Helen Keller

Helen Keller continues to inspire generations of people, but still very few know about her lifelong love of the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg.
In a beautiful book she wrote on the subject, Light in My Darkness (originally published in 1927 as My Religion), Keller lays out how very much Swedenborg's ideas influenced her and helped her to make the best of her extraordinary life. The Swedenborg Foundation has also produced an absolutely fascinating documentary film of her life called Shining Soul which is well worth seeing.
Keller's advocacy of Swedenborg was a result of some influential mentors in her life who were themselves prominent Swedenborgians. She was given access to braille editions of Swedenborg's writings, and in them she found great spiritual solace.

The Connection between the Ramakrishna Vedanta Movement and Swedenborgianism

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to host a talk by the wonderful Rev. Pravrajika Mataji, and she inspired us all with wisdom, presence and deep understanding of spiritual truths.

Many people may not realise that there is an unusual and quite important connection between the Ramakrishna Order, of which Mataji is a senior Nun, and the Swedenborgian movement.


The Ramakrishna Order was first brought to the West by Swami Vivekananda, an extraordinary person of truly impressive personality, towering intellect and great spiritual depth. The Swami came to America in 1893 as a Hindu representative to the Chicago Parliament of the World’s Religions.

It is not overstating it to say that the Swami stole the show, with his colourful robes, oratorical skills and great good looks. He received standing ovations at his talks, and introduced to the West the words of the Bhagavad Gita, that greatest of Indian spiritual classics.

As is well known in Swedenborgian circles, the man behind the establishment of the first World Parliament of Religions in Chicago (and let’s not forget that it is taking place in a couple of months in Melbourne) was brought about through the efforts of one Mr. John Bonney, a prominent attorney and passionate Swedenborgian. It was his conviction of the presence of a common religious culture amongst all the world’s peoples that led him to establish the Parliament, and it was his words that opened and closed the great event, surely one of the most momentous in the history of inter-cultural understanding.


It seemed perfectly poetic that on the eve of the December 2009 World Parliament of Religions, we once more have a gathering of Swedenborgians paying rapt attention to another monastic disciple of Ramakrishna, one of India’s greatest spiritual masters.

Another great Swedenborgian scholar is Wilson Van Dusen. In an intriguing paper called THE SAME SUPREME DOCTRINE IN SWEDENBORG, HINDUISM, AND BUDDHISM he sets out some of the intriguing parallels between the spiritual writings of Swedenborg and the doctrines of Hinduism, the most ancient of mankind’s spiritual traditions. Though Swedenborg had no contact with the great religious texts of the East that we know of, he certainly had access to the great wisdom of God that is available to all, irrespective of race and religion. Van Dusen says that, like the Hindus, Swedenborg saw the importance of a direct experience of God, an experience which will encourage people to deepen their spiritual lives and arrive at the truly universal spiritual understanding of one-ness.

The Swedenborg Whale

Science News: Prehistoric Whale Discovered On The West Coast Of Sweden

ScienceDaily (June 8, 2009)

The skeleton of a whale that died around 10,000 years ago has been found in connection with the extension of the E6 motorway in Strömstad. The whale bones are now being examined by researchers at the University of Gothenburg who, among other things, want to ascertain whether the find is the mystical "Swedenborg whale".

There are currently four species of right whale. What is particularly interesting is that the size and shape of the whale bones resemble those of a fifth species: the mystical "Swedenborg whale", first described by the scientist Emmanuel Swedenborg in the 18th century.

"Bones from what is believed to be Swedenborg's right whale have previously been found in western Sweden. However, determining the species of whale bones found in earth is complicated and there is no definitive conclusion on whether the whale actually existed, it could equally well be a myth," says zoologist Thomas Dahlgren and his colleague Leif Jonsson.

DNA tests conducted

To determine the species of whale that has been found Thomas Dahlgren has conducted DNA tests that are to be analysed in conjunction with researchers at the Natural History Museum in London. The whale bones are interesting in several respects. The fragments of bone were collected in a clay deposit and remains of marine organisms that today are also endangered species were found around them.

"The hunt for the large whale species, which led to the extinction of the Atlantic grey whale and perhaps the Swedenborg whale, may also have caused the extinction of a large number of species that are dependent on whale carcasses for their survival," says Thomas Dahlgren.

Preserved in clay

The whale bones are thought to be around 10,000 years old and were found 75 metres above sea level, but in a site that at that time was located out on the coast. It is conjectured that the bones have been preserved for such a long time as they were surrounded by fine, oxygen-free clay. The largest whale bone, approximately 2.5 metres long, is part of a jawbone. Among the smaller bones is a vertebra. Discussions are underway on whether the bones can be put in order and potentially put on public display.

