in the garden of eden, do you think that the serpent.....?

Question

represents temptation? Or as some suggest,the serpent is indeed an instructor? Some writtings do suggest that the aquisition of knowledge by mankind is or can be a very dangerous thing even with understanding. In our hands knowledge can equal power which we often abuse to manipulate and control others for our own gain and we need the instrction of the serpent. There are also some types of yoga that claim to unlock the power of the serpent which then coils its way to the base of the neck bringing ultimate enlightenment which will bring access to the higher self? There arre some `Gnostic writtings ` that also tell a different interpretation to the Eden `story concerning the role of the serpent and the sum of knowledge. So what does this represent or mean to you?

JMH I like your reasoning, I too favour the gnostic view but I will explore other avenues.

I like these answers, can I be pedantic and just mention that the flood is recorded by many ancient cultures and there is suggestion that many floods may have taken place long ago, the bible certainly isn`t the only place we find this and the old testament certainly does partain to certain races of people. And it does say yes the flood did happen long before Jesus arrived which `genisis` does confirm. There are many comments regarding the light of certain people, lugh for example in Celtic mythologogy and Logos which is given reference in many `Gnostic writtings`. I am refering to various writtings of the times including the old testament.

well based on my understanding on the differing aspects of the serpent not only as depicted in the bible but in other sources too, midnight rainbow I would think that that would make you an instructor, no?

zentrini, I do like your aproach to this question. it seems to be down to interpretation regarding the serpant, note serpant and not snake. There have been some who have strongly suggested that the serpant in the `widely accepted Adam and Eve` ( note that there are differing of opinions within the `gnostic writtings that back up what you are saying) story yet they will readily accept the serpant as the instructor within the varying yoga practices, I wouldn`t dare suggest that they are picking and chosing.

Answer 1

QUESTION:

in the garden of eden, do you think that the serpent.....?
represents temptation? Or as some suggest,the serpent is indeed an instructor? Some writtings do suggest that the aquisition of knowledge by mankind is or can be a very dangerous thing even with understanding. In our hands knowledge can equal power which we often abuse to manipulate and control others for our own gain and we need the instrction of the serpent. There are also some types of yoga that claim to unlock the power of the serpent which then coils its way to the base of the neck bringing ultimate enlightenment which will bring access to the higher self? There arre some `Gnostic writtings ` that also tell a different interpretation to the Eden `story concerning the role of the serpent and the sum of knowledge. So what does this represent or mean to you?



ANSWER:

Ahhh.... the serpent in the garden.... The Bible is not the only text that talks about the serpent. In many ancient traditions the serpent plays a pivotal role. In no wise is his appearance exclusive to the bible.

First off, without dismissing the literal understanding of the story, it is equally allegory. It is in allegory that the deeper revelations exist.

For the sake of argument assume that the following statements are true:

1. Man’s consciousness is creative, both individually and collectively.

2. The outward reality is responsive to this consciousness.

3. The ego for each man is unique and is the filter or veil that reveals the outward reality as the inner light of life passes through this ego - filter - veil to be reflected (or revealed) in the outward light of our reality.

How then is the knowledge of good and evil relative to our state?

If we hold the concept of evil in our conscious and begin applying it to people and things, our reality then it begins to reflect that concept of evil back to us. It is then that evil comes back to us to feed. Same thing is true when we hold something in our consciousness as good and other things as less good.

For example: Our religion.

If we hold that our belief is good and other peoples perspective as less good (or worse) it is in fact the same thing. That which is less good becomes part of our experience.

Consider the teaching of "Judge not least you be judged for with what ever measure you judge the same will be measured back to you again." The above is the mechanism through which this law is made absolute.

So then.... who / what is the serpent in this tale? This is one of the deepest hidden mysteries. It can come to light through study with a teacher that has attained. This may be said, the ego is tied to the serpent and it is through your ego that the serpent comes into your reality.

Either the serpent rules you….. or you rule the serpent.

