The Spirits' Book

Preface to the revised edition
INTRODUCTION ▸ ▾
- I
- II
- III
- IV
- V
- VI
- VII
- VIII
- IX
- X
- XI
- XII
- XIII
- XIV
- XV
- XVI
- XVII
Prolegomena
BOOK ONE—FIRST CAUSES ▸ ▾
- CHAPTER I—GOD ▸ ▾
  - God and Infinity ▸ ▾
    - 1
    - 2
    - 3
  - Proofs of God’s Existence ▸ ▾
    - 4
    - 5
    - 6
    - 7
    - 8
    - 9
  - Attributes of Divinity ▸ ▾
    - 10
    - 11
    - 12
    - 13
  - Pantheism ▸ ▾
    - 14
    - 15
    - 16
- CHAPTER II—GENERAL ELEMENTS OF THE UNIVERSE ▸ ▾
  - Knowledge of the First Principles of Things ▸ ▾
    - 17
    - 18
    - 19
    - 20
  - Spirit and Matter ▸ ▾
    - 21
    - 22
    - 23
    - 24
    - 25
    - 26
    - 27
    - 28
  - Properties of Matter ▸ ▾
    - 29
    - 30
    - 31
    - 32
    - 33
    - 34
  - Universal Space ▸ ▾
    - 35
    - 36
- CHAPTER III—CREATION ▸ ▾
  - Creation of Worlds ▸ ▾
    - 37
    - 38
    - 39
    - 40
    - 41
    - 42
  - Creation of Living Beings ▸ ▾
    - 43
    - 44
    - 45
    - 46
    - 47
    - 48
    - 49
  - Populating the Earth – Adam ▸ ▾
    - 50
    - 51
  - Diversity of the Human Race ▸ ▾
    - 52
    - 53
    - 54
  - Existence of Multiple Worlds ▸ ▾
    - 55
    - 56
    - 57
    - 58
  - Biblical Account of Creation ▸ ▾
    - 59
- CHAPTER IV—THE VITAL PRINCIPLE ▸ ▾
  - Organic and Inorganic ▸ ▾
    - 60
    - 61
    - 62
    - 63
    - 64
    - 65
    - 66
    - 67
  - Life and Death ▸ ▾
    - 68
    - 69
    - 70
  - Intelligence and Instinct ▸ ▾
    - 71
    - 72
    - 73
    - 74
    - 75
BOOK TWO—THE SPIRIT WORLD ▸ ▾
- CHAPTER I—SPIRITS ▸ ▾
  - Origin and Nature of Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 76
    - 77
    - 78
    - 79
    - 80
    - 81
    - 82
    - 83
  - Primitive Normal World ▸ ▾
    - 84
    - 85
    - 86
    - 87
  - Form and Omnipresence of Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 88
    - 89
    - 90
    - 91
    - 92
  - Perispirit ▸ ▾
    - 93
    - 94
    - 95
  - Different Orders of Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 96
    - 97
    - 98
    - 99
  - Spirit Hierarchy ▸ ▾
  - Progression of Spints ▸ ▾
    - 114
    - 115
    - 116
    - 117
    - 118
    - 119
    - 120
    - 121
    - 122
    - 123
    - 124
    - 125
    - 126
    - 127
  - ANGELS AND DEMONS ▸ ▾
    - 128
    - 129
    - 130
    - 131
- CHAPTER II—INCARNATION OF SPIRITS ▸ ▾
  - Purpose of Incarnation ▸ ▾
    - 132
    - 133
  - The Soul ▸ ▾
    - 134
    - 135
    - 136
    - 137
    - 138
    - 139
    - 140
    - 141
    - 142
    - 143
    - 144
    - 145
    - 146
  - Materialism ▸ ▾
    - 147
    - 148
- CHAPTER III—RETURN TO THE SPIRIT WORLD FROM THE PHYSICAL LIFE ▸ ▾
  - The Soul after Death ▸ ▾
    - 149
    - 150
    - 151
    - 152
    - 153
  - Separation of the Soul and Body ▸ ▾
    - 154
    - 155
    - 156
    - 157
    - 158
    - 159
