123. But this is so with every man while he is in general thought; but as soon as this general perception vanishes, the light perishes; which comes to pass when he lets the subject come under the inspection of his lower thought, and thinks whether it is so or not. Into this thought flows a light from the man, or the world; but into the general thought light flows in from heaven. This flows into the intellectual part of a man continually, if only he does not let himself down into his own light. He then extinguishes the light of heaven, if such there be. There is a general perception of truth with all. But the love of what is lower casts a man down from this height, into a perception from his proprium. This is a material perception, which communicates with the sight of the eye. It is a fantasy or imagination.