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Emanuel Swedenborg was a mystic. "Mystic" seems to be a dirty word among empiricists, but, like Carl Jung, he was able to use his observation skills with the ex

by hosh 10y ago

Emanuel Swedenborg was a mystic. "Mystic" seems to be a dirty word among empiricists, but, like Carl Jung, he was able to use his observation skills with the experience. His experiences, though with content unique to him, generally follows the pattern and dynamic of spiritual emergencies. These cross cultural boundaries. That he has erotic dreams and developed this idea that it is divine in origin is not unknown. That he dreamed of symbols that show up in other cultures is also not unknown. None of those are surprising for anyone who has gone through or is undergoing through their own spiritual emergency. One of the biggest driver of the spiritual emergency is a force called "Kundalini" in India. It goes by other names in other cultures (for example, in Taoist alchemy, it is known as "dragon"). This force lies within each human body, and in its quiescent state, helps keep the body alive. It is the very power that drives sexuality in humans, and in some people, will awaken the drive towards spiritual emergence. It seems surprising to people who have beliefs that sexuality and spirituality don't mix, yet, they are integral. Swedenborg, like many other adventurers, rediscovered this. It is easy to say Swedenborg had repressed homosexual urges based on those dreams. It's more accurate to say that when the spiritual emergence starts unfolding, all the different potentiality of consciousness that were already present starts manifesting. These potentiality exists within every human. If you entered spiritual emergency, all sorts of things you didn't know lurking inside of you will come out, including ones that you share with other people, yet never consider it to be "your's". Bonnie Greenwall did her Ph.D. in transpersonal psychology on spiritual emergencies, and has written books about this. She wrote a book on awakening and one on the kundalini phenomenon. The books go into detail about the kind of things that might happen, whether you are talking about a shaman or yogi or monk or householder.

eternalban 10y ago
> Emanuel Swedenborg was a mystic. Who isn't? > It is easy to say Swedenborg had repressed homosexual urges based on those dreams. It's more accurate to say that when the spiritual emergence starts unfolding, all the different potentiality of consciousness that were already present starts manifesting. These potentiality exists within every human. Of course they exist "in every human". Not news. [1] And it is not "more accurate" to generalize what is a very clear cut indication by his own dream. We even have a name. The fact that he was not yet prepared to consciously confront the monumental task of full spiritual integration, that in fact his "ego" fears "castration", is also quite clear by that specific dream. That dream pretty much outs him as /a beginner/ on the path of awakening, as a matter of fact. [1]: "R. Eleazar further stated: What is meant by the Scriptural text, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh? This teaches that Adam had intercourse with every beast and animal but found no satisfaction until he cohabited with Eve." Tractate Yebamoth - Folio 63a
- hosh 10y ago
  >> Emanuel Swedenborg was a mystic. > Who isn't? In the sense that we are all spiritual beings, sure. In the sense that it is a normative belief that mystics are special, and that there are only a few people who experience it, lots of people are not mystics. > Of course they exist "in every human". Not news. And it is not "more accurate" to generalize what is a very clear cut indication by his own dream. We even have a name. I think you are confusing some things. It is not a clear-cut indication by his own dreams. It is a dream. Stuff comes up from it. There may be ego-resistance, and there may not be in that particular one. Dreamwork does not just involve the plot and the symbols, but also the tone and emotional energy underlying that. He might have felt depressed. He might have felt angered or scared. He might have felt inspired by that image. Do you know how he felt? I don't. As far as it is "news", there is a normative belief that homosexuality is something only certain people possess. > The fact that he was not yet prepared to consciously confront the monumental task of full spiritual integration, that in fact his "ego" fears "castration", is also quite clear by that specific dream. That dream pretty much outs him as /a beginner/ on the path of awakening, as a matter of fac What you are saying doesn't make sense. He was in the process of the integration. There is no such thing as being prepared or not be prepared. When it happens, it happens. Sometimes there is more ego-resistance, and sometimes there is less ego-existance. That dream does not necessarily indicate he is a beginner.
  - eternalban 10y ago
    > In the sense that it is a normative belief that mystics are special, and that there are only a few people who experience it, lots of people are not mystics. How can you possibly know that there are "only a few people" who have mystic experience? The sign of a 'realized' mystic is not but 'silence'. As for the rest of us, we advertise and some even manage to make a business out of it :) > As far as it is "news", there is a normative belief that homosexuality is something only certain people possess. That was clearly in reference to your Kundalini remark. I addressed the specific repression elsewhere. Nor did I confuse a carnal act with spiritual love. > What you are saying doesn't make sense. He was in the process of the integration. There is no such thing as being prepared or not be prepared. When it happens, it happens. Integration happens like "a bolt of lightning". That is the journey's end. And the journey most assuredly requires "preparation": https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25&version=KJV https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25&vers...

