USEFULNESS: THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS

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What is the Secret to Happiness?
 

What is the source of happiness? Is it: Money, Success, Family, Friends, Community, Love, Admiration, Prestige, Devotion, Fame, Power, Good looks, Marriage, Good Food, Celebration, Nature ??? 

Regardless of how wonderful all these and many other positive qualities may be, what is the essence of that something that causes us to be happy? Do any of these, all or separately, make us happy? 

I would say no… rather, I suggest the answer lies much deeper than what we do... an attitude and disposition that, when activated, brings profound happiness to whatever we do. I would identify this as usefulness in whatever way it may be expressed in what we do and say. 

As stated by Emanuel Swedenborg in his book, True Christianity, published in 1771: 'The only source of anyone's true happiness is doing something useful.’

One of the great truths in life is that we receive what we give from the heart. And what do we receive? Just as he says: Happiness! What could be better? 

I have included below several quotes and illustrations from seer, scientist, and mystic Emmanuel Swedenborg (1668-1772). His visions of heaven reflect the necessity of being useful to achieve true, soul-satisfying happiness. (A brief summary of his life is included at the end of this post.) 

Swedenborg once saw an angel blowing a trumpet, summoning people from the world of spirits to discuss heavenly happiness. Soon, he saw groups of spirits approaching from different directions. Once they were all gathered together, the angel asked these people to discuss within their own group what they believed heavenly happiness consisted of and then share that opinion with everyone there. After that, each group would be allowed to experience the kind of heaven they had imagined.

The first group said:

“Heavenly happiness is feasts and celebrations.”

After days of feasting with famous figures from the Bible, watching lively entertainment, and playing games, the people in this group felt nauseous and burnt out. They were then told by the angel:

"In heaven as on Earth there is food and drink, and there are dinners and parties, . . . also sports and shows and concerts of vocal and instrumental music, all at the height of perfection. All these things are a joy to the angels, but they don't constitute their true happiness. Their happiness has to be present for these things to bring them joy. The happiness that is present within them during the joyful events is what makes the events joyful, enriches them, and keeps them from becoming meaningless and tedious. And the only source of anyone's true happiness is doing something useful through his or her work.” True Christianity

The second group said:

“Heavenly happiness is living like royalty.”

After a long period of sitting on thrones, dressed in luxurious clothing, breathing in the heady aura of wanting to rule over others, these people felt drained by this futile longing. Finally, the angels told them:

"You need to learn what 'kings' and 'princes' mean and what 'reigning with Christ' means. They mean becoming wise and performing a useful function. Christ's kingdom, which is heaven, is a kingdom of useful functions. The Lord loves everyone, and wants us all to have what is good. What is good is being useful. Because the Lord does good and useful things indirectly, here through angels and in the world through people, he gives those who are performing useful functions a love for being useful, and also a reward for being useful, which is inner bliss; and this inner bliss is eternal happiness.” True Christianity

The third group said:

“Heavenly happiness is a garden paradise.”

This group spent days in magnificent gardens, enjoying gorgeous flowers and trees, breathing in heavenly scents, and tasting luscious fruits. They splashed in fountains, wove garlands, sang songs, and rested in beautiful gazebos. But after a while, they were so bored that they became numb to these sense pleasures and were filled with despair.  

‘Those are not the external pleasures of paradise,’ the angel said, ‘unless the internal pleasures of paradise are felt at the same time. . . . All throughout the heavens there are garden paradises, which are a source of great joy to the angels. The more of the soul's delight the angels have, the more truly joyful these joys become to them.’

At that point, they asked, ‘What is the soul's delight and where does it come from?’ ‘The soul's delight,’ the angel answered, ‘comes from love and wisdom from the Lord. Love is what produces this delight, and wisdom is how it produces it. Both love and wisdom find a home in the effect they have, and that effect is usefulness.’ True Christianity

The fourth group said:  

“Heavenly happiness is perpetual worship rituals.”

These people entered church buildings and spent three days listening to sermons, praying, and shouting praise. At the end of that period they either had fallen asleep, felt sick with boredom, or seemed to be going crazy. Some angels who had formerly been bishops on Earth said:

‘You evidently don't know what it means to glorify God. It means bearing the fruits of love - that is, performing our work faithfully, honestly, and diligently. Doing this is loving God; doing this is also loving our neighbor. It is the glue that holds society together, and it is what is best for the community. God is glorified by our doing this, and then also by our having worship at particular times. Have you not read what the Lord said? “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit; and you will become my disciples” (John 15:8)’. . . . The bishops then commanded the guards to open the doors and let everyone come in or go out as he or she wished.” True Christianity

The fifth group said:

“Heavenly happiness is enjoying social life and conversation.”

This group was led into a building where there was an abundance of rooms. They could choose a room and join in whatever lively conversation was happening there and then switch to another room whenever they pleased. After three days of this, though, they were banging on the doors of the building to get out, completely sick of it all. An angel told them why they were feeling that way.

"In the heavens . . . angels have very enjoyable conversations; these interactions are exhilarating to their higher minds, bring satisfaction to their lower minds, create pleasurable feelings in their chests, and refresh their bodies. These conversations only happen among them, though, after they have done useful things as a part of their jobs and their work. Their work puts soul and life into all the other things that make them happy and give them pleasure. If you take away that soul, that life, these ancillary joys gradually cease to be joyful; at first they become trivial, then completely pointless, and eventually depressing and anxiety-provoking.” True Christianity

The sixth group said:

“Heavenly joy is a result of simply entering heaven.”

Rather than having this group try out their idea of heaven, the angel summoned nine people who had been so fervently intent on entering heaven right after death that they were allowed to try it. Their descriptions of what happened served as a warning to the group of newcomers.

“I felt as though I had changed into something nonhuman, although in reality I had not; it was just the effect of breathing the atmosphere of heaven. My mind went blank . . . and I lost my vision and began to lose my mind. That was the effect of the light of heaven, which was as bright and white as snow, and is essentially wisdom, so I'm told. Soon I was having heart palpitations and tremendous anxiety, due to the heat of heaven, which is just as intense as the light is bright and which I now understand is essentially love. I was attacked with inner pain.”