Facts about the Swedenborg whale (Balaena Swedenborgii)

The whale species is believed to have existed in the North Sea from the period when the inland ice melted until about 8,000 years ago, and subsequently to have died out. Ten collections of bones from the species have been found in the west of Sweden. However, there is speculation that the bones have been mistaken for other species, and that the Swedenborg whale never existed. Source: Swedish National Encyclopedia

Adapted from materials provided by University of Gothenburg.





Whale cartoon: http://cidutest.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/whalesongs.gif

Mataji in Sydney Friday the 25th

One of Australia's living spiritual treasures will be speaking at the North Ryde Swedenborg Centre this Friday night.

The Rev. Pravrajika Ajayaprana Mataji will be discussing Hindu Spiritual Practices.
Born in India, Reverend Mataji finished her University study before joining the Ramakrishna Order in 1952. In India she worked as a science teacher in the school run by the Order and was in charge of boarding houses for schoolchildren and University girls till 1982. She is a senior nun of Sri Sarada Math, the womens' wing of the Ramakrishna Order.
Formed in 1954 in India, The Sri Sarada Math, is the only independent monastic women's Order in the history of Religion. It is run exclusively by women; they make all the decisions regarding their day-to-day activities as well as spiritual life, ordination etc, independent of male priests or monks.
Rev. Mataji came to Sydney in 1982 to start the first Centre of Sri Sarada Math outside India. She conducts talks, classes, meditation days, retreats and special functions. On invitation, Rev. Mataji goes on lecture tours to the other major cities of Australia a few times each year, and frequently to Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka. She is the President and Minister of the
Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Societies of New South Wales and South Australia .
Rev. Pravrajika Ajayaprana Mataji regularly participates in and organizes interfaith gatherings and meetings. She is one of the founding members of "WIN," Women's Interfaith Network.

FRIDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2009 at 7.45 Swedenborg Centre, 1 Avon Road, North Ryde Cost: $7; concession $5 (including refreshments)

International Swedenborg Publishers Conference

The International Swedenborg Publishers Conference will be held at Swedenborg House, Bloomsbury, London, on June 3-4, 2010.
The aim of the International Swedenborg Publishers Conference is to bring together organizations and individuals, worldwide, currently working in the field of Swedenborgian publishing. Not only do we hope that the Conference will encourage closer relations between publishers and book rooms and other sales outlets, but that it also facilitates common online and other marketing strategies and will act as a forum to discuss the future of Swedenborgian publishing.

Swedenborg & the Paranormal

If you looked at the Google home page a few days ago you would have noticed their logo had been playfully altered to show a UFO hovering over the letters while it beamed up the second letter O in "Google." For other creative past Google logos, see http://www.google-logos.com/category/official-google-logos

Clicking on their UFO logo revealed a searchlist of numerous things paranormal. One of the items of note was a LiveScience countdown list of the current top ten unexplained phenomena - see http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/top10_unexplained_phenomena-1.html

The listed top ten unexplained phenomena are (more details on each at their site):

10. The Body/Mind Connection
9. Psychic powers and ESP
8. Near-Death Experiences and Life After Death
7. UFOs
6. Deja vu
5. Ghosts
4. Mysterious Disappearances
3. Intuition
2. Bigfoot
1. The Taos Hum

I think that Emanuel Swedenborg is often unfairly singled out in the popular mind as being an authority on the paranormal. While it's true that he enjoyed considerable paranormal gifts, I think he would have been the first to dismiss the importance of these as pursuits in their own right.

Swedenborg was primarily interested in his later life in exploring and recording honestly and faithfully the things he was given to see and experience about the spiritual world and realm of the soul. His former scientific achievements and fame for his intellectual capacity in fields at the forefront of science of his day, plus his service to the Swedish House of Nobles, the Swedish king and to the Board of Mines should serve as testament of his sanity.

But then I also think of the value of Swedenborg's material in helping put into a healthy perspective what are regarded as the important outstanding questions of our time. Swedenborg presents a vast cosmology and framework of a plausible harmonious and orderly reality which allows these questions to exist without the need to go into scientific denial and his work even goes a long way to answering them (well, perhaps all except items 7, 2, and 1).

By comparison, even a more orthodox scientific community listed the top unanswered science questions. On 18th November 2006, the reputable New Scientist magazine decided to celebrate their 50th birthday by tackling "the truly big questions" with the help of some of the leading lights in science. They titled their piece The biggest questions ever asked.
See http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19225780.068-the-biggest-questions-ever-asked.html

The questions posed in the New Scientist were:

1. What is reality?
2. What is life?
3. Do we have free will?
4. Is the universe deterministic?
5. What is consciousness?
6. Will we ever have a theory of everything?
7. What happens after you die?

These seem to complement the unsolved mystery list mentioned above rather nicely. And if you study Swedenborg's writings, my guess is that you would probably agree that Swedenborg goes a long way in helping put such question into a healthy perspective which can provide some very satisfying answers or at least a very clear framework for deciding the importance of such matters.

Anyhow, happy pondering.

