SD 739
The doctrine of reflection is a complete doctrine,
and without it no one is able to know what interior life is,
not even what the life of the body is.
In fact, without reflection from a knowledge of truths,
no one is reformed.
For this reason,
the Lord is delivering to the people on this earth,
because they are living in a corrupt state,
written down truths.
From these, as from a wellspring,
they may draw a knowledge of truth
that will enable them to reflect on themselves -
or more truly,
from which higher knowledge, inscribed upon the memory,
the Lord may cause people to reflect upon their falsities, and the like.
Therefore, without spiritual knowledge, reformation is not possible.
SD 741
In place of the appetite people have in bodily life
for eating and drinking to nourish the body,
spirits have an appetite for, or enjoyment of learning.
The angelic appetite is for learning only what is true and good . . ..
So in every heaven,
there is a most intense feeling for understanding truth and goodness,
or matters of belief.
This brings on reflections,
by means of which they are perfected more and more.
(February 11,1748)
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1 comment:
The Doctrine of Reflections appears only in the Spiritual Diary (Spiritual Experiences). It is really about self-examination. So while the Doctrine (labeled as such) may not appear later in the Heavenly Doctrines, teachings concerning self-examination do.
Bill
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