Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 345
there are two ways that lead to the rational mind of man; a
higher or internal way through which good and truth from the
Lord enter, and a lower or external way through which evil and
falsity enter from hell. The rational mind itself is at the middle
point to which the ways tend. Consequently, so far as light
from heaven is admitted man is rational; but so far as it is not
admitted he is not rational, however rational he may seem to
himself to be. This has been said to make known the nature of
the correspondence of man with heaven and with hell. While
man’s rational mind is being formed it corresponds to the
world of spirits, what is above it corresponding to heaven and
what is below to hell. With those preparing for heaven the
regions above the rational mind are opened, but those below
are closed to the influx of evil and falsity; while with those
preparing for hell the parts below it are opened, and the parts
above it are closed to the influx of good and truth. Thus the
latter can look only to what is below themselves, that is, to hell;
while the former can look only to what is above themselves,
that is, to heaven. To look above themselves is to look to the
Lord, because he is the common center to which all things of
heaven look; while to look below themselves is to look
backwards from the Lord to the opposite center, to which all
things of hell look and tend (see above, n. 123, 124).
431. In the preceding pages whenever spirits are mentioned
those that are in the world of spirits are meant; but when
angels are mentioned those that are in heaven are meant.