What can you do to raise yourself?

Our evolution progresses in a series of horizontal spirals, this is, in the geographical sense. From the spiritual point of view, we progress in an upward spiral, for we get steadily and gradually higher in character through our experiences.

Spiritually, therefore, we would be higher in our last earth life than in the first.

People frequently ask why it is necessary for a spirit to come back to earth, when it could progress in the spirit world. The whole point is this—

It is not the spirit that has to learn to progress through contact with the physical—it is the personality.

In the spirit world, you progress spiritually, but you cannot develop personality there. Earth's lessons are necessary for this, for the spirit develops personality through the senses of the physical body by using them appropriately, and overcoming the temptations of those senses, and so learning self-restraint.

Christ was the example set before you—

The Absolute Ideal—

Try to model your personality on His.

Personality is the child of spirit and body, the result of their union, and is never lost—

You are yourself in the spirit world.

The spirit itself, the Divine spark, being of God is always perfect—it is the personality that is wrong.

Personality is the quality through which you choose to do right or wrong.

People who are jealous, lustful, evil-tempered, covetous, et cetera, are so because they have not developed personality—that is why they choose what is wrong.

What part of a murderer makes him commit murder?

Not his spirit—that came from God. It is his uncontrolled, undeveloped personality.

What constitutes the difference in people even in their faults?

Anger, lust, jealousy, covetousness, et cetera, have all to be conquered eventually, but it is not laid down that these things must be overcome in this—or any particular order. The conditions of A.'s physical life may bring covetousness to him first to overcome, while B. may have to learn to control anger—meanwhile, C. is wrestling perhaps with jealousy, and so forth.

Spirits are the same and equal—it is their personalities that differ.

No important trait of the character of the personality is changed in the spirit world, but it is improved, the corners are rounded off, and a sense of beauty is generally developed.

To him that overcometh, a crown of life is given.

You cannot win your crown here—there is no envy, nor jealousy, nor lust, nor covetousness, nor any other evil thing to overcome.

—Spirit Claude