Seven Stages of Spiritual Developme

Seven Stages of Spiritual Development (or, the Seven Chakras)
I have been meaning to get to a certain point in my previous blogs, but kept getting side tracked. I discovered that within scripture there is much hidden knowledge, much more than I thought. I recently stumbled across the possibility that the seven days of creation may in fact refer to the seven (or eight) spiritual chakras described in Eastern religions. This has taken me by surprise, and has been the subject of my thoughts for the last few days.

The Bible has a literal sense to its words, upon which most people reflect, but there is a hidden spiritual meaning behind every word. That this was so, was indicated by the parables of Jesus, and by the visions received by Emanuel Swedenborg. Despite the fact that the Bible is actually a collection of books written by different authors, the internal symbolism is consistent.

In the literal sense of scripture, the seven days of creation refer to the creation of the universe. Here is a summary of what was created on the seven days:

1. Light separated from darkness.
2. The waters below (the seas) separated from the waters above (the blue sky).
3. Dry land separated from the seas.
4. Sun, moon and stars.
5. Fish and birds.
6. Animals and man.
7. The day of rest.

Swedenborg examined the symbolism of this passage and showed that it refers to seven stages of spiritual development, a creation of a new spiritual being, as follows:

Stage 1: Out of Darkness into the Light of Truth

In our initial sinful state, from the time we are born to right before regeneration, is represented as being "formless and void". When we start to learn the truth, especially spiritual truth, we learn how to separate truth (light) from falsity (darkness). We walk in darkness as long as we follow the path of the selfish ego. Light dawns when we become aware that this is evil, and that there is a higher love, a potential for spiritual happiness.

Stage 2: Temptation, Trials and Sorrows

Once we learn what is good, and what is evil, when spiritual truth dawns upon us we will inevitably turn our eyes inward and see what is false and evil within our own character. This is a period of temptation, a period where one has to fight against internal habits and desires. A "flood" of water which destroys everything represents a flood of temptation to do evil. The "firmament" (or upper expanse) which divides the waters above from those below is one's internal spirit, which begins to develop in this phase. The external body will fight with the internal things of the spirit, until the two are distinguished.

Stage 3: Doing Good, and Knowing Truth, from one's own effort

On the third day land was created, and seeds grew into trees and bore fruit. The seed is the initial seed of thought planted in the mind, and at this stage it has grown where one starts to do good deeds - and good deeds are called "fruits" in scripture. Thus John the Baptist told people to "bear fruits worthy of repentance", and Jesus said every man is known by the fruit they bear. The stage of repentance was the stage of temptation. Now one commits to changing one's life, and one starts to bear fruit.

Stage 4: A Loving Faith of the Heart

With stage four, things start to change, and this is represented by animated objects, instead of inanimate objects in the first three stages. The first three stages are successive changes in one's own internal thoughts. Now successive changes take place in one's own heart. Love is represented by the Sun. Thoughts originating from that Love get reflected into the mind, this is represented by the Moon and the stars. Whereas stage three things were changing from one's own effort, now in stage four, love, truth and internal light springs forth from the heart. Sun, moon and stars also represent the three spiritual heavens - showing there is more internal communion with heaven at this stage.

Stage 5: Spiritual Enlightenment

Day five was when fish and birds were created, to dwell in the waters. The birds represent higher rational and intellectual thoughts which belong to one's internal spirit, and the fish below factual knowledge in one's external memory. All of one's knowledge receives new spiritual life. To be a "fisherman" in the Word, means one who teaches others.

Stage 6: A Life of Good Intentions

Whereas "birds" and "fish" represented one's internal thoughts enlightened by spiritual truth, "animals" and "man" here represent things of the will. Except now, anything we do that is good is acknowledged to originate from God, and not ourselves. We become the image of God inasmuch as we do good.

Stage 7: Communion with God

This final stage, represented by a day of rest on the Sabbath, is one of perfect communion with God. Few reach this state, and as such, is harder to describe. Each successive state is more internal than the first, and the majority of people do not even go past stage one or two. To rest from one's labors, means to do nothing

