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Book Fourth - Hopes and consolations
Chapter I - Earthly joys and sorrows
941. The fear of death causes perplexity to many persons. Whence comes this fear in the case of those who believe in a future life?
"Such fear is altogether misplaced. But what would you expect? Such people have been, in their youth, thoroughly indoctrinated into the belief that there is a hell, as well as a heaven, and that they will most likely go to the former, because whatever belongs to nature is a mortal sin for the soul! Most of those who are thus indoctrinated in their childhood, if possessed of judgement, throw aside that belief when they grow up, and, being unable to assent to such a doctrine, become atheists or materialists. So that the natural effect of such teaching is to make them believe that there is nothing beyond this present life. If they have retained their religious belief, of the fire that is to burn them for ever without destroying them, they are naturally afraid.
"Death has no terrors for the righteous man, because, with faith, he has the certainty of a future life. Hope leads him to expect an existence happier than his present one. And charity, which has been the law of his action, gives him the assurance that, in the world which he is about to enter, he will meet with no one whose recognition he will have reason to dread." (see also 730)
The carnally-minded man, more attracted by corporeal life than by the life of the spirit, knows only the pains and pleasures of terrestrial existence. His only happiness is in the fugitive satisfaction of his earthly desires. His mind, constantly occupied with the vicissitude of the present life, and painfully affected by them, is tortured with perpetual anxiety. The thought of death terrifies him, because he has doubts about his future, and because he has to leave all his affections and all his hopes behind him, when he leaves the earth.The spiritually-minded man, who has raised himself above the factitious wants created by the passions, has, even in this lower life, enjoyments unknown to the carnally-minded. The moderation of his desires gives calmness and serenity to his spirit. Happy in the good he does, life has no disappointments for him, and its vexations pass lightly over his consciousness, without leaving upon it any painful impress.
942. Will not these counsels as to the way to be happy in the present life be considered by many persons as somewhat commonplace? Will they not be looked upon as truisms? And will it not be said that, after all, the secret for one to be happy is being able to bear up under his own misfortune?
"Many people will take this view of the matter. But not a few will be like the sick man, for whom the physician prescribes dieting, but who demands to be cured without changing his habits, and while continuing the indulgences of the table that keep up his dyspepsia."
Next: Weariness of life - suicide
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Unshakable faith is only that which can meet reason face to face in every Human epoch. (Allan Kardec)
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