EL POR QUÉ DE UN NUEVO BLOG

Después de abrir y mantener actualizado el blog: CENTRO VIRTUAL DE ESTUDIOS

ESPIRITISTAS Y AFINES, para la formación doctrinaria dentro de los postulados eminentemente racionalistas y laicos de la filosofía espírita codificada por el Maestro Allan Kardec que exhibe la Confederación Espírita Panamericana, a la cual nos adherimos, creímos conveniente abrir un nuevo Blog de un formato más ágil y que mostrase artículos de opinión de lectura rápida, sin perder por ello consistencia, así como noticias y eventos en el ámbito espírita promovidos por la CEPA, a modo de actualizar al lector.
Esa ha sido la razón que nos mueve y otra vez nos embarcamos en un nuevo viaje en el cual esperamos contar con la benevolencia de nuestros pacientes y amables lectores y vernos favorecidos con su interés por seguirnos en la lectura.
Reciban todos vosotros un fraternal abrazo.
René Dayre Abella y Norberto Prieto
Centro Virtual de Estudios Espiritistas y Afines "Manuel S. Porteiro".



jueves, 25 de octubre de 2012


Cómo divulgar el Espiritismo – Por Quintín López Gómez

TOMADO DE:  http://grupoespiritaisladelapalma.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/como-divulgar-el-espiritismo-por-quintin-lopez-gomez/

¿COMO DIVULGAR EL ESPIRITISMO?

Por Quintín López Gómez*
Toda empresa humana requiere, para llevarla a cabo con éxito, planearla, primero, bien; vitalizarla, luego, con el verbo de la decisión, y dignificarla, últimamente, con la ejemplaridad.
Para planear el problema “¿Cómo divulgar el Espiritismo?”, debemos, en primer término, fijar lo que vamos a entender por Espiritismo.
Se ha dicho en todos los tonos que el Espiritismo es un sistema científico, filosófico y moral, que tiende a conocer todas las leyes de la Naturaleza y a determinar la misión del hombre, dentro de esas leyes, en su eviterno vivir.
Por consiguiente, lo primero que se nos impone, es adaptar lo más posible el Espiritismo que intentemos divulgar a las leyes de la Naturaleza.
Este es el aspecto científico del Espiritismo.
“El Espiritismo será científico, o no será”, dijo Kardec, con visión profética; y el tiempo nos ha venido demostrando que el Espiritismo que no ha seguido esa ruta, ha ido deca­yendo bajo el peso del ridículo a que le condenaba su credulidad bobalicona.
Es, pues, preciso, para que el Espiritismo eche raíces y crezca ufano, que ante todo, y sobre todo, sea científico, y que lo primero a que atiendan sus divulgadores es a contrastar con los postulados de la Ciencia las hipótesis que emitan.
Ciencia y Filosofía no son cosas dispares y antagónicas, sino aspectos de una misma realidad que, yendo acordes, pro­porcionan una más clara y amplia visión y comprensión del motivo examinado y, yendo discordes, le entenebrecen y des­virtúan. Por lo tanto, es preciso que el Espiritismo a divulgar, entrelace ambos aspectos con el hilo de Ariadna que distinguimos con el nombre de Lógica.
Si la Ciencia y la Filosofía no son dispares entre sí, tam­poco lo son con la Moral; antes al contrario: ésta es el orna­mento de aquéllas. Luego el Espiritismo que se debe divulgar ha de ser el Espiritismo Científico, Filosófico y Moral.
Y ¿qué es la Ciencia Espírita, la Filosofía Espírita y la Moral Espírita?
Lo que es la Ciencia, la Filosofía y la Moral en general, pero aplicadas a nuestros postulados.
La Ciencia se reduce al cada vez más amplio y depurado conocimiento de las cosas por las leyes que las rigen, de lo que resulta que no es inmutable, aunque sí imperecedera. Nuestra Ciencia, en ninguno de sus policromados aspectos, es la Ciencia de nuestros tatarabuelos en lo actual; pero si es la misma ciencia en lo virtual. Ellos tuvieron por Ciencia aquello que alcanzaron a determinar con su observación y los me­dios de que disponían; nosotros tenemos por Ciencia lo que alcanzamos a comprender con nuestra observación y los medios de que disponemos. La fuente es la misma, y los mismos hu­bieran sido los resultados si no hubiésemos cambiado, mejorán­dolos, los medios de observación. Pero tampoco nuestra Cien­cia es toda la Ciencia ni está exenta de nebulosidades y, con­siguientemente, tampoco nuestra verdad es toda la Verdad ni está exenta de errores; de lo que se sigue que nuestra Ciencia – y hablamos ahora de la Ciencia Espírita – apoyada en los postulados de la Ciencia general, no puede ni debe decir: “ésta es la verdad”, sino que puede y debe decir: “ésta es la verdad del presente”.

