By Geraldo Goulart

Whenever we hear comments about suicide, it comes to mind the picture of an extreme, violent, abrupt death that, in fact, is what characterizes a suicide based on someone’s desire to end immediately their own life. However, the Spiritist Doctrine let us know that this extreme act is a serious error because the only life with which the suicide ends is merely that of his physical body. On this subject, for those who wish to know a little more, we recommend reading the books “THE MARTYRDOM OF SUICIDES” (written by Almerindo Martins de Castro) and also “MEMOIRS OF A SUICIDE” (by Yvonne A. Pereira) both edited by Brazilian Spiritist Federation.

Notwithstanding the false impression that the suicide has gotten rid of what has been tormenting him, suicide has more scope in the Spiritual Plan than that considered here on Earth. Studying the Spiritist Doctrine, we are informed that the unfortunates who commit violent suicide have, in the True Life dimension, a greater burden of suffering, but it is not about this aspect that we wish to reflect, but rather to consider the aspects about indirect suicides (or unconscious suicides) regularly practiced and that may surprise us when we arrive at the Spiritual Fatherland.

In the book “OUR HOME”, André Luiz (Spirit and author of Chico Xavier’s fraternal narrative) tells that as he regained consciousness after his passing, he heard a faint but perfectly noticeable voice calling him: “suicide, suicide… “and he was astonished and wondering if that would be him. After all, he had not committed suicide, and if he had died (he was alive, and very alive, he thought) it would have been because of acquired syphilis. However, sometime later, after a medical visit to a treatment room, he learned that syphilis, associated with other factors such as alcohol use, had generated a cancerous stage that it had damaged his kidneys and liver. Andre, though battered by the evils that caused his discarnation, but lucid enough, acknowledged that by his own fault he had assaulted his physical apparatus by accelerating his physical death. He who had been a doctor on earth had not considered such possibilities!

After careful reading of the Spiritist literature crossed with some biblical passages, we learn that we expose ourselves to daily situations that subject us to the condition of unconscious suicides. Let’s look at some:

1. Excess of diet and drink (overeating and continued ingestion of alcoholics that make the gastric tract vulnerable and affect the kidneys and liver).
2. Verbal Intemperance (the feeling of anger, anger, generates negative forces for the one who feeds it and strengthens it in free and repeated aggressions against others and throws excessive doses of adrenaline into the bloodstream).
3. Nervous imbalance (evidence of poor mental process).
4. Sexual excesses (degenerating vital energies whose absence can bring the individual closer to madness)
5. Ingestion of harmful elements such as drugs (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, crack, LSD, heroin, cocaine and derivatives).
6. Immoderate use of medication – or its abstinence – (excessive doses in relation to the prescription or ignore the prescription by own decision believing that the doctor did not know how to analyze your problem).
7. Carelessly crossing roads and / or exposing yourself to risky situations such as not using a walkway or waiting for a traffic light, which is considered suicide even by road legislation.
8. Drive recklessly taking the risk of killing and dying.
9. Unprotected sex with strangers.

Although most of the described actions may provide pleasure, they should be avoided as they may be – somewhat – contributing to the self-extermination of the person who practices them. Paul’s statement is worth remembering: “Everything is permitted to me, but not everything suits me. Everything is permitted to me but I will not let anything rule” (Corinthians 6:12). In what suits us because it is necessary for the maintenance of material life, we must observe the equilibrium so as not to strike the fine line that isolates us from the moment of death while we still need to remain in physical health.

We end with the warning from our Sublime Master that we pray and watch because through prayer thanking the blessed gift of life that is bestowed on us for the evolution of our Spirit, we will also be watching over our actions avoiding the precipices in the evil that lurks at us at various times. One careless act will include us in the condition of unconscious suicides who may have to reside in the dark valleys of mourning and pain for a set amount of time – until the date of their planned death.

If you would like to learn more about Spiritism and how we live life after life in the pursuit of become a perfect spirit, read my book 7 Tenets of Spiritism – How they Impact your Daily Life. It is available in Kindle, paperback, and audio formats.