THE CYCLE OF THE SOUL
Part II
The Spiritual Life

Jozef Rulof

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

Before me I saw a building, a building which I knew from former times. So, I thought, was my first cell in here? I had been locked up in an old arena. I entered through the gate, but the moment I stepped inside I heard fearful cries and lamentations uttered by people. A similar scene as I had already seen on the street and I knew immediately what was happening here. I saw the dead and wounded lying left and right around me and I heard the profane language and cursing of earth people.

This was how the religious believers were maltreated. However, at this time all this did not interest me. I was concentrating too much on my own life, so that I did not want to become involved. This was not my business now, for I lived in eternity. They, there on earth, would have to fight it out themselves. A christian spectacle, however, it was not, for the air was thick with oaths and beatings.

Soon I reached the cell where I had been shut up to await the verdict. Others had now taken my place. I counted seven, though actually there was only room for one. Three of these earth people I could see clearly, but the others were like shadows to me. Since now the walls of my cell were transparent for me I could see that the other cells were occupied also. People on earth were in revolt. The believers were being destroyed. Many would have to die, for when they were locked up they were doomed to die. Here I had waited out my time. Afterwards I had been transported to an other place where I eventually died. Here I had spoken with Marianne. I was so sorry that I had lost consciousness then. Yet I did not feel or see any strange influences. I remained myself and nothing happened to me.

I waited but nothing happened. Now that I could not observe anything about myself I took a look at the people here around me. Near one of the prisoners I saw a spirit who could be his mother. When I focussed my concentration on her I felt that it was his mother. Did she feel and know that something terrible was going to happen to her child? How did she know this? How did she get hold of this knowledge? These again were new riddles for me. However, I did not pursue the matter too deeply for I wanted to stay with my own life. I was not getting any the wiser here, so I decided to go to my other cell. I concentrated very strongly on the past and I felt and saw that I was leaving the city.

This time I floated across the earth and my next sensation was that I had come to a neighbourhood where I had never been during my life on earth. Was this a place for prisoners? Before me lay a large stretch of water with an island in it. This water was surrounded by mountains. I would never have been able to escape from a place like this. It looked more like a subterranean hole or the catacombs I knew. I felt very clearly that this was the spot where I had been imprisoned and died. I glided across the water and landed on the island. How extraordinary was this floating!

There, in that hideous building I had died, there I had associated with demons. I walked inside and recognized the stairway that led down. The steps were hewn out of the rocks and I remembered counting them. Now I did it again and indeed there were thirtytwo. Then I came to a small square, where before me I discovered a path that snaked upwards to cells on the highest levels. No, I could never have escaped from here. First I wanted to go to my own cell, later I would visit the others. This must be the death island I had often heard about.

Now I stepped into my cell. In this squalid square hole someone else had taken my place. What a miserable hovel it was. How terrible was the fate of this man, for he was waiting for his end. It was a gaunt, young man, who lay in the very same spot I had always lain and where I had come in contact with the demons. There he rested and like I had done, thought: When will my end come? Did he have connection too? Already he was totally exhausted and it would not last very long, then death would fetch him; death which wasn’t death but meant living. I myself was death and here I stood before him, he knew nothing about it. Poor man!

I sat down beside him, but he did not feel me. Next I went right through him, but he did not feel that either. The invisible human could come very close to the earth human, he could influence him, he could make him do anything he wanted and yet the earth man knew nothing about it. One had to be extremely sensitive to be able to see, hear and feel this. How easy it had been for those devils to come to me. In this life one could go where one wanted and do what interested him. I must try to master making connections. I would like to know exactly how to reach a person on earth, then I could protect him and in this way prevent him from taking his own life, if that was his intention.

Above me I saw a shadow and that shadow had more light than I. It was an astral person. An earth person had quite a different light, so that I could tell by the light that it was an astral being. Did this being watch over him? The light I saw was but very weak, but yet I knew that this person was further advanced than I was. Was she here to influence him? I felt that she was looking at me. By the lines of the figure I saw that she was a woman. Still more came to me clearly, I felt why she had come here. This was a guiding spirit, a human being who watched over the well-being of a member of the family, who probably was her child. That, however, I did not know for sure, but in any case she had come here with good intentions. She would protect him from the demons, so my help was unnecessary. She also know more about this life than I and would be able to reach him in many ways of which I had never heard yet.

How I could feel and understand all this so quickly was now clear to me, for I felt again the other influence. It was as if it had been laid down within me. In it I felt and recognized my own guiding spirit and I knew that probably he would explain more of those truths to me. Had he followed me here? Was it Emschor? However, I did not get an answer to my thoughts and so I waited.

I did understand though that in this life one learns through others. This life was sensing, merging and protecting. For her above me I felt respect, also for the feelings that were coming my way. She was still there and I felt that she was looking down at me. Again I learned forces that differed from those I knew.

But what was I doing here? Here I had made connection with those demons. Where were they now? Could they not reach him? Had that apparition come here just for me, for I felt that she was looking at me. If it was possible to see in someone else’s life and feel that life, then she would know that I was here to find out about my own life. My life was completely open to her. I could read the life of others, so she who was much further advanced could certainly do that too.

Now I thought of the time I spent here. How long had I been imprisoned? I had been almost thirty-eight years old when I was locked up. I concentrated on the time and came to the conclusion that I had been here four and a half years before I took my own life. How had I managed to stick it out that long?

In thoughts I returned to the man who had taken my place, I wanted to know why he was here. As soon as I connected myself I felt a strong current pass through me and I understood that power. Was someone helping me with it? He too had committed murder. I mentally sent him a message not to take his own life, for he would only find more grief and worse suffering than he had now. All this was still bearable, but that other would be very much more terrible. When I was thinking this the apparition above me went away.

Where was this spirit going? Did she sense danger? I was not aware of danger, because I was all alone with him. Once again I tuned in on him. In fact I went completely into him. I wriggled myself into his body in the same way that I had tried to get back into my own earthly body when it hung beside me. I wanted to see and experience whether he felt me. Since he was a human being, one should be able to reach him . I forced him to stand up, which he did, but after that I did not have him under my control any more and he walked over to a corner of his cell where he had marked the days, weeks, months and years. My thoughts followed him and I added up all those numbers. Seven years had already passed by. How inhuman was his suffering. Seven years in solitary, totally alone in this horror. It was quite remarkable that I could gather all this from him. Now I sent him what I already knew about this life, but that too proved unnecessary for he knew of an everlasting life, he was a believer. I understood that he could not be reached by those who wanted him to do away with himself. He was a christian and patiently resigned to carry his cross. He had in him a powerful belief and I admired him. Suddenly he did something I had not counted on. He knelt down and began to pray.

How ashamed I felt when I saw that. Neither during my life nor in here I had ever prayed. However, I remained with him and then I felt a great happiness surge through me. Could a person just by praying become so happy? Such a beautiful feeling now came in me. If this was the power of his prayer, then I was a poor beggar. How happy he was, even though he lived in this hell. This was the most horrible punishment a person on earth could receive. And this devout man had killed? How could he kill, for people who are believers do not kill. I now saw why he had murdered. He had wanted to protect his sister. A heathen had wanted to defile her body, what he prevented by knocking him down.

Who provided me with this vision?

He thought all this over and asked God forgiveness. ‘Gladly’, he prayed, ‘will I atone, but please protect my sister. She is not strong, she is too weak to protect herself against such forces. Support her, my God, I shall gladly do penance.’

Now I understood everything. Poor human being, you have sacrificed yourself. You are now imprisoned and must die there. But what a strong belief for one so young.

‘Protect her’, I heard him say, ‘since mother is not living any more.’ Then the apparition was his mother and my feelings had been correct. Was his father on this side also? He was not here however. How we differed from each other. I had sought contact with life, with demons and let myself be deceived and lied to, while he sought his God. Inwardly he stood far above me.

Again I had come to know a different kind of person. But what was I doing here any longer? I wanted to leave, but felt that I was being stopped. That very same power I had felt when I entered this world after coming from the silence. Now here was this force again and so I concentrated on the prisoner once more. Did he keep me standing here? No, and yet I had felt that influence clearly, I could not have been mistaken. Must I pray too? I felt much respect for this unfortunate man, but I could not pray the way he did. I would not be able to pray like that, because my inner self refused. Yet I would dearly love to do it for I felt great awe for all the things that had happened to me and for God too. But to pray as he was doing, no, that was not possible, I had suffered too much. I felt awed and for me that was already very much. Did I have to begin believing in God? Did that invisible power want me to kneel down? Would the being who had spoken to me, wish me to do that? I was not yet ready for that, although I sensed that I would have to acquire it. By living and experiencing life I would raise myself higher and begin to feel love. But then, did I not have love now? How much did not I love Marianne, wasn’t that love? Again I tried to leave and for the second time something called me a halt.

The prisoner had returned to his corner. What did they want with me? Again I looked at the man sitting before me and I felt that he had sunk deep in prayers. He sat there with his eyes closed, as such I visualized a saint.

I began to feel uneasy and that was because of his praying. I found myself coarse and insensitive. Through his prayer he drew me into an other world, in a world of believing, love and submission. That world I did not yet know. Here in my cell I got to know an other life. A life of joy, sacrifice and the purest love. By sacrificing himself for his sister he had landed here.

I too would do that. I could have given my life for whoever needed it, if I knew that it was necessary and of use. Death was non existing anyway, one went on eternally.

For a long time I watched him and because I experienced all this, I changed my thoughts. If this had been their intention, then something was gained and I would remember and continue to think of it. I would try to become a christian like him. In the depth of his struggle, his suffering, grief and many other miseries he wanted to atone, and still asked God to give strength to others. This taught me a lesson about myself. I had cursed and sworn. God I had made out to be an unjust being. But I learned here how I should live, while at the same time I came to know other hells and heavens. She who had left a short time ago lived in her heaven and the heaven he possessed was great in trust and faith. My heaven was the darkness in which I lived. I lived between those two situations and I wanted to try and acquire myself a heaven. I was very glad that I had this experience.

Once again I started to leave, because there was nothing for me out here. This time I wanted to go to the other cells, but for the third time I was restrained. Yet I saw nobody, nothing of the power that prevented me from going. The prisoner had finished his prayer and sat staring straight ahead. He was sitting there as if was dead, he did not seem to breathe. When he did, however, his chest squeaked so that I could hear it in my world.

Suddenly he jumped up and walked a few times around his cell, then he returned to his place. I too had done the same thing, for I thought I was going insane. I joined myself to him for I wanted to calm him down, but he did as he pleased and I felt that I could not influence him. When he had jumped up at my first attempt to concentrate him into action, he had done this of his own will. This taught me that man on earth can protect himself against other strange and for him unknown influences by closing himself off. God laid an own will in man and according to his spiritual level, feeling and personality could a person be influenced. However, I began to get the feeling that, without man noticed it, God was still guiding man.

Now my thoughts turned to Emschor. If he let me experience this then I would want to thank him for it from the depth of my soul. If he was guiding me I would beg him to be patient with me, for I would do my best to master it all. For me these events meant wisdom of living. I learned about the life in which I was now living and accept my own life as well.

Again I sat down beside the prisoner, an other power forced me to do so. I was barely seated when I thought I saw a luminescent haze in front of me. It was a happening very similar to what had occurred to me when I had been imprisoned here. There was movement in the haze, something began to take shape and I could plainly see it building up, becoming clearer and denser, until I recognized a human being. The man beside me, however, did not notice it at all.

Was this done only for my benefit? Indeed, I had seen correctly. Emschor, I said to myself, it is Emschor. The spirit who had talked to me a century ago had come back to me. A face that was radiant looked at me, an exalted current flowed through me.

‘Lantos’, I heard him say, ‘Lantos Dumonché.’

‘You know me?’ I asked.

‘You hear that I know you, but listen. I have come to inform you of several things and also to tell you that I am very grateful for the beautiful thoughts you sent me just now.’

‘You know that too?’ I asked.

‘You hear that I know it.’

Remarkable, I thought, such powers this man has.

‘A while ago I prevented you from leaving and connected you with the man who sits beside you and also with many other for you still incomprehensible situations. Hear me well: From here you will receive connection with life. Many years ago I spoke to you here and advised you not to make an end to your life. This time I have come to you to convince you of our life. I will follow you in everything, Lantos, and I will be the go-between with still higher beings who guide you and me. I am allowed to connect you with the past, this is not my will but the will of those who live in the higher spheres and who are the cosmic awakened ones. I therefore will follow all your ways, because we both form two links of a powerful chain that joins us to this life, to the past and to the cosmos. Step by step you will make your way and I will assist you. Through it miracles will happen and all your ‘why’s’ and ‘wherefore’s’ will be answered. It will enable you to enter this life and assume it as your possession. You will bridge the gaps and acquire the powers necessary to do that.

You may have noticed that every person pursues his own way on earth as well as here. Well then, they all are on their way to help mankind and make good for themselves what they have to set right. They all serve a higher power and are prepared to shoulder the heaviest burdens they meet on their way. They serve life, work to improve their inner spiritual attunement, so that they can join this life. Their way is yours, it is mine and of those who already have reached the highest spiritual attunements. One day you will be with me in the spheres of light. Work will await you there. Thus, accept everything, even if it is strange. And because you will experience these miracles you will presently accept even greater miracles, for it has to do with your life on earth and with your previous lives.

It all belongs to the cycle of the earth. It is the cycle of the soul who is persuing its course to the ultimate goal. Your cycle on earth is drawing to a close, follow therefore the voice of your own heart. It brings you to the place where the wonders and problems will be solved for you. Every thought and every event makes a connection with truthful reality. So I will assist you in everything, and why all this happens you will only understand better later. This is my assignment, it is your and my task.

