From The Doctrines For Spiritual Christianity
Heaven with all people in general and with each person in particular consists in the reception of influx from the Divine. (Arcana Coelestia 8899)
Heaven is conjunction with the Lord. Heaven is not heaven owing to the angels, but owing to the Lord, for the love and wisdom which angels possess and which make heaven come not from them but from the Lord. Indeed love and wisdom are the Lord in them. Moreover, because love and wisdom are the Lord’s and are the Lord in heaven, and love and wisdom form the angels’ life, it is apparent also that their life is the Lord’s, indeed is the Lord. The angels themselves confess that they have their life from the Lord. It can be seen from this that heaven is conjunction with the Lord. But because conjunction with the Lord varies, and heaven is therefore not the same for one as for another, it follows also that heaven is heaven according to one’s conjunction with the Lord. (Divine Providence 28)
Heaven consists of countless communities. They all vary, and yet all are one, for all are led as one by the Lord. … A parallel also exists with the human body, which has different ways of exerting its strength and of moving. Nevertheless all are controlled by one motion of the heart and one of the lungs, and together make one. The reason they are able to function as one in this way is that in heaven there is one single influx which is received by everyone according to his own disposition. This influx is an influx of affections from the Lord, from His mercy and life. And although there is one influx only, everything nevertheless conforms and follows as one. And this comes about through the mutual love shared by those in heaven. (Arcana Coelestia 1285)
It can in no sense be said that heaven is outside of any one; it is within him. For it is in accordance with the heaven that is within him that each angel receives the heaven that is outside of him. This makes clear how greatly misled is he who believes that to come into heaven is simply to be taken up among angels, without regard to what one’s interior life may be, thus that heaven is granted to each one by mercy apart from means; when, in fact, unless heaven is within one, nothing of the heaven that is outside can flow in and be received. (Heaven and Hell 54)
There is in the affection of the will of every angel a latent tendency which induces the mind to do something; and this tranquillises and satisfies it. Satisfaction and tranquillity create a state of mind receptive of the love of use from the Lord; and it is from the reception of this love that heavenly happiness results… Heavenly food in its essence is the harmonious union of love, wisdom and use; that is, use from love through the exercise of wisdom. (True Christian Religion 6{6})
The regeneration of a person begins in the world and carries on forever, for when a person becomes an angel he is always being made more perfect. In the human being there are outward things, inward things, and inmost ones. All these are arranged into order simultaneously and in successive stages for the purpose of the things to be received in the subsequent states following on forever. (Arcana Coelestia 10048{2})
Key Points From The Video
Dynamic State of Spiritual Existence: Heaven is a dynamic state where Divine love and wisdom are continuously received and manifested, facilitating ongoing mental and spiritual renewal.
Reception of Divine Love and Wisdom: Heaven is characterised by the reception of Divine love and wisdom into finite spiritual forms, aligning individual and collective minds with Divine purposes.
Spiritual Forms and Divine Purposes: The spiritual forms of mind in heaven are ordered to fulfil Divine purposes, promoting continuous spiritual growth and happiness.
Intellectual Sight Beyond Space and Time: Angels perceive their sensory world through spiritual insights, free from natural notions of space and time, focusing on the meaning of their inner states rather than external objects.
Transformation and Alignment: The essence of heavenly life lies in the transformative reception of Divine influence, leading to greater love, wisdom, and fulfilment, rather than any physical or temporal location.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is the central characteristic of heaven in Spiritual Christianity?
a) A fixed physical location with spatial boundaries.
b) A dynamic state of spiritual existence involving continuous renewal.
c) A temporary place for soul purification.
d) A material realm with physical manifestations of Divine power.
Answer: b)
2. How are Divine love and wisdom received in heaven?
a) Through rituals and physical practices.
b) By occupying specific spiritual spaces.
c) As infinite Divine life into finite spiritual forms.
d) Through material wealth and rewards.
Answer: c)
3. What is the primary focus of angelic intellectual sight?
a) External objects and their physical properties.
b) Detailed analysis of spatial dimensions.
c) Temporal progression of events.
d) The meaning of inner states of life beyond space and time.
Answer: d)
4. How do angels perceive their sensory world?
a) Through natural senses limited by space and time.
b) By abstracting spiritual truths from notions of space and time.
c) Using material objects and their locations.
d) By focusing on physical manifestations of Divine love.
Answer: b)
5. What underscores the true essence of heavenly life?
a) The ongoing, ordered reception of Divine influence.
b) Physical or temporal location.
c) Adherence to strict physical rituals.
d) Material rewards and external achievements.
Answer: a)
Reflective Questions
1. How does the understanding of heaven as a dynamic state of spiritual renewal change your perspective on personal spiritual growth and fulfilment?
2. In what ways can the concept of perceiving beyond space and time help you reinterpret your own experiences and inner states?
3. How might the idea of continuous alignment with Divine love and wisdom influence your approach to daily challenges and relationships?
Experiential Integration
Practice of Spiritual Reflection
Meditative Exercise: Spend 10-15 minutes in quiet reflection, focusing on aligning your thoughts and emotions with Divine love and wisdom. Consider how your daily experiences and interactions reflect or challenge this alignment. Use this time to mentally renew your commitment to spiritual growth and purpose.
Life Task: Take note of the interactions you have with others in your day and consider what your function in the exchange might be described as if it were to be framed as a part of the human body.
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
“Father Time” by Ralph Towner, Slava Grigoryan, and Wolfgang Muthspiel
Visual
“Group IV, The Ten Largest, No. 2, Childhood,” by Hilma af Klint