; commune, if possible, with your good spirits, pray—speak with God, and receive your daily spiritual bread. Yes, in these true hours of rest you will find the healing assimilation with the pure forces that draw you up to God. In these hours of spiritual contemplation, the benevolent spirits transform every drop of sweat from your brow into precious pearls of spiritual knowledge, coupled with the fulfillment of duty—and God's love and blessing are with you.

	Brotherhood.
There is much talk of brotherhood on earth, but it is not truly practiced. Do not do to others what you would not want done to you! Therein lies true brotherly love. Be with others as you would like to be treated. The so-called socialists are those who claim to represent the ideas of brotherhood on earth, and yet they themselves make them an abomination to the world and do to others precisely what they would not want done to them; they do not understand brotherhood in the sense of Jesus and do not take Jesus, who was the best brother to his fellow human beings, as their example. Did Jesus ever offend the authorities? Did he wage war? When they arrested him, mocked him, and called out to him, "Now set yourself free!"—he did not answer; but to his disciples he said, "I could well ask the Father to send legions of angels to deliver me; but I have come to fulfill the law." So much did He, the first, submit to God's prescribed law out of great love for humanity, out of brotherly love. Did Jesus ever want to take away the rights of the rich? Did He ever use force or revile anyone?
He pitied the rich because it was difficult for them to attain the Kingdom of Heaven, and He showed them the way to God and told them: "Give your wealth to the poor." Jesus brought love and peace through His brotherhood. Remember this and imitate Christ's example.
Love people as your brothers do good and do not be arrogant; let each one fulfill the duty of brotherhood as much and as well as he can, for we are all children of one God, without rank or greatness, without status or nobility; what is of the earth is cast aside, it is only borrowed property—virtue alone remains before God. 

Repentance.
If you wish to improve yourselves, then repent. Repentance is the cure for all sins. The earth is a star, a world of repentance. How many atone for their sins and crimes here! True penitent lives you can see on earth. Therefore, do not murmur, you who are pursued by misfortune, by suffering and woe; praise God, you atone for your sins. You are on earth: you are unaware of this; you ask yourselves, "Why must all this suffering befall me?" Be still and submit to God; even death will make everything clear to you, and you will thank God for saving repentance. Therefore, dear friends, let your repentance on earth be of utmost importance to you; seek comfort in the awareness that you do not suffer without reason, and that all things work together for good to those who love God. Repentance is the step to perfection; without it, there is no redemption from sin.

Christ.
The cornerstones of knowledge are truth and clarity. You, as spirits, want to know how you stand on the question of Christ? Almost all those who concern themselves with spiritism, and who are still bound by dogma, avoid the question of Christ. We speak according to the clear understanding of our spirits and tell you: He has never spoken true who does not acknowledge Christ as the Son of God. The spirits contradict each other in their pronouncements because only a few possess perfect truth, pure knowledge. Many are called, few are chosen! The truth is like a nugget of gold, hard to find, yet when it is found, it is the most precious thing of all.
— Elsewhere, we have already explained that Christ, the Son of God, His firstborn, is of a different essence and origin than the spirits created after the Fall. This is divine truth. In the beginning, when God created His firstborn, Christ also came; He was born of God the Father from the beginning; out of love for the Father, to redeem the earth from sin, He became man—to complete the doctrine of God—to redeem humanity—to fulfill the prophecies of the prophets.
— The Israelites awaited the Son of God as the Messiah, as He truly came in His essence. Some of them recognized Him and became His followers—“Christians.” That now, precisely in the time of the fulfillment of Christ's word, in the time of revelations, many Christians deny Jesus the messianic office, His divinity, while Israelites come to knowledge and faith in Christ, is a sign of the times. We base our word on the prophets and on Jesus; there is no way around it. Whoever seeks the power of this truth, to them it will be revealed, for whoever seeks the truth seeks God—and God hears the voice of those who cry out.

Christianity.
Love God above all else, and your neighbor as yourself. This is the essence of all Christianity. Believe in God the Father, follow the example of Jesus, love humanity, do good. A rich young man asked Jesus: “Lord, what must I do to follow you?”
The answer was, “Keep the commandments, and if you want to be perfect, sell your possessions and give to the poor.”
— The young man became sad, and the master probably did too, for he knew how difficult such discipleship is.
Therein lies Christianity: in works of mercy, in love and kindness. True Christianity knows neither sword nor war—it does not condemn—it does not destroy—it is merciful, peaceful, poor—strong in its simplicity, strong in its love for God and neighbor. But there are few true Christians, few true followers of Jesus. Look at the apostles and disciples; they were faithful followers of the Lord; though flawed, they still strove to become like Him.
In the next chapter, we will consider Christianity and Buddhism, these two greatest religions of the earth: Christianity, under which the true spiritual and intellectual believer places himself, and Buddhism, the religion of the Theosophists of India.
True Christianity knows neither sword nor war—it does not condemn—it does not destroy—it is merciful, peaceful, poor—strong in its simplicity, strong in its love for God and neighbor. Christianity and Buddhism.
When one compares Christianity and Buddhism, Christ and Buddha, the former is clearly superior because a civilizing force prevails. It is always regrettable when the study of mysticism leads people away from Christianity.
Christianity represents tremendous progress toward morality and civilization. Christianity has had a redeeming, liberating, and spiritualizing effect; it has broken the barriers and prejudices of the caste system, for it proclaims that all people are equal before God, that virtue and morality triumph over everything else.
Christianity has transformed the slave into a woman and establishes woman as equal to man; she has become a friend and companion through the introduction of Christian marriage. By speaking to women—to Martha, Mary, and Magdalene—Christ redeemed all women from the bondage of servitude and slavery. Christ gave His teachings to the whole world and humanity—freely and openly, without secrecy. He associated with the poorest sinners, with rich and poor, with learned and unlearned. Christianity established no castes, no Brahmins as the sole possessors of divine secrets, no pariahs. Christ brought all humanity closer to God, regardless of social class.
He proclaimed the positive God, preaching about the Father and Creator who loves all His children equally, and whom we should love in return. Christ's teaching is without all sophistry, without hypocrisy. "The feet shall see God," "Today you will be with me in paradise"—these are clear words; there is no indeterminate God, no dissolution, no annihilation; this is redemption. Jesus died for sinners; He redeems humanity; sinners are not lost.
—But Buddhists allow sinners to be lost, in a slow dissolution. Buddha is not the Messiah who came to redeem sinners!—The reconciling principle of Christ, this all-encompassing love, is so wondrous. A primary reason why Christianity triumphs over Buddhism is the resurrection of Christ, his appearance after death.
—Let the world doubt this resurrection, let scholars deny it—it is nonetheless real, and on this Christianity and the belief in immortality are primarily founded. If Christ had not risen, he would not have been the Redeemer, the divine Messiah, and his teachings would not have found such devoted followers. Yet this victory over all death, this glorious resurrection prophesied by himself, is what gives Christianity its divine breath, its spiritual power. Buddha, though a great prophet, a holy man, is not a redeemer who overcame death through resurrection—he was not the firstborn of God, as Jesus is.
Buddha did not transform humanity into one great nation. Throughout all the millennia, religion in India remained the property, the secret of priests and the rich; the poor people had only superstition—idolatry, no redeeming, uplifting, spiritualizing power. Christianity, on the other hand, immediately became the religion of the people; it destroys all idols and leads to God alone. Therefore, Christianity is the religion of the world and of all nations; no religion is so widespread across the entire earth, embraces all nations so completely, and makes them brothers and sisters like Christianity. Christianity, understood in the true Christ-like sense, preached as the apostles did, in the sense of love, redemption, and brotherhood, is the highest happiness of all peoples. Look at the small band of Christians; they resisted the great Roman Empire, the emperors, and the priests.
Despite persecutions of every kind, it has become the religion of the world. Who gave the Christians this courage? Faith in God—the salvation of Christ. Why would the Indians have this lack of courage when the foreigners invaded their land is why the Buddhists could not convert the Christians? Because Buddhism is not a people's religion—because it lacks the Redeemer, the God of the Christians. O Christians, hold fast to Jesus, hold fast to your positive God, the Father of all beings, hold fast to unconditional immortality, and follow Christ's example of love.
O may humanity regain simple, straightforward Christianity; spiritualism is called to restore the teachings of Christ in their truth; that is why it is so harshly condemned by human constructs, the orthodox churches, because, shedding the human, it seeks only the divine star. Christian spiritualism is the religion of the future, which is to fulfill Christ's word and will unite all people in one faith, in one love.
Buddhism can never become the world's religion because of its ambiguity regarding God, the afterlife, and immortality. Magic and theosophy, which claim to be merely science, also fail to lead to true faith; they seek to create; like materialism, they believe in themselves, in their own will, in their creations, not in the omnipotent will of a creator. Pure faith in God, however, and humble Christian love work miracles that are alien to magic.
Christ did not appear as a magician, but rather as a redeemer. All power was given to Him. The purpose of life is to draw closer to God, to ennoble oneself, to do good—and since the teachings of Jesus show us the way so clearly—why seek other paths? O spirits, join hands and say: Jesus is our teacher, let us follow Him. Truly, the power of the believing Christian is greater than any other, for God is in Him.

Gratitude.
People often ask and complain to God, but they rarely thank Him, and yet every person has countless opportunities and reasons to do so each day. To thank, praise, and glorify God. Gratitude is such a beautiful quality; it springs from the good heart, the noble mind of sensitive people. Look, even animals are grateful and appreciative of a kind word. How many people could learn gratitude from animals! Have you thanked God for having eyes that allow you to see God's beauty far and wide? Have you thanked Him for health, reason, and understanding? For every healthy hour of life, you should thank God. See how many lie on sickbeds in pain and suffering? Do you thank God when He gives you the opportunity to learn, understand, and comprehend this or that? Have you thanked Him for the suffering and pain that bring salvation to your spirit? Truly, I tell you, you should thank God a hundred times a day. Do not grumble, do not complain, and if any affliction befalls you, look to the sunny side of this life and thank God. No one is in perpetual darkness. Everyone has something to thank God for—moments of light in life for which they should praise God. Be grateful not only to God, but also to others for every kind word—gratitude ennobles. Ingratitude, however, is a black stain on the soul that is difficult to erase.

Humility.
... Humility is, in the eyes of many, nonsense, a servitude, a virtue of fools, and yet it is the foundation of every virtue, for without humility there is no perfection. "Learn from me—I am humble," says Christ. It is humility that gives glory to the scholar, greatness to the virtuous. Without humility, scholarship is consumed by self-importance; without humility, there is no virtue. Learn from Christ: see how humble He is, who held the power of God in His hand. Does He praise Himself? Does He extol His knowledge, His power, His virtue? Or is He not rather humility itself? See Him, the Most High, as He washes the feet of His disciples at the Last Supper, to give an example of humility. Are the rebukes He gives to others not always full of gentle love? — O my friends, cultivate humility; it makes you great and strong before God and man. In humility lies the power of silently governing love.
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Humor attains a deeper, better knowledge than arrogant self-aggrandizement. Whoever is humble sees with spiritual eyes, recognizes themselves, and the divine mysteries reveal themselves to them.

Egoism. 
Love of one's own "self" is the destroyer of the best qualities. Egoism is like a worm that gnaws away at everything that is good and noble in a person; it kills feeling and heart, makes one cruel and merciless, and leads one into a desolate wilderness where one is soon alone and left to one's own devices. How easily it creeps
Love for oneself in the hearts of humankind! Yes, almost everyone loves themselves too much! There is rarely anyone who is entirely free from selfishness.
— O my friend, watch and pray! Do not let this abominable monster enter your heart, for where self-love reigns, all other love is dead. God sent you to this earth so that you might live for others, give love to others. Christ gave himself up for humanity. May he shine before you as the most sublime example of the greatest love and selflessness. He loved you more than himself—follow him, love others more than yourselves.

Marriage.
Marriage is supposed to be the intimate union of two lovers, the fulfillment of their deepest longing, faithful, pure love, bliss, paradise on earth. And what has everyday marriage degenerated into? 
A business transaction, a contract that the parties rarely keep faithfully. In the eyes of the world, the inviolability of marriage has become a laughingstock. It has become, unfortunately, the custom in some so-called world cities, for a woman to ignore her husband in public; from the moment marriage binds them, he is no longer her "beloved." The married woman is independent in worldly affairs. Worldly people, those who live for pleasure, have stripped marriage, this sacred union of two lovers, of all its consecration and poetry. Married couples who openly demonstrate their faithful union are considered tasteless by some. But when the world discovers any illicit love affair, it finds it highly interesting! Marital fidelity is all too often met with pitying smiles by worldly people; nowhere do they find love less interesting than in marriage.
— Women and men, you yourselves are to blame if all the poetic aura has vanished from marriage. You let your blossoms be trampled into the mud, you brazenly allow the sacred treasure of love to be stolen from you; you yourselves are the charlatans who betray what is most sacred; you allow evil woe to enter and are too weak to live the ideal of your love, to die nobly for this love. Marriage should be the most sublime alliance, the most sacred vow of eternal fidelity between two lovers. "Therefore, let him who binds himself forever consider whether heart finds heart!" If the marriage is then blessed with children, it seems almost impossible that fidelity and happiness could vanish from it.
The girl's heart, which innocently and purely gives itself to the beloved in complete love, will know how to preserve the ideal of this love until the end of her life, if, following the course of noble love, she places dignity and trust in it. It is up to the man to maintain such love in his wife: a woman's heart is faithful to the one she loves, grateful to the one who gives her love. It often depends on trifles, man—and you would possess this woman's faithful heart forever; trifles bind eternally, just as they often shatter everything.
The possession of his beloved in marriage, instead of constantly bringing her joy, often turns the man into the most capricious husband and tyrant, stingy with displays of affection, for he considers himself secure, for she is his. This concept of ownership brings slavery into marriage; ownership ends where love begins—it possesses.
A woman never feels so secure in her husband's possession; she often trembles, and in wanting to do everything to please him, she often does too much. It is also habit that robs marriage of its poetry. How can love become habit? For men, it's the urge for comfort and tranquility that drives them—women are always searching for fresh buds, blossoming ideals of love.
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The woman loves him, her ideal—the man loves his ideal in the woman. There is nothing more sublime than the union of two lovers through marriage, nothing worse than a marriage without love. Whoever enters into marriage without love, like a business transaction, commits a threefold wrong—before God, before himself, and before the being with whom he unites. The indissolubility of marriage should motivate us never to enter into it without love and careful consideration.
—Listen to how strictly Jesus speaks about marriage. Mark 10. “And they said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to divorce his wife.’ Jesus answered, ‘Because of your hardness of heart, he wrote this commandment: “But from the beginning of creation, God created male and female. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be herds of one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate.”’ And Matthew 19: “I tell you, whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
To read Furthermore, Ephesians chapter 5. — Everywhere in the New Testament where marriage is mentioned, its indissolubility is affirmed, and spouses are urged to strict discipline and love. In Mark 10:6, Christ refers to the creation of the dual spirits.
Whoever carries the faith, the concept of the dual, within them will know that there is a spiritual, pre-earthly, eternally lasting marriage that binds the spirits: they will not enter into marriage lightly on earth; they will ask God to assist them in choosing a life partner; they will seek their dual until they find it. Love in marriage must be complementary, a dual love. God “creates the spirits in pairs, male and female—and they shall be two in one spirit and flesh.”

Honor.
People often use the word “honor”; They speak at every moment of their word of honor, which forbids them this or that; they swear on their honor that it is so or so; indeed, they stand before one another, murder weapon in hand, to defend their honor; yet the concept of what people in the world call "honor" remains a purely human matter: this concept is composed of pride and delusion. It is an honor for a person when someone of high standing speaks to them, enters their house—a disgrace if it is a poor, insignificant person; moral goodness is not considered.
The rich are revered, the poor despised. Wealthy relatives are always spoken of, poor relatives without name or position are ignored. Honor should be the epitome of righteousness and brotherhood. There must be no falsehood, no deceit or cunning, no pride in it. Honor must be pure and perfect. How many of those who, as they call it, contest every honorable contest or duel, and calmly shoot their opponent, are dishonorable in things the world cannot see. Honor must be before God, not before the world; that is true honor. Be faithful and honest before God, and you will be so before people; be faithful before your conscience, examine your heart; let no dark stain cling to your soul, only then will you have true honor. Give glory to God, not to people—all glory belongs to Him. The duel for honor has not washed away the stain. Human blood does not wash away sin, and only adds crime to it. Let reconciliation prevail; it neither straightens what is crooked nor erases sin.

Ambition.
Like everything in this world, ambition also has two sides, a good one and a bad one. Good ambition is that which strives for all that is noble and spiritual, pursues only lofty, good goals, and seeks to attain the highest virtue. Evil ambition, which corrupts people, is full of pride and strives for worldly, human things; it wants to be great in the eyes of others and spares no means, however wicked, to achieve the desired goal. Many, often quite gifted, people fall victim to this ambition, and few can maintain themselves at the dizzying heights they have forced upon themselves. The works of vain ambition collapse like a house of cards, while the deeds of noble ambition endure forever.

Jealousy.
I would call jealousy a disease. In any case, the one afflicted by it is more to be pitied than those who suffer from it. Often the best of people suffer from this torment and are blind to their own faults. Jealousy blinds you and casts others in a bad, false light. Those who suffer from this flaw strive to fight jealousy with all their might. It is said that there is no love without jealousy. This is not true for you—on the contrary, jealousy wounds and destroys true love because it is doubt about love. Sensual love will struggle with jealousy, but not pure spiritual love! The love that trusts and believes—only this is perfect. Jealousy is the bitter drop in the love of so many! It is the source of torment, of strife among many. Oh, eradicate it, this evil jealousy, this troublemaker, this tormentor of yourselves. Believe and trust, let no mistrust disturb the sweet peace of love.

modesty.
Love that trusts and believes—only this is perfect. Jealousy is the bitter drop in the love of so many! It is the source of torment, of strife among many. Oh, eradicate it, this evil jealousy, this troublemaker, this tormentor of yourselves. Believe and trust, let no mistrust disturb the sweet peace of love.
Simplicity, ridiculed and mocked by the world, is a gift from God, the property of pure hearts and peaceful people; it is innate, inherent in the spirit, and cannot be artificially created. Education and art often seek to eradicate simplicity, as it appears foolish to the world, instead of allowing it to be the most beautiful adornment for humankind. Simplicity is wise without knowing it; it is the wisdom of innocence, the true and honest feeling of a pure heart. Love for God and for humankind dwells in the heart of the simple. Many a simple person has spoken a great word that would astound even the wisest.
 Don't children, in their simplicity, often ask questions that even the most learned cannot answer? Doesn't the intellect of men then stand speechless before the child's simplicity? Sweet simplicity, you are like the fragrance of flowers. Storm, rain, nothing can obscure it. The world's pressures, heartache, pain, the simple heart will always find solace and surrender to God, a wisdom often lacking in the most learned. Therefore, simplicity, which it despises, is truly to be envied, dwelling in its heart.


Solitude.
Should man seek solitude? Is it good to withdraw from the world and lead a contemplative life? To renounce everything, so goes the great phrase, to live for God alone, for contemplation, for prayer. But does that also mean: to live for God? Did God send man into the world to live alone? The contemplative life has no charitable purpose, only a selfish one. You want to find salvation in solitude, to be alone with God, and you despise the world. Certainly, it is easier to live without sin in this way than in the other, namely, when you live among people, interact with them, and must bear their weaknesses, forgetting yourself as you serve them, remaining steadfast amidst all kinds of temptations.
— No, man was not created for a contemplative life. The life of the hermit is like a rigid, barren rock that only looks to heaven, helps humanity neither and does no good. Far superior to such a life is that of the good family man who provides for himself and his family and raises diligent children.
— In the midst of the world's turmoil, create a hermitage in your heart; there build your altar to God, pray amidst work—that is good and right. Seek heaven amidst all human suffering, amidst the struggles and tribulations of the earth. Strive through all temptations to win God's love; make yourself useful; you were born to live and fight among people, to fight for the eternal Kingdom of God. Do not isolate yourself from others. Prayer gives you strength and rest—but not a whole life of solitude. "It is not good for man to be alone!" said God, and created Eve as Adam's companion. Or would you seek your own salvation alone and let your brothers languish? That would be wrong. One for all—all for one, that is the great word! Viribus unitis.

