From The Doctrines For Spiritual Christianity
The representations that come forth in the other life are appearances, but living ones, because they are from the light of life. The light of life is the Divine Wisdom, which is from the Lord alone. Hence all things that come forth from this light are real; and are not like those things that come forth from the light of the world. Wherefore they who are in the other life have sometimes said that the things they see there are real things, and the things which man sees are in comparison not real; because the former things live, and thus immediately affect their life, while the latter things do not live, thus do not immediately affect the life, except in so far and in such a manner as the things in their minds which are of this world’s light conjoin themselves fitly and correspondently with the things of the light of heaven. (Arcana Coelestia 3485)
There is a real light which illumines the understanding, and which is quite distinct from the light which illumines the sight of the body. The light which illumines the understanding is from heaven; but that which illumines the sight of the body is in the world. The light of heaven is from the Lord as a sun there, and is in its essence the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord’s Divine good. (Arcana Coelestia 10569)
When our trials are over, we experience a kind of wavering, and if our trials have been spiritual, it is a vacillation between truth and falsity, as can be seen clearly enough from the fact that trial is the beginning of regeneration. The whole process of rebirth exists in order for us to receive new life, or rather to receive life at all. It exists in order that from being nonhuman we may become human, or from being dead may become alive. So when our previous way of life, which was no better than animal life, breaks down in times of trouble, we cannot help faltering between truth and falsity after the trouble has passed. Truth belongs to the new life, falsity to the old. Unless the earlier way of life is destroyed and this uncertainty takes hold, spiritual seed cannot possibly be sown in us, since there is no soil for it. When disintegration of the prior life is complete, on the other hand, and such hesitation takes its place, we are left with almost no idea what is true or good. We are so unsure that we scarcely know whether anything is true. For instance, we can wonder whether we are capable of doing the good that charity urges (or good works, as people call them) under our own power, when the exercise of our powers involves a sense of merit. Our minds are so cloudy and dark at this point that if someone says that people cannot do any good or earn any merit on their own or under their own power, that all good comes from the Lord and all the credit is the Lord’s, we can only sit there stupefied. It is the same with all other religious questions. Yet slowly, bit by bit, light begins to pierce the murk or darkness we live in. (Arcana Coelestia 848{1-2})
He had previously thought that the inner activity of nature was life; that from it originated the love and wisdom which essentially form a person’s life; and that it was the fire of the sun, acting through its heat and light by means of the atmospheres, which produced these. But now, he said, from what he was hearing about people’s eternal life, he was in a state of vacillation, and this vacillation carried his mind sometimes upward, sometimes down. When it was carried upward, he acknowledged a center of which he had previously known nothing; and when down, he saw the center which he had believed to be the only one; thus thinking that life is from the center of which he had previously known nothing, and that nature is from the center which he had before believed to be the only one, each center having its own expanse surrounding it. (Conjugial Love 380{10})
To think in a spiritual way is to think apart from time and space, while to think in an earthly way is to think in terms of time and space. Every idea that comes out of earthly thinking has some aspect of time and space attached to it. This is not true, however, of spiritual ideas. The reason is that the spiritual world does not have time and space in the way the physical world does; instead the spiritual world has apparent time and space. (True Christian Religion 280{9})
Key Points From The Video
Connecting to Inner Light: Our perceptions gain genuine vitality when linked to the Lord who is the “light of life” and facilitated by understanding spiritual principles. Alignment with good and truth determines perception of reality; disconnection distorts it.
Ennobling or Corrupting Influences: Every pursuit can be ennobled or debased. Materialism corrupts, leading to distorted theology (multiplied gods), Pantheism (deifying nature), and flawed philosophies.
The Power of a Spiritual Outlook: A spiritual view illuminates knowledge with pure light and higher truth, but transformation isn’t instant. Belief doesn’t automatically translate into consistent thinking.
The Struggle for Consistency: We may acknowledge spiritual influx yet subconsciously think as if it were external and influenced by physical processes. Thoughts may initially reflect convictions, but rarely is thinking fully consistent. Over time, truth fades, and thinking reverts to physical space and time.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What enhances our perceptions and gives them vitality?
a. sensory experience
b. spiritual principles integrated into life
c. intellectual pursuits alone
d. material wealth and possessions
Answer b)
2. What is a consequence of a dominant materialist perspective?
a. enhanced spiritual understanding
b. distorted theology and flawed philosophies
c. increased alignment with Divine truth
d. a clearer perception of reality
Answer b)
3. What does the material suggest about the application of spiritual truth?
a. it is instantaneous and automatic
b. it is always perfectly aligned with belief
c. it can be understood intellectually before being consistently applied
d. it is only relevant to religious contexts
Answer c)
4. According to the Text, what can happen over time if we are not diligent in aligning our thoughts with truth?
a. our understanding of truth deepens automatically
b. we become immune to subtle fallacies
c. our spiritual connections strengthen effortlessly
d. truth subtly fades from our minds, and we revert to natural thinking
Answer b)
5. What does the material suggest is the source of light that enables vitality to perceptions?
a. the Lord
b. the physical processes of the brain
c. the sun and other physical bodies
d. academic study
Answer a)
Reflective Questions
1. In what specific areas of your life do you feel a stronger influence of either a material or a spiritual perspective, and how does this influence affect your thoughts and actions?
2. Can you identify any instances where your beliefs about spiritual principles are not consistently reflected in your daily thought patterns and behaviours? What steps can you take to bridge this gap?
3. How can you actively cultivate a greater connection to the “light of life” in your daily activities and relationships, and what specific practices might you incorporate to strengthen this connection?
Experiential Integration
Throughout the day, take regular pauses (e.g., every hour) to examine your thoughts. Ask yourself: Are these thoughts aligned with spiritual principles of love, truth, and service? Are they influenced by materialistic assumptions or fears? If you identify thoughts that are not aligned, gently redirect them toward a more spiritual perspective. For example, if you find yourself worrying about financial security, shift your focus to gratitude for what you already have and trust in a divine provision.
Keep a record of these reflections and realignments in a journal, noting any patterns or insights that emerge.