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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
The curse pronounced on the woman also refers to the nature of Intellect of which she is the earthly symbol. Conception and sorrow are her lot, whether we take them in their literal or their psychological sense ; for intellect is noted for its prolific production of concepts, as well as, for sorrow, that is, worry, in developing, i.e., forming and delivering judgments. She is the hand-maid of the ego, her husband, and, consequently, must surrender herself to him, at his sweet will and pleasure, and conceive for him. The identity between Eve and Intellect is put beyond doubt by Genesis, III. 20. Adam called his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all living. This description cannot possibly refer to the human female, because she cannot be regarded as the mother of all living,' in any sense ; but it is fully applicable and appropriate to the Intellect, on whose functioning as the weaver of presentations in the warp and woof of consciousness, depends the perception, hence, in a sense, the existence, of all forms.
The punishment of Adam also is equally natural for the ego who exclusively employs his intellect to discriminate between the good and evil of phenomena. Since the pursuit of the phenomenal gives rise to the notion of duality, i.e., separation between God and man, and creates fear and worry, the fallen ego, personified as Adam, has necessarily to eat his bread in the sweat of his brow. Thistle and thorns, and sorrow and tears are his lot, for, as already observed, there can be no bappiness for him who is engrossed in sensual lust.
The curse uttered by the Lord also foreshadowed the perishable nature of the sensual ego; yet it is not the
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