Vanity.
Let each one look into their own heart and ask themselves if they are vain; almost everyone will have to answer in the affirmative. Vanity is a very widespread fault. Most often, people are vain about things that are not their own merit, things that are gifts from God, innate qualities, such as beauty or talents. One should be grateful for such undeserved gifts from heaven, but not vain. Vanity does not beautify or improve; it robs every quality of its charm and makes a person unpleasant, often ridiculous. As has been said, people are far less vain about what they have acquired themselves than about what has been given to them. They are vain about money, about things they can lose every day—about birth and position, which are not their own merits, things that have often been given to them to test them. Vanity casts a shadow on the minds of even the most astute men; indeed, it obscures intellectual gifts and talents, it makes them partisan and one-sided. O cast off your vanities; they are obstacles on the path of virtue and spiritual progress. Under the influence of vanity, many a good heart withers, many a gifted mind; therefore, eradicate it.

Parents.
Honor your father and mother! This commandment we should inscribe on our hearts with golden, indelible letters. You have only one father, one mother in this life. Every other love is replaceable, but parental love is not.
In the Old and New Testaments, in the writings of Eastern philosophers, in the Vedas of the Indians, in every religion, love for one's parents stands as the first law. O dear friends, you who are so fortunate to still have parents—love them, honor them. You can never repay your parents for all the care and attention they gave you in your childhood. How sorely orphans miss their parents' love and care, how alone and abandoned they feel: in their hearts remains an empty space, the place where love for parents dwells. Ingratitude towards parents is a grave sin. He who can bring himself to speak a harsh word to his parents would be better off never having been born. The tears and pain of parents over a wayward child are fiery colic upon the head of the one who caused them. — Parents, consider what an important mission you undertook by giving you children; — they are spirits entrusted to your care. 
Those whom you are to lead to God—for each child you owe responsibility and accountability. It is a difficult task to raise children, to stifle the seed of evil within them, and to instill goodness in their hearts. It is up to you to guide your children with the fullest love, to lead them to be righteous, and to make them children of God. Pray that God may give you strength for this! The goal and purpose of your life must be to guide the children entrusted to you on the path of virtue.

Sensitivity.
Sensitivity springs from vanity and conceit; with this vice, people make life very difficult for themselves; all sorts of other evils arise from it: resentment, strife, discord, mistrust. 
— The sensitive person makes life bitter for themselves and others. I advise everyone who suffers from this evil to fight it mercilessly and harshly, as if it were an enemy. 
What can people really do to you? Don't take their words so seriously. What is a person's judgment, their opinion? Let nothing that comes from people offend you. Instead of being overly sensitive, investigate whether you might be in the wrong, whether your actions might not warrant the criticism of others. Seek the truth from the words of your fellow human beings, don't be sensitive, remain good and friendly, and the peace of God will dwell within you.

Deprivation.
Our own deprivation teaches us to be good and merciful to others. Woe to him who knows no deprivation; he will not understand the deprivations of others, and self-love will rule him instead of love for his neighbor. Deprivation teaches selflessness, sacrifice, and compassion; it spiritualizes the individual, it liberates him from earthly possessions, it shows him the path to God, for deprivation teaches us to pray. Those who lack nothing love the world too much; death is their enemy, not their friend. And since all must die, it is better to have death as a friend. Therefore, do not complain about deprivation; accept it all the more gratefully as healthy medicine for your spirit. Do not envy those who know no deprivation; they often lack the best feeling—compassion for the suffering of others.

Enjoy what God has granted you.
Gladly forgo what you do not have.
Every station of life has its peace.
Every station of life has its burden.

Abstinence.
Whoever practices abstinence and controls their senses is lord and master over all flesh. They are on the path to spiritual perfection, for abstinence is the mediator of many virtues. Practicing abstinence for one's own good and for the good of others is true Christian love; it is the path to perfection. One should forgo oneself and give to others, abstain from costly pleasures and bring joy to others. The abstinent person will never be a slave to their senses and passions—they will master them; they are free and strong. But he who does not know abstinence is a slave to his body. Abstinence brings health, youthful vigor, and cheerfulness; whoever practices it is a wise person. Every victory over the senses and the flesh brings blessedness, peace, and makes one spiritually strong and wise.

Submission. 
Submission to God brings rest and peace to the weary human heart. What good does it do you to resist your fate, to refuse to bow to the inevitable? It only brings you unrest and increases your suffering; you cannot change the things that are destined to happen. Resignation to God gives you strength in suffering, it gives you courage and steadfastness, it lightens the burden of trials, the struggle in temptations. It is better to bear your fate in resignation than to murmur against it. Resignation is the sister of faith and trust; whoever has the former also has the other two. O man, submit to the will of God, and you will be content!
You are like a fly in the spider's web; God's will and fate hold you fast, you can do nothing against this power, therefore remain still in resignation.

Remembrance.
What gives you more joy than the memory of vanished, beautiful hours and days? Do you not remember with delight your early childhood years, your childish games, and the events of your childhood? When you are sad and feel forgotten by everyone, doesn't the name of a friend come to mind, someone you believe still thinks of you?
Do you not often, in solitude and sorrow, return to those places where you felt or gave happiness, and in this memory do you not relive the joyful, long-gone hours? Do you not remember with gratitude to God when someone was able to do you a kindness? Truly, memory is a precious thing when it brings good things back to our minds.
It is painful when it reminds you of past wrongs. Therefore, live in such a way that you need not fear the memory, that you can take refuge in yourself, as in a trusted friend, when the present is painful. Create a comforting memory for yourselves; this depends only on you, on your pious spirit, on your virtue. Oh, do not become lukewarm and cold, lest the memory become a tormenting punishment. Thank God for this gift of the Spirit. It is very beneficial for a person to compel themselves to remember, to examine their past life closely; seek out the earliest events of your life, illuminate them with the light of truth, and draw moral benefit from them; in this way, memory will have a beneficial effect.

Eternity.
The idea of ??eternity is inexplicable and incomprehensible to many. Some shudder at the thought they cannot grasp: that earthly life is not over is a frightening thought for the materialist, which is why he denies eternal life; for him, absolute death is a comfort; for with it, he believes, all worry, all reproach, all responsibility ends; for this price, he gladly gives up his salvation. If you consider the earth as the only existence, then it is only natural that you would wish for the death of the spirit, of feeling and thinking. It would be dreadful to live on eternally under the same conditions as you lived on earth. But if you have faith in immortality, then your earthly life will appear to you as a moment in eternity; you will patiently endure the troubles of earthly life and look forward with joy to eternal life. Behold, you are a spirit—eternity is your life. Fallen through sin, you shall amend yourself, become more perfect. 
You will find ample means for this in the universe, in the laws that govern all things. Your goal should be to become like Christ, to reach the Father through Him. How can an earthly existence achieve this for eternity? There is no other means than continuous transformations or incorporations of the spirit. You will find the means and ways for this imperatively: your guardian spirit, higher, helping spirits are there to show you the saving path of the law. You will not be separated from your loved ones if your love has been just and lawful; you can await them as spirits when you go before them and follow them in every incorporation: true love is not divided. 
People say: Providence brings them together—the law that guides the spirits leads them to one another. Seek eternal life through your spiritual perfection. It is important for earth dwellers to step outside their narrow perspective on eternal life and listen to the revelations of good spirits about it. Christ said you should find yourselves again; Hold fast to this. Yes, you will find yourselves again. The offender does not escape the offended, the murderer not the murdered; where everything becomes clear as sunshine, there is the judgment of God. This is no delusion. 
Every deed, every thought has its earthly imprint, and everything finds retribution, accusation, justification, punishment, reward. That is why some spirits imagine themselves in eternal hell, that is why the righteous are in eternal bliss. Anxious and gloomy is the existence of the sinful spirit; it would wish that there were no immortality! But glorious is the existence of the good; for them, eternity is no longer time. 
O man, if the way to eternity seems long, difficult, hard to you—hope, pray, trust; for it leads to God, to God, the source of eternal life, eternal love! To Christ the Redeemer! Walk with your loved ones, bringing many spirits with you to God, redeeming yourself and others. Do not ponder eternity any longer, O man. — Go to God with mind and soul, there you will find the solution!


Falseness.
Falseness is a poison that corrodes everything, twists and disfigures everything; it turns truth into a lie and leads into a labyrinth of untruths. Falsehood is like a creeping monster that nests in the night and destroys the most beautiful blossoms. Where falsehood has taken hold, peace has departed. Falsehood goes about in beautiful garb; it makes itself smooth and fine, it flatters and can even pretend to be pious, it feigns feelings it does not have; inwardly it is abominable, ugly, malicious. Falsehood leads to great sins. All evil in the world is false, untrue. Pay close attention to all your words and thoughts, so that no falsehood may creep in. Falsehood can tolerate the light of God, but not the truth. All falsehood will one day be brought from darkness into the light and replaced by truth, be slain.

Enemies.
Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. — Loving those who love you in return is easy; love those who hate you. These are words of Jesus that everyone should write on their heart. Did Jesus ever rebuke or persecute his enemies? Did he call them wicked? No, he only said: they know not what they do! Father, forgive them! 
— Strive to speak in this way.
— Do not become bitter toward your persecutors. Love and patience conquer the worst enemy, but not spite; this only makes things worse. Prayer, love — against hatred, — protection against persecution, — good against evil, and your enemies are destroyed. Conquer them through love, just as the Redeemer did.

Steadfastness.
'Do not waver or sway like a reed in the wind! Be steadfast and strong.' Do not let the world and people with their differing opinions toss you about. Do not let yourselves be influenced by everyone; seek steadfastness in God, in His help. Stand firm in life like a rock in the sea. The waves may wash over the rock, but they cannot move it. Steadfastness is necessary for every person who wants to walk the path of good; all temptation bounces off it, and the person walks with firm steps, without wavering, upward to God. Steadfastness in goodness, steadfastness in faith—hold this faithfully and bravely, beloved pilgrims of Earth.

Diligence.
'If the idler and the lazybones knew how they would gladly make up for the lost time in the spirit world after this life, how bitterly they would then regret having wasted their time on Earth so, they would truly repent and apply all their diligence to make themselves useful.' Pray and work, so that you do not fall into temptation. Do not be idle, not even an hour of the day. A task is appointed for every person; God has given everyone a task. Diligence dispels evil and gloomy thoughts, it strengthens the willpower, it is true food for the spirit, it is a means of refinement. Let neither hands nor mind rest; work as long as it is day; then comes the time for repose and rest. Whatever your work may be, begin it with prayer. Without God's help, there is no progress. Diligence has its reward, its joy, its harvest. He who does not work, reaps nothing.

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Freedom.
There is no positive freedom, neither for people nor for spirits; both depend on a great many influences and things. First, you humans depend on your innate, or rather, your inherited shadows. You are servants of your passions and inclinations, insofar as you do not control them. This restricts freedom the most, for no chains are so hard to break as those of passion. Then you are dependent on moral obligations to God and your fellow human beings. Therefore, no one can truly say that they are completely free and independent; for the freedom that wealth and material prosperity, as well as position in the world, provide, are very illusory. Such people are far more dependent on many things than the poor person who owns nothing. Does the rich person depend on no one? Do not rulers also depend on many things? Does not the fate of nations also depend on all sorts of circumstances?
The freest person is he who has few needs. Do you believe that we flagellants are free, that we are not surrounded by laws that set limits for us? God gave us free will; you too have it: you can be good or evil, free or bound. Virtue makes you free, therefore seek your freedom in God—in perfection, only through this will you attain it. Without sin you are free. — so strive for this freedom, for then nothing of the world will oppress or trouble you. Thus, each person must liberate themselves by fighting their passions.
Friendship.
Closely related to love is the bond of friendship, which binds people together. Friendship is often more sublime, more divine, certainly more selfless than love! It is an invisible bond that connects spirits. The true friend, a second self, can never be lost, for true friendship does not grow cold; it endures all of life's storms, all tribulations and trials. Happy is he who can acquire true friendship, which is so rarely genuine and faithful to find. And when you have found it, oh, then nurture it like a precious, delicate flower, and hold it sacred. Every sorrow, every pain is easier to bear when one knows that a friend's heart shares in it and helps to bear it. The good person has many friends. Joyless is the life of one who has no friend.

Peace.
"The peace of God be with you!" Jesus said to his followers; this is how you should greet one another. To all you who call yourselves Christians, to all you spirits: With this greeting in your heart, enter every house, and with this, depart. If every person were to hold fast to this greeting, the earth would be a dwelling place of peace. Draw the peace of God into your heart so that it may take root there, and then share it with all people. There can be no eternal struggle and war; one day the peace of God must come upon the earth, the peace that is King over all, the peace that reconciles and unites all.

Frivolity. (levity)
Frivolity is usually not considered a fault, yet it is like one of those rampant plants in the forest that appear lush but bring death to the trees they embrace. The heart in which frivolity reigns is gradually so dominated by it that good qualities slowly wither away—all serious thought, sacrifice, selflessness, piety—soon exist only in appearance. Frivolity is... Unfortunately, she is all too often the darling of the high and mighty world, and even children are taught her. Young girls and old women, youths and old men, worship her as a goddess who brightens and beautifies life; health, domesticity, wealth, marital happiness, and often even honor and reputation are sacrificed to this goddess.
Moral and financial ruin is often the consequence of this frivolity. A girl will never be sick, tired, or worn out when she is supposed to go to a ball; but going to church once a week, on Sunday—the hour is too early for her, the cake too cold, and so on. There is always money for a ball gown, for entertainment, but rarely when a poor person comes and asks for a warm garment. When one observes the goings-on of the wider world, it's chilling to see how restlessly people strive to participate in everything, how they sacrifice their nights, their fortunes, their health to this hustle and bustle, just to shine and be celebrated. If only they would develop the same energy, the same zeal, to, for example, help the poor in need or perform other works of charity. 
Frivolity also breeds arrogance; one believes oneself to be something better than others, one doesn't like to mingle with the lower classes. Ultimately, one becomes the miserable slave of convenience, superficiality, and forms, and all spirit shrinks, it ossifies. Where is the golden freedom of humankind then, where is the blossoming of mind and heart? 
The voice of the heart must be silenced before frivolity; everything revolves around propriety, etiquette, and decorum. The heart becomes utterly empty with such pursuits, and when old age comes, the soul withers, the heart dies. Many then take refuge in frivolous piety, making a spectacle of churches, the poor, and religion. From the outside, it looks good, but inwardly there is no faith, no devotion, no love. Fear of death is often the driving force behind such piety. Frivolity is dreadful in its consequences. People go about it merrily and cheerfully until disillusionment comes. Therefore, O man, remember, all is vanity; love God and serve Him alone. Mark this, and do not be deceived by the world's laughing face.

Cheerfulness, joy.
In the heart of goodness dwell joy and cheer. He who has a pure conscience, the pious one, who places his hope and trust in God, will surely have a joyful heart. Gloomy piety is not pleasing to God; He loves joyfully pure hearts that speak openly to Him without fear or apprehension. To bear the blows of fate with unwavering cheerfulness, with a truly pious mind, is better than all lamenting and complaining. Every mother will prefer a cheerful child to a gloomy one. Sadness helps nothing; it only makes life more difficult. If you truly rely on God, if you look to His will, then true joy will surely come and dwell in your hearts.

Thought.
Thought is a testament to the immortal spirit. To explain thought empirically is impossible; but it can be explained spiritually. Thought is the secret of the one who possesses it; it is and exists, yet no one sees it. Everyone thinks, and no one knows what another thinks. In the thought lives of the foolish and the simpleton, things go on that people have no inkling of. The chamber of thought remains closed to all when the thinker cannot express himself. Thought, this positive life, has great power—cause and effect live in thought. And this incomprehensibly living something—thought—do you want to derive it solely from material brain functions? Why don't animals think like humans? How can one deny the intelligent engine, the mind, in thought when one perceives expressions of intelligence? Cause and effect are equal, they come from One Mover. Spirits speak through thoughts.
— People, too, can interact with one another through thoughts bound by firm will. Through thoughts, we transport ourselves to distant places and see them in our minds. Anyone wishing to write the history and effects of thoughts could fill volumes.
—Think well and justly, control your thoughts, suppress everything evil and impure within them. Every person will experience having two kinds of thoughts—their own and those inspired by others: their own are internal and come from within yourself, while those inspired come from the spirit world that surrounds you; there are good and evil inspirations.
Every person speaks to themselves and thinks in two ways; they engage in dialogues. Doesn't this strike you as a possibility: that you are then speaking with the spirits that invisibly surround you? Explain this to yourselves! Isn't this the best explanation? Yes, human beings are a thinking world, and they are surrounded by an invisible, thinking world of spirits. From this confluence of thoughts arises the word and deed of human beings. Thus, there are embodied and disembodied, incarnate and disembodied thinking beings; from these dualistic forces, discern your own thoughts and those of others.

Patience.
Let us first consider the patience of God, which should serve as a shining example for you. He listens to your requests and your pleas with long-suffering. How infinitely great God's patience is, you have experienced a thousand times in yourselves. You come once, earnestly asking for something; scarcely is it fulfilled, than you forget to give thanks and immediately ask for a new grace. With patience, God considers the sinner who profanes His holy name, misunderstands Him, and acts against His commandments, who repays His favors with ingratitude. Ah, how patient God is with such poor, misguided beings of the human and spiritual world. He punishes with love. Yes, God's patience is tireless. Human being, you too must have patience! Do not despair if your improvement is slow. Do not strive to be perfect all at once. Struggle with patience and perseverance. Even if, over the years, you have only overcome one fault, think more clearly, and love God more deeply, thank God for the grace of this progress. Do not despair if minor adversities cause you to lose your composure. 
The intention to improve is already a step forward. Begin in small things, in everyday life; practice patience there. In the exercise of patience, you must begin with the alphabet. Have even more patience for the shortcomings and faults of others than for yourself. You cannot see into their innermost being; their struggles and temptations are foreign to you. You do not know what kind of person it is who tests your patience; you do not know if, by his very nature, he is already highly self-controlled. Yes, dear friend, let your patience for others be inexhaustible; only then can you demand patience from others for yourself. Be patient as Jesus was, look up to Him; did He ever utter a word of impatience for His persecutors? And you would be impatient? Far be it! Combat all discontent and practice heavenly patience.

Feeling.
Feeling springs from the spirit; it is the language of the soul and of immortality. There are two kinds of feeling: the spiritual and the physical. The fading of spiritual feeling from the body is its death; thus, the spirit is the mover and director of all feeling. Spiritual feeling remains attached to the spirit, even after it has shed the human body. Human feelings are communicated through sympathy and antipathy, through glances and words. They bring happiness or unhappiness, joy and pain. Everything in this world is felt mentally or physically. Mental feeling is further proof of the immortal spirit that animates the body. Feelings can also be communicated without words, through the will; what the mouth cannot express, the eye often speaks. Feeling moves the heart, it spurs us to action, and, coupled with will, is all-powerful. Yet it remains something enigmatic, invisible within living beings, which they often cannot explain. There are no people without feelings, but there are those with evil, distorted feelings. Behold, feeling is incomprehensible, yet it is there, not only in humans, but in all living beings.
— The general question is always: How do you feel, what did you feel?
— O spirits and humans, you feel so many things: love, hate, longing, regret, pity—everything that exists What is, should be felt; for it is through feeling that you are happy or unhappy, healthy or ill. So many living beings, so many different feelings! No two beings in the world feel exactly the same. The entire universe breathes feelings; everything feels the pulse of life. And if someone tells you, «If you do not believe in immortality, answer him: I must believe in it because I experience it.»

Obedience.
"Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." With these words, Jesus testified to his obedience to both God and Caesar. May this also be a shining example of obedience unto death! Without argument, Jesus obeyed his heavenly Father, without argument obeyed those who handed him over to death, he who possessed all power to destroy his enemies. Disobedience brought the Fall of the Spirit, sin, and all misery into the world; without disobedience, there would be no opposition, no evil. Everyone who walks on earth is fallen through disobedience. Now make amends for this error; be obedient to God's laws. You know these laws through Jesus. Submit yourselves to the position of life to which he has placed you; Certainly, everything in your life happens with a divine purpose and goal. Do not rebel; God has ordained it. Improve yourselves first—then the world. Upheaval brings misery and discord. Finding your way within the circumstances in which you are destined to live is the solution to your existence. Obey those who command you. It is better to obey than to command. Learn humility in obedience. Whoever does not learn it as a human being must learn it as a spirit, for compelling laws also prevail in the afterlife.