    - 160
    - 161
    - 162
  - Spirit Confusion ▸ ▾
    - 163
    - 164
    - 165
- CHAPTER IV—MULTIPLE LIVES ▸ ▾
  - On Reincarnation ▸ ▾
    - 166
    - 167
    - 168
    - 169
    - 170
  - Justice of Reincarnation ▸ ▾
    - 171
  - Incarnation on Different Worlds ▸ ▾
    - 172
    - 173
    - 174
    - 175
    - 176
    - 177
    - 178
    - 179
    - 180
    - 181
    - 182
    - 183
    - 184
    - 185
    - 186
    - 187
    - 188
  - Progressive Transmigration ▸ ▾
    - 189
    - 190
    - 191
    - 192
    - 193
    - 194
    - 195
    - 196
  - Fate of Children after Death ▸ ▾
    - 197
    - 198
    - 199
  - Gender of Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 200
    - 201
    - 202
  - Family Relationships ▸ ▾
    - 203
    - 204
    - 205
    - 206
  - Physical and Moral Likeness ▸ ▾
    - 207
    - 208
    - 209
    - 210
    - 211
    - 212
    - 213
    - 214
    - 215
    - 216
    - 217
  - Innate Ideas ▸ ▾
    - 218
    - 219
    - 220
    - 221
- CHAPTER V—CONSIDERATIONS ON MULTIPLE LIVES ▸ ▾
  - 222
- CHAPTER VI—SPIRIT LIFE ▸ ▾
  - Errant Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 223
    - 224
    - 225
    - 226
    - 227
    - 228
    - 229
    - 230
    - 231
    - 232
    - 233
  - Transitional Worlds ▸ ▾
    - 234
    - 235
    - 236
  - Spirit Perceptions, Sensations and Suffering of Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 237
    - 238
    - 239
    - 240
    - 241
    - 242
    - 243
    - 244
    - 245
    - 246
    - 247
    - 248
    - 249
    - 250
    - 251
    - 252
    - 253
    - 254
    - 255
    - 256
  - Theoretical Essay of Spirit Sensation ▸ ▾
    - 257
  - Choice of Trials ▸ ▾
    - 258
    - 259
    - 260
    - 261
    - 262
    - 263
    - 264
    - 265
    - 266
    - 267
    - 268
    - 269
    - 270
    - 271
    - 272
    - 273
  - Relationships Beyond the Grave ▸ ▾
    - 274
    - 275
    - 276
    - 277
    - 278
    - 279
    - 280
    - 281
    - 282
    - 283
    - 284
    - 285
    - 286
    - 287
    - 288
    - 289
    - 290
  - Spirit Sympathy and Antipathy – Soul Mates ▸ ▾
    - 291
    - 292
    - 293
    - 294
    - 295
    - 296
    - 297
    - 298
    - 299
    - 300
    - 301
    - 302
    - 303
  - Memory of Physical Life ▸ ▾
    - 304
    - 305
    - 306
    - 307
    - 308
    - 309
    - 310
    - 311
    - 312
    - 313
    - 314
    - 315
    - 316
    - 317
    - 318
    - 319
  - Commemoration of the Dead - Funerals ▸ ▾
    - 320
    - 321
    - 322
    - 323
    - 324
    - 325
    - 326
    - 327
    - 328
    - 329
- CHAPTER VII—RETURN TO PHYSICAL LIFE ▸ ▾
  - Before the Return ▸ ▾
    - 330
    - 331
    - 332
    - 333
    - 334
    - 335
    - 336
    - 337
    - 338
    - 339
    - 340
    - 341
    - 342
    - 343
  - Union of Body and Soul – Abortion ▸ ▾
    - 344
    - 345
    - 346