Blessings and peace to all,
All in all,
B

Answer 2

No. There was no security breach. Remember, texts outside of the Bible correlate to a war in heaven in which Lucifer, aka The Devil, was thrown out of heaven and made a god of this earth. Therefore he was where he was when Genesis was taking place. The Garden of Eden was supposely the "cradle of life" and therefore the only place where life existed at the time. He therefore was in the Garden when Adam and Eve where there to be tempted. Why he was there boils down to one logical answer: free will. God has given free will since the beginning of time. You have the will to make your own choices. Lucifer had the choice to rebel or to praise God. Adam and Eve both had the choice of whether to eat the forbidden fruit or not. God does not make anybody do anything. There has always been a choice. It's what life is about. And now your choice is whether or not to accept Jesus Christ? Its your choice..

Answer 3

What we are told and what we believe is manifested as such when the multitudes collectively create this reality through the energy in their thought patterns. Society believes in war....we have wars, believed that we could land on the moon...we did. We are powerful creators and whichever view the social consciousness of the world sees, will eventually manifest as it's reality when the energy of our vibrational thoughts line up with the matching energy that has preceeded us into our Universe. There is no other way. Can we change this reality as a society? We sure can! How? by never losing hope, bringing joy daily to ourselves and those we attract into our lives and appreciating everyone and everything. Eden manifested one of many serpents that have been manifested throughout our lifetimes and will continue to appear in different forms until we stop punishing ourselves, seeing ourselves as sinners and losers and start using our God given powers to create and manifest the Eden that was intended for us. If we have learned something, we must have been instructed, if not we fell into temptation?

Answer 4

Joseph Campbell writes some great stuff about this. The whole garden of eden tale is a metaphor for coming into this life on earth. The garden represents the perfection where we came from-- the heavenly world of soul. The serpent, according to JC, " represents lunar consciousness and life in the field of time, where there are pairs of opposites. The serpent is just a symbol of invitation in a way, that brings us into this earthly life to experience duality. The eating of the apple from the tree of knowledge is the experience you have here in this life. Experience gives way to true knowledge.

Eve, as the woman, eats of the fruit and gives it to Adam. This is the feminine creative power. The earth is feminine and everything on it is born of woman (or female, save for a few natural anomalies.) The male is the directive force, which is why the woman comes from his rib. From the man, woman takes the power and activates the life force and creates new life.

This garden of eden metaphor shows up in Judaism and Christianity and is portrayed as a fall from grace. How you view that depends on what you believe. Joseph Campbell also says: "Christianity and Judaism are religions of exile: Man was thrown out of the Garden." I think this, like the concept of original sin are flawed aspects of religious structures that can keep you stuck.

The serpent is also associated with the devil and with this "fall from grace" attitude, an easy inference for people to make is that tempted by the serpent, woman is evil. Thus in leaving the garden, we've fallen into a hell of sorts. However, Heaven and Hell are what you make of them, depending on your state of mind in the moment.

As far as the serpent in yoga goes, that refers to Kundalini which means "coil of the beloved." The serpent is a symbol used to depict this kundalini energy, which is at the base of the spine of every human being. It is actually a coil of energy that travels up the spine when properly activated by the breath. Kundalini yoga is designed to activate that energy directly, which then taps the individual practitioner into his or her own infinite creative potential.

--Patrick L
http://ybc40.com/ybc40blog

Answer 5

No, it does not represent an instructor, but this story is arguably the most significant of all the psychological metaphors in the Bible. Unfortunately, it has lost its instructional value over time. The gnostic texts are equally if not more obscure in defining the battle between authentic being and the conditioned identity which is the mystical core of every world religion.

The Genesis snake, often shown visually with the face of an old woman (symbolic of the inability to cause/create) represents other egos - parent/adult figures - who tempt the vulnerable child (Eve, the feminine aspect of mind: openness, creator) to accept that having power in the world requires 'believing' in THEIR version of what is 'good and bad' about self and the world (duality) while Adam (masculine reason) sleeps. In biological terms this exactly on the mark, as we are under the influence of the reptilian/survival and old mammalian/emotional brains until the massive thinking brain begins coming on-line at about seven years old (it completes development by age 25) when we begin to become capable of reflecting on what is happening in our environment. By then the 'defensive' identity is usually in full possession of our perceptual apparatus.

