The first state of man after death is similar to his state in the world, because then in like manner he is in externals. He has also a similar face, similar speech, and a similar mind, thus a similar moral and civil life. In consequence of this, he is not aware but that he is still in the world, unless he adverts to those things which present themselves, and to those which were said to him by the angels when he was raised up, that he is now a spirit. Thus one life is continued into the other, and death is only the passage [from the natural to the spiritual world].
RECOGNITION OF FRIENDS IN THIS STATE.
Because the spirit of man recently departed from the world is such, therefore he is then recognized by his friends, and by those whom he had known in the world; for spirits recognize another, not only from his face and speech, but also from the sphere of his life when they come near him.
When any one in the other life thinks of another, he also brings the other's face before him in thought, and at the same time many of the circumstances of his life; and when he does this, the other becomes present as if he were sent for and called. This occurs in the spiritual world, from the fact that thoughts are there communicated, and that there are no spaces there such as exist in the natural world.
