Spirits' Work and Missions

558. Have spirits anything else to do but to work out their own personal amelioration?

558. Do spirits have anything else to do besides working on their own improvement?

"They co-operate in the production of the harmony of the universe by executing the volitions of God, whose ministers they are. Spirit-life is a continual occupation, but one that has nothing in common with the painful labour of the earthly life, because there is in it neither bodily fatigue, nor the anguish of bodily wants."

“They help create harmony in the universe by carrying out God's will as his ministers. Spirit life is a continual occupation, but it is nothing like the painful labor of earthly life. That is because spirit life involves neither bodily fatigue nor the anguish of bodily needs.”

559. Do inferior and imperfect spirits also subserve any useful end in the universe?

559. Do inferior and imperfect spirits also serve a useful purpose in the universe?

"All have duties to fulfil. Does not the lowest mason concur in the building of an edifice as really as the architect?" (540.)

"Everyone has duties to fulfill. Doesn't even the lowest mason help build a building just as much as the architect?" (540.)

560. Has each spirit special attributes?

560. Does each spirit have special attributes?

"We all have to inhabit all regions, and to acquire a knowledge of all things, by presiding successively over all the details of the universe. But, as is said in Ecclesiastes, 'there is a time for everything.' Thus, one spirit is accomplishing his destiny, at the present day, in your world; another will accomplish his, or has already accomplished it, at another period, upon the earth, in the water, in the air, &c."

"We all must live in all regions and learn about all things. We do this by taking charge of every detail of the universe in turn. But, as Ecclesiastes says, 'there is a time for everything.' So one spirit is fulfilling its destiny in your world today. Another will fulfill its destiny, or has already fulfilled it, at another time, on earth, in water, in air, and so on."

561. Are the functions discharged by spirits, in the economy of things, permanent on the part of each spirit, or do they constitute the exclusive attributes of certain classes?

561. Are the roles spirits play in the order of things permanent for each spirit? Or are certain roles exclusive to certain classes of spirits?

"All spirits have to ascend all the steps of the ladder in order to attain to perfection. God, who is just, has not willed to give science to some without labour, while others only acquire it through painful effort."

"All spirits must climb every step of the ladder to reach perfection. God is just. He has not chosen to give knowledge to some without work, while others must gain it through painful effort."

Thus, among men, no one arrives at the highest degree of skill in any art, without having acquired the necessary knowledge through the practice of that art in all its degrees, from the lowest upwards.

So, no one reaches the highest level of skill in any art without learning through practice at every level, starting with the lowest.

562. Spirits of the highest order having nothing more to acquire, are they in a state of absolute repose, or have they, too, occupations?

562. Spirits of the highest order have nothing more to gain. Are they in a state of complete rest, or do they also have work to do?

"Can you suppose that they remain idle through eternity? Eternal idleness would be eternal torture."

"Do you think they remain idle forever? Being idle forever would be torture."

—What is the nature of their occupations?

What kind of work do they do?

"They receive orders directly from God, transmit them throughout the universe, and superintend their execution."

"They receive orders directly from God and pass them throughout the universe. They oversee the carrying out of those orders."

563. Are spirits incessantly occupied?

563. Are spirits always busy?

"Incessantly? yes, if it be understood that their thought is always active, for they live by thought. But you must not suppose that the occupations of spirits are similar to the material occupations of men; their activity is itself a delight, through the consciousness they have of being useful."

"Constantly? Yes, if you mean that their thoughts are always active, because they live by thought. But do not assume that spirits' activities are like people's physical work. Their activity is a pleasure in itself, because they know they are useful."

—That is easily understood as regards good spirits; but is it the same in regard to inferior spirits?

That is easy to understand when it comes to good spirits. But is it the same for inferior spirits?

"Inferior spirits have occupations suitable to their nature. Would you entrust intellectual undertakings to an ignorant labourer?"

