Return into the garden
The Garden of Eden. My grandmother used to have a thick, nicely illustrated version of the Bible, designed for kids that I liked to go through when I was visiting her. The Garden of Eden was particularly nicely done with all the animals, plants, Adam and Eve all together, in peace and happiness.
Little I known, how long and complicated will be the journey to understand this passage in the scriptures. Many decades later, after understanding more about the symbols of religions and metaphysics, I begun my pilgrimage back into the Garden.
Today I know that the original Garden was, of course, not a place or a location in space. The Garden of Eden was a state of mind. It was a state of mind, where the Human was living in harmony with Nature. In this context, Nature wasn’t just animal and plant life but rather awareness of all elements. Bela Hamvas is discussing this original state of mind in his works, most especially in Magia Szutra, where he makes an important correction of anthropological fundamentals.
He pontificates the difference between MICROCOSMOS and MICROTHEOS as anthropological foundation to the origin of human species. Science approaches the Human as symbolic cosmos; human dimensions of existence includes the knowledge of biological life; animal, plant, microbial. It also includes the knowledge of elements, but also of the greater cosmos; the galaxy, the stars and planets and the greater universe. Furthermore, we have a great deal of insight into subhuman and superhuman dimensions; we know about the demonic and angelic worlds. But, as Hamvas postulates, Human beings are creative creatures and since creation is a function of God, we are more than just inactive observers. In fact, we have been granted powers to rule the natural world; domesticate animals, rule over plant life, exploit elements to advance our lives.
Humans, being a “small god” or MICROTHEOS has been in charge of defined dimensions of existence.
Consequently, the Fall or expulsion from this state of mind was due the overreach of our powers. The fruit from the Tree of Knowledge has revealed the powers of God; the omnipotence, the omniscience and omnipresence of God.
The Human wanted these divine powers but as a creature couldn’t handle the responsibility coming with these powers.
The Human revolted against God and lost it’s status as a small god. The Human, no longer in charge of creation has become one of the creatures. The Human journey continues from the state of brokenness back into the state of wholeness. This journey is nothing else but the path to salvation or redemption. To understand what salvation really means, we have to discuss the origin of the word. The Latin SALUS is the root for the word salvation. SALUS means healing and salvation implicates a final healing from a disease. What is this disease? In the Magia Szutra, Hamvas methodically describes the dimensions of disease. Sickness affecting the physical body; insanity the mental body and sin or moral corruption the spiritual body.
Attempts to reestablish the original state have failed, as various moral and spiritual disciplines always distinguish only one part; Christian/Jewish traditions search for the morally reestablished True Man. Eastern/Vedic systems are focused on physical disciplines (Yoga, Ayurveda) or spiritual correction (Veda, Buddhism). According to Hamvas, these attempts are all insufficient, as the process of healing has to be applied on all three; physical, mental and spiritual.
The return into the Garden of Eden is not possible and not the end goal of redemption. The end goal of redemption is to teach us about the suffering of creatures; the disease of the body, the insanity of the mind, the corruption of the spirit. But the human suffering is the exchange point of transformation- for without disease there would be no healing.
Without insanity there would be no awakening into sanity- there would be no enlightenment.
Fundamental change happens when you begin looking at the world as a garden. It is where the function of culture and cultivation emerges; the notion of harmony and diversity makes sense. Very different elements are able to co-operate harmoniously to benefit of the entire system and the partaking creatures live in balance.
That includes the knowledge of the disruptive and destructive elements; pests, disease and destructive weather conditions.
With these thoughts in our minds, we are wishing you the best and thank you for the continued support of Hope Seeds.
May you spend many happy moments in your Garden!
Suzana and Zolt