Strange things I have to tell you, listen further, Lantos. We both belonged to the same family. I once had your name, the name you go by today. On the place where you were born I will give you an explanation. However, many centuries have gone by since I lived on earth. Many centuries I have waited for this moment of our connection. A century ago I told you that I too made an end to my life. You did it because the loneliness drove you mad and you could not wait any longer. Your curiosity about this life brought you in that situation. I, on the other hand, killed myself out of remorse, because I had stolen the possessions of others. This I had to make good again in an other life. I paid for it with my own life. Notwithstanding, I was able to extricate myself from the darkness, because I was seeking to do and follow the things that were good and because someone convinced me of my own life. This way lies open for you too. I advise you therefore to aim for the higher things, because the continuation of life exists and wondrous regions are waiting for you. There you will have light and happiness. I told you before, that higher beings are assisting me with clearing up the deepest problems for you and that we shall work for them. All this serves to make man on earth aware of our life. I serve you, you serve me, we all serve. Now you may ask me questions.’

Immediately I asked: ‘You are of my family?’

‘I belonged to your house, therefore I know you and I carried your name.’

‘Can you tell me more about that?’

‘No, the time is not there yet. Later, on the place where you were born.’

‘Was the influence I felt in my studio yours?’

‘Mine.’

‘What was the meaning of the greenish, flashing light that I saw?’

‘What you saw was your connection with the demons.’

‘Then my feelings were correct?’

‘Yes, but it were my thoughts, I let you feel it.’

‘Thank you’, I said. And asked: ‘Why did he make me kill myself?’

‘You had something to make up to him, he was shadowing you and he helped you kill yourself.’

‘And I did not even know him.’

‘That is not necessary, but later I will explain it to you. It belongs to the law of cause and effect.’

I found it all highly remarkable and asked: ‘That statue that fell over and broke to bits, was that the work of those demons also?’

‘Their powers are in reality strong enough that they can do so.’

‘Have I anything to do with that statue?’

‘That also I will clear up, but in a different place, there where you once lived. It belongs with the past.’

My thoughts turned again to the one who had sent me to this world and I asked: ‘Do you know that demon?’

‘Yes, Lantos, he is a relative of yours.’

‘Of mine? I don’t know him, I had no other relatives and was the last one of our family. How then is this possible?’

‘Yet this is the case and you will get to know him.’

Miraculous is this all, I thought, and continued my questions with: ‘Do you know where my beloved is?’

‘Yes, she lives on this side.’

‘May I go to her?’

‘No, she lives in the world of the unconscious. I will tell you about that too, when the time comes.’

‘Can’t she come to me?’

‘No, that is not possible.’

‘Pity’, I said, ‘but I am very grateful to you.’

‘Don’t mention it, I am ready to help you with anything.’

‘Is Marianne not conscious?’

‘Presently I shall explain that to you, just continue on your way.’

Still one question: ‘Why do you stay in your condition, in your heaven?’

‘Because you must live your own life.’

‘Oh, now I understand.’

‘I am leaving now, Lantos, but I will continue to follow you. Farewell, seek always what is good. Your Emschor.’

The spirit dissolved before my eyes and I was alone again with thousands of thoughts, but my mind refused to think, for this had taken me by surprise.

The man beside me had fallen asleep. I lay down beside him for I did not have the strength to move on.

I knew much more than before, but still everything was darkness. He would continue to watch over me! Marianne was in this life, but invisible to me. I sensed much and understood him, but of all those problems and miracles I felt nothing. But I had to move on, I could not stay here. By moving along all those miracles would reveal themselves and teach me more about this life. I wanted to work to better myself and discover the secret of my- and Marianne’s life and of many other things. I gathered all my strength and jumped up from where I was sitting. Away from here, far from this misery.

‘Farewell’, I too said to him, ‘and may your God soon grant you your life’s ending. Poor, poor human being!’ Then I left.

I now walked from cell to cell. Above and below me they were locked up. I saw old and young people. This was a place of death; here lived death and life hand in hand. Man stripped off his earthly garment and received a new one in its place. That life lay in them, but they neither felt nor knew that life. It was the life in which I now lived and where they also would enter one day.

Many of the cells I had already visited and seen horrible spectacles. Many spoiled their earth- and spiritual body and went down to total ruin. Thank God, I thought, that those thoughts had never come up in my mind. Did I possess a different mentality than they? Was I free from that? It had to be for I would never defile myself. This was even worse than kill a human being. These were spiritually insane and tortured the material body. I could not stand this any longer and went away.