arely does it happen
that a father and mother in this world see the reward of the care and
trouble they have undergone for their children. Therefore, children, in
return for this care and trouble, must show forth charity and beneficence,
and must implore pardon and forgiveness for their parents. So you ought,
in return for the love and kindness shown you by your father, to give to
the poor for his sake, with greatest submission and humility implore
pardon and remission of sins, and ask for the supreme mercy.

It is even possible that the condition of those who have died in sin and
unbelief may become changed--that is to say, they may become the object of
pardon through the bounty of God, not through His justice--for bounty is
giving without desert, and justice is giving what is deserved. As we have
power to pray for these souls here, so likewise we shall possess the same
power in the other world, which is the Kingdom of God. Are not all the
people in that world the creatures of God? Therefore, in that world also
they can make progress. As here they can receive light by their
supplications, there also they can plead for forgiveness and receive light
through entreaties and supplications. Thus as souls in this world, through
the help of the supplications, the entreaties and the prayers of the holy
ones, can acquire development, so is it the same after death. Through
their own prayers and supplications they can also progress, more
especially when they are the object of the intercession of the Holy
Manifestations.

63: THE PROGRESS OF MAN IN THE OTHER WORLD

Know that nothing which exists remains in a state of repose--that is to
say, all things are in motion. Everything is either growing or declining;
all things are either coming from nonexistence into being, or going from
existence into nonexistence. So this flower, this hyacinth, during a
certain period of time was coming from the world of nonexistence into
being, and now it is going from being into nonexistence. This state of
motion is said to be essential--that is, natural; it cannot be separated
from beings because it is their essential requirement, as it is the
essential requirement of fire to burn.

Thus it is established that this movement is necessary to existence, which
is either growing or declining. Now, as the spirit continues to exist
after death, it necessarily progresses or declines; and in the other world
to cease to progress is the same as to dec