CHAPTER FIFTEEN

 

RED CLOUD

 

In setting down some of the experiences of my fourscore years, I have done so at Red Cloud's request in order to "leave behind for incoming generations a great reality to comfort the mourner." The reality to which he refers is, of course, eternal, that we cannot die because our spirits are immortal. For that reason the greater part of this book is devoted to examples of evidence of survival, for without acceptance of this central fact the whole edifice of religious faith must fall down.

 

The teaching of Jesus, Buddha and of all the world's religious leaders, is meaningless if this concept is not upheld. Without it, the only philosophy open to us is "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die," which is surely the outlook of grim despair. By contrast the truth of survival floods the mind with light and warmth. It opens up an endless vista of glorious life, a perpetual expansion of the consciousness, each advance bringing enhanced love and happiness as we travel along the road to Perfection. We no longer mourn for the dear ones who have left us, for we know that they live and we shall meet again. We no longer fear death and disease for ourselves, for we know these are but temporary conditions and that we shall re-awaken to a new life in a perfect body.

 

Many people fear the actual moment of the death of their bodies. Yet they have no need to do so. I have many times seen death occur, and know it to be no more than falling asleep. I sat beside my mother's bed when she lay dying. In her last moments she was in a semi-conscious state, and I knew she had something to say. Summoning up the last of her strength, she spoke and, in speaking died. Whether she realized it or not I do not know, but she completed in death what she had begun to say in life and I heard her last words by clairaudience.

 

Again, ten years ago, I was in the presence of death when my husband, Charles, died in my arms. Steadfast in the knowledge of his own survival, he had no fear of death and his last words to me were of gentle reassurance. A few days later his body was cremated. As the coffin slowly withdrew into the inner chamber of the crematorium, I saw him and his cousin, Dr. Charles Gordon­Moore, standing arm-in-arm, smiling at me. The truths of Spiritualism, which I have always striven to pass on to others who mourned, now brought me comfort in my turn. During Charles' long illness I had given up my public work in order to be with him, for he so hated me to be away from his side. Inevitably his passing left a great void in my life, but fortified by the knowledge that he lived beyond death I returned to the practice of my mediumship following an interval of only two weeks. After three years absence, I returned to the public platform, eager again to demonstrate to all who would learn the truth of life after death.

 

This book contains a great many instances of survival. Had there been the need, it would have been simple to increase their number by a hundred, or a thousand other cases. But, in the event, it is necessary to prove only one case in order to prove all. I have chosen the episodes quoted in this book because of the evidence they offered, and the absolute integrity of the people who were present to vouch for them.

 

I have worked with Red Cloud for nearly fifteen years, and during that time he has toiled unceasingly to demonstrate eternal spirit truth. He has never told us who he was on earth. When asked, he has always answered: "Know me by my works." We know that he passed this way before us, when he probably dwelt in Egypt. We believe, too, that he was either in this world, or very near to it, in the days of Jesus of Nazareth. Once or twice he has tantalized us into believing ourselves to be on the verge of discovering only to find the answer has again been denied us.

 

We know that his identity as a Red Indian is a cloak which is assumed in order to make receptive by us the very high vibrations that are naturally his because of his advanced spiritual attainment. He says he long ago reached the point in his evolution from which, had he gone on, there would have been no returning to this world. The choice was his - to go on, or to remain as a guide and teacher to mankind, bringing peace of mind and understanding of divine truths. He chose the latter course, explaining to us: "As your elder brother, which I am, your sorrows are my sorrows, your joys are my joys. When you fall back, I fall back with you. When you go forward, I go forward, too."

 

Always Red Cloud is loving and kind. I have never known him to condemn harshly any living person, though he will frequently gently point out our errors. He is ever ready to answer our questions, though not always as directly as some sitters could have wished. He is never dogmatic. In discussion and argument, he is tolerant, never laying down the law, and forever reminding his hearers that the final decision is theirs to make. God has given man a will of his own, he says, and man alone must exercise it.

 

In the many years that he has been my guide he has delivered score of lectures, both in public and private sittings. Some of them, particularly those having a scientific basis, have been too obtrusive for the comprehension of the average circle-member, though great scientists, such as Sir Oliver Lodge, read many of them with respect and understanding. His philosophical teachings, follow closely those of Jesus of Nazareth, whom he invariably calls "The Nazarene" God, tells us, is perfect mind, which is love, wisdom and power. God is not a being but a force of good which permeates the universe and is infinite. Evil is not force, but an error in thought which has arisen in the world because of the misuse of free will. It is finite and can be overcome by concentration on good and on God.

 

As God dwells within each one of us, every individual is part of the Whole which is God. And because we are all part of the Infinite Spirit of God, we cannot die.

 

The gradual unfolding of the consciousness of the Mind of God within us is the process of evolution of our souls. In order to find God we must be "born again" into the realization that we are spiritual beings, and into the acceptance of our personal responsibility for every action we commit. Thus the extent of our evolution depends entirely upon ourselves. As we desire, so we shall receive.

 

The universe is ordered by divine law. If we follow this law, it will lead to perfect harmony; if we go against it, the result is chaos. The first law is that of love. Love is the ability to see only latent perfection in our fellowmen. Love is the attribute of the Divine mind, whereas fear stems from the material mind. Love and fear are the two incompatible opposites, the one forever striving to cast out the other. Love is the complete negation of self; self-interest is the father of fear. The natural expression of love is service to others, not so much in the performance of great works as in doing that which lies nearest to hand.

 

To dwell within the kingdom of heaven is to dwell within the Mind of God which lies within ourselves. All must first seek this kingdom from which, once found, all else will flow. Prayer for ourselves is purposeless, for we already have all we can ever need. The only true prayer is the unceasing communion with the divine spirit within us. Never must we forget that God is within us, not outside us, that we are all individual parts of God, which is the Whole.

 

It is not to be expected that we can achieve perfection within the span of one lifetime. After death we go to the astral plane, in which there are many worlds of consciousness. After a period we incarnate once again on this earth, or some other inter-penetrating world, for the further progress of our souls. Eventually, and who can say how long this may take, we reach a state of evolution at which further reincarnation is no longer necessary and we pass on to higher realms of spiritual existence.

 

In all his addresses Red Cloud quotes freely from the Bible, sometimes changes the words of an accepted version to bring to them a different and more illuminating meaning. The words, "Lead us not into temptations," as they occur in the Lord's Prayer, for instance, Red Cloud will never accept. The significance of these words has many times been debated by theologians, but Red Cloud is unhesitating in his judgement. "How can that which is Perfection lead into temptation?" he asks. "God does not lead you there, for that part of you which is God does not know temptation. Only the carnal mind knows temptation and, too often, submits to it. Therefore, when you pray to God, say rather: "Leave us not when in temptation."

 

The power of love to cast out hatred has been a recurring theme in Red Cloud's trance addresses. To overcome hatred in ourselves we must try to see in others only that part of them which is God or good. An when our enemies seem to destroy us we must stand firm in the knowledge that good in the end must triumph over evil.

 

"God is there for all who have the eyes to see Him." These are the words with which Red Cloud began one of his inspirational lectures, and I don’t think I can do better than to quote the words with which this lecture ended: