Logopraxis

ACV7S38 Click to Print

5650. To roll down upon us and to cast himself upon us. That this signifies that on this account they were to be reduced under absolute power, is evident from the signification of "rolling down upon" anyone, as being to present him as culpable; and from the signification of "casting one's self upon" anyone, as being to reduce him under power, here absolute power, for it follows "and to take us for servants, and our asses." The case herein is that before the natural man is conjoined with the spiritual, or the external with the internal, he is left to think whether he desires to get rid of the concupiscences arising from the love of self and of the world, together with the things by which he has defended them, and to yield the command to the spiritual or internal man. He is left to think this in order that he may be free to choose what he will. When the natural man apart from the spiritual thinks about this, he rejects it; for he loves his concupiscences because he loves himself and the world. Hence he becomes anxious, and supposes that if these were got rid of he would have no life left, for he vests everything in the natural or external man; or supposes that afterward he could do nothing of himself, and all that he would think, will, and do, would flow in through heaven, thus that he would not be his own master any longer. When the natural man on being left to himself is in this state, he draws back and resists. But when some light flows into his natural through heaven from the Lord, he begins to thinks differently, namely, that it is better for the spiritual man to have the supremacy, because thereby he can think and will what is good, and so can come into heaven, but not if the natural man were to rule. And when he reflects that all the angels in the universal heaven are of this character, and that they are consequently in unspeakable joy, he then fights with the natural man, and at last desires it to be subordinated to the spiritual man. In this state is the man placed who is to be regenerated, in order that he may be in freedom to turn whither he will; and so far as he turns to this in freedom, so far he is being regenerated. All this is treated of here in the internal sense.

5651. And take us for servants, and our asses. That this signifies until whatever is in both naturals be as nothing, is evident from the representation of Jacob's ten sons, who say this of themselves, as being truths in the natural (see n. 5403, 5419, 5427, 5458, 5512); and from the signification of "servants," as being things of slight importance (n. 2541), here of none at all (of which in what follows); and from the signification of "asses," as being things in the natural which are memory-knowledges (n. 5492), here in the exterior natural, because the truths signified by "Jacob's sons" are in the interior natural.

[2] In regard to whatever is in both naturals being as nothing the case is this. In order that a man may become spiritual, his natural must become as nothing, that is, be able to do nothing whatever of itself, because insofar as the natural is able of itself, so far the spiritual is not able; for the natural has imbibed from infancy nothing else than the things of the cupidities of self and of the world, thus those which are contrary to charity. These evils prevent the influx of good through the internal man from the Lord, for whatever flows in is turned in the natural into evil, the natural being the plane in which the influx terminates. And therefore unless the natural (that is, the evil and falsity which have formed it) becomes as nothing, good cannot possibly flow in through heaven from the Lord. It has no abiding place, but is dissipated; for it cannot stay in evil and falsity. It is for this reason that the internal is closed so long as the natural does not become as nothing. This also is known in the church from the doctrine that the old man must be put off in order that the new may be put on.

ACV7S37 Click to Print

5633. Verses 15-17. And the men took this present, and they took double silver in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. And Joseph saw Benjamin with them, and he said to him that was over his house, Bring the men to the house, and slaying slay, and make ready; for the men shall eat with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph said; and the man brought the men to Joseph's house. "And the men took this present," signifies that truths had with them the means for obtaining favor; "and they took double silver in their hand," signifies also truth received in the ability; "and Benjamin," signifies and the intermediate also; "and rose up and went down to Egypt," signifies elevation to life to be gained by them from the interior things of memory-knowledges; "and stood before Joseph," signifies the presence of the celestial of the spiritual there; "and Joseph saw Benjamin with them," signifies the perception by the celestial of the spiritual of a spiritual intermediate with truths; "and he said to him that was over his house," signifies to that which is of the external church; "Bring the men to the house," signifies that the truths in the natural were to be introduced thither; "and slaying slay and make ready," signifies through the goods of the exterior natural; "for the men shall eat with me at noon," signifies that they will be conjoined when with the intermediate; "and the man did as Joseph said," signifies bringing it about; "and the man brought the men to Joseph's house," signifies first introduction into the good which is from the celestial of the spiritual.

