Selections from “The Astral City,” Part 2 of 2 - Chapter 12: The Lower Zone

Chapter 12: The Lower Zone “After having received such precious elucidations, I felt most anxious to improve my knowledge of some of the facts he had told me about. His references to spirits in the shadowy Lower Zones aroused my curiosity. The lack of religious instruction on Earth is very often the cause of a serious state of confusion over here. What could the Lower Zone be?”

“Lysias continued: ‘The Lower Zone begins on the Earth’s crust. It is the shadowy zone for those who, in the world, turned a deaf ear to the call of their sacred duties, which they failed to fulfill, languishing instead in indecision or dragging themselves into the mire of wrong-doings. You see, on reincarnating, a spirit promises to carry out the mission assigned to him in the Fathers work. Yet, when he recommences his experiences, he finds it very difficult to keep his word. Instead, he blindly follows the dictates of his own selfishness.’

‘How, then, can we expect to enter those luminous spheres in an even worse condition? The Lower Zone is a place where negative mental residues are destroyed. It is a sort of purgatory, where the refuse of the illusions acquired by neglecting the sublime opportunity of an earthly life is gradually burned away.’ ‘An in order to carry out the work of spirit care in the Lower Zones, the Lord has permitted the establishment of several settlements such as ours.’

‘The most strenuous missions in the Lower Zone are assigned to devoted helpers of the Ministry of Assistance. If a fireman’s work in the great cities of Earth is exhausting and dangerous because of the blazing flames and clouds of smoke he has to fight, no lighter is the missionary’s task in the Lower Zone. These missionaries have to withstand heavy fluids emitted by thousands of minds obsessed in the practice of evil, or terribly chastised by redeeming ordeals. I tell you, my friend, a great deal of courage and a superior capacity for self-sacrifice are necessary to be able to help those who are still unable to understand and appreciate the assistance offered them.’

‘Oh, how I would like to work to help those unhappy creatures, to offer them the spiritual bread of enlightenment.’ My friendly attendant looked at me kindly, and after a few moments of reflection, took his leave with this parting remark: ‘I wonder whether you feel duly prepared for such a mission.’”