565. For people who give themselves over to the will of the flesh, only personal elements emerging from words, and double meanings, and the values they place in worldly and bodily things, count for anything. These qualities draw to themselves all higher thoughts, which are then engulfed in them, and thus perish - because to them, those things are everything.

But they who are absorbed in thoughts about heavenly life have no interest at all in anything of this kind, but regard it as something to be laughed about, seeing it as a little cloud in front of the sun, which they at once chase away. For they love the light without little clouds; while those living in an upside-down order love the cloud without the light. They find their light in clouds, and in this their ingenuity consists, that is so admired throughout this planet.

Such [obstructions] also are philosophical terms - consequently, the totality of manmade philosophy. 1748, the 26th day of January.