"Inferior spirits have jobs suited to their nature. Would you give intellectual work to an uneducated laborer?"

564. Are there, among spirits, some who are idle, or who do not employ themselves in anything useful?

564. Are some spirits idle, or do they do nothing useful?

"Yes; but that idleness is only temporary, and depends on the development of their intelligence. Certainly, there are among spirits, as among men, some who live only for themselves; but their idleness weighs upon them, and, sooner or later, the desire to advance causes them to feel the need of activity, and they are glad to make themselves useful. We speak of spirits arrived at the point at which they possess self-consciousness and free-will; for, at their origin, they are like new-born children, and act more from instinct than from a determinate will."

“Yes, but their idleness is only temporary and depends on how developed their intelligence is. Some spirits, like some people, live only for themselves. But their idleness weighs on them. Sooner or later, their desire to advance makes them feel the need for activity. Then they are glad to make themselves useful. We are speaking of spirits who have reached the point of having self-awareness and free will. At their origin, spirits are like newborn children. They act more from instinct than from deliberate choice.”

565. Do spirits examine our works of art, and take an interest in them?

565. Do spirits look at our works of art and take an interest in them?

"They examine whatever indicates the elevation of incarnated spirits and their progress."

"They examine anything that shows the spiritual advancement and progress of incarnated spirits."

566. Does a spirit who has had a special occupation upon the earth, as a painter or an architect, for example, take a special interest in the labours which have formed the object of his predilections during the earthly life?

566. Suppose a spirit had a particular occupation on earth, such as painting or architecture. Does the spirit take a special interest in the work it loved during earthly life?

"Everything blends into one general aim. A good spirit interests himself in whatever enables him to assist other souls in rising towards God. Besides, a spirit who has been devoted to a given pursuit, in the existence in which you have known him, may have been devoted to some other in another existence; for, in order to be perfect, he must know everything. Thus, in virtue of his greater advancement, there may be no specialty for him—a fact to which I alluded in saying that everything blends into one general aim. Take note, also, that what seems sublime to you, in your backward world, would be mere child's play in worlds of greater advancement. How can you suppose that the spirits who inhabit those worlds, in which there exist arts and sciences unknown to you, could admire what, in their eyes, is only the work of a tyro?"

"Everything comes together in one general purpose. A good spirit takes an interest in anything that helps him guide other souls toward God. Besides, a spirit may have devoted himself to one pursuit in the life in which you knew him. In another life, he may have devoted himself to a different pursuit. To be perfect, he must know everything. So, as he becomes more advanced, he may no longer have a specialty. This is what I meant when I said that everything comes together in one general purpose. Remember, too, that what seems sublime to you in your backward world would be child's play in more advanced worlds. Those worlds have arts and sciences unknown to you. How can you suppose that the spirits who live there would admire what, to them, is only a beginner's work?"

—We can easily conceive that this should be the case with very advanced spirits; but our question referred to more commonplace spirits, to those who have not yet raised themselves above terrestrial ideas.

We can easily understand that this would be true of very advanced spirits. But our question was about more ordinary spirits who have not yet risen above earthly ideas.

"With them it is different; their mental outlook is narrower, and they may admire what you yourselves admire."

"With them, it is different. Their outlook is narrower, and they may admire the same things you admire."

567. Do spirits ever take part in our occupations and pleasures?

567. Do spirits ever take part in our work and leisure?

"Commonplace spirits, as you call them, do so; they are incessantly about you, and take, in all you do, a part which is sometimes a very active one, according to their nature; and it is necessary that they should do so, in order to push men on in the different walks of life, and to excite or moderate their passions."

“Commonplace spirits, as you call them, do so. They are always around you and take part in everything you do. Depending on their nature, they sometimes take a very active part. They must do this to push people forward in the different walks of life and to stir up or restrain their passions.”

