Audio Introduction of "The Shorter Works of 1763" read by Rev. Dr. Jonathan S. Rose

[@bettyabote4229]

Rev. Dr. Rose thanks for the tireless work your doing the all world is beneficiary to the work of Swedenborg. God's blessings to all Sf team.

[@jonchilds1116]

Jon has a great reading voice! Downloaded this. Very cool 😊

[@SwedenborgFoundation]

We agree, thanks Jon!

[@babecarla]

***Thank you so much, Dr Rose. I appreciate all your efforts toward our learning. You are a gift. ♥️‼️

[@Lowlitstudio]

Thank you Jonathan E Rose, you’re scholarship is amazing !!!!

[@tacmason]

Thanks DR J, Swedenborg's whole campaign goes far beyond "Missionary Fervor".

[@jungatheart1036]

It's obvious that a great deal of work has gone into this. Thank you so much.....a great listen which adds to my understanding of this fascinating man, and his inspired works.

[@SwedenborgFoundation]

Glad it was helpful!

[@curtischilds5911]

So great! Thank you Dr. Rose for your talents and tireless dedication.

[@SwedenborgFoundation]

Thanks for your support, Curtis!

[@bettyabote4229]

Thanks Dr. Rose

[@frankmaiorano5340]

This is fascinating! Thank you, Jonathan S. Rose.

[@SwedenborgFoundation]

We'll pass on your kind words! :)

[@billr.2210]

It is really interesting to hear about Swedenborg's experiences in this introduction. Thank you.

[@tonyleach3061]

Ever since I was a child I have been fascinated by Swedenborg although sadly I have never really participated in the society he created. I have always intended to study his works more and I have most of his published works in my possession. I guess I am more of a listener than a doer although I really intend as stated to make a study of these spiritual teachings in more depth and apply their knowledge in practical; life as far as I can. In this respect please accept my thanks for posting and making this video of the new Century edition of the 1763 shorter works of Swedenborg. I wanted to read the intro before purchasing and listening to this video has greatly prompted me to purchase this beautiful book. Peace and Blessings to you.

[@SwedenborgFoundation]

Thanks so much Tony! Glad this introduction could encourage you, and we hope you enjoy reading the rest of the book. Are you familiar with our other KZbin channel, offTheLeftEye? Our video team creates all kinds of videos to explore Swedenborg's ideas, which might be just what you're looking for as you begin your study of Swedenborg!

[@timothybilger8441]

This is a wonderful work in itself listening to Dr. Rose's introduction to this masterpiece. Thank you for this very insightful material as it helps to provide a perspective to the reader that we typically would not possess without your added content. God Bless

[@SwedenborgFoundation]

Thanks you for your kind words!

[@jonchilds1116]

I loved listening to this, thank you!

[@SwedenborgFoundation]

Thank you Jon!

[@evamadelene]

Thank you for this, Jonathan! So well read, especially the pronunciations of swedish words and names, very well done. (I am Swedish myself)

[@SwedenborgFoundation]

I will pass your very kind message on to Jonathan. I'm glad you enjoyed it! -- Karin

[@richotto100]

Thank you so much for the work you put into preparing and recording this fascinating recording. What a wonderful way to begin the day; pondering Swedenborg as a man . I learned a new word; exegesis. Your own exegesis of the evolution of Swedenborg's methods of trying to get his message heard in the world gives a wonderful sense of him as a real person.

[@mettebohart4751]

I hope you will excuse my continuing this little thread, but another funny thing happened. I listened to this on Saturday and posed my question (it says 4 days ago as I edited an annoying typo when I wrote the following morning). That Sunday we went on a little day trip to Glastonbury, UK (Danish, but resident in UK) and visited a small bookstore. In the far corner, on the bottom shelf, behind two large boxes of secondhand books, appeared a beautiful, also secondhand but unread, hardback copy of The Last Judgment. I did, of course, bring it home and reached page 59 a few days later. I quote, “How perverse is the state of those whose intellect and will do not act as one. This state is found in hypocrites, tricksters, toadies and charlatans”. Tell it how it is, why don’t you, Swedenborg! Even my vegan daughter is gentler with me than this!