by hosh 10y ago

eternalban 10y ago

> Emanuel Swedenborg was a mystic. Who isn't? > It is easy to say Swedenborg had repressed homosexual urges based on those dreams. It's more accurate to say that when the spiritual emergence starts unfolding, all the different potentiality of consciousness that were already present starts manifesting. These potentiality exists within every human. Of course they exist "in every human". Not news. [1] And it is not "more accurate" to generalize what is a very clear cut indication by his own dream. We even have a name. The fact that he was not yet prepared to consciously confront the monumental task of full spiritual integration, that in fact his "ego" fears "castration", is also quite clear by that specific dream. That dream pretty much outs him as /a beginner/ on the path of awakening, as a matter of fact. [1]: "R. Eleazar further stated: What is meant by the Scriptural text, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh? This teaches that Adam had intercourse with every beast and animal but found no satisfaction until he cohabited with Eve." Tractate Yebamoth - Folio 63a

hosh 10y ago
>> Emanuel Swedenborg was a mystic. > Who isn't? In the sense that we are all spiritual beings, sure. In the sense that it is a normative belief that mystics are special, and that there are only a few people who experience it, lots of people are not mystics. > Of course they exist "in every human". Not news. And it is not "more accurate" to generalize what is a very clear cut indication by his own dream. We even have a name. I think you are confusing some things. It is not a clear-cut indication by his own dreams. It is a dream. Stuff comes up from it. There may be ego-resistance, and there may not be in that particular one. Dreamwork does not just involve the plot and the symbols, but also the tone and emotional energy underlying that. He might have felt depressed. He might have felt angered or scared. He might have felt inspired by that image. Do you know how he felt? I don't. As far as it is "news", there is a normative belief that homosexuality is something only certain people possess. > The fact that he was not yet prepared to consciously confront the monumental task of full spiritual integration, that in fact his "ego" fears "castration", is also quite clear by that specific dream. That dream pretty much outs him as /a beginner/ on the path of awakening, as a matter of fac What you are saying doesn't make sense. He was in the process of the integration. There is no such thing as being prepared or not be prepared. When it happens, it happens. Sometimes there is more ego-resistance, and sometimes there is less ego-existance. That dream does not necessarily indicate he is a beginner.
- eternalban 10y ago
  > In the sense that it is a normative belief that mystics are special, and that there are only a few people who experience it, lots of people are not mystics. How can you possibly know that there are "only a few people" who have mystic experience? The sign of a 'realized' mystic is not but 'silence'. As for the rest of us, we advertise and some even manage to make a business out of it :) > As far as it is "news", there is a normative belief that homosexuality is something only certain people possess. That was clearly in reference to your Kundalini remark. I addressed the specific repression elsewhere. Nor did I confuse a carnal act with spiritual love. > What you are saying doesn't make sense. He was in the process of the integration. There is no such thing as being prepared or not be prepared. When it happens, it happens. Integration happens like "a bolt of lightning". That is the journey's end. And the journey most assuredly requires "preparation": https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25&version=KJV https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25&vers...