5634. And the men took this present. That this signifies that truths had with them the means for obtaining favor, is evident from the signification of "men," as being truths (n. 3134); and from the signification of a "present," which was given on approaching kings and priests, as being something to obtain favor (n. 5619).

5635. And they took double silver in their hand. That this signifies also truth received in the ability, is evident from what was said above (n. 5623), where the same words occur. It may also be seen there what is meant by truth received in the ability.

5636. And Benjamin. That this signifies and the intermediate also, is evident from the representation of Benjamin, as being the intermediate (see n. 5411, 5413, 5443).

5637. And rose up, and went down to Egypt. That this signifies elevation to life to be gained by them from the interior things of memory-knowledges is evident from the signification of "rising up," as being elevation to the things of spiritual life (see n. 2401, 2785, 2912, 2927, 3171, 4103, 4881); and from the signification of "going down," as being to life to be gained by them, for "going down" here involves the same as was meant before by the words, "Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, and we will live, and not die" (verse 8), by which is signified spiritual life according to degrees (n. 5605); and from the signification of "Egypt," as being memory-knowledges (n. 1164-1165, 1186, 1462, 4749, 4964, 4966), here the interior things of memory-knowledges, because the celestial of the spiritual which is represented by Joseph was there; wherefore it is presently said that they "stood before Joseph." The interior things of memory-knowledges are spiritual things in the natural mind, and spiritual things are there when the memory-knowledges there are enlightened by the light of heaven, and they are so enlightened when the man has faith in the doctrinal things that are from the Word, and he has this faith when he is in the good of charity; for then truths and thereby memory-knowledges are enlightened by the good of charity as by a flame. From this they have their spiritual light. Hence it may be seen what is meant by the interior things of memory-knowledges.

5638. And stood before Joseph. That this signifies the presence of the celestial of the spiritu...

In Logopraxis the aim is a transformation in consciousness through a commitment to the Word as the basis for inner work. This requires an active affection for truth or a willingness to apply truths to the life of the mind. These truths, that are to be applied, are ideas offered from a higher level that are specifically designed to transform the very structures of our beliefs and affections. The aim is that the lower might be re-formed into a corresponding pattern of the higher, so that the higher can be held with some degree of permanence in the lower. This state of permanence is what it means to be "born again", or "born from above", or regenerated. To be born again means not to be the same as before, it means to think and feel differently, to be in possession of a different sense of self to that sense of self that existed prior to this transformation taking place.

The processes of transformation revolve around the ability to navigate ontological shocks that are repeatedly delivered through having our sense of self being placed in front of its patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving as truths, from the Word, are practised.

One of the Logopraxis aphorisms states, "… that whatever you think it is, you can be sure of one thing, it is not that."

This can be applied to almost anything in Logopraxis, but here, its meaning is in relation to what we take to be our self.

Ontological shocks are characterised by a sudden discontinuity in one’s sense of self. It’s a state where we see that who we normally take ourselves to be is not what we see ourselves to be in the moment of the shock. It’s the shock of seeing the fragility of our self-image. Here, in this moment, something new becomes possible. But there is also the possibility of stepping back from the potential insight in an effort to keep our self-image intact. Yet, the stepping back from really seeing the infernal proprium we have invested our sense of self in, is a necessary part of the process. This is part of our preparation for stepping into a new sense of self. For to step forward is to step into the void of not knowing. It is to move from a state of apparent stability into the state of apparent chaos. That chaos involves being confronted with the realisation that, for a new self to be born it requires the death or the giving up of our current sense of self. This is a place of threshold that all, in Logopraxis work, must repeatedly cross if that sense of self, which can no longer serve our spiritual development, is to be stripped back making way for what can carry us to the next threshold of development.

Logopraxis work involves being in shock of seeing what must die while contemplating the birth of new possibilities.

From a higher perspective this movement is ordered and stable. It is simply the process through which the transformation of consciousness is made possible. This transformation in our sense of self is a shift from a sense of self based in a natural, sensual, mode of being into a sense of self grounded in truths from the Word that have been worked into the fabric of one’s life through their practice.

To read the rest of the Easter Reflection Raising Lazarus Series click on the links below ...

