THOSE WHO CAME BACK
FROM THE DEAD

Jozef Rulof

World Wide Web version
© 2014 'De Eeuw van Christus'

On our way the brother told me that a surprise was waiting for me, he had told me about it before I went to school. I was very curious but I could not imagine what it would be. I was grateful to receive some happiness, I looked at the brother and asked him to tell what it was.

‘Listen’, he said, ‘I have been allowed by the higher spirits to accompany you to earth in order to attend a seance. At the seance you’ll see someone you have known on earth.’

‘My parents?’ I asked immediately, ‘will you help me to communicate with them?’

‘No, none of you relatives, but when the contact is made you’ll recognize him right away.’

‘Oh’, I said, ‘then I know whom you mean.’

The brother smiled.

‘Jozef ’, I exclaimed, ‘nobody else could give me this great happiness, he can be reached.’

I had felt correctly, because the brother said: ‘We’ll go to visit him.’

I took both his hands and thanked him deeply.

‘His own leader has committed this to me and there are more surprises, but they will come later.’

I had not thought of this possibility at all, so it was indeed a great surprise.

‘How have I deserved this, brother?’

‘By yourself, you have now developed to the extent that you can be given this experience, but there are more surprises.’

Filled with happiness I returned to my own surroundings. The light was bright for me and I eagerly absorbed its beams. For the first time I felt alive, how deligthful it is to be allowed to feel this.

‘As I explained to you before, I could have taken you back to the earth but then you would have missed all the experiences you have now had.’

I understood the brother and I was very pleased that my development was gradually progressing.

‘We act, as will now be clear to you, according to the inner power man has and to which he is attuned. You have entered here step by step, but others, faced with the facts, will lose themselves for a long time. But that is also calculated, nothing is done here without a purpose. Others will and have to regress, which is essential because they cannot be reached otherwise. But they’ll pull themselves together and make a fresh start. I explain this to you so that you’ll be able to realize that every human attunement is a personal condition to which we act accordingly. I also told you once that there is some quality present in you. These powers enabled me to act in this way and to show you our life. So we’ll continue to proceed, until you have reached the first sphere and pass into other hands.’

‘Must I leave you then?’ I asked in surprise.

‘We’ll never part, we shall be one forever and remain so, linked inwardly, but you’ll do work like I and many others do. We shall soon leave. I’ll leave you alone now and come for you in a little while.’

You can imagine, Jozef, how happy I was to see you again and now you know why it took me such a long time to come. I had no idea what a seance was all about. I had never experienced one on earth because I was afraid of them and I thought it was the work of the devil. But now I felt the great blessing of it.

I did not have to wait long and we were soon on our way. In a short time we had reached the earth. The brother went ahead of me and we entered a living room on earth. I saw various people gathered around a table on which there was a wooden cross and a board displaying the letters of the alphabet. You know of course all the necessities for a seance. I did not understand the first thing about it, yet I soon felt the meaning of this cross and board. I saw many high spirits but no matter how I tried I did not see you. This was a great disappointment to me but I was not discouraged when the brother told me the reason later on.

One of these high spirits was the leader of all. He was the master under whose guidance you are, but not your own leader, but the master of all these high spirits. You know whom I mean. The seance had already started and we had to wait patiently for the time when I would be given the opportunity to say something. A bluish veil surrounded all those people so that they were completely shut off from this world. These people taking part in the seance were invisible to the thousands of spirits living in the sphere of the earth.

The brother said to me: ‘It is a great mercy to us to communicate and also for those on earth. Many on earth try to achieve this connection. Others suffer grief because the connections they had built up for years were cut off by earthly people using spiritualism for sensational purposes. Their work for many years will be destroyed. Beware of those who wilfully break off these communications, for they load struggle and sorrow upon their shoulders by destroying somebody’s happiness. They forget that the masters descend to the earth, to this sphere of passion and violence, to give them nourishment for the mind. They forget how difficult it is for us and also how eagerly we are to contact our loved ones. They, Gerhard, are those who bring grief and sorrow where happiness could have been given.

This master who establishes the contact is a master from the seventh sphere. In this way people on earth are connected in the spirit and many proofs of eternal life are given to them. However, many of them are not satisfied and keep demanding more proof. When these proofs are not given spiritualism has no value for them, their evening is spoiled and they lose interest. They don’t understand how difficult it is for us to supply them over and again with the proof they want. They should discard their personality for a few hours. These connections are achieved through concentration and willpower.

