While we live [on earth], we do not know there is any other memory than that of material events, because we have not reflected on anything to do with the inward memory; nor on the fact that without an inward memory, we could not possibly reason. Much less have we reflected on a very inward memory, without which a person could never understand what is true and good. About the memory of material events, and the inward memory, I have spoken several times with spirits, who are in a position to know about the subject better than man. For [the inward memory] can be shown to them, as it can to me, by ocular demonstration when the memory of material matters is so to speak taken away. Then the inward one comes to view, like a very soft, snow-white substance; see elsewhere [856, 862-5]. Moreover, spirits learn from this that they do not possess any memory of material matters, which is like a clinging callus. Nor is that memory allowed to come into use, for many reasons. This is why spirits have so many privileges beyond what someone on earth has-which they could not possibly have if they spoke from that bodily memory. They speak from the inward memory, but in so doing, seem to themselves to be speaking from none other than their own memory of material things. For they speak using the personal memory belonging to the one they are with, obtaining complete possession of it. This enables them to draw out of the person's memory anything he or she had ever thought or done. See elsewhere [276, 796-7].