De idéntico modo debe comportarse en relación con la Filosofía. Ésta, como es sabido, se nutre de la observación quintaesenciada. Newton dedujo la Ley de gravedad de la caída de una   manzana. Para millares  de personas el fenómeno no hubiera tenido importancia ninguna; para el ge­nio reflexivo de Newton, tuvo la de hacerle meditar acerca del  por qué  todos los cuerpos caen verticalmente  hacia el centro de la tierra. El filósofo, pues, es el que de la cosa más trivial en apariencia, sabe extraer el jugo, y por una serie de verdades concatenadas, induce o deduce una ley en ellas común, que en muchas ocasiones no está conteste con la expe­riencia, pero sí lo está con la lógica, que es la verdad de orden moral o metafísico, tanto o más positivo que lo que se ve y se palpa.
En la Moral, finalmente, hay que apreciar también con preferencia el fondo a la forma, y sobre todo, hay que desarro­llar sus veneros. Estos los proporcionan las emotividades, que, a su vez, tienen por amasijo las sensaciones. Enseñar a distin­guir las sensaciones, es enseñar a pulimentar las emotividades y engendrar una Conciencia recta, justa, ecuánime. No es el temor el que hace al hombre bueno, recto, íntegro: es la per­suasión que alcanza de que debe procederse así, para ponerse a plomo con la Ley.
Se hace, pues, Ciencia Espírita, y se divulga Ciencia Espí­rita, desarrollando y afinando la sensibilidad, rectificando y sublimando las emociones y haciendo ejercicios de lógica, que son los que nos proporcionan los conocimientos, así físicos como metafísicos y morales.
¿Qué medios son mejores para este trabajo? No hay otro más adecuado que el estudio; esto es, la observación, el análisis y la inducción y deducción filosófica. Gimnasia físico­-psíquica, ¡mucha gimnasia físico-psíquica! La física, para man­tenernos con mente sana en cuerpo sano; la psíquica, para poder saltar de lo conocido a lo desconocido con auxilio del trampolín de la lógica.
¡No olvidemos que cualquiera tema que abordemos, si lo abordamos bien, estará de perfecto acuerdo con nuestro Credo!
¿Procedimientos? Todos son buenos, todos son útiles, con tal se adapten a las circunstancias de lugar y medio.
La conversación familiar, el discurso, la hoja volante, el periódico, el libro, la radiofonía… y ante todo y sobre todo, el ejemplo personal.
Porque invocamos la Ciencia, la Filosofía y la Moral en nuestras palabras y en nuestros actos, debemos reflejar que son prendas de nuestro uso. Porque invocamos el libre examen, no tenemos derecho a ser intransigentes ni dogmáticos. Porque acep­tamos la evolución, debemos esperar sin prisas la germinación, el desarrollo y la fructificación de la semilla que desparramemos a manta.
¿Organización? La más adecuada en cada caso; pero siempre con miras a irradiar nuestras aspiraciones de mayor desarro­llo intelecto-moral, sin el triple moho del fanatismo, la pedan­tería y el medro.
…………………………………..
* Este artículo, subtitulado “¿Qué sistema de propaganda conviene hacer?”, fue publicado junto al trabajo “De la idea de Dios”, ambos de la autoría de Quintín López Gómez, en un folleto editado por la Editorial Maucci, de Barcelona, intitulado Esbozos de Epistemología Espírita, aproximadamente por los años 20 del pasado siglo XX.

