From The Doctrines For Spiritual Christianity
The three newcomers, seeing so many books, were astounded and exclaimed: “Books, too, in this world! Whence have you parchment and paper? And pen and ink?” To this the elders replied, “We perceive that in the former world you believed that this world, being spiritual, is empty. You believed so because you thought of the spiritual as abstract from the material, and regarded what is abstract from the material as nothing and thus empty. In truth, here is a fullness of all things. Every thing here is substantial, not material; the material takes its origin from the substantial. We ourselves are spiritual men, being substantial and not material. Hence all things to be found in the natural world are to be found here in perfection, even books and manuscripts and much else.” (Conjugial Love 207)
When he first entered the spiritual world he believed that he was still in the world in which he was born; and although he heard from the angels at first associated with him, that he was then in their world, and not in the former, he said, “But I have the same body, the same hands, and similar senses.” The angels, however, instructed him that he was now in a substantial body, and that previously he was not only in that body, but also in a material body which invested the substantial; and that the material body had been cast off, while there remained the substantial body, by virtue of which a man is a man. (True Christian Religion 798)
The appearance to man is that Divine Truth is not the kind of thing that can bring something into being; for it is thought to be like an utterance which is discharged from the mouth and scattered to the winds. But the reality is altogether different. Divine Truth emanating from the Lord is something very real indeed. Its nature is such that it is the source from which all things come into being and from which all things are kept in being; for what emanates from the Lord is the most real thing in the whole of creation. Such is the nature of Divine Truth, which is called ‘the Word through which all things were made’. (Arcana Coelestia 6880)
Now because every single thing remains in being from the Divine, that is, is constantly coming into being from Him, and every single thing from that source is inevitably a representative of the real thing by means of which it has come into being, the whole visible universe is therefore nothing else than a theatre that is representative of the Lord’s kingdom. And this in turn is a theatre representative of the Lord Himself. (Arcana Coelestia 3483)
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 insofar 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. From all this it is now evident what representations are, and what correspondences. (Arcana Coelestia 3485)
Key Points From The Video
The Superior Reality of Regenerated Will and Intellect: Spiritual beings consider the regenerated will and perceptive intellect as more real than physical matter, which they perceive as insubstantial and merely a base for sensory impressions.
The Lord as the Ultimate Substance: Spiritual beings recognise the Lord as the sole true Substance and Support of all sensory objects, which perfectly reflect their love and thought.
Rejection of an Independent External World: Heavenly wisdom recognises that the perception of an external, spatial world is an appearance arising from the imperfect reception of Divine Life, and that all sensory objects are reflections of their internal states.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What do spiritual beings regard as more real and substantial than physical matter?
a) natural bodily functions
b) financial resources and physical wealth
c) the regenerated will and perceptive intellect
d) the natural world as perceived by humans
Answer c)
2. According to Spiritual Christianity, what is the purpose of physical matter, as perceived by the natural mind?
a) to serve as a base for sensory impressions
b) to be the basis for ultimate reality
c) to provide permanent and independent existence
d) to act as a barrier to spiritual understanding
Answer a)
3. What do spiritual beings recognise as the sole true Substance and Support of all sensory objects?
a) the physical universe
b) the individual mind
c) the natural elements
d) the Lord
Answer d)
4. Why do spiritual beings perceive the external world as an ‘appearance’?
a) because their senses are not fully developed
b) because they are simply mistaken about the nature of reality
c) because of the imperfect reception of Divine Life
d) because they have no sense of physical reality
Answer c)
5. What is the key understanding regarding sensory objects and spatial relationships according to heavenly wisdom?
a) they exist independently of one’s internal states
b) they are reflections of one’s internal states and correspond to their spiritual state
c) they are the most important aspects of reality
d) they have no bearing on spiritual growth
Answer b)
Reflective Questions
1. How does the idea of the regenerated will and intellect being ‘more real’ challenge your current values and priorities?
2. In what ways can acknowledging the Lord as the ultimate Substance transform your perception of the world and your place within it?
3. How can understanding that the external world is a reflection of your internal state encourage you to take greater responsibility for your thoughts and feelings?
Experiential Integration
Throughout the day, take moments to consciously shift your focus from the external world to your internal state. When interacting with others or observing your surroundings, ask yourself: “What is the state of my love and thought that is being reflected in this situation?”. Try to see your own internal landscape as the true source of your experiences and seek ways to more actively choose love and truth within your thoughts and affections.
Further Exploration
That there is one only life, that of the Lord, which flows in and causes man to live, whether he be good or evil, is evident from what has been said and shown above, in the explication of the Word. To that life correspond the recipient things which are vivified by that Divine influx, and this in such a manner that they appear to themselves to live from themselves. This correspondence is that of life with the recipients of life. Such as are the recipients, so they live; those men who are in love and charity are in correspondence, for they are in agreement, and the life is received by them adequately; but those who are in things contrary to love and charity are not in correspondence, because the life itself is not received adequately; hence they have an appearance of life in accordance with their quality. This may be illustrated by many things; as by the organs of motion and of sense in the body, into which the life flows through the soul; according to the qualities of these, such are their actions and sensations. The same may be illustrated also by the objects into which light flows from the sun; the light producing colorings according to the quality of the recipient forms. But in the spiritual world all the modifications that come into existence from the influx of life are spiritual, whence come such differences of intelligence and wisdom. (Arcana Coelestia 3001)
Into our souls three things flow as one from the Lord, and these three as one, or this ‘trine,’ are love, wisdom, and use. But love and wisdom do not emerge except as an idea, because they only reside in affection and thoughts of the mind, but in use they become real, because then they are in the action and work of your body. And where they become real they also become substantial. And because love and wisdom emerge and become substantial in doing things, it is use that excites us, and use is doing the work of your calling faithfully, sincerely, and industriously. “A love of use, and the devotion it brings to usefulness, keep the mind from branching out and wandering around soaking up all the desires that seep in enticingly from your body and the world through the senses, and that scatter to all the winds true religion and true morality, and the benefits of them. But a devotion to use wraps up religion and morality, binds them together, and puts the mind in a state to receive wisdom and its truth. And then it puts aside the illusions and mockeries of both falsities and aimlessness. (Conjugial Love 16)
If one is willing to think wisely, he may know what is the origin of all things on the earth, namely, that it is the Lord; and the reason why they come forth on the earth not ideally but actually, is that all things, both celestial and spiritual, which are from the Lord, are living and essential, or as they are called substantial, and therefore they come forth into actual existence in ultimate nature (see n.1632). (Arcana Coelestia 1808{2})
Mental view from the higher into the lower, or what is the same, from the interior into the exterior, is termed influx, for it takes place by influx; just as in the case of man’s interior sight: unless this continually inflowed into his outer sight, which is that of the eye, this latter could not possibly apprehend and discern any object; for it is the interior sight which, through the eye, apprehends the things which the eye sees; and by no means is it the eye, although it so appears. From all this we may also see how much that man is in the fallacies of the senses who believes that the eye sees; when in fact it is the sight of his spirit, which is the interior sight, that sees through the eye… And even this does not see of itself, for it is the Lord who sees through the internal man, and He is the Only One who sees because He is the Only One who lives, and He it is who gives man the ability to see, and this in such a manner that it appears to him as if he saw of himself. Such is the case with influx. (Arcana Coelestia 1954)
Before Moving On…
Allow yourself some time to reflect on the course as a whole and what came up for you. Remember too that inner reflective work can give rise to states of uncertainty and conflict, as well as opening up many questions. If you would like to talk with someone to explore these more, then please Contact Us.