adminChiselling the Debris
| IF the Genesis people were historical human beings and the “curses” were real, nobody else would be affected after them because each person is responsible for the results, effects and consequences of his/her own choices and actions. (Deuteronomy 24:16, Jeremiah 31:30, Ezekiel 18:19-32) |
The Divine figure lied (Genesis 2:16,17) about truth, knowledge and freedom, all represented by “eating the fruit.” To lie about these three, is itself a projection of its own anxieties, fears, insecurities, fragilities and vulnerabilities.
Being a parent does not mean one is an encyclopaedia but also is a learner through the child. Parental rules, prohibitions and obligations should not be insulated from constant questioning, scrutiny and examination. Rules should not “override the logic of science, knowledge and common sense”. (Jonathan Jansen, TimesLive, June 30, 2016)
Life is not built by a switch of dos and don’ts inviting rewards and punishments, but on continuous learning. Children need to be protected from perversion, manipulation and psychopathic tendencies of parental figures.
To willfully seek and acquire truth, knowledge and freedom cannot be considered the “Fall of Man” (moral degeneration and degradation based on the Greek Narcissus myth). The prohibition order was meant to make humanity remain ignorant, asleep, lack consciousness and remain mental prisoners.
Theologian Paul Tillich interpreted this dissenting story as a metaphor of “a fall from the state of dreaming innocence”; in psychological terms, that is an awakening from potentiality to actuality. His view was that this type of dissent was necessary to humankind’s development.
Rabbi David Cooper called it “the story of the inception of a new level of awareness”.
In childhood, human beings are in a state of innocence and later feel ashamed on knowing truly who they are.
The Garden of Eden can also symbolise both the mother’s womb and parenthood in our childhood where there is happiness, innocence and immaturity. It is inside the mother’s womb, that humanity is conceived and therefore has direct contact with the source of life.
To “fall” is the departure from childhood’s physical sensations and instincts.
Humanity is a bearer and vehicular expression of the impersonal life force or cosmic energy. (Genesis 1:27, 2:7, Psalm 82:6 and John 5:42; 10:34-35)
Humanity is in the likeness of and has direct contact with the Source, metaphysically the impersonal life force or cosmic energy (Primal Father-Mother Principle) and biologically our human parents. When in a state of ignorance and darkness, humanity loses realisation, awareness and consciousness of who it is and what it can cause.
Once that direct contact with the source is lost, humanity must initiate the process of retracing the path back to its own divinity (agency and causation). This is the purpose of the guidance and encouragement of Sages (Genesis 3:4,5) who assist humanity in the recovery of consciousness, acquisition of liberating experiential knowledge and the reconnection with the Source.
Within this thinking, what was used to cover naked bodies would symbolise one’s vanity and ego. “And they were both naked (without egos), the (original) man and his wife, and were not ashamed, because they did not have egos”. (Genesis 2:25). Humanity spends time covering itself with the egos, vanity and arrogance, symbolised by clothes, and is afraid to know who truly it is.
Due to the prohibition order, the mythical humans in the metaphorical Garden of Eden were experiencing all pleasures in a childlike domination, subjugation, benumbed and sleepy state. Humans were kept in an ignorantly happy state by a tyrannical and autocratic Divine figure.
To live a life of truth, knowledge and freedom means that humans are like the real Divine (Genesis 3:22). When humanity partakes in these three, it became like its parental figure. The “eyes were opened” after accessing the truth and experiential knowledge. This means that the minds underwent a transformative change.
Ordinarily, a poisonous fruit affects the stomach and later the whole body. In this instance, it was the mind alone that was affected since “the eyes were opened,” (Genesis 3:7a).
“Opening eyes” is an expression of the state of realisation, awareness and consciousness. This causes one to suddenly learn or understand what was not previously known or comprehended.
When the non-historical but mythical humans acquired liberatory knowledge, they came into or acquired a sense of realisation, awareness and consciousness.
This caused them to clothe themselves in “coats of skins.”
As previously highlighted, the mythical Adam represents masculine potency, the mind and solar power; the mythical Eve is the feminine principle, intuitive and lunar power; and the serpent is symbolism for the sexual potency or energy within all of us and the causative wisdom that we can access.
As a human principle, ‘manas’ or mental faculty is “the coordinating organ of intelligence, thought, understanding, perception and will.” Accordingly, human virtuous excellence resides in the “active life of the rational element.” (Aristotle “Nicomachean Ethics”)
The “manas’” has a dual nature – Lower and Higher Manas. The “Lower Manas” is the thinking faculty that gravitates towards the uncontrolled beastly or animal instincts, desires and passions; while the “Higher Manas” gravitate towards the sublime or noble qualities (prudence, temperance, fortitude, justice, altruism, sincerity, aspirational) to make “future possibilities infinitely greater than its present attainments.”
Till next week, let’s keep chiseling.
Feedback: [email protected] and Twitter @shingaiRndoro. A gallery of previous articles is found at www.sundaymail.co.zw/author/shingairukwata
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter