Glimpses Of The Next State.Pdf - Spiritualists' National Union

216your childhood if necessary, and tell you thoughts that you never expressed to anyone; but Ithink there are some things you wouldn’t like the people sitting here to know. Still, I will tell you ifnecessary, in order to prove to you that this is true.S.: Well, the most I want to know is if I have died of apoplexy, as you say.Tom: Yes, you have left your body.S.: Can a man die and feel no change?Tom: Certainly he can, because it is only moving out of one house into another. When youleave a house in earth life to move into another, you don’t feel any change; you feel the same.S.: But we know that we have moved—we know we have moved from one place toanother.Tom: Very true; but when you lie down and go to sleep at night, no one can realise howthat is; but when you sleep for a time you are dead to all things; and you died in your sleep, in thatunconscious condition, not knowing that you were going to make the change.S.: Well, am I to remain for ever in this room? Is there no light beyond?Tom: Yes, there is the light of eternity wherein to unfold the capabilities of the soul. Sarahwas instrumental in your being brought here to-night, that you might be instructed how to get outinto the light.S.: Can’t I see her, if this be true?Tom: I don’t know.S.: After you tell me all these things, that she lives, that I am alive and dead and alive,and yet you tell me you don’t know if I can see her; if you have been telling me the truth, you knowwhether I can see her or not.Tom: I can’t tell whether you will be permitted to see her at present, because we aregoverned by laws.S.: I am sick of law—sick of law—law!Tom: You will have to submit to the laws of your being. If you have lived a good, pure,honourable life, everything will be bright and clear; but if you have lived a selfish, double life, youwill have to overcome it, and you will have to work very hard to right the wrongs you havecommitted. You will have to meet every act of your life. They may rise up as obstacles in yourpathway, and prevent your reaching the one you are so anxious to see; but in time you will be able,by patience, labour, and sincere repentance, to overcome these things; but you must put awayyourself, and all this haughty pride that you have.S.: I don’t wish to remain in this room any longer.Tom: What are you going to do when you get outside? If you talk to anyone, they can’t hearyou.S.: Oh, I am smothering-—I feel I can’t exist—oh, I am going—I am going—sometimes Ican’t even speak— I feel so confined—I feel all crushed in!Margazona: You have been brought here by kind spirit friends who wish to show you howyou may better your condition. Your spirit is clothed with earth material to give you the force tospeak; when that is gone you can’t speak. That will explain to you the feeling you have.S.: If I could only get out of this close condition!Margazona: Where will you go?S.: I don’t know—I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?Tom: Would you like to have me talk to you now?S.: Yes, talk on—talk for ever.Tom: Would you like to take up with the poor Irishman for a little while?S.: Anything to get out of this close condition; but this closeness is smothering me—it issmothering me.Tom: My dear sir, I am sorry for you, but you have no one to blame but yourself. You havewrapped yourself up in such a cloak of selfishness, you are like a mummy now, wound with manythicknesses of cloth, and this cloak of selfishness has got to be unwound little by little byunselfishness. Everyone who has lived a selfish life, all their life, it is the hardest thing for them todo a purely unselfish act.S.: In the name of God, is there no way out of this?