Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 151
affected in a spiritual way, because by the things in the spiritual
world, all of which have relation to good and truth; and man’s
ignorance of this is because of his not knowing that there is any
light that enlightens the understanding; and yet without the
light that enlightens the understanding man could not think at
all (of which light see above, n. 126–132).
[3] There was a certain spirit who believed that his thought
was from himself, thus without any extension outside of
himself and communication thereby with societies outside of
him. That he might learn that this was not true his
communication with neighboring societies was cut off, and in
consequence, not only was he deprived of thought but he fell
down as if lifeless, although tossing his arms about like a
newborn infant. After a while the communication was restored
to him, and then as it was gradually restored he returned into
the state of his thought.
[4] When other spirits had seen this they confessed that all
thought and affection, and in consequence everything of life,
flow in in accordance with communication, since everything of
man’s life consists in his ability to think and be moved by
affection, or what is the same, in his ability to understand and
will. 150
150. There is only one Life, from which all, both in heaven and in the
world, live (n. 1954, 2021, 2536, 2658, 2886–2889, 3001, 3484, 3742,
5847, 6467).
That life is from the Lord above (n. 2886–2889, 3344, 3484, 4319,
4320, 4524, 4882, 5986, 6325, 6468–6470, 9276, 10196).
It flows into angels, spirits, and men, in a wonderful manner (n.
2886–2889, 3337, 3338, 3484, 3742).
The Lord flows in from His Divine love, which is such that what is its
own it wills should be another’s (n. 3472, 4320).
For this reason life appears to be in man, and not flowing in (n. 3742,
4320).