Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil; Free Will

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Diogenes the Cynic
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Re: Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil; Free Will

Post by Diogenes the Cynic »

Gnostic Bishop wrote:
Diogenes the Cynic wrote:There is a distinction between will and FREE will. You can't choose your impulses.
Then who chose to reply this way to your impulse to reply?
Someone who had no ability to want to choose otherwise.
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Gnostic Bishop
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Re: Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil; Free Will

Post by Gnostic Bishop »

Oh my!

I thought I was talking to a person.

Regards
DL
SpiritofLife
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Re: Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil; Free Will

Post by SpiritofLife »

There are three main branches to the Tree of Sephirot. This is also called the tree of Life. I read the Secret book of John after studying the Bible the Bible over 30 years and I conclude that orthodox Christianity is designed to keep you from the Spirit of Power, that raised Christ from the dead. The Jews could never see the Son of Man crucified for had they known what they were doing they would not have crucified Him. In His death He destroyed sin and death for all who believe.
The following diagram has hot spots linked to information describing the emanations of HaShem

©2004 Zion CS
Return to the Zohar information page

Chart








Ayn Soph
Without End

Ayn Soph means "who is unknowable" or "without end". Because He is without end we can never hope to completely understand Him. Few have ever begun the journey to the most basic elementary levels of knowledge of the Ayn Soph.

On the physical scale we can barely begin to comprehend his nature. How much less do we understand of the Ayn Soph on the spiritual level. Ayn Soph represents the great beyond which even the most learned and masterful students fail to touch.

As the diagram shows, He reaches us through the "emanations" shown in the picture. The last (or first depending on the perspective) is the Keter or crown.

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Abba
Father
and
Chokmah
Wisdom

There are three main branches to the Tree of Sephirot.

Abba is Abba beshamayim (Father in Heaven).

Keter is what Christians call Ben (Son).

Aima (Mother) is the emanations of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit)

Chokmah - Emination characterized by wisdom which is associated with the Father nature and branch of the tree of Sefiroth,, or wisdom, is a representation of contemplative, and synthetic aspects of G-d's thought; all of knowable reality originates and emanates from this primordial point. The name of G-d that is associated with Chokmah - Emination characterized by wisdom which is associated with the Father nature and branch of the tree of Sefiroth, is the Yod - The smallest Hebrew letter and the fist letter of the sacred Name YHWH. This letter is always associated with the Sacred Name and in Kabalah we see YHWH in every word that uses the Yod. It is possibly the single most important letter of the alefbet. Yod and Hey, that when formed make Yah. Chokmah - Emination characterized by wisdom which is associated with the Father nature and branch of the tree of Sefiroth, is the Sephirot that provides the seed for Binah to create the lower seven Sephiroth, starting with the World of Creation, or Beriah. Beriah is the '3rd Heaven' spoken of by Rav Sha'ul; it is the Spiritual Realm separated and unique from G-d.

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Keter
Crown

There are three main branches to the Tree of Sephirot.

Abba is Abba beshamayim (Father in Heaven).

Keter is what Christians call Ben (Son).

Aima (Mother) is the emanations of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit)

Keter, or crown, is the uppermost sephirah that can be contemplated by Mankind. Moshiach is associated with Keter as portraying the invisible image of G-d. The beard is particularly important in the diagram, as it is a symbol associated with Keter; much like the beard envisioned by Ezekiel, it displays the Sovereignty of G-d over all of creation. The name of G-d associated with Keter is Ehyeh, or I AM. The World of Emanation, or Azilut emanates from Keter.

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Binah
Understanding
and
Aimah
Mother

There are three main branches to the Tree of Sephirot.

Abba is Abba beshamayim (Father in Heaven).

Keter is what Christians call Ben (Son).

Aima (Mother) is the emanations of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit)

Binah, or understanding, as shown in the diagram, is the Matro Shekhinah: the Mother of the Shekhinah. Other Hebrew symbols and imagery related to Binah are Teshuvah, Palace, and Womb. The name of G-d that is associated with Binah is Elohim. Binah receives the seed from Chokmah - Emination characterized by wisdom which is associated with the Father nature and branch of the tree of Sefiroth, that creates the lower seven Sephiroth.

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Chesed
Mercy

Chesed is the Hebrew word for mercy; the Right Arm of G-d is a symbol associated with Chesed. Grace, a result of Chesed, is trickled down into the lower Sephirot, finally reaching Malkhut, which is the doorway for G-d's presence into the World of Action (material world that Adam and Chava entered). Names of G-d associated with Chesed are El, and El-yon, or Supreme G-d.

