Perispirit
Encyclopedia
In Spiritism
, "Perispirit" is the subtle body
that is used by the spirit to connect with the perception
s created by the brain. The term is found among the extensive terminology
originally devised by Allan Kardec
in his books
about Spiritism
. Its first use was in a commentary (by Kardec) to the answer given by the spirits to the 93rd question of the Spirits Book
:
This was a breakthrough concept, as the spirit had not been thought of as usually from its form (the ghost one saw was considered "the ghost itself", not the appearance of a ghost). Kardec, then, was compelled to develop further the notion, especially by given "scientific" fundamentation to his theory. He studied the properties of what was then called "fluids" (electricity, magnetism, heat) and broadened the research towards those he termed "psychic" or "spiritual fluids". Both terms, especially the previous have stuck and are still used (or abused) up to now.
, he described the perispirit (then assumed as "technical term") in terms of a "fluidic body" with the following properties:
, which actually involves the interaction of the perispirit of the medium and that of a disembodied spirit.
When invited to our plane of existence by a medium, "spirits who inhabit worlds of higher degree than ours ... are obliged to clothe themselves with" a garment composed of perispirit.
"The most elevated spirits, when they come to visit us, assume a terrestrial perispirit, which they retain during their stay among us".
"According to Kardec, it is though the perispirit that disincarnate spirits ... can move objects." (Thus, the perispirit is responsible for poltergeist
manifestations.)
, some variations of spiritism accept the perispirit as an actual "body" possessing power centres
, defined more or less in the same way that Theosophy
and Yoga
define the Chakra
s, thus making the concept of perispirit similar to that of an astral body
, a concept that was unknown to Kardec.
According to this orientalizing view, the perispirit had the function of modelling the physical body ("soma" [in Greek; "deha" in Sanskrit]) after the design determined by the karma
, with each chakra linking itself to a gland
and to the nervous system
. This perispirit would use the chakras to command the body and to receive sensorial impressions from it.
soteriology, the soul of the dead, upon entering the House of Life, "receives a garment and a wreath." (Here, the "garment" = perispirit; and the "wreath" = halo.)
The "metaphor of soul as garment" is a commonplace in Russian mysticism; this is likely to been the direct inspiration for Kardec's "perispirit".
Spiritism
Spiritism is a loose corpus of religious faiths having in common the general belief in the survival of a spirit after death. In a stricter sense, it is the religion, beliefs and practices of the people affiliated to the International Spiritist Union, based on the works of Allan Kardec and others...
, "Perispirit" is the subtle body
Subtle body
A subtle body is one of a series of psycho-spiritual constituents of living beings, according to various esoteric, occult, and mystical teachings...
that is used by the spirit to connect with the perception
Perception
Perception is the process of attaining awareness or understanding of the environment by organizing and interpreting sensory information. All perception involves signals in the nervous system, which in turn result from physical stimulation of the sense organs...
s created by the brain. The term is found among the extensive terminology
Terminology
Terminology is the study of terms and their use. Terms are words and compound words that in specific contexts are given specific meanings, meanings that may deviate from the meaning the same words have in other contexts and in everyday language. The discipline Terminology studies among other...
originally devised by Allan Kardec
Allan Kardec
Allan Kardec is the pen name of the French teacher and educator Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail . He is known today as the systematizer of Spiritism for which he laid the foundation with the five books of the Spiritist Codification.-Early life:Rivail was born in Lyon in 1804...
in his books
Spiritist Codification
Spiritist Codification is the customary name given by spiritists to the set of books codified by Allan Kardec. The books are a compilation of questions made by Allan Kardec and answers allegedly dictated by Spirits, between the years 1857 and 1868...
about Spiritism
Spiritism
Spiritism is a loose corpus of religious faiths having in common the general belief in the survival of a spirit after death. In a stricter sense, it is the religion, beliefs and practices of the people affiliated to the International Spiritist Union, based on the works of Allan Kardec and others...
. Its first use was in a commentary (by Kardec) to the answer given by the spirits to the 93rd question of the Spirits Book
The Spirits Book
The Spirits' Book is part of the Spiritist Codification, and is regarded as one of the five fundamental works of Spiritism. It was published by the French educator Allan Kardec on April 18, 1857...
:
- Is the spirit, properly so called, without a covering, or is it, as some declare, surrounded by a substance of some kind?
- "The spirit is enveloped in a substance which would appear to you as mere vapor, but which, nevertheless, appears very gross to us, thought it is sufficiently vaporous to allow the spirit to float in the atmosphere, and to transport himself through space at pleasure."
