Has anyone here ever studied Emmanuel Swedenborg's experiences? I have always been spiritual, but somehow this guy opened my mind to so much. I can defiitely see and feel a positive change within me and outwardly since studying him. I have a peace like I've never known....even amidst all the crap going on in my life right now. Just curious if anyone else out there was impacted like this.
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Swedenborg
- Thread starter kvsouth69
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Swedenborg who was reported to emit sparks of light from his feet when walking on the grass?
Yes, I would say he's one of the more interesting mystics. Maybe one of the few who's been enlightened through a form of Christianity.
What are you reading?
Yes, I would say he's one of the more interesting mystics. Maybe one of the few who's been enlightened through a form of Christianity.
What are you reading?
I just finished the portable version of Heaven and Hell (amazing!) and now Im reading about Angelic Wisdom. There is so much out there. Did you know a lot of hte books out there were from his diaries that were found after his death and published 50 yrs later? It's definitely deep reading, but has so much substance and really makes you think. For me, it really makes me evaluate myself. A lot of what he said I always believed in my heart (and caught hell from christians for it), but I couldn't explain why I believed it until reading Swedenborg. He not only confirmed my beliefs but articulated in a way that explained it perfectly. What have you read?
Xorkoth
Bluelight Crew
I'll have to look him up, this is the first I've heard of this person.
Wow, Swedenborg is one of the few I haven't actually read in depth, although I've always been meaning to. Whenever I've picked up one of his works it just seems hard to get through. Not easy reading, I guess, but I'm sure it would be worthwhile.
I'd love if you could sum up some of his teachings for those who are curious. And if you like him you might also like the Christian mystic/Theosophist Geoffrey Hodson who was a great visionary and especially described his visions of the angel/elemental kingdom in a very beautiful and artistic way. Although you have to buy his books as I think there's hardly anything on the net, but well worth it (I quoted some of him in Mystic Texts).
It's strange how we have this whole underground world of Christian mystics who are almost never mentioned as they're frowned upon by regular Christians and others don't know what they're about either. And of course there's Peter Deunov and Omraam Mikael Aivanhov, who I consider the best of all.
I'd love if you could sum up some of his teachings for those who are curious. And if you like him you might also like the Christian mystic/Theosophist Geoffrey Hodson who was a great visionary and especially described his visions of the angel/elemental kingdom in a very beautiful and artistic way. Although you have to buy his books as I think there's hardly anything on the net, but well worth it (I quoted some of him in Mystic Texts).
It's strange how we have this whole underground world of Christian mystics who are almost never mentioned as they're frowned upon by regular Christians and others don't know what they're about either. And of course there's Peter Deunov and Omraam Mikael Aivanhov, who I consider the best of all.
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His writings are VERY deep, but I'd highly recommend Heaven and Hell. He takes a spiritual approach to all concept of the bible, and everything is about correspondences. (example, the sun is our light and heat in the natural world, while God's light is the light (which is truth) and heat (which is love) in the spiritual world. It makes you really examine who you are inside--something most of use don't even know because we are taught from childhood to be concerned about our external appearances. When you start asking those questions, you'll find how really stumped you truly are and begin to question your true motives and loves.
He was WAY ahead of his times (1700s) and a lot of what he said proved to be accurate (he was a genius in just about every subject and a very high ranking gov't official). He had to publish the books anonymously, which they found him out in his 80s, and went to court due to it. What I find most amazing it that it has NOTHING to do with religion and basically EVERY religion is right but all that doesn't matter. He tells you what exactly happens from the moment of death and how people end up in heaven or hell, what is really is (not the fire and brimstome we think of) and how WE actually PUT ourselves there bc that's what WE WANT or love.
For example, somone who loves money more than anything wont be in heaven where people find joy in serving and being good to their neighbor, so they find those like them to keep company with and that is in a community of hell. Very deep stuff. If you don't want to read (which you can download any free books from the swedenborg foundation) I would recommend watching a youtube or 2 episodes of Swedenborg and Life from OfftheLeftEye...there are so many to choose from.
Oh! A very important part of Swedenborg's teaching is that in the afterlife we no longer have the ability to deceive others with what is in our hearts. Here someone can donate to charity and look good, yet the motive might be to get elected for power, or to become popular, or to hide the evils they have done, or to look 'righteous', or simply because they truly love the cause they are donating to. We can't tell because we all outwardly look the same. In the afterlife, there is no way to deceive bc our thoughts are out there for everyone to see and we no longer have the concern of how we appear, so what we truly are at heart we pursue with passion---good being good things, and evil being evil things. If you see it this way you can see how people could end up in a heaven or a hell. And heaven and hell are state of minds rather than streets of gold like so many thing. So there's NO way to get into heaven if you are evil, because that would not correspond with your state of mind. You'd find pleasure in what we would think of as hell. As absurd as that sounds--I find it highly believable...more believeable the the God who uses a reward/punishment system (which I find totally manmade because I think God is deeper than that).
He was WAY ahead of his times (1700s) and a lot of what he said proved to be accurate (he was a genius in just about every subject and a very high ranking gov't official). He had to publish the books anonymously, which they found him out in his 80s, and went to court due to it. What I find most amazing it that it has NOTHING to do with religion and basically EVERY religion is right but all that doesn't matter. He tells you what exactly happens from the moment of death and how people end up in heaven or hell, what is really is (not the fire and brimstome we think of) and how WE actually PUT ourselves there bc that's what WE WANT or love.
