Testimonies
from the living ... from the dying ... from the dead
I - Testimonies of life
A man
overcomes his distress
« Before your eyes can see God, they must have become incapable of shedding tears over your own sufferings. Your voice cannot express eternal wisdom before it has lost all power to wound. Therefore, kill within yourself all ambition to excel in the poor pathways of reputation. Cease to consider your life as your most precious possession.
« I grew thin and pale. I wandered everywhere without purpose, prey to an immense disgust for the distractions and interests of the world. I grew sad because of the sorrows I saw around me. I longed for the higher plane, whose reality I finally knew, and where my loved ones dwelt. But I could not rise to them, and they did not come to me. So I studied the rules of the Path. Then I received the backlash of the effect of my behavior on the lovely woman who loved me. Was I doing to her what I would have wanted done to me? No. So I made firm resolutions, mastered my own sorrows, made my animal nature a tool at the service of my soul, and ceased to let it hold power over me.
So I began to smile again, my color returned, and my wife became happy once more. As for me, I had finally discovered the true Path, that of Service. I no longer wept for myself, my tongue no longer wounded anyone with gloomy phrases, and, supreme triumph, my feet bathed in the living blood of animal nature. I lived without selfishness, my entire being strained to act for the best, as happy as if I were looking exclusively for happiness, as earnest as if I were guided by ambition. It was then that the peace of silence settled within me. Dropping all self-interest, I aimed only for the highest. »
( Jean Phylos, "A Dweller on Two Planets" )
A conflict
situation
About ten years away from retirement, I found myself heading a small team. The two young people who composed it quickly formed a tight-knit duo; and as they were intelligent and competent, they took turns questioning my decisions and pushing their own.
Here is what I noted (in a small notebook that served as my confidant) throughout this difficult relationship:
« Conflict situations are multiplying. Attempts at explanation fail. Misunderstanding sets in. I feel isolated. Today I am brooding over my thoughts. I can withdraw and resent them, or try to impose my views. None of this is good, I can clearly feel it. It would be equivalent to getting bogged down by flailing around. I must find the strength to master this type of reaction, as negative as it is childish, and use this reactive energy to contain impulses guided by pride and accept the other's truth. In this way, I will not only overcome the trial but I will come out of it strengthened, that is to say, more stable, more solid.
Ultimately, it is a favorable context for self-examination. It is up to me to profit from the questioning it forces upon me ("(...) excellent is this inner trial which forces you to rebuild yourself in your own home
" said Saint-Exupéry).
A few days later I noted:
« Tonight I suddenly felt an imperious need to scratch my leg. I gave in to the itch, and it relieved me. For two minutes. Mechanically, I scratched again; but the more vigorously I scratched, the more the period of truce shrank. As sleep left me definitively, a sharp pimple gradually revealed itself under my nervous fingernails.
There are only two alternatives, I told myself during a lull. Either I scratch this bump until it tears away, or I wait for the itching to stop.
I chose patience and self-mastery. The first few minutes were long, then the throbbing itch subsided. As sleep overcame me, I thought: God, through this pimple, enlightened me on how to behave with my two young colleagues, connecting with another quote from my friend St-Ex: "A leader must be able to control himself before pretending to lead anyone else." »
However, years later I noted (relations were becoming increasingly difficult for me):
« The spark of love deep within me does what it can to preserve my inner peace. But this systematic, subtle, and often hurtful opposition constantly disturbs it.
Yet I feel that stifling this conflict would not do me any favors. I would be much prouder of myself if I managed to turn this flickering light into a torch so that darkness does not penetrate, and radiate a bit of this love outward.
It is not a battle of Good (me) against Evil (them), because they are, and will remain, children of God.
The torments they inflict upon me awaken negative reactions that are within me (lack of patience, vanity, pride...). So, in this daunting inner combat, I burn away my own impurities, and by doing so, I not only preserve my flame, but I strengthen it.
A year later, I proudly wrote:
I am now able to look at them with benevolence; and to find my inner peace again. »
II - Messages from the dying
✩ ✩
These messages are precious.
« While reviewing the film of their lives, the dying often express these regrets:
"
Ah, if only I could have taken life less seriously!