Spirits busy themselves with the things of this world in proportion to their elevation or their inferiority. The higher spirits have, undoubtedly, the power of looking into the minutest details of earthly things; but they only do so when it will be useful to progress. Spirits of lower rank attribute to such things a degree of importance proportioned to their remembrances of the earthly life, and to the earthly ideas which are not yet extinct in their memory.

Spirits concern themselves with worldly things according to how advanced or inferior they are. Higher spirits can undoubtedly examine the smallest details of earthly life. But they do so only when it will help progress. Lower spirits give these things importance according to their memories of earthly life and the earthly ideas they still remember.

568. When spirits are charged with a mission, do they accomplish it in the state of erraticity, or in the state of incarnation?

568. When spirits are given a mission, do they carry it out between incarnations or while incarnated?

"They may be charged with a mission in either state. There are wandering spirits to whom such missions furnish much occupation."

"They may be given a mission in either state. Some wandering spirits spend much of their time on such missions."

569. What are the missions with which wandering spirits may be charged?

569. What missions may wandering spirits be given?

"They are so varied that it would be impossible to describe them; and there are some of them that you could not comprehend. Spirits execute the volitions of God, and you are not able to penetrate all His designs."

"They are so varied that it would be impossible to describe them. And there are some you could not understand. Spirits carry out God's will, and you cannot understand all his plans."

The missions of spirits have always good for their object. Whether in the spirit-state, or as men, they are charged to help forward the progress of humanity, of peoples, or of individuals, within a range of ideas more or less extensive, more or less special, to pave the way for certain events, to superintend the accomplishment of certain things. The missions of some spirits are of narrower scope, and may be said to be personal, or even local; as the helping of the sick, the dying, the afflicted; to watch over those of whom they become the guides and protectors, and to guide them by their counsels or by the wholesome thoughts they suggest. It may be said that there are as many sorts of spirit-missions as there are sorts of interests to watch over, whether in the physical world or in the moral world. And each spirit advances in proportion to the fidelity with which he accomplishes his task.

The missions of spirits always have a good purpose. Whether in the spirit state or as human beings, they are entrusted with helping humanity, peoples, or individuals progress. Their work may be broad or narrow, general or specialized. They prepare the way for certain events and oversee the completion of certain tasks. Some spirits have narrower missions that may be called personal or even local. They may help the sick, the dying, and the afflicted. They may watch over those they guide and protect, offering counsel or suggesting beneficial thoughts. There are, one might say, as many kinds of spirit missions as there are interests to watch over, whether in the physical or moral world. Each spirit advances according to how faithfully it carries out its task.

570. Do spirits always comprehend the designs they are charged to execute?

570. Do spirits always understand the plans they are assigned to carry out?

"No; some of them are mere blind instruments, but others fully understand the aim they are working out."

"No. Some are merely blind instruments, but others fully understand the goal they are working toward."

571. Is it only elevated spirits who have missions to fulfil?

571. Are elevated spirits the only ones who have missions to carry out?

"The importance of a mission is always proportioned to the capacities and elevation of the spirit who is charged with it; but the estafette who conveys a despatch fulfils a mission, though one which is not that of the general."

"The importance of a mission always matches the abilities and spiritual elevation of the spirit entrusted with it. But a courier carrying a message also fulfills a mission, though it is not the same as a general's."

572. Is a spirit's mission imposed upon him, or does it depend on his own will?

572. Is a spirit’s mission assigned to him, or does he choose it himself?

"He asks for it, and is rejoiced to obtain it."

"He asks for it and is happy to get it."

—May the same mission be demanded by several spirits?

Can several spirits demand the same mission?

"Yes, there are often several candidates for the same mission, but they are not all accepted."

"Yes, there are often several candidates for the same mission, but not all of them are accepted."