When their beloved ones are allowed to stay for a little while on their side they are not only happy but also draw strength for their development. When they pass to this side they will be bound forever.

But many of us are distressed when those mighty connections are broken off. There are many causes for this. In the first place those people who misuse spiritualism as a sensation. Then there are those who pose as mediums and misrepresent our world and deceive people. They will have to suffer a lot when they enter this life. Finally those who refuse to open themselves and think too much of themselves. For all these people it is better to leave these things alone. They don’t realize they are on sacred ground and that an enormous gap has to be bridged between material and eternal life. Now watch the proceedings.’

I clearly saw a high spirit taking possession of an earthly person. He was middle-aged and acted as a medium. This was a wonderful experience for me and in particular to watch it from this side. The spirit radiated a beautiful light wherein his whole being was enclosed and he was trying to take possession of the material body. I clearly saw the spirit descending and enter the material human being while the two radiations merged into each other. Watching both radiations I understood that man on earth has to possess the same radiation of sensitivity in order to make contact with that person possible. In the case of a different radiation, one which did not merge, it was impossible to manifest oneself through that earthly medium. How great is the mercy for the spirit that he can make use of an earthly being, a material body.

The brother said to me that I had felt this correctly and that he had helped me by quietly working on me. He would continue to do this. I also felt that the spirit would leave behind a feeling of great happiness in that material body after he had left it.

At that moment I saw the earthly human being leave his material body. The medium was welcomed by loving spirits who took him away from the circle to bring him to the spheres where he would be shown the spiritual life. He would return to the earth filled with spiritual wisdom.

But suddenly the spiritual body flashed back and collided in his own body. It was a terrible shock, which we felt vibrating in our own bodies. What had happened? I was aware of a disturbance, but I could not establish where it came from. The material body convulsed because of the rapid return of the spirit, sweat poured from him and his heart leapt into his mouth. I clearly saw and felt it and I realized how difficult it was for both beings. The spiritual leader, the spirit who was forced out of the material body, also felt this terrible event as if he was forcibly thrown out of this body. The medium awakened with a terrible shock, as I said, but received earthly help. On our side we made magnetic striking movements over his material body so that he calmed down and could breathe more quietly. I felt the great danger of this occurrence.

An other spirit explained by means of the cross and board what had happened. This spirit concentrated on those who were holding the cross; their sense of feeling was eliminated so that he could speak to them. The cross was surrounded now by a dense blue haze made up of spiritual and earthly energy, radiations of spirits and material beings.

Then I became aware of the high spirit concentrating and the cross started to move. I clearly saw which letters were being spelled out, all these letters made up words which words formed sentences and so the human being learned what had happened. Although it was simple I found this amazing event almost incredible. Those present at the table pronounced all the letters and when the message was received they read it out to all others and to the medium to put him at ease, as he was overstrained.

‘We were interrrupted by the elements’, I heard.

Elements, I thought, what does that mean? Those present seemingly understood but I who lived on this side knew nothing about it.

The brother said that I had to concentrate on him and when I did I understood what happened. I heard a thunderstorm and rain pouring down. These forces of nature caused the disturbance. How strange that I had not heard anything of it.

‘You see’, the brother said, ‘everything is connection and concentration, you’ll learn all this.’

The leader said through the cross that they would take possession of the medium. They could not leave him in this condition as his nervous system would be damaged. All those present were asked to attune and concentrate, they should also pray.

I subsequently heard the high spirit say: ‘This disturbance was not our fault but earthly forces were working against us. We have made our calculation and this disturbance will cease to exist when the medium is prepared to open himself completely and detach himself from everything.’

All of us on this side engaged in prayer and so did those present. This was a sacred moment to me and never before had I experienced such a beautiful event. Behind me were hundreds of unfortunate spirits who were allowed to attend this seance and had arrived here silently. The brother drew my attention to them, for I had not yet seen them.

The spirit once again tried to make contact with the material human being. This time it went smoothly and in a short time I saw the medium departing from the body and his journey to the spheres began.

Oh, God, how great are the gifts people receive from You. These were my thoughts when I saw this sublime action taking place. Then I experienced another wonder. I saw the radiation of the high spirit shining from the material face so that it was clearly observed by those present. This was a sacred moment and we lowered our heads. I noticed however that the people who were sitting did not bend their heads so deeply as we on our side. They did not know and see who was speaking to them.

