Reincarnation, simple things in our life, and the importance of faith

Marlene Rossi Severino Nobre interviews Golias, our great comedian

With the purpose of focusing on important experiences in the spiritual field, Folha Espírita has sought out prominent characters from our artistic, sports, literary, and social world for different interviews.  We are not interested in labeling our interviewees as spiritualists.  We sincerely wish to leave the prison of fierce dogmatism and open new perspectives for many souls interested in knowing something more in the almost unexplored sector of spiritual faculties.

In these testimonies, we gather facts, impressions and concepts that positively influence man’s behavior towards a Christian life.  Living according to the Spirit is imperative these days, mainly because most psychological, emotional, and psychiatric disorders and conflicts are based on the great gap between the conquests of the intellect and the acquisition of sentiments.

Extraordinary technological and scientific achievements and limited acquisition of noble feelings – this is the sad balance of man in contemporary society, frightened by the prospect of atomic war, desperate in the face of his own pain.  To speak of a new civilization, where spiritual values – goodness, charity, love – will be cultivated with renewed hope, we bring these interviews to those of you who believe in the survival of the Spirit after physical death, and to those that fight for the introduction of the spiritual kingdom among men, building the admirable world of the spiritualized man.

Golias was serious, very serious indeed.  At first, the conversation was somewhat formal.  The comedian was concerned about how his opinion would come out in print.  “This is perhaps one of the most serious things I have ever done in my whole life,” he said at one point.  But over time, we were able to establish an atmosphere of friendly cordiality.  I asked him if his family had a spiritualist conviction.  “Yes, I have spiritualist grandparents and uncles, going back generations.  My uncle Albano Rayel is from São Carlos, and he has a deep knowledge of spiritualism, like Romeu de Campos Vergal and Chico Xavier.  He would be much more qualified than me to give you this interview.”

Meeting in Uberaba

“I went to visit Chico Xavier at 1 a.m.,” he continued, “right after one of my shows in Uberaba ended.  We had a long chat.  There was a group from São Carlos visiting him that night.  We talked for a long time, and in the middle of the conversation I told the joke about the gardener: there was a billionaire who lived in a spectacular mansion, but he was always worried, nervous, had ulcers and a series of problems.  Every morning, he would watch his gardener from his window, a simple man that was always happy and whistling.  One day the rich man had an idea: he dug a hole in the garden and put a bag of gold coins in it.  After a while, the gardener noticed something strange in the soil and, since he was alone, dug some more.  It turned out to be the bag of gold coins.  From then on, he never whistled again.”  That is not your case, Golias, I interrupted the narrative with a spontaneous exclamation. “Well, I try to stay between the gardener and the rich man…”

Each of us a Chico Xavier

“Together with Chico Xavier, we gathered a wonderful example of the philosophy of life.  It would be especially important for each of us to be a Chico Xavier.  That night, Chico insisted that I pick up my bags from the hotel and go sleep at his house.  After the meeting, we went to the city for coffee at ‘1001’ coffee shop.  It was four in the morning when we went to bed.  And something very interesting happened to me.  I had to catch a plane early in the morning.  Since I really need to sleep eight hours, I usually do not sleep when I have that little time, for fear of missing my flight.  But that night was different.  In the room reserved for me, there were two beds.  Chico said very kindly, ‘Now you are going to sleep in this bed and in the other one you are going to leave all your worries.’  I lay down, slept deeply and only woke up in the morning when I heard a very soft melody.  I was happy as can be.”

The importance of faith

“I really admire my uncle Albano.  He tries to act rigorously within spiritualism.  It is very good to have faith.  I believe that life brings karma, and we must face all our tasks with resignation and understanding.  We live in a time when the work of spiritualism is evident.  For example, only 2% of the population can afford psychiatric or psychoanalytic treatment; the other ninety-eight percent cannot afford to seek such help, and in this case, spiritualism is able to offer, free of charge, the great support that the person needs.  In my opinion, psychiatrists and psychoanalysts themselves should take advantage of the free service that spiritualist schools have to offer.”

