Duty is the whole of the prescriptions of the moral law, the rule of man's conduct in his relations with his fellows and with the whole universe. Noble and holy figure, it hovers above humanity, inspiring great sacrifices, pure abnegations and beautiful enthusiasms. Smiling to some, fearful to others, ever inflexible, he rises before us and shows us the ladder of progress whose steps are lost in immeasurable heights.

Duty is not the same for everyone. It varies, according to our condition and our knowledge. The higher we rise, the more greatness, majesty and extension it acquires in our eyes. And always its worship is sweet and good, and submission to its laws is fertile in intimate joys to which nothing can equal.

However dark a man's condition may be, however humble his lot, duty dominates and ennobles his life. To him we owe that serenity of spirit, that inner calm, more precious than all the goods of earth, which we can taste even in the midst of suffering, and which our destiny must follow its rigorous line; but we can always, even in the midst of storms, secure for ourselves the peace of conscience, the satisfaction which the fulfilment of duty brings to ourselves.

The feeling of duty is deeply rooted in every high spirit. It goes its way without effort; by a natural tendency, the result of acquired progress, it turns away from vile things and directs the impulses of its Being towards the good. Duty then becomes an obligation of every moment, the very condition of existence, a power to which we feel indissolubly bound, both in life and in death.

Duty has many forms. There is duty to ourselves, which consists in respecting ourselves, in governing ourselves wisely, in not wanting, in doing only what is worthy, useful and good. There is professional duty, which demands that we conscientiously fulfil the obligations of our office. There is social duty, which invites us to love men, to work for them, to serve our country and mankind faithfully. There is duty to God. Duty has no limits. It can always be improved, and in self-immolation the Self finds the surest means of self-aggrandisement and self-purification.

Honesty is the very essence of the moral man. As soon as he departs from it, he is unhappy. The honest man does good for good's sake, without seeking approval or reward. Ignoring hatred and revenge, he forgets offences and forgives his enemies. He is kind to all and charitable to the humble. In every man he sees a brother, whatever his country and whatever his faith. Full of tolerance, he respects sincere beliefs, forgives the faults of others, brings out their virtues and never murmurs. He uses with moderation the goods that life bestows on him, devotes them to social betterment, and, in poverty, envies no one.

Honesty before the world is not always honesty according to divine laws. Public opinion has its value; it sweetens the practice of good, but it cannot be regarded as infallible. The sensible man does not disdain it, no doubt; but when it is unjust or insufficient, he disregards it and adjusts his duty to a safer rule. Merit and virtue are sometimes unknown on earth, and the judgments of the multitude are often influenced by their passions and material interests. Above all, the honest man seeks his own estimation and the approval of his conscience.

El que ha sabido comprender todo el alcance moral de la enseñanza de los Espíritus tiene del deber una concepción más alta aún. Sabe que la responsabilidad es correlativa con el saber; que la posesión de los secretos de ultratumba le impone la obligación de trabajar con más energía por su mejoramiento y e de sus hermanos. Las voces de lo alto han hecho vibrar en él sus ecos y han despertado fuerzas que duermen en la mayor parte de los hombres, solicitándole poderosamente en su marcha ascensional. Un noble ideal le estimula y le atormenta a la vez, y hace de él la irrisión de los malos, pero él no lo cambiaría por todos los tesoros de un imperio. La práctica de la caridad se le ha hecho fácil. Le ha enseñado a desarrollar su sensibilidad y sus cualidades afectivas. Compasivo y bueno, sufre por todos los males de la humanidad; quiere compartir con sus compañeros de infortunio las esperanzas que a él le sostienen; quisiera enjugar todas las lágrimas, curar todas las llagas, suprimir todos los dolores…

The constant practice of duty leads to perfection. To accelerate this, we must first study ourselves carefully and subject our actions to scrupulous judgement. Evil cannot be remedied without knowing it.

We can even study ourselves in other men. If any vice, if any unpleasant defect strikes us in them, let us carefully investigate whether an identical germ exists in us, and, if we discover it, let us devote ourselves to tearing it out.

Let us consider our soul for what it really is, namely, an admirable, though very imperfect work, and let us note that it is our duty to beautify and adorn it without ceasing. This thought of our imperfection will make us more modest and will keep presumption and foolish vanity away from us.

Let us submit ourselves to a rigorous discipline. As the bush is given the right shape and direction, we can also modify the tendencies of our moral Being. The habit of the good makes its practice comfortable. Only the first efforts are painful. Let us learn, first of all, to master ourselves. Impressions are fleeting and changeable; the will is the solid background of the soul. Let us learn to govern that will, to make ourselves masters of our impressions, never to be dominated by them.

The man haven't isolate himself from his fellow men. But it is important for him to choose his relations, his friends, to make up his mind to live in an honest and pure environment where only good influences reign, where there are only peaceful and beneficent fluids.

Let us avoid frivolous talk, idle chatter that leads to slander. Whatever the result may be, let us always speak the truth. Let us often immerse ourselves in study and recollection. In this way the soul finds new strength and new light. May we be able to say to ourselves at the end of each day: ‘I have done a useful work, I have made a success of myself, I have helped, I have comforted the unfortunate, I have enlightened my brothers, I have worked to make them better, I have done my duty’.

León Denis – The Straight Path ┃ Spiritist concept of the moral law