§508 our second state 301
they are separated from the more outward factors that constrained them
in the world. In short, they lose their rationality because in the world
their rationality did not dwell in their deeper natures but in their outer
ones. Still, they seem to themselves to be wiser than anyone else.
[ 3 ] Once people like this are in the second state, they are let back into
the state of their more outward concerns for brief periods of time. They
then retain a memory of how they behaved when they were in the state of
their more inward concerns. Some of them are embarrassed, and admit
that they were insane. Some of them are not embarrassed at all. Some of
them resent the fact that they are not allowed to be in the state of their
more outward concerns all the time, but they are shown what they would
be like if they were constantly in this state. They would be constantly try-
ing to do the same things covertly, misleading people of simple heart and
faith with simulations of goodness, honesty, and fairness. They would
destroy themselves completely, because eventually their outer natures
would be ablaze with the same fi re as their inner natures; and this would
consume their whole life.
When spirits are in this second state, they actually look exactly the 507
way they were inwardly in the world. The things they had done and said
in secret are made public, too, because now, since outward factors are
not restraining them, they say the same things openly; and they keep try-
ing to do the same things without any of the fear for the reputations that
they had in the world. Further, they are then led into many states of their
evils, so that they look to angels and good spirits like the people they
really are. This is how hidden things are opened and covert things are
uncovered according to the Lord’s words “Nothing is hidden that will
not be disclosed or concealed that will not be recognized. What you have
said in darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in
the ear in closets will be proclaimed on the rooftops” (Luke 12 : 2 – 3 ); and
again, “I tell you, every idle word people have spoken, they will give an
account of it on the day of judgment” (Matthew 12 : 36 ).
There is no way to describe briefl y what evil people are like in this 508
state because their insanity depends on their urges, and these vary. So I
should like to mention just a few particular cases that will enable you to
draw conclusions about the rest.
Some people have loved themselves above all else. They have focused
on their own prestige in their duties and positions, they have done con-
structive things not for the sake of doing them or from fi nding pleasure
in them but for the sake of their reputation, to be ranked above other
people on that account, therefore fi nding pleasure in their reputation for