The shining figure who had taken possession of the material body started to speak through this same body. The voice of the instrument sounded soft and gentle; previously I had heard the medium speak with a different voice. The spirit used the earthly organs and succeeded in speaking perfectly. He addressed those present and they received a spiritual lesson, a message from this life. It was all about love and the mighty meaning of it. They were advised how to live if they wanted to reach the spheres of light. The spirit told them about his life in the spheres and on earth. Sixteen hundred years – I trembled when he mentioned this – the spirit had lived in the spheres. Oh, woe onto you people, who defile and destroy this life, I thought. Now I understood the words of my own teacher when he said that those will have to suffer who willfully break down these connections.

It was a beneficial lesson to me and when it came to an end I saw that the medium had returned and descended in his body again. He awoke in an exalted state and felt happy.

Then everybody was allowed to ask questions and they asked for advice on illness and other earthly problems. A spiritual doctor subsequently came forward who also was a spirit of higher attunement and he answered all their questions. Direct answers were given to closed letters, the letters were subsequently opened and it was revealed that the correct answers were given. I thought this was amazing, I could not have done that so I understood how far ahead of me all these spirits were. Not only did they know what the earthly being was asking but they also gave the correct diagnosis.

I heard people say in surprise: ‘How is it possible, they know everything. There are no secrets to them.’ The one who was given help was very grateful. Other earthly questions were answered by an other spirit.

Then it was my turn to enter the circle and for the first time I was allowed to make ‘my voice’ heard on earth. Needless to say that this was a big moment for me. But however much I concentrated I could not succeed.

The high master said to those present: ‘He has not been through before, you must help him.’

Then I heard someone say: ‘Can we help you?’

A lady with a beautiful radiation asked this question, she had a lovely voice.

‘Gladly’, I spelled out.

My thoughts got through by leaps and bounds and thank God that she understood me. I did feel that the high spirit helped me.

I said: ‘Tell Jozef that I’m here. He knows me and understands who I am.’ I did not give my name though and only said: ‘The coachman, he will know.’

‘All right’, the lady said, ‘I’ll give him your message.’

I heard her word for word. I was so glad that she would pass my message on to you that I could have kissed her garment. I know how disappointed you were that I had not mentioned anything of our conversation, but that will come later and you will understand why.

I felt that there was much happiness at this seance. I saw two spirits who lived on our side whose wives or loved ones were in the circle. I need not tell you how strong such connections are. They lived and those on earth knew about this life and as a result they were connected again. For a few hours they remained in close contact which each other. I understood all this through my teacher. How immensely mighty spiritualism is, how beautiful such sessions are. Wisdom was received by means of the cross, but, as the brother said to me, there are several other possibilities. For example by using a table that can spell the alphabet by knocking. This is a very simple means for contact. How I trembled when the brother told me this, as I knew that I had once mocked that table. But by now all these things were far behind me and I understood now how ignorant man can be. This evening ended with prayer, I would be allowed to come back an other time.

How many good things I had been allowed to experience in the sphere of the earth! What now, I thought, would I have to go back to my own sphere? I did not know, but after our departure the brother said: ‘I’am now going to explain material life, what was taught to you at school. Come, follow me!’

‘So we are not going back?’

‘For the time being we’ll stay in the sphere of the earth.’

‘I won’t be seeing him just now?’

‘Yes, later.’

Later became the next day for I had to experience other conditions first. We walked along the streets as if we were still living on earth.

‘We are spirits’, the brother said, ‘nevertheless we can take part in everything that material man on earth experiences. We pass on into their lives and what they experience, feel and see, we also experience. The way we can connect ourselves at a seance is also possible in normal life.’

Now I saw life on earth much clearer than when I was living on earth. I saw through everything which was not possible then. I saw the people and the astral being with them.

We entered an earthly building in which were many people and I heard music. This music sounded a cocophony, screeching, shrieking and yelling in our ears. Where were we?

‘In a cinema’, the brother said, ‘we won’t stay here however, I only wanted to show you that it is possible for us to experience this too.’

