The Hidden Levels of the Mind: Swedenborg's Theory of Consciousness

At the core of Swedenborg’s thought is the understanding that our purpose in this life is to progress spiritually—to learn, to grow, to do good works, and, ultimately, to allow as much of God’s love as possible to enter into us and manifest through us.

Scattered throughout his works are descriptions of our mind and how it relates to both the physical and spiritual worlds. In this book, Taylor pulls these loose threads together and weaves them into a simple, coherent whole, presenting Swedenborg’s teachings as a system that anyone can follow. Taylor describes the external or natural mind as primarily concerned with material things, and the inner mind, in its essence, as love. As we elevate our thoughts toward higher and higher types of love and wisdom, we draw closer to God and begin the process of regeneration, or rebirth as spiritual beings.

This is the first time in many decades that a book has been published on Swedenborg’s philosophy of the mind. Taylor’s straightforward commentary gives readers a rare insight into this crucial aspect of Swedenborg’s theology.

Swedish scientist and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) devoted his life to exploring the mysteries of the soul. Scattered throughout his theological works is a description of a complex system of interaction between our "natural" minds (our everyday thoughts and feelings) and our spiritual minds, which are in touch with the divine. This book takes those scattered descriptions and weaves them into a coherent system that is invaluable for understanding Swedenborg's thought -- and our own.