1402. About a state of being chastened in darkness
There are those who think they understand what is true and good by their own power, being self-confident, and thus thinking themselves enlightened beyond all others, when in fact they are ignorant of what is true and good, even having an attitude of unwillingness to learn what is true and good. Such people are therefore purged by a state of darkness, by being put in the dark. Then they talk as if they were insane, because [the darkness] brings on stupidity. They appear a little above the head, switching between the front part and the back, so that one does not know where they are, with their back upwards and their head bent, looking downwards. Some who had been of this character in their bodily life are now in this state.