“When I was in heaven, I was almost knocked unconscious by it. Because I felt pain and torment in both my head and my body, I threw myself to the ground and rolled and writhed like a snake next to the fire. I crawled all the way to a cliff-edge and threw myself over it.

Their experiences were like being a fish out of water. Since their minds and spirits were not yet acclimated to the atmosphere of heaven, that atmosphere felt torturous. An angel said, "Now you see that heavenly joys and eternal happiness are not a matter of where you are, but of what your state of life is.” True Christianity 

Experience is the most effective teacher! Through these experiences, each group learned that only a desire to be of service in some way can make us able to accept heaven’s powerful light and warmth and experience heavenly joy.

"Hidden deep within the desires of every angel's heart there is a kind of current that draws her or his mind to do something. In that activity the mind finds its peace and satisfaction. This peace and satisfaction then condition the mind to be receptive to the love of being useful that flows in from the Lord. Receiving this love leads to the true heavenly happiness that gives life to the joys." True Christianity 

The above stories, with alterations, are taken from an article offered in an online Swedenborg organisation. For a full discussion of these concepts, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Lgx5jzY8E 

 ____________________________________________________________

My take on lessons from Swedenborg's 'vision'

If we exist only to accumulate all the good things this world has to offer, we will eventually grow bored and stagnant. What we horde is never enough to bring us happiness unless we give of ourselves in some way. A lake needs fresh water to flow in and out. In the same way, we stay fresh with even an affirming smile when it brings some cheer to the cheerless.

The soul requires purpose, but that’s not possible if we don't serve a cause that concerns more than our well-being. To be useful, we must live with a purpose that goes beyond self-service and self-amusement. We authenticate our existence not by being spectators but by participating in the happiness of others... anything else leaves us empty and unhappy. 

There's no end to what we can do in service to what’s outside of ourselves, such as stewardship to the Earth, sustaining friendships, providing responsible leadership with power and influence, spreading love with a smile, raising a family, and even creating wealth by being productive with an attitude of service.

Even serving a cup of coffee as illustrated by my friend at my rustic cabin in the foothills... btw, that's the only picture I could find to illustrate usefulness. Not that I told her to make herself useful by serving me coffee... that probably wouldn't have worked. Rather, in some small way, and in kindness, she did that to be of service, which is the point of this post.

All these acts, no matter how large or small, bring us happiness, provided our intention is to be of service (even if we are not aware of it). That’s what dignifies the soul, rather than self-serving aggrandisement or scintillating entertainment. It's all about attitude. 

Many who realise that self-realisation isn’t about outward achievement hope to become more fulfilled in life through spiritual practices. Of course, exercises such as meditation, yoga, prayer and worship might be necessary for many to feel balanced and anchored, but these are never sufficient to experience ultimate purpose and meaning. Rather, we need to 'get out of our own skin' with an attitude and expression of service to humanity, be it family, friends, customers, employers, employees, etc., including the animal kingdom and the rest of nature.

It means we can only receive what we give. Being useful allows us to achieve self-realisation by authenticating our soul’s purpose on earth. It’s how we are created, though few seem to realise this.

Those who live for only themselves are miserable, inevitably having a jaundiced view of life because their lives have no point of reference outside themselves. Therefore, it’s difficult to have gratitude for anything, and so narcissism and nihilism result. Life has no satisfactory meaning or fulfilment… just ask Ebenezer Scrooge.

When I was in business in Commercial Real Estate, it felt good to be useful by putting a deal together; not to say the commission wasn't just (or more) important to me. In any case, the more interior fulfilment was being of service as a go-between to two parties in making it happen. On the outside, it may have looked the same, but on the inside, my attitude made all the difference, making for a more fulfilling career

From what I can tell, the concept of usefulness is not sufficiently emphasized in religious practice, even though Jesus told Peter that if he loved him, he should feed his sheep (the world). In my opinion, what's essential to spiritual fulfilment is to be predisposed to service since it addresses what’s most crucial to our soul’s collective and individual purpose, wherever we may find ourselves.

To make this point, I have attached an excerpt from Chapter Nine, Book Two, of my novel series Elysium’s Passage: The Summit, which illustrates the topic of usefulness and purpose in the heavenly spheres.

‘Yesterday,’ I said, ‘you spoke about varieties of quaint and idyllic communities throughout Elysium, but don’t more cosmopolitan types, such as myself, prefer to continue with the big city life? I’m not sure how long I would last in one of those places before getting bored out of my mind.’

‘There are untold souls,’ Mo said, ‘who prefer to live in megalopolises similar to London, Shanghai, Tokyo and New York that reflect the affections of those who prefer bustling cities of boundless vitality. Innumerable expressions of life can be experienced everywhere, including art, music and commerce.’

‘Did you say commerce… you must be joking; what place has filthy lucre in Elysium?’

‘Is it not commerce about exchange, which is simply the act of reciprocity, of giving and receiving? Is that not what defines the essence of relationships?’

‘Commerce connotates something much different to me,’ I said, ‘where commerce is all about the profit motive.’

‘And what’s wrong with that?’ Eli asked. ‘Without profit, where’s the motive? Instead of thinking of profit as being selfish, think of it as a reward for service.  There are always new delightful creations being formulated within the minds and hearts of producers and artists in Elysée, both individually and collectively.’

‘So, where’s the payoff in that?’ I asked.

‘The reward is in sharing,’ Mo said. ‘What is created for just the self has little or no appeal. What orchestra would endlessly practice to perform in an empty concert hall? In giving and receiving is the profit of appreciating and being appreciated where each party becomes enhanced in the exchange – that’s the commerce of the soul.

‘Instead of everything being a rehashed variation of what was on earth, new genres are constantly being created and expressed in music, art, and goods, conceived in someone’s heart and mind that might not have ever manifested before. For example, the computer had never been imagined on Earth before the twentieth century. Now, they’re everywhere. Likewise, in Elysium, creation never ends; all are co-creators without limit to what may be conceived.

