CL 316 - right and left

CL 316 [5]

. . . in the twinned pairs of organs . . .

the one on the right symbolizes

the good connected with the two,

and the one on the left

the truth connected with them;

and that this is owing to

the marriage of good and truth

engraved on each person

in his whole being 

and in his every least part,

good having relation to the will

and truth to the understanding,

and the two together to a union of these. 

For this reason, in heaven

'the right eye' means the good connected with sight,

and 'the left eye' the truth connected with it. 

So, too, 'the right ear' means

the good connected with hearing,

and 'the left ear'

the truth connected with it. 

Similarly, 'the right hand' means

the good connected with a person's strength,

and 'the left hand' the truth connected with it. 

And so on with the rest of these twinned pairs.

. . . because 'right' and 'left'

have these symbolic associations,

the Lord said:

If your right eye causes you to slip, pluck it out . . .. 

And if your right hand causes you to slip, cut it off . . ..

(Matthew 5:29,30)

He meant by this

that if something good is turned to evil,

it should be cast away.

For the same reason He also told His disciples

to cast their net on the right side of the boat,

and when they did so,

they caught a great number of fish. 

(John 21:6) 

And by this He meant

they should teach the good of charity,

and by doing so would gather in people.