[@offTheLeftEye]

That is talking about situations with malicious intent. That is not the same as the stage of recognizing a pleasure as harmful, but still feeling that pleasure. That is a normal and good stage in the process of regeneration. We first recognize a pleasure as harmful, even while still feeling the desire for that pleasure. Then comes the work of resisting acting on the pleasure, but the desire will not disappear right away. That takes time. See my response to your other comment.

[@mettebohart4751]

@@offTheLeftEye Thank you very much for your replies. Yes, that does make sense. Quite humbling really, the difficulty in being the good you so want to be.

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@mettebohart4751 it sure is!

[@mettebohart4751]

It is a joy to listen to Jonathan Rose, it really is. One thing that consistently troubles me is the killing item on the list of commandments. I rather blithely used to consider myself a non-killer, never questioning my eating of meat. I cannot close my eyes any longer to the obvious point that eating meat is facilitated by killing, and you would think that it would then be a simple personal choice to cease eating meat. Well, I can choose, decide, be determined, but it is astounding how I can totally filter out the connection between roasted meat and the killing of animals. I look at a cow and know that I do not want it to be harmed in any way. I look at a ribeye steak and I just want to eat it - fully functioning, very powerful, filters in action. Does Swedenborg talk of this?

[@offTheLeftEye]

Hello, Mette! I'm sorry for the delay in responding. Dr. Rose discusses what Swedenborg has to say about eating animals in this episode, starting at 28 minutes and 25 seconds: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJOQaHWOZcinpas Please take a look and see if there are any ideas that feel helpful in sorting this out. There is the ideal (not eating animals), but thousands of years of conditioning cannot be overcome easily. We have all inherited a tendency to find the eating of meat to be appealing, and it is going to take time to overcome that if we are to get back to the original, ideal state of things. So, perhaps set a goal of breaking the habit, but also be patient and understanding with yourself that it is not easy to instantly overcome a pleasure that has been in place for so long. The changing of actions can be done more easily than the changing of desires. That can only happen gradually. We can change our actions, and should strive to do so according to conscience, but only the Lord can change the heart. Gradually, if we persist in changing the actions, God will change the heart and desires.

[@mettebohart4751]

@@offTheLeftEye Thank you so much; I will watch this.

[@offTheLeftEye]

@@mettebohart4751 let me know how it resonates with you!

[@robz537]

cool thx

[@SwedenborgFoundation]

Of course!

[@wyldman8211]

What does Swedenborg say about bad habits in this life? Some behaviors are almost impossible to get rid of and honesty I don’t think I really can. I believe in the Lord and I’ve come a long way but some things I just can’t stop doing (that I know are bad for me). Already tried praying the bad habits away but it’s not working.

[@SwedenborgFoundation]

Rest assured that becoming freed from bad habits is a long and gradual process, and you're right that we cannot get rid of bad habits ourselves. I'm glad you have noticed that you've "come a long way." The Lord has already been bringing you in a positive direction! It helps to keep trying to resist bad habits, and noticing that they are happening is a very important part of the process. But also balance that with realistic expectations. Some will be much, much harder to overcome, and the process will have to be completed in the afterlife, after shedding the physical body. I find it helpful to gain the perspective that there are spirits working to keep us stuck in certain kinds of behavior. It can help us be more understanding of ourselves, while also continuing to ask for the Lord's help and do the best we can to reprogram our habits. See if this episode has any helpful thoughts for you: "Do Spirits Play a Role in Addiction?" kzbin.info/www/bejne/on7blY2fnNqroqs

[@vwgann4064]

I don't know what Swedenborg said, as I haven't read all his books. But, I can say that we should be working on putting bad habits to the outside. It will be impossible to get rid of them, so don't worry about it. Worrying is probably worse than not laying bad habits aside. What's most admirable is your believing in the Lord. Coming a long way just the start of our journey. As you come along, you will no longer be considered a babe in Christ, and you can start to eat meat. So, don't turn to look back, keep your sight ahead, and God will become even more real to you, and will start to see amazing things. Praying is working, even though you don't see results immediately (see Daniel's story). I believe Dr. Rose can tell you the road for adult Christians isn't all that easy, so don't get discouraged, keep the faith. If you need any help, I will be glad to help, or find someone who will meet you where you are. God bless you, and don't walk by sight.