Jn 11:1-4 Easter Reflection: Raising Lazarus – This Sickness is Not Unto Death

Jn 11:5-6 Easter Reflection: Raising Lazarus – When the Lord Tarries

Jn 11:7 Easter Reflection: Raising Lazarus – Going to Judea

Jn 11:8 Easter Reflection: Raising Lazarus – Resistance to the Leading of the Word

Jn 11:9-10 Easter Reflection: Raising Lazarus – Living in the Light

ACV7S30 CLICK TO PRINT

5429. Verses 9-16. And Joseph remembered the dreams that he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. And they said unto him, Nay my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. We are all one man's sons; we are upright; thy servants are no spies. And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. And they said, we thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not. And Joseph said unto them, This is it that I spoke unto you, saying, ye are spies; hereby ye shall be proved; by the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. Send one of you, and let him get your brother, and ye shall be bound, and your words shall be verified whether there be truth with you; or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. "And Joseph remembered the dreams that he dreamed of them," signifies that the celestial of the spiritual foresaw what would happen in regard to the general truths of the church in the natural; "and said unto them" signifies perception thence; "Ye are spies" signifies that they came only to seek gain; "to see the nakedness of the land ye are come," signifies that they would like nothing better than to know in themselves that there are no truths; "and they said unto him, Nay my lord, we are upright," signifies that they are truths in themselves; "but to buy food are thy servants come," signifies that they are to be appropriated to the natural by means of good; "we are all one man's sons," signifies that these truths are from one origin; "we are upright," signifies that thus they are truths in themselves; "thy servants are no spies," signifies that therefore it was not for the sake of gain; "and he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come" signifies that they do not care whether there are truths; "and they said, We thy servants are twelve brethren," signifies that all things of faith were thus conjoined together; "the sons of one man," signifies from one origin; "in the land of Canaan," signifies in the church; "and behold the youngest is this day with our father," signifies that there was also conjunction with spiritual good; "and one is not" signifies that the Divine spiritual from which it is does not appear; and Joseph said unto them," signifies perception concerning that matter; "This is it that I spoke unto you" signifies that the truth is as I thought; "saying, ye are spies," signifies that they are in the truths of the church for the sake of gain; "hereby ye shall be proved," signifies it will be seen whether it is so; "by the life of Pharaoh," signifies of a certainty; "ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither," signifies that it must needs be that the truths with you are such, unless they are conjoined with spiritual good; "send one of you, and let him get your brother," signifies if only there is some conjunction with that good; "and ye shall be bound," signifies even though there is separation in all other respects; "and your words shall be verified, whether there be truth with you," signifies that it will then be so; "or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies," signifies otherwise it is certain that you have truths only for the sake of gain.

5430. And Joseph remembered the dreams that he dreamed of them. That this signifies that the celestial of the spiritual foresaw what would happen in regard to the general truths of the church in the natural, is evident from the signification of "remembering," as being presence, for the thing which is remembered becomes present (that "to be remembered" is predicated of foresight may be seen above, n. 3966); from the representation of Joseph, as being the celestial of the spiritual (of which often above); and from the signification of "dreams,

Third Round posts are short audio clips taken from Round 3 comments offered in the online Logopraxis Life Group meetings. The aim is to keep the focus on understanding the Text in terms of its application to the inner life along with reinforcing any key LP principles that have been highlighted in the exchanges.

Third Round posts are short audio clips taken from Round 3 comments offered in the online Logopraxis Life Group meetings. The aim is to keep the focus on understanding the Text in terms of its application to the inner life along with reinforcing any key LP principles that have been highlighted in the exchanges.

Third Round posts are short audio clips taken from Round 3 comments offered in the online Logopraxis Life Group meetings. The aim is to keep the focus on understanding the Text in terms of its application to the inner life along with reinforcing any key LP principles that have been highlighted in the exchanges.

Third Round posts are short audio clips taken from Round 3 comments offered in the online Logopraxis Life Group meetings. The aim is to keep the focus on understanding the Text in terms of its application to the inner life along with reinforcing any key LP principles that have been highlighted in the exchanges.

Third Round posts are short audio clips taken from Round 3 comments offered in the online Logopraxis Life Group meetings. The aim is to keep the focus on understanding the Text in terms of its application to the inner life along with reinforcing any key LP principles that have been highlighted in the exchanges.