‘Much of what was created here,’ Eli said, ‘and endless other worlds can be found in Elysée since the creative genius is inherently stowed within the souls of artists, musicians, designers, inventors and, in fact, everyone. All expressions of creativity expand without limit into other spheres and dimensions throughout the universe.

‘Many earthly creations may find their way to higher realms if that’s what some souls desire – for example, tennis. Likewise, when souls are open to being inspired from above, monumental works result, as evidenced in music, majestic cathedrals and even wonderous pyramids throughout the world.

‘Although certain musical expressions, such as the Blues, may have limited appeal if no one can get into the mood for feeling blue unless the rhythm is transmuted from sorrow to joy. Then, it resonates differently, often with great appeal, though it’s hardly the blues anymore.

‘Needless to say, certain sounds, frequencies and depictions, when conjoined with lower calibrations, are only found in lower strata of spiritual reality. No matter where we exist, we continue to manifest whatever gives expression to our consciousness.  Whatever calibration we become consociated with is what we experience, be it of heaven or hell.

‘That’s why,’ Mo said, ‘the potential for manifesting new creations remains as endless and expansive as one’s imagination, which has no limits. Rousseau stated: The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless. Even when the world imposes limitations on our perceptions of reality, such as with the speed of light, there are no limitations in Elysium, where perception remains as boundless as the imagination. 

‘In fact, all commerce is an expression of creativity where love and appreciation are the only currency, which is why money is not necessary as a medium of exchange, a notion that would be inconceivable in the world.’

‘That’s most impressive; I say good for them, yet why would anyone do anything without receiving compensation for their efforts? I might like to lecture now and then, but I’m not sure how long I’d want to do it gratis.’

‘Why not?’ Eli asked. ‘As a philosopher, don’t you wish to impart what you love? If you have no rent to pay or food to buy, wouldn’t teaching be a sufficient reward unto itself?’

‘I suppose so, provided I could select only those students I wished to teach instead of wasting my time with dilettantes and dabblers who aren’t serious about philosophy. I already have enough students in my classes that are only in it to earn credits towards some unrelated degree.’

‘Everyone in Elysée is inspired to share what they have created in since that’s what causes souls to feel fulfilled and happy. That’s what is meant by it is better to give than receive[1] which is also why no one ever goes out of business unless they decide to do something else. What I mean by business is the creative expression of the soul’s passions.

‘Yet there are many things in the world that have little or no value there. For example, what point would casinos and gambling houses have when everyone has already won.’

‘You mean the big lotto in the sky when everyone’s numbers come up upon passing over?’ 

‘That’s right, but instead of thinking of it as a big win, it’s more like coming into your inheritance.’

‘In which case,’ I said, ‘there probably aren’t a lot of factories to work at either since no one needs to more.’

‘I suppose a factory could be set up for old time’s sake if that’s what was desired,’ Mo said, ‘but I suspect it would be a problem finding anyone to work there except those who think they need to pay penance for something or another they imagine.

‘However, it’s hardly necessary to have intermediaries assemble products when things can be perfectly manifested, both individually and collectively. And so, it follows, no workers are required on the assembly line when there is no assembly line.’

‘When you think about it,’ I said, ‘that’s not much different from how things on Earth are eventually materialised when everything, including the means of production, is first conceived in the mind.

‘Except there are no unions or union bosses in Elysium,’ Mo said. ‘Marx wrote: Workers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your chains.[2] Well, there are no chains to lose where there is no exploitation, only unity, even among former workers and their old industrialist adversaries.’

‘That would be some revolution,’ I said. ‘So, what else won’t you find in Elysium… besides Das Kapital?’

‘Anything that has an underlying spirit of fear, judgment, poverty, greed, envy, sickness and all else that falls short of love and light. Obviously, insurance premiums have no meaning. Nor do arms and munitions industries, except in the lower regions of the hells where the occupants, in their insanity, constantly engage in their simulated war games among their perceived enemies, as often occurs on earth.’

 ‘I’d hate to ask about the status of lawyers,’ I said, smirking.

‘Former lawyers often like to assist new arrivals, providing clarity of thought for the confused and in communal relations to keep things running smoothly. Their talents and abilities are not lost, except for those engaged in frivolous prosecution and litigation, who often go elsewhere before they’re ready for Elysium,’ he chuckled.

‘Other obsolete professions include police, fire-fighters, judges, priests, doctors, nurses, politicians, bureaucrats… or any skill that has no purpose there.’

‘Then, what former occupations might still have some value?’ I asked.

‘Whatever is engaged with creativity as its raison d’être will always have value.’

There’s plenty of room for more scholars, scientists, seers, teachers, facilitators, speakers, designers, tour guides, artists, musicians and many other occupations, including countless other avocations your world has yet to conceive of far beyond cyber technology.’

‘And don’t forget stagehands,’ Eli said. ‘That’s where I got my start,’ he chuckled.

‘Most everyone,’ Mo said, ‘becomes engaged in whatever creative activities and entertainment they initially find most fulfilling. Often, the wisest and most spiritually advanced souls freelance as spirit guides to assist those they most relate to.

‘For example, scientists with scientists and artists with artists, although not always. Some of the more dedicated are often referred to as counsellors, guardians, and guides. Recently, many of these have rebranded themselves as coaches to make things sound more familiar for recent arrivals. Halos are optional,’ he chuckled.

‘Whereas much of the world’s foundation was built on the quicksand of fear,’ Eli said, ‘Elysée is all about what’s only created and exchanged in love. Everywhere, in innumerable occupations, countless souls engage in authenticating their talents and aptitudes of being in service to others and not only to one’s self. As we’ve said before, service is not servitude; it’s the celebration of sharing.’

‘Are you sure celebration is the proper word you want to use for service? When I think of service, I think of government revenue services, police services, armed services, etc. These generally are not services engaged in acts of giving and receiving but of enforcement.’

‘Instead of thinking of service as being associated with oppression,’ Mo said, ‘think about it as an expression of reciprocation where it’s difficult to discern any distinction between giver and receiver. Architecture, for example, continues to thrive in Elysium because there’s satisfaction in designing and creating structures with exciting aesthetic appeal for individuals and communities.’

‘Who, then, gets to decide what’s built there?’ I asked.

‘When a new arrival wishes to design what they might have in mind for their dwelling, they probably don’t know where to start or how to go about it. These architects and designers love to be facilitators for specific structures, gardens, and landscapes. They have a plethora of ideas to draw from, many that were conceived on Earth, although not implemented because of economic restraints. In Elysium, they can let it rip, much to the delight of the new occupants.’

‘Likewise,’ Eli said, ‘writers write for the pure enjoyment of sharing whatever thoughts they wish to express without having to worry about selling enough copies to survive. Anyone who wants to read a book, in whatever format, can obtain it simply by downloading it after it has been published.’

‘If I understand you correctly, you’re saying the author’s big payoff is not earning money from selling copies; instead, it has more to do with being recognised for what they’ve created.’

‘For some, that might be the case, but for most, the big payoff, as you call it, is simply in sharing what they create. Since everything is based on relationships, everyone in Elysée wants to be of service by sharing what they create.’

‘But what would authors write about when novels, in particular, are implicitly based on the conflict?’

‘It might amaze you,’ Mo said, ‘the most popular releases are derived from the author’s experiences and observations from their mortal life, regardless of what world they’re from. As you can imagine, the possibilities are without limit. I’m sure many from your world would be most intrigued by reading the story you are now living out here.’

‘Possibly; still, I wonder if they would censor some of my stories since there are a few kinky episodes in my past.’

‘Since no one has power over another, nothing is ever censored except what you choose not to disclose. Besides, nothing that proceeds from love and creativity can be offensive to ascended souls. So, why would anyone be offended by what you say or do? If being offensive was your intent, you wouldn’t be there; instead, you would dwell lower down where that’s all they do for amusement.’

‘What about horror stories; is Stephen King out of a job?’

‘The problem with horror stories,’ Eli said, ‘is that they are a hard sell when no one relates to fear anymore, not even vicariously. Where love prevails, the thrill is gone, such as it was. I’m sure a talented writer like Mr King can expand into other genres to express his creativity with far greater acceptance.

‘Regardless, if he wishes to continue to write horror stories, that’s his choice, although it could only be appreciated in dubious domains of dense frequency. When he arrives, if he wishes, he might want to channel his stories to some medium back home where many enjoy being frightened.’

‘I wonder what it might be like to be a writer or artist in Elysium?’

‘It’s an honourable calling to share inspiring insights into life’s experiences,’ Mo said. ‘Once artistic creations become known, the artist gains more fame and recognition than is possible in the world since money can’t get in the way of pure receiving. That’s why there are no starving artists in Elysium. Everyone receives what they most desire by sharing the essence of their soul.’

‘This sounds a bit like Marx’s dictum: From each according to his ability to each according to his need.’[1]

‘That might sound close,’ he said, ‘except Elysium has no needs, only desires, which makes all the difference in the universe. There’s nothing in Elysium that could be further from the hell that Marxism created on the planet.’

As I might expect, this became another occasion for Mo to rant against Marx, communism, and all its academic abettors in the free world.

‘If anyone is too doctrinaire to recognise this obvious fact, tell them to take a trip to Venezuela, North Korea or any other socialist paradise they fawn over.’

I regretted bringing Marx up since I had heard this from him several times before. While I agreed with him, I wanted to get back to what we were discussing. Mercifully, Eli interceded.

‘In Elysée,’ he said, ‘even where there might be tens of millions of souls in various communities, a cultural ethos thrives and is sustained by the mutual affections that give rise to these communities. However, these collectives are not what you would call cloisters. Rather, everyone is free to be wherever they wish to be and go wherever they want to go, including other planets, galaxies, eras, and dimensions. For us, it’s Earth where we currently find ourselves with you.’

‘That sounds kind of busy,’ I said, ‘so how is one supposed able to keep up with everything going on?’

‘When you are in the flow of all that is,’ Eli said, ‘you don’t have to keep up; you naturally drift towards where you feel most happy, including being with kindred minds and hearts you may never have met before. Not just that, we can split our consciousness to be present in many places at once.’

‘If that’s the case, I think I’d like to spend some time with Leo Tolstoy.’

‘Why stop there,’ he asked, when you can go back in time to Czarist Russia to observe what was happening in the days of Anna Karenina and War and Peace?[2] Even better, why not take Tolstoy as your guide? – I’m sure he’d be delighted to show you around his creation. Can you now see how limitless your options are in Elysée?’

‘If that’s possible, it would be truly amazing,’ I said. ‘After that, I’d love to have a front-row seat to see how right Shakespeare got things in Julius Caesar’s unfortunate coup en traître.’[3]

‘Understand,’ Mo said, ‘whatever you are most attracted to, in whatever dimension, has a way of attracting itself to you one way or another. The point is… life feels effortless yet dynamic since that’s how it’s meant to be experienced in our divine image. Nothing remains static; all constantly changes and freely expands in life’s flow.’

‘So, if there is no hierarchical government to control things, how does Elysium hold together?’

‘What holds everything together throughout the universe is the glue of harmonious relationships,’ he said. ‘Nothing can exist without being bonded to something or someone. Do you remember what Yeshua said? – where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst.[4] Well, it’s kind of like that, where everything, including subatomic energies, remains entangled.

‘As I’ve often stated, what unites the cosmos is love since that’s the source-essence of the universe. That’s what we call God. Since love can only exist in the dynamic of relationships, we, too, are the glue of existence. It’s what makes the whole whole. Don’t think of love as just an attribute, quality or feature; instead, it is that by which these subsist.’

‘I remember you saying that before,’ I said, ‘yet I find that a curious idea.’

