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Series on the Grand Man
[AC
3624] CONCERNING THE CORRESPONDENCE
OF ALL MAN'S ORGANS AND MEMBERS, BOTH INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR,
WITH THE GRAND MAN, WHICH IS HEAVEN
Selection from Arcana Coelestia ~ Emanuel Swedenborg
It is now permitted
to relate and describe wonderful things which, so far as I know, have not
as yet been known to anyone, nor have even entered into the mind of anyone,
namely, that the universal heaven is so formed as to correspond to the
Lord, to His Divine Human; and that man is so formed as to correspond to
heaven in regard to each and all things in him, and through heaven to the
Lord. This is a great mystery which is now to be revealed, and which shall
be treated of here and at the close of the subsequent chapters.
3625. It is from this ground that
it has been occasionally said above, in speaking of heaven and the angelic
societies, that they belong to some province of the body; as to that of the
head, or that of the breast, or of the abdomen, or of some member or organ
therein; and this because of the correspondence here spoken of.
3626. That there is such a
correspondence is perfectly well known in the other life, not only to
angels, but also to spirits, and even to the wicked. Angels know from it
the most hidden things in man and the most hidden things in the world and
in its universal nature, as has very often been made manifest to me from
the fact that when I spoke of any part of man, they, from their mental view
into the heavenly order which they followed, to which the order of that
part corresponded, not only knew all the structure of that part, its manner
of acting and use, but likewise innumerable things besides, more than man
is ever capable of exploring or even understanding, and this in their order
and in their series. Thus being in first principles, they thence know the
things which are from these.
3627. It is a general rule that
nothing can exist and subsist from itself, but
from something else, that is, through something else, and that nothing can
be kept in form except from, that is, through it, as is evident from each
and everything in nature. That on the outside the human body is kept in
form by the atmospheres, is known; and unless it were also kept in form
within by some acting or living force, it would fall to pieces in a moment;
for everything unconnected with what is prior to itself, and through things
prior with the First, instantly perishes. That the Grand Man, or influx therefrom,
is that prior by which man as to each and all things in him is connected
with the First, that is, with the Lord, will appear from what follows.
3628. On this subject I have been
instructed by much experience, and indeed that not only the things pertaining
to the human mind, namely to its thought and affection, correspond to
things spiritual and celestial which are of heaven from the Lord, but also
the whole man in general, and in particular whatever is in man; insomuch
that there is not the smallest part, nor even the smallest constituent of a
part, which does not correspond; also that man exists and continually
subsists therefrom; and further, that unless there were such a
correspondence of man with heaven, and through heaven with the Lord, thus with
what is prior to himself, and through prior things with the First, he would
not subsist even a moment, but would dissolve into nothing.
[2] There are always two forces which, as before said, keep everything in
its connection and in its form, namely, a force acting from without, and a
force acting from within, in the midst of which forces is that which is
kept in connection and form; thus is it with man as to every part of him,
even the most minute. That the atmospheres are that which from without keep
the whole body in connection, by their continual pressure or incumbence and
the consequent acting force, is known; and also that the aerial atmosphere
by its inflow keeps the lungs in their connection and form, and likewise
its organ which is the ear, with its forms constructed therein according to
the modifications of the air. It is also known that the ethereal atmosphere
in like manner maintains the interior connections; for this atmosphere
flows in freely through all the pores, and keeps the interior viscera of
the whole body inseparable in their forms, by nearly the same pressure or
incumbence, and the consequent acting force; also that the same atmosphere
keeps in connection and form its organ which is the eye, with its forms
therein constructed to the modifications of the ether. Unless there were
internal forces correspondent to these which should react against the
external forces and thus keep the intermediate forms in connection and
equilibrium, they would not subsist a moment.
