CHAPTER XLV. VERSES 3-5.

...the natural mind original: "the natural," referring to the lower level of the mind that interacts with the world—about which see above (no. 5877); and from the meaning of being unable to answer, signifying they were not yet in a state to communicate from their truths with the internal man. The situation is this: when the internal is being joined to the external, or goodness to truth, a communication first takes place from the internal to the external, but this communication is not yet two-way (reciprocal). When it becomes reciprocal, they are joined together. Therefore, after Joseph had wept on Benjamin's neck and kissed all his brothers, it says that then his brothers finally talked with him (verse 15). This signifies that after they were joined together, there was a reciprocal communication based on their reception of him.

5881. For they were terrified at his presence. original: "in consternation," describing the brothers' reaction to Joseph revealing himself That this signifies a commotion among them is evident from the meaning of being "terrified" or in consternation, which is a form of commotion. By "commotion," we mean a new organization and arrangement of truths in the natural mind.

Regarding this arrangement, this much should be known: the order in which items of knowledge original: "knowledges," referring to the facts and concepts stored in the memory and truths are arranged in a person's memory is unknown to the person themselves, but it is known to angels whenever the Lord wills, for it is a marvelous order. They stick together like little bundles, and these little bundles stick to one another according to the connections between things that the person has formed. These connections are more incredible than anyone could ever believe.

In the afterlife, these are sometimes shown visually; for in the spiritual light of heaven, such things can be seen by the eye, though not at all in the light of this world. Knowledge and truths are organized into these bundle-like original: "fascicular," from the Latin word for a small bundle forms solely by a person’s loves—into hellish forms by the love of self and the world, but into heavenly forms by love toward the neighbor and love for God. Therefore, while a person is being regenerated original: "being regenerated," the process of spiritual rebirth and growth and the goodness of the internal man is being joined with the truths of the external man, a "commotion" occurs among those truths...