Swedenborg 101: The Basic Nature of Everything

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How do you interpret that scripture?

I really like how Swedenborg, Steiner, and others have delved into the symbolic meanings of the scriptures. One of the biggest takeaways is to truly liken the scriptures unto ourselves - to our inner journey - and realize that there is an inner-meaning in the scriptures that is significant to each of us and why we are here. Here's a Swedenborgian interpretation:

First, the TL;DR: "those are blessed who are humble, and who, as soon as they see the love of domineering arising in themselves, destroy it by means of the principles of truth and justice, before it has a chance to grow"

"Let us now turn to one of the cities mentioned in the Old Testament, and examine the dark saying in reference to the great city Babylon, found in Psalm 137, verses 8-9, where we read: " O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed: Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against a stone."

"What are we to make of such a passage as this? A more cruel command could scarcely be given. Are these the words of a God of infinite Love? Do these words contain a message from heaven? Yea, Reader, they contain a most needed message, if they are but understood aright. It is a universal rule that men hear God according to their own desires. If God speaks to a cruel people, they twist His words into words of cruelty. If He speaks to a proud people, they turn His words into words of pride. The Jews were a cruel people, and loved cruelty; wherefore, when Jehovah the Lord spoke to them, they interpreted His words as cruel words. Still, in order that a Word or Revelation might be written, which should contain within its bosom the Divine Love and Wisdom, God provided that what was inscribed should contain within it the wisdom of the angels.

"In the verse that we are considering let us first see if we can discover the meaning of the city which is spiritually called Babylon.

"Babylon ruled over the first world-empire. She ruled autocratically, according to the will of her potentates, and not according to any system of law. The will of the city of Babylon took the place of law and justice in the lands over which she ruled. Babylon, therefore, came to symbolize the love of such autocratic rule,—the love of rule according to the whim of one's own desire, and not according to Divine law. This love of rule is not confined to kings and princes. A man may tyrannize over his family; a woman may strive for the power to enforce her will upon her friends; a man of business may command his employees without regard to justice. In any case wherein one tries to carry out his will, and impose it on others, without regard to right and justice, it is the same ancient love that was symbolized or represented by that great city, Babylon.

"If this love of rule, this love of tyrannization, once takes hold of a man, it holds him in its grip, so that he who has found delight in it can scarcely escape. It is most important, therefore, that it be rooted out in childhood. A boy should not be permitted to tyrannize over his fellow schoolmates; as soon as this dangerous love is born in the heart of man, it must be rooted out. The head of such a love must be crushed against a stone,—against the foundation of truth, which a stone symbolizes.

"It now becomes obvious that the spiritual meaning of the command, " Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against a stone," is that those are blessed who are humble, and who, as soon as they see the love of domineering arising in themselves, destroy it by means of the principles of truth and justice, before it has a chance to grow."

What is the source of these quotes?

[creator]

What is the source of these quotes?

From an online Swedenborg search site >

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[Thinker]

How do you interpret that scripture?

I really like how Swedenborg, Steiner, and others have delved into the symbolic meanings of the scriptures. One of the biggest takeaways is to truly liken the scriptures unto ourselves - to our inner journey - and realize that there is an inner-meaning in the scriptures that is significant to each of us and why we are here. Here's a Swedenborgian interpretation:

First, the TL;DR: "those are blessed who are humble, and who, as soon as they see the love of domineering arising in themselves, destroy it by means of the principles of truth and justice, before it has a chance to grow"

"Let us now turn to one of the cities mentioned in the Old Testament, and examine the dark saying in reference to the great city Babylon, found in Psalm 137, verses 8-9, where we read: " O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed: Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against a stone."

"What are we to make of such a passage as this? A more cruel command could scarcely be given. Are these the words of a God of infinite Love? Do these words contain a message from heaven? Yea, Reader, they contain a most needed message, if they are but understood aright. It is a universal rule that men hear God according to their own desires. If God speaks to a cruel people, they twist His words into words of cruelty. If He speaks to a proud people, they turn His words into words of pride. The Jews were a cruel people, and loved cruelty; wherefore, when Jehovah the Lord spoke to them, they interpreted His words as cruel words. Still, in order that a Word or Revelation might be written, which should contain within its bosom the Divine Love and Wisdom, God provided that what was inscribed should contain within it the wisdom of the angels.

"In the verse that we are considering let us first see if we can discover the meaning of the city which is spiritually called Babylon.

