Die uralte Weisheit. Eine kurzgefasste Darstellung der Lehren der Theosophie

the apples mostly fall off the plant, unless it happens that it stands in a very good field.

6. Now the tree also has a good sweet quality in itself, but against it also three others that are contrary, namely bitter, sour, and harsh. Now as the tree is, so also its fruits become, until the sun works upon them and makes them sweet, so that they receive a lovely taste, and its fruits must endure in the rain, wind, and storm.

7. But when the tree becomes old, so that its branches wither and the sap can no longer rise into the heights, then many green twigs grow out below around the trunk, and finally also on the root, and they clarify the old tree, showing how it was once a beautiful green twig and little tree, and has now become quite old. For nature or the sap defends itself until the trunk becomes quite dry, then it is cut down and burned in the fire.

Now note what I have indicated with this parable:

8. The garden of this tree signifies the world; the field signifies nature; the trunk of the tree signifies the stars; the branches signify the elementa elements; the fruits that grow on this tree signify human beings; the sap in the tree signifies the clear Gottheit Godhead. Now humans have been made out of nature, stars, and elements, but God the Creator rules in all, just like the sap in the whole tree.

9. Nature, however, has two Qualitäten qualities within it until the judgment of God: one lovely, heavenly, and holy; and one fierce, hellish, and thirsty.

10. Now the good one always works and qualifies with all diligence so that it brings forth good fruits; therein the Holy Spirit rules and gives sap and life to it. The evil one also springs and drives with all diligence so that it always brings forth evil fruits; to this the devil gives sap and hellish reward.

11. Now both of these are in the tree of nature, and humans are made from the tree, and live in this world in this garden between both in great danger; and upon them falls now sunshine, now rain, wind, and snow.

12. That is, if a person raises their spirit into the Godhead, then the Holy Spirit springs and qualifies in them; but if they let their spirit sink into this world, into the lust of evil, then the devil and the hellish sap spring and rule in them.

13. Just as the apple on the tree becomes maggoty and worm-eaten when frost, heat, and mildew fall upon it, and it easily falls off and perishes: so also the person when they let the devil rule in them with his poison.

14. Now just as in nature Good and Evil spring, rule, and exist, so it is also in the human being: but the human is God's child, whom He made from the best kernel of nature, to rule in the Good and to overcome the Evil. Although the Evil hangs upon them, just as in nature the Evil hangs upon the Good, they can nevertheless overcome the Evil; if they raise their spirit into God, the Holy Spirit springs in them and helps them to victory.

15. Just as the good quality in nature is powerful to victory over the evil, for it is and comes from God, and the Holy Spirit is the ruler therein: so also is the fierce quality powerful to victory in the malicious soul, for the devil is a powerful ruler in the fierceness, and is an eternal prince of the same.

16. But humans threw themselves into the fierceness through the fall of Adam and Eve, so that evil hangs upon them, otherwise their spring and drive would be in the Good alone; but now it is in both, and it is called as St. Paul says: do you not know, to whomever you yield yourselves as servants in obedience, his servants you are whom you obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience to God unto righteousness? Romans 6, verse 16.

17. Because the human being has the drive in both, they may reach for whichever they want, for they live in this world between both, and both qualities, Evil and Good, are in them; into whichever the person surges, with that they will be clothed, in holy or hellish power.

18. For Christ says: My Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him for it, Luke 11, verse 13. Also, God has commanded the Good to humans and forbidden the Evil, and daily lets preaching, calling, and crying happen, and warns humans toward the Good.