    - 347
    - 348
    - 349
    - 350
    - 351
    - 352
    - 353
    - 354
    - 355
    - 356
    - 357
    - 358
    - 359
    - 360
  - Moral and Intellectual Faculties ▸ ▾
    - 361
    - 362
    - 363
    - 364
    - 365
    - 366
  - Infuence of the Body ▸ ▾
    - 367
    - 368
    - 369
    - 370
  - Mental Impairment and Insanity ▸ ▾
    - 371
    - 372
    - 373
    - 374
    - 375
    - 376
    - 377
    - 378
  - Infancy ▸ ▾
    - 379
    - 380
    - 381
    - 382
    - 383
    - 384
    - 385
  - Earthly Sympathies and Antipathies ▸ ▾
    - 386
    - 387
    - 388
    - 389
    - 390
    - 391
  - Forgetfulness of the Past ▸ ▾
    - 392
    - 393
    - 394
    - 395
    - 396
    - 397
    - 398
    - 399
- CHAPTER VIII—EMANCIPATION OF THE SOUL ▸ ▾
  - Sleep and Dreams ▸ ▾
    - 400
    - 401
    - 402
    - 403
    - 404
    - 405
    - 406
    - 407
    - 408
    - 409
    - 410
    - 411
    - 412
  - Spirit Visits of Living Individuals ▸ ▾
    - 413
    - 414
    - 415
    - 416
    - 417
    - 418
  - Concealed Transmission of Thoughts ▸ ▾
    - 419
    - 420
    - 421
  - Lethargy and Catalepsy – Apparent Death ▸ ▾
    - 422
    - 423
    - 424
  - Somnambulism ▸ ▾
    - 425
    - 426
    - 427
    - 428
    - 429
    - 430
    - 431
    - 432
    - 433
    - 434
    - 435
    - 436
    - 437
    - 438
  - Ecstatic Trance ▸ ▾
    - 439
    - 440
    - 441
    - 442
    - 443
    - 444
    - 445
    - 446
  - Second Sight ▸ ▾
    - 447
    - 448
    - 449
    - 450
    - 451
    - 452
    - 453
    - 454
  - Theoretical Summary of Somnambulism, Ecstatic Trance and Second Sight ▸ ▾
    - 455
- CHAPTER IX—INTERVENTION OF SPIRITS ON THE PHYSICAL WORLD ▸ ▾
  - Penetration of our Thoughts by Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 456
    - 457
    - 458
  - Covert Infuence of Spirits on our Thoughts and Actions ▸ ▾
    - 459
    - 460
    - 461
    - 462
    - 463
    - 464
    - 465
    - 466
    - 467
    - 468
    - 469
    - 470
    - 471
    - 472
  - The Possessed ▸ ▾
    - 473
    - 474
    - 475
    - 476
    - 477
    - 478
    - 479
    - 480
  - Convulsionaries ▸ ▾
    - 481
    - 482
    - 483
  - Affection of Spirits for Certain Individuals ▸ ▾
    - 484
    - 485
    - 486
    - 487
    - 488
  - Guardian Angels: Protective, Familiar and Sympathetic Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 489
    - 490
    - 491
    - 492
    - 493
    - 494
    - 495
    - 496
    - 497
    - 498
    - 499
    - 500
    - 501
    - 502
    - 503
    - 504
    - 505
    - 506
    - 507
    - 508
    - 509
    - 510
    - 511
    - 512
    - 513
    - 514
    - 515
    - 516
    - 517
    - 518
    - 519
    - 520
    - 521
  - Presentiments ▸ ▾
    - 522
    - 523
    - 524
  - Influence of Spirits in Life Events ▸ ▾
    - 525
    - 526
    - 527
    - 528