I saw many spirits who were all here to observe or to protect their loved ones. Observed from this side I found this performance most unnatural. I felt that life was mocked, there was something representing a great danger for spiritual life. People wanted to enjoy themselves and in this way amusement was offered. I knew that spiritual life could be shown by means of the film. What I now observed, however, was pure sensation. Nothing of value for the mind was shown here and had no educational use. This was pure passion. It had a bad effect on people and their feelings. Around them were many demons. I saw animal-like beings I had not yet seen before on this side.

‘The earthling’, the brother said, ‘cannot hide himself from these creatures. The astral being seeks enjoyment and he only finds this by being able to contact himself with the human being on earth.’

How natural all this was. I clearly heard the material voices, and I saw everything just like the human being experienced it in his material body.

‘How mighty it is to see all this from this side’, I said to the brother.

I observed life on earth as I had never known it. We went to other places which I would never have visited in my time. But the brother wanted me to learn the animal nature of the human being because I would meet such beings again in the dark spheres. He explained everything to me and I shivered of so much animalization. I saw those who had destroyed themselves and others. In silence I thanked God that I had not known this kind of life during my life on earth.

There were many men and women together. How deeply they had fallen. Many of the men were caught in the traps that had been set up for them. I knew that these people were still living on earth and watched them from this side which was terrible. We saw right through them and felt what they wanted and behind these masks we saw passion and animalization. How can people forget themselves that much!

‘These human beings’, my leader said, ‘have sunk to the limit and only on this side will they see the depth of their own dark and terrible life, which will mean nothing but sheer misery.’

Around and within them I saw the astral beings; they held the women in their grasp. They were the animals that had lived on earth and had returned to the earth. They relived the same life they had on earth and they lived in the material body. They sank ever further into the cesspit and would remain there for many years, until one day they would start an other life. How much these human beings had to discard. Comparing their lives with mine I was a saint, though I had not yet acquired spirituality. I saw a deep darkness and shivered to think of so much misery. Oh, if people only knew that they are never alone, then they would avoid all these terrible influences. Every thought they form and send out is received and they attract what they desire and that’s the way they go on. Then there is no spirit who can free them.

We did not stay here long for I would not have been able to stand it. In this way I learned about the spiritual laws I had been taught at school. This was the reality of life and I felt these forces within me, so that if I had still lived on earth, I would never have associated myself with these things. Within a short life on earth I saw the poor human being destroying his eternal life.

Those who yearn for domestic happiness, understand each other as man and wife, those who want to make the best of life on earth, raising children, experience the greatest happiness and the mightiest grace God can give. That is the purpose of life on earth, the highest form of all human conditions. That is sacred happiness, and it is the course all people will follow one time.

I watched life on earth by day and night when man is fast asleep. It is then that the astral demon attacks the evil living human being to feed on his vital life-force. The brother explained all this to me. The astral demon attacks the human mind and the human being yields to its desires thinking that he wants that himself. In the midst of the night the human being murders and steels through his own passions and astral forces. But also when the sun shines these demonic forces cannot be stopped. Once the contact has been made it remains and everything will be experienced if the human being is open for it.

‘You do realize’, the brother said to me, ‘that a lot will have to change before they want to be children of our and their holy Father.’

Then we visited several churches and other buildings and I understood that only spiritualism can bring a change to dogmatic religion. The spiritualists have brought about communication between us and the earth. I thanked the brother for these explanations.

Now the brother showed me something most remarkable, the passing over of a human being to our world. We went straight through houses and in one of them we stopped.

The brother said: ‘Look, our brothers are here, the helping spirits to lend spiritual support to the dying person.’

We were in a spacious bedroom, where an old man lay dying in bed. At his bedside were several relatives who were crying. The man who would pass over had not fulfilled a good life. I saw the shadowy figures I had observed at my own deathbed; they were the spiritual helpers from this side. Everyone who passes over is helped in this way. Not only helping spirits were present, but also those who lived already on this side and who desired to cause misery and sorrow.

‘This dying man’, the brother said, ‘has many people waiting for him and they all want an account of the wrongs he has done to them.’

Indeed not a pleasant prospect, I thought.

‘Come, we’ll go on. I could show you many deathbeds, but that will happen later. You have been told about these things at school and now you’ll be able to understand everything better. This man will not be one of the happy ones to arrive here.’

I subsequently experienced many other attunements, human conditions, which I had learned at school. Now I understood all these transitions, it would not have been possible otherwise.