Excerpt from the page: "The difficulties of life"
:
People mock me, and they are right.
My ego is ridiculous with its vanity, its pride.
**
Knowing how to laugh at oneself
« You have hope only in the sacrifice of the vanity of your image. Excellent is this indignation which will force you to rebuild yourself in your own home (to rebuild yourself). »
[ Saint-Exupéry ]
« Once you laugh at yourself, because you are stupid to chase after the I love you of others, you are finally set free. »
( Testimony of a former singer
gathered by Maddly Bamy, "To love without expecting anything in return" )
« My opponents think they are harming me, » said Rabbi Nahman. « In fact, they help me tremendously; my insights, I owe them to them.
I need people to pick quarrels with me. In this way, I rise at every moment from degree to degree; I change my being at every moment. »
He was insulted, he was humiliated. People eventually doubted his sanity, thus fulfilling his deepest wish.
Yes, he wanted people to look at him askance. That is why he often changed his identity, his disguise; he wanted to be someone else. An actor, an impostor, a buffoon, rather than a Rabbi.
He knew how to laugh, wanted to laugh, first at himself, and then at the rest. He played with the kids in the street to mock the Rabbi in him; he played at war to ridicule wars. He posed as a madman to mock reason and appearances, as a nomad without luggage to highlight the grotesqueness of possession.
He played the fool to rid himself of the last traces of vanity remaining within him; at home he chose the other extreme: he disarmed his pride by pushing it to the limit; by exaggerating his own importance in every domain. By conferring upon himself improbable, deliberately caricatured dimensions. To laugh about it, and certainly also to provoke his adversaries. »
[ Elie Wiesel, 'Souls on Fire' ]
more...
"
They look at their professional, social, or other success with pride, but they have understood that existence is not reduced to that aspect alone. They feel they have failed when their professional success was not accompanied by that of their personal life. »
[ Dr Elisabeth Kübler-Ross ]
« (...) For it is those who have lived the worst, in the sense of neglecting the true things of life (loving and being loved, contributing to the happiness and well-being of others), who take death the hardest.
LIVE, so as never to have to say: « My God, how I have wasted my life! »
It is from my dying patients that I learned these lessons. In their suffering and death, they understood that we only have NOW.
»
[ Dr Elisabeth Kübler-Ross ]
A terminally ill young man left these few words on the Internet:
« I realized an important thing: you have to make sure to leave this world a little better than it was before, thanks to your contributions.
Before, there were so many things occupying my mind. When I learned how much time I had left, however, the things that truly matter became obvious: Take control of your life, assume full responsibility for the things that happen to you. Appreciate the people around you.
It is hard for me to explain why these simple things are so important, but I hope you will listen to someone who knows the value of time. »
✩ ✩
« Take pleasure on Earth! We laugh all the time to see you take everything too seriously. »
[ Doreen Virtue, "Healing with the Angels" ]
« While reviewing the film of their lives, the dying often express these regrets:
"Ah, if only I could have taken life less seriously!"
They look at their professional, social, or other success with pride, but they have understood that existence is not reduced to that aspect alone. They feel they have failed when their professional success was not accompanied by that of their personal life. »
[ Dr Elisabeth Kübler-Ross ]
« It is the moments of laughter, of shared joy that matter most in existence.
When someone dies, they do not reveal to me how much money or other wealth they possessed. No, instead they bring to my mind the people who accompanied them throughout their journey here below. It is these memories that represent their true treasures. »
[ Patricia Darré (medium) ]
III - Testimonies from the hereafter
✩ ✩
There are those who regret the Earth,
and those who regret their actions.
Testimony of Mr. B.
« I was brought here, next to you, and I am asked to speak about this moment I lived through: the review of my life on earth. I am still waiting for my return back there!
They will surely see my success on earth, and I am proud of it!
I have been tired lately, short of breath. It must be said that I work a lot.
I think I understand that I am dead. I died all alone! But why does it continue? I am dead and I see my corpse!
So it is true, life itself goes on...