[@mchester09]

A practice to lessen the hold of bad habits is to not identify with feeling states. Here is what Dr Philip Groves has to say about this practice in his book 'Swedenborg’s Mighty Contributions - The welfare of the soul'. By sheer force of habit we humans identify ourselves with every passing state in the psyche. When a state of psychological depression occurs, we connect ourselves with it by declaring. “I am depressed." Later in the day we notice hunger pangs in the stomach and say, "I am hungry." This process goes on without end and we find ourselves entangled in the automatic flow of thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, each time we identify with a mood or emotion we become the prisoner of those states and lose power to them. This occurs without our noticing it because we lack the consciousness to see what is taking place. If we care to pay attention to our lives we can exercise a vigilance which will stop us from putting 'I' into internal states, and will thereby dissolve useless identifications. Let us suppose that for some reason a state of unhappiness arises. Ordinarily, we identify with it and say, "I am unhappy." We then suffer the unhappiness for some time and are dominated by it. This circumstance can be prevented in the following way. We must look at the unhappiness and see that it is a state of mind. As soon as we observe it we must declare, "Here is a state of unhappiness. It will pass. But while it is here I shall not step into it and be overwhelmed by its negative energies. I shall simply observe the unhappiness and remain aloof from it." To practise this process regularly increases our consciousness and releases us from the adverse effects of negative states. It can also be applied to pain, general discomfort and other sensations. There are some Yogis who live above the snow line in the Himalayas. Photographs shows that they are quite naked. Without any protective clothing they walk over snow-covered slopes and live at a great height. Perhaps they have learned to avoid internal entanglement with the feeling of being cold, and even find comfort in the warmth generated by spiritually-directed affections. To be liberated from putting the sense of 'I' into transient feelings is to enter into a new state of internal freedom. We are no longer bound by the mechanical bonds of the ego in this particular manner. While we are still not free from the ego, we are less affected by its self-concern, its demands and its habits. Identification is the process of allowing ourselves to become connected and unified with inferior and trouble making psychological states. When we strive not to permit identification to occur, in the manner described above, we generate in ourselves more psychological space for the reception of regenerative influences and energies from the Lord. We also develop the capacity to see ourselves more clearly and honestly, and being able to recognize what we are paves the way towards repentance and rebirth. There are a series of 3 short videos that are part of a Swedenborgian Spiritual Toolkit that will also help. Here are the links to the recommended videos. How To Detach From Fear kzbin.info/www/bejne/roK1hXiYZbRllaM How to Stop Unwanted Thoughts kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqW1lYt7dpt1opI How to Get Rid of Anxiety kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHizeZ-Vbt1sd80

[@wyldman8211]

@@mchester09 Thank you! Without getting into specifics, I just wanted to say this was very helpful and unique information for me. Thanks again!

[@mettebohart4751]

In that funny way things happen I had my answer this morning in the daily random quote I receive from Bibelselskabet (danish bible translation): “Kærligheden gør ikke næsten noget ondt. Kærligheden er altså lovens fylde” (Paul’s letter to the Romans). Love does no harm to the one next to you. Love is therefore the fullness of the law.

[@SwedenborgFoundation]

Thank you for sharing!

[@Ekklesiajourney]

So far he speaks nothing what is the gospel that saves? Titus 3:5-7 not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through, Jesus Christ our Saviour. That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs, according to the hope of eternal life. The narrator just said the new Jerusalem is the new church. Thus the apostles in his view would have not had known this "new" church. Yet they are the means that we have the scriptures today and their work is the work of the Spirit. Thus it is false to say that they could not receive the message Swedenbourg gave. He is an interesting character but so far what i have heard bears no witness to the Spirit of Christ. Given the lengthy works he has published and the many souls that adhere to his teaching only exposes the shallow ignorant people who are void of biblical revelation.

[@babecarla]

Dr Rose, via Emmanuel Swedenborg, is building on further, deeper insight to the Divine. I call him God, Yaweh, Lord, Creator, etc. Anything which builds & simultaneously gives a deeper clarity to my Faith is so desirable to me. Try not to defeat the wonderful efforts of Dr Rose & all involved to bring these teachings. God's universe is so endless. If you limit learning, you limit possibilities. Open your ❤️