[3] From this it is evident that in order that anything may exist and
subsist there must needs be two forces. The forces
which flow in and act from within are from heaven and through heaven from
the Lord, and have in themselves life. This is very clearly manifest from
the organ of hearing: unless there were interior modifications, which are
of life, and to which correspond the exterior modifications which are of
the air, there would be no hearing. The same is also evident from the organ
of sight: unless there were interior light which is of life, and to which
corresponds the exterior light which is of the sun, no vision would be
possible. The case is the same with all the other organs and members in the
human body: there are forces acting from without, which are natural and in
themselves not living, and there are forces acting from within, in
themselves living, which keep every organ in its connection, and cause it
to live, and this according to the form such as has been given them for
use.
3629. That the case is thus, few
can believe, because men do not know what the spiritual is, and what the
natural, and still less how these are distinguished from each other; also
what correspondence is, and what influx; and that the spiritual, when it
flows into the organic forms of the body, presents living operations such
as appear; and that without such influx and correspondence not even the
most minute particle of the body can have life and be moved. As to these
things I have been informed by living experience that not only heaven in
general flows in, but also the societies in particular; likewise what the
societies are and of what quality which flow into this and that organ of
the body, and into this and that member; and further, that there is not one
society only which flows into each organ or member, but very many, and that
in each society also there are very many; for the more there are, so much
the better and stronger is the correspondence, inasmuch as perfection and
strength are from the unanimous multitude of many who act as a one in a heavenly
form; hence results a more perfect and stronger endeavor into particulars
according to the numbers.
3630. From this it may be seen
that the viscera and members, or organs of motion and sensation, correspond
each and all to societies in heaven, thus as it were to so many distinct
heavens; and that from those societies, that is, through them, celestial
and spiritual things flow in with man, and this into adequate and suitable
forms, and in this manner present the effects which are apparent to man. These
effects however do not appear to man otherwise than as natural, thus
altogether under another form and under another appearance, so that they
cannot be known to be from heaven.
3631. It was also once shown me to
the life what societies they are, and of what quality, and how they flow in
and act, which constitute the province of the face, and flow into the
muscles of the forehead, of the cheeks, of the chin, and of the neck, and
what communication there is between them. In order that this might be presented
to the life, it was allowed them by means of influx and in various ways to
present the appearance of a face. In like manner it was shown what
societies, and of what quality, flow into the lips, into the tongue, into
the eyes, and into the ears; and it was also given to speak with them, and
thus to be fully instructed. In this way it was made evident that all who
come into heaven are organs or members of the Grand Man; and also that
heaven is never shut, but that the greater its numbers the stronger is the
endeavor, the stronger the force, and the stronger the action; and further,
that the heaven of the Lord is immeasurable, so immeasurable as to exceed
all belief; the inhabitants of this earth being very few in comparison, and
almost as a pool compared with the ocean.
3632. Divine order, and the heavenly order thence derived,
are not terminated except in man, in what is of his body, namely, in his
gestures, actions, looks, speech, external sensations, and their delights.
These are the extremes of order, and the extremes of influx, which are then
terminated; but the interior things which flow in are not such as they
appear in externals, but have altogether a different appearance, a
different countenance, a different sensation, and a different pleasure. Correspondences
teach of what sort these are, and also representations, which have been
described. That there is such a difference may be seen from the actions
which flow from the will, and from the speech which flows from the
thought-the actions of the body are not such in the will, nor are the
expressions of speech such in the thought. Hence also it is manifest that
natural acts flow from spiritual, for that which is of the will and of the
thought is spiritual; and that these spiritual are effigied in those natural
acts correspondently, but still differently.
3633. All spirits and angels
appear to themselves as men; of such a face and such a body, with organs
and members; and this for the reason that their inmost conspires to such a
form; just as the primitive of man, which is from the soul of the parent,
endeavors toward the formation of the whole man in the ovum and the womb,
although this primitive is not in the form of the body, but in another most
perfect form known to the Lord alone; and inasmuch as the inmost with
everyone in like manner conspires and endeavors toward such a form,
therefore all there appear as men. Moreover the universal heaven is such
that everyone is as it were the center of all, for he is the center of
influxes from all through the heavenly form; and hence an image of heaven
results in everyone, and makes him like unto itself, thus a man; for such
as the general is, such is a part of the general, inasmuch as the parts
must be like their general, in order that they may be of it.
3634. A man who is in
correspondence, that is, who is in love to the Lord and in charity toward
the neighbor, and thence in faith, is as to his spirit in heaven, and as to
his body in the world; and because he thus acts as one with the angels, he
is also an image of heaven; and as there is an influx of all, or a general
influx into the particulars or parts, as before said, he is also a little
heaven under a human form; for man has from good and truth that he is man
and is distinguished from brute animals.
3635. There are in the human body
two things which are the fountains of all its motion, and also of all
external or mere bodily action and sensation, namely, the heart and the
lungs. These two correspond in such a manner to the Grand Man or heaven of
the Lord that the celestial angels therein constitute one kingdom, and the
spiritual another kingdom, for the kingdom of the Lord is celestial and
spiritual. The celestial kingdom consists of those who are in love to the
Lord; the spiritual kingdom of those who are in charity toward the neighbor
(n. 2088, 2669, 2715, 2718, 3235, 3246). The heart and its kingdom in man
correspond to the celestial angels; the lungs and their kingdom correspond
to the spiritual. The angels also flow into the things which are of the heart
and lungs, so that these things exist and subsist by influx from them. But
the correspondence of the heart and lungs with the Grand Man will of the
Lord's Divine mercy be treated of specifically.
3636. This is a most universal
truth: That the Lord is the Sun of heaven, and that from this Sun is all
the light in the other life; and that to angels and spirits, or those who
are in the other life, nothing at all of the light of the world appears;
and also that the light of the world, which is from its sun, is only thick
darkness to angels. From the Sun of heaven, or from the Lord, there is not
only light, but also heat; but it is spiritual light and spiritual heat. To
the angels' eyes this light appears as light, but has within it
intelligence and wisdom, because this is its source; and by their senses
this heat is perceived as heat, but there is within it love, because this
is its source. For this reason love is also called spiritual heat, and
likewise constitutes the heat of man's life; and intelligence is called
spiritual light, and likewise constitutes the light of man's life. From
this universal correspondence all other correspondences are derived; for
all things both in general and in particular have relation to the good
which is of love, and to the truth which is of intelligence.
3637. Relatively to man, the Grand
Man is the Lord's universal heaven; but in the supreme sense the Grand Man
is the Lord alone, for heaven is from Him, and all things therein
correspond to Him. Inasmuch as by a life of evil and the consequent
persuasions of falsity, the human race had become altogether perverted, and
as the lower things with man then began to dominate over the higher, or his
natural things over the spiritual, so that Jehovah or the Lord could no
longer flow in through the Grand Man, that is heaven, and reduce them into
order, there was a consequent necessity for the coming of the Lord into the
world, that thereby He might put on the human, and make it Divine, and by
it restore order, so that the universal heaven might have relation to Him
as the Only Man, and might correspond to Him alone; those who were in evil
and thence in falsity being rejected beneath the feet, thus out of the
Grand Man. Hence they who are in the heavens are said to be in the Lord,
even in His Body; for the Lord is the all of heaven, in whom all and each
are assigned their provinces and offices.
3638. From this it is that in the
other life all societies, how many soever they may be, keep their situation
constant in respect to the Lord, who appears like a sun to the universal
heaven; and what is wonderful, and can scarcely be credited by anyone,
because not apprehended, the societies there keep the same situation in
respect to each individual, wherever he may be, and however he may turn
himself and move about-as for instance, the societies which appear on the
right are continually at his right, and those which appear on the left are
continually at his left, however he changes his position as to face and body.
This also it has been given me frequently to observe in turning the body.
Thus it is manifest that the form of heaven is such as to bear a constant
relation to a Grand Man relatively to the Lord; and that all the angels are
not only with the Lord, but in the Lord; or what is the same, that the Lord
is with them, and in them; otherwise this condition would not exist.
