Section F

Quick References to the Ten Commandments: Discover the New Life That Is Waiting for You

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Introduction

The BNL process is grounded in the Judeo-Christian Scriptures as explored in the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg.

Swedenborg suggests that whenever you abstain from a form of evil forbidden in one of the Ten Commandments, a way is opened for the Lord to enter and touch your heart, mind, and life with an actionable form of goodness from within.

For example, consider the commandment, You shall not commit adultery. Imagine a married man within a heterosexual context who is currently engaged in an adulterous affair or who habitually views pornography with a desire to indulge lustful feelings. If he makes a responsible choice to end the affair or to stop indulging in pornography, the Lord is able to touch his heart with a growing desire for chaste interactions with his spouse and with a gentler, milder, and more honorable attitude toward women in general.

As mentioned in the introduction to Sourcebook Section D, Swedenborg explores the deeper meanings of the Ten Commandments in four of his works, which we refer to as Resource 1, Resource 2, Resource 3, and Resource 4.

For reference, we repeat from Section D:

Resource 1
Extracts from Secrets of Heaven (also known as Arcana Caelestia), Volume 10, in which Swedenborg explores the inner meaning of Genesis and Exodus.

Resource 2
Extracts from The Apocalypse Explained, Volume 5, in which Swedenborg examines the inner meaning of the book of Revelation.

Resource 3
Extracts from Principles of Life (traditionally known as The Doctrine of Life), in which Swedenborg clarifies a central doctrine of Christianity.

Resource 4
Extracts from True Christianity, Volume 1, in which Swedenborg presents the universal theology of a new Christianity.

All four resources are compiled in the book 10 Commandments: The Secrets of Spiritual Growth Found in God’s Principles for Living.

Within these resources, Swedenborg discusses the forms of evil forbidden in each of the Ten Commandments. He also describes specific forms of actionable goodness that can enter your heart, mind, and life as you abstain from these evils.

For the purposes of Step 4.2 of the BNL process, a bullet-point outline has been created for each of the Ten Commandments. Each outline, called a Quick Reference, provides a concise overview of the actionable forms of goodness that can flow into you from the Lord as you abstain from the evil forbidden in that commandment.

Here is an example of how a Quick Reference is used. Imagine that you have just completed Steps 1, 2, 3, and 4.1 of the BNL process regarding an issue of sexual infidelity or sexual lust. You are now at the point where you are actively abstaining from the sin. When you arrive at Step 4.2, you encounter the following direction and question:

Imagine again that you are actively abstaining from your sin. The moment you abstain, what do you feel inclined to do—even desire to do—that is new, different, and better, inspired by the Lord from within? Ask. Listen. Notice. What do you want to do… and what do you choose to do?

An answer to this question may come intuitively to mind. For example, as you actively abstain from infidelity or sexual lust, you may feel a growing inclination to be more faithful or devoted to your spouse. You may choose to spend more time with your partner, work through a particular difference between you, or in some other way strengthen and improve your marriage.

In addition to any new inclinations you may experience, you would then turn to Section F of the Sourcebook and consult the Quick Reference on the Sixth Commandment—the commandment concerning adultery. There you will find additional forms of goodness that you can actively practice, whether in marriage or, if you are single, in relationships more generally. Any descriptions in the Quick Reference that are especially meaningful or inspiring can be recorded on the Step 4.2 worksheet. In this way, you gain a clear and concise vision of the new life you can live.

Helpful Notes

  1. If you find yourself transferring more than a few descriptions to the worksheet, you may wish to highlight on the worksheet the ones that seem most meaningful. Focusing on a few key insights can make them easier to remember and put into practice throughout the process and beyond.

  2. Some people like to have a printed copy of the Sourcebook. A physical copy can make it easier to consult the Quick References whenever you need them. For instructions on printing, see Sourcebook Extras—“How to Make a Printed Sourcebook.”

  3. If you make a printed copy of the Sourcebook, you may also enjoy personalizing it by marking or highlighting—in your printed copy—the descriptions that feel most meaningful. This can make those insights quicker and easier to access, helping them become more immediately useful as you work through the process.

Ten Commandments & Actionable Forms of Goodness

Here are the Ten Commandments as they first appear in the Bible (Exodus 20:1-17). Following each commandment is one or more actionable forms of goodness that specifically arise from obeying that commandment and can be inspired by the Lord from within.

1.   You shall have no other gods before My faces.

  • Worship the true God.

2.     You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

  • Love the things that come from God.

3.     Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

  • [Rest in God and live from Him.]

4.     Honor your father and your mother.

  • [Honor God and your neighbor.]

5.     You shall not murder.

  • Love

    • One of four “faces” of God (see the First Commandment just above)

  • Want what is good for your neighbor.

6.     You shall not commit adultery.

  • Mercy

    • One of four faces of God

  • Live faithfully with your spouse.

7.     You shall not steal.

  • Peace

    • One of four faces of God

  • Aim to be honest.

    • A virtue that underlies truth-telling in the next commandment

    • Peace of mind is born of honesty.

8.     You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

  • Goodness

    • One of four faces of God

  • Think and speak what is true.

    • Truth is that which leads to goodness in life (a good life).

9.    You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

  • Want your neighbor to be doing well with what they have.

10.  You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

  • Want your neighbor to be doing well with what they have.

Key to Quick References

  • Within each Quick Reference, non-bracketed words and phrases are direct quotations from the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg.

  • Square brackets [ ] indicate wording that has either been adjusted for smoother reading in outline form or added for clarity, based on contextual inference or a broader understanding of Swedenborg’s thought.