    - 529
    - 530
    - 531
    - 532
    - 533
    - 534
    - 535
  - Role of Spirits in Natural Phenomena ▸ ▾
    - 536
    - 537
    - 538
    - 539
    - 540
  - Spirits during Wars ▸ ▾
    - 541
    - 542
    - 543
    - 544
    - 546
    - 546
    - 547
    - 548
  - Pacts ▸ ▾
    - 549
    - 550
  - Occult Powers, Talismans and Sorcerers ▸ ▾
    - 551
    - 552
    - 553
    - 554
    - 555
    - 556
  - Blessings and Curses ▸ ▾
    - 557
- CHAPTER X—SPIRIT OCCUPATIONS AND MISSIONS ▸ ▾
  - 558
  - 559
  - 560
  - 561
  - 562
  - 563
  - 564
  - 565
  - 566
  - 567
  - 568
  - 569
  - 570
  - 571
  - 572
  - 573
  - 574
  - 575
  - 576
  - 577
  - 578
  - 579
  - 580
  - 581
  - 582
  - 583
  - 584
- CHAPTER XI—THE THREE KINGDOMS ▸ ▾
  - Minerals and Plants ▸ ▾
    - 585
    - 586
    - 587
    - 588
    - 589
    - 590
    - 591
  - Animals and Humans ▸ ▾
    - 592
    - 593
    - 594
    - 595
    - 596
    - 597
    - 598
    - 599
    - 600
    - 601
    - 602
    - 603
    - 604
    - 605
    - 606
    - 607
    - 608
    - 609
    - 610
  - Metempsychosis ▸ ▾
    - 611
    - 612
    - 613
BOOK THREE—MORAL LAWS ▸ ▾
- CHAPTER I—DIVINE OR NATURAL LAW ▸ ▾
  - Characteristics of Natural Law ▸ ▾
    - 614
    - 615
    - 616
    - 617
    - 618
  - Knowledge of Natural Law ▸ ▾
    - 619
    - 620
    - 621
    - 622
    - 623
    - 624
    - 625
    - 626
    - 627
    - 628
  - Good and Evil ▸ ▾
    - 629
    - 630
    - 631
    - 632
    - 633
    - 634
    - 635
    - 636
    - 637
    - 638
    - 639
    - 640
    - 641
    - 642
    - 643
    - 644
    - 645
    - 646
  - Division of Natural Law ▸ ▾
    - 647
    - 648
- CHAPTER II—I. LAW OF WORSHIP ▸ ▾
  - Purpose of Worship ▸ ▾
    - 649
    - 650
    - 651
    - 652
  - External Worship ▸ ▾
    - 653
    - 654
    - 655
    - 656
  - Life of Contemplation ▸ ▾
    - 657
  - Prayer ▸ ▾
    - 658
    - 659
    - 660
    - 661
    - 662
    - 663
    - 664
    - 665
    - 666
  - Polytheism ▸ ▾
    - 667
    - 668
  - Sacrifices ▸ ▾
    - 669
    - 670
    - 671
    - 672
    - 673
- CHAPTER III—II. LAW OF LABOR ▸ ▾
  - Necessity of Labor ▸ ▾
    - 674
    - 675
    - 676
    - 677
    - 678
    - 679
    - 680
    - 681
  - Limit of Labor – Rest ▸ ▾
    - 682
    - 683
    - 684
    - 685
- CHAPTER IV—III. LAW OF REPRODUCTION ▸ ▾
  - Population of the Globe ▸ ▾
    - 686
    - 687
  - Succession and Development of the Human Race ▸ ▾
    - 688
    - 689
    - 690
    - 691
    - 692
  - Obstacles to Reproduction ▸ ▾
    - 693
    - 694
  - Marriage and Celibacy ▸ ▾
    - 695
    - 696
    - 697
    - 698
    - 699
  - Polygamy ▸ ▾
    - 700
    - 701
- CHAPTER V — IV. THE LAW OF PRESERVATION ▸ ▾
  - Instinct of Self-Preservation ▸ ▾
    - 702
    - 703
  - Means of Self-Preservation ▸ ▾
    - 704
    - 705
    - 706
    - 707
    - 708
    - 709
