What Does the Garden of Eden Symbolize?
Most of us first encountered the story of Genesis in kindergarten and heard it again in school. Some regard it as a kind of legend, while others believe it happened exactly as described. Either way, beneath the surface lies an explanation of the forces from which we are built.
At the foundation of nature there is a single force, the desire to give, to bestow goodness. This force brings forth and places opposite itself a second force, the desire to receive. Development begins from the interaction between these two forces. We can call them “heaven and earth,” “light and darkness,” or simply plus and minus.
Elementary particles within the atom, molecules, and everything that exists, lives, and develops are built upon the contrast between these two forces and the connection that forms above their opposition. The positive and negative forces combine into increasingly complex forms. The still, vegetative, and animate levels of nature emerge. The system develops through mutual complementarity, functioning as a single mechanism, the parts of which depend upon one another and are harmoniously connecte.
One could call this state “the Garden of Eden,” but it is still incomplete. What is missing in this seemingly complete picture? It is that such a connection should come about through self-awareness, examination, and free choice.
Broadly speaking, the direction of development is to create an independent and complete being. Harmony already existed, but independence did not, on any level of existence. Therefore, the human being, the “crown of creation,” becomes detached from the system in which he was originally formed. In biblical language, he is expelled from the Garden of Eden.
This separation gives him the opportunity to examine, feel, investigate, and realize that he is opposite to the harmony that exists throughout the system. The system itself serves as an example for him. Through his efforts to act correctly, he receives forces from nature that enable him to discover the purpose of existence and fulfill it.
In the story of Creation, humanity is created last. This teaches that, like all the created beings that came before, human beings are also built from the same two opposing forces, which gradually developed through what is symbolically described as the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth days.
In the evolutionary process, humans and apes shared a common ancestor. Perhaps there were many types of ancient ape-like and human-like creatures, but one particular type began to develop in a unique way. Within it emerged an intensified desire to receive, to acquire, consume, dominate, control, become the master of the world, and feel superior to everyone else.
This egoistic desire began shaping that living creature into what we call a human being, i.e., a creature endowed with both instinct and intellect, capable of creating special tools, forming hunter-gatherer societies, developing agriculture, domesticating animals for its own use, and so forth. From this emerged the entire course of human civilization: language, art, culture, education, science, and technology.
Yet a problem arose.
The force of reception, which continually grows in human beings, became imbalanced with the force of giving. As a result, humanity exists in a state of disharmony, not with nature as a whole, not with other people, and not even with itself.
Human beings became imbalanced creatures, lacking completion. The egoistic force, i.e., the desire to enjoy for self-benefit alone at others’ expense, continues to intensify within them, pushing them into constant struggle with everyone around them. Year after year, the fear grows that we may ultimately destroy ourselves and the world.
The biblical verse states:
“And God created man in His image.”
What does this mean? As mentioned, the general force of nature is one of love and bestowal. Human beings are built as its shadow, that is, in an opposite form.
When we reach a stage of development where we realize that all of our efforts to attain happiness fail to bring lasting fulfillment, that every summit we conquer eventually becomes boring, we begin to understand that something is wrong with our operating system. We realize that we will never be able to fill our inner emptiness if we continue striving to receive the maximum from everyone around us, exploiting everything for our own benefit, directly or indirectly.
The fact that everyone operates in such a way, consciously or unconsciously, prevents anyone from attaining true peace, joy, tranquility, or fulfillment.
This awareness leads to the understanding that a sense of wholeness depends upon achieving balance with our environment.
At that point, a desire develops within us to attain a balancing force, the force of giving. The search for this force eventually leads to the discovery of the positive force at the foundation of creation.
The practical method for bringing this force into our lives is something that must be studied further. Through it, humanity can take on the form of a healthy family.
In a well-functioning family, everyone is equal. No one is considered greater or lesser. Everyone depends upon one another, takes responsibility for each other, and feels and functions like different organs in a single body.
As we continue this journey, we discover that balance between people is not the end of the road but only the beginning. To the extent that we connect with one another through love, we will break through together into a new level of existence, one that transcends the limitations of time, space, and movement. This will be a return to the Garden of Eden, but now enriched with independence, understanding, and free choice.
This is how the purpose of creation will be fulfilled, and we will attain the ultimate goal for which everything was created in the first place: endless fulfillment, delight, and enjoyment. I wish for our journey to be successful.
Based on “New Life 190 – Returning To The Garden Of Eden” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.