O VALOR DO DINHEIRO - Parte 1

Pride

PRIDE Several philosophical-spiritual currents affirm that pride is the greatest curse that plagues humankind. It is difficult to understand this statement while we do not begin a reflection on the effects of pride about ourselves. Very few people admit that are proud and when they do it, it's like a justification for what they believe is a virtue rather than a defect. A friend of mine once confessed to me, "I never guessed me proud, but better analyzing my behavior from the moment I realized reactions I even classified as irrational, I identified to be a proud creature that moved myself in the muddy ground of vanity". What is observed is that with some knowledge already acquired on the subject, anyone can identify and modify, if they want to, his behavior, distancing as much as possible from that feeling. It is true that they will achieve, not immediately, crowning success his determination, therefore it's necessary to admit the great difficult that is to keep us safe from pride. While we do not realize the proud's presence in us, and not we are willing to fight to smother him in our life, the satisfaction provided by the pride, by the apparent "victory" that we think we have reached, quenches us the ego, as if releasing heady massive doses of corporeal chemistry. In these moments we feel satisfied, happy, fulfilled! This reaction induces the creature to be even more and more proud; boast of their achievements and ability, because the recognition from others make them feel again that emotion and pleasure of a realization that no one else could reach. On the other hand, when we begin to realize the futility of such recognition just for pleasing us, and when we identify ourselves so far from deserving the merit we believed to deserve, the realization begins to harass our morale. The moral, renewed, and bothered by the new knowledge acquired, lights a warning headlight against the old feeling of pride. This awareness promotes an inner struggle because, on the one hand, the ego, remembering the already experienced emotions, refuses to not promote another exhibitionism session for free recognition by new achievement that should remain anonymous to be validated. Following, it's needed to have the strength of the Spirit who seeks the path of renewal and growth and that intuits that need such help for mastering the threat from the pride. If we do not let prevail the voice still weak of the morale, the pride will strengthen the strong will of a weak spirit dominated by ego. That's no good for the Spirit. Note that the generation of the "new man" only by the knowledge, is not made easy, not even a little. We must eliminate, at every opportunity, physical satisfaction generated by the exaggerated pride, improving the moral tone that will serve as the antidote to nullify the deleterious effects from that consequence in the Spirit. However, there is an easier and more objective way for the start of the "good fight" against pride: just admit that the origin of any positive momentum that we can show and offer does not belong to us, but - yes! - to the friends from higher. Thus, with so simple way, we learn to set aside our personality that, in fact, is not the author of most of the good deeds that we allow ourselves to undertake. Effectively, have taught us the Spirits of Light through the Spirits’ Doctrine that pride is a powerful enemy of the spiritual evolution of man because it does not allow him to glimpse the truth but only what is in their own interest. Even in situations where it would not be expected a manifestation of vanity, the pride is manifested through confused people that do not worry about spiritual condition as commented in item 823 in THE BOOK OF SPIRITS: Whence comes the desire of perpetuating one's memory by means of funeral monuments? "It is the last act of pride." - But is not the sumptuousness of funeral monuments more frequently due to the action of relatives desirous to honour the memory of the defunct, than to the defunct himself? "In such cases it is an act of pride on the part of relatives who desire to glorify themselves; for assuredly it is not always for the one who is dead that all these demonstrations are made, but rather to gratify their own vanity by making an impression on others, and to parade their wealth. Do you imagine that the remembrance of their loved ones is less durable in the hearts of the poor, because the latter have no flowers to lay upon their graves ? Do you imagine that marble can save from oblivion the name of him who has led a useless life upon the earth?" Teaching about natural liberty, in question 828 the instructor says: How can we reconcile the liberal opinions professed by some persons with the despotism they themselves sometimes exercise in their own houses, and among their subordinates? "Their intelligence is aware of the law of nature, but this perception is counterbalanced by their pride and selfishness. When their profession of liberal principles is not hypocrisy, they know what ought to be done, but do it not." From time to time, we find in SPIRITS’ BOOK some comments about the pride. Read the following now on question 929: There are persons who, being utterly without resources, though surrounded by abundance, have no other prospect than starvation. What course should they take under such circumstances? Ought they to allow themselves to die of hunger? "No one should ever admit into his mind the idea of allowing himself to die of hunger; a man could always find the means of obtaining food if pride did not interpose itself between want and work. It has often been said that 'No work is dishonourable it honestly done;' but this is one of the aphorisms that each man is more prompt to apply to his neighbour than to himself." Here, below, about antipathetic unions, question 940: Is not the lack of sympathy between persons destined to live together also a source of sorrow, and one that is all the more bitter because it poisons an entire existence? "Very bitter it is, undoubtedly; but it is usually a misfortune of your own causing. In the first place, your laws are in fault; for how can you suppose that those who dislike one another can be intended by God to live together ? In the next place, you yourselves are to blame, for you often seek, in those unions, the satisfaction of your pride and ambition rather than the happiness of a mutual affection; and, in such cases, you undergo the natural consequences of your prejudices." The natural consequence is (complementary answer): - But, in such cases, is there not generally an innocent victim? "Yes, one for whom it is a heavy expiation; but the responsibility of such unhappiness will, nevertheless, be brought home to those who caused it. If the light of truth have reached the soul of the victim, faith in the future will give consolation under present suffering. But the causes of these private misfortunes will disappear in proportion as your prejudices are dissipated." Publicado em NWSpiritism

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