CONTAINING
THE PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITIST DOCTRINE
ON
THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL: THE NATURE OF SPIRITS
AND THEIR RELATIONS WITH MEN; THE MORAL LAW:
THE PRESENT LIFE, THE FUTURE LIFE, AND
THE DESTINY OF THE HUMAN RACE.
ACCORDING TO THE TEACHINGS OF SPIRITS OF HIGH DEGREE,
TRANSMITTED THROUGH VARIOUS MEDIUMS,
COLLECTED AND SET IN ORDER
BY
A L L A N K A R D E C
Translated from the Hundred and Twentieth Thousand
BY
A N N A B L A C K W E L L
TO
THE DEVOTED WIFE
OF
ALLAN KARDEC
THIS TRANSLATION
IS
AFFECTIONALITY INSCRIBED.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO
THE REVISED EDITION
INTRODUCTION
PROLEGOMENA
BOOK FIRST
CHAPTER I
GOD
God and
infinity
Proofs of the
existence of God
Attributes of
the Divinity
Pantheism
CHAPTER II
GENERAL ELEMENTS OF THE UNIVERSE
Knowledge of the
first principles of things
Spirit
and matter
Properties
of matter
Universal
space
CHAPTER III
CREATION
Formation
of worlds
Production
of living beings
Peopling
of the earth: Adam
Diversity
of human races
Plurality
of worlds
The Biblical
account of the creation
CHAPTER IV
THE VITAL PRINCIPLE
Organic
and inorganic beings
Life
and death
Intelligence
and instinct
BOOK SECOND
THE SPIRIT-WORLD, OR WORLD OF SPIRITS.
CHAPTER I
SPIRITS
Origin
and nature of spirits
Primitive
and normal world
Form
and ubiquity of spirits
Perispirit
Different
orders of spirits
Spirit-hierarchy
Progression
of Spirits
Angels
and demons
CHAPTER II
INCARNATION OF SPIRITS
Aim of
Incarnation
The
soul
Materialism
CHAPTER III
RETURN FROM CORPOREAL TO THE SPIRIT-LIFE
The soul after
death
Separation
of soul and body
Temporarily
confused state of the soul after death
CHAPTER IV
PLURALITY OF EXISTIENCES
Reincarnation
Justice of
reincarnation
Incarnation
in different worlds
Progressive
transmigrations
Fate of
children after death
Sex In
spirits
Relationship-Filiation
Physical
and moral likeness
Innate
Ideas
CHAPTER V
CONSIDERATIONS ON
THE PLURALITY OF EXISTENCES
CHAPTER VI
SPIRIT-LIFE
Errant
or wandering spirits
Transitional
worlds
Perceptions,
sensations, and sufferings of spirits
Theoretical
explanation of the nature of sensation in spirits
Choice of
earthly trials
Relationships
beyond the grave
Sympathies
and antipathies of spirits-Eternal halves
Remembrance
of corporeal existence
Commemoration
of the dead-Funerals
CHAPTER VII
RETURN TO CORPOREAL LIFE
Preludes
to return
Union of soul
and body-Abortion
Moral and
Intellectual faculties of mankind
Influence
of organism
Idiocy and
madness
Infancy
Terrestrial
sympathies and antipathies
Forgetfulness
of the past
CHAPTER VIII
EMANCIPATION OF THE SOUL
Sleep
and dreams
Visits
between the spirits of living persons
Occult
transmission of thought
Lethargy-Catalepsy-Apparent
death
Somnambulism
Trance
Second-sight
Explanation
of somnambulism, trance, and second-sight
CHAPTER IX
INTERVENTION OF SPIRITS IN THE CORPOREAL
WORLD
Penetration
of our thoughts by spirits
Occult
influence of spirits on our thoughts and actions
Possession
Convulsionaries
Affection
of certain spirits for certain persons
Guardian-angels-Protecting,
familiar, and sympathetic spirits
Presentiments
Influence
of spirits on the events of human life
Action of
spirits In the production of the phenomena of nature
Spirits
during a battle
Pacts with
spirits
Occult
power-Talismans-Sorcerers
Benedictions
and curses
CHAPTER X
OCCUPATIONS AND
MISSIONS OF SPIRITS
CHAPTER XI
THE THREE REIGNS
Minerals
and plants
Animals and
men
Metempsychosis
BOOK THIRD
CHAPTER I
MORAL LAWS
DIVINE OR NATURAL LAW
Characteristics
of natural law
Knowledge
of natural law
Good and
evil
Division of
natural law
CHAPTER II
THE LAW OF ADORATION
Aim of
adoration
External
acts of adoration
Life of
contemplation
Prayer
Polytheism
Sacrifices
CHAPTER III
THE LAW OF LABOUR
Necessity
of labor
Limit of
labor-Rest
CHAPTER IV
THE LAW OF REPRODUCTION
Population
of the globe
Succession
and improvement of races
Obstacles
to reproduction
Marriage
and celibacy
Polygamy
CHAPTER V
THE LAW OF PRESERVATION
Instinct
of self-preservation
Means of
self-preservation
Enjoyments
of the fruits of the earth
Necessities
and superfluities
Voluntary
privations-Mortifications
CHAPTER VI
THE LAW OF DESTRUCTION
Necessary
destruction and unjustifiable destruction
Destructive
calamities
War
Murder
Cruelty
Dueling
Capital
punishment
CHAPTER VII
SOCIAL LAW
Necessity
of social life
Life of
isolation
Family
ties
CHAPTER VIII
THE LAW OF PROGRESS
State of
nature
March of
progress
Degenerate
peoples
Civilization
Progress of
human legislation
Influence
of spiritism on progress
CHAPTER IX
THE LAW OF EQUALITY
Natural
equality
Inequality
of aptitudes
Social
inequalities
Inequality
of riches
Trials of
riches and of poverty
Equality
of rights of men and women
Equality
in death
CHAPTER X
THE LAW OF LIBERTY
Natural
liberty
Slavery
Freedom of
thought
Freedom of
conscience
Free-will
Fatality
Foreknowledge
Theoretic
summary of the springs of human action
CHAPTER XI
THE LAW OF JUSTICE, OF LOVE, AND OF CHARITY
Natural
rights and justice
Right of
Property-Robbery
Charity-Love
of the neighbor
Maternal
and filial affection
CHAPTER XII
MORAL PERFECTION
Virtues
and vices
The
passions
Selfishness
Characteristics
of the virtuous man
Self-knowledge
BOOK FOURTH
HOPES AND CONSOLATIONS.
CHAPTER 1
EARTHLY JOYS AND SORROWS
Happiness
and unhappiness
Loss of those
we love
Disappointments--Ingratitude--Blighted
affections
Antipathetic
unions
Fear of
death
Weariness
of Life--Suicide
CHAPTER II
FUTURE JOYS AND SORROWS
Annihilation--Future
life
Intuition
of future joys and sorrows
Intervention
of God in rewards and punishments
Nature of
future joys and sorrows
Temporal
sorrows
Expiation
and repentance
Duration of
future penalties
Resurrection
of the body
Paradise--Hell-Purgatory--Original
sin
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
These pages are lightly edited excerpts from The Spirits by
Allan Kardec [Leon Rivail] A download
(acrobat format) of the complete volume is free.