573. In what does the mission of incarnated spirits consist?

573. What is the mission of incarnated spirits?

"In instructing men, and aiding their advancement; and in ameliorating their institutions by direct, material means. These missions are more or less general and important; but he who tills the ground accomplishes a mission as really as he who governs or instructs. Everything in nature is linked together; and each spirit, while purifying himself by his incarnation, concurs, under the human form, to the accomplishment of the Providential plans. Each of you has a mission, because each of you can be useful in some way or other."

"By teaching people, helping them progress, and improving their institutions through direct, practical means. These missions vary in scope and importance. But someone who farms the land fulfills a mission just as much as someone who governs or teaches. Everything in nature is connected. Each spirit purifies itself through incarnation and, in human form, helps carry out the plans of Providence. Each of you has a mission, because each of you can be useful in some way."

574. What can be the mission of those who, in this life, are wilfully idle?

574. What mission can people have if they choose to be idle in this life?

"It is true that there are human beings who live only for themselves, and who do not make themselves useful in any way. They are much to be pitied, for they will have to expiate their voluntary inutility by severe sufferings, and their chastisement often begins even in their present existence, through their weariness and disgust of life."

"It is true that some people live only for themselves and do nothing useful. They deserve great pity, because they will have to atone for their chosen uselessness through severe suffering. Their punishment often begins in their present life, through their weariness and disgust with life."

—Since they had the freedom of choice, why did they choose a life which could not be of any use to them?

Since they were free to choose, why did they choose a life that could not benefit them?

"Among spirits, as among men, there are lazy ones who shrink from a life of labour. God lets them take their own way; they will learn, by and by, and to their cost, the bad effects of their uselessness, and will then eagerly demand to be allowed to make up for lost time. It may be, also, that they had chosen a more useful life; but have subsequently recoiled from the trial, and allowed themselves to be misled by the suggestions of spirits who encourage them in their inactivity."

"Among spirits, as among people, some are lazy and avoid a life of work. God lets them go their own way. In time, they will learn the harmful effects of their uselessness, and pay the price. They will then eagerly ask to be allowed to make up for lost time. It may also be that they chose a more useful life but later shrank from the trial. They let themselves be misled by spirits who encourage them to remain inactive."

575. The common occupations of everyday life appear to us to be duties rather than missions, properly so called. A mission, according to the idea we attach to this word, is characterised by an importance less exclusive, and especially less personal. From this point of view, how can we ascertain that a man has really a mission upon this earth?

575. The ordinary activities of daily life seem to us to be duties rather than missions in the strict sense. As we understand the word, a mission has a broader importance and is especially less personal. From this point of view, how can we tell whether a man truly has a mission on earth?

"By the greatness of the results he accomplishes, and the progress he causes to be made by his fellow-men."

"By the great results he achieves and the progress he inspires others to make."

576. Are those who have received an important mission predestined thereto before their birth, and are they aware of it?

576. Are people given an important mission before they are born? Are they aware of it?

"Yes, in some cases; but, more often, they are not aware of it. They are only vaguely conscious of an aim in coming upon the earth; their mission reveals itself to them gradually, after their birth, through the action of circumstances. God leads them on into the road which they are to take for the accomplishment of His designs."

"Yes, in some cases, but more often they are not aware of it. They have only a vague sense of a purpose in coming to earth. Their mission becomes clear to them gradually after birth, as circumstances unfold. God guides them along the path they must take to carry out his plans."

577. When a man does anything useful, is it always in virtue of an anterior and predestined mission, or may he receive a mission not previously foreseen?

577. When a man does something useful, is it always because of a mission predestined in advance? Or can he receive a mission that was not foreseen?

"Everything a man does is not the result of a predestined mission; he is often the instrument of a spirit who makes use of him in order to procure the execution of something he considers useful. For example:—A spirit thinks it would be useful to publish a book which he would write himself if he were incarnated. He seeks out the writer who will be the fittest to comprehend and develop his idea; he suggests to him the plan of the work, and directs him in its execution. In such a case, the man did not come into the world with the mission of doing this work. It is the same in regard to various works of art or scientific discoveries. During the sleep of his body, the incarnated spirit communicates directly with the spirit in erraticity, and the two take counsel together for the carrying out of their undertaking."