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Tefereth
Beauty

Tif'eret is the Hebrew word for beauty. Tif'eret, through the channels shown in the diagram, unites all of the nine Sephiroth. Tif'eret is also the offspring of Chokmah - Emination characterized by wisdom which is associated with the Father nature and branch of the tree of Sefiroth, and Binah. Adonai, and YHVH names of G-d associated with Tif'eret.

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Gevurah
Severity

Gevurah is the Hebrew word for judgment or severity, which also trickles down into the lower Sephirot to reach Malkhut and the World of Action. Other symbols and imagery associated with this Sephirot are consuming fire; darkness, night, cloud, mist; and finally, Serpent. This power is necessary to maintain order in the universe; unfortunately, the destructive forces necessary to keep order and exact punishment also contains the seeds of demonic Evil, the 'Sitra Ahra', or the 'Other Side.'

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Netzach
Victory

Netzah is the Hebrew word for victory, or endurance; it represents G-d's active grace in the world. The name YHVH Tza'va'ot is associated with Netzah. Moshe is a biblical figure associated with Netzah; indeed, Moshe was victorious leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt.

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Yesod
Foundation

Yesod, in Hebrew, means foundation. Yesod is a phalluc symbol, which represents the pillar connecting heaven and earth; also associated with the Tsaddik (Righteous One).

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Hod
Glory

Hod is the Hebrew word for glory. It is through this Sephirah that G-d's judgment comes down to the world. The name of G-d associated with Hod is Elohim Tza'va'ot. Hod and Netzah form the beginning of the lower half of the World of Assiyah (Action), where Adam and Chava were expelled to after receiving their garments of skin. Rav Sha'ul spoke of the spiritual body received during the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:39-48

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Malkuth
Kingdom
Malkhut - Hebrew for Kingdom, Malkhut is represented by Shekhinah, Sabbath, Adonai, and humility. David is the biblical figure associated with Malkhut, who was so aptly sought after by the L-rd as "a man after His own heart." (1 Samuel 13)

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Daat
Knowledge
Da'at is a Hebrew word for knowledge; though, the knowledge is not that of the world, but of G-d. When the angel told Daniel that many shall go to and fro, and knowledge shall increase (Daniel 12:4), the angel was most assuredly referring to knowledge of G-d and Torah. Da'at operates on two levels: the upper level referred to as da'at hane'elam ("the hidden knowledge"), serves to secure the bond between the two higher powers of intellect -- Chokmah - Emination characterized by wisdom which is associated with the Father nature and branch of the tree of Sefiroth, and binah; the lower level, referred to as da'at hamitpashet ("extending knowledge"), serves to connect the intellect as a whole with the realm of emotion, which serves to enhance one's resolve to act in accordance with essential truths integrated into consciousness. There are differing Tree of Life diagrams, some of which depict Da'at as one of the Sephiroth. We have placed Daat outside of the table above because it is not always included as one of the Sephiroth.

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SpiritofLife
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Re: Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil; Free Will

Post by SpiritofLife »

http://tzion.org/Tree_Sefiroth.htm#Chart
Please excuse my hacky cut and past. This is the website.
The law came by Moses, Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ. There is the Law account of creation and a Grace and Truth account of creation and the tree of life. Jewish tradition records this as the tree of life and Jesus knew this is who the devil does not want you to partake of, for you will live forever. Jesus said, "You are of your father the devil, I am from my Father above. The God of Jesus is not the God of the Jews. This is why they had to kill Him. This is why He had to free us from the law of sin and death. This is why we must be born again by the Spirit of the God of Jesus, to be under the Law of the Spirit of Life.
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Re: Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil; Free Will

Post by spin »

SpiritofLife wrote:http://tzion.org/_images/Tree%20of%20Life.jpg
Tree of Life
Can we get one of these for women? You know, without all the hairy old men. Chokmah is after all a feminine noun. How come big hairy is standing on the "bride queen"? We sure get the sexual politics of the designers. Gawd.
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Re: Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil; Free Will

Post by SpiritofLife »

God, the perfect power, Father, Mother, Son, is androgynous both male and female. The Gospel of Philip says it was not until woman was separated from man that death entered in. Man was created and woman cam out of man. Man immortal is self creating, being both male and female producing the only begotten Son. In the Sacrament of Marriage in the Bridal Chamber when the husband is one with the wife the male and female powers return to the original state before death. The bride of Christ made complete by Jesus the Tree of Life. The Secret Book of John, Gospel of Philip
Get out your sketch pad and draw the bride of Christ. Barbelo is the womb of the universe, they don't talk about this in church.
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Re: Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil; Free Will

