Pró-Vida

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Pró-Vida is a non-profit institution created by medical doctor Celso Charuri (1940-1981) in Brazil in the late seventies, which has grown tremendously in Brazil and spread into other countries. It is a mystical philosophical semi-secret organization, offering nine basic week-long courses teaching a variety of New-Age beliefs. Its headquarters are located in a large property in a wealthy neighborhood of the city of São Paulo. They also possess a large country-club in a nearby city.

It does not disclose the full content of its belief system, one must take the paid courses to acquaint oneself with their theories and teachings. In the courses, given in a lecture-style, the student is asked not to divulge any content presented, "in order not to distort" it.

Due to some extent to the pricing of each course (about US$170), it appeals mostly to middle and upper classes.

The institution also extensively promotes charity through its Tithe Central, whereby anonymous donations can be made.

[edit] Structure

Pró-Vida does not advertise itself, relying instead on the word of the mouth and on triangule-shaped stickers members can stick to the back window of their cars, with the Pró-Vida symbol and the saying "If you are ready, a Greater Force will lead you to Pró-Vida".

The institution usually rents a place in each city to minister its courses. Before enrolling on the first one, called the "Basic Course", one must be approved in a private interview where the applicant is asked what lead her or him to take the course. He or she then proceeds to pay the refundable fee of 350 Brazilian real(as of 2006, roughly US$170). The fee is fully refundable if, at the end of the Course, the student thinks the Pro-Vida phylosophy does not meet his expectations.

The Basic course lasts one week, from Monday to Friday it is on the evening, on Saturday it is in the afternoon and on Sunday in the morning. The student must then repeat the course (free of charge) in order to continue to the following course.

The institution also promotes gatherings at their country-club, usually along with solemnities showcasing the charitable delivery of ambulances and other things to hospitals and schools. Access to the country-club is nowadays mostly restricted to members.

Pró-Vida is mostly present in the state of São Paulo, though other Brazilian states as well as Italy, Spain, Portugal, Argentina and other Latin American countries today possess their Pró-Vida headquarters.

[edit] General Claims

Among the general claims made by Pro-Vida in its courses are:

-Pyramid Power: any solid with the proportion of the Pyramid of Khufu, in any scale, made with any material, aligned due magnetic north. -Pyramid Neurons: as an addendum to pyramid power, it is stated that the pyramid neurons of the cerebral cortex, which make up 80% of neurons in our brain, have the precise shape and proportions of the Pyramid of Khufu. Pyramid neurons are roughly blob-shaped like most cells, they derive their name due to there being one ganglion on one extremity and several on the other.

-Aura: they claim all objects and living beings possess an energy field around them called aura, which can be photographed using the Soviet-invented Kirlian photograph method, and which can be measured by a contraption called Aurimeter, which possesses basically no mechanism, consisting of one metal stick twisted spring-like in its middle attached to a handle by means of a vertical axis and with an especially heavy head on the free extremity. A person would have to merely stand in front of someone or something and measure its aura by approximating the tip of the Aurimeter to the body or object.

Of a more general nature are claims of mental powers such as relaxation techniques, used mainly to project what they term "mental screens", which can be used to "make all your wishes come true". Clairvoyance is also taught.