‘Then let’s begin with the premise that God is love,’[5] Mo continued, ‘therefore, in this sense, we may say love is more than an attribute of God; but, in essence… is God.

‘God, that sounds tautological, I grinned. ‘Maybe we should leave it there; obviously, the rules of logic aren’t working so well here.’

‘Consider, then,’ Eli said, ‘transcending your rules with the Tertium Organum approach to logic as we previously discussed.[6] Accordingly, we may say all relationships are derived from Source essence, which is why there can be no adequate words to define love, only expressions of what we experience in relationships.

‘Therefore, love may be understood as inward being-essence by which all relationships manifest in an ongoing dynamic that requires union, not only towards other souls, but all things, places, and events.’

‘That sounds jolly; I said, ‘regardless, how do we find past relationships when we leave Earth? From what you’re saying, Elysium sounds like a really, really big place.’

‘That’s easy. The heart knows where you wish to go, so that’s where you’ll be. Love is the magnet that draws us to where and what we love. Unless, of course, you allow your mind to interfere with your heart’s desire.

‘Your natural guidance system will take you to where you are most attracted; it’s that simple, you don’t even have to think about it. On its own, the mind has no clue where to go. Was it not your heart, rather than your mind, that led you to this Mountain?’



[1] From Marx's Critique of the Gotha Program, published in 1875, although the phrase was attributed to Louis Blanc when first used in 1839.
[2] Anna Karenina, 1878, and War And Peace, 1867, are considered two of Tolstoys most famous novels
[3] Stab in the back, treachery
[4] Matthew 18:20 (KJV)
[5] This is supported by I John 4:8. Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love. (NIV)
[6] The discussion referred to occurred in Book One, The Ascent, Chapter Seven, Down and Out.

‘Most everyone,’ Mo said, ‘becomes engaged in whatever creative activities and entertainment they at first find most fulfilling. Often, the wisest and most spiritually advanced souls freelance as spirit guides to assist those they most relate to.

‘For example, scientists with scientists and artists with artists. Some of the more dedicated are often referred to as counsellors, guardians, and guides. Recently, many of these have rebranded themselves as coaches to make things sound more familiar for recent arrivals. Halos are optional,’ he chuckled.

‘Whereas much of the Earth’s foundation was built on the quicksand of fear,’ Eli said, ‘Elysée has a solid foundation of what’s only created and exchanged in love. Everywhere, in innumerable occupations, countless souls engage in authenticating their talents and aptitudes of being in service to others and not only to one’s self. As we’ve said before, service is not servitude; it’s the celebration of sharing.’

‘Are you sure celebration is the proper word you want to use for service? When I think of service, I think of government revenue services, police services, armed services, etc. These generally are not services engaged in acts of giving and receiving but of enforcement.’

‘Instead of thinking of service as being associated with oppression,’ Mo said, ‘think about it as an expression of reciprocation where it’s difficult to discern any distinction between giver and receiver. Architecture, for example, continues to thrive in Elysium because there’s satisfaction in designing and creating structures with exciting aesthetic appeal for individuals and communities.’

‘Who, then, gets to decide what’s built there?’ I asked.

‘It’s not about building structures as conceiving what’s to be manifested,’ he said. ‘When a new arrival wishes to design what they might have in mind for their dwelling, they probably don’t know where to start or how to go about it. These architects and designers love to be facilitators for specific structures, gardens, and landscapes. They have a plethora of ideas to draw from, many that were conceived on Earth, although not implemented because of economic restraints. In Elysium, they can let it rip, much to the delight of the new occupants.’

‘Likewise,’ Eli said, ‘writers write for the pure enjoyment of writing and sharing whatever thoughts they wish to express without worrying about selling enough copies to survive. Anyone who wants to read a book, in whatever format, can obtain it simply by downloading it after it has been published.’

‘If I understand you correctly, you’re saying the author’s big payoff is not earning money from selling copies; instead, it has more to do with being recognised for what they’ve created.’

‘For some, that might be the case,’ he said, ‘but for most, the big payoff, as you call it, is simply in sharing what they create. Since everything is based on relationships, everyone in Elysée wants to be of service by sharing what they create.’

‘But what would authors write about when novels, in particular, are implicitly based on the conflict?

‘It might amaze you,’ Mo said, ‘the most popular releases are derived from the author’s experiences and observations from their mortal life, regardless of what world they’re from. As you can imagine, the possibilities are without limit.

‘I’m sure many from your world would be most intrigued by reading the story you are now living out here.’

‘Yeah, maybe; still, I wonder if they would censor some of my stories since I have some rather kinky parts in my past.’

‘Nothing is ever censored because no one has power over another,’ Mo said. ‘Besides, nothing that proceeds from love and creativity can be offensive to ascended souls. So, why would anyone be offended by what you had to say? If being offensive was your intent, you wouldn’t be there; instead, you would dwell lower down where that’s all they do for amusement.’

‘What about horror stories; is Stephen King out of a job?’

‘The problem with horror stories is that they are a hard sell when no one relates to fear anymore, not even vicariously. The thrill is gone, such as it was. I’m sure a talented writer like Mr King can expand into other genres to express his creativity with far greater acceptance.

‘Regardless, if he wishes to continue to write horror stories, that’s his choice, although it could only be appreciated in dubious domains of dense frequency. When he arrives, if he wishes, he might want to channel his stories to some medium on Earth where many humans enjoy being frightened.’

‘I wonder what it might be like to be a writer or artist in Elysium?’

‘It’s an honourable calling to share inspiring insights into life’s experiences,’ Mo said. ‘Once artistic creations become known, the artist gains more fame and recognition than is possible on Earth since money can’t get in the way of pure receiving. That’s why there are no starving artists in Elysium. Everyone receives what they most desire by sharing the essence of their soul.’

‘This sounds a bit like Marx’s dictum: From each according to his ability to each according to his need.’[1]

‘That might sound close,’ he said, ‘except Elysium has no needs, only desires, which makes all the difference in the universe. There’s nothing in Elysium that could be further from the hell that Marxism created on the planet.’

As I might expect, this became another occasion for Mo to rant against Marx, communism, and all its academic abettors in the free world.

‘If anyone is too doctrinaire to recognise this obvious fact, tell them to take a trip to Venezuela, North Korea or any other socialist paradise they fawn over.’

I regretted bringing Marx up since I had heard this from him several times before. While I agreed with him, I wanted to get back to what we were discussing. Mercifully, Eli interceded.

‘In Elysée,’ he said, ‘even where there might be tens of millions of souls in various communities, a cultural ethos thrives and is sustained by the mutual affections that give rise to these communities. However, these collectives are not what you would call cloisters. Rather, everyone is free to be wherever they wish to be and go wherever they want to go, including other planets, galaxies, eras, and dimensions. For us, it’s Earth where we currently find ourselves with you.’

‘That sounds kind of busy,’ I said, ‘so how is one supposed able to keep up with everything going on?’

‘When you are in the flow of all that is,’ Eli said, ‘you don’t have to keep up; you naturally drift towards where you feel most happy, including being with kindred minds and hearts you may never have met before. Not just that, we can split our consciousness to be present in many places at once.’

‘I think, if possible, I’d like to spend some time with Leo Tolstoy,’ I said.

‘Why stop there,’ he asked, when you can go back in time to Czarist Russia to observe what was happening in the days of Anna Karenina and War and Peace? Even better, take Tolstoy with you as a guide; I’m sure he’d be delighted to show you around his creation. Can you see now how limitless your options are in Elysée?’

‘If that’s possible, it would be truly amazing,’ I said. ‘After that, I’d love to have a front-row seat to see how right Shakespeare got things in Julius Caesar’s unfortunate coup en traître.’[2]

‘Understand,’ Mo said, ‘whatever you are most attracted to, in whatever dimension, has a way of attracting itself to you one way or another. The point is… life feels effortless yet dynamic since that’s how it’s meant to be experienced in our divine image. Nothing remains static; all constantly changes and freely expands in life’s flow.’

‘So, if there is no hierarchical government to control things, how does Elysiums hold together?’

‘What holds everything together throughout the universe is the glue of harmonious relationships,’ he said. ‘Nothing can exist without being bonded to something or someone. Do you remember what Yeshua said? – where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst.[3] Well, it’s kind of like that, where everything, including subatomic energies, remains entangled.

‘As I’ve often said, what unites the cosmos is love since that’s the source-essence of the universe. That’s what we call God. Since love can only exist in the dynamic of relationships, we, too, are the glue of existence. It’s what makes the whole whole. Don’t think of love as just an attribute, quality or feature; instead, it is that by which these subsist.’

‘I remember you saying that before,’ I said, ‘yet I find that a curious idea.’

‘Then let’s begin with the premise that God is love.[4] Therefore, in this sense, we may say love is more than an attribute of God; but is God in essence. It follows then that we may also say that love is God since essence is essential to God being God.

‘God, that sounds tautological, I grinned.

‘But then, what would you expect from the Alpha and Omega?

‘Maybe we should leave it there; obviously, the rules of logic aren’t working so well here.’

‘Consider, then, transcending your rules with the Tertium Organum approach to logic as we previously discussed.[5] Accordingly, we may say all relationships are derived from Source essence, which is why there can be no adequate words to define love, only expressions of what we experience in relationships.

‘Love is the inward being-essence by which all relationships manifest in an ongoing dynamic that requires union, not only towards other souls, but all things, places, and events.’

‘That sounds rather complicated, if not convoluted; regardless, how do we find past relationships when we leave? From what you’re saying, Elysium sounds like a really, really big place.’

‘That’s easy.’ Eli said, ‘The heart knows; where you wish to go, it leads, and that’s where you’ll be. Love is the magnet that draws what we love to ourselves. Unless, of course, you allow your mind to interfere with your heart’s desire.

‘Your natural guidance system will take you to where you are most attracted; it’s that simple, you don’t even have to think about it. On its own, the mind has no clue where to go. Was it not your heart, rather than your mind, that led you to this Mountain?’



[1] From Marx's Critique of the Gotha Program, published in 1875, although the phrase was attributed to Louis Blanc when first used in 1839.
[2] Stab in the back, treachery
[3] Matthew 18:20 (KJV)
[4] Mo’s statement is supported by I John 4:8. Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love. (NIV)
[5] The discussion referred to occurred in Book One, The Ascent, Chapter Seven, Down and Out.

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EMANUEL SWEDENBORG
   1688-1772

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For readers unfamiliar with Emanuel Swedenborg, I have included below a very brief outline of his life, including some of these quotes, particularly as they relate to some of our discussions on the summit.

Emanuel Swedenborg was a highly regarded scientist in Europe in the eighteenth century and was closely associated with Sweden’s royalty as a friend and administrator (Royal Assessor of Mines). In 1741, at the age of 53, much of his life changed when he became exposed to the spirit dimension. Beginning with dreams a few years later, he reported his soul’s heavenly visitations that continued for the remaining twenty-eight years of his earthly life. This he described as his spiritual awakening. From then on, he recorded his celestial visits that included speaking with hundreds of spiritual entities, not all in the higher realms.

He wrote several books of theological concern, with over eighteen works published in Latin. Most of his works are deeply profound and, for some, perhaps difficult to read. His most famous and arguably most accessible to comprehend is Heaven and Hell (1758): a popular introductory summary of his experiences and conclusions.

Given the nature of his experiences and how remote his spiritual discourses were from traditional conventions, some considered his works insane. But this was largely mitigated by his impeccable reputation as a scholar and scientist with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. He was also part in the Swedish House of Nobility (the Swedish Riddarhuset) and Parliament (Riksdag).

On a personal level, he was characterized as a very pious and warm-hearted man, speaking easily and naturally. Many literary luminaries became devoted readers of his works, including Jorge Luis Borges, Daniel Burnham, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Y.B Yeats, John Flaxman, George Inness, Henry James Sr., William Blake, Carl Jung, Immanuel Kant, Honoré de Balzac, Arthur Conan Doyle, Helen Keller, Czeslaw Milosz, August Strindberg and D.T. Suzuki.

