From The Doctrines For Spiritual Christianity
There are two things proper to the natural order which have no existence in heaven, and even less in the Divine, namely space and time. For their non-existence in heaven and the existence of states instead – states of being instead of ‘space’, and states of coming-into-being or manifestation instead of ‘time’ – see 2625, 3938; and for the fact that areas of space and periods of time in heaven are states. But within the Divine which is above the heavens the absence of space and time is even more complete; for not even states exist within Him. Instead of space there is what is infinite, and instead of time what is eternal. These two are what periods of time or areas of space in the world correspond to, and are what states of being and of coming-into-being in the heavens correspond to. (Arcana Coelestia 6983)
The angels taken collectively are called heaven, for they constitute heaven; and yet that which makes heaven in general and in particular is the Divine that goes forth from the Lord and flows into the angels and is received by them. And as the Divine that goes forth from the Lord is the good of love and the truth of faith, the angels are angels and are heaven in the measure in which they receive good and truth from the Lord. (Heaven and Hell 7)
After this the angel with the trumpet said to them:’ You can now see that the joys of heaven and everlasting happiness are not places, but are the conditions of a person’s life. The conditions of life in heaven arise from love and wisdom; and because it is service which holds together love and wisdom, the conditions of life in heaven are due to their combination in service. It is the same if one speaks of charity, faith and good deeds, since charity is love, faith is the truth which leads to wisdom, and good deeds are services. Moreover, there are in our spiritual world places just as there are in the natural world, otherwise we should have nowhere to live or any separate dwellings. But place there is not really place, but an appearance of space depending on one’s condition with respect to love and wisdom, that is, to charity and faith. (Conjugial Love 10{7})
That heaven is not a place but a state of life. All who come from the world bring with them the opinion that heaven is on high, thus in place; for which reason, they say that they wish to be raised up into heaven. But they do not know that heaven is not a place, but a state of life, namely, of the life of love, charity and faith; and that, though they appear in a higher place than others, place is an appearance. (Spiritual Experiences 5125)
All the societies of heaven have communication with one another, but not by open intercourse, for few go out of their own society into another. This is because going out of their own society is like going away from themselves or from their own life and passing into another life which is less congenial. Yet all communicate by an extension of the sphere which goes forth from the life of each. This sphere of the life is the sphere of the affections of love and faith. This sphere extends itself far and wide into the societies around, extending further and wider in proportion as the affections are more interior and more perfect. In the measure of that extension, the angels have intelligence and wisdom. Those who are in the inmost heaven, and in the middle of it, have extension into the whole heaven; thus there is communication of all in heaven with each one and of each one with all. (Heaven and Hell 49)
Communities differ in nature from one another according to the way their mutual love and faith in the Lord varies. These differences are so countless that it is not possible to count up even the most general kinds of them. Even the smallest of differences fits into the perfectly ordered arrangement of the whole, and so contributes in perfect unanimity to a general unity, as does the general unity to the unanimity among individuals. Each individual therefore contributes to the happiness of all, and all to that of each individual. Consequently every angel and every community is an image of the whole of heaven and is so to speak heaven in miniature. (Arcana Coelestia 684)
Key Points From The Video
The Divine Omnipresence: God’s omnipresence in heaven is non-spatial and non-temporal, transcending physical dimensions and constraints of space and time.
The Nature of Heaven: Heaven is a state of mind rather than a physical location, realised through the collective consciousness and spiritual states of angelic beings.
Collective Angelic Minds: The form of heaven is the harmonious integration and interaction of diverse angelic minds, each contributing to the well-being of the whole.
Spiritual Communication: Communication in heaven occurs through affections and thoughts, reflecting internal spiritual connections rather than external expressions.
Divine Order: Spiritual forms and adaptations in heaven are aligned with Divine order, reflecting the dynamic and evolving nature of angelic consciousness.
Collective Well-Being: The collective well-being in heaven is achieved through mutual love and the renunciation of selfishness, fostering a state where the happiness of each individual enhances the happiness of the entire community.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What does Divine omnipresence in heaven imply?
a) God occupies a specific spatial dimension in heaven.
b) God’s presence transcends spatial and temporal constraints.
c) God is present only in certain parts of heaven.
d) God exists only in the physical realm.
Answer: b)
2. How is heaven described in Spiritual Christianity?
a) A physical place with defined spatial boundaries.
b) A place filled with material riches and rewards.
c) A distant, unreachable realm.
d) A state of mind reflecting collective angelic consciousness.
Answer: d)
3. What characterises the form of heaven?
a) Fixed physical structures and locations.
b) The harmonious integration of angelic minds.
c) A strict hierarchical order.
d) Static and unchanging spiritual forms.
Answer: b)
4. In heaven, communication primarily occurs through:
a) Verbal and physical expressions.
b) Written messages and symbols.
c) Affections and thoughts.
d) Telepathic commands from God.
Answer: c)
5. How does heaven achieve collective well-being?
a) Through the subordination of self-love to mutual love.
b) By enforcing strict rules and regulations.
c) By segregating individuals based on spiritual status.
d) Through material rewards and punishments.
Answer: a)
Reflective Questions
1. How does understanding heaven as a non-spatial and non-temporal state of mind influence your perspective on Divine omnipresence?
2. In what ways can the idea of collective well-being in heaven shape our approach to community and relationships on Earth?
3. How does the concept of communication through affections and thoughts in heaven enhance your understanding of spiritual connections?
Experiential Integration
Mindfulness of Divine Presence
Meditative Exercise: Spend 15 minutes reflecting on the presence of Divine love and wisdom in your life. Focus on moments when you feel connected to a higher purpose or experienced inner peace. Visualise this presence not as something external but as an integral part of your consciousness, guiding your thoughts and actions.
Life Task: As you go about the activities in your day, cultivate an awareness of Divine omnipresence by observing your mental and spiritual state. Note whether the states lean towards or away from Spiritual Christianity’s descriptions of a non-material heaven.
Creative Integration
Choose one of the key points from the video and try to express and integrate it creatively through your senses. Pick a modality to do this through, perhaps a different one from what you chose for the previous module. Consider drawing or painting, making or listening to music, poetry, exercise, gardening, cooking, or even just watching the colourful or dramatic impressions of the natural world. There are so many ways you can engage with it. Record your insights from this exercise and also document any differences in what is awakened in you with this new modality.
You will have your own personal preferences, but here are two pieces of music and art that you might like to use for inspiration to get you started. Try to be sensitive to the emotions and thoughts that present as you engage with these, and reflect on how this might relate to your chosen key point.
Music
“The Planets: Neptune, the Mystic” by Gustav Holst
Visual Art
“The School of Athens” by Raphael