Once we are conditioned in this way we become vulnerable to being shamed (psychological superglue) for 'trying' and we are painfully separated from innocent authentic being - cast out of the metaphorical garden/bliss. The psychological significance is that childhood beliefs (mostly subconscious) control perception, thoughts, feelings and reactions. This conditioned ego identity is in conflict with authentic being and this is why unity consciousness is the spiritual goal and ego transcendence/detachment is taught in every religious tradition. Reality is responsive to consciousness whether it is unified or psychologically conflicted.

The rest of the story tells the way back to the Tree of Life (eternal aliveness/heaven) which is the failsafe system that prevents us from existing in the conditioned ego state forever. The story of Cain and Abel is another retelling of this fundamental internal battle between the natural Self and the conditioned defensive ego.

Answer 6

i have also heard the metaphor of the serpent being the khundalini energy in our body-

it makes sense when you understand the whole adam and eve mythology to be a poetic explanation of how we came from the One- the Absolute-, no Separation- into the world of duality- the world of Knowledge- so we could experience 'All that Is', not just conceptually, but in the world of form...

so the snake is a double metaphor- the desire that inspires the separation, the temptation- or some would say the blessing (it's all how you look at it)

but also the inward path back to Oneness- to find the connection to the Divine and the experience of God through Khundalini meditation

Answer 7

The serpent was the marionette puppet that Satan used to speak invisibly behind so that the still ignorant Eve would think it spoke.

This animal has nothing to do with the rest of the story. It did however give Satan his name, the original serpent, the dragon.

Satan is no figment of anyones imagination -- look around you and see if the conditions today is due solely to human evil or if something more is behind it.

A YouTube clip from National Geographic explored in a short segment Hitler's ascent to power and demonstrated that this was with supernatural assistance. Oh, yes, the demons are truly demonic, sadistic, and whatever other evil word applies to them.

We are nothing but scum to them that they simply want to kill for their own pleasure just as a mean boy may do to some insect he is torturing.

Answer 8

It seems ironic that the “God” who purportedly created this being we call “human” and equipped with a brain that is unique among living creatures in its capacity for knowledge, would make the acquisition of that knowledge the poison that condemned humankind to suffering and death.

The supposed Omniscient One knew well that if He allowed us humans to actually use what He had given us, we would begin to question His existence…or perhaps even begin to wonder whether He was – gasp! – a She! The next thing you know, we’ll be doubting that the sun is the center of the universe. After that, there’s no telling what mischief knowledge may create.

I’m with the Gnostics and the Skeptics on this one!

Answer 9

Adam, Eve, and the Snake all live within us. Call them Shiva Shakti & Ego or call them masculine, feminine and the eternal struggle between good and evil. This story in the bible and other texts or contexts are manifestations of the inner struggles we all go through on our journey to enlightenment. They are simply stories people have chronicled that have achieved a place in the library of mankind. We can use them or not as we make choices in life. We are using it now as a topic for discussion...

Answer 10

All societies and cultures have creation myths,all use parody within their stories,the great flood is not christian in origin and passed down orally thousands of years before any mention of the one god and jesus so as far as seeing them as a unique event recorded in history it is merely a teaching tool,but to what end,to teach obedience or free will,well we know the church will beg steal and borrow from the old religions then they throw a little hellfire and damnation into the mix,guilt for the catholics and spurious threats and misinformation to put people under the thumb,so you never think for yourself,take these stories at face value,they are stories that tried to organise a peopel under the duristriction of elite,however well intentioned at first,human nature,greed,power etc will laways come to the fore and then you end up with organised religion that has crushed all resistance to it and seeks to perpetuate myth and fear to fill their coffers......