                                      Footnotes to excepts


[1] Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) makes several references to his encounters with Martin Luther (1483-1546) a couple of centuries after Luther's death. He seemed to indicate Luther was being held back by some of his old doctrines that beclouded his full understanding. According to Swedenborg, after having some significant theological discussions with him, Luther was released from some certain beliefs that were mind-centred rather than heart-centred, such as his adamant stance on justification by faith.
[2] An idol of cult worship that Israelites made and worshipped while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments.
[3] This quote was in reference to Yeshua’s admonition: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Matthew 6:20 (KJV)
[4] From the Communist Manifesto (1848), Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

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SUMMARY OF ELYSIUM'S PASSAGE SERIES
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ELYSIUM'S PASSAGE is a series of seven Elysium’s Passage novels regarding a young British philosopher named James Phillips who finds himself living in an altered state of reality while still remaining on Earth.  

After experiencing a near-fatal fall while climbing to the summit of a remote mountain in the Andes, James awakens in a new dimension. He soon encounters two mysterious beings who provide him with a very different perspective on the nature of his existence. Over the next year, before his body recovers from the coma, he is challenged to re-examine his understanding of life’s meaning and purpose far beyond anything he previously believed or could believe. 

An engaging and sometimes surreal adventure with intimations of impending romance, the narrative explores the most important questions about life, death, reality and our ultimate destiny.

The Plains of Elysium (Champs-Élysées) was described by Homer, Hesiod, Virgil and many other poets as the paradisiac afterlife realm reserved for heroes. As the title suggests, this is about a journey through a passage that leads towards Elysium’s exciting realm of existence.

 

PENDING PUBLICATION ELYSIUM’S PASSAGE SERIES
                                   
 

THE ASCENT: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

THE SUMMIT: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

QUANTUM LEAPS: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

SURREAL ADVENTURES: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

MYSTICAL ROMANCE: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

THE ELIXIR: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

THE RETURN: Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage

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1. The Ascent is the first novel in the Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage that’s foundational to everything that happens in the following narratives that embark on an adventure that will surprise and delight the reader like no other book.

It all begins with an extreme adventure of climbing a remote and challenging mountain somewhere in the Andean Mountains. Just as James, the protagonist, is about to reach the mountain summit, he falls into an abyss that leaves him in a coma for almost a year.

After being airlifted by a forestry helicopter and flown back to London, where his body remains for almost a year. Eventually, he learns it was not him but his body that was rescued. Several days later, without understanding what happened, he continues to climb to the summit in an alternate dimension of higher consciousness.

Fortuitously, he meets two adventurers on the summit ridge who are no longer of this world. After that, his surreal life leads him to several new adventures in the subsequent chronicles that include a rich mix of adventure, romance, and fantasy, along with profound discussions of philosophy, spirituality and the afterlife.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

2. The  Summit, the second novel in the Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage, carries on where James, the narrator and protagonist, is taught more about a multidimensional reality that he finds difficult to comprehend.

Not only does he find he’s not as clever as he imagined, but his off-world companions on the summit demonstrate that much of what he believed about life was not just parochial but wrong. At first, he finds this difficult to comprehend since their teachings are contrary to his limited understanding of non-material reality.

After being tricked into teleporting off a ledge where he was trapped, James becomes aware of the new reality that makes him capable of far more adventures than could have ever been experienced previously in his physical body back home.

Now, if only he would win over the only woman in this life who matters, the nurse on the other side of the veil, who continually demonstrates her unconditional love toward his healing.

Warning: This book may also open the reader’s eyes to a much vaster reality than most might be aware. As with the other Chronicles, there are discussions of philosophy, the spiritual afterlife and what might seem like fantasy.

3. Quantum Leaps is the third novel in Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage, where James, the philosopher-protagonist, teleports back to London to visit his body and make contact with the special nurse taking care of it in his absence. Immediately, he feels an inexplicable spiritual bond with her for reasons he remains unaware of.

Now aroused by a renewed interest in matters of love, the beginnings of a relationship begin to emerge as he attempts to reach across the chasm of their worlds. But it’s not until the fifth novel, Mystical Romance, that he encounters her in a way that he finds difficult to believe.

However, before that can happen, there is much about his failed relationships that must be resolved before he is ready to move forward in his new life in Elysium’s Passage. It is during this time he christens his comatose body as the fall guy since it took the fall for him down the abyss so he could learn the lessons he’s now learning.

That will be the next focus of his life, where in his next Surreal Adventures, he is given virtual lessons to release many of his past beliefs about life.

4. Surreal Adventures is the fourth novel in the Chronicles of Elysium’s Passage, which finds James, the protagonist and narrator, escorted by his companions to a remote South Pacific Island, where he is left to reflect on what he’s learned.

During the next forty days, he battles the demons of his past as he works through some rather painful issues from his early youth. Here, in a tropical storm, he encounters an eery suspended spectre of the one he loved yet still resents for abandoning him as a child.

After this, he achieves peace of mind and is ready to return to his lodge to join his off-world companions on the Andes summit. However, just when it seemed things couldn’t get any stranger, a sixteenth-century sea captain sails his ancient ‘ghost’ ship onto the beach. Together, they sail off on a mystical ocean voyage to a couple of virtual islands supposedly in the South Pacific, where he witnesses and, at times, participates in several important life lessons.

Near the end, these encounters help prepare him for a new challenge within the interior of a mountain, where he falls deep into a dark tomb of fear. After being rescued by a mysterious stranger wielding his Excaliber, he continues on to where his life is about to be transformed in the following chronicle, Mystical Romance.

5. Mystical Romance is the fifth chronicle in Elysium’s Passage, which will surprise the reader with a romantic twist of how love is expressed in higher realms. From this lofty perspective, everything about intimacy is understood as within, so without.