- As the germ of a fruit is surrounded by the perisperm so the spirit, properly so called, is surrounded by an envelope which, by analogy, may be designated as the perispirit.
This was a breakthrough concept, as the spirit had not been thought of as usually from its form (the ghost one saw was considered "the ghost itself", not the appearance of a ghost). Kardec, then, was compelled to develop further the notion, especially by given "scientific" fundamentation to his theory. He studied the properties of what was then called "fluids" (electricity, magnetism, heat) and broadened the research towards those he termed "psychic" or "spiritual fluids". Both terms, especially the previous have stuck and are still used (or abused) up to now.
Properties
In Kardec's later conception, found in The Book on MediumsThe Book on Mediums
The Book on Mediums or Mediums and Evokers' Handbook , is a book by Allan Kardec published in 1861, second of the five Fundamental Works of Spiritism — the spiritualist philosophy Kardec had been publishing — being the tome in which the experimental and investigative features of the doctrine were...
, he described the perispirit (then assumed as "technical term") in terms of a "fluidic body" with the following properties:
- It is made of the "Universal Cosmic Fluid", which in different densities and states, is the source of all matter;
- It enclosed the spirit proper;
- It gave the spirit an appearance drawn from his previous life and his current state, serving as a shape by which spirits saw each other;
- It sends forth "fluidic" emanations that can affect those around;
- Being "subtle" and semi-material. it was able to act as a bond between the physical body (material) and the spirit (imaterial);
- It allowed the spirit to act over matter other than that of its body, to some extent;
- It is constantly under change, as the spirit progresses and may eventually be harmed, even destroyed.
- It won't be necessary any more when all spirits attain perfection.
Importance for mediumship
The perispirit plays a key role in the phenomenon of mediumshipMediumship
Mediumship is described as a form of communication with spirits. It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Voodoo and Umbanda.- Concept :...
, which actually involves the interaction of the perispirit of the medium and that of a disembodied spirit.
When invited to our plane of existence by a medium, "spirits who inhabit worlds of higher degree than ours ... are obliged to clothe themselves with" a garment composed of perispirit.
"The most elevated spirits, when they come to visit us, assume a terrestrial perispirit, which they retain during their stay among us".
"According to Kardec, it is though the perispirit that disincarnate spirits ... can move objects." (Thus, the perispirit is responsible for poltergeist
Poltergeist
A poltergeist is a paranormal phenomenon which consists of events alluding to the manifestation of an imperceptible entity. Such manifestation typically includes inanimate objects moving or being thrown about, sentient noises and, on some occasions, physical attacks on those witnessing the...
manifestations.)
New-Age conception
Due to syncretismSyncretism
Syncretism is the combining of different beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term means "combining", but see below for the origin of the word...
, some variations of spiritism accept the perispirit as an actual "body" possessing power centres
Chakra
Chakra is a concept originating in Hindu texts, featured in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning" .Chakra is a concept referring to wheel-like vortices...
, defined more or less in the same way that Theosophy
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
and Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
define the Chakra
Chakra
Chakra is a concept originating in Hindu texts, featured in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning" .Chakra is a concept referring to wheel-like vortices...
s, thus making the concept of perispirit similar to that of an astral body
Astral body
The astral body is a subtle body posited by many religious philosophers, intermediate between the intelligent soul and the physical body, composed of a subtle material. The concept ultimately derives from the philosophy of Plato: it is related to an astral plane, which consists of the planetary...
, a concept that was unknown to Kardec.
According to this orientalizing view, the perispirit had the function of modelling the physical body ("soma" [in Greek; "deha" in Sanskrit]) after the design determined by the karma
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
, with each chakra linking itself to a gland
Gland
A gland is an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release of substances such as hormones or breast milk, often into the bloodstream or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface .- Types :...
and to the nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
. This perispirit would use the chakras to command the body and to receive sensorial impressions from it.
Garment of soul in Gnosticism
In MandaicMandaeism
Mandaeism or Mandaeanism is a Gnostic religion with a strongly dualistic worldview. Its adherents, the Mandaeans, revere Adam, Abel, Seth, Enosh, Noah, Shem, Aram and especially John the Baptist...
soteriology, the soul of the dead, upon entering the House of Life, "receives a garment and a wreath." (Here, the "garment" = perispirit; and the "wreath" = halo.)
The "metaphor of soul as garment" is a commonplace in Russian mysticism; this is likely to been the direct inspiration for Kardec's "perispirit".