I am in my office, I am an important man, I have two secretaries, houses, buildings... They tell me: "What then have you done with your life?" I reply: "I succeeded, didn't I? Look at everything I possess." "What use is it to you now?"
It is then that I realize I can no longer enjoy it, no longer being on earth. When I died, I went to see the maid, she couldn't hear me, I thought she was deaf!
A voice questions me: "What have you done for others?" Is it a voice from my conscience? I reply: "What a strange question! I worked hard and I gave work to others."
I review a scene: a man of a certain age starts to weep in front of me in my office! I have just laid him off. He is of no use. He is not productive. I hear myself telling him: "Go to accounting." He begs me to keep him. I reply: "No!". He says he has children to feed. And so what, that is not my problem!
I know I could keep him, but he had health problems and I prefer to replace him with a young and dynamic person.
The next time I return to earth, I will choose to be even richer. It is with pride that I speak to you about my path. Follow my example! »
Testimony of Alexandre
« I feel the presence of a spirit, so I evoke it. Its energy incorporates me to make me write... »
[ Alain Joseph Bellet, 'Dialogues with the world of spirits' ]
« Yes, I wish to speak to you. My name is Alexandre, well, they call me Alex. I am twenty-four years old. I had my whole life ahead of me, or so I thought.
A bit of a good-looking guy, I took full advantage of the girls. I was only attracted by sex, not by love.
I come to speak to you about my story so that it may serve young people who only grant importance to fleeting pleasures.
I went to a church once and felt nothing.
In the car, I had the music turned all the way up, I didn't see that idiot coming.
At the hospital, I looked at my body on the stretcher, without understanding. What the hell am I doing here?
Brain dead, flat EEG... I am outside my body. I see my parents screaming in the hallway. Dad holds Mom close. I tell them: "But everything is fine! I am right next to you!" What is this bloody piece of crap? What is happening to me? Here I am at home. My little sister is crying on the couch. I am starting to get freaked out. My body, I came back next to it; I am annoyed, why isn't it moving? I need it! How am I going to pick up girls? It's surely a nightmare, I am going to wake up.
What is this circus? Am I dead? Is this death? I hear: "Come Alex, come see me, my boy."
In the kitchen, my parents are arguing, but I can't tell them to shut up. I used to tell them "Shut your traps!".
Someone is speaking to me but I see no one. I hear: "It's Grandma, come here, my little Alex."
It took time, a lot of time before I could detach myself from my body. I did not believe in survival, in God.
I was selfish, I made more than one girl cry. I thought only of sex. Even now, sometimes I still want it, and I find myself spying on humans in action. But today I have understood, I no longer want to feed on these vibrations linked to sexuality, which are very low. I regret it. I want this to serve young people.
Thanks, buddy. »
Testimony of Jackie
« I am Jackie.
I am on the other side but also next to you, Alain Joseph.
I am asked to come and testify about my earthly experience.
I am what is called a drug addict. I am thirty-two years old and I am in a state of great suffering. Always this same scene unfolding before my eyes: I am in the restroom, next to the toilet bowl. Sitting on the floor, a syringe in my arm.
It is both a moral and physical torture. Even though my body is in a state of decomposition. I never thought about death, except that it represented the end of everything.
I died in the restroom, this life was of no use! I am doing poorly now, next to my body but at the same time still within it. It is abject, horrible.
I damaged my body, I was supposed to live longer.
Little by little I repented, I turned toward God. It took time, a lot of time. It is the light that progressively flooded me. I went toward other spirits who left just like me, and we are waiting to return to earth, to start all over again and not fail this time.
I did not want to die, it was an accident, but here it is considered a suicide. I wish to address this message to the young people living on earth: Even if life is not easy, do not do what I did. Never that, no! Do not harm yourselves! God gave us life to evolve toward Him.
I still have a long, a very long path to travel. Forgiving oneself remains very, very difficult. I ask forgiveness from others. »
Testimony of Countess Eugénie de V.
« During several existences, I passed through the trials of labor and misery that I had voluntarily chosen to strengthen and purify my soul. I had the happiness of emerging victorious, but there remained the most perilous of all: that of wealth and material well-being. Many spirits, seduced by appearances, hasten to choose it; but too weak, alas, to face the danger.