Spirits.
We are all eternally immortal spirits! Let us now examine the types of spirits. First: God is a spirit from eternity to eternity—He is the creative spirit, the origin of all life, the Father Spirit from whom all are born; He is the Alpha and Omega, All in All. One Spirit infinite, perfect, all-wise, eternal love! The Creator and Father of all life and existence is Lord over all. Secondly, there are the firstfruits of God's Spirit, the first, the perfect spirits created before the Fall, the Redeemer, the Son. Thirdly, there are embryonic spirits, that is, spirits created after the Fall; from these come good and evil spirits. Here, the totality of spirits is divided into three types: embryonic spirits that have remained good—one can call them angels, since you must have a name for everything; then, penitent spirits that came to be human; and finally, opposing spirits that have placed themselves outside all law and are called devils and demons by humans. They boldly oppose God and are tempters, opposites. These are the fundamental principles of the nature of spirits, presented in the main tenets. Man is an incorporated spirit. Let us now see whether he is truly so totally separated on earth from his unincorporated brothers.

Spiritual communication:
As long as the world has existed, there has always been spiritual communication. Consciously and unconsciously, humans and spirits have always interacted. The celestial reaches into the earthly. The encroachment of spirits into humanity has always existed and will continue to exist as long as there are humans and spirits. Therefore, it is ridiculous to want to forbid communication with spirits. Can you forbid life and breathing? 
— Well, as long as everything lives and breathes, humans and spirits will be one. In the last thirty years*, communication with spirits has acquired a system, a name; it has become a definite, explicit matter of belief and philosophy; precisely now, in the years when materialism and nihilism seek to kill all spirit.
(*Note that this was written in the 1800s.)
 God has surely arranged it this way. Spiritism, mediums—these are new words, as is perispirit (nerve spirit). People initially whispered these to each other shyly; but now they are even found in the new encyclopedia. A step forward—a sign that spiritualism cannot be eradicated despite fierce hostility. The Greeks communed with their gods, Socrates with his so-called "demon." The Indian and Egyptian priests, the people of Israel—all communed with spirits, angels, and supernatural beings. Jesus, too, had the visions of Elijah and Moses, who appeared to his disciples. Thus, antiquity is full of spirit communication and apparitions. Even among today's pagan peoples, we frequently find mediums and communication with spirits.
This is therefore an undeniable fact. But in the enlightened nineteenth century, people indignantly argue that one should not tolerate ghostly apparitions and witchcraft. 
— It is not ghostly apparitions or witchcraft; it is a completely natural phenomenon based on natural laws. Only, these laws are still foreign and unknown to us, and now they are to become known to us, now we are to investigate them.
— One should believe in the miracles of the Catholic Church; They are nothing more than manifestations of spirits to humans, and these people were often called saints. The Church claims that the spirits are only to converse with the devil; but as soon as one admits possible communication with evil spirits, one must, with logical necessity, also admit communication with good spirits. Even the so-called saints conversed with devils and angels, says the Church; or does the Catholic Church perhaps have the privilege of conversing only with good spirits? Then it should act more in the spirit of Jesus and not hurl anathemas at those who refuse to submit to man-made dogmas. Our model in all things, Jesus, conversed with spirits; indeed, the Apostle said: Test the spirits. Every serious spiritist does this, rigorously examining the spirits—a good spirit eludes no test—and the spirit will pray for the unfortunate spirits; God will show him the right way. Communication with spirits is supposed to save humanity from unbelief, from corrupting materialism. A thousand spirit voices call to you: We live, we are! Humans, consider how you live! — And this is supposed to be from evil? 
— Truly not! — The floodgates of heaven have opened, God is sending his spirits to you, who are to bear witness to eternal life. That mischief can and will be done with spirit communication is certain; a great sin! But for humankind, nothing has been sacred from the very beginning until now. For a humanity that denies its God, that laughs at all religion, it is almost excusable if it also engages in mischief, mockery, and deception with spirits. Seek here only the vexed opposition that seeks to meddle with everything good and noble in order to corrupt it. Because others do not believe and mock God, should we do the same and abandon all religion? Because others do evil with spirit communication, should we therefore abandon it? No, that would only give weapons to the opposition. We will keep our weapons and will bravely fight with them.

The Fall of the Spirits. Original Sin.
We are all born in original sin, so the churches say. Indeed, we are all fallen spirits, sent to Earth for our improvement. Thus, original sin is explained as a guilt that every incarnate being carries with them. Our sins do not originate from a pair of parents; baptism alone cannot wash away this sin. We ourselves are fallen spirits, spirits who have deviated from God's law. We are sent to incarnation, to repentance, conversion, and atonement. We were pure spirits; God created us pure and good; disobedience and pride brought us down. Some sinned more, others less; some need a small repentance, others a great one, but each will be punished for what they sinned in; every sin punishes itself. The fall of the spirits is the origin of evil and temptation and results in incarnation. Let us now consider law and its opposite.

Law and its opposite.
Although we have already discussed this clearly in the aforementioned book "Spirit, Power, Matter," we would like to offer an explanation here; it is part of the whole. What is this law that the newly created spirits, that we all after our creation, were to follow? It was obedient following what God prescribed for us through his firstfruits—that is, obedience, love of God, and faith. We were to follow the words and laws that formed and educated us; limits were prescribed for us; free will was to develop slowly, be tested, and tempered; thus, under the guidance of God's firstfruits, we were to be formed and perfected. Our goodness, our worth, our obedience were to be tested, for without testing there is no progress; we received tasks and work, all the means were given to us to remain faithful and good—and yet we erred, yet many of the newly created spirits fell and continue to fall; but many remain pure from faults, perfecting themselves in Goodness, and they never need to undergo the incarnation that is such a harsh punishment for spirits. 
— You know the law. The opposite is disobedience, pride, sin, in a word, evil; we call it opposite because we do not, ever, acknowledge an absolute, all-encompassing evil, a demon, an evil as powerful as God is good. The opposite was good, it has simply fallen away, and it must and will be atoned for and become the law again.

Greed.
Greed is an ugly vice. Even if the spendthrift errs deeply in his lust for pleasure, others still benefit materially, for the spendthrift gives; but the miser lets everything around him wither; he himself leads a miserable, joyless existence; his heart is hardened, he knows neither pity nor compassion, all human suffering bounces off him; he collects for the worms and moths, and How bitter death is for him, because he must leave behind all his accumulated possessions. The miser's spirit is frozen, crippled, and all spiritual life is dead within him, as is all feeling. His awakening in the afterlife without his accumulated earthly wealth is dreadful. There, he is tormented by the tears of those he harshly rejected, all the sighs of the unfortunate to whom he offered no help. You could have helped, and you did not. These are true torments of hell. Reluctance to give is the beginning of avarice. There is great avarice and petty avarice; the latter manifests itself far too often in everyday life. To everyone who feels this avarice within, I advise eradicating it with all willpower, for it is soul-destroying. Everything you possess on earth is merely borrowed property, not your own; it was given to you to help others. Yes, pray, pray, part with earthly possessions, and death will be easy for you. To renounce oneself, to give to others, that is the way of the righteous. Woe to him who forgets God and his fellow human beings for gold, and sells his soul to Mammon. He will have a long, bitter road of retribution to take.

Money, the golden calf.
We live in a time of civilization, of progress, so they say. Humanity is becoming educated, highly learned, and enlightened. Yes, it is becoming everything but Christian; it is becoming pagan, it is practicing idolatry, for it is worshipping the golden calf, which is money and more money! Just as the children of Israel once danced around the golden calf and worshipped it, so now humanity dances around its golden calf, "money," and worships it.
 Becoming rich, fine clothes, palaces, carriages, fine food, positions of honor, titles—that is the main pursuit of people today. Where is God in all this? — We certainly do not speak against those who, through diligence and work, made discoveries of the most important kind: But why do most people, in everything they do and refrain from doing, not remember their Creator, who gave them mind and intellect? Why do they only think of their vanity before the world and of money? Do you really believe you have already discovered everything? Science never stops learning. Darwin developed the theory of natural selection.
This theory, however, has become the worshipped golden calf of naturalists, and if it proves to be incorrect in the course of time, which always brings new discoveries, then what? Almost everyone has their golden calf, which they worship first, then others. Students are usually the first to worship new ideas and theories, especially if they are of a materialistic nature. — Then comes the common people, the poor common people, torn to and fro, sighing for light and grasping at will-o'-the-wisps. The true man of science should never venture beyond the realm of conjecture, without firm proof. Materialists love to brazenly assert things they cannot prove. Besides their golden calf, they have their carnal calf, which they worship. Nihilists worship themselves, their own pride, their false and corrupting ideas of world liberation and individual freedom. Their methods are wicked and criminal, yet they carry their golden calf around to mislead people. A
ll religions and orthodoxies have their various golden calves and calves that they worship and have worshipped, but behind this worship lies the name of God, so it is not as corrupting as the ones mentioned earlier. — The golden calf of some women is fashion, finery, and the desire to please; for men, it is hedonism, gambling, pleasure, the good life; but for everyone, it is money. Let everyone beware of the secret golden calf they carry in their breast and worship; often it is their own ego! — Look how happy the possession of money can make one when it is used to alleviate the suffering of the poor, to build useful institutions — and how unhappy it makes one when it leads to vice. 

Money can be a blessing, money can be a curse. Truly, the human world today seems to me worse and more desolate than the children of Israel who danced before the golden calf, for now they have many gods before whom they rejoice. Nowadays, it is considered tasteless to be a faithful Christian, a person who believes in God. Most people shrug their shoulders and say: One can't possibly believe such nonsense. The Bible is a compilation of human teachings adapted to the humanity of that time! But to actually read the Bible, to extract the nuggets of gold from it and keep them, that doesn't occur to anyone. So they condemn the Bible, the Gospels, as nonsense and the fiction of simpletons; but instead, they read the courses, Playing on the stock market, making a lot of money in a short time; even if others are reduced to beggars as a result, it doesn't matter—everyone wants to be rich. The great strive for money, and the small follow suit. Does this striving for money make the world better, wiser, richer? Does it boost industry, art, and science? Are there fewer people suffering? Does it reduce moral and physical misery, especially in the so-called world cities? Does it produce strong, chivalrous men and brave, industrious women? Answer for yourselves: The pursuit of gold brings only swindle, fleeting fame, superficial glory, and moral and financial ruin. And yet almost everyone strives for this golden calf, and many who cannot reach it become swindlers, thieves, or they take their own lives. It would be necessary for souls of faith to lead the way and free people from the delusion that all happiness lies in gold. Church and science are primarily responsible for this. To them I call out my warning: let people not worship the golden calf.
Learning.
The science of all sciences is: to know and love God. If a person is ever so learned and versed in all sciences, yet does not know God, then all their learning is incomplete; for only those who know God will have a true understanding of all creation; only to them will the riddle of being be solved, they will comprehend that which remains closed to the atheist. What good is it if you are familiar with the books of philosophers and yet do not know God, God the origin of all life and all reason? What use is it if you seek the origin of life in matter, if you dig in the earth like a mole? Your learning will remain mere fragments if you do not look to the light of God. That learning which is built upon the knowledge of God will never perish.
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Human works are incomplete, flawed; God alone is infallible, perfect. Therefore, build on God everything you want to do, study, and learn, and you will find truth, for God gives knowledge to those who ask Him for it.

Vows and Oaths.
Christ said: You shall not swear. Let your words be: Yes, yes; no, no; anything beyond this comes from evil. — Oaths and vows have been instituted on earth to affirm the truth, the validity of a matter. Because of people's inclination to lie, oaths were instituted; but this does not make them any less unreliable or untrue. Oaths and vows are thus a consequence of lying and falsehood; one wants to bind in the name of God and thus come closer to the truth. An honest person speaks the truth and keeps their word even without an oath, but no oath can deter the dishonest; consequently, Jesus was right to say: Do not swear! Breaking an oath has its punishment before secular courts and before the tribunal of public opinion, but primarily before God. 
People, however, make oaths about things they often cannot keep. This is the case with the oath of Catholic priests, the oath of other secular religious orders of the Catholic Church, and also the vow of 'joy in marriage'. With these oaths, great sin is committed, often broken. But people always have excuses for it. The oath has unfortunately become a mere formality: one swears to become a priest, one swears to marry, and so on. Very few people care about faithfully keeping their oaths. It is very illogical to say that perjury is a consequence of oaths; — Perjury is a consequence of your weakness, a consequence of your recklessness; why do you swear rashly, without first seriously asking yourselves: Can I keep this oath? An oath in and of itself is not a sin, but perjury is. Whoever has bound themselves by a vow, let them keep it with all their strength until their last breath; God will help them. Do not say, "Nature and passion are stronger than mine."
Go ahead; you know well when you are on the path to committing perjury—so hold back, do not do it. Where this consent is not, where firm will and a sense of duty prevail, there is also God's grace and protection: man struggles, overcomes, and triumphs.
Frugality.
For those who know frugality, happiness is dearer. Whoever understands how to be content with little will be satisfied. But most people live beyond their means, hence the general complaining and dissatisfaction. Don't dwell on how much better off others are; look at how some are worse off than you. Accept your situation and thank God for what you have; surely you are in the position that is best for your mind and spirit, is most conducive to spiritual well-being. 
As soon as you become comfortable with your circumstances and don't strive for anything beyond them, you will be happy. Constant grumbling and wanting things to be better changes nothing and only makes you more unhappy. Don't blame God when fate is harsh with you; blame yourselves if you don't know how to accept fate. Therefore, be content, grateful, and accept yourselves in time.

Hedonism.
In the world, one finds only fleeting pleasure. One rushes from one entertainment to the next, and the heart remains cold, unsatisfied; the body ages, often becomes ill, and everything seems like a restless dream. A person then has no support, no comfort; everything noble within them has been squandered in hedonism; life is wasted; it would have to be started anew and done well. The end of the hedonist is sad, sadder still their awakening in the realm of spirits; often such a spirit imagines itself still living on Earth for a long time, and wanders unhappily about. Hedonism is a scorching and burning human soul. When illness or trial then befalls the unhappily deluded, despair, often suicide, follows. Faith withers away; hedonism has buried it. A life of seeking pleasure has never truly made anyone happy. Every pleasure eventually becomes worn out, tasteless; contentment ceases despite wealth and pleasure of every kind. What a vain image, what a mirage: this consuming hedonism is the essence of human life. Youth of the Earth, hold back; and if you stand at the precipice of hedonism, turn back before it is too late, before the dark abyss swallows you. Oh, stop, be wise and prudent.

 Justice,
'Human justice remains a mere fragment; God alone is just. He who knows the mind and heart of man, He to whom nothing is hidden, He is all-just. Human justice is governed by the customs, traditions, and laws of countries. What appears unjust to man is often just before God, and vice versa. Human justice judges itself. Jesus condemned no one: he left justice to God. People should be exceedingly careful and strict in the exercise of justice and strive to act according to God's justice. Judges bear a heavy responsibility; they should judge only after conscientious examination. Thinking and acting justly is a difficult thing for man, who is bound by prejudice. No one can look into another's soul. Whoever wants to be just should first fill his heart with warm love for his neighbor, weigh things up this way and that, and earnestly ask God for enlightenment. God, the all-just, is love itself; The less you judge, the more just you will be. A judgment that is too hasty is not considered, and therefore easily unjust. Through patience and love, however, you will arrive at a just judgment.

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Society.
It is not good for man to be alone, as we have said before; man should be sociable; you should form a large family, helping one another. But you should be sociable in the good sense, not in the bad. Many believe that sociability consists only in making many visits, frequenting amusements, rushing from one pleasure to the next, seeing many people without helping them, judging them, criticizing them. Oh no, that is not the sociability we mean. Form a circle of good, sympathetic friends around yourselves; where you do not need to give material help, give spiritual help, offer comfort. A kind word is often worth more to me than a morsel of bread; strive to have a spiritually uplifting influence on the circle of people around you; set a good example, learn from others, imitate all that is good. Behold, this is how we understand the good fellowship of spiritual, noble people.
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Conscience.
Ask those who refuse to believe in immortality if they can also define conscience. They will give you a lengthy treatise on the subject, but will be unable to offer an explanation. Conscience, like thought and feeling, is a witness of the spirit. Within everyone resides this invisible, speaking something called conscience; even the most perfect person cannot rid themselves of it; it stirs and speaks in the breast of even the one who wishes to extinguish it. Conscience is the language of your spirit, your higher self. How often, in your actions, does the voice within you say: Do not do it! Have you ever tho	ught about trying to understand this enigmatic voice? Conscience never speaks except what is good and right. It is the spark of God that dwells in every spirit and cannot die or corrupt, that brings about the betterment of even the most wicked.

The voice grinds. 
How many command this voice to be silent, they numb themselves, scatter themselves so as not to hear it; yet it has its hours when it approaches and torments the sinner. And conscience does not die with death. Since it is a spiritual quality and resides in the spirit, it lives on with it. Dear friend, just go into your conscience; examine it, let it speak, and surely it will show you the right way. He who does not fear his conscience is righteous; only the unrighteous may not examine his conscience; but it is of no use, the day will come when you must and will give an account to your conscience. Conscience is a great treasure and protection that God placed in your heart; make use of it, O man.

Faith.
Whoever has faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. So said Jesus. In the New Testament there are many examples of the miraculous power of faith. People saw it, yet wavered in their faith; the troubled Jesus often regretted it, just as he did then. If Jesus lived among you today, just as he lived in Judea back then, you would be just as 'weak in faith,' indeed, you would accuse him just as much of performing his works through Beelzebub, as the people of that time did. With this latter assertion, the modern world honors spirits, and all the works and healings that occur through good mediums are still denied today, or met with pitying smiles. What should we do to spur you on to faith if Jesus failed to convince people? Faith must be felt. That it is the power of all powers has been proven by thousands. True, firm faith is more than knowledge; it is conviction. Knowledge comes from faith. We believe—God knows. Only He is omniscient. True faith lifts us up to God. Spiritual things must be believed; Why deny them because you lack the ability to understand them? 
If you only believe what you understand, you will believe in very little; when you know something for certain, belief ceases. But there are things you will never know for certain here on earth; should you therefore not believe in them? How unwise and unjust that would be. You believe in love, in loyalty, in qualities that one  do not see positively, which speak only through evidence. So believe in God, in immortality and spirit, for there are a thousand and a thousand proofs of them. Hold fast to your belief; let others have their disbelief—everyone believes in something. Faith cannot be destroyed. 
Happiness.
Happiness is a very relative concept; for one person this is happiness, for another, that. Happy
is only he who makes few demands on life, is content, and thinks philosophically.There are so many people, so many different ideals of happiness. We are not born to perfect happiness on earth, for perfection does not exist here below. Do not seek your happiness on earth, nor in earthly things; seek it in God, in yourselves, through a righteous way of life; only this brings true, lasting happiness.
The rich, the noble, are called happy. If someone quickly comes into money, people say: Oh, he is lucky! Never, never has it occurred to anyone on earth to say to someone who has lost their money: you are happy. And perhaps it is precisely this loss of money that leads them to true, eternal happiness! What people call happiness is not it. Do not seek happiness externally; Create it for yourselves through work, diligence, and contentment. Your so-called happiness often leads to unhappiness, and your unhappiness to happiness.

Grace.
Grace is an undeserved gift from God. God is grace; you must experience this daily. You receive grace from Him without earning it. He who holds power, who could destroy what is evil and works against Him, He works grace upon grace. People destroy, God preserves; O man, be mindful of God's great grace! How merciful He is to sinners, to those who commit great and small sins. Be merciful too, do not punish in
anger, condemn no one. God shows you grace daily, be merciful too. Grace springs from love; whoever loves must show grace, hence God's patience. You receive all your spiritual gifts from grace, and you want to use them for evil? Do you want to misuse God's gifts? Don't. Use God's grace for His glory, for the salvation of your soul. Receive freely, give freely the gifts you have from God: love for love, grace for grace.

