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Preface
5 Planes of Existence
Introduction
Five Planes of Manifestation
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BIBLE VERSES
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FLOOD OF NOAH
A symbol of the downpouring of Truth (rain) into
the lower mind at a certain stage of evolution. This is equivalent
to an enlargement of the field of consciousness in the illusions of
the lower life, for the truth is reflected as false conceptions on
the astro-mental plane (lower water) ; and implies the awakenment of
the mind in ignorance, which is the condition out of which Truth
eventually arises.
And the Flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters
increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.
And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and
the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed
exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were
under the whole heaven were covered." - GENESIS. Vii. 17-19.
And for its appointed period, which corresponds to a term of the re-incar-nating
cycle, the "flood" or buddhic outpouring continued; and whilst it
submerged the lower personal self, it but served to glorify the
causal-body (ark) which was raised high above the lower self
(earth). And the truth, reflected as falsity, prevailed and
increased, but upon the waters of illusion the Soul floated And the
truth prevailed upon the lower nature (earth), so that all those
projects and aspirations of the lower self, which are ideals
distorted with error, were frustrated. The "high mountains " or
loftiest aspirations of the lower nature, are also for the time
overwhelmed with the influx of perceptions and ideas.
"In the inward meaning, the flood is symbolically representative of
spiritual dissolution." - PHILO, Works, Bohn, Vol. IV. p. 356.
"With respect to the inner sense of the passage (ĠEN. viii. 2) since
the deluge of the mind arises from two things, for it arises partly
from counsel, as if from heaven, and in another degree also from the
body and from sense, as if from earth, the vices being reciprocally
introduced by the passions, and the passions by the vices, it was
inevitably necessary that the word of the Divine physician entering
in as a salutory visitation for the purpose of healing the disease
should prevent both kinds of overflow for the future." - Ibid., p.
365.
The "fountains of the deep" are those sources of error which produce
illusion in the lower self; and the "windows of heaven stopped "
signify the spiritual perceptions diminished.
"By the flood is signified an inundation of evil and falsity." -
SWEDENBORG, Arc. Cel., n. 660.
“And the waters were strengthened exceedingly upon the earth,'
signifies that false persuasions so increased. This appears from
what has been said and shown before respecting the waters; namely
that the inundating waters signify falsities." - Ibid., n. 794.
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