Then he led me to a place which was the most beautiful I saw during my walk on earth. We entered a room where someone was busy writing, which I could clearly see. I wanted to have a look at the man’s face; he sat with his back to us, but the brother held me back.

‘Stay here’, he said, ‘you must not intrude.’

Through the power of the brother I saw around him a shining figure who inspired the earthly being.

‘See’, the brother said, ‘a beautiful connection, the man who is writing is a medium in our hands. He receives and writes down what his spirit-guide, or control as it is called, gives him what he has experienced on this side. This medium can depart from his body and receives our spiritual life, as was shown to you at the seance. He, however, can depart from his material body consciously which is only possible for a few. The being you see beside him is a spirit from the fifth sphere, a master of light. I have been in contact with this leader in the past and was allowed to do some work for him. You see, Gerhard, that the medium is deeply in contact with our life and his master. He serves as an instrument for us and his leader wants to convince people of our life. We must not disturb them, that’s why I prevented you from stepping forward.’

A few steps away I stood watching. ‘Oh, what a blessing to be allowed to do this work’, I said to the brother.

‘This human being is in feeling far away from the earth. He has seen the spheres and has descended into hell, accompanied by his leader, to experience life there. He will write down all these experiences and you see how this can be done.’

Around the earthly being I saw the blue haze which was around him as a wall of spiritual energy. It was not possible to penetrate it from this side, to our world he was unattainable.

‘A magnificent union’, I said to the brother. ‘You could not have shown me anything more beautiful.’

At this moment I began to feel something strange, as if I was attracted to him. I did not know the meaning of it and I dared not ask the brother, fearing that it was my imagination. Yet I could not free myself from that feeling that had entered me so suddenly.

I could not restrain myself from telling the brother what I felt and I said: ‘I have a very peculiar feeling I did not dare to tell you for I don’t want to deceive myself.’

‘What is it, Gerhard, just tell me.’

When the brother smiled I felt that he knew more about it.

‘When I look at him I see Jozef, can that be?’

‘Listen, Gerhard. The man who is busy typing out our life is your friend on earth who told you about our life before you passed over.’

I pressed the brother’s hands for sheer happiness.

‘Jozef! Is it Jozef? What a joy to meet him again like this.’

Tears filled my eyes. How great is the spirit who guides him and how important the meaning of this message! A wonderful task.

Now I can tell you all this, Jozef. When I saw you that first time I couldn’t. I was only permitted to watch. I felt respect for the high leader and love for you.

There came a moment that I thought I would collapse. The high spirit suddenly turned around, looked at me and smiled. He knew that we were there and the communication was broken. You rose and left. You came out of the blue haze invisible to the earth and walked right through me. I heard you sigh as a result of the emotional strain and the strength of the inspiration. I startled because I thought you would see me then. But oh, what a disappointment, you did not see me, you acted as if I was not there. Even you were blind and yet you were clairvoyant? I called out your name but you did not hear me. Deaf, I thought, he is deaf and blind too. And yet he is a gifted instrument.

‘Is he clairvoyant?’ I asked the brother.

‘Not only clairvoyant, he can also hear our voices.’

‘But he did not hear me when I called him and he walked through me as if I were not there.’

I was bereft of words! Then you returned and again you did not see or hear me. I was really distressed. He who told me of this life and said he saw spirits apparently saw nothing, was blind and deaf like all other people. It was not like I had learned at school. I wanted so much to speak to you for I sensed your urge and strong will to learn our spiritual life. I felt that you knew more about it than I who already lived here. You put all your power into this world and you opened yourself as a child, everybody could come and see you whenever he wanted. But although you were open you were secluded from me and many others. No being, no spirit would be able to contact you without your leader.

You were at once reconnected with your leader and your fingers worked at full speed on the typewriter. In this condition I could no longer contact you, your spirit was far away from me. Your material body carried out the work while your spirit was lifted to this life. The brother made me sense all this, otherwise I would not have understood.

The brother drew my attention to the paintings that you had received from this world and a new wonder was revealed to me. Every painting had its own radiation. Then after I had admired them all I sat down close beside you and kept looking at you. I could not keep my mind away from you. I collided with something, I could not penetrate the haze, nothing from this side could disturb you.

