Neville Goddard on Luke 17:21

Executive Summary

According to Neville, the scripture stating that the kingdom of heaven is within you reveals a fundamental truth: the source of all creation is internal to human consciousness. This inner kingdom is not a future destination but a present reality, synonymous with God, the subconscious, and the human imagination. All outer circumstances are merely reflections of this inner world. Scriptural terms like 'above' and 'below' are symbolic, with 'above' meaning 'within' and 'below' meaning 'without,' reinforcing that causation is always from the inner to the outer.

Key Concepts

• The kingdom of heaven is not an external place but is located within your own consciousness.
• This inner kingdom is equated with God, the subconscious, and the human imagination.
• All things originate from within; nothing comes from the outside world to create your experience.
• In scripture, the terms 'above' and 'within' are synonymous, as are 'below' and 'without.'
• Your objective world is your consciousness made visible, with every detail bearing witness to your inner, subconscious impressions.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard interprets the biblical statement “The kingdom of heaven is within you” as a declaration that the ultimate creative power is not external to man, but is housed within his own consciousness. Heaven is not a geographical location or a future reward, but a state of being accessible here and now. This inner realm is the source of all phenomena in the objective world; as Neville states, “Nothing comes from without; all things come from within.”

This inner kingdom is identified with several concepts, chiefly God and the human imagination. When scripture says God is in the heavens and heaven is within you, the logical conclusion is that God is within you. Neville specifies this inner God as one’s own wonderful human imagination. It is the imagination that can do whatever it pleases, with the sole condition that the individual must believe in the reality of the imagined state. This inner world is also referred to as the subconscious, which, when impressed, objectifies those impressions as the conditions of your life.

To understand scripture correctly, Neville explains that its directional language is symbolic. 'Above' and 'within' are interchangeable, while 'below' and 'without' are the same. Therefore, when a figure like Jesus says, “I am from above,” it is a statement of identity with the inner, imaginative self. In contrast, the “outer man,” who is anchored to the evidence of the senses, is described as being “from below” or “from without.” This interpretation reframes reality, positioning the inner world of imagination as the primary, causal world ('above') and the external, sensory world as the secondary, effect world ('below').

Important Quotes

Nothing comes from without; all things come from within – from the subconscious.

— Feeling Is The Secret

If He is within me, what in me does anything that it pleases? Nothing but my imagination!

— If You Can Really Believe

In Scripture, “above” and “within” are the same, and “below” and “without” are the same.

— Question And Answer

So, when you read, “I am from above,” he’s telling you, “I am from within”, for he tells you, “the kingdom of heaven is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

— Catch The Mood

Related Concepts

• Consciousness: The teaching is founded on the principle that your world is your consciousness objectified. The 'kingdom of heaven' is the content of your consciousness, and you cannot experience anything that does not first exist there.
• Imagination: The power of the kingdom within is identified directly as the human imagination. It is the 'God in you' that can create any reality, provided you can persuade yourself of its truth.
• Impress the Subconscious: The mechanism for bringing forth the reality of the inner kingdom is through impressing the subconscious. Objective states are simply the evidence of what has been successfully impressed upon the subconscious from within.
• States: The outer world consists of 'objective states' which are reflections of inner impressions. The 'outer man' is anchored to these states as dictated by the senses, while the 'inner man' ('from above') has the power to imagine and occupy any state, independent of external evidence.

Common Misunderstandings

• Heaven as a Physical Place: A common misunderstanding is that heaven is a literal place one goes to. According to this teaching, heaven is an inner state of consciousness available now.
• Literal Interpretation of 'Above' and 'Below': The source material corrects the literal interpretation of scriptural directions. 'Above' does not mean up in the sky, but within consciousness. 'Below' does not mean under the earth, but the outer world of the senses.

Practical Applications

The practical application of this teaching is to shift your focus from the outer world to the inner world as the sole cause of your life's circumstances. Instead of trying to change people or conditions externally, you must change the impressions within your own consciousness. This is done by using your imagination to feel and believe in the reality of your desired state. By persuading yourself that your wish is fulfilled, you impress your subconscious—the kingdom within—which then objectifies that new inner reality in your outer world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the kingdom of heaven, according to Neville?

It is not an external place but is located entirely within your own consciousness.

What does Neville mean when he says 'above' and 'within' are the same?

He is explaining that in scripture, terms indicating height like 'above' or 'heaven' are symbolic references to the inner world of imagination, not a literal place in the sky. Likewise, 'below' refers to the outer world perceived by the senses.

If all things come from within, how do I change my outer world?

You change your outer world by changing your inner state. You use your imagination to assume the feeling of your wish fulfilled until you are persuaded of its reality, thereby impressing your subconscious to project it outwardly.