"Not everything a person does is the result of a predetermined mission. Often, a person is an instrument used by a spirit to carry out something the spirit considers useful. For example, a spirit thinks it would be useful to publish a book. The spirit would write it himself if he were incarnated. He seeks out the writer best suited to understand and develop his idea. He suggests a plan for the book and guides the writer in carrying it out. In such a case, the writer did not come into the world with a mission to do this work. The same is true of various works of art and scientific discoveries. While the body sleeps, the incarnated spirit communicates directly with the spirit in erraticity. The two consult each other about how to carry out their undertaking."

578. May a spirit fail in his mission through his own fault?

578. Can a spirit fail in his mission through his own fault?

"Yes; if he is not of a high degree of elevation."

"Yes, if he is not highly elevated."

—What, for him, are the consequences of such a failure?

What are the consequences of such a failure for him?

"He is obliged to begin his task over again; this is his punishment. And, besides, he will have to undergo the consequences of the mischiefs caused by his failure."

"He must start his task over again. This is his punishment. He must also face the consequences of the harm caused by his failure."

579. Since it is from God that each spirit receives his mission, how can God have entrusted an important mission, one of general interest, to a spirit capable of failing in its discharge?

579. Each spirit receives its mission from God. So how could God have given an important mission that concerns everyone to a spirit capable of failing to carry it out?

"Does not God foresee whether His general will be victorious or vanquished? Be sure that He foresees all things, and that the carrying out of His plans, when they are important, is never confided to those who will leave their work half done. The whole difficulty lies, for you, in the foreknowledge of the future which God possesses, but which you cannot understand."

"Doesn't God know in advance whether his general will win or lose? Be sure that he foresees everything. When his plans are important, he never entrusts them to people who will leave the work half done. Your difficulty is that God knows the future, but you cannot understand how he knows it."

580. When a spirit has incarnated himself for the accomplishment of a mission, does he feel the same anxiety in regard to it as the spirit whose mission has been undertaken as a trial?

580. When a spirit incarnates to carry out a mission, does he feel the same anxiety as a spirit whose mission is a trial?

"No; for he has the results of experience to guide him."

"No, because he can use what he has learned from experience to guide him."

581. The men who enlighten the human race by their genius have certainly a mission; but there are among them many who make mistakes, and who, along with important truths, spread abroad serious errors. In what way should we regard their mission?

581. Men who enlighten humanity through their genius certainly have a mission. But many of them make mistakes and spread serious errors alongside important truths. How should we regard their mission?

"As having been falsified by themselves. They are unequal to the task they have undertaken. In judging of them, however, you must take into account the circumstances in which they have been placed. Men of genius have had to speak according to their time; and teachings which appear erroneous or puerile, in the light of a later epoch, may have been sufficient for the epoch at which they were given."

“As having been falsified by themselves. They are not equal to the task they have taken on. However, when judging them, you must consider the circumstances they faced. Geniuses had to speak in ways suited to their time. Teachings that seem mistaken or childish in a later age may have been sufficient for their own time.”

582. Can paternity be considered a mission?

582. Can being a father be considered a mission?

"It is undeniably a mission; and also a most serious duty, the responsibilities of which will exercise a more important influence upon his future than a man is apt to suppose. God has placed the child under the tutelage of his parents, in order that they should direct his steps into the path of rectitude; and he has facilitated their task by giving to the child a frail and delicate organisation, that renders him accessible to new impressions. But there are many parents who take more pains to train the trees in their gardens, and to make them bring forth a large crop of fine fruit, than to train the character of their child. If the latter succumbs through their fault, they will bear the punishment of their unfaithfulness; and the sufferings of the child in a future life will come home to them, because they have not done their part towards helping him forward on the road to happiness."

