Prohibitions

Why are certain things prohibited? Why impose restrictions? Could a prohibition be a sign of Love?

Photo by Marcial Bollinger on Unsplash

When we are children, we use to hear the word no a lot. For example:

• Do not put your finger in the socket.
• Don't bite your brother.
• Do not take cold.
• Don't go there because it's dangerous.
• Do not do it.
• Do not do that.

Parents use a list of prohibitions to save and protect their children from the evils that could befall them as a result of certain actions.

The younger the child, the less able to understand the extent to which certain attitudes can generate. The parents, then, do not negotiate. They impose prohibitions to preserve themselves from dangers and suffering, both to themselves and to those around them.

As the child matures, the ability to understand grows. The more mature, the greater the sense of the relationship between cause and effect.

Not putting the finger in the socket makes sense because the shock will cause pain. Not biting the brother is understandable because, in addition to causing pain in the other, there may be retaliation. Not taking cold protects you from getting sick and bedridden.

In summary, that list of prohibitions has the character of preserving pain and evil, a sign that parents care and love their children.

A balanced life

When Humanity was in its infancy, out of barbarism, God, Father of infinite love, sent, through Moses, a list of rules for a more balanced life and a harmonious coexistence on Earth.

This list contains the Ten Commandments and, among them, several prohibitions:

1. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
2. You will not kill.
3. You will not commit adultery.
4. You will not steal.
5. You will not say false testimony against your neighbor.
6. You will not want the next man's wife.
7. You shall not covet your neighbor's house, nor his servant, nor his handmaid, nor his ox, nor his donkey, or anything else that belongs to him.

At that time, Humanity was unable to understand the scope of these rules.

It was not aware that these commandments brought the essence of the Divine Laws, the only knowledge necessary for happiness. God has put these laws in our own consciences to guide us towards good. With discernment, we know what we must or not do and are guided to happiness when we follow them, or to unhappinness whenever we violate them.

In the same way that some children defy their parents and violate the rules suffering later, many of us also refuse to follow the Divine Laws. Our immaturity and rebellion against these laws is what causes sufferings for ourselves and for others around us.

Final Thoughts

The only way to live a peaceful and happy life is to not see these prohibitions as authoritarian, but as proof of love.

Those who don't fight with God and its Laws, know that doing so will only make them suffer. They understand that God is a loving Father, waiting for His children (us) to mature and to love and understand these Laws that rule the Earth and the whole Universe.

And God knows that when that happens, no prohibition will be necessary as human beings will act with conscience always aiming for the good of everything and everyone.

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on April 19, 2016

See Also

• The Power of Love
• Weighted observation
• The most important bridge
• Bridge of Life
• A Thinking Power
• Divine Poem

Courage

The moment we live is of great challenges. Do we have courage to bear all the challenges we face? 

Photo by Oliver Cole on Unsplash

The moment we now live on Earth is of great challenges, requiring a lot of courage, to behave according to the Divine Laws.

Courage to maintain honesty when almost everything around us conspires against the right attitudes.

Courage not to strike back at the blows of insanity, maintaining understanding and praying the blessings of heaven for your unbalanced brother.

Courage not to deviate from humility and integrity when, with power in our hands, we do not allow pride and selfishness to take over.

Courage to cultivate moderation and patience when we realize that the difficulties are getting worse.

Courage to maintain patience, even if your heart is beaten by the onslaught of cruel feelings that reach us.

Courage to preserve in serenity when the storms of discord and disagreements roar, threatening to bring us down.

Moral Courage

When we carry the Gospel of Jesus in our hearts, we know that it is not by running away from obstacles that we overcome them, but by facing them with calm, serenity and confidence. We understand that the first virtue of those who trust God is moral courage.

Courage that is necessary to achieve self-discipline to remain in balance in the face of attacks of less noble feelings and attitudes.

Courage that helps bearing difficulties with serenity, making the necessary efforts to overcome them.

Courage to persevere in the face of difficulties, without allowing ourselves to give up.

Our journey, in this life, reserves us many paths to travel, but the peace and happiness that we long for, will only be built with inner courage. And it is this courage that will determine when and how we will achieve our inner improvement, which will be reflected in our individual fulfillment.

The greater the achievement, the calmer our attitudes will be, helping us continue our personal journey.

Final Thoughts

Faced with the most embarrassing situations of his material life, Jesus endured all the injuries, all the humiliations that were inflicted on him, maintaining the purity of the high ideal for which he endeavored to the extreme sacrifice.

Let us have the courage to act like Him, maintaining serenity and moving on.

Let us have compassion of those who have lost their faith and stumbled upon violence.

Let us look at those who despaired and were lost in the revolt.

Let us keep in mind that true courage arises from resilience and calm in times of challenge, suffering and imbalance.

Let us protect ourselves in good. When we are about to utter any thoughtless phrase or take the least action against others, let us pray and be silent because heaven hears us. God will always sustain us in our good efforts.

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on April 07, 2018.

See Also

• The Power of Love
• Weighted observation
• The most important bridge
• Bridge of Life
• A Thinking Power
• Divine Poem

Suicide: a global calamity

Unfortunately, suicide is still a growing trend in our society. Learn how you can help changing that.

Photo by Noah Silliman on Unsplash

The Yellow September was instituted by the World Health Organization (WHO), on September 10th, 2003, as the date for the suicide prevention campaign worldwide. The growing number of occurrences each year has made this a major public health problem.

The causes are diverse but depression continues to be main one. Beyond that, financial stress, illnesses, drugs (legal and illegal), disillusionment with life and, of course, lack of religiosity make this incidence more and more worrying. The suicidal person does not want to stop living, they just want to “get rid” of the problems that affect them.

It's important not to ignore a pre-existing condition in the person's spirit. Most of us still carry some fragility from previous experiences which we all have to learn how to surpass. And unfortunately, this spiritual disease affects particularly those who believe that life ends in the grave. However, our Spirit lives on harvesting all the good (and/or bad) we realize in this life. Let us remember that life is a cycle of challenges and existences that necessary for our evolutionary process.

According to question 944, of The Spirits' Book, To shorten life is the greatest transgression of human beings to the Laws of God:

"Does man have the right to dispose of his life"?
- No; only God assists that right. Voluntary suicide means a violation of this law. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) defined, on January 22, 1998, that “health is a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, and the Ministry of Health supports the Life Valuation Center (CVV). In 2017, 2 million people called free of charge to the number 188, which offers emotional support and suicide prevention. Imagine how many lives were spared from this folly ...

The numbers continue to increase. There are a total of 800,000 cases per year worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a goal of reducing suicide deaths by 10% by 2020 which will not be easy, since the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed strongly to the growth of depressive processes.

When we believe in the Creator and that only in Him we have the support for our vicissitudes, we feel strengthened. Faith combined with perseverance and resignation leads us to the path of lesser pain, while the revolt it is the door of suffering. To revolt is to aggravate everything that already bothers us and we know that this attitude does not solve anything.

As long as the one does not seek within virtues such as humility, love, charity, fraternity (among many others), they will not leave this situation which imprisons them in despair.

A reunion with your self is the key to the true happiness that each of us has access to.

Conclusion

Let's try to be more aware about our struggles and learn to renounce what hinders our moral progress, such as selfishness, pride and other feelings that we carry with us. 

References

• Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
• World Health Organization (WHO)

See Also

• Bridge of Life
• The poetry of life
  
• Weighted observation
  
• A Thinking Power