martes, 23 de octubre de 2012

                                    Yvonne Limoges Directora de la Sociedad Espiritista de Florida


 

Spiritist Society of Florida

5042 22 Avenue North,
St. Petersburg, Florida 33710



SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER 2012

Yvonne Limoges, Director and Editor

E-mail: ylimoges@aol.com

 



SPIRITIST CONGRESS in BRAZIL

                       Written by Yvonne Limoges

As a Spiritist, I always wanted to visit the country with the most Spiritists and Spiritist centers in the world. My mother Yolanda Crespo and I finally made that trip. Antonio Leite from NYC (one of the Editors of the virtual website Advanced Study Group of Spiritism and a good friend of many years) met us at the airport in São Paulo and acted as our guide. 

We also had (another editor of the same Spiritist Group but who lives in Brazil) Carlos Alberto Iglesias Bernardo, who kindly drove us around the city providing interesting historical information.We visited 4 Spiritist centers in that city.One of them was founded in 1904 by a pioneering Spiritist named Batuira; one Center was Abrigo Bezerra de Menezes at website www.abrigobezmenezes.org.br; and, another center ran a nursing home for the elderly of which we were given a tour from top to bottom – patients received daily spiritual passes by mediums, and workers and residents all seemed to have a smile on their face. All the centers provided passes, mediumship messages, and one we saw working with helping troubled communicating spirits.

We also visited his original home, the current foundation in his name and also the Spiritist center of the famous journalist, philosopher, translator, poet, parapsychologist, and more, of my most favorite Brazilian Spiritist author of over 50 books, J. Herculano Pires (1914-1979). He is considered the most faithful interpreter of Kardec’s thinking and of the Spiritist Doctrine, as defined by the spirit of Emmanuel, via Brazil’s most famous and beloved medium “Chico” Xavier (1910-2002).  I was graciously given several of Pires’ books translated into Spanish.One can read some of his books on-line in Portuguese at: http://manancialdeluz.blogspot.com/2009/09/as-obras-de-jose-herculano-pires-1.html

            Afterwards, we were driven to the city of   Santos for the five day Pan American Spiritist Confederation Congress (CEPA), website: www.cepainfo.org/ . This port city was by the beach and with mountains all around it.

            Antonio, my mother and I, and Spiritists (330 participants in all) from Brazil and other countries such as Spain (including the Canary Islands), Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina, Guatamala, Mexico, and the U.S.A. attended. I gave my lecture in English (translated into Spanish) as did numerous others, theirs in either Spanish or Portuguese. The variety of topics was very interesting revolving primarily around the main theme of the Congress which was Reincarnation.
A business meeting was held. And then the Congress ended with a wonderful dinner and dance.
           
 By the way, as we traveled around Brazil, the food we ate was absolutely delicious!
JON AIZPURUA

            The above individual is the Vice President (previously President for 9 years) of CEPA and he was at the Congress we attended in Brazil. He gave an informative and very inspirational lecture that was in the evening and open to the public. Some of what he said was very profound which is too difficult for me to put here, but below are a few thoughts of his to contemplate.

- What kind of person are you?

1) One who does wrong without a conscience and may even enjoy it.

2) One who does wrong without realizing it.

3) One who does nothing.

4) One who does good solely for praise.

5) One who does good for goodness sake. 

- It is never too late to change; it does not matter about the past. One can always look forward towards the future.

-Humans have biological, psychological, humanistic, and social natures.   

-Allan Kardec and the work of his Society were convinced by the spirits through mediumship that reincarnation exists. Kardec wrote and compiled The Spirits’ Book to explain it, and called this way of belief in reincarnation - Spiritism.