It is amazing, I thought. Together you were one, the master who stood beside you had combined himself with you in the spirit. As one soul, one desire, one life, I felt. Meeting you again in this way made something break within me, a longing to become like you. Yes, that is what I wanted to acquire. Would it still be possible to catch up with you?

The human being who receives the spiritual connection while still living on earth and lives in accordance with it is far ahead of the spirit on this side. When the material torments are over, these people go to those regions far above the earth. People who know already about eternal life on earth are gifted. But again, Jozef, if they live in accordance with it, otherwise it has no meaning.

‘Yes’, I called unexpectedly, ‘I want to become like him.’

I said before that something in me was broken, something had awakened and I wanted to acquire this.

‘I want to become like him, I want to see and feel as he does!’

‘You will receive this, Gerhard’, the brother said, ‘you are going to work for other people as he does on earth.’

‘I want to become part of that life in which he lives, yes, I want to learn that kind of life. Will you help me?’

‘You have already started’, the brother answered.

‘But why doesn’t he see me?’, I asked.

‘I’ll explain, listen: This instrument sees only when his leader desires. He sees through the will of this high spirit. He has learned this through the years in which this contact has been built up. So he only opens himself when his leader thinks it necessary. You will experience this later. In this condition he may not be disturbed. He walked through you and he did not feel you, he would not have said anything to you, not even if he had felt or seen you. He only sees on command and then he cuts himself off from everything else. If he could not do this thousands of astral beings would rush to him and destroy his spiritual communication. An instrument like this is precious. A medium cannot be readily developed to such a high level. I have known his leader for quite some time because I was allowed to do work for this master. That is how I know the way the master acts on him and closes him off from all these dangers, so that he cannot be destroyed. However loudly you call him he won’t hear you, for the simple reason that his leader does not allow it. When this connection is broken you will be able to reach him, but again only when his leader approves.

The human being who serves as an instrument for higher spirits has to have a strong and powerful nervous system; if they are weak, they cannot be trained for this work. If a disturbance or splitting between the spirit and the material body occurs, you surely feel where it would take him. But, as I told you, these mediums are selected carefully and even then there are a great number of forces which may oppose our aims. A medium like him must have first of all have great confidence and a strong faith. Furthermore he must have ,a great deal of love for our work and the will to serve mankind. If he gives himself unconditionally to his leader no disturbing factors will arise. He has to give himself in all respects, cancel himself out completely. And to do this is not an easy matter, that is mediumship and it is not until then that an instrument can be reached.

Now listen, the higher a medium develops himself the higher the spheres where an instrument can enter, though the more the dangers increase for he is open to a range of forces. You have seen life in the sphere of the earth and I showed you the astral world and now I ask you: Are you surprised that his leader keeps him from seeing beings except when he thinks it is necessary? Once again, a medium needs a strong nervous system to prevent disturbances resulting in all sorts of ailment. Don’t forget that all those transitions you were taught at school he was allowed to experience by departing from the body. And having to live on earth in spite of this requires strength and much discipline. If this instrument had the feelings of an ordinary human being and you know what I mean by this, it would not be possible for him to insulate himself from all that life on earth. But in feeling he gives himself as a child to his leader. That is essential and therein resides the secret to achieve all this.

It is submission, Gerhard, and great trust and faith; it is his love to us and to man on earth. It is to change sorrow and misery to the mighty, quiet reunion of this side. That is serving, nothing but serving. That sensitivity lies within him. He, your friend, does in spirit live on our side. He gives his whole being and will continue to do so. In return he receives our wisdom and when he goes back to earth with these spiritual treasures he writes it down on paper as he is doing now. He is full of our life and it is almost unbelievable how much caution is needed on those who work with such a medium. For that reason only spirits of light are allowed and capable of doing such a task. It will be clear, Gerhard, that the instrument has to digest all the spiritual knowledge it has gained by the parting from the body when back in the material body in full consciousness. But he who lives spiritually is never lost and the one who can open himself like a child will receive a wisdom the scientists of the earth do not know. When this has been achieved there is no more danger and the medium passes into our life consciously.’

‘My God’, I said, ‘what a possession! To know so much concerning our world and still to be on earth. Is there no danger to him any more, brother?’

