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THE SECRET SENSE
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the teaching of the Wisdom Divine; but it remains under the subjection of death so long as it goes on eating the fruit of the forbidden tree. Serpent is desire which assails man (Adam), through the pleasure-seeking side of his nature (Eve). Adam's comprehensive knowledge is apparent from the fact that he is able to find names for all creatures. Eve is made from one of the ribs of Adam, which means she stands for one of the hidden powers of the ego. It is also said concerning her that a man will forsake his father and mother and cleave unto her, the term father meaning God, that is to-say, the Divine Teacher, and mother signifying religion, as beautifully explained by Philo Judæus (Yonge's Philo Judæus, vol. i).
Eve is the mother of all living naturally, because sense-life which she allegorically represents is the cause of transmigration, which governs the lives of all embodied living beings, those who rid themselves of the weakening tendency passing on to the other shore.' Philo Judæus calls her the mother of all the dead,' which term signifies the entire community of those who are ignorant of their Divine Nature, hence, all those who are involved in transmigration.
Abel and Cain are the progeny of the sinful soul. Abel stands for blind faith, since faith is turned towards life, and Abel is described as the keeper of sheep, the symbol of livestock, hence life. Cain is reason turned towards matter, since he is described as a 'tiller of soil.' The murder of 'Abel discloses the natural' antagonism between materialistic reason and blind faith, for materialism speedily puts an end to blind faith, which cannot support itself on a scientific basis, Yet it is obvious that