- A cute story was: How do porcupines mate? They evolved. As we evolve, we can unite through solidarity and love; the love of Buddha, of Jesus and others who have taught us down through the ages.

(Mr. Aizpurua is an author of seven books, and, of numerous DVDs on biographies of famous people and of culture, art, philosophy, and literature. He has a weekly radio show, and is a university professor in Venezuela. Website: www.jonaizpurua.com/ )  
HOME IS A CHILDREN’S FIRST SCHOOL

The home is the first school in the lives of all children, the people who share it with them every day are the closest example that children take for their life time example, both in words spoken and in attitudes.

Good words and deeds, or bad words and actions are a reflection of the example that adults make. All children imitate adults because many times they do not know what is good or bad.

Often children suffer punishment and scolding, not realizing they are only imitating the attitudes and words that adults say and do around them.

…So “Know thyself.” Educate your own thoughts, feelings and attitudes; that is our mission in life, and we have an even greater responsibility before God when you have dependent children…

When a child who is in our care does something wrong, one needs to investigate patiently whether someone who is around them said or did something for why that child did wrong…

Speak clearly with the child to know who did what, and explain and educate why they should not do things and the pain it can cause…If adults do not explain why they should not do this or that, then the child does not receive any explanation of why not to do it again, because they did not understand…

People living with children should educate them and give the child the necessary time they need throughout their growth, because when they are tiny they absorb everything around them and thus need an adult aware of their responsibilities to God of the education that children receive… discipline with love (not with violence), helping others, sharing, non-violence, love of God, love of nature, love of animals, brotherly love, etc.. These are learned IN THE HOME…

Remember, that one day when you leave the spirit world you will be asked what you did with that child you were given? Think on that…

(Excerpts from an anonymous article by the Ladies Heliosophic Group of Guatemala City, School of Light and Charity – translated from the Spanish by Yvonne Limoges.)

CHANGE

Spirit communication by Julie L. Harper

Everything is in constant flux, and circumstances continually change by the type and degree of intent and attention extended by your mind and heart.

For example, directed feelings, attitudes, actions, and reactions deliver subsequent corresponding conditions.

Your sincere attention will bring assistance from the good spirits who wish to aid your good desires.

Focus on what you cherish, to support and grow what you love.


AFFLICTIONS OF LIFE - Kardec

“We can ask God for earthly favors and He will concede them to us when they have a serious purpose. But seeing that we judge their utility from our own point of view and as immediate necessities, we do not always recognize the bad side of what we ask.”

“God, Who can see things in a better perspective than we can and only desires the best for us, may refuse what we ask for, just as a father would refuse his child what he knew would be prejudicial for him.”

“If what we request is refused we should not be disappointed; on the contrary, we should think that to be deprived of our wish is a test or expiation [making amends], and that our recompense will be in proportion to the degree of resignation shown towards what we have to put up with.”

(A preface to a prayer from The Gospel According to Spiritism – in the Collection of Spiritist Prayers - translated from the French by Janet Duncan.)
BLESSINGS ARE YOURS

Spirit communication by Julie L. Harper

With awareness and gratitude, you will know that blessings are yours.

Conditions either come as blessings that deliver happiness or unfavorable circumstances to enable opportunity to learn and grow by error.

Teachings toward personal progression exist in all circumstance, whether perceived as desirable or not.

Every situation is of God’s allowance, always making gratitude an appropriate expression.

Your gratitude for happiness or for a learning opportunity honors God, and this sentiment promotes acceptance of the Divine order which may deliver comfort.

Each point-in-time holds potential for comfort when God’s benevolence is praised, and faith is held that all is as it should be.


DIVINE PLANS
                                                Anonymous

When it looks like things are not going your way, know that there is always a Divine Plan that is best for you.

If you put your trust in the Creator, you will receive great spiritual rewards in time.

Also, you may get what you want, just not in the way you thought.
 

(From the internet and translated from the Spanish by Yvonne Limoges.)