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Seven Stages of Spiritual Development (or, the Seven Chakras)I have been meaning to get to a certain point in my previous blogs, but kept getting side tracked. I discovered that within scripture there is much hidden knowledge, much more than I thought. I recently stumbled across the possibility that the seven days of creation may in fact refer to the seven (or eight) spiritual chakras described in Eastern religions. This has taken me by surprise, and has been the subject of my thoughts for the last few days.The Bible has a literal sense to its words, upon which most people reflect, but there is a hidden spiritual meaning behind every word. That this was so, was indicated by the parables of Jesus, and by the visions received by Emanuel Swedenborg. Despite the fact that the Bible is actually a collection of books written by different authors, the internal symbolism is consistent.In the literal sense of scripture, the seven days of creation refer to the creation of the universe. Here is a summary of what was created on the seven days:1. Light separated from darkness.2. The waters below (the seas) separated from the waters above (the blue sky).3. Dry land separated from the seas.4. Sun, moon and stars.5. Fish and birds.6. Animals and man.7. The day of rest.Swedenborg examined the symbolism of this passage and showed that it refers to seven stages of spiritual development, a creation of a new spiritual being, as follows:Tahap 1: Keluar dari kegelapan kepada terang kebenaranDalam keadaan berdosa awal kami, dari sejak kita dilahirkan untuk tepat sebelum regenerasi, digambarkan sebagai "tak berbentuk dan kosong". Ketika kita mulai untuk mempelajari kebenaran, terutama kebenaran rohani, kita belajar bagaimana untuk memisahkan kebenaran (cahaya) dari kepalsuan (gelap). Kami berjalan dalam kegelapan selama kita mengikuti jalan ego egois. Cahaya fajar ketika kita menjadi sadar bahwa ini jahat, dan bahwa ada cinta yang lebih tinggi, potensi kebahagian rohani.Tahap 2: Godaan, pencobaan dan penderitaan Setelah kita belajar apa baik dan jahat, ketika fajar kebenaran rohani kepada kita kita pasti akan mengubah mata batin dan melihat apa palsu dan jahat dalam karakter kita sendiri. Ini adalah masa pencobaan, periode mana orang harus melawan kebiasaan internal dan keinginan. "Banjir" air yang menghancurkan segala sesuatu mewakili banjir godaan untuk berbuat jahat. "Cakrawala" (atau atas hamparan) yang membagi air di atas dari mereka di bawah ini adalah salah satu internal Roh, yang mulai berkembang pada tahap ini. Tubuh eksternal akan berperang dengan hal-hal internal Roh, sampai dua dibedakan. Tahap 3: Berbuat baik, dan mengetahui kebenaran, dari satu adalah usaha sendiriPada ketiga hari tanah diciptakan, dan benih tumbuh menjadi pohon dan membuahkan hasil. Benih adalah benih awal pemikiran yang ditanam dalam pikiran, dan pada tahap ini telah tumbuh mana seseorang mulai melakukan perbuatan baik - dan perbuatan baik disebut "buah" dalam Kitab Suci. Dengan demikian Yohanes Pembaptis mengatakan orang-orang untuk "beruang buah-buahan yang layak untuk menerima pertobatan", dan Yesus berkata setiap orang yang diketahui oleh buah mereka menanggung. Tahap pertobatan adalah tahap pencobaan. Sekarang satu berkomitmen untuk mengubah hidup seseorang, dan seseorang mulai menghasilkan buah.Tahap 4: Iman yang mencintai hatiDengan tahap empat, hal-hal mulai berubah, dan ini diwakili oleh charcterised objek, bukan benda mati dalam tiga tahap. Tahap pertama tiga adalah perubahan berturut-turut dalam pikiran internal sendiri. Sekarang perubahan berturut-turut mengambil tempat di hati sendiri. Cinta diwakili oleh pikiran Sun. berasal dari bahwa cinta mendapatkan tercermin ke dalam pikiran, ini digambarkan oleh bulan dan bintang-bintang. Sedangkan tahap tiga hal yang berubah dari usaha sendiri, sekarang dalam tahap empat, cinta, kebenaran dan terang internal mata air keluar dari hati. Matahari, bulan dan bintang-bintang juga mewakili langit rohani tiga - menampilkan ada lebih internal persekutuan dengan surga pada tahap ini.Tahap 5: Pencerahan SpiritualDay five was when fish and birds were created, to dwell in the waters. The birds represent higher rational and intellectual thoughts which belong to one's internal spirit, and the fish below factual knowledge in one's external memory. All of one's knowledge receives new spiritual life. To be a "fisherman" in the Word, means one who teaches others.Stage 6: A Life of Good IntentionsWhereas "birds" and "fish" represented one's internal thoughts enlightened by spiritual truth, "animals" and "man" here represent things of the will. Except now, anything we do that is good is acknowledged to originate from God, and not ourselves. We become the image of God inasmuch as we do good.Stage 7: Communion with GodThis final stage, represented by a day of rest on the Sabbath, is one of perfect communion with God. Few reach this state, and as such, is harder to describe. Each successive state is more internal than the first, and the majority of people do not even go past stage one or two. To rest from one's labors, means to do nothing