From The Doctrines For Spiritual Christianity
For when man is not in good, that is, when he is not in charity toward the neighbor, then even if the veriest truths are told him, he receives them not, for then it is not at all perceived what is true, because the light of truth falls into such things as are of the body and the world, which alone are attended to, and alone are loved and estimated as real; but not into such things as are of heaven, because with such men these are relatively of little or no account. Thus the light of truth is absorbed and smothered in what is densely dark, as is the light of the sun in what is black. (Arcana Coelestia 6000)
It is said that good from the Lord may be implanted in knowledges, also that truth is the recipient of good. They who have no other idea of knowledges, and also of truths, than that they are abstract things (such an idea as most people have also concerning thoughts), can in no wise apprehend what is meant by good being implanted in knowledges, and by truth being the recipient of good. But be it known that knowledges and truths are things no more abstracted from the purest substances of the interior man, that is, of the spirit, than sight is abstracted from its organ the eye, or than hearing is abstracted from its organ the ear. There are purer substances, and those real, from which knowledges and thoughts come forth into manifest being; and whose variations of form when animated and modified by the influx of life from the Lord, present them to view; while their agreements and harmonies, in succession or simultaneously, affect the mind, and constitute what is called beautiful, pleasant, and delightful. Spirits themselves equally with men are forms, that is, consist of continuous forms, but of a purer nature, and not visible to the bodily sight. And because these forms or substances are not visible to the bodily eye, man at this day apprehends no otherwise than that knowledges and thoughts are abstract things; hence also comes the insanity of our age-that men do not believe that they have a spirit within them which is to live after the death of the body, when yet this spirit is a substance much more real than the material substance of its body; nay, if you will believe it, the spirit, after being freed from bodily things, is that very purified body which many say they are to have at the time of the Last Judgment, when they believe that they shall first rise again. That spirits, or what is the same, souls, have a body, see each other as in clear day, discourse together, hear each other, and enjoy much more exquisite sense than while they were in the body or in the world, may be seen very clearly from what has been so abundantly related above from experience. (Arcana Coelestia 3726{3-4})
After these words. That this signifies after the things which precede, is evident from the signification of “words,” in the original language, as being things; here therefore “after these words” means after these things, thus after the things which precede. That “words,” in the original language signify things also, is because “words,” in the internal sense signify truths of doctrine; and therefore all Divine truth in general is called the “Word,” and the Lord Himself, from whom comes all Divine truth, is in the supreme sense the “Word” (n. 1288). And because nothing that exists in the universe is anything, that is, is a real thing, unless it is from Divine good by Divine truth, therefore “words” in the Hebrew language mean things also. That nothing in the universe is anything, that is, a real thing, unless it is from Divine good by Divine truth, that is, by the “Word,” is plain in John: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made (John 1:1, 3). The interior significations of expressions for the most part originate in the interior man, which is among spirits and angels; for every man as to his spirit, or as to that very man which lives after the decease of the body, is in company with angels and spirits, although the external man is not aware of this; and because he is in company with them, he is also with them in the universal language, and thus in the origins of words. Hence there are imparted to words many significations which in the external form appear out of agreement, although in the internal form they are entirely in agreement-as here, that “words” signify things. It is the same in a host of cases, as that the understanding is called the inward “sight,” light being attributed to it. (Arcana Coelestia 5075{1-2})
That the enjoyments of scortatory love are the pleasures of insanity, but the enjoyments of conjugial love are the delights of wisdom.That the enjoyments of scortatory love are the pleasures of insanity is because no others are in that love but natural men, and in spiritual things the natural man, being against them, is insane. Therefore he embraces only natural, sensual, and corporeal enjoyments. It is said that he embraces natural, sensual, and corporeal enjoyments because the natural is distinguished into three degrees. Natural men in the highest degree are those who from rational sight see the insanities and yet are carried away by the enjoyments thereof, as boats by the current of a stream. Natural men in a lower degree are those who see and judge only from the senses of the body, spurn things rational as being contrary to appearances and fallacies, and reject them as worthless trifles. Natural men in the lowest degree are those who, being without judgment, are carried away by the alluring heats of their body. The latter are called corporeal-natural, the former sensual-natural, and the first natural. With them are also the same degrees of scortatory love and of its insanities and pleasures. (Conjugial Love 442 XVI)
Key Points From The Video
The Misinterpretation of Natural Light: Perceptions in the light of this world, filtered through the ‘natural mind,’ are prone to error, leading to the belief that lives are separate from the Divine Life and that space exists independently of the mind.
Correction through Heavenly Light: States of thought belonging to the light of heaven correct natural mind errors. When this happens, objects of natural perception become real and alive, revealing that life flows continuously from the Lord.
Transformation into Living Realities: When truths are acknowledged, objects of nature are transformed into living realities, connected to the light of life, no longer lifeless shadows.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. According to the Spiritual Christianity, what is prone to error when interpreting our thoughts and experiences?
a. the physical senses
b. the natural mind
c. logical reasoning
d. Divine inspiration
Answer b)
2. What than can correct the errors of the natural mind?
a. scientific experimentation
b. sensory deprivation
c. states of thought belonging to the light of heaven
d. philosophical inquiry
Answer c)
3. From where does our life continuously flow, according to the material?
a. from our own inherent power
b. from external sources in the material world
c. from random
d. chance from the Lord
Answer d)
4. When the truth is acknowledged, what happens to the objects of nature?
a. they vanish from our perception
b. they remain lifeless and unreal shadows
c. they become transformed into living realities
d. they reveal their true physical composition
Answer c)
5. The higher light of heaven corrects misinterpretations produced by what source?
a. the light of natural reasonings
b. the warmth of a fire
c. the shining of the sun
d. the light of scientific truth
Answer a)
Reflective Questions
1. How does the concept of “natural light” apply to your everyday experiences, and where do you see evidence of the potential for misinterpretation in your own thinking?
2. In what specific areas of your life do you feel a need for “heavenly light” to correct mistaken impressions, and what steps can you take to cultivate greater receptivity to spiritual truth?
3. How does the understanding that your life flows continuously from the Lord change your perspective on challenges, successes, and relationships?
Experiential Integration
Choose one object or situation you encounter during the day. First, observe it through the lens of your “natural mind,” noting the initial thoughts and feelings that arise. Then, consciously shift your perspective, seeking to perceive it through the “light of heaven.” Ask yourself: What higher purpose or spiritual meaning might this object or situation be revealing? How does it connect to the flow of life from the Lord?
Record your reflections in a journal, comparing your initial impressions with your enlightened understanding.