God and gods.
Doesn't it seem incomprehensible to you that belief in God on earth, compared to the
How long ago the millennia have passed? Look at the endless past of the earth. You see the Egyptians with their Osiris, Iris, and other gods, without the concept of the one, true God. Then Zoroaster, the fire and sun worshippers, the Indians with their three deities, Brahma, Siwa, and Vishnu; they too lack the true concept of God; they all have idols alongside their triune deity. Then the Greeks with their Zeus, Apollo, Bacchus, Aphrodite, and so on—all forms of spiritualization for the senses, but no single God; now the peoples of the North with Wodan, Baldur, and Freya—the Celts with the Drnids. Let them all pass over you, and you will find gods everywhere, but nowhere God, the great, sole Creator, the Father of mankind. Only the Hebrews believed in the one God; And from this humble, oppressed people, who by no means possessed the civilization and power of other nations, belief in God propagated; from them came Christ and Christianity. Behold, the history of the various religions is the history of the Earth's development; every planet is subject to spiritual laws of formation. Consider the planet as you would a human being; there is childhood, boyhood, adolescence, and maturity. Spirits preside over the spiritual formation and development of the Earth; spirits govern it in all its phases. Indeed, each individual people is guided and led by different groups of spirits. Thus, Wodan's spirits ruled the Alemanni Druids in their mystical runic script ruled the Celts, and sensually poetic spirits ruled the Greeks and the Romans. 
The more intellectually advanced Egyptians, Indians, and Persians were ruled by more philosophical spirits; they already sensed the great deity. The divine seed was planted in a people, precisely in the most insignificant, because God loves the small more than the great, and because faith thrives better in persecution, hardship, and misery than in a life of plenty. Those who rave about gods of the past are taking a step backward; those who do not recognize the formative, moral, spiritual, and civilizing power of Christianity and faith in God are fools. Those who place Buddhism above Christianity are also taking a step backward. O man, delve into the primeval times of the past; see how God guided and led the earth! Where are all the treasures and temples of the gods, where is the power of all those who once considered themselves invincible rulers! Alas, they believed themselves to be great and powerful, and never dreamed that they would vanish like the foam of the sea. Palaces, jewels, purple and gold, human creations and
gods have passed away, and God towers above all this. God, the Creator and Ruler, He, the sole primordial being and the loving Father of humankind. Now you stand here, O human being, God and you, and no gods. See how you accomplish your work on earth as a self-responsible, free being, as a child to the Father!

Love of God.
Love God above all things, with all your soul, with all your strength. Do you do this? Whom do you love most? Yourselves, the gifts of the earth, life here below—but God least. To the sensualist, it seems difficult to love the one whom they neither see nor hear, in whom they are told to believe; —and when he closes his sense eye, he stands there, excluded from the world of the senses, invisible to it, no longer a human being, but a spirit, who feels quite uneasy in the realm of the formerly invisible. Then God comes to mind—so there is a God after all?
 Who transformed me? Death is not death; I live, so there must be a God who awakened me. Look, he must then pray and begin to love God, to thank Him—therefore, dear friends, begin with the love of God already on earth, so that the realm of the spirit may become your home. To love God means: to live for Him. He should be first in your heart, from which all other love flows. To love God means: not to fear death, to gladly leave everything, to lose everything for His sake. To love God means: to do right, to follow Christ. He loved the Father; — As He loved the Father, so you must love Him. To love God means to obey His commandments and to be mindful of His omnipresence. Behold, such love is a powerful lever for spiritual progress, for breaking free from all sin. Worries about human matters make you weary and listless, but love for God gives strength and courage. A person who carries it within never wavers. Therefore, O friends, love God above all else.

Trust in God.
How sweet it is to trust in God, to trust in Him. : build only. I build on God's love for me, His poor, lost child. I build on Christ's word, which does not put faith to shame.
I know, O God, that I am a sinful spirit who must repent and amend. I trust in Your mercy and help, for I have the firm will to amend. To every person come temptations, hours of mistrust, of weariness of life; — I will overcome them, keeping the eternal goal before my eyes, trusting in God. Oh, how
weak is the person who cannot strike. And how good it is to trust completely. Do not worry, God does not forsake the believer. Be calm, anxious human heart, trust in the Father of the worlds. He who directs all things will also bring your cause to the best. See, all things follow God's law—and you, weak creature, would resist following it? Pray, and wait for time in trust. God is there—wait for Him—He will not forget you.
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A fool is he who snatches up the goods of this earth—but few want to admit it for avarice lies in small and great, in many, many human hearts. Avarice is different from greed. Greed saves, gives nothing away, withdraws; avarice wants not only money, but everything—for itself—it does not save, it spends again; but the thirst for new possessions cannot be quenched. The greedy person likes to stand in the glory; they want to be honored, to be served, flattered.
If you notice avarice in children, work strictly against it, force them to renounce, to give. The avaricious person does not want to renounce, and they deny themselves nothing. Love and kindness draw away from where avarice dwells. In the spirit realm, deprived of all possessions, the spirits
of the avaricious lament—and how difficult it is for them to die!
—Eradicate avarice, even in the smallest thing: force yourselves to give up things you love, to accustom your hearts to letting go and relinquishing earthly possessions.

Strife.
All evil is against itself; hence strife. If everyone were good, there would be no strife; evil argues against evil and argues with itself. Discord separates love and friendship, destroys family life; it begins with gossip, slander, and intolerance. These are the vermin that destroy the sociable, friendly life of people. Whoever wants to be free from strife should hold their tongue, should tell themselves daily: Silence is golden. Listen to no-toasting, stay away from gossips, close your ears to slander. Whoever doesn't want to get into a fight should believe only what they see of their neighbor, keep it to themselves, and not pass it on. Discretion is a good quality. If humanity were to fall silent all at once, there would be less strife.
The tongue is the instrument of sowing; therefore, be mindful, speak no evil, and beware of the one who dwells within you and around you.

Hardness.
Some people mistake hardness for strength of character, but that's not the case. Hardness is stubbornness, obstinacy, not strength of character. Some even pride themselves on being hard and stubbornly clinging to their opinions. Hardness also contains arrogance and pride, and it is the root of many other flaws. Fanatics, religious zealots, and hypocrites are hard. There are people who go to church every day and pray on their knees, yet have hearts of stone. Some become hard, as they say, through people, through sad experiences, through deceptions. Why does it make you hard when others wrong you? Compassion should enter your heart, forgiveness, not hardness. We have no excuse for hardness; it is self-inflicted misery, an injustice that one inflicts upon oneself. An injustice against one's fellow human beings who suffer because of it. It is admired when a hard person expresses an emotion! It is only right and proper: to weep with the mourners, to rejoice...
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...The nature of your incorporation springs from a higher will; everything has its reason, which, as long as you are on earth.

The nature of your earthly life is unclear, but will become clear later. Parental and filial duty should be fulfilled conscientiously and faithfully. No one should say, "If only I had been born under different circumstances." Just as you were born, it is good for you; you accepted all the conditions of your birth before your incorporation into the earth. 
— To despise one's parents, to be ashamed of them, to offend them, are sins awaiting severe punishment. Children belong to their parents not only here, but also in the spirit world, for they are bound by things that united them even before birth; together they have a task or an atonement to fulfill, which has a prior cause, therefore mutual duties must be conscientiously fulfilled.




Complaining.
Useless complaints only increase suffering, do not make us happy, and make others unhappy and impatient. Be strong and bear your pain silently and without complaint. If you give no heed to the urge to complain, it will fall silent, and you will recover much more quickly. Many complain and love to be pitied; in doing so, they become a burden to others. They are listened to only for a while. True pain is silent, closed off; it does not complain. Endure your fate, wait, everything will eventually turn out for the better. The whole world is full of complaints; everything cries out and calls to God. Do you not admire the patience of the Almighty Father, who hears you and so often answers you? Instead of complaining, say: God, Thy will be done! In this you will find strength and relief. Hear the complaint of your neighbor with patience and love; offer comfort as you would like to be comforted. The gratitude of the unfortunate brings blessings; therefore, comfort them. Let the sufferings of others be sacred to you.
Clarity.
There are people who never attain true clarity in their lives, whose innermost thoughts remain forever confused, who waver like a reed; today they believe, tomorrow they doubt; they never stick to one opinion; thus they scatter their best intellectual powers. It is different with those who are conscious of their faith, who live their lives according to principles; these have clarity in thought and action; they see their path in life clearly before them and walk it unwaveringly, without anxious doubts. Clarity brings blessing and peace. You can attain it through reflection. Examine things, examine your faith; then prayer will bring you clarity, laughter, and comfort. Strive for clarity, and the angel of God will enter your heart and make your soul strong and joyful. Pray, God will give you clarity! Wisdom.
"Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves!" True wisdom is connected with piety, springing from a clear mind and a good heart; it is the wisdom of virtue and a just, honest spirit. Deny yourself, do not judge others hastily, speak what is necessary and when it is needed, think before you act—and you are wise. Such wisdom draws you closer to God; it earns you the love and respect of your fellow human beings. Direct your striving toward such wisdom!
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Body.
The body is a temporary, that is, unsustainable, vessel of the spirit and is cast off at death; it decays. But the spirit lives. Paul says: a corruptible body is cast off, an incorruptible one is put on. The body is for the spirit a means of atonement and repentance, of progress. Through embodiment and encasing in human organs, the spirit, so to speak, loses some of its spiritual power; its essence, its qualities, and its abilities become human. You no longer float, you walk; your sight, hearing, and sensation are limited; you have assumed human living conditions from the state of the spirit. What was possible for the spirit is impossible for man; therefore, advanced spirits regard incarnation as a punishment. But for material spirits, it is glorious and pleasant; for them, the spiritual state is punishment. Incarnation should thus be a school for the spirit, but not make it material or sensual. It should improve through incarnation. It should spiritualize itself in the midst of the flesh, becoming good and noble as a human being despite the obstacles and temptations of the senses. May the immortal spirit shine through the body in all things. What an error it is to diminish the spirit, the immortal principle that gives reason and understanding! People are born on Earth very differently; the gifts of spirit and body are distributed differently. Yet everything has its basis in the spirit's prior life.
There are penances, punishments, and lessons. One comes with much experience, another to learn, another to teach as an example, and yet another as punishment. God is all-just. The diversity
The estates, the gifts of mind and body, the talents, etc., all have their prenatal basis. Everything is justly and wisely divided, and all these things become clear to the spiritual, while the materialist rants and raves about the injustice of fate. My beloved, incarnate brothers and sisters, use your incarnation for progress in improvement, so that after death you will no longer need human birth for your perfection. Sickness is an alarm clock for the improvement and spiritualization of humankind; many have learned to pray and believe through it; divine comfort descended upon the bed of pain, they learned to thank God, and many have thus become better people. Therefore, do not grumble when God tests you through sickness; your spirit will benefit from it, and after death you will truly understand that God meant well for you, and you will praise and glorify Him. Illnesses prepare us for death, for our eternal home. They are also a means of atonement. Many have been kept from a life of misery by illness. Therefore, be patient and resigned in such times of affliction, and suffer with composure until God's call resounds. You will then experience bliss and joy for all the pain of this earth!

Offense.
And if your friend offends you,
forgive them, and understand:
"They themselves are not well, otherwise they would not hurt you."

Remind yourself of this whenever you are offended. If an Aryan hurts you, then pity the offender more than yourself. You have not erred; they have done wrong. How can one not pity someone who can offend others! Their conscience must reproach them sooner or later, and every evil deed is followed by punishment. It is far better to suffer oneself than to be guilty of the suffering of others. So don't offend anyone—and forgive if you are offended. Don't become bitter when evil is met with evil!
... Cross
"Bearing the cross" has become proverbial on earth. Christ carried his cross on Golgotha, so now people say, when they have sorrow or suffering: One must bear one's cross, as Jesus did. Doesn't it move you to tears when you consider how the Savior bore his crown? And you wanted to complain? Everyone on earth has their cross. There are some who don't want to bear it, who cast it off—but it's no use, they have to pick it up again and drag it on. Bear it willingly. May the cross be for you the sign of redemption, of resurrection, of reconciliation. Look with gratitude, faith, and love to this symbol of victory over death and sin; continue to struggle through life with it and don't let it be stolen from you. Cling to it with love and say: My Savior, with You I will suffer, fight, and conquer!

Moods.
Moods embitter life, make one unhappy, and those who are subject to them, He is deeply to be pitied, as he can also make life miserable for others. Moods must be fought, suppressed. Whoever lets their whims run wild does a great injustice. First, one allows oneself small whims, which begin with impatience, then anger and discontent are added. Moods are the seed of great errors. We advise everyone to fight against them with the fullest willpower. Through whims, you become unlovable and a burden to your fellow human beings. For every tear that another person sheds because of your whims, for every suffering, every sigh, you are responsible. Moods are self-inflicted suffering—they spring from a weak character that cannot control itself.
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Life.
Life! What a weighty word! And how differently it is expressed on people's faces! In some, in deep furrows of pain, in others, a gentle smile. Some have eyes shining with joy, others... Tearful. To truly understand life is an art. Only he is wise who does not consider this life as permanent and the only one existing. Life here below is a journey, a sojourn on earth on the way to eternity. Think more about the eternal, spiritual life than about earthly, material life—then you will live rightly.

Wearyness of life.
They say people love life—it is wonderful to live on earth. And yet, how much weariness of life there is! How many suicides out of sorrow! Almost everyone has had moments of weariness of life. Weariness of life is a lack of trust and surrender to God, a faintheartedness of weak souls. How quickly some become weary of life, unable to endure the slightest trial, blaming God for their pain and adversity. Is it not perhaps your own fault? A good Christian, and especially a Spirit, must never become weary of life; he must persevere in faith and patience. The Spirit knows that he chooses to give his life willingly, with all its consequences. Having overcome the trials, now he must conquer, not succumb. — “If only I could die!” many lament. Yes, do you believe that

Do you think that death will deliver you from all suffering, all work, every trial? Do you believe that after death you will only rejoice? You are mistaken; death only transforms the shell of your spirit, but it does not make you holy—and consequently, it does not free you from suffering. Therefore, do not say: Lord, let me die! but rather: Lord, give me new strength to be Your faithful servant and to fulfill my life's purpose. Do not be weary of life, do not shy away from pain—overcome it. Then bliss and peace await you in the realm of the spirit.

Recklessness.
The reckless person is a criminal; they destroy a better life, break hearts, and undermine existences. Men and lovers are seduced by recklessness. It undermines every better feeling. First, in a daze, they enjoy the world without measure or purpose; they need permissible, then impermissible means, and whoever does not stop in time becomes a criminal. Many a blossoming, cheerful girl ends up as a child murderer, many by suicide, others on the scaffold. — O man, beware of the frivolity that at first seems so rosy and innocent and gradually leads you into the abyss of vice, into guilt and crime. Life is not a game; it is terribly serious, it is an important step toward eternity. O never lose sight of this! Pray to God at the threshold of the abyss—there is always an angel there who can still lead you back to Him.

Passion.
There are great and small passions. First, fight the small ones, so that you may more easily master the great ones. One of the most terrible passions is gambling. The gambler is like a possessed man; he cannot rid himself of his passion; it plunges him and his family into misery.

— The gambling table is the gambler's magnet. A horrifying, gruesome image. Ah, the gambling dens, the gaming tables are surrounded by dreadful spirits—demons, one might call them—that goad people into gambling in order to corrupt them. Oh, if only the gamblers could see the gruesome company that surrounds them; they would flee in horror.

An equally terrible and corrupting passion is drunkenness, opium smoking, and, in your enlightened century, morphine. Indeed, anything can become a passion for a person if they are not master of their emotions.

—If you have any hobby or favorite pastime, try to abstain from it for a while—just test who is master, you or the passion, whether it serves you or whether you are its slave.

—Very soon, passion becomes master over a person without their knowledge. At first, it is a habit, then it grows stronger and becomes an ingrained passion. Passions will pursue you even into the realm of the spirits, and they are dreadful there, where they find no gratification.
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 Therefore, O friends, take our advice: fight against bad habits and passions; do not be servants of your desires; live abstinently; do not give in to tempestuous emotions; never speak or write in the heat of passion, for bitter regret often follows.

Love.
God, who pleases us, is not with the senses, but with the spirit alone.

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Love's Suffering.
People say: Love and suffering cannot be separated, cannot be divided. This applies only to sensual love. Spiritual love is exalted above all suffering in the certainty of its inseparability and immortality. Its eternal duration will raise it above all earthly suffering to heaven. What is of the earth is full of suffering; but what is divine, heavenly, knows no suffering. Love's suffering, therefore, is a human thing, often brought about by sinful passion.

Leave the earthly aside, keep the heavenly. Sensuality turns love into sin; it distorts the image of heaven and becomes a demon. The sensual desire for possession is the greatest affront to love. True love gives itself—and it gives you the highest prize, the spirit, as your own. The immortal principle, not the material. For many, love is not a sacred thing; they play a wicked, sinful game with it, hence the suffering of love, this poor sinner's flower of the earth. The more spiritual, the purer your love, the more blessed love will make you, the more it will resemble the dual love of two intimately connected spirits.
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Praise.
Self-praise always arises from vanity and is therefore reprehensible. The satisfaction one feels from a good deed and the peace that a clear conscience provides are worth more than all self-praise, for these two qualities are merely the effects of divine grace and mercy, while self-praise ascribes merit only to the individual. When praising others, two kinds must be distinguished: the praise of the pious and God-fearing, and the praise of the wicked and false, the praise of the world. The first kind of praise bestows joy; it is a kind of reward. The second is a temptation that seeks to make you vain. Weak characters are very susceptible to praise; the words of flatterers sway them—and all integrity ceases. The truly devout person will strive only to please God; the praise of men will leave them cold; they will never crave praise, knowing that by acting rightly, they are merely fulfilling their duty. Therefore, do not seek praise; what you do is duty that awaits no reward.
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Reward.
Doing good for reward is not the right way; selfless, without ulterior motive, is what true good work should be.
One should make whole, not half, sacrifices; the reward lies in the good deed, in the joy of the work of mercy, in the satisfaction of having helped others or of having overcome oneself. Seek no reward on earth; it is not to be found here below; the reward is with God, who tests hearts and minds.

Lie. 
Lies are like a two-tongued, poisonous snake; beware of them, for they come from and belong to opposites! Beware of little lies; they are excused by the world, yet one soon becomes entangled in them, and they are the beginning of great lies, which then result in deceit, falsehood, and defamation. Therefore, do not permit yourselves even the slightest untruth; allow yourselves no embellishments—they all lead to lies—be true and open. Lies defile the soul with the merry. Sad for him whose heart is of stone, who feels nothing. It is pride and stubbornness that must then be broken and purified in the realm of spirits. Let your hearts soften, O people! Be good and loving; do not silence the voice of your heart. Many a heart has smelled harshness—harsh words are hard to forget; they can be forgiven, but the memory of them remains. Many lives have been destroyed by harshness. Hard people can only be softened by love and patience, for harshness against harshness repels, only causing wounds and offering no healing. But harshness is powerless against kindness and love; there it is helpless, there it must soften.

Hate.
When the tongue sows discord, hatred enters the heart. Hatred is something abhorrent, inhuman. One should only hate evil and sin. We maintain that there is no such thing as constant, absolute hatred. Transformations within the greatest hatred are possible. People often label a feeling as "hatred" that is merely dislike, antipathy, and could easily be transformed into something better; but people like to use extreme expressions. Dislike—let's substitute that word for hatred—antipathy is aversion. Hatred usually arises in selfish, arrogant, domineering hearts; for a good heart will not hate even its enemy. The word "forgive" is alien to hatred, and yet it is only through this that it can be reconciled. O lay down your hatred here on this earth; do not take it with you to the spirit world; there it will torment and persecute you; for behold, here you lay down only the body, but your own shadows, faults, and
Read Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13. Do what he says there about love. We learn there what love should be like. Whoever loves God also loves humanity; such a person is good, righteous, and there is no wickedness in them. Therefore, above all, strive for the love of God, which most forget in favor of sensual love. After the love of God, dual love—that is, the heartfelt love between man and woman—is the highest, the most binding. Then comes parental and child love. Dual love unites two beings into one; it is eternal. Sensual love dies and fades—but spiritual love endures. Love should be a spiritual matter; humankind carries it with us into the realm of spirit. Sensual love is animalistic, evil, and corrupt; it is not love, but passion. Love is the greatest transformer, savior, reconciler, a unifying force.

Love makes all equal; it knows neither king nor beggar; it looks to the spirit. The greatness of love lies in its transcendence of all that is human. Whoever truly loves on earth must believe in immortality, for they desire that their love live eternally. — But you, human beings, should love God more than your dearest possessions on earth, for they belong to God. He gave them to you. Jesus said to Mary Magdalene: "She will be forgiven much, for she has loved much." Mary Magdalene, the beautiful, frivolous, vain woman of the world, at whose feet everyone lay, gave up all this out of love for God; because she repented, she was forgiven. Love blots out sin. So you too should be ready at every moment to give up everything out of love for God. If you truly love God, your love for another will also be just and good. Then you will love as God intended.

The virtues go hand in hand with the spirit! Through love, gentleness, and kindness, hatred can be conquered;—do not reject those who hate you, do not abandon them, be reconciled with them!

