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CONFLUENCE OF OPPOSITES
189 *2) The Tree of Life and the Tree of knowledge
Good and Evil are two such attributes that are the most important of all; hence, they
grow in the centre. (3) Adam is the individual ego that has reached
the stage of evolution known as “human
birth," (4) Eve is the Intellect that is made from Adam's
rib taken out in sleep-an apt simile since the intellect is only a form or function of the ego, with which one finds oneself endowed on
waking up from sleep. (5) Man alone is qualified for salvation and
therefore entitled to be taught dharma (re. ligion). The animals are debarred from salvation because of their general deficiencies in respect of intellect and other bodily and mental functions. Even the residents of heavens and hells are not entitled to salvation because they are not fitted to perform tapas, Hence, man is the principal recipient of dhar.
mic injunctions. (6) The Tree of Life represents Life itsell, and
the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil,
the determination of the value of things. 6 The fruit (consequence) of knowledge of
good and evil represents what are termed zdga (attachment) and dvesha (aversion), because we long to possess what we regard as
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