3639. Hence all situations in
heaven are determined with respect to the human body, according to their
points of direction from it; that is, on the right, on the left, forward,
and backward, in whatever position; as also according to planes, as in the
plane of the head and of its parts, as of the forehead, the temples, the
eyes, and the ears; in the plane of the body, the plane of the shoulders,
of the breast, the abdomen, the loins, the knees, the feet, and the soles
of the feet; likewise above the head, and beneath the soles of the feet, at
every degree of obliquity; at the back also, from the hinder part of the
head downward. It is known from the very situation what the societies are,
and to what provinces of man's organs and members they belong, and this in
all cases infallibly; but more is known from their genius and disposition
as to affections.
3640. The hells, which are very
numerous, have also a constant situation, so that from their mere situation
it may be known what they are, and of what quality. With their situation
the case is similar-all the hells beneath man are in planes in every
direction under the soles of the feet. Some spirits from them appear also
above the head, and elsewhere scatteredly; but it is not that they have
their situation there, for the same is a persuasive phantasy which deceives
and counterfeits in respect to their situation.
3641. All, both they who are in heaven
and they who are in hell, appear erect, with the head upward and the feet
downward; when nevertheless in themselves, and
according to angelic vision, they are in a different position. That is to
say, they who are in heaven have their heads toward the Lord, who is the
Sun there, and thus is the common center from whom is all position and
situation; whereas in the sight of the angels the infernals have their
heads downward and their feet upward, thus in a position opposite, and also
oblique; for to the infernals that is beneath which to the celestials is
above, and that is above which to the celestials is beneath. From this it
is in some degree manifest how heaven may as it were make a one with hell;
or how they may together present a one in situation and position.
3642. One morning I was in company
with angelic spirits, who according to custom acted in unity of thought and
speech. This penetrated also toward hell, into which it was continued,
insomuch that they appeared as it were to act as a one with the infernals;
but the reason was that the good and truth with the angels was by a
wonderful turning changed with the infernals into evil and falsity, and
this by degrees as it flowed down, where hell acted as a one by persuasions
of falsity and by cupidities of evil. Notwithstanding that the hells are
out of the Grand Man, they are nevertheless in this manner reduced as it
were into a one, and thereby are kept in order, according to which are
their consociations; thus the Lord from His Divine directs the hells also.
3643. It was observed that they
who are in the heavens are in a serene aura of light, like the light of
morning and of noon, also verging to evening; and in like manner that they
are in heat as of spring, of summer, and of autumn; whereas they who are in
hell are in an atmosphere gross, cloudy, and dark, and are also in cold. It
was observed that between these in general there is an equilibrium; also
that in proportion as the angels are in love, charity, and the derivative
faith, in the same proportion they are in an aura of light and of vernal
heat; and in proportion as the infernals are in hatred, and thence in
falsity, in the same proportion they are in thick darkness and in cold. As
before said in the other life the light has intelligence within it, the
heat has within it love, the thick darkness insanity, and the cold hatred.
3644. As to their souls, or what
is the same, as to the spirit which is to live after the body's decease,
all men in the universal world have a situation either in the Grand Man
(that is, in heaven), or outside of it in hell. During his life in this
world man is not aware of this; but still he is there, and is thereby
directed. All are in heaven in accordance with their good of love and the
derivative truth of faith; and in hell in accordance with their evil of
hatred and the derivative falsity.
3645. The universal kingdom of the
Lord is a kingdom of ends and uses. It has been given me manifestly to
perceive this Divine sphere of ends and uses, and certain things at the same
time which are inexpressible. Each and all things flow forth from this
sphere, and are directed by it. Insofar as the affections, thoughts, and
actions have within them the end to do good from the heart, so far the man,
spirit, or angel is in the Grand Man, that is, in heaven; but insofar as a
man or spirit has the end to do evil from the heart, so far he is out of
the Grand Man, that is, is in hell.
