THE SPIRITS' BOOK
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
ALLAN KARDEC
Translated from the Hundred and Twentieth Thousand
BY
ANNA BLACKWELL
TO
THE DEVOTED WIFE
OF
ALLAN KARDEC
THIS TRANSLATION
IS
AFFECTIONALITY INSCRIBED.
INDEX
AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION
BOOK FIRST
CHAPTER I
GOD
Proofs of the existence of God
CHAPTER II
GENERAL ELEMENTS OF THE UNIVERSE
Knowledge of the first principles of things
CHAPTER III
CREATION
The Biblical account of the creation
CHAPTER IV
THE VITAL PRINCIPLE
BOOK SECOND
THE SPIRIT-WORLD, OR WORLD OF SPIRITS.
CHAPTER I
SPIRITS
CHAPTER II
INCARNATION OF SPIRITS
CHAPTER III
RETURN FROM CORPOREAL TO THE SPIRIT-LIFE
Temporarily confused state of the soul after death
CHAPTER IV
PLURALITY OF EXISTIENCES
Incarnation in different worlds
CHAPTER V
CONSIDERATIONS ON THE PLURALITY OF EXISTENCES
CHAPTER VI
SPIRIT-LIFE
Perceptions, sensations, and sufferings of spirits
Theoretical explanation of the nature of sensation in spirits
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
Union of soul and body-Abortion
Moral and Intellectual faculties of mankind
Terrestrial sympathies and antipathies
CHAPTER VIII
EMANCIPATION OF THE SOUL
Visits between the spirits of living persons
Occult transmission of thought
Lethargy-Catalepsy-Apparent death
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
Affection of certain spirits for certain persons
Guardian-angels-Protecting, familiar, and sympathetic spirits
Influence of spirits on the events of human life
Action of spirits In the production of the phenomena of nature
Occult power-Talismans-Sorcerers
CHAPTER X
OCCUPATIONS AND MISSIONS OF SPIRITS
CHAPTER XI
THE THREE REIGNS
BOOK THIRD
CHAPTER I
MORAL LAWS
DIVINE OR NATURAL LAW
Characteristics of natural law
CHAPTER II
I. THE LAW OF ADORATION
CHAPTER III
II. THE LAW OF LABOUR
CHAPTER IV
III. THE LAW OF REPRODUCTION
Succession and improvement of races
CHAPTER V
IV. THE LAW OF PRESERVATION
Enjoyments of the fruits of the earth
Voluntary privations-Mortifications
CHAPTER VI
V. THE LAW OF DESTRUCTION
Necessary destruction and unjustifiable destruction
CHAPTER VII
VI. SOCIAL LAW
CHAPTER VIII
VII. THE LAW OF PROGRESS
Influence of spiritism on progress
CHAPTER IX
VIII. THE LAW OF EQUALITY
Trials of riches and of poverty
Equality of rights of men and women
CHAPTER X
IX. THE LAW OF LIBERTY
Theoretic summary of the springs of human action
CHAPTER XI
X. THE LAW OF JUSTICE, OF LOVE, AND OF CHARITY
CHAPTER XII
MORAL PERFECTION
Characteristics of the virtuous man
BOOK FOURTH
HOPES AND CONSOLATIONS.
CHAPTER 1
EARTHLY JOYS AND SORROWS
Disappointments--Ingratitude--Blighted affections
CHAPTER II
FUTURE JOYS AND SORROWS
Intuition of future joys and sorrows
Intervention of God in rewards and punishments
Nature of future joys and sorrows