Tree of knowledge of Good and evil/Tree of life revisited?

Question

Now, I perceive the tree of knowledge of good and evil as the mind that is divided, the polarities of mind being within their own facilities for growth. I see the serpent as the impulse for development. The problem is that division is seen as death or evil from a scriptural perspective, but it is a necessary thing in order to become complete in all ways. The fact that only when the tree of this duality was eaten was Adam/Eve whom are these polarities (They covered themselves, the areas which physically identify our sexes or forces, active/reflective), could have the possibility to eat from the Tree of life. Because it was a process by which the mind could become complete. Therefore the Tree of good and evil is the lesser incomplete state of the tree of life that is complete mind/Christ mind, one of death/division the other of life/harmony.

I see being driven out of "Eden" an sign that this process towards the minds development being active, out of the pre-evolved state/origin.

I see the flaming sword and creatures in front of the tree to guard it as laws or limitations upon the mind that most be overcome in ones thinking, or evolution of their thought-essence through these polarities in order to bring about this wholeness. In the scriptures from this point you will notice a gradual development, or movement by God (or laws that work upon the mind) that becomes 12 tribes eventually. In Kabbala Adam/Eve saw the tree of life and said it had levels, spheres. They count it as 10 or 11, but there are actually 12. In Rev 22:2 it says that the Tree of life bears 12 fruits. In the scriptures we see the development into the 12 tribes, but being tribes they still remain divided. In the New Testament the 12 Tribes become single, undivided within themselves, and Yeshua being the head of them, or the vibration that harmonizes them, brings the mind to oneness. To me this is all about the development of the mind, consider the Zodiac (12 signs).

This has always been allegorical and esoteric for the mind and its expansion towards fullness imo. I didn’t want to go too deeply with this, or it would be longer then it is now! What do you guys think of the allegorical, esoteric nature of the story? To me scripture there are more then one interpretation, but the proper manner in interpreting it is to turn it within yourself.

BTW in Gnosticism the serpent is seen as a Good thing.

Answer 1

I see them as a mirror image of each other,
opposed yet together,
when standing at one you see the other.

Answer 2

Trees in other religions

Illustration from the Ockelbo Runestone, Sweden.Similar trees appear in other religions. In the closest, most relevant comparison, the iconic image of the tree guarded by the Serpent appears on Sumerian seals; it is the central feature of the Garden of the Hesperides in Greek mythology, where the guardian serpent receives the name Ladon. In Buddhism, the Buddha became enlightened under the Bodhi tree. While the biblical tree is usually interpreted as representing sensual pleasure, the Bodhi tree gave pure transcendent knowledge.[citation needed] In Vedic Hinduism, the Tree of Jiva and Atman is usually interpreted as a metaphor concerning the soul, mind, and body. In the Norse sagas, the ash tree Yggdrasil draws from the magic springwater of knowledge. To many who believe the Bible is filled with parables, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is actually a library or some other form of educational writings. The teachings that is to be planted in one's mind is the seed for which the fruit will bear. This evil seed is the "knowledge" God warned Eve about.
I find alliegorical meaning in all of the above.

Answer 3

I loved it... I loved it.

12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles (I always thought there is a reason why 12). I was told that the "heaven" is really divided in 12 levels. Spirits with high enlightenment inhabit higher levels. The higher, the brighter and more distant from us human beings. Fortunately we have levels closer to us, interacting with us and helping us develop and increase our levels, that way we don't have to be born again, only achieving higher and higher in spirituality.

Of course, the tree and serpent, Adam and Eve are symbols to be interpreted. I don't think things happened so literally. God chose the fantasy and allegories to tell us about the Truth, the same way we tell our children fantasy stories to teach them our morals and virtues. Children can only understand and handle the truth after being adults and so do we. We have a long way to go before being able to handle the Truth.

Peace!

Answer 4

In my interpretation, humans were incomplete until they achieved this knowledge...but, knowledge also can provide the understanding of 'evil'....personally, I'd rather experience the negative than be a mindless zombie who has it all but doesn't realize how or what 'it' is
IE-I was just thinking the other day that if I had everything Paris Hilton had, how much more I'd appreciate it. Then I started to think how I couldn't (appreciate it) if I had been BORN into her world.
A friend of mine has led a pretty good life with no major concerns/troubles but she's restless and somewhat unhappy. I have another friend who's had his share of lows but when something goes right...he's very happy (a lot of fun to be around, too ;-) )

Answer 5

I enjoyed reading your (and Bryant's) perspective.