‘No, Gerhard, he has overcome that danger, in no way is there any danger to him. He is conscious and who is aware of his condition is alive and owns it eternally. He, your friend, is free from all material pleasures and desires. He only lives to work for his leader and his gifts and the urge to serve mankind cuts out all dangers. He lives the way an instrument should live if the medium wants to acquire something. However, man on earth will not yet accept all this because he wants to see and hear everything himself first. Jozef has attuned himself to our life but people who live and think materially cannot sense the sacredness of our life. Nevertheless many people will be reached and they will help us to spread spiritualism on earth. Doing this work is a blessing from God but for those who forget themselves it may become a curse. Only strong legs, as they say, can carry wealth. But many can and then much is being achieved. Once again, Gerhard, do not worry about him because he is in good hands.’

This was the first time, Jozef, that I met you on earth after my death. Great are the gifts mankind has received from God. As quick as thought your fingers ran over the typewriter. During the time I was there you filled ten large sheets of paper. Soon one volume would be ready. I had known you on earth and knew who you were. You had not learned much at school so your ability to do this struck me as incredible. Now I experienced what I then saw. The words I had spoken to you at the cemetery lashed my soul. How sacred was spiritual life and spiritualism, I would like to repeat this a thousands times over. An enormous peace lay around you, the tranquillity of the spirit who worked through you and was your leader.

I felt that the brother wanted to leave, yet I could hardly tear myself away from you. I wanted to stay here much longer but my visit had to come to an end. I had become richer in knowledge and I was no longer disappointed that you did not see me. I understood the great difficulties in being a medium on earth. It was a mystery to me how you could stand making journeys into our life and still live on earth, Jozef. Yet I felt it and I did not have to worry about you because you were well cared for. Then we took leave from you and the master.

On our way I asked the brother various questions and after his explanations I was completely reassured.

We visited cemeteries and met the earthly people who came to see the graves of their loved ones. I witnessed terrible scenes, but why do they seek them there? They aren’t there at all! Put your flowers beside their photographs in the room where they lived, worked, and spoke to you instead of putting those expensive flowers on graves where there is nothing but bones. It brings sorrow to the spirit who lives on this side. From where I am I want to shout this out to everyone.

They visit their deaths and beside them in a splendid garment and light those who are imagined dead move on. Isn’t it distressing that they don’t know this on earth? When I talked to you of all these things at the cemetery, Jozef, as I said before, I spoke the real truth that bones cannot talk. I was mocking and I should not have done that. Beside the people who were mourning I saw the spirit sad at heart because he could not reach them. I saw various situations, one of them touched me particularly deeply. I’ll tell you about that.

Suddenly I thought of my own material body. Where was my body? Had it been buried in this cemetery? I looked up at my teacher and he knew right away what was on my mind. I understood why we were in this place. So I asked the brother: ‘Is my body here?’

My teacher took my hand and said: ‘Are you strong enough to see your own body, Gerhard?’

I thought about it for a moment and said: ‘Yes, I want to see my own body. Now that I have gone through all this I also want to experience it however terrible it might be.’

‘Come, follow me.’

‘How do you know where I was buried?’

‘Concentration, my friend, nothing but the power of thought. You yourself now form my connection, through you I’ll find your remains.’

I trembled and felt my heart beat fast. We walked past several graves and finally my teacher stopped me. I read: Here rests G.D.

‘Your own material garment’, the brother said to me, ‘your body which covered all this during your life on earth.’

I sat at the edge of my own grave and looked down. There I lay, dead, but I was alive and looking at what once belonged to me. Through the soil I saw my body in a decomposed state. Can you imagine anything more horrible, Jozef?

I thought of my life on earth. Flowers decorated my grave, put there by my beloved ones. I felt their thoughts of love for me who had died. It was a horrible scene. Why, I thought, do you seek me here, mother, instead of right beside you? How many times had my dear ones been here and had cried so that I could feel their sorrow. In a while only the bones would be left here, that would not take long.

However hard I tried I could not get back into that body. Something held me back and I knew it was my teacher preventing me. I had discarded my earthly body and received an other which was eternal. My God, how mighty this is, how small and insignificant people feel who are granted to experience this. I felt insignificant and small, it had caught me unprepared. However horrible it was, it was instructive. Here my mother tried to find me again, here her tears flowed, but I would never return to this place. I wanted to be far, far away from it. I thought I would have been able to stand all this, but it became too much for me. However great is God Who rules everything. Dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return! I thought of these words. I had been dust and had returned to dust.