Post by spin »

I wasn't fishing for excuses. There's a guy at the top and a woman at the bottom. That doesn't cut it. It doesn't help that god is masculine. You can pretend that it doesn't matter about the stated genders, as the ideal state is a combination of the two genders according to you, but we have the fact that god is masculine, that your tree of life has women in inferior positions. What you say does not reflect what is manifestly to be seen. That reflects the same range of values that we see in numerous religions that espouse one thing and embody something different. Institutional repression in the here and now.
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Re: Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil; Free Will

Post by SpiritofLife »

If you are talking about gender fairness, Jesus would ask, "Which of you being born of a woman?" reminded the religious leaders and creators of the this tree of Life of their source beggining in the womb of a woman. As believers Jesus is not ashamed to call us His Brothers and Sisters. You have to take this Zohar hairy man and nail Him to a cross. Yeshua the Messiah. Why was the messiah a man and not a woman? Ask the Holy Spirit why? Why do men ejaculate the seed, sperm? it's not fair. The book of Mary Magdalene establishes restoring the male female balance of the divine nature. Why is the female egg passive receiving the active sperm seed? How ever you think life should be, putting a penis on a woman is not equality, we are different. Making the two one is divine. For this cause a man shall leave his father and Mother and cleave to his wife and the two shall be one. Jewish culture put women beneath men, not God. When I found the Nag Hammadi scriptures on line and read the Trimorphic Protenoia and the book of Philip and the Secret Book of John and found the womb of the universe, I found my Heavenly Mother. What ever the source of indignation of the bride being under the feet of the Son of the Father and the Mother immortal, to make this right, you must be born again. Immortal man, God is Man we are created in his immage, Male and Female. Jesus is the Son of God, Son of Man immortal. The weapons of our warfare is the Knowledge of God, Theos, Yeshua who is YHVH, LORD. Either Barbelo is the womb of the universe, Aima, Binah or it is a doctrine of demons. When I tell women about the womb of the universe, they listen and don't know what to say because the inner witness of the Spirit, witnesses to them God is Male and they in Christ are the Female. No one has ever told them this, when they hear it, they know it is true. His image, Man, The first Human is Male and Female. Why are men not menstruating? Jesus said, I am from my Father above, you are from your father the devil. Are there two fathers? One above and one below? One, the Father of Truth, the other the father of lies. The law came by Moses but Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ. Do we have free will to choose the True God of Jesus? Yes, the righteousness of faith speaks the word (rhema) is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. You are free to believe the Spirit of Truth. Truth makes Free Will.
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Re: Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil; Free Will

Post by spin »

You aren't getting it. The imagery and the language is inherently male-centered: elohim, theos, son, father, He. God is male. Christ is male and they in Christ are the Female. The first human was Adam, masculine. You might want to introduce ideas that contradict Genesis there. Eve was created out of a rib. That does not back-translate into Adam being both male and female. It means that the ancient social order reinforced heterosexuality and the notion that man and woman belong together. But man first. He leads, she follows. He says and she obeys. He puts the penis, not she takes the penis. Eve seduces Adam to eat the fruit. He is stupid, she is untrustworthy and a temptress.

Difference, such as the physical difference between women and men, does not imply social and cultural inequality. Dogma may reinforce such inequality, as in the case of masculine dominated imagery and language. This primitive nonsense might have been ok for pastoralists and dirty farmers of antiquity, but the world has moved on a few millennia. We know a bit more about reality. We know to some degree how manipulative culture and society can be, for they are conservative forces.

They reinforce a status quo and discourage lifting the mask to see what is behind it. Wombs are receptive, places where things happen. God acts on the universe. He manipulates the womb. He is active. She is passive. Christ is male. The church of believers is female. Hierarchy. (And I doubt you'd get very far trying to tout your womb of the universe among the women I know. They would laugh their sox off.)

The sons of god, usually taken to indicate angels, are male and had it off with the daughters of men. Angels have male names and are described as male. Mark's young man in the tomb is seen as an angel in Matthew. How many women were there among the disciples? Ooops, not one. What we see is the replication of the sexual politics of the era. The women, umm, followed. This is completely and utterly ridiculous. Blathering about disembodied linguistic notions such as truth and free will only cloaks the crock in a little veil of obfuscation. Shit cloaked in glitter might look ok, but is still shit underneath. I don't think you will be able to sanitize the material you are working through of its smelly sexual politics, or even repackage it. Ancient religions reflect their times, not ours.
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