"Babylon ruled over the first world-empire. She ruled autocratically, according to the will of her potentates, and not according to any system of law. The will of the city of Babylon took the place of law and justice in the lands over which she ruled. Babylon, therefore, came to symbolize the love of such autocratic rule,—the love of rule according to the whim of one's own desire, and not according to Divine law. This love of rule is not confined to kings and princes. A man may tyrannize over his family; a woman may strive for the power to enforce her will upon her friends; a man of business may command his employees without regard to justice. In any case wherein one tries to carry out his will, and impose it on others, without regard to right and justice, it is the same ancient love that was symbolized or represented by that great city, Babylon.

"If this love of rule, this love of tyrannization, once takes hold of a man, it holds him in its grip, so that he who has found delight in it can scarcely escape. It is most important, therefore, that it be rooted out in childhood. A boy should not be permitted to tyrannize over his fellow schoolmates; as soon as this dangerous love is born in the heart of man, it must be rooted out. The head of such a love must be crushed against a stone,—against the foundation of truth, which a stone symbolizes.

"It now becomes obvious that the spiritual meaning of the command, " Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against a stone," is that those are blessed who are humble, and who, as soon as they see the love of domineering arising in themselves, destroy it by means of the principles of truth and justice, before it has a chance to grow."

Thanks. So true that any spiritual teaching exists primarily to be applied to our lives for improvement.

Spoiler

There are so many different ways to look at something. It reminds me of how Leibniz saw monads, the subatomic essence of all existence:

“These simple substances (monads) must be immaterial and have no extension, neither parts, nor divisibility. Now, where there are no constituent parts there is possible neither extension, nor form, nor divisibility. These mondads are the true Atoms of nature, and, in fact the elements of things...Their dissolution, therefore, is not to be feared and there is no way conceivable by which a simple substance can perish through natural means...
"Every present state of a simple substance is a natural consequence of its preceding state, in such a way that its present is pregnant with its future...
"Now this interconnection, relationship, or this adaptation of all things to each particular one, and of each one to all the rest, brings it about that every simple substance has relations which express all the others and that it is consequently a perpetual living mirror of the universe."

Good notes. I believe the “gospel of repentance” is ongoing. Every moment, we can consider what we’re doing, expressing or thinking and what direction they’re taking us. Maybe it’s like spiritual debt - if we keep repenting - continually correcting course, then the course correction is relatively small and easy. But if we wait until we get so off course we’re lost - then it’s may feel gigantically overwhelming. So I can see the analogy, though I still can’t help but consider the #1 cause of death being abortion & how that scripture reminds me of it.

[Original_Intent]

... I believe the “gospel of repentance” is ongoing. Every moment, we can consider what we’re doing, expressing or thinking and what direction they’re taking us. Maybe it’s like spiritual debt - if we keep repenting - continually correcting course, then the course correction is relatively small and easy. But if we wait until we get so off course we’re lost - then it’s may feel gigantically overwhelming. So I can see the analogy, though I still can’t help but consider the #1 cause of death being abortion & how that scripture reminds me of it.

I like to consider this ongoing repentance as an alchemical refiners fire, constantly burning through our spirit turning lead to gold.

[Thinker]

…So basically what I look for is whether it agrees with:

John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

and Matt 7:13-14
13 ¶ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

I can't accept it if it doesn't agree with that.

“I AM that I AM.”
(I am that higher, eternal spiritual being aware of my mind/body.)
“The kingdom of God is within you.”
Where else would you experience God?

Few find the narrow way “because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men” more than that of God. They worship religious leaders over God. And they refuse to put off childish things.

Most religious people are stuck at teenage maturity level (stage 3 - left column ), or even stage 2 for those who insist on literal /letter if the law interpretations.


fowler's faith stages

[Thinker]

How to love
26: Take in strangers, clothe the naked - Spiritually as well as physically. Eg., Strangers - those who are new to what you already know - be patient & welcoming to them.
Clothe the naked - some ideas that offer hope are like clothing protection for the soul.
Sick/imprisoned (spiritually) - those who feel all evil & falsity/ie obsession /OCD within them. To visit them is to empathize where they’re coming from (without enforcing their wrath, greed, shame etc).
43: we r vessels - can receive good or evil.
51: Love everyone but use discernment how best to love in each situation.
56: community is harmony among many - ideally all love one another. Heavenly/Godly love is sharing what we have with others. When we love like that we tap into God’s power & goodness.
1:05 Loving by doing - doctrine of being useful.
Spiritual growth can’t happen without humility. We need help as well as helping others.
When loving difficult people - search for 1 positive & encourage that.
https://www.youtube.com/live/i1vLrF-BeGY?feature=shared