MATERIAL WEALTH

                         Written by Yvonne Limoges

Being born rich or having acquired great riches can be the very worst of trials on earth because of the seduction it may have over humans in the acquiring of unnecessary material goods and the potential for instilling selfishness and pride.

Nevertheless, a full accounting of its use by the persons who have it will have to be made upon return to the spirit world on how those riches were used. Were they used for purely selfish reasons, or were they also used to help others in need?

There can also be long time repercussions due to the law of cause and effect of their use that can play out in future existences. So, be rich in spirit!


TRUE PROPERTY – a spirit communication

“The only true property that Man can own is that which may be taken with him on leaving this world. What is found on arrival on Earth and that which is left behind on parting, is enjoyed only while living here. Therefore, as humanity is forced to abandon all worldly possessions, it can be inferred that it has no real ownership of riches, only their temporary usage. “

What then constitutes true property? Nothing which is for the use of the body, but everything which is for the use of the soul, such as intelligence, knowledge and moral qualities.

“This is what man brings and takes with him, which no one can take away and which will be far more use in the next world [spirit world] than in the present one. It is up to him to be richer on departure than he was on arrival in this world, seeing that his future position will depend solely on what qualities have been gained in the present life.”

“When someone travels to a distant country they take as part of their luggage only those things which will be useful to them in that place; they do not worry about those things which will be of no use. Proceed in a like manner in relation to your future life and provide yourselves with all that can be of use to you there.” – spirit of “Pascal,” in Geneva, 1860.

(Kardec’s The Gospel According to Spiritism, Ch. 16, translated from the French by Janet Duncan.)  

POINTS TO PONDER
                     Written by Narciso Trevilatto
Our responsibilities are increased in accordance with our knowledge…
May God give us the strength to conquer our vices and pride…
We have a conscience…but, our degree of pride, selfishness and feelings vary unto the infinite! Those more conscientious and sentimental are likely to comprehend and forgive more…
We arrive at greater happiness by providing it to others. May peace be with all of us!         

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
A Spiritist should be a responsible citizen by being active for the betterment of society, so educate yourself now and don’t forget to vote in November! – Y.L.        

*************************************

Yvonne Limoges, Director and Editor

E-mail: ylimoges@aol.com

 

Spiritist Society of Florida

5042 22 Avenue North,
St. Petersburg, Florida 33710
Website: www.spiritistsocietyfl.com
Yvonne Crespo Limoges es la Directora de la Sociedad Espírita de Florida fundada por su padre en  St. Petersburgo, Florida.  Este es el sitio web oficial de la Sociedad:: www.spiritistsocietyfl.com

Yvonne tiene una experiencia de más de 45 años en la práctica de Espiritismo. Ella es una Espírita de la cuarta y de la quinta generación norteamericana. Yvonne es médium espiritista.  Además, es la editora del boletín mensual de la Sociedad Espiritista de La Florida, donde ella lleva a cabo sus reuniones, así como,también, dirige las clases de estudio y el desarrollo de la mediumnidad.

Yvonne, además, escribe, traduce, y presenta artículos sobre temas espíritas y escribe,  además, literatura para su publicación en revistas espíritas, espiritualistas y parapsicológicas que se publican en todo el mundo. Su grupo está en correspondencia frecuente con estos grupos afines. Ha ofrecido conferencias en varios Congresos y Conferencias Espíritas, Spiritualualistas y de temática parapsicológica. .

La obra de Espiritismo Clásico “Memorias del Padre Germán” copiado y anotado por la famosa poeta y escritora Espírita Amalia Domingo Soler de España, fue traducido por primera vez al Inglés, así como La Guia Practica, de Miguel Vives, traducido del español original por Edgar Crespo (ambos editados por Yvonne) y se han publicado. Estos libros están disponibles en
www.amazon.com .

Yvonne es miembro de hace mucho tiempo de la Academia de Espiritualidad y Estudios de la Conciencia, Inc. (anteriormente la Academia de Religión e Investigación Psíquica) donde formó parte de su Junta Directiva en el periodo 2006-2009
www.aspsi.org/