Domestic life.
A harmonious, peaceful home is essential to human happiness; even the smallest home, when filled with love, becomes paradise. A loving couple, good children, work, and faith in God—nothing more is needed for happiness. The wife should create a happy home for her husband. If you have built your house on God, it will stand firm, and no storm can destroy it. Build your household on love, patience, and faith in God; bear the small inconveniences with patience, and face life's challenges calmly. May peace reign in your house; strive to be just to all; guide and lead everything without much fuss or fanfare. He who excels in small things will also prove himself in great things. Endure minor adversities with patience and energy, with fresh courage in tireless work. Many women complain that their husbands neglect them and spend their evenings away from home. Perhaps they themselves are to blame. Prepare a cheerful, stimulating, and cozy home for your husband; make him comfortable at home; be neatly dressed, happy, and cheerful; don't talk to him about unimportant gossip and petty worries; strive to keep his love alive, just as you did when you were engaged, and you will not bore him; you will become a magnet that binds your husband to the house. The man provides for your life; provide for him; brighten his life. Let him see only the sunshine in the house; keep the slight shadows to yourself. A perpetually complaining wife drives her husband out of the house. Adverse love affairs or domestic scenes destroy family life. They are like thunderstorms that cloud the clear sky, and usually leave behind a bitter feeling that is hard to shake.

Never play the "offended" wife, sulking and resentful! Don't do it—you'll drive your husband away—and kill all beautiful, joyful love! A woman should always forgive and give in; only then will she keep her husband close. A man likes to be comfortable at home, resting from the day's burdens; he loves a cheerful, friendly face. It certainly isn't difficult to keep a man happy and have a beautiful home. Inexhaustible love, goodwill, and accommodatingness are all part of it. And what an example a woman with such virtues sets for her children! What a lasting, positive impression such a faithful mother makes! It's a lifelong benefit for children to grow up in domestic peace and never hear a quarrel between their parents.

A man likes to be comfortable at home, resting from the day's burdens; he loves a cheerful, friendly face. It's certainly not difficult to keep a man happy and have a beautiful home. 
How dreadful the opposite—quarreling parents! Naturally, the children take sides, and the whole house descends into strife and discord. — The wife should be the angel of peace.

Homeland.
With the word homeland, we denote the place of our birth, the home of our parents,
of our childhood. Human beings are too attached to the soil. Look to God; there is the homeland of your spirit, from which you were created, to which you will return; a comfort for those who wander homeless on earth. After a long and arduous pilgrimage, God leads us there. Live in such a way that death finds you ready for the eternal homeland of pure love. Do not become too settled on earth, for you can be called away at any moment; be ready to come when God calls. The earthly homeland is temporary, the heavenly homeland is permanent.
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Heart.
The heart is the organ of sensation, of life. Joy, sorrow, love, and pain pulsate in the heart; but the organ does not determine the feeling—the mind gives sensation to the organ—for spirits also perceive all this without an organic heart. You call heartless one who has little sensation; he simply does not allow the voices of the mind and his feelings to speak, they grant him no expression in the organ called the heart. You speak of good and evil, of soft and hard hearts, expressing sensation with the word "heart"; but the heart is neither good nor evil, it is the mind that opens the human heart to good or evil. Do not be fainthearted in pain; the heart that does not suffer cannot truly rejoice. Let your heart tremble and lament—then it will beat joyfully in happiness and rejoice twofold. Woe to a heart that has silenced all feeling and knows neither pain nor joy. He who refuses to yield to any anguish of the soul and wants to appear strong, coerces his heart. God gave you a heart for feeling; let this organ not be idle—above all, let it beat high in love. Thanks and praise to God.

Purity of heart.
"Those who are pure in heart will see God."
“For nothing impure can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, strive to keep your heart, that is, yourselves, pure from sin, from evil thoughts and feelings. One can keep one's heart pure by being deaf to all that is impure, and sin flees. Unfortunately, many find pleasure in impurity, and those who do not control themselves soon lose all judgment of good and evil and go from evil to the worst.
— First think of impurity, then talk about it, lastly do it—that's how it goes. So beware of such thoughts, keep your heart pure from every poisonous breath. Remember the words of Jesus: “Those who are pure in heart will see God.” Oh, this blessedness, this bliss! For its sake, you can watch over yourself so that you do not defile your heart.

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Hypocrisy.
How often did Christ lament the hypocrisy and sanctimoniousness of the Pharisees, who walk in sheep's clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves. Hypocrisy springs from a false heart; hypocrites seek to deceive God and the world. A thousand times better to make enemies through excessive sincerity than friends through hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is exposed sooner or later; it is short-lived, an illusion that is soon erased.
— The hypocrite is a perpetual liar; he is not a true friend and finds no true friend; he is shunned, he stands alone in the world, his glory is fleeting. To feign virtue and piety while thinking and acting unjustly is an abomination before God and worse than open sin, since virtue and religion serve as a cloak for vice. When the hypocrite dies and his entire untrue life lies before him, he truly imagines himself in a hell; images of terror appear before him; his deepest secrets, formerly so carefully concealed, are revealed, and he trembles before God's judgment.

Heaven.
In every religion we find the concept of heaven, a better afterlife where good people go and are rewarded for their virtue, where there are angels and benevolent spirits. Spiritualism, communication with spirits, has brought much clarity to the concepts of the afterlife, heaven, and hell. The Christian religion says: God is in heaven; then it says: God is omnipresent; therefore, heaven can also be everywhere. Heaven is not so much a specific place, but rather the blissful state of high, perfect spirits who make the space where they are a place of blessedness. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
 If you love God above all else and live according to Him, then you are in Heaven. Don't expect a closed, self-contained Heaven with constant rewards and a leisurely, contemplative life. God is eternally active, so the perfect spirit must be as well. Heaven will be with you, within you, according to the goodness and perfection of your spirit; through this, you ascend to higher spiritual levels and spheres. Heaven, that is, the blissful spiritual state, is everywhere where God's love dwells in good people and blessed spirits. After death, everyone enters the spiritual level for which they are qualified, according to the law of interconnectedness. Eternal bliss is with God and is attained only through perfection. The Kingdom of Heaven is vulnerable, and only those who seize it, storm it, and plead for it will possess it.

Hell.
As with the concept of Heaven, so it is with Hell. Hell is the wretched, tormenting state of misguided, sinful spirits; — and will persist in the universe as long as there is opposition, sin, and misguided spirits; hence, an eternal hell. It seems impossible to humankind that evil can ever be converted, defeated, or reconciled. In this, spiritualism is in strong contradiction with the Orthodox churches, which established the dogma of an eternal hell. Certainly, the end of evil is not foreseeable, but eternal damnation does not exist; that would be against God's love, against the goodness of the All-Father. Did God eternally condemn Adam and Eve, the first sinners, after they supposedly brought so-called original sin upon humanity? Did he destroy them? No, he destined them for penance and hard labor. Likewise, Christ. He sends no one to eternal hell, not even Judas, the traitor, to whom he only gently said: "Judas, will you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"
— Thus, eternal damnation has been established by humans as a deterrent and a matter of faith. Believe us, we spirits do not need such a hell for punishment and atonement, for sin is pain enough. The wicked person carries within themselves their own hell, their torment, the reproaches, the unfortunate state into which their misdeeds have placed them; these are torments of hell enough! A spirit created by God, is is immortal.
— If the good are immortal, so too are the wicked; they are not dissolved into the universe, as Indian religion teaches. They live and should repent, for God's light and love penetrate everywhere, even to the most unfortunate and wicked; they should be awakened from the evil dream that holds them captive, by the redemptive power of the Messiah. Before this, hell and all evil vanish.
Here was page 123 in germand ed.
a good description of these states "there" is given in this book of Franchezzo, which was transmitted at about the same time as this book by Adelma, or somewhat afterwards (rø-remask)
Execution.
Is the death penalty a human right? Is it just before God? Two very important questions. In our view, the death penalty is an interference in God's judgment; it is no human right. It will improve neither humanity nor the spirit of the executed. Many appeal to Holy Scripture because it is written, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." Yes, but this means leaving judgment to God, for "Vengeance is mine," says the Lord! The death penalty, as deterrent as it is, has never deterred anyone from murder; Therefore, it is decidedly no means of reform for the world. The condemned man has no time for remorse during his imprisonment. The court proceedings agitate him and prevent him from coming to his senses; either he becomes completely hardened, or a terrible fear of death seizes him, so his mental state prevents him from even considering serious remorse. He is mercilessly sent to the afterlife;—if God were as merciless as people perceive him to be, then his spirit would have to be destroyed. 
124

Of course, murder is the most horrific thing, I mean murder carried out with premeditation and calculation. People have a very flexible concept of murder. If someone is shot dead in cold blood during a duel, that is not murder, because people call it a fight of honor; killing in war is also not murder, and so there are several killings that people do not call murder. Then you are punishing not only murderers with death, but also, in some states, political criminals. Some people find satisfaction in execution; thus, it becomes an act of revenge. The criminal, however, is a creature to be pitied deeply—he deserves mercy, words of love and compassion. Strict Christian discipline, work, and good example would convert the sinner, crush him, and save his soul—but not execution, this brief operation, after which the spirit remains as evil, as unhappy, as before. Execution is not punishment; on the contrary, it redeems the murderer from the earthly life, which is merely painful and terrible for him. It is punishment to live on earth with the burden of conscience, punishment to endure earthly life laden with blood, an abomination to others. The manner of dealing with criminals has not yet been seriously and deeply considered enough. We tell you: no one has the right to take another's life—even a murderer. Leave judgment to God.

Pride.
Pride brought about the fall away from God, the opposition; in it, seek the fall of evil; it is the worst enemy of spirits and humans, and can be found in almost everyone to a greater or lesser degree, since all inhabitants of the earth are fallen spirits. O dear friends, fight pride; see, it is the cause of your struggles and suffering; it has cast you from Paradise onto this hard soil. Love is humble;—so take love into your hearts and eradicate all pride; it will go well with a firm will.
Pride corrupts the best qualities; it allows nothing noble to arise in a person; it attracts everything to itself in order to glorify itself; it is selfish, unjust, and heartless. Therefore, let everyone examine whether pride resides within them, in what capacity, in what weakness; then quickly set about eradicating it!

Pride, Hope.
Hope is the faithful companion of faith. Never let hope fail you; it is the comforter of the afflicted, the staff on which the poor and unfortunate lean. God placed sweet hope in the human heart so that one would not despair, so that one might hold fast through all the trials of this life to the faith that gives strength. Therefore, pilgrims of earth, hope, believe, and do not waver. The good angels speak to humankind, stirring the voice of hope. Oh, listen to this voice, and do not despair. Hope is a divine light that shines in the darkness; open your eyes, look to the light, and you will find comfort and refreshment.
Often, youth should enjoy itself, be joyful and cheerful; away with the sad thoughts of old age! Rejoice while you are young. Yes, rejoice, but only in work, in fulfilling your duties, not in frivolity. Youth is a serious and important time, a time of sowing; as you sow, so you will reap.
In your youth, build your house and home, work for a contented old age, seek true friends, be prudent and wise, not reckless and flighty. Sustain your youth in this way, and you will have an old age filled with the best memories.

Children.
The bond that unites children and parents is not merely earthly; it is an eternal bond of love. It is no accident that some have a brood of children and others do not; no accident that one was born to a king and another to a beggar; it is all a law of divine providence. Before your incorporation, bonds had already tied you to your parents; the place.

This was on page 128 of the online version of the book in PDF format, and pages 112 to 145 are missing from the online edition from which this is to be translated. The following text was on page 145 of the book, which was available online in January 2026;
Reward
"Doing good for reward is not the right way; selfless without ulterior motive, that is what true good work should be. One should offer whole sacrifices, not half-measures; the reward lies in the good deed, in the joy of the work of mercy, in the satisfaction of having helped others or of having overcome oneself. Seek no reward on earth; it is not to be found here below; the reward is with God, who tests hearts and minds.

Lie
"The lie is like a two-tongued poisonous snake; beware of it, it is of opposites and belongs to them! Beware of little lies; they are excused by the world, but one soon becomes fond of them, and they are the beginning of great lies, which then result in deception, falsehood, and defamation. Therefore, do not permit yourselves even the smallest untruth; allow yourselves no embellishments—they all lead to lies—be true and open." Lies defile the soul and corrupt the heart. Try the truth, and you will see how glorious it is to have a pure conscience, free from lies.

Admonition to Spirits.
May Christ be your example in all things, dear brothers and sisters. Poor, forsaken, and despised, he was on earth. His kingdom was purely spiritual. He worked to live; he, the Son of God, was the son of a carpenter on earth. He loved everyone and rejected no sinner; he practiced charity to the fullest extent, for he prayed for his enemies. He honored authority and laws. He exhorted the rich to help the poor, yet he never commanded it—only he called blessed those who followed him. He spoke courage and comfort to the poor. 
See in Jesus respect for all that exists, never upheaval or passion. He commanded his disciples to remain poor, for there is danger in wealth. He forbade them to accept money for spiritual benefits; they should work for their needs, but teach and heal for free. — All this we say to you too, spirits! Be content in the life assigned to you. Do not shy away from poverty and the world's contempt; work for your life, but never accept a reward for spiritual service or instruction. Here it is — spirit for spirit. God gives spiritual things freely out of grace and without your merit, so pass them on. From high spirits you should never expect gold or the advancement of material wealth; only low spirits make such vain promises. — Yes, we will bestow spiritual joys and gifts upon you, as much as you can receive and deserve. You poor one, be content, do not despair, work, trust; your heavenly Father watches. You rich one, help the poor! You are only the steward, not the owner of your wealth — do not let your soul be lost. You sinner: Confess your guilt, repent, there is still time; God is merciful.
To the good we say: be better! To the sick, be healed if you believe in the power of Jesus. Call upon Him, and you will be healed. Furthermore, we ask you spirits: remove all fanaticism, all coercion, all formulas and dogmas, all Pharisaical pretense, and secrecy from your circle. Be open, sincere, and joyful before God; let your faith be simple, strong, pure, and true!
— Very often, spirit circles fall into dogma, hypocrisy, superstition, and sorcery;
— these are the works and influences of impure spirits that seek to hinder the flight of the truly spiritual being. Consider the teachings of spirits as a deep, serious study, but do not turn Spiritism into a fanatical religious sect. Your religion is the New Testament of Christ; harmonize and connect this with your spiritual studies. Be one in faith. Believe in God, the Creator! Believe in Jesus, the firstborn of God. Believe in the influence of spirits, in the possibility of being influenced by them. This is the foundation, of the true faith.
— Now there are still branches that lend themselves to scientific study: the manifestations of spirits in their expressions, studies of their position in the universe, observations of magnetic-fluidic forces and effects, of illnesses, clairvoyance, and mediumship in general—these are truly deep and fertile fields of serious thought. Therefore, be confessors of God and Christ, believe in spirits, investigate communication with the spirit world, and guard yourselves against errors and detours; let your religion be that, and God will work it through you. Your gatherings should pursue the morally spiritual, ennobling, and the practically useful purpose. To achieve the moral purpose, you must practice faith, love, and humility. To attain practical success, you need research, reflection, and evidence.
Then knowledge follows. Strictly examine all phenomena, consider them, and accept only compelling evidence. Be reserved and humble toward the world; do not impose your faith on others. Let every spirit purge all self-importance from their soul; let them not present themselves as prophets, for many who believed they possessed the truth and preached it later had to admit with shame that they were mistaken or deceived. You all still have to learn; the last word has not yet been spoken. Study and research without rest—that should be your striving. Those people and mediums who chase after effects are often themselves doubters at heart and harm the cause, as do those who cannot separate themselves from church dogma. You must be pure and unfettered, with God alone.

Man and woman.
In the spirit realm, there is neither man nor woman; the spirits are equal—yet dual. The spiritual dual manifests itself in human life through man and woman. The difference between the spiritual abilities of both lies not so much in the spirit itself, but in their upbringing, rank, and status on Earth. In the aforementioned book you will find that a giving and a receiving principle, a masculine and a feminine principle, pervades the universe—man and woman are the witnesses of the highest of these two principles. Neither is higher or better than the other in a spiritual sense. Both are equal, yet neither can exist without the other; there exists a unity within them that nothing can separate—they are called to work together—until their eventual unification. We include here a statement we wrote in 1867 with L. W., a cousin of Adelma's, who addresses the status of men and women on earth in a special way: "Fineer feelings are, as it were, instilled in women. They are instructed to let men provide for them materially; therefore, they cling gently to them. Women are given other duties, which are no less great than those of men, often more sublime in their purity and dignity. They are supposed to show men heaven, to spiritualize them, to improve them. What makes a more overwhelming impression on the mind of the crudest man than a gentle, sensitive woman? A brusque one! 
A sense of domesticity ties him to the hearth; it is she who, after a day of sorrow and toil, strokes the wrinkles from his brow, and gives him courage and perseverance. Women are supposed to awaken in men a sense of all that is nobler and finer." She is the educator of generations, upon her depends the well-being and woe of nations. Truly, woman's destiny is a lofty, sublime one! Women, let men have their rights, do not interfere in men's paths, do not cast off the adornment that most beautifully graces you and with which you can improve and educate the world: true womanhood! Oh, cherish and cultivate it, in it lies your charm, your power! 
Man has undergone a higher school through education. He becomes independent early; he is instructed to provide for himself and others. Man should be woman's protector, shield, and support—it is his responsibility to be the champion of faith, discipline, and virtue. He must set a good example. May he never be responsible for a woman's misfortune or transgression! A man who exploits a woman's weakness is a wretched coward; the freedom he enjoys as a man should not lead him to abuse it. If man sets an example for woman... If she is of nobility and nobility of spirit, she will certainly not lack it. Woman should be able to look up to him, to find strength, comfort, and help in him. If men were the moral pillars of human society, if they were virtuous, strict, and conscientious, there would be no vices—and no misguided creatures of sin.”

Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
Consider the Mother of Jesus as the epitome of femininity and purity, as one of the highest
spirits incarnated on earth, as an angel of God worthy to become the Mother of the Redeemer. But do not make any gods, do not ascribe divine power or divine wisdom to her. Consider her life; she remained a simple, humble woman. Calmly, she accepted Jesus' small admonitions—she knew—he was not a son, but her Lord and Master. See how touching this humility of Mary is. Do not place the mother above the son; you would not be acting in accordance with God's will. Those who ascribe divine power to Mary diminish faith in God. Mary can and should be your example in obedience and humility—but your prayer should be directed to God alone, for He alone has the power and might. You should have no gods besides God, no goddess to whom you pray. Jesus gave Mary to his beloved disciple John at his death on the cross. "Behold, this is your mother," He said, and thus Mary's motherhood to Jesus ended. Pay Mary the honor, the love, the admiration that is due to her. Honor her as the purest, noblest woman in the world.

Opinions.
Disagreements arise from the intellectual and spiritual differences between people and minds. Just as no two leaves are exactly alike, so too are no two people who think exactly alike. A calm exchange of perspectives brings education, progress, and enlightenment; if this occurs passionately, discord, strife, and war arise. If you believe your friend has a false, erroneous opinion, discuss it with him seriously and calmly; and if you cannot teach him anything better, remain silent and leave it to God. Do not impose your opinion on anyone; respect the views of others. God is not always of your opinion either, and yet He does not destroy anyone for it. He is kind and patient. In the eternally turning wheel of time, everyone will finally learn to recognize the truth.

Melancholy.
Melancholy is a mental illness, a sickness of the spirit; It springs from a lack of faith, a lack of trust in God. Whoever dwells on melancholy thoughts should try praying to God fervently and often, and they will see how it refreshes and revives their heart and soul. Prayer is the best remedy for melancholy. Before unwavering trust in God, all clouds vanish, all gloomy thoughts disappear; God sends comfort to the troubled heart, and the person becomes joyful again. Never nurture melancholy with lamentation and self-pity—you will ultimately have to realize that you are artificially creating suffering and tormenting yourself; fight it down, overcome it. Be hard, strict with yourself, and you will be healed.

The Misanthrope.
Human beings are created for one another; they are meant to live for each other. Therefore, whoever hates and flees from humanity commits a sin. Those who flee from the hustle and bustle of society, from the life of the world, are therefore not necessarily misanthropes. Nor does the misanthrope always seek the quiet solitude of philosophers and thinkers; he often lives amidst the throng of people, but he hates them, thinks ill of everyone, is stingy, selfish, distrustful, and pessimistic. He offers no one a helping hand, begrudges no one anything good, expects only evil from people, resents everyone, and stands alone, loving only himself. A sad, lonely life, without love, without true friends. The misanthrope is a trial for others; he leaves the beggar empty-handed, the smiles of children do not delight him, the tears of sorrow leave him cold, he participates in no charitable work, he is fundamentally opposed to everything that could alleviate human suffering. He begrudges the rich their wealth, the fortunate their happiness; he gives no love. Unloved, unpityed, he wanders toward the grave, finding no friends in the afterlife; for he who sows no love on earth will find no love in the hereafter. A sad existence, a sad end, a sad future!