New Director of Swedenborg Centre, Sydney

Michael Chester will be taking up the position of Director of the Swedenborg Centre when Neville Jarvis retires at the end of December. Michael has been closely involved with the work of the Swedenborg Centre for many years. He was a foundation member of the Swedenborg Association of Australia and its Secretary for 6 years.
Michael has a deep understanding of the writings of Swedenborg and of the teachings of the New Church, and it is his wish to make these as available and known to people out there as possible, and to help people see their relevance and use in their lives.
Michael also brings other skills to the position that he will take up. He is a trained teacher in science and maths; he has a personal interest in and understanding of yoga and of other spiritual approaches and practices.
He will take over duties at the end of this year, following the retirement of Neville Jarvis, who has served as the Director for many years, and contributed so much to the growth and spread of Swedenborg's spiritual writings during his time here.
Neville and his wife Alexis will be sorely missed, but we look forward as well to the new energy and unique input of Michael.

EMANUEL SWEDENBORG: SCIENTIST AND SPIRITUAL EXPLORER

In terms of intellectual stature and original, creative thinking, Swedenborg has been compared to Leonardo da Vinci. Yet, for the most part, the world remains in ignorance of the significant contribution made by this Swedish genius in so many fields of human endeavour, and of the veritable mine of enlightenment to be found in his esoteric writings, which give the blueprint for individual spiritual development and growth. These writings are known to have influenced the earliest anti-slavery movements and many of the great thinkers and religious leaders who have helped shape western culture during the past 200 years. These same writings largely inspired the establishment of infant education in Germany and England in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Whilst their impact has spread far and wide, it is has been largely forgotten that they were such a source of inspiration. Today, though, as the world enters a new era with a growing thirst for an understanding of the purpose of life and the working of the human psyche, there is a re-awakening of interest in, and appreciation of, the immensely valuable insights to be gained from the contents of Swedenborg's works. His name is becoming increasingly known.
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1688, Emanuel was the third child of Lutheran Bishop Jesper Swedberg and his wife Sara. Endowed with a remarkable mind, he grew up to be one of Sweden's most illustrious men of science. In an era when scientists were few and their enquiries limited, Swedenborg investigated the physical universe in many directions. He designed a number of useful inventions, made some remarkable discoveries and anticipated theories now accepted by modern science. He wrote some 33 scientific works embracing such widely differing subjects as metallurgy, mineralogy, physiology, mathematics, cosmology, and the structure and function of the brain. During this period of outstanding mental activity he worked in an important government position as a Royal Assessor of Mines contributing significantly to the revitalisation of his country's mines industry. He travelled extensively throughout Europe, taking notes everywhere on the latest scientific marvels, meeting the leading scholars of the day, always searching, wondering, probing the mysteries of life.

His stated purpose in pursuing a scientific career was to locate and understand the working of the human soul. He gradually realised that he was not going to achieve his objective, however, on reaching the boundaries of human knowledge. Rational deductions postulating the existence of the soul could not be proved. At 55, Swedenborg essentially relinquished government work and his scientific and anatomical research. Whilst continuing a normal, active life for a gentleman in his position, being a member of the Upper House of the Swedish Parliament, he began a detailed study of the Bible following a series of mystical experiences. It may sound extraordinary, but Swedenborg writing a year or so before his death in London in 1772, claimed that his spiritual faculties had been opened for 27 years enabling him to become a citizen of two worlds at the same time - this natural plane of which we are all conscious and the spiritual dimension of consciousness into which we fully enter when the physical body ceases to function. A scientist and philosopher, as he had been, trying to demonstrate the existence of the things of the spirit, Swedenborg was brought to see the answers he had tried to discover could only be known by revelation - from above and from within. He became a spiritual explorer. He also demonstrated psychic powers via a number of well-documented extraordinary incidents involving some well-known people of the day.

The profoundest questions about the existence of God, the creation of the world, our spiritual dimension, and the Divine government of the natural and spiritual worlds, are all discussed in one or other of the approximately thirty volumes which comprise Swedenborg's spiritual writings. He saw these things written by himself as a God-given response capable of satisfying the questioning and the probing of men and women in full possession of their rational and critical faculties.

True Christian Religion

42. It should also be known that there are three degrees of love and wisdom, and so three degrees of life; and the human mind is formed into three regions corresponding to these degrees. Life in the highest region is in its highest degree, in the second in a lesser degree, and in the last in the lowest degree. These regions are opened up successively as a person grows up. The last region, where life is in its lowest degree, is opened up from infancy to childhood, as different kinds of knowledge are acquired. The second degree, where life is in a greater degree, is opened up, from childhood to adolescence, as the result of thinking based on knowledge. The highest degree, where life is in its highest degree, is opened up from adolescence to early manhood and beyond; and this is brought about by grasping both moral and spiritual truths.

An excerpt from True Christian Religion by Emanuel Swedenborg

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