For example, somone who loves money more than anything wont be in heaven where people find joy in serving and being good to their neighbor, so they find those like them to keep company with and that is in a community of hell. Very deep stuff. If you don't want to read (which you can download any free books from the swedenborg foundation) I would recommend watching a youtube or 2 episodes of Swedenborg and Life from OfftheLeftEye...there are so many to choose from.
Oh! A very important part of Swedenborg's teaching is that in the afterlife we no longer have the ability to deceive others with what is in our hearts. Here someone can donate to charity and look good, yet the motive might be to get elected for power, or to become popular, or to hide the evils they have done, or to look 'righteous', or simply because they truly love the cause they are donating to. We can't tell because we all outwardly look the same. In the afterlife, there is no way to deceive bc our thoughts are out there for everyone to see and we no longer have the concern of how we appear, so what we truly are at heart we pursue with passion---good being good things, and evil being evil things. If you see it this way you can see how people could end up in a heaven or a hell. And heaven and hell are state of minds rather than streets of gold like so many thing. So there's NO way to get into heaven if you are evil, because that would not correspond with your state of mind. You'd find pleasure in what we would think of as hell. As absurd as that sounds--I find it highly believable...more believeable the the God who uses a reward/punishment system (which I find totally manmade because I think God is deeper than that).
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I completely agree with you, and I tell you, it's through this research that I've found deeper spirituality than any church was able to give me. You will find what you seek--and I truly sought hard. I'll have to look into those that you named. I have a passion for this, and opening my mind and not just listening to the status quo--esp when it comes to religion.
The youtube shows are every Monday a 8 EST, and you can ask questions...they've gotten some of mine taht I was just being silly with the other spectators, but it actually got addressed...so be careful lol
can we post links? If so, just pick one that strikes your fancy and let's talk about it!
https://www.youtube.com/user/offTheLeftEye/videos
can we post links? If so, just pick one that strikes your fancy and let's talk about it!
https://www.youtube.com/user/offTheLeftEye/videos
Yep, it's like hidden in plain sight. Christianity is kind of shoved down our throats, or at least used to be, so everyone think they know what it's all about. When what is commonly known is very little, or a very small part of it, and the really interesting or useful parts you have to work really hard for.
Spirituality and Christianity has taken on an entire new meaning in my life since I stopped feeding from the regurgitated interpretations of others. That's all the denominations are anyway, interpretations. You think God wanted to make it so damn difficult for us to know who to believe that we end up never knowing him because we treat it as a football game of which denomination wins? NO! You read the Word yourself, and you find it speaks to you. And it speaks to everyone differently--in just the way that person needs. That is what I find so amazing about it--that it truly IS alive! And the dual meanings in every part of every word! But Swedenborg was who I related to the most (and he claimed he was allowed these experiences--and he was far from a nutcase--they've tried to prove that), but regardless of if it happened or not, it's truly helped me and entirely changed my life and is continuing to change it. Reading the bible used to be a chore. Now it's as exciting as Game of Thrones. Ok, shouldn't compare the two....but the passion for it is the same for me now!
Oh yeah, and I've been called anti-christian and going to hell for saying what I said above......I can certainly understand why christianity is so hated. Most of them I know (esp in the south) don't even live by the concepts at all. And the really bad ones are the ones with the biggest damn mouths.
When you view the major religions almost purely as political programs used to carry out various social agendas I think it can be easier to separate from the whole personal spiritual thing. The problem is so many want to do the opposite and that doesn't really help anyone.
Christianity just happens to be the one in our own backyard that comes along to annoy us. Although since the advent of television and the mass media it has been in steady declined (after the second world war or so). No need for a church and preacher man to gain support for war when we can get 24/7 news broadcasts sent into our living-room, much more effective.
While not long before that you could be killed for not believing in and practicing it as it was the one real tool for mass control and economical/political influence. No one really cares about your spiritual beliefs, even though many can feel they can are being rebellious not going along with certain beliefs. I think in this world the only thing people really care about is what you DO and spend your money on. Your personal relationship with God, not so much.
Christianity just happens to be the one in our own backyard that comes along to annoy us. Although since the advent of television and the mass media it has been in steady declined (after the second world war or so). No need for a church and preacher man to gain support for war when we can get 24/7 news broadcasts sent into our living-room, much more effective.
While not long before that you could be killed for not believing in and practicing it as it was the one real tool for mass control and economical/political influence. No one really cares about your spiritual beliefs, even though many can feel they can are being rebellious not going along with certain beliefs. I think in this world the only thing people really care about is what you DO and spend your money on. Your personal relationship with God, not so much.
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Religion has always been a way to control the masses, brainwash people, and 'force' people to think as the powers that be want you to. Think about the Inquisition. And the Holocaust.So many have died in the name of religion. And right here in the US we are just months away from declaring war against Christians. Yeah, we think we are too sophisticated to repeat what's been done in the past--but notice how the media and powers that be have desensitized the nation to the point that it's openly accepted and even encouraged to "hate' on Christians. There's a deeper agenda at work. That's why I shun all organized religions and prefer to be spiritual in my OWN way, allowing my God to speak to my spirit and guide me. I don't trust any 'man' to tell me how to think or what to believe.