3646. With brute animals the case
is similar to what it is with men in respect to influxes and correspondences,
namely, that with them there is an influx from the spiritual world and an
afflux from the natural world by which they are held together and live; but
the very operation exhibits itself in different ways in accordance with the
forms of their souls and thence of their bodies. The case is as with the
light of the world, which flows into various objects of the earth in a like
degree and manner, and nevertheless acts diversely in different forms,
producing beautiful colors in some, and colors not beautiful in others. So
when spiritual light flows into the souls of brutes, it is received
altogether differently, and thus actuates them differently from what it
does when it flows into the souls of men.
[2] For the latter are in a higher degree, and in a more perfect state, and
are such that they can look upward, thus to heaven and to the Lord, and
therefore the Lord can adjoin them to Himself, and give them eternal life;
but the souls of brutes are such that they cannot do otherwise than look
downward, thus to earthly things alone, and therefore can be adjoined
solely to such things; wherefore also they perish together with the body.
The ends are what show the quality of the life which man has; and the
quality of the life which beasts have. Man is able to have spiritual and
heavenly ends; he may see them, acknowledge them, believe them, and be
affected with them, whereas beasts can have no other than natural ends.
Thus man is able to be in the Divine sphere of ends and uses which is in
heaven and which constitutes heaven; but beasts cannot be in any other
sphere than that of earthly ends and uses. Ends are nothing but loves, for
that which is loved is regarded as the end.
[3] The reason why very many men do not know how to distinguish between
their life and the life of beasts, is that they in like manner are in
external things, and at heart are solely concerned about earthly, bodily,
and worldly objects; and such persons believe themselves to be like the
beasts in respect to life also, and suppose that after death they will be
dissipated like them; for as to what spiritual and celestial things are
they know not, because they care not. Hence comes
the insanity of our age, in that men compare themselves to brute beasts and
do not see the internal distinction; but he who believes in celestial and
spiritual things, or suffers spiritual light to flow in and act, sees
altogether differently, and likewise how far he is above brute animals. But
the life of brute animals will of the Lord's Divine mercy be treated of
separately.
3647. How the case is with these
things has also been shown. It was given me to see and perceive certain
ones as they entered into the other life who in
the life of the body had regarded only earthly things and had had nothing
else as their end; nor had they been initiated by means of any knowledges
into good and truth. They had belonged to the common crowd of sailors and
of peasants. They appeared (as was also perceived) to have so little life
that I thought it impossible for them to receive eternal life like other
spirits, being like machines, little animated; but the angels had tender
care for them, and through the faculty which they possessed as men
insinuated into them the life of good and truth, whereby they were more and
more led on from a life like that of animals to human life.
3648. There is an influx from the
Lord through heaven into the subjects also of the vegetable kingdom; as
into trees of every kind, and into their fructifications; and into plants
of various kinds, and their multiplications. Unless a spiritual principle
from the Lord within continually acted into their primitive forms, which
are in the seeds, they would never vegetate and grow in so wonderful a
manner and succession; but the forms therein are such that they do not receive
anything of life. It is from this influx that they have within them an
image of the eternal and infinite, as is evident from the fact that they
are in the continual endeavor to propagate their kind and their species,
and thus to live as it were forever, and also to fill the universe; this
endeavor being in every seed. But man attributes all these marvelous things
to mere nature, nor believes in any influx from the spiritual world,
because at heart he denies it; although he might know that nothing can subsist
except through that from which it has come forth; that is, that subsistence
is a perpetual coming forth; or what is the same, production is continual
creation. That hence universal nature is a theater representative of the
Lord's kingdom may be seen above (n. 3483). But on this subject also, and
on the correspondence of the vegetable kingdom with the Grand Man, of the
Lord's Divine mercy something shall be said elsewhere.
3649. The subject of the Grand Man
and correspondence therewith will be continued at the close of the
subsequent chapters.
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