    - 710
  - Enjoying the Fruits of the Earth ▸ ▾
    - 711
    - 712
    - 713
    - 714
  - Necessary and Superfluous Things ▸ ▾
    - 715
    - 716
    - 717
  - Voluntary Deprivations – Mortifications ▸ ▾
    - 718
    - 719
    - 720
    - 721
    - 722
    - 723
    - 724
    - 725
    - 726
    - 727
- CHAPTER VI—V. LAW OF DESTRUCTION ▸ ▾
  - Necessary versus Abusive Destruction ▸ ▾
    - 728
    - 729
    - 730
    - 731
    - 732
    - 733
    - 734
    - 735
    - 736
  - Destructive Scourges ▸ ▾
    - 737
    - 738
    - 739
    - 740
    - 741
  - War ▸ ▾
    - 742
    - 743
    - 744
    - 745
  - Murder ▸ ▾
    - 746
    - 747
    - 748
    - 749
    - 750
    - 751
  - Cruelty ▸ ▾
    - 752
    - 753
    - 754
    - 755
    - 756
  - Duelling ▸ ▾
    - 757
    - 758
    - 759
  - Capital Punishment ▸ ▾
    - 760
    - 761
    - 762
    - 763
    - 764
    - 765
- CHAPTER VII—VI. LAW OF SOCIETY ▸ ▾
  - Necessity of Social Life ▸ ▾
    - 766
    - 767
    - 768
  - Life of Isolation – Vow of Silence ▸ ▾
    - 769
    - 770
    - 771
    - 772
  - Family Ties ▸ ▾
    - 773
    - 774
    - 775
- CHAPTER VIII—VII. LAW OF PROGRESS ▸ ▾
  - State of Nature ▸ ▾
    - 776
    - 777
    - 778
  - The March of Progress ▸ ▾
    - 779
    - 780
    - 781
    - 782
    - 783
    - 784
    - 785
  - Declining Nations ▸ ▾
    - 786
    - 787
    - 788
    - 789
  - Civilisation ▸ ▾
    - 790
    - 791
    - 792
    - 793
  - Progress of Societal Legislation ▸ ▾
    - 794
    - 795
    - 796
    - 797
  - Influence of Spiritism on Progress ▸ ▾
    - 798
    - 799
    - 800
    - 801
    - 802
- CHAPTER IX—VIII. LAW OF EQUALITY ▸ ▾
  - Natural Equality ▸ ▾
    - 803
  - Inequality of Aptitudes ▸ ▾
    - 804
    - 805
  - Social Inequalities ▸ ▾
    - 806
    - 807
  - Economic Inequality ▸ ▾
    - 808
    - 809
    - 810
    - 811
    - 812
    - 813
  - Trials of Wealth and Poverty ▸ ▾
    - 814
    - 815
    - 816
  - Equality Rights for Men and Women ▸ ▾
    - 817
    - 818
    - 819
    - 820
    - 821
    - 822
  - Equality in Death ▸ ▾
    - 823
    - 824
- CHAPTER X—IX. LAW OF LIBERTY ▸ ▾
  - Natural Freedom ▸ ▾
    - 825
    - 826
    - 827
    - 828
  - Slavery ▸ ▾
    - 829
    - 830
    - 831
    - 832
  - Freedom of Thought ▸ ▾
    - 833
    - 834
  - Freedom of Conscience ▸ ▾
    - 835
    - 836
    - 837
    - 838
    - 839
    - 840
    - 841
    - 842
  - Free Will ▸ ▾
    - 843
    - 844
    - 845
    - 846
    - 847
    - 848
    - 849
    - 850
  - Fatalism ▸ ▾
    - 851
    - 852
    - 853
    - 854
    - 855
    - 856
    - 857
    - 858
    - 859
    - 860
    - 861
    - 862
    - 863
    - 864
    - 865
    - 866
    - 867
  - Foreknowledge of the Future ▸ ▾
    - 868
    - 869
    - 870
    - 871
  - Theoretical Explanation of the Motive Behind Human Action ▸ ▾
    - 872
