It wasn’t so long ago that we met at Fernando’s house, my good friend. We were on that Saturday of June in a total of four people and talked about great personal matters, each counting current and ancient adventures. Our meetings used to be warm mainly because they were washed down with beers. That day I decided to report an important moment in my life, certain that my account would draw the attention of my companions.
– You know I’ve been decorated nationally in France – said promptly attracting the eyes.
– It wouldn’t surprise you. And how did it go? – asked Rui curiously.
– It was once in Paris when I was called there to give lectures on my thesis of completion of course, which versed about the immortality of the soul. I know you were curious, i never commented on this matter with you guys. Really, except for my family members, no one else knew about the adventures I had involved with after my graduation, mainly because I’ve been out of the country for a reasonable time. If you want, I’ll quote everything, because I think we have time and we’re not in a hurry, am I right?
Of course, Roberto, now that you mention it, we’re going to be happy to hear from you.
– Of course, with pleasure – And so I began to tell about that long period that was the most unusual of my life. And I started:
-“In 1996 I was attending the last year of Sociology, committed to writing my TCC: Course Completion Work, under the guidance of Professor Matilde, then highly regarded in the academic environment of Pará, and, besides being an excellent master in methodology of the humansciences, was also engaged in studying Spiritism. Because I have such occupations and even beliefs, the teacher greatly encouraged me to research the theme I chose, which was about The issue of life after death, or more specifically on The question of the impossibility of refuting the existence of lapses of life in one’s own life.
I must say that my challenge not only seemed difficult, but it was for me almost impossible to accomplish; such were the difficulties I encountered both with regard to the research itself and in relation to the people who caused me discomfort to perform the work because they thought I was going crazy and that that subject could in no way be the object of an academic research. What is certain is that, despite the sorrows, the work was thankgod completed, much because of the goodwill and patience that had for me my guidance counselor. It is also certain that the difficulties I faced were worth while having many positive consequences for me after I graduated; it is no for nothing that my life has changed a lot, I traveled the whole world, today enjoy sawerplus national and international reputation, achieved great professional achievements and material acquisitions and you know it.
We know that very well. Tell us, Tell us soon what made you a person as worthy of praise as few in this city – said Peter, a little emotional. So I kept going.
In a few days I started to receive at home some communications by phone and by letters. People full of curiosity wanted to know more about the subject of research. They called showing a lot of interest and urgency for answers. I’ve received mail from the farthest places you can imagine. A correspondence aroused my attention, came from the University of Paris, signed by the rector himself. It was attached with an airfare. They wanted me to go over there and give a lecture. They said they were very anxious for my presence. They asked for priority. That my theme had aroused enormous interest in the entire academic community of that university, of the people in general, of the city and of the whole country. Now, I confess that I was surprised and pleased with the invitation. In fact Paris was on my list of predilection among the places I dreamed of meeting one day. At that time, a trip like that would come. What’s more, people’s curiosity about my work was a source of great pride for me, of course.
During the trip, I realized that some people at airports and even on the streets wanted to talk to me, asked questions, many of which I didn’t even understand, because I didn’t even know any languages besides our Portuguese (I knew little already English). At the host University I was well received and at the hotel I avoided talking about theories, leaving this moment for the lecture on the University Campus
I began my talk explaining that with observations of daily life and theoretical studies in the field of psychoanalysis, astrology and spiritism I came to the conclusion that our life here on earth does not occur continuously, that we die a few times in the preliminary phase (infant, young and adult), returning to the normal state of the trajectory immediately, so fast that we do not notice, because the process is very subtle. When we die, we are automatically transferred to our a dimension exactly like the previous one. In fact, dimensions identical to those where we are born and develop our life trajectory coexist. We can say that the phenomenon occurs more often at times when we sleep too much; when we get seriously ill or when we go through an episode of great danger. One proof that there are other dimensions is that we constantly come across physical meta phenomena, which are hardly perceived by most people. Metaphysical phenomena can be understood as manifestations that leak from other dimensions and occur in the form of visas, extraterrestrial visits, dreams, etc. The difficulty of proving the existence of our dimensions occurs because only a very limited number of people; the most sensitive people with paranormal connections can perceive the leaked manifestations of the other parallel dimensions. When we die in old age, we are born equally in another dimension, but in the form of babies. I say this and i say with conviction that I belong to the class of the sensitive. And I assure you that I could only carry out my studies by perceiving such phenomena of death and rebirth in practice. You can trust what I say because you have my faith and my word. I’m ready for the questions!