After escaping his tomb, James, the narrator and protagonist, makes his way through a maze of tunnels until he arrives at a large oak door, which he opens with the golden key he had been given. There, he steps into Elysium’s Passage’s Great Hall, where his life and recent achievements are celebrated now that his eyes have been opened to perceive a fascinating interior world of wonderment… and romance.

To say more might risk diminishing the multitude of delightful surprises as circumstances begin to open to The Elixir, where James is about to re-enter his earthly body’s existence.

6. The Elixir is the sixth chronicle of the Elysium’s Passage series that prepares James, the narrator-protagonist, to awaken and return to his body in London. Before that can happen, however, his off-worlder friend presents a mysterious equation enshrouded with a light code frequency that will stimulate multidimensional DNA strands within him.

Much of this narration is centred in London, where his nurse unknowingly becomes involved in how the Elixir’s equation finds its way from a taxi cab driver to higher echelons of science. There are many twists in how she unwittingly brings the Elixir to the attention of mathematicians and physicists, after which they eventually discover how to code the equation into a laser ray to stimulate his fall-guy body into full consciousness.

Ostensibly a new Adam, he is destined to return humanity to a higher multidimensional existence. How this happens is filled with intrigue, as is his shocking return to his earthly body.­­­­­­­­­­­­­

7. The Return is the seventh and last chronicle in the series where James, the narrator and protagonist, has re-emerged from Elysium’s Passage as he readjusts to life in the third dimension. Many of the events experienced in the previous novels are tied together in an exciting, fast-moving, action-packed narrative over several countries.

 At first, it seems all memories have been lost, with his fall guy’s brain not being aware of what happened to him while in his coma. As a consequence, it takes a while for him to be convinced he had been out of his earthly body for almost a year.

Through some rather unexpected events and evidence, along with his girlfriend’s urging, he is brought to an awareness of much of what occurred. It takes a while for his mind to catch up with the changes made in his heart during his stay in the alternate realm. But after experiencing several harsh realities, he discovers what he became within while out of his body. Gradually, he comes to understand the many challenges that lie ahead for him in fulfilling his future mission on Earth.

This book is filled with adventure, romance and personal intrigue that ties together all six previous narratives of the Elysium’s Passage series.

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READER REVIEWS
 

The following comments are among the first Amazon reviews of Elysium’s Passage: The Summit. All are Five Stars! Other reader reviews are included below, along with excerpts from two professional reviews. To read full reviews, go to READER REVIEWS on www.elysiumspassage.com

"Quietly, gently, and without imposition, the Author unfolds the pages, creating an intricate, interlocking bridge spanning the chasm between mind and heart. Renewing, refreshing, restoring. In my bereavement, it was vigil and light…"

"A delightful mix of fantasy, reality, conjecture and humour; Mr. Meyers draws the reader into the story with a gentle narrative that captures imagination, leaving one anxious to get to the next page drawing you into his exceptional world.”

“Excellently written with an exceedingly deep understanding of this world and the next. The characters are very well written and engaging. I can't wait to complete this book!"

“Takes the reader on both a philosophical and spiritual journey, a journey that at times is both disquieting and tranquil. James, a British Philosopher can be irreverent and caustic, traits that should have left me cringing, but instead made me laugh out loud. Elysium’s Passage is a fun, enlightening and remarkable book.”

“This is a masterful fantasy, becoming a real possibility, as the reader is drawn into the story. The Summit leaves you anxious for the next book in the series, yet also leaves you totally satisfied with the world you have just visited. Genius! An exciting, yet calming, experience that is not to be missed."

"There was hardly a page on which I did not find at least one sentence worthy of hi-lighting for future reference. In addition, I thoroughly enjoyed the main character, James, whose personality and passionate verbal exchanges with the other characters, kept me coming back for more. I am reading the book for a second time while I wait for the next one in this series to be made available."

 “N.G. Meyers has clearly put a great deal of research and thought into what the afterlife may look like and I like his perspective. It’s an altogether welcoming and exciting vision. The book gives one a great deal to think about and a reassuring confidence that the end of our lives is truly the beginning of life in the next. I highly recommend it."

“The humour interjected into a serious discussion makes me laugh out loud. Totally unexpected....l may be in the presence of at least a master, if not a genius. A fair ride into reality... seeking that which is unseen, yet absolutely real.”

“An engaging story of adventure embracing man's deepest desire to search for meaning and purpose, N.G. Meyers takes the reader on an adventurous thought-provoking journey. This book has substance. It is a perfect blend of adventure and fantasy combined with spiritual philosophy. It ignited my imagination. The author magically weaves a good story laced with wit and humour together with deep philosophical wisdom. This book has it all!”

“An evolution in thought is triggered by many fresh philosophical themes which could inspire readers to re-think their reality and former ideologies that have dictated their lives… the author fires readers’ imaginations to view what could be possible when spirit vacates the body.”

“This is the book spiritual seekers have been waiting for. For me, it granted a great read as well as increased inspiration to live every day with a heightened sense of purpose. I highly recommend it.

“The Summit is capable of hooking readers and luring them to search for Book 2 to discover more about Dr. Philip’s surreal trek into the mysterious unknown universe. This thick book is well worth the read and to share…”

“Mind-blowing statements and speculation (‘…everyone is a non-physical thought form conceived in the Mind of God, preserved for all eternity because God’s thoughts never die…’). Many will find Meyers’ journey up the Mountain intriguing—and possibly even life-changing.” (BLUEINK REVIEW)

“In its effort to grapple with fundamental questions about the meaning of life, it raises questions that have echoed throughout the ages, including about where we come from, where we are going, who we are.”  (CLARION REVIEW)

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CONTACT INFORMATION

FACEBOOK: Elysium's Passage Novel Series, Elysium's Passage Public Group page, Elysium's Passage Author's Page, or to my personal page Neil Meyers

INSTAGRAM: meyersneil

LINKEDIN: Neil Meyers

EMAIL: nmeyers@shaw.ca 

BLOG POSTINGS: https://digitalbloggers.com/articles/elysiumspassage

Sample press review: https://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/05/prweb15515775.htm