- CHAPTER XI—X. LAW OF JUSTICE, LOVE AND CHARITY ▸ ▾
  - Natural Rights and Justice ▸ ▾
    - 873
    - 874
    - 875
    - 876
    - 877
    - 878
    - 879
  - The Right of Property – Theft ▸ ▾
    - 880
    - 881
    - 882
    - 883
    - 885
  - Charity and Loving Your Neighbor ▸ ▾
    - 886
    - 887
    - 888
    - 889
  - Maternal and Filial Love ▸ ▾
    - 890
    - 891
    - 892
- CHAPTER XII—MORAL PERFECTlON ▸ ▾
  - Virtues and Vices ▸ ▾
    - 893
    - 894
    - 895
    - 896
    - 897
    - 898
    - 899
    - 900
    - 901
    - 902
    - 903
    - 904
    - 905
    - 906
  - Passions ▸ ▾
    - 907
    - 908
    - 909
    - 910
    - 911
    - 912
  - Selfishness ▸ ▾
    - 913
    - 914
    - 915
    - 916
    - 917
  - Characteristics of the Virtuous Man ▸ ▾
    - 918
  - Self-Knowledge ▸ ▾
    - 919
BOOK FOUR—HOPE AND CONSOLATION ▸ ▾
- CHAPTER I—EARTHLY JOYS AND SORROWS ▸ ▾
  - Relative Happiness and Unhappiness ▸ ▾
    - 920
    - 921
    - 922
    - 923
    - 924
    - 925
    - 926
    - 927
    - 928
    - 929
    - 930
    - 931
    - 932
    - 933
  - Loss of Loved Ones ▸ ▾
    - 934
    - 935
    - 936
  - Disappointment – Shattered Affections ▸ ▾
    - 937
    - 938
  - Antipathetic Relationships ▸ ▾
    - 939
    - 940
  - Fear of Death ▸ ▾
    - 941
    - 942
  - Distaste for Life – Suicide ▸ ▾
    - 943
    - 944
    - 945
    - 946
    - 947
    - 948
    - 949
    - 950
    - 951
    - 952
    - 953
    - 954
    - 955
    - 956
    - 957
- CHAPTER II—FUTURE JOYS AND SORROWS ▸ ▾
  - Nothingness – Future Life ▸ ▾
    - 958
    - 959
  - Intuition of Future Joys and Sorrows ▸ ▾
    - 960
    - 961
    - 962
  - Intervention of God in Rewards and Atonements ▸ ▾
    - 963
    - 964
  - Nature of Future Joys and Sorrows ▸ ▾
    - 965
    - 966
    - 967
    - 968
    - 969
    - 970
    - 971
    - 972
    - 973
    - 974
    - 975
    - 976
    - 977
    - 978
    - 979
    - 980
    - 981
    - 982
  - Temporary Atonements ▸ ▾
    - 983
    - 984
    - 985
    - 986
    - 987
    - 988
    - 989
  - Atonement and Repentance ▸ ▾
    - 990
    - 991
    - 992
    - 993
    - 994
    - 995
    - 996
    - 997
    - 998
    - 999
    - 1000
    - 1001
    - 1002
  - Duration of Future Atonements ▸ ▾
    - 1003
    - 1004
    - 1005
    - 1006
    - 1007
    - 1008
    - 1009
  - Resurrection of the Body ▸ ▾
    - 1010 ▸ ▾
      - 1010 - a
  - Heaven, Hell and Purgatory ▸ ▾
CONCLUSION ▸ ▾
- I
- II
- III
- IV
- V
- VI
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902. Is it wrong to wish for wealth as a means of doing good?
“Such a desire is admirable when it is pure, but is it always truly disinterested? Don’t people first desire to do good for themselves?”

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The Spirits' Book

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