At the edge of my own grave I prayed sincerely, asking for strength to open the eyes of my beloved ones. I prayed for that and so did my teacher. Never again would I come back here, I knew and felt it.

Mother, my dear mother, please don’t return here any more! I live and am happy and one day I’ll see you again. Strew flowers on the path of the living. Give love, mother, to all that lives, only then you’ll feel eternal life and you won’t look here for me any more. Then you know that I am alive and that I can return to you. Don’t seek me here, what lies here I don’t want to see again. Thank God, I am alive and the body in the grave is dead. For the last time I looked down on my body after which I rapidly left never to return.

Then I thought of you, Jozef, and admired you even more for writing down about our life to make this known to mankind. In silence we left, I was lost in deep thought.

We subsequently visited spiritual meetings where many people had come together. We came in a large hall where messages were given by means of objects. Around a medium I noticed several spirits who were longing to be admitted because relatives of them were present in the hall. Many came in contact with each other in this way, but hundreds on this side and on earth went away in disappointment because they had not received communication. If people could see how many spirits were present, they would not have believed it. Yet only a few were recognized. This is also pure and sacred work and worthwhile to make themselves available to it. I learned a great deal on earth and I understood how difficult it was to see and hear us. I learned to understand this difficulty because the brother explained everything to me now that I was allowed to return to the earth.

From there we visited other countries. I had never travelled in my life before but now I went on faraway journeys with the brother and I visited the whole planet. Everything he showed me was wonderful. We entered everywhere, we walked into palaces and other important places and buildings. On our way I met many spirits, brothers and sisters who were learning to know these places like I did. We travelled from north to south, from east to west. This took a long time. I understood a lot and I saw many amazing things. I saw displays I don’t want to mention here but I saw the truth of life on earth and also the many horrors of it. Oh, beware him who forgets himself! When one lives like some I saw the spheres of darkness will be waiting. Then they will see, hear and feel what wrong they have done.

Unexpectedly the brother said to me: ‘We’ll stay here for a moment.’

I looked around to see what he wanted to show me. He said nothing which I found strange as he invariably explained everything to me. Then I began to see where I was and in front of me I saw you. What a surprise!

‘Jozef ’, I called, ‘it’s me!’

You felt me immediately and said: ‘Is it really you? I received your message, Gerhard, how you have changed!’

Filled with gratitude I embraced the brother. Unnoticed to me we had returned to you to the same place where you took part in the seance. This also surprised me how everything can be found again so quickly. The brother helped me to connect me with you. I heard you speaking to me and you know that I could not say much, which was a disappointment to me as well. But when I was told why I was not allowed and able to say much I felt grateful. Only you did not understand and the moment has come now that I can tell you the reason. You also know now why I did not return to you during that week. I was on a trip with the brother though I had been to see you before that but I was not connected with you at the time. The whole evening I stood beside you and towards the end we left.

It was after that that I was told I would be allowed to return to you if I could stand the strain to give an account of my life through you the way my leader did. The brother had known this for a long time, because the master had informed him. You know what happened so I can go on now. It is amazing how far ahead one can see on this side, Jozef! Isn’t it wonderful? While I was still living on earth it was already known on this side what was to happen.

On the way back to my own sphere the brother told me of this important occurrence. How happy I was when I learned about that. The high spiritual leaders, you know them, had said to the brother that I was allowed to fill part of the book. If they want to, a high spirit can indeed see hundreds of years ahead.

When at last I returned to my sphere I had a very great deal to think over. So I went into the peaceful nature and I there acquired everything. Months passed but when I was finally ready, the time had come to descend into the darkness. Now I was prepared, Jozef, first at school and subsequently through life on earth and when I had everything turned over in my mind I was finally prepared to work for others and on myself. During that time I also had talks and discussions with the people I met; they could no longer influence me because I now stood firmly on the spiritual way. There had been a thawing softening within me; I had learned to know myself.

I talked of my experiences with many people. Just fancy, they laughed at me and did not or could not accept it. These people were the living dead, they had already heard about it several times but they did not believe it. They were the kind of people who would not wake up for the time being. Now I saw through them and knew their level. They called me the pastor because I was still dressed in black. Here, too, they know how to make fun and to mock! But, as you know, they ridiculed themselves. I just let them keep on mocking, they would do so for the time being. They had been in this ill-advanced conditions.