4051. There are communities correlative with that region in the brain called the isthmus and also spirits correlative with the little knots of fibres in the brain which have a glandular appearance, from which fibres flow forth for different functionings. That is to say, these fibres behave in one and the same way in the glands where they originate but in differing ways at the points where they terminate. One community of spirits to whom such things correspond was brought before me, of which the following is a description: The spirits came in front and addressed me, saying that they were men. But I was allowed to reply to them that they were not men provided with bodies, but were spirits and so also men, the reason being that everything in a spirit seeks to attain that which is of man, including a form akin to that of a man provided with a body. For the spirit is the internal man. I was also allowed to tell them that men were men by virtue of intelligence and wisdom, not of their form, and consequently that good spirits, and more so angels, are more pre-eminently men than those who are in the body, because they dwell in the light of wisdom more than those in the body.
[2] After I had made this reply they said that their community consisted of a large number, yet not one of them was like another. But because it did not seem possible to me that a community consisting of those who were not alike could exist in the next life I talked to them about it and at length I learned that although they were not alike they were nevertheless united as regards their end in view, which was the same for them all. They went on to say that they were such that each individual acted in a different way from the next and also spoke in a different way, and yet they were similar in what they willed and thought. They also illustrated this with an example. When someone in their community speaks of an angel being least in heaven, a second of his being greatest, and a third of his being neither least nor greatest, and so on with many varying ideas, they are still in their thoughts acting as one, for he who wishes to be least is the greatest, and in comparison with others is the greatest because of that wish; and yet neither least nor greatest enters into it because they are not thinking of pre-eminence over others. So it is with everything else. They are united so far as their first intentions are concerned, but in their ultimate deeds they act in differing ways. They spoke into my ear and said that they were good spirits and that this was their normal manner of speaking. Concerning them I was told that it was not known where they came from and that they belonged among communities that wander from place to place.
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