It was not surprising that at first my words were not easy to accept, after all it was a controversial subject and difficult to prove, especially with regard to the moment of a person moving to another existential plane; what kind of signals would sensitive people receive to perceive such a phenomenon. At this crucial moment to make me believe and understand, I explained that I perceived in people a kind of sign above the head; a kind of reddish smoke insignia of the phenomenon of transposition into the afterlife. After that explanation, I confess that I felt better accepted. Some present were thoughtful, others even declared that at some point they had noticed this sign in other people.
I said these things with great conviction because I really owned it. My studies and observations led me to speak with resourcefulness and without fear, because I was sure of what I was transmitting. What’s more, my monograph was well written and contained the minutiae that put out of the field any doubt.
What was not clear in the exhibitions could be clarified in my writings, which counted as another asset in favor of my theories. When the inquisitor, in opposition, persisted at some point, I had as a resource instructing him to read such and such items on such pages and put any more persistent scholar to twist his arm in my favor. From this lecture my name became national news and not to-forego I went two days ago called by the president to be decorated in a beautiful ceremony at the “Palais de I’Élysée.
Soon I was not lacking news from home, realizing that many higher education centers, as well as religious centers and other people were also interested in my lecture. According to my wife one of those interested deserved attention, because it was a very rich and powerful Saudi Sultan who kept calling, and offering worlds and funds in exchange for my presence in his palace, in the city of Rasd.
That late afternoon in Paris I felt tired and decided to go rest in the hotel. There, lying in a comfortable bed after a refreshing bath, I began to meditate as, a simple citizen of northern Brazil, so despised region in that country, was going through such a significant moment; A week ago in Belém I led a simple life, chasing precarious driving on the way to university or work, now I saw myself in the possibility of choosing the country where I would like to expose my ideas in front of curious and awe-free audiences.
In my subconscious hung the words of Bethlehem concerning the Sultan’s curiosity, and I thought; Why not, take a flight to the Middle East. And soon came the reminiscences of childhood, thoughts and dreams about the stories of deserts and oasis told by the elders. Beautiful and grand palaces full of statues in gold and silver, with extensive ceramic floors of sparkles and fantastic designs and emanating a coldness of wanting to lie on the floor and sleep. On the walls millions of far-fetched reliefs and designs of bright and blinding colors, with details so perfectly carved and painted that demonstrate the patience and pleasure of that people for life and good taste, so far from the inhabitants of the oppressive western cities.
Without a waste of time I requested the dispatch of the tickets and in three days I contemplated from the window of an Emirates Airwais Boeing the vaults of large mosques of Rif, before landing in that city. Waiting for me at the airport I came across the great Morramed Al Salem, the sultan who very much wanted to hear from about the new theories of eternal life. In his beautiful palace I was greeted by a large entourage of scholars who did not stop asking questions during the three days i stayed there, always with the help of an interpreter. On the first day, however, I was alone with Salem, who was very attentive and to some extent showed nervousness during my explanations. That day, by lunchtime Salem came to confide to me that, in fact, because he holds many riches and great power, He would like to have, say, a kind of security as to the fate of his valuable possessions, his family, his power; great power, which I could perceive by the respect and veneration dedicated to it by the local people. The beauty of the palace where I stayed contained much of the prints and details I imagined. In those days I could better understand the behavior of the Arab people and I was very impressed with their religiosity and the sociability that unites them.
After two days, after a long and ecstatic period of lectures around town, I rested in my great room. I started to think it was time to take a break. The other day I requested my return to Brazil, something that was granted to me not without first having promised that I would return to that country soon. On my return flight, on the Casablanca – Rio route, I suddenly found myself in great trouble. I woke up with tremendous excitement among the passengers. A gentleman sitting next to me informed me that the plane was in a crash and that we would soon make a forced landing in the waters of the Atlantic. The recommendations were for us to remain seated, in a waiting position for impact. At first I thought I’d run away in desperation, yell at everyone, beg, i don’t know what to do with the pilot. How could I die now, at the beginning of fame? But soon I came to the situation and understood that the best decision would be to sit and pray for a miracle. I had time to look back and see over everyone’s head a lot of reddish-colored smoke. I don’t have to say that it greatly increased my distress. Then I fell asleep, and when I woke up I was informed that the plane was no longer in a crash and that we would soon land with tranquility. Uffa! – I exclaimed, full of relief. At the airport I was immediately commenting on what happened to the family and explaining that in that episode I had certainly passed to another dimension. Some believed it, others, not so much.
– The thing is, I’m here telling the story, which I hope will be one of many to come! – said raising the glass to shield.
– Of course you’re still going to count a lot, Roberto! – they shouted the other ones by lifting each one their glass to shield.
Antônio Mangas
Violão, Literatura & cia 