The philanthropist.
How glorious is the life of the philanthropist, one who loves humankind because they are his brothers and sisters! The philanthropist is usually an optimist. He always expects the best from people—and even if he experiences disappointment, the good expectation was still worth something. The pulse of love can withstand even this pain. The philanthropist gives gladly, as much as he can. He is often taken advantage of, but it is better to give too much than too little. How many prayers of thanks rise to God for him! The philanthropist loves rich and poor, high and low; he can be found in the palace and in the hut of the poor. Children love him; he harms no animal. When children love someone, it is certain that they are a good person. — The heart of a philanthropist is warm; it feels the pain and joy of others. They give and receive comfort; they are not alone.
And a host of grateful spirits awaits him in the afterlife, full of love.

Understanding human nature.
Understanding human nature is a gift one is born with. Children often already possess a true sense of character and people; the judgment of many a child has already convicted adults!
157.

Then sensitive natures know special people; they intuitively perceive people's qualities and thoughts; the souls and hearts of their fellow human beings open to their inner eye; they learn to recognize people through the tone of their voice, a glance, a handshake. — This often says more than years of living together. Superficial and egotistical natures, or those who pedantically enclose themselves in forms and dogmas, will never become good judges of human nature; their intellectual vision is limited, and they are incapable of seeing into the heart of their neighbor. Even a lively, social life does not produce good judges of human nature, for one should not judge anyone by outward appearances. Understanding human nature should be paired with love and gentleness—only then will it be a blessing.

With gentleness you accomplish far more than with domineeringness or severity. Gentleness has an invincible power, for it has might over stubbornness and willfulness. Gentleness governs better than harshness. What threats often cannot achieve, a gentle, kind word can accomplish. Gentleness is an angel of comfort and mercy; it is love itself. It dries the tears of the unfortunate, it brings repentance and insight to the heart of the poor sinner. It reconciles evil; it is peace. O people, if you wish to be powerful, be gentle.

Envy, resentment.
Two evil qualities! Whoever feels them in their spouse or friend suffers more than the one they afflict or intend to harm. Envy is the destroyer of love; resentment breeds hatred and strife. The envious person feels unhappy; they are full of bitterness and cannot find joy in life; they cannot rejoice with others. Looking with suspicion at their neighbor's happiness, they themselves lose it. The resentful person becomes avaricious and dissatisfied. Therefore, do not let the monster, envy, enter your heart. If you have the slightest predisposition for it, eradicate it; only will it, and you will succeed. — The faults slumbering within people, already present in them, are always fanned by the spirits of temptation, and these must be overcome by firm will. Thus, the resentful person hears the evil voice of the envious spirits; indeed, they feel how they incite them to envy. — Drive away the tempter, give no ear to them, be brave and strong, do not let your heart be corrupted; — God will help you.

Discontent.
Like many faults, discontent also springs from a lack of trust in God; there are people who become discontented over the slightest trifle. If you let discontent take over, it can lead to despair and become dangerous. Discontent leads you to an abyss. Therefore, be courageous, do not despair, banish sad thoughts, do not let your wings droop. When life seems hard and unbearable, when blow after blow bends you, then look all the more faithfully to God! Discontent does not make your trials easier, but trust makes every burden light. Discontent weighs down your heart and makes you unable to fight. Keep a joyful heart despite everything that may come. Do not let your trust in God be stolen from you. Discontent is weakness, a disgrace for the believer. Strive and persevere courageously. — Undaunted!

Distrust.
Distrust is an enemy that creeps unnoticed into your heart, gnaws at it, and embitters your life. Certainly, the unseen troublemakers are at work again, intent on making you unhappy. Just as there are people who readily stoke your distrust, so too are there spirits who do the same. Distrust has broken many a heart and committed much injustice. The distrustful person, like the ill-disposed, will never experience true joy in life, as they sense lies, deceit, and enemies everywhere. What a tormenting life that is! Reason and intellect should eradicate all distrust! Let the good heart drive away envy—let reason drive away distrust. If you reflect, you will see that distrust is a very useless and evil thing; it deprives you of love and trust. If you don't believe others, you too will be distrusted, and those who suffer from your distrust will curse you. You will receive no blessing—for you are responsible for every tear shed. So suppress mistrust, warm your heart with love and trust.

Idleness.
Idleness is the root of all evil. Idleness begins with, bad habits that then degenerate into vice. On the dikes, idleness is a theft of eternity. They waste their time with inactivity, tedious chatter, finery, and trinkets. For the poor, idleness is the beginning of ruin. — If you don't need to use your hands to earn your daily bread, work with your intelligence, with your mind, or give work to the poor, help them, work for them. There you will always find enough to do. Remember, O man, that after death you will have to give an account of every day, every hour of your earthly life. If you then bring only empty, meaningless days, if your time is wasted, lost—oh, then the bitter work will come in the spirit realm! So use your time—work while it is day, so that the night does not surprise you.


Mother.
The most beautiful memory for a lifetime, the highest form of selfless love a person can receive, is a mother's kiss, caress, and blessing. God's eye looks upon it with favor. A mother's blessing is a powerful protection and shield; her prayer delivers from hell and death. Great men have usually had good mothers. Even before birth, the spirit of a child is closely connected and in love with the spirit of its mother—these are pre-earthly bonds. A good son will also be a good husband, an obedient daughter a worthy wife. Oh, do not despise a mother's loving words, her admonition, for her voice speaks true! He who is responsible for his mother's tears and sorrow would have been better off never having been created. The man who respects his mother will respect all women, for a noble and faithful mother remains a model for life. Therefore, mothers, you cannot be strict and conscientious enough as an example for your children. The mother remains a model for the child. A mother's love should be sensible, but not weak or vain. Vain love has already ruined much. Be strict when your child is misbehaving—a mother's discipline drives children from hell, and the seeds of evil must be nipped in the bud! A spoiled child does not respect its mother, and true love is founded only on respect. A child who lost its mother early will always feel this love, for nothing can replace a mother's love and care. The heart of a faithful mother is a glorious thing! The bond between mother and children never ends—it is an eternal bond, forged even for the next world.

Gossip.
"Judge not, or you too will be judged." If you know something unfavorable about your neighbor, keep it to yourself; slander has already spread much discord and caused much misfortune. Speak only good things about your neighbor, but keep the bad to yourselves and do not judge them. O people, restrain your talkativeness and speak no evil about your brothers and sisters. Alas, for some, it is a great pleasure to speak ill of their fellow human beings. You cannot be too vigilant about yourselves; all too soon an evil, unjust word is spoken and harm is done. — Silence is golden! Happy is he who never has a word to regret.

Forbearance.
Be forbearance with others, strict with yourself. Through forbearance you make friends and reap love. Whoever judges harshly against their fellow human beings will be judged just as mercilessly. Forbearance springs from love of one's neighbor. You cannot see into the innermost thoughts of people; you do not know the circumstances and things that determine their actions, and you do not know how you would have acted in this or that situation; for a person's mood, the moment, often decides their actions. Therefore, be lenient, for even God the Lord shows leniency toward you.
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Nature.
If you are truly distressed and find no comfort among people, flee out into nature, listen to the rustling of the forest, the roar of the sea, the song of the birds, and you will find heavenly comforting voices  who teach you to pray. You will find many a good example in nature. Is not the animal, in its simplicity, faithfulness, and love, often a shameful example for humankind? The mother animal does not abandon her young as long as they need her care; but among us humans, there are unnatural mothers who abandon, sell, and kill their children! In nature there are no vices, no sins; these are found only in humankind. The refined wickedness of so-called civilized people is the most unnatural and wicked. God is to be found in nature! Can humankind even grasp the smallest...
Can anyone create something that could equal the song of birds, the fragrance, the vibrant colors of flowers, all the mysteries and powers of nature? Nature remains impossibly vast, incomparably beautiful. Whoever contemplates nature without God deprives it of its soul and spirit—its life; for everything is dead without God. But whoever seeks God in nature will find the Creator and worship him in awe. God himself will enter their heart and dwell there.

Naturalness.
A sincere, truth-loving spirit will always be natural. The greatest charm of youth is naturalness; everything artificial is ugly because it is untrue. Nothing makes a person so ridiculous as unnaturalness, eccentricity, and exaggeration. Do not try to appear different or better than you are; remain in the sphere where fate has placed you, do nothing beyond your means. Unnaturalness is an outgrowth of vanity and the desire to please. Above all, strive to please God. No dissembling will help, for He knows your heart. Be without falsehood, like the flower in its natural beauty; desire no more than you have been given.

Need and Misery.
Those to whom God has placed the goods of this earth should alleviate need and misery. Your possessions are only borrowed; manage them for God's glory. Seek out the sick and the needy, offer them comfort and relief. Need and misery are harsh penances for misguided spirits, for those who squandered their money in their former earthly existence without remembering the poor. Behold, now they themselves must plead, those who previously granted no request; they loved nothing but themselves, and must now learn to pray in misery. If you do not help the poor, such a penance awaits you, for it will one day be measured to you with the same measure with which you measured; that is the retribution of good and evil. Can you rejoice in your life when the poor beg for bread? Can you pursue pleasures when the unfortunate weep? Remember the suffering, then yourself? Unfortunately, for most, obligations to the world take precedence. But to the wretched we call out: Be patient, persevere, do not despair; God knows why He tests you thus. Do not grumble!
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The time will come when you will thank God for all the suffering you have endured. Speak in humility, Lord, Thy will be done! And remember: Where need is greatest, there help is nearest!

Duty.
If everyone were clear about their duties to God and to others, the earth would be the dwelling place of happy beings. Let everyone ask themselves, therefore: What is my duty? What am I to do, or what am I to refrain from doing? — If your duty is clear to you, then fulfill it conscientiously and faithfully. But many burden themselves with things that they They disregard everything and act important about it, while neglecting their own most sacred and immediate duties. Small, everyday duties are especially often overlooked; but whoever is faithful in small matters will also be faithful in great ones.
Therefore, dear friends, let the small, everyday duties concern you, so that you may also be faithful and courageous in great matters.

Philosophy.
Philosophy is the counterweight to materialism; it is the spirit in science, it should speak for God, spirit, immortality, and morality. Philosophy is thus something purely spiritual; it deals with being or non-being, with beginning and end. It should be vigilant, working against the subversive elements of materialism. There have always been more philosophers than materialists, a sign that humanity is striving more toward immortality than eternal death. The words of the great philosophers of old still live on today; the intellectual activity of philosophy never dies, its words endure. It takes a sharp mind to delve deeply into abstract matters, a pure spirit, and a good heart. Philosophy must be based on logic; logical philosophy is the surest form of proof; it presents irrefutable facts. Philosophy is your best friend and helper, for it fights for God and immortality.
170.
Prophets.
A prophet is someone sent by God to bring light and truth to Earth. There have been few true prophets, but many who have presumed this mission. Jesus remains the model of a prophet; however, He is more than all prophets, since He is God's firstborn. A prophet should be noble, humble, kind, devoted to God, loving, chaste, and virtuous. Those who consider themselves prophets are arrogant, vain, susceptible to flatterers, and love the world as if it were God. A prophet should be poor, for he renounces everything of this world; he clings only to God and his mission. With God only on his lips, with lip service and hypocrisy, one will not become a prophet.

For one cannot serve two masters—God and the world. — The true prophet lives in God and God in him; he serves the poor, helps the sinner, his whole life is devotion, love, prayer; his word is revelation, truth, light. — Such prophets, dear brothers, are sent by God from time to time. Blessed are those who recognize them.
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Avarice.
From pride comes vanity, from vanity, avarice. Great sacrifices are made to avarice; the female sex serves it especially, sacrificing health and domestic peace. The result is extravagance and often the complete ruin of one's fortune. How many thousands of hungry people could be fed with the money that is uselessly spent on finery? Women readily have money for a new dress, a fashionable hat, but not for the poor.

— That is how it is in the world; First, appearances before people, then, if there's still time—the poor. These trinkets for your corpse will one day weigh heavily on you before God's judgment seat. Then, when the beloved, so carefully adorned body decays, the tears of those you could so easily have helped will burden your souls. Therefore, curb your obsession with finery, and when you dress, think of the clothing of the poor; let your clothes not become a sin for you.

Revenge.
Only those who hate will also seek revenge; both are things instigated by evil spirits, carried out with the help of true demons. Do not let hatred and thoughts of revenge enter your heart! Do not let yourself be whipped by furies who instill in you devilish plans, the result of which is curse, pain, and misfortune. Leave the punishment to God; "Vengeance is mine; I will repay," says the Lord, and He knows how to punish most effectively. But you must forgive, for your revenge, driven by passion, is unjust.

Rank.
People are very concerned with rank; they often value only the rank, not the person. Even if the one without rank is simple, straightforward, and far superior to the high-ranking individual, he is scarcely respected, while the other is revered. That is human nature. High positions, awards, titles—these are what people love, respect, and honor, and so it has been for thousands of years. The virtuous person without rank is hardly regarded, but the high-ranking, wicked person is revered. Therefore, Jesus said in this regard: The first will be last, and the last first. Only those who are pure in heart will enter through the narrow gate.

O people, strive first for the rank of virtue and goodness, for the rank that still holds sway in heaven. Be gladly last on earth, so that you may be first with God. Take Jesus as his example. He had neither rank nor dignity on earth, was despised and forsaken. And you want things to be better? Follow Him, the Savior, and truly, you will not be lost.

Advice.
If a friend asks you for good advice, reflect, ask God for enlightenment, and then advise as best you can; but do not claim that your advice is the best, infallible one. It is difficult to give someone the right advice because you cannot fully put yourself in their shoes. Whoever wants advice should seek it above all from God. — Collect yourself,
pray deeply and fervently. God will then inspire you with what is right. In any case, always ask only devout, God-fearing people for advice: but those who have faith do not need human advice, for they rely on God's power, which leads everyone who prays fervently to the right path.
Speaking.
Silence is golden. Talkativeness has sown much discord, but a kind word spoken at the right time brings blessings. People who talk too much tend to exaggerate—they don't stick to the truth; their imagination conjures up things that aren't there; they blurt out things in inappropriate places that they would rather keep silent about. With carelessness, they sow the seeds of strife. Others, on the other hand, do harm by talking too little; they lack a word of love and friendship for their neighbor here and there. Finding the right measure in speech is an art. Christ said: "Let your speech be 'yes, yes'—'no, no'." He meant that you should speak the truth and no more or less, for keeping the truth silent is also often a wrong. Above all, speak only what is good and not useless things. Keep a strict watch over your mouth. Do good with your speech, avoid evil; do no one wrong with your tongue, and let no word of resentment or anger pass your lips.

Honesty.
He who is honest in small matters is also honest in large ones. An honest person is neither a flatterer nor a hypocrite; he loves openness and truth, his conscience is clear, and there is nothing evil in him. Honesty has loyal friends—it extends
Trust and love. The heart of the honest person beats joyfully; no evil thoughts oppress them. Honesty is the finest comfort, the greatest adornment of the poor; when they practice this virtue, they are rich. Be honest in thought, word, and deed; say only what you truly mean, commit no dishonesty. Then you need not fear God's light, which will one day illuminate and clarify all things.

Wealth.
People consider wealth the greatest happiness on earth—and truly, wealth is not happiness, but a test.
Do not desire wealth. Would you resist all the temptations that money brings—selfishness, hedonism, narrow-mindedness, avarice—and not forget God in the face of borrowed goods? Using money according to God's will is an art that few understand. Christ said: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Footnote: The very low and narrow entrances to the huts of oriental nomads were and still are called the eye of a needle.
End of footnote:

Thus, the rich are not to be envied; for who knows whether a life full of pleasure and comfort is not followed by a life of deprivation and suffering? How many poor people are bitter toward the rich, how many envy the wealthy! Oh, how foolish! How can one envy someone for a trial or test—envy them for temptations? Wealth is a blessing only in the hands of selfless, noble people who carry God's pleasure in their hearts. In the hands of the wicked, however, it is a curse and ruin.

Religion.
Without religion is the person who believes in nothing and adheres to no law, no form. binds.
Lives freely according to his desires, like the animal that follows the law, for it is obedient to its master, it heeds the commands of its instinct and recognizes human intelligence. But the person without religion resists the intelligence that stands above him—he turns away from God. He worships only himself, and even in himself he refuses to believe, since he denies immortality. So it is with the person without religion: his heart dies to all higher, spiritual life. He wants only to enjoy himself; everything else is indifferent to him, and he does not think of life after death. But how different is the religious person! With faith in God and in immortality in his heart, he will be steadfast and calm in the storms of this life; nothing can shake him. The clear awareness that God watches over him, that there is life after death, will be imprinted on all his actions. He develops himself spiritually and mentally; his intelligence becomes the highest. To learn to grasp; the seemingly incomprehensible becomes comprehensible to him, and peace, indeed bliss, will dwell in his heart. No doubts will torment him, no fears of death will torment him, for he knows his God, and God knows him.

178.
Repentance.
Repentance is salvation, redemption, liberation! Many banish a feeling of remorse from themselves because they find it characterless and weak, without purpose or benefit; they suppress this feeling at the very moment when salvation would still be possible. Blessing and salvation to those who sincerely repent of their errors: they have found the true means of redemption. Whoever bows their pride in deep repentance is great in victory over themselves. Repentance makes one humble, insightful, and enlightened. Is it really so difficult to say after a mistake, "I was wrong; forgive me!" How much can be made right by such a word! Then comes forgiveness, peace. For many, repentance comes only after it is too late, after suffering and To prevent unhappiness. Pride and false shame alone hold you back from repentance. O, dear friends, let repentance enter your hearts as a silent friend and comforter. Prostrate yourselves before God the Lord—weep, ask for forgiveness, and God, the loving Father, will receive you. A great stone lies on your conscience, pressing and tormenting you. O let the angel of repentance roll it away, and your heart will rejoice in joy and bliss.

Glory.
Let your glory be before God, not before men. Whoever loves and seeks worldly glory walks the path of pride and arrogance. To please God the Most High should be your aim. The quiet glory of goodness finds favor with God; the loud, vain glory of this world is rejected by God. Seek the glory that gladly remains hidden, that does not know itself, that quietly works for God: the glory that flatterers and courtiers seek. To despise. Only glory before God has value.

Human work crumbles,
God's work is well established.

Meekness.
Through meekness, You achieve far more than through vehemence. A good, childlike heart is gentle, and anger falls silent before the gentleness that disarms evil and subdues the most unruly hearts. You can, you should cultivate gentleness. Control your hot-headedness and your raging passions; be calm, gentle, and you will spare yourself and others much sorrow. Carry love in your heart; it makes you gentle. Harsh words wound and ruin much; a gentle word, however, smooths the rough and tames the rebellious. Consider Christ's gentleness. What an example! See how He was reviled and mistreated, and how silently He bore it all. Not a harsh word, not animosity—nothing but kindness.

Even in death, He spoke: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Thus, He even excused His tormentors.
— How divinely exalted above all people!
—If you are about to become impatient, remember this, and surely,
—gentleness must enter your heart.

Destiny.
Man blames his fate for everything that befalls him.
—What is fate?
A predestination; but since you do not know this, it is wrong to be a fatalist, to sit idly by and say: I will calmly await my fate.
—That is not how God wills it, man; help yourself; for you have God, faith, and the word of Jesus as your guide. Do good, ennoble yourself, fight against evil, and your destiny will turn out for the best. If you are master of yourself, then you are also master of your destiny. Therefore, do not be a slave to yourself and to sin. It is up to you whether you are happy or unhappy. Never give in to arbitrariness, do not let yourself be tossed limply by deceptive waves of fate, but steer your life's ship with a strong arm.
— Whoever recklessly tries to force something will perish. Patience is the surest guide, leading to the goal.
— Abide in the Law, and it will be fulfilled in you. Abide in God,
— He guides your ways.