The friend I never met

“I believe in the continuation of life after death and also in the great spiritual work guide us.”  I ask if he has any experience to share.

“Yes,” replies Golias.  “When I bought our farm, I wanted to honor Lúcia, my wife, for all her dedication.  Since the beginning of my career, she would wait for me until late in the night, sharing the hours of sacrifice with me.  I also wanted to name the farm after our little daughter Paula and was thinking of merging the two names.  But, by mutual agreement with Lúcia, we decided to use Rampa as the name of our farm.  Rampa is a friend that I have, whom I never met in this life.  I believe he was pleased with this.  I ask Rampa because I know he has already lived, and I also believe that he gives me good intuitions.  I do not mean by this that I pass on my responsibilities to him, absolutely, but I know that he can and has given me good intuitions.”

• There is no victory without hard work

Golias lives in a very comfortable house.  We are on the terrace enjoying the sun and the tranquility of the greenery on one of these winter afternoons.  I ask him if he achieved all this through his job as a comedian.

“Yes, I know of no victory in any field without hard work.  I think the maxim ‘help yourself and Heaven will help you’ is perfect.  We have a duty to fight because we carry within us a divine potential.  For example, each one of us Brazilians represents the government in its obligations.  We have a duty to help the government, becoming useful and responsible citizens.  If our responsibility is great in our work, perhaps the responsibility of the man who hires us is much greater than ours.  That is why we must seek to understand people in our daily activities.”

Golias carries within himself a great spiritual wealth.  We wish to extract as much as possible from many of his concepts of life, so we left him at ease, free to say whatever he wanted.  And here are some of his very timely notes.

• Caring for farm workers

“I always wanted to have a farm.  I finally bought one, but I know that it was given to me as a loan and that spiritual forces are policing me to see what I will do with it.  I am sure that I must take good care of the men who sow the land and produce our food.  When we go to the supermarket, we must not forget the men who work anonymously in the field and with great sacrifice to give us all the comforts that we enjoy.”

• All religions deserve respect

“I respect all religions.  I do not just believe in our philosophy.  The priest, for example, gives great advice to couples, talks about the great problems they will have to face throughout their lives.  We must have the utmost respect for all religions because their purpose is the same.”

• From the computer-man to the fraternal-man

“Today, when progress in industry, agriculture, and the media is driving man toward great intellectual advancement, man should not become a machine.  Parallel to this technical development there must be spiritual progress.  Nowadays, in the fast-paced world in which we live, we must watch our conduct so that we do not become computers.  We must listen to what people have to say.  Human beings are very important.  Children, especially, need a lot of love.  Love is still the best tool to success in life.”

• The value of simple things

“Do you remember the people who helped you a long time ago?  The tailor who once made you a suit?  Have you ever realized that the empty wooden crate of grapes you throw away could be used by a carpenter or by a poor person who needs firewood?  You have a blanket, but have you ever thought that many people do not have any?  Balance in life is very important: you cannot feed yourself only with the spiritual part, but with the strength of the soul you can eat only what is necessary for you to survive.”

• Reincarnation

Golias, do you believe that we live many lives?

“I believe that our stay on Earth can be spent in many installments.  My mission is to make people smile.  I am fulfilling this task in the best way possible, trying to do it with much honesty and respect.”

• Dictionary of everyday problems

Would you have any comments to make about the books received by Chico Xavier?

“These books are great!  We learn a lot from them.  Spiritualists know, for example, that even in a street accident there is a spiritual medical assistance service operating there, and I believe in that.  I would like to highlight two books in particular: Agenda Cristã, by André Luiz, and Sinal Verde, that I would call a dictionary of everyday problems.  I find this book very important.”

We said goodbye to Lúcia and Golias.  He had an ample smile on his face.  I hope I have presented him from another angle, one that you do not usually see: the serious, philosophical, and loyal friend, Ronald Golias.