***
Here I am, emerged from that moment of confusion that follows death. I had faith. God had been present throughout my life in my prayers. I had the certainty of going to that place we called Paradise.
I was welcomed with love, it is true, in a world where beauty is indescribable. Then the moment came to review my incarnation.
I thought I had been a good person toward my own people. Now the panorama of my life forces itself upon me. I was born rich, I died even richer. I take care of my private mansion in the heart of Paris, or at the very least, I give orders to the servants.
But here is a scene that forces itself upon me: I am in an armchair, there is a knock at the door, and it is a servant asking for an interview. She requests an increase in her wages, and this seems inconceivable to me! I dismiss her, then ring for a maid and ask her to ensure Miss Lefèvre leaves the premises. I am surprised to see this distant memory which holds no importance for me, when suddenly I find myself in her maid's room where I see this servant packing her suitcase; she is weeping, she is devastated to find herself without work.
Emotion grips me, I am in her place, thoughts race through my head. "How am I going to live, to send money to my little ones? I shouldn't have asked for that raise. And yet, I didn't deserve this! I worked from morning until late at night in this mansion where comfort and luxury appear to me as an injustice."
With a heavy heart now, I realize my selfish and unjust behavior! I, who thought I had been a good Christian. I see myself again in church, praying for my loved ones. Reality pierces my heart. I am a selfish, greedy, proud woman who failed in her duties toward her fellow human beings. Yet I see myself again organizing charitable works, but I give to show that I give.
I repent for the harm I have done, I ask for forgiveness, but the beings surrounding me breathe this thought into me, which shatters me: "It is not enough to ask for forgiveness to be forgiven!"
Yes, I must atone for my faults... All this time wasted for my evolution in this past life spent on Earth, in which I have just reproduced the same errors. I hope God will allow me to return to Earth and be born into a poor family, to be a servant and endure the rebuffs of a mistress of the house.
Be charitable! Fight against your selfishness and pride.
Never forget that every human being is a child of God. »
Testimony of José
« My name is José. I dread reviewing my life because I know I am not a good person. I have been living in guilt for years.
I know I am dead. I ended my life alone and in alcohol. I no longer wanted to live.
They are showing me my life now and its consequences.
I see myself coming home from work, my wife and children are at the table. Upon my arrival, she asks the children to go to bed. I feel rejected and annoyed. Strangely, today I feel everyone's emotions, the fear felt by my children and that of my wife. The scene unfolds before my eyes: I push away the plate placed in front of me on the table and demand a glass of wine. My wife complies, she barely dares to speak!
Next vision: another day, I slap her, she puts her hand on her cheek, which has turned crimson from the violence of the blow. I am ashamed. Why did I do that? How could I strike her? What dishonor! What humiliation! Oh, how I regret all those years when I made her suffer, but now it is too late. I love her so much, so why? Why? I have evil inside me!
An intoxicating drink is my only pleasure, making me forget my life in a world I do not like. But is that a reason to cause harm around me?
Not only did I mistreat my wife physically, but also psychologically by making her believe she was a "nobody"!
Once, I came close to death. A wave almost carried me away. It is with great emotion that I review that moment when I hear myself think: "Thank you, my God! I will try, I promise you to become a better man." Upon returning to shore that day, I did not argue with my wife and held her in my arms. But in the following days, routine took over again. I forgot my promise made to God and started drinking again.
One day, I too left the earth. And I do not see her, she did not come to meet me. I know we are not in the same place! I feel the full impact of the pain I caused my children and the hatred they hold in their hearts. Will we one day have the opportunity to start all over again, together or separately? I know I must work on myself and that I have a long path ahead to find peace. I am ready to accept receiving in return the harm I have done, in order to understand what I failed to do: to be a good husband and a good father.
Then my beloved finally came to me. She held me in her arms and she forgave me. I wept, wept for a long time. She helped me understand that we had chosen together to improve ourselves in this earthly life. In this relationship, she had to endure to grow; as for me, I had to succeed in mastering this violence I carried inside.
My wife has evolved; she is on a much higher vibrational plane than mine. God allowed her to come help me because she managed to hold no hatred for me. There was always goodness in her; she is on the path of unconditional love.
I am a tormented spirit, and I know I deserve it. I accept it while waiting for a new life to redeem myself. Thank you to Alain Joseph.
***
« Each life experience brings trials during which it is easy to fall into the trap of our impulses.
Most of us walk in unconsciousness and do not concern ourselves with our thoughts or actions until faced with a serious illness or an accident.
Awareness often arises in those moments.
»
[ Alain Joseph Bellet ]
Roger
The medium, Sylvie Lorain-Berger relates this case:
« Roger
(one of the deceased that the medium tolerates around her) died at thirty-nine, falling from his roof. His wife remarried after two years with one of his best friends. He finds it hard to bear. He hoped she would mourn longer and avoid remarrying this "profiteer" René…
-
He doesn't love her, you know, he only wanted my house, my belongings, I know it today… What a hypocrite! How can she be so blind? Plus, he doesn't take care of my fifteen-year-old son… Can you believe it, my kid started smoking and he doesn't give a damn!
I listen to Roger's endless lamentations. He keeps rehashing his pain to me. He is a wandering soul who cannot move away from his wife and child, even though he died eight years ago already. When he is not at my place, he is in his former house monitoring the thoughts of his loved ones. He saw his friend gradually transform every room of the house to erase the slightest trace of the deceased. Only a small photo of him sits on the small desk in his son's bedroom. Before, his son Ludovic would talk to him in whispers in his bed, without suspecting for a moment that his father was listening intently.
Sometimes Roger would knock over a trinket to signal his presence, but Ludovic never made the connection between the two. He imagined his father in Heaven with the angels. He called out to him many times to prevent his mother from remarrying this man who doesn't love him, but he never received any sign, so...
Roger remains on the fringes of a Heaven and an Earth where we, the living, can do very little for him, except pray for him to turn toward more luminous planes. I listened to him in order to bring him peace of soul, even though it is not possible to find it on this astral plane. The narrowed space where he takes refuge, like so many other deceased people, is a plane of consciousness where negative thoughts are constantly active, wounding and obsessing him. His house still belongs to him, just like his wife. He remains attached to materialistic values. He feels alive, but excluded from his world, he feels very miserable.
« Each human being (intervenes the medium's guide) is surrounded by guides, family entities, and friends who passed before them. Even if they believe they are alone, they are very well surrounded... On the other hand, your "friends" (the wandering deceased whom the medium tries to help) feel truly alone without you. They do not perceive their guides, and their egocentrism prevents them from seeing the other deceased people around them; they are in an opaque fog.... Even if you establish a contact between them, after it is over, a feeling of isolation falls back on them like a heavy curtain. The illusion of being rejected persists because of their refusal to die to the earthly world. »
-
Roger, I am preventing you from evolving. It is time for you to turn toward your true friends, your guides, who are just waiting for that to lead you to higher spheres.
- What guides? Who are you talking about?
- The spiritual guides who protect us.
- What nonsense! I don't see anyone who looks like a guide.
******
The medium consults her guide regarding another of her "protegées":
- And Arlette, will she rise to a higher plane?
- Yes, her guide answers her, by listening to you she understood that for her, the Earth is a hell and that she will be more loved elsewhere. Your request touched her soul, and this emotion allowed her to distinguish the guides of light who came to meet her. She followed them. »
**
« The idea of a spiritual hell after death confuses me. Thus, I want to heal these deceased ones of their grief, to prompt their forgiveness. But once and for all, I had to accept the idea that leaving one's body does not transform the soul. The etheric double follows us, imbued with our thoughts, and some are like dried mud on it. Weighed down, it cannot move onto higher planes. »
[ Sylvie Lorain-Berger, "The Messengers of the Afterlife" ]
« Death will not provide a free passport to heavenly happiness to anyone. It will never automatically promote men to the stage of an angel. Each being will cross this customs of eternity exclusively with the baggage that has been sown. After the grave, no one will enjoy a rest to which they have no right. »
( Francisco Cândido Xavier, "IN THE HIGHER WORLD" )