Sleep.
Sleep is man's best friend; it closes the gates of pain and suffering; it silences worries and sorrow; it refreshes mind and body. It is strange that this death-like state is man's best friend. The eyes are closed, the mouth is silent, and yet man is happy. The nerves rest, the brain; one does not think, one dreams; only the mind is awake, for it does not know sleep; its service ceases somewhat; it can find refreshment and strength in spiritual realms. Sometimes dreams are a reflection of what the mind sees during that time—Thank God for sleep, O people, may He remind you of eternal life, for it is a reflection of it: you lie there like death, yet you live. Indeed, sleep is a condition of human life. So too is death only a sleep, a condition for eternal life; from death comes awakening in the life of the spirit, where all is light and day, in the life where there is no sleep and no death.

Beauty.
Superficial people consider those with beautiful appearances fortunate. Indeed, it is pleasant to have a well-formed body, for one is usually drawn to beauty. One is much more lenient toward the faults of beautiful people than toward the transgressions of ugly ones, for beauty possesses a charm, a magic, that casts a veil of indulgence over the human eye.
—But is beauty therefore a blessing? No, beauty is merely an advantage, often a danger, a temptation. Beauty attracts flatterers, which breeds vanity and a thirst for approval. This has already led many to ruin. Many a woman would have remained virtuous had she not been beautiful. Beauty in vice—how repulsive and ghastly! Only beauty that blossoms unconsciously and possesses a pure, virtuous heart is truly genuine. The world asks only for outward beauty, little for virtue. May your soul be beautiful and perfect, for physical charms are fleeting and belong to the grave. Strive for the infinite and do not cling so tightly to the perishable. Always be ready to relinquish beauty and the bloom of youth; strive for the lasting treasures of the spirit.

Creation.
A creation without a creator is inconceivable, because there is no effect without a cause. All of creation points to the creator. When one considers the vastness, infinity, and incomprehensibility of the whole, one must conclude that there is an infinite, wise, powerful, and benevolent Creator. Awestruck, shaken, and filled with adoration, one stands there, stammering: God, Lord of the universe! How infinitely great and incomprehensible you are!

—From the infinity of creation, infer the infinity of God; from the harmony, cohesion, and order of the whole, infer a

On God's wisdom. There are people who, in their mental confusion, exclude the Creator from creation—a true delusion and madness! A force alone cannot create intelligently;

Forces possess neither wisdom nor love; force alone knows neither harmony nor order. A supreme intelligence guides the forces—the great thought precedes everything; it creates.

—A logically thinking person must be imbued with this, and whoever cannot grasp it will never arrive at a correct understanding of the cosmos. Blind and deaf to the principal factors of knowledge, they will everywhere encounter unsolvable riddles and, in their own way, offer false, distorted explanations. But to the serious thinker, to the one who seeks the Creator in creation—truth and wisdom will be revealed. They will gain profound insights into the forces of nature, and the essence of creation with its riddles will be fully revealed.

—Creation is threefold: spirit, soul, and body or matter. Everything is immortal in transformation; nothing is lost—there is no death—for everything is transformation. God has all life within Himself; from Him comes immortality.

Guardian Spirit.

The Catholic believes in guardian spirits; the Greeks also had protective spirits, house spirits, as did the Indians, Egyptians, and Parsis… (The rest of this chapter is missing in the online version of the book.)

(Yes, GT pages 186-187 are missing here as the concluding remarks to this chapter.)

Longing.
(which is located at the top of page 188 of the online book from which this is to be translated. Overview of the online books I found about Adelma.)
Everyone has felt longing; even the materialist cannot escape a certain overwhelming feeling of the unknown, he too longs for light and truth. Longing is a spiritual matter; it is sweet and bitter. Even spirits yearn for the unattainable. Longing and love are one. Only a warm heart will feel longing. Pure longing yearns for God and spiritual things; it strives for perfection. It gladly renounces, is selfless, and desires only what is noble and pure. — Another kind of longing, which degenerates into sensual desire and tears the human heart apart, making it unhappy, is sinful because it aims only at impure passion. Pure longing carries you to heaven, sinful longing to hell. O man, let the former run free, but tear the latter from your heart.

Self-control.
A firm will gives self-control; without will, there is no rule. Self-control is the best exercise for the mind; it strengthens and steels it. A person who never controls themselves
is like an animal: the senses rule the mind and make it a slave to passions and desires.

Intelligence and reason will cultivate self-control; teach children how beneficial it is for a person to become accustomed to self-control from an early age. You, your ego, should be the master, not the body. Keep your senses in obedience; let them willingly follow the mind. Practice self-control even in small matters, so that you may also become rulers in great ones. If temptation, suffering, illness, and danger should befall you, if the weak despair, then you will be strong in storm and tempest. He who does not control himself suffers twice. If you give in to pain, you will succumb. Control yourself always and everywhere; watch over your senses, seek your true self, let the mind be master over the flesh.

Self-knowledge.
Self-knowledge is the first step to self-control, for as soon as you know yourself and your faults, you can control them. Judge yourself as if you were a stranger, weigh your actions, be strict with yourself, don't think about how others do it, only recognize how you time it. Self-knowledge provides enough study and agonizing; ask yourself: why do I do this or that? why did I say that? what do I feel? is there no selfishness in it? am I being completely honest? If you examine yourself closely every day, you will first learn humility and then self-knowledge, which will lead you to self-control.




Suicide.
Suicide is one of the greatest errors. Whoever possesses the virtues discussed earlier cannot commit such an act of violence. The suicide victim does not end the torment he sought to escape, for the sentient being, the spirit, cannot be killed; with it lives on the memory, the conscience. Suffering and torment are only intensified, for there is no making amends, no return possible; all bridges are severed. Despair and bitter remorse then seize such spirits. Better to suffer on earth than in the afterlife.

The numerous manifestations of the spirits of suicide victims paint a harrowing picture of their mental state. The afterlife, reached by force, is no place of peace for them.

(Numerous examples of this can be found both in old books and in the new near-death experiences that are now widely available on YouTube. + for example, this old book.)

The suicide victim does not settle their accounts with Earth, for now comes judgment. The earthly life and suffering they sought to escape would have ordered, smoothed, and improved so much; this is now impossible. Every act of violence brings suffering.

— We offer a few examples: A girl loses her lover and rushes after him into the afterlife, taking her own life. Does she find him now? No, for he is in a realm that she cannot reach as a result of her act of violence.
Lamenting, her spirit wanders about, searching for him! Had she remained on earth, had she borne life with God's grace and patience, she would have found him blessed after death.
— A young man is in debt and wants to escape the disgrace of the earthly punishment he expects; he shoots himself. Is he now freed from disgrace? No. He must now see how his honor is attacked on earth, how his parents mourn him. His suicide cannot erase the stain; he now suffers doubly because he can make amends. Had he stayed, he could have made amends for his transgression through diligence, repentance, and work—what a blessed end, what a blessed life in the hereafter! So it is in all things.
— One man wants to escape an illness through suicide; he suffers more there than here, indeed, he longs for the physical suffering again, since it now seems almost sweet compared to the moral suffering.
— Suicide never brings the desired liberation from suffering. The consequences of your mistakes must be borne, for the spirit is immortal, for memory and conscience live on and cannot be killed. Submit to your trials and wait in resignation to see how God deals with you.

Sensuality.
The fall of the spirits brought sin, sensuality, and incarnation. By deviating from obedience and humility, becoming arrogant and self-willed, the spirits fell into sin and, in their delusion, created sensuality. Humanity is a consequence of the fall of the spirits; therefore, all people are born in sin, in sensuality. The human body is meant to be a means of improvement, of mastering the passions, not for satisfying sensuality. The spirit, which is meant to be master over the flesh, is weak; sin resides within it, and therefore it should strive for improvement.

Many try to excuse themselves with the weakness of the flesh—they are wrong. Always seek the sins and foibles within your spirit. You don't need to be an ascetic, a hermit, you don't need to sacrifice your body; no, strive to be holy and good within the circumstances into which God brought you into being. The senses are therefore not to blame for your erroneous ways; seek the fault deeper. There is also a sensuality without senses, as you will learn from the manifestations of fallen spirits, the spirits that come to tempt you.

The lives of the saints, the experiences of mediums, tell you that there are spirits of sensuality who cannot relinquish their evil desires even without the flesh. Therefore, friends, get to the heart of the matter: reform the spirit, and the flesh will not sin.

Sin.
Beings endowed with free will, called spirits, have created sin; it is the consequence of the misguided, perverse firstfruits, a violation of God's law. Reason became unreason, love became hate, the angel became the devil—this is what gave birth to sin. Without free will, there is no merit. God gave spirits free will—and it resides in the spirit—for their perfection; some, however, misused it; disobedience and pride were the first step toward sin. (This belongs at the top of page 194 in the book. See here.)

Only spirits or humans are sinful because they have the ego. Animals do not sin, since they do not have free will. —Fight against sin! The crooked should be made straight again, the opposite should become law. All evil, all misfortune. Death and sickness on earth are consequences of sin; all this should be eradicated by reconciliation. It redeems from all evil through the firstfruits of God, through love, kindness, gentleness, obedience, and virtue. Everyone should work on this firstfruits; may God be with them.

Spiritism.
A new word for something as old as the world. Spiritism is the doctrine of the spirit. In our time, it has developed into a philosophy to which many thousands of people now adhere. Spiritism is Christianity, belief in immortality, communication between humans and the spirit world, a philosophy, a spiritual and intellectual study—no Religion, not a sect. Spiritism differs from Anglo-American Spiritualism in that it has, in a sense, clarified, regulated, and ordered the entire doctrine; it deals more with spiritual phenomena and proposes the theory of reincarnation;

belongs above on page 195:
«....while Spiritualism rejects this theory and; deals more with the physical, material phenomena of philosophy. There is no law, no dogma of faith for either the Spiritist or the Spiritualist; belief in God. Immortality and spirit communication remain a field of free inquiry. These are the three things on which both doctrines are based. Spiritism is thus the study of spirits and the afterlife; it is a counterweight to materialism and is capable of destroying it. Spiritism is therefore not the work of the devil, not magic; it is the pure doctrine of the spirit, of eternal life. The Spirit does not want a new religion—Christianity is its religion. Spiritism is intended to be a spiritual, transcendent science; He wants to glimpse into life after death; he connects humanity with the spirit world; he bridges the gap between the two, he says: there is no death, no separation, one will be reunited! Spiritism is meant to spiritualize the world, to improve humanity hand in hand with Christianity, to bestow peace, comfort, and love; it is meant to unite everyone in one faith; one flock and one shepherd—through battles and storms, it is meant to lead humanity to the better. As many people as there are senses—everyone will understand and interpret Spiritism in their own way.

(This belongs at the top of page 196):

...understand and interpret it.
195
But we advise everyone: Take Christ as your example, start from Christianity; let this be your foundation, your support—do not deviate from it. In Jesus' life there are so many spiritual phenomena, so many spiritual occurrences; every word of his is spiritual, that you will find enough inferences and conclusions from this for further research. Christian Spiritism is the right path to God. Some people are put off by the word "Spiritism," while unconsciously carrying the entire doctrine within them.

The Spirit.
A Spirit is one who believes in God, immortality, and spirit communication, regardless of whether they are Christian, Jewish, or Buddhist. The Greek philosophers, the Egyptian priests, the Buddhists, the Christian apostles, and the Hebrew Fathers were all Spirits in this sense. Today's Spirit researches the spirit and its state after death; they seek to explain spiritual phenomena through magnetic-psychological studies. The true Spirit establishes neither dogmas nor forms of belief; they learn and respect the opinions of others and will guard themselves against fanaticism and preconceived notions.
196.
The duty of Spirits is to recognize the equality of all people before God, to consider everyone as brothers and sisters, to practice charity, and to ennoble themselves and show others the way. His gaze is fixed on eternal life—all for his eternal salvation, to the glory of God. Magic, sorcery, and witchcraft have nothing in common with spiritualism; its teaching is spiritual, clear, and open—for him, the spirit world is a fact, just like the human world—he has broken through the barriers that separated humans and spirits; he has only eternal life before him. He will not murmur or rebel against God, but rather, trusting in higher guidance, will peacefully journey through life. For him, there is no death—only transformation.

Spiritual Mediums.
A medium is one to whom the gift of communication with the spirit world has been bestowed.
Such people have existed in all ages. The seers, prophets, priests, and priestesses of antiquity, many of the so-called saints, those who had and have great spiritual gifts, graces, or talents, are and were mediums. There are highly gifted, moderately gifted, and even malevolent mediums—depending on the type of spirits they communicate with. Spirits recognize writing, speaking, hearing, seeing, spiritual, and physical mediums. Testing and exploring the types and stages of these mediumships is the domain of Spiritism. Mediumship is a gift like any other. There are born mediums, who are born with their gift—and in some families, this gift is hereditary. Others can acquire this gift through magnetic transmission from another medium or through prayer. The presence of a magnetic field, nerve flexibility, magnetism in the blood, and a high phosphorus content in the brain are necessary to attain this ability.

Every meditation carries a heavy responsibility. Only a religious, strict, and moral person will be a good, reliable medium; for good spirits are only approached through pure [conduct/conduct/etc.].

People speak because they cannot intimately assimilate with evil. Impure spirits, on the other hand, will connect with mediums who are sympathetic to them. For a being gifted with mediumship, there are great dangers: pride, arrogance, self-deception—test the spirits!

Do not accept every communication as established truth. Pray that God may enlighten you and show you the right path: beware of self-indulgence, do not isolate yourselves with your gift, share it with others, and allow others to observe and judge you. Every medium is sensitive and will experience odic-magnetic influences as both pleasant and unpleasant. Clear seeing with the eye of the spirit is not always pleasant; one must equip oneself with love and forbearance. O dear mediums, dedicate your gift to God, do not chase miracles and flashy effects, be patient, humble, pure, and devout, pray, and God will dwell within you.


`Sympathy and antipathy.
Sympathy and antipathy are the "yes" and "mine," love and hate in all of nature. Those who practice virtue, like all good things, evoke sympathy; everything is drawn to them. Evil and evil itself evoke antipathy. — Sympathy acts as if magnetically attractive, while antipathy is electrically repulsive. The former heals and reconciles, the latter makes one ill and brings woe. — The sensitive person feels these two forces particularly strongly; they make them happy, unhappy, frightened, and sad, healthy and sick. Love and friendship, hate and enmity are built upon these two forces; but the wise person will not be swept away by either one; they will first consider and examine, for there is also a sympathy that leads to evil, indeed often to ruin. Then again, there is an antipathy that arises unjustly and unjustifiably from within yourself, and makes you view everything with a false eye.

 — Sympathy and antipathy, as I said, are natural laws, laws of magnetism, of electricity. Your love, your hatred for certain people often springs from a magnetic law of attraction and repulsion; therefore, the morally thinking, deliberating mind must always intervene and not allow itself to be captive to either force. Follow, O human being, first and foremost the will of God, and only then the will of human beings, insofar as they intend good. Do not let yourself be swept away by sympathy and antipathy; ask first whether everything is good, just, pure, and clear.
Do not walk dark paths; seek the light, and you will find it.

Devil.
For the spirits, the expression, the concept of the devil falls away; for him, there are indeed fallen, opposing spirits, misguided spirits, but no devil, no eternal hell. Eternal hell cannot stand before God's infinite love and mercy; the devil cannot stand before His power. There are indeed lost, evil spirits, but they have no hierarchy, no kingdom in the universe, and do not possess a great hell. They are unhappy, deaf, and blind to goodness, unable to transcend the boundaries of the realm of sin and matter. Yet even to them, the light of God shall finally shine, even to them the truth will be fiercely preached and finally taught—the Spirit knows the power and cunning of fallen spirits and tempters; he knows the danger and will escape it. A pure prayer removes all evil elements because good has a compelling power over evil. Therefore, friends, do not fear the devil, do not believe in his invincible power: he is not so strong that a pious child could not conquer him. Work toward reconciliation and redemption from evil. Love, and love alone possesses this power.

Fear of death.
Spiritism, i.e., Communion with loved ones in the afterlife dispels all fear of death and removes its sting. The departed awaits, knowing that there is no separation. Even in life, he is in active communion with the spirit world; he knows the means and ways of spiritual revelation. Death is for him only a transformation—a separation. This communion is a comfort to spirits as it is to humans. The bridge to the spirit realm is borne by angels who dry the thrones of the forsaken. — Even the Christian awaits death with composure, believing in the words of Jesus: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Spiritism strengthens the Christian's faith, broadens his understanding of the afterlife, and prepares him for it. The good Spirit builds his faith first on the words of Jesus, then on the revelations he has received. — Away with horror and fear of death, he is my good friend; through him I begin my journey home. — Do not speak of parting, speak of reunion!
202

Consolation.
The only and best consolation is in prayer to the Lord.

“R!” God will then send true comfort into your hearts. He will refresh your soul and strengthen your spirit. Seek comfort from Him who sent suffering and trials. No one who has prayed fervently to God on their knees rises without comfort. But your soul must soar to God. The world offers false comfort; distractions are mere illusions that only numb the pain but leave the wounds open if God does not heal them. Therefore, go to Him who heals all wounds, who stills all suffering: to God, the Father of all.

Virtue.
Virtue is to accomplish the work of world redemption; it is to be the victor, the power and might of unity and harmony—it, peace, eternal beauty. It is hard to attain virtue, but persevere on the steep path, dear friends. First, lift yourselves up in the small days of everyday life; love the humble Virtues that can blossom quietly in secret, without fanfare, seen only by God; they lead to greater things and to perfection.

Inconstancy.
A weakness that hinders progress in goodness and often spoils long, arduous work. Inconstancy is a lack of willpower. Combat it. Once you have decided on an action after careful consideration, remain steadfast in it, do not waver, do not be weak. Inconstancy is a will-o'-the-wisp; whoever follows it is led astray into dangerous ways. It scatters your time and energy; it is a true thief that robs you of your most precious moments—remain steadfast, strong in faith, and God is with you.

Ingratitude.
You are, dear friend, far more often ungrateful than you realize, and indeed, toward God. Often you want to blame your misfortunes or adversities on God, on your fate, on people, instead of bearing them patiently and thanking your Heavenly Father that you have not suffered even more. Even harder things happened; it is ingratitude if you do not thank God every day for all that you have and enjoy. Thank Him for your thoughts, your feelings, for the fact that you exist; this is grace from God. How ungrateful you are if you wish not to exist and prefer destruction! Your unbelief has made you so unhappy; you alone are to blame for your misery. — Ingratitude towards others is also despicable. Woe to him of whom it can be said: "For a piece of bread, he gave me a stone." Some are ungrateful out of pride; they think they are humiliating themselves by giving thanks. Oh, the poor! They will later have to beg for the blessings they repaid with ingratitude. Be thankful to God and your fellow human beings; truly, you cannot give thanks warmly and sincerely enough! — May your life be a song of thanksgiving and praise.

Unbelief.
In unbelief is inconstancy; both are obstacles on the path to perfection. Lack of faith makes us unhappy, weak, and often brings despair. Unbelief is a terrible monster; as soon as it seizes a person's heart, peace, tranquility, and happiness are gone! How Jesus had to fight against people's unbelief! High spirits and stubbornness are rooted in unbelief; every higher, better feeling dies, the path to God is lost, your wings are clipped, and you stand before the dark abyss of despair without any prospect of light or salvation.

O man, why unbelief? Look, it makes you so utterly miserable, so discouraged and weary of life. Is it not better to believe, to be joyful in gold, trusting with childlike piety? Unbelief, with its dark power, not only seizes people, it also lies heavy and paralyzing on the mind, hindering its progress. Therefore, we advise you to put an end to unbelief on earth. Don't take it with you to the afterlife, where it will make you even more unhappy than here on earth. Strength of faith on earth brings bliss in the afterlife.

Immortality.
Our immortality is a fact, a truth that cannot be proven materially, because it belongs to those things that are spiritual, divine. God, immortality, sensation, reason, love, faith, conscience, are existing and undeniable things that cannot be grasped or proven materially; they reveal themselves to humankind through effects—but remain invisible. In a world of crude senses like the
Earth, spiritual insight, the capacity to see spiritually, is not taken from humankind, but it is made more difficult. You, dear people, must work your way up through darkness to light, attain truth through study. The materialist says that immortality cannot be proven, but he cannot logically and irrefutably explain that it It is not. He cannot sufficiently understand all spiritual things in man.

