901. The fact that the world redeemer has also described "hell" as a state that triggers "weeping and gnashing of teeth" is further proof of his cosmic knowledge about this phenomenon. It in fact shows that he did not see "hell" as a "furnace", in the literal sense of the word, for if he had, "weeping and gnashing of teeth" would not be an appropriate expression in this context. As we have said, no animal being can live and thrive "eternally" in a material fire, but must inevitably be consumed by its flames, in fact, it would not even have time consciously to either weep or evoke any gnashing of teeth as it would suffocate directly it became enveloped in the flames. And "dead" beings, that is to say spiritual beings, are quite unaffected by material fire. A method of punishment or a "hell" that leads the beings in an instant into a state of existence in which they are beyond the reach of punishment or pain must of course be comparatively painless. But a comparatively painless "hell" cannot justifiably be described as a place where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth". If the world redeemer expresses "hell" as a place where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth", it can be only in order to point out that "hell" is a place of pain and suffering. "Weeping and gnashing of teeth" are the direct effects of pain and suffering. "Hell fire" has therefore primarily nothing whatsoever to do with material fire. The pain and suffering that evoke the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" that the world redeemer is referring to must therefore have other causes than a material fire. It has to be the pain and suffering that the being has time to get to know thoroughly, in a way that they can leave a lasting and beneficial impression on the being's consciousness or mentality. We will gradually be able to recognise this impression left on the consciousness in every being's "capacity to feel compassion", that is to say, that capacity in our consciousness that in turn is at the root of what we can "have the heart" or "not have the heart" to do to our "neighbour", whether human being, animal or plant.