"It is undeniably a mission and a very serious duty. Its responsibilities will have a greater influence on his future than a man is likely to suppose. God has placed the child in his parents' care so they can guide him toward what is right. He has made their task easier by giving the child a fragile, delicate nature that makes him receptive to new impressions. But many parents take more care in training their garden trees to produce abundant, fine fruit than in shaping their child's character. If the child goes astray through their fault, they will be punished for failing in their duty. They will also be held accountable for the child's suffering in a future life because they failed to help him on the path to happiness."

583. If a child goes wrong, notwithstanding the care of his parents, are they responsible?

583. If a child goes wrong despite his parents' care, are they responsible?

"No; but the more vicious the disposition of the child, and the heavier their task, the greater will be their reward if they succeed in drawing him away from the evil road."

"No. But the more wicked the child’s nature and the harder their task, the greater their reward will be if they succeed in turning him away from evil."

—If a child becomes a good man, despite the negligence or bad example of his parents, do the latter obtain any benefit therefrom?

If a child becomes a good man despite his parents' neglect or bad example, do the parents benefit from it?

"God is just."

"God is fair."

584. What can be the mission of the conqueror whose only aim is the satisfaction of his ambition, and who, in order to attain that end, does not shrink from inflicting the calamities he brings in his train?

584. What mission can a conqueror have if his only aim is to satisfy his ambition? To achieve it, he does not hesitate to cause suffering wherever he goes.

"He is generally only an instrument used by God for the accomplishment of His designs; and these calamities are sometimes a means of making a people advance more rapidly."

"He is generally only an instrument God uses to carry out his plans. These disasters are sometimes a way to help a people advance more quickly."

—The good that may result from these passing calamities is foreign to him who has been the instrument in producing them, since he had only proposed to himself a personal aim; will he, nevertheless, profit by that result?

The good that may come from these temporary calamities was not part of the aim of the man who caused them. He sought only a personal goal. Will he nevertheless benefit from the good that results?

"Each is rewarded according to his works, the good he has wished to do, and the uprightness of his intentions."

"Everyone is rewarded according to their actions, the good they have wished to do, and the honesty of their intentions."

Spirits, while incarnated, have occupations inherent in the nature of their corporeal existence. In the state of erraticity, or of dematerialisation, their occupations are proportioned to their degree of advancement.

While living in bodies, spirits have occupations that come with physical existence. In the state of erraticity, or dematerialization, their occupations correspond to their degree of advancement.

Some of them journey from world to world, acquiring instruction, and preparing for a new incarnation.

Some of them travel from world to world, learning and preparing for a new incarnation.

Others, more advanced, devote themselves to the cause of progress by directing the course of events, and suggesting propitious ideas; they assist the men of genius who help forward the advancement of the human race.

Others, who are more advanced, work for progress by directing events and suggesting helpful ideas. They assist the men of genius who advance the human race.

Others incarnate themselves again with a mission of progress.

Others are born again with a mission to advance progress.

Others take under their care individuals, families, societies, cities, countries, and peoples, and become their guardian-angels, protecting genii, and familiar spirits.

Others care for individuals, families, societies, cities, countries, and peoples. They become their guardian angels, protective spirits, and familiar spirits.

Others, again, preside over the phenomena of nature, of which they are the immediate agents.

Still others oversee natural phenomena and directly bring them about.

The great mass of spirits of lower rank busy themselves with our occupations, and take part in our amusements.

Most lower-ranking spirits involve themselves in our activities and take part in our amusements.

Impure and imperfect spirits await, in sufferings and anguish, the moment when it shall please God to furnish them with the means of advancing. If they do harm, it is through spite against the happiness which they are not yet able to share.

Impure and imperfect spirits wait in suffering and anguish until God chooses to give them the means to progress. If they do harm, it is out of spite toward the happiness they cannot yet share.