The senses prove it; there is something above all, and it is an unsolvable riddle to him. God always sends his messengers who speak for immortality. Alarm clocks that call you from your sleep. Behold, such a messenger of God in this time is Spiritism with all its mediums. An invisible life weaves and stirs around people; undeniable proofs come that your deceased live, that they can manifest themselves identically, that therefore there is no death. When a so-called man of science then denies the evidence and phenomena with the word "humbug," or when representatives of the Christian church condemn them as the work of the devil, they reveal their own poverty, and posterity will marvel at the inability of scholars to understand, at the stubbornness of our clergy. — The theory of immortality, Spiritism with all its manifestations, will go their way — gloriously, because guided by God. Spiritualism is not a modern phenomenon, for it investigates manifestations from the spirit world, which has always existed and will continue to exist eternally despite all attacks. Ghostly apparitions have always existed, just as doubt about immortality has always existed. Civilized peoples, however, believe in God and immortality; that is to say, among them, faith and doubt are greater than among uncivilized peoples, for there is no study without doubt—faith is, after all, doubt conquered. Christ spoke to Moses and Elijah on Mount Tabor. 

His disciples saw the apparition—thus, Jesus also conversed with spirits. Christ's resurrection is the greatest proof of immortality; here all argument should be silenced, here is victory. Thus, you will find everywhere, in the oldest books, proof of life after death. But the doubter is just like Thomas, for whom all this is not enough. Since there could be a doubter among the twelve apostles, do not be surprised by the doubters of the world. The spiritualism of our day is nothing other than the theory of eternal immortality, the light that is meant to shine upon you, the voice that cries out: Hallelujah! Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

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Father.
In an earlier chapter, we spoke of the respect and love that every child owes its mother.
The same is owed to the father. God places you under the earthly rule of the Father; to him you owe obedience. Family ties are not accidental; they are not broken by earthly life. It is therefore a duty for father and child to treat each other well—the father's duty to set a good example for his child, the child's duty to follow him. A child's love, when it is based on respect, is lasting only when it can look up to its father; this is the best guiding star throughout life, O fathers, so lead and guide your children—children, be faithful and self-sacrificing. The father should be strict with his children's faults; he is the responsible leader of their lives. But the children should lovingly turn a blind eye to their parents' weaknesses. God has subordinated the child to the father; remain a child until your old age. Never forget respect for your father, and God's blessing will rest upon your head. What can hurt you when it comes from the father? Whoever has to bear it, bear it with patience. May the bond between child and father remain sacred.

Merit,
Man considers so much of his own merit, not realizing that he could do nothing without the love and grace of God. Oh, how miserable and helpless you would be without God. It is very difficult to say what your own merit is, for besides the divine assistance inherent in circumstances and conditions, there are also the good spirits who, as God's servants, arrange things in your favor. Since your own merit is therefore very small, do not be proud and conceited; do not boast, say to yourself daily: what would I be, a poor, weak, sinful human being, without God's grace? I can attribute nothing to myself but my own merit; it is God who works in me. See how far you still are from the path of virtue. If you fulfill God's commandments, you are only doing your duty. Merit, however, would only be what you do beyond the task set before you. Be humble, fulfill your duty; attribute nothing to yourself; only in this way will you walk on the right path.

The past,
The past has not vanished; it exists. Indeed, the past of many things is immortal. The past has a long-lasting effect; it works and spins its threads through the present and into the future. Past, present, and  future,  are three moments in time, closely intertwined, which together constitute time and eternity. The past is the immortal spirit of what has been, the obituary, the echo, the faithful image of what once existed. The spiritual eye sees how the soul, the life of what exists, clings to everything, how it faithfully reflects itself, how these images remain even when everything that came into contact with them has died. — The soul of things lives on. Thus, the past lives and does not die; it speaks on and on through the soul of the things that were. — Human beings, your thoughts, your feelings, and your actions are immortal! Create a beautiful, sacred immortality around yourselves!

Forgiveness.
"O Lord, forgive us our trespasses!" and add immediately: "as I forgive those who trespass against me." Whoever asks for forgiveness must be able to forgive themselves. Christ, the Messiah, also prayed on the cross for those who led him to his painful death without asking for forgiveness. Indeed, He added: "For they do not know what they are doing." He died for all for the forgiveness of sins. Strive to think like Christ. Forgive before you are asked, and do not harbor resentment in your heart. If you have turned away from God, no return is possible without repentance and a plea for forgiveness, but God forgives the repentant sinner. You must return to Him as repentant and humble as the prodigal son in the Gospel. You yourself, however, should be kind and lenient with those who have wronged you. Meet them halfway, extend a friendly hand, and speak the word "forgiveness" before they ask for it.

Reason.
Only God is perfect and supreme reason. He who created spirits in his own image gave them reason and free will. Apart from God, only his children, that is, spirits and humans, possess reason and free will; these two qualities are meant to be the means of spiritual development, perfection, and progress. Reason follows the will and laws of God; only unreason is disobedient. The opposite is unreason, chaos, misery, sin. Reason is meant to reconcile this; it is meant to lead the opposite back to the law, to return evil to good. All misfortune comes from unreason; but reason is meant to guide you, to give you insight, and to lead you on the right path. Be good, and you will be reasonable.

Understanding.
Creatures endowed with free will and reason possess understanding. Scholars want to explain understanding only materially; they say it is conditioned by the brain's phosphorus content. If reason were a purely physical thing, residing solely within the organism, then after death all people would lose their reason and become mere simpletons as spirits! But this is not so; who knows this better than a scholar who, through manifold manifestations of spirits, has proof that reason continues in the afterlife in the most diverse variations, just as it did on Earth? Reason is a spiritual gift, not a physical one. Artists, poets, great geniuses, and talents are born as such; they bring these inherent gifts to Earth—as do inventors; they bring inventions, and their task is to make them known on Earth.

 All this does not lie in the structure or phosphorus content of the brain; they are gifts, acquired knowledge of the mind. The spirit makes itself at home in its human body and imprints talents and thoughts upon it. Thus, the highest reason is not to be found among human beings, but in God and His perfect spirits. Those who are free from human hands and organisms possess the greatest intellect. The human body presses upon the intellect, clouding it, making it earthly, and only great minds can truly work their way through it. The reason why one can observe such varying degrees of intellect and talent in children lies not in the brain, but in the diversity of spirits. The spirit imprints its abilities upon the organism. The greatest genius is often born in the dregs of society to ignorant parents, and even in the highest circles, despite the most careful upbringing, there are fools. Intellect, just as reason resides in the spirit, is the gift of immortal beings. In contrast, there is ignorance; the highest intellect therefore masters the opposite and all evil, which remains the slave of unreason and ignorance.

Temptors,
You do not see the tempters, and yet they are there, surrounding you. Jesus often speaks of the tempter who gives like a roaring lion and watches whom he devours. That's how it is. The fallen spirits, bound to the earth.

These are the tempters; they want to drag you to ruin, lead you into sin, their voices speak to you. — The Spirit knows these spirits—He knows it. They are not devils, but misguided, unhappy spirits, for the wicked and sinful are indeed unhappy. Meet such spirits with gentleness and prayer. Prayer is the surest way to remove evil spirits from you; indeed, they can often be converted through fervent prayer. Thus, the tempter will never gain power over you; you will conquer him and stand victorious. Your sin would make the tempters even more unhappy, but your virtue can redeem them. Redeem yourselves and others, O friends, and the tempters will stand powerless.

Trust.
Trust in God is the greatest treasure! Trust is the first step to repentance and forgiveness. Just trust, God hears you. But trust must come from a faithful, sincere heart, without calculation or falsehood. Only perfect trust brings help. Trust begets trust; an open, sincere mind, devoid of falsehood, will also find true friends. A bruise is the foundation of all love and friendship. The great trust and think great, and will grasp virtue; only the small waver and think small of others.

Madness.
Doctors explain madness as a disease of the brain; they do not acknowledge any harmful mental influences. This explanation is one-sided. The body is not always the only one ill; often, it is the mind. For madness also exists in the spirit world, and often this mental madness is transplanted into the human body through forced incorporation. How is it possible, you will ask, that spirits without organisms can be insane? Yet it is so; madness is disturbed harmony, a fixed idea, often pride, irrationality; it is a mental aberration; such a kind of madness exists among spirits. Isn't the whole fall of spirits not a wanting to be posed brought about the fall of spirits, that is disharmony, and all evil. In the spirit world, there are many afflicted with fixed ideas. — If such a spirit forces itself to possess a human being, then the seed of madness already lies in the child, takes shape in the organism, and sooner or later the mad person arises from the deranged spirit. This is the innate, inherent madness. Another kind of madness arises through possession by fallen spirits — if the person has no willpower, if they cannot pray, then the fallen spirit takes such possession of the person's organism that they become insane. Cases of possession do occur in the New Testament; exorcism or conversion of the obsessing spirit is healing for the person. Such "madness" can be cured by a spiritualist; many mediums have already done so. The third type of madness is organic, caused by illness; this is the most difficult of all to cure. Inherited madness can be cured by converting the inhabiting spirit, the second case by converting the foreign spirit, through mediums; the third case is like any other. Imagine a sanatorium for the insane, in which pure, good mediums act as healers and converts; truly, it would be a divine thing! But as it is, doctors often grope around in the dark and torment patients without being able to cure them. They only look for the ailment in the body, when it usually lies in the mind, where healing can only be achieved through spiritual means.

Truth.
Reason and understanding bring the knowledge of truth. The only truth is with God; He is truth; whoever turns away from Him also distances himself ever further from truth.

O friends, be true, in everything and in every way. Little ones; never speak an untruth, not even in jest; allow yourselves no little lies, rather remain silent.

Truth is simple and requires few words. Therein lies its greatness. Ask God for knowledge of the truth—it comes from Him.

Wisdom.
Who is wise? He who believes in God and immortality, who lives here on earth as if he were to be brought down to God every day; who leads a pious, virtuous life and uses his reason to help God. The pious person is wise, then, but not always the scholar who has studied many books and yet doubts God. The wise person is humble; he does not speak much, but his actions are just;—true understanding is only great and perfect with this wisdom. The wise person is not a loudmouth, yet he bestows truth; he is not a scribe, yet he knows everything, for he has humility, love, and trust in God. Faith—gifts that are appreciated before God. exist.

Reincorporation.
The reincorporation - The theory taught by Spiritism and Buddhism has become the subject of fierce attacks from both churches and spiritualists. It is curious that even the spirits who reveal themselves are divided over this theory; some affirm reincorporation, others deny it. This should not surprise you. Just as all people are not of one faith or opinion, so too are spirits, because their knowledge is limited. The spirits who want nothing to do with reincorporation reveal themselves to those who also deny it, and vice versa. — Here we affirm reincorporation as a great truth, as a law of progress, as a means of God's grace; we ourselves have continually experienced it. Reincorporation is atonement, punishment, reward, mission — it is either a commandment or free will, often also self-will. It is atonement and punishment for those who have something to make right on Earth, reward for spirits still earthbound who love the Earth and still seek their happiness there—a mission for high spirits who, following the divine commandment, have a great task to accomplish on Earth for the glory of God. It is a commandment for fallen spirits clinging to earthly things; it is free will in the mission, and personal will in the willful, unrepentant spirit. The fallen sensual spirit, which has no concept of spiritual love, the one who clings only to matter, is, to a certain extent, potentiated and improved by reincorporation. The spiritual person, who knows spiritual love and virtue, has no need for reincorporation; for them, existences are like journeys on which they learn and forge bonds of friendship, increasing the circle of their loved ones.

.. — Whether you will need reincorporation or not depends on you alone, on your virtue, your spiritual progress. Many mysteries, such as inequality in the blessings and the position of people, are explained by the atonement and punishment inherent in reincorporation. It is a truth, grace, and love of God.

Reunion.
Spiritualism is the true doctrine of reunion after death.

—Do not despair at the coffin of your loved ones; let the earth have its portion; the best portion, the spirit, is yours. What seems like separation is only farewell; your transfigured ones travel ahead, you follow. This is not delusion, it is truth. Millions of spirits proclaim it and say: There is no death, we are here, we live, we will find each other again! — This is the glorious comfort of Spiritism. Let, O Men, see this divine comfort enter your hearts, dry your tears, and look to Jesus. He too returned after his death; he too appeared to his disciples and communed with them. Believe like the apostles, and divine comfort is yours. God's will. Whoever investigates and understands God's will will also grasp it. Whoever lives in God's will is on the right path, and no opposing will can have power over him. It is useless to rebel against God's will; you must submit to it. You cannot learn to understand it through scholarship, but you can through prayer and contemplation. If you wish to draw closer to God, to be in communion with him, then pray and speak to God. Never murmur! Consider everything as God's will; trust no wisdom, O man, learn to say in firm faith: Lord, your will be done!

Willpower.
Practice willpower rigorously; with it you can accomplish everything a person can—above all, you can improve yourself. God gave you the will, so exercise it according to divine law. Everything revolves around the different wills of people. The good will makes one holy, perfect, happy, great; the evil will, on the other hand, makes one miserable and unhappy. A person without a will is like an animal; they go to their own ruin just like the stubborn, willful person. Willpower must reside in the spirit; it must desire what is good and noble; it must rest in God. This is the will that every person should strive for, the will
that is one with God, and that conquers and dominates all things because it is founded in God.
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It is not the power of the flesh, but of the spirit. Self-control is the first step to willpower: you must be master of your body, senses, and passions; only then do you have a firm will. If your physical body follows your spirit, then others will follow you; if you can control yourself, you can also control others. Above all, follow the will of God.

Science.
When it goes hand in hand with faith in God, science is a benefactor and educator of humanity—but it sows unrest and discord when it goes against God, and denies immortality. A fragmentary knowledge—that wants to know nothing of God and ignores Ilm, the Creator. What good is progress in knowledge, art, and industry to man if he forgets God and his soul in the process? If he regresses in spiritual knowledge, morality, and virtue?—A true Babel, decay, and destruction arise from this. Thus, the most beautiful works fall apart, for faith, morality, and virtue hold
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the whole together. The millennia teach you this. We see fallen peoples with all their art, all their knowledge. Why? Because they had fallen into immorality, into unbelief; they had built on sand. Human works perish, however beautiful and seemingly perfect they may be in their prime; but God's work survives all ages, all destruction. The spiritual and the good endure through all devastation. Therefore, the best science is: to believe in God, to know, and to do what is good. We look with disgust upon science, which teaches the overthrow of faith, the denial of God and immortality; in it lies regression, immorality; it corrupts good morals and hinders intellectual progress. And how wavering are the hypotheses of scholars! What one person asserts today, another overturns tomorrow. The scholar should humbly admit that he never stops learning; he should not deny things he does not know or understand, for it is unscientific to deny what one does not know, what seems unbelievable. Such scholarship is evil: a simple child who piously prays to God and trusts in Him is wiser.

Desires.
There are people who never stop desiring; no sooner have they achieved one thing than they desire something else. They are mostly unsatisfied, unhappy—they could be the luckiest people in the world, but their desires would never end. Striving for what one cannot attain is unwise and unprepared. Gellert says:
Enjoy what is granted to you, gladly do without what you do not have. Every station of life has its peace, every station of life has its burden.

Passionately desiring unattainable things can make one a sinner and a criminal—therefore, banish all earthly desires from your heart, and have only one desire: to please God, to serve Him alone.

Time.
Time is with God; time and eternity are one; time is eternal, it never ends, yet every minute of life is precious. If you love someone from the bottom of your heart, you grieve for every minute you must spend away from them. — See, this is how it should be with God: every minute,
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do not delay; — hurry! Why waste time for improvement? It cannot be made up for and remains just as much bad time. Improvement, and even perfection, are not easily achieved. You yourself create good or bad times, depending on whether you follow God's commandments. It is not an empty phrase that time is precious. Believe this, child of man, and make the most of it.

Anger.
An angry mind should practice self-control and willpower; only in this way can one overcome this fault. Keep yourself in check, even when it rages within, however difficult it may be. Speak and do nothing in anger; you might bitterly regret it later. Do not listen to the evil spirits that incite you to anger, do not become their instrument. In moments of agitation, say, "God, help me!" and you will see how the Lord stands by you.

Future.
Place your future trustingly in God's hands; do not hope for mountains of gold. Those who place their desires in God will never be crushed by worry about the future; those who set their expectations too high will be disappointed, and those who expect little will be delighted. Live in such a way that your past is good, be content in the present, let God provide for the future: this is the way of the wise.

Doubt.
Doubt is an enemy that creeps in unexpectedly. Doubt assails every thinking person; therefore, intellectual progress must be fought for step by step. Animals do not think; they have no doubts. The person who thinks little also lives on indifferently, without doubt, without firm faith. But where heart, reason, and intellect speak to one another, doubt arises like an evil spirit that wants to undermine God's words. Oppose doubt with faith in God, with forbearance; it will always have to yield. Do not let it take root in your heart; confront it courageously, and victory is yours, and in it, God's peace.

Christmas.
Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Celebrate this time in blessed gratitude, in which God sent you the Savior; sing your Hallelujah! He, the E

The Redeemer, who practiced nothing but love, forgiveness, and reconciliation, has been revealed. Give thanks, praise Him! Kneel at the manger of Jesus; pray, ask Him to teach you humility and love. See how great and exalted He is despite His poverty and need. Thus, He gladly teaches you to be outwardly poor and lowly, if only you are inwardly good and holy. — As the shepherds, the kings, and the people came to Him — so you all come to Him; you are all equally dear to Him, for He died for all. Celebrate Christmas in love and with devotion. Let your hearts grow warm for the God-sent Savior, for the One who gave you a divine example and taught you divine things. — On Christmas Eve, the feast of the Christ Child, it is now customary to delight children with gifts. Yes, do this: clothe the poor children, give them food and drink, refresh and gladden them, remembering the Christ Child in the manger; strive to be as simply devout as the children whom the Savior allowed to come to Himself. Rejoice, O Christendom, the Savior is born.

People distinguish between the old and the new year, and yet before God and in eternity, nothing is old and nothing is new; all is the same. For us, there must be periods of time, which is why the end and beginning of the year make everyone so serious. For the spiritually minded, time should be eternity; before them, childhood, youth, and old age vanish; for them, these are all merely phases and stages on the path to eternal life, which, through wise use and blessed actions, should perfect them in their spiritual development.
Therefore, do not grieve over youth and the past, and do not fear the future; grieve only over the time wasted and ill-spent. Time spent in suffering and pain was not wasted; For it is through trials that you learn. We speak of a "departing" year, and yet the time you call past does not depart; it lives on in your deeds; it too is—eternity. Learn from this that nothing dies and nothing passes away—not even this hour—that all lives in God and in eternity.

Easter.
Easter—the feast of immortality, the feast of redemption! There is no greater feast on earth. Only the Christian religion has a feast of resurrection. Christ died for you, and He rose again for you. On the words "The Lord is risen" all of Christianity is founded. Since He is risen, all will rise from the dead: this is immortality. Experience Easter week with true devotion and piety, accompany Jesus on His path of suffering, immerse yourselves deeply in this time, suffer with Him, weep for all His pain—and then rejoice with Him in the resurrection. The story of every Christian is contained within Easter week: first a life of work, sacrifice, and love of neighbor; then persecution, suffering, death—then resurrection, blessedness!
Rejoice, O Christendom, the Lord is risen!

Pentecost.
Ask God for the Holy Spirit, and it will be given to you. The term "Holy Spirit" encompasses the totality of all the blessed, holy spirits who have become one. The day of Pentecost is a great,
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spirit, that is, a spiritual, divine manifestation. What God gave to the disciples then, He can also give you today: just ask rightly. The Feast of Pentecost shows us the intimate connection of the first Christians with the spiritual realm and the strength they drew from it. People, you are simply too lazy and indifferent! If only you would ask fervently and sincerely—it would be given to you, and the pure spirits of God would guide, lead, and inspire you, just as they guided the first Christians. So it is up to you. Ask, and the Holy Spirit will be given to you.

Remember the dead.
Remember the dead—those who have gone before you into the afterlife; pray for them. Do not let the dead be dead and forgotten. Remembrance, prayer, and communion with you do them good. Do not despise the means and ways of communion. You help the living, so help the dead as well. All Souls' Day is certainly a feast for many dead who were forgotten and who are now remembered on earth. Look, so many who still cling to the soil die, how many spirits therefore remain attached to the earth; the thoughts and prayers of people are therefore very good for such spirits. Therefore, we ask you: do not only remember people, do not only give them alms, but also remember the spirits, pray for them. Amen.

Concluding words.
And now, separated from God, beloved children of humankind, lovingly receive our words. — Given with love, according to our knowledge and experience. Let us remain one, friends! You fight on earth as in the spirit realm for God and our love.

Adelma's  guide.

The End.

Overview of online books I found about Adelma, Winter 2026. German/D


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