Beneficent Spiritist Center União do Vegetal General Board of Directors It was here, in the middle of the amazon jungle, that a story of love came into existence, in the early 1960’s. A story of solidarity. Of respect for human beings.
Of overcoming difficulties. Of victory. A commitment firmed with what mankind can have of utmost value: spiritual development.
From the simplicity and wisdom of the caboclo (forest dweller), rubber tapper, José Gabriel da Costa, Mestre Gabriel, a religious movement began, capable of reuniting thousands of people, following the same ideal: the development of moral, intellectual and spiritual virtues of the human being. José Gabriel da Costa is the founder of the Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal (Beneficent Spiritist Center União do Vegetal). A religion where people drink the Hoasca Tea, which is proven harmless to the health.
The Hoasca Tea is the union of the Mariri, a vine, and the leaves of the Chacrona. When united, these plants provide an increased mental concentration ability of the human being. Mestre Gabriel left to his disciples the foundation of the Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal for the use of the tea, and his doctrine, a collection of spiritual teachings that guide towards self-knowledge and promote equilibrium in people's lives, conducting them to a spontaneous, positive and continuous transformation.
The first headquarters of the Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal was built in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil. In 1982, it was transferred to Brasília, the capital of the country. Today, more than half a century after its foundation, the Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal has more than 200 Núcleos and authorized distributions of Vegetal, which serve more than 18,000 members in Brazil, United States, Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland, Italy and Peru.
The growing interest of people to know about the União do Vegetal and the need to assure the legality of the use of the tea before Brazilian authorities were determining factors to stimulate a better institutional organization. The consolidation of the right of the ritualistic use of the Hoasca Tea in Brazil and in the United States is a historical achievement of the União do Vegetal. Administrative, scientific and legal actions have been brought before the Brazilian authorities in order to guarantee the legal recognition of the religions that commune Hoasca Tea, that are committed to its responsible use.
Federal Deputy Perpétua Almeida: "In a way, it is the National Congress, in the name of the Brazilian Constitution, granting the freedom of belief to all the Brazilian people. Thank you very much. " In the United States, the Supreme Court recognized the right to the ritualistic use of the Hoasca Tea, after a long legal battle.
In the fertile soil of solidary practice, the Beneficent works in the União do Vegetal are growing with education as a focus. “Luz do Saber” (Light of Knowledge), an adult and children literacy project through digital inclusion, together with many other actions of assistance, has confirmed the Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal as an institution recognized to be of Federal Public Utility in Brazil. Ecology and spirituality seed the care for Nature in the União do Vegetal, and the responsible use of the native plants required to prepare the tea.
The Plantation Department manages the Núcleos' self-sustainability and the maintenance of the quality of mariri and chacrona, the species that are prepared together to make the Hoasca Tea. From the care with the forest, came into existence a partner institution of União do Vegetal: Associação Novo Encanto de Desenvolvimento Ecológico, one of the biggest environmental associations in Brazil, working for the preservation of nature in almost all Brazilian states (as well as its sister organization in the US, New Enchantment Association for the Preservation of Nature). Seringal Novo Encanto is a former rubber-tapping area managed by that association.
Located in the Amazon, it is an area of approximately 20,000 acres of native rainforest. The colors are green, yellow, blue and white – which reflect the origin of this religion and its identity with nature. That way, the story of Hoasca continues through the members of União do Vegetal.
Brothers and sisters, counselors and mestres, who bring forward the message of Mestre Gabriel to humanity in this sacred institution.