Mine is purely practical psychology. We all become vulnerable to 'shame' and separation from bliss, when we are tempted by others to believe that their version of what is good and bad (about self and the world) is the only way to power. This is the duality that has to be transcended. Adam and Eve are not opposites but aspects of mind - reason slept while the feminine (creator aspect) was tempted. Our minds create what is good only when guided by reason. (In childhood, rational thought is the last part of the brain to develop and by then we've been shamed out of bliss and are hobbled by what we believe is good and bad about us).

The Tree of Eternal 'Aliveness' is guarded by the innocent cherubim (Self) with the flaming sword of purification. All of our learned beliefs have to be annihilated before experiencing eternal bliss. It is a fail safe system for unity consciousness and heaven.

Answer 6

Knowledge.

Answer 7

As I have commented before you are well on your way down the path of enlightenment.

The following is meant only to compliment what you stated and in no way should be taken to conflict with what you present.

As there are several layers of understanding to all scripture, obviously allegory and metaphor are a big part of all holy text if the deeper understandings are to be gleaned. This is in no way meant to take anything away from the exoteric understanding that is the most obvious. But if one holds the first understanding as absolute and complete to the extent they close their minds, then the deeper understandings never come to light (ie. your example of the sword guarding the tree of life).

The active/reflective forces you refer to may also be understood this way.....

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

All good that comes to you is of God, all evil that comes to you is of your own soul.

Our thoughts, feelings, beliefs and words are the filters that the inward light of life pass through. This process results in our "reality" being reflected back in the light of our outward experience. Thus one may say our thoughts are creative. Nothing has ever been experienced in our world except it existed as a thought in someone’s mind first. Nothing. The point being is that sin & evil come into our lives because they come into our minds first, either as guilt or judging others as evil. Our ego is the gate that evil uses to enter our lives.

Some Holy text claim that the righteous is one who does not know evil (sin). Not that they do not do things that others see as evil or that others do not judge them as evil but that they themselves see nothing but Gods love and beauty all around them. They do not judge others as evil. They do not judge things as evil. (Only God may do this as he sees all and knows all). Heck, many of the prophets were persecuted during their lifetime by the religious leaders of the day including Jesus. They saw them as evil.

The really beautiful thing about the message of Jesus is the remission of sin. Not just forgiveness of your personal sin but also it teaches you not to judge anyone. Sin and evil is totally removed by faith, both yours and others. It no longer is a part of the consciousness of those who follow the teaching of Jesus.

Judge not least you be judged.

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

For those who love God, all things work for the good.

So the righteous is one who does not know evil. Our Consciousness is creative.

Those who preach war and destruction find war and destruction.

Those who preach peace find peace.

Those who preach hate find hate.

Those who preach love find love.

Those who teach vengeance find vengeance.

Those who preach forgiveness find forgiveness.

Those who preach death find death.

Those who preach life find life.

Of the above examples which ones represent those lost in sin? Which ones represent the righteous?

Entering into the state of consciousness of man before the fall is the key to opening the door to the Kingdom. The kingdom lies within. The state of consciousness where you realize you do not have the ability to know evil is the key.

Lets open the door. Know that only God is the judge of the heart of any man. Know that only God may judge.

The original sin is the knowledge of good and evil. Every time anyone judges another as evil or less good ...

HE TAKES ANOTHER BITE OF THE APPLE.

For some reason Satan has made that fruit seam sweet. Yet it is the bitterest of fruit.

Hark! The kingdom is at hand!

Awaken! The Kingdom is spread out before man, yet he does not see.

Blessings and peace to all.
All in all,
B

Answer 8

All I wanna know is, how were they supposed to know that eating from the tree of knowledge of good & evil was wrong BEFORE they ate from it??

Answer 9

Good cannot turn, ever, without seeing evil. Evil cannot turn, ever, without seeing good; for no matter where they go they will always, always face each other.

Answer 10

do you like a fig tree???