Pandora’s Legacy Today by Dr. Barbara Condron

Pandora’s legacy today

INTERFAITH

from the book Spiritual Renaissance by Dr. Barbara Condron

Pandora’s Legacy Today

The truth is for every ill there is a cure.

For every doubt there is the answer of faith fulfilled through reason.

For every fear there is an experience that brings enlightenment.

All the world’s holy scriptures have attempted to identify the cause for this.

One of the most dreaded and potentially dangerous diseases of our time that infiltrates humanity is loneliness. When traveling into a large city it is easy to become sensitive and to hear loneliness. As the numbers of people multiply the desolation, the emptiness, can be overwhelming.

When you stop and think about it this is pretty amazing. Cities where thousands and millions of people congregate to live and work together could be meccas of spiritual community. The reality of bombs and guns, disease and illiteracy, leaves much desired. People do not become enriched in today’s cities.

It is difficult to know life’s richness without communion. For the most part people are isolated. They do not know the names of their neighbors, let alone their children’s teachers or community’s leader. I do believe recognizing creation cures. Knowing your spiritual origin and your relationship with all people, heals. The ancient wisdom frees you to give freely, “to love your neighbor as yourself.”

The ills of the world are many. Loneliness is only one of them. You can probably think of illnesses of a mental or spiritual variety in your own life. There is hatred. There is prejudice, and there is resentment. There is jealousy, and there is envy. There are all kinds of doubts and fears and manifestations of negative thinking.

The truth is for every ill there is a cure.

For every doubt there is the answer of faith fulfilled through reason.

For every fear there is an experience that brings enlightenment.

All the world’s holy scriptures have attempted to identify the cause for this.

For the Jew and the Christian, the first book in the Bible tries to explain the cause for this illness by tracing it back to the man and the woman in the Garden of Eden. The serpent, the most cunning animal God created, tempts the woman to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. The Hindu scriptures, particularly the Mahabarata, trace it back to a battle between two warring tribes, the Kurus and the Pandus.

In Taoist scriptures, it is traced back to a separation from the Tao, or The Way, a path to reason.

In the Buddhist scriptures it is traced back to three sorrows which Prince Gautama defined at the age of 30 as disease and old age and death.

Perhaps the best illustration of what caused these illnesses to befall man appears in Greek Mythology. Greek Mythology is classical literature. It has endured because it is whole and complete as are all Holy Scriptures.

Greek mythology describes the creation of the world. Once the world was created there were Titans. The Titans were elder gods. Cronus, who is also known as Saturn, was the ruler of the elder gods. He sired many children. As his wife would birth them, he would swallow them, because he knew there was a destiny that one of his offspring would dethrone him someday.

His wife got smart after five kids and spirited away a male child who later became known as Zeus. This is reminiscent of Moses’ story in Judeo-Christian traditions. Zeus was away for a time and he eventually came back and dethroned his father. Zeus, by the way is also known as Jupiter, for those who are interested in astrology. When Zeus took over he brought a Golden Age, a perfect time of peace and happiness.

It’s at this point that a woman named Pandora shaped mankind’s future.

For a long time only men were upon the earth. Zeus created women in his anger at Prometheus, a Titan involved in the creation of the world, for caring so much for men. Prometheus had not only stolen fire for men, he had also arranged that they should get the best part of any animal sacrificed and the gods the worst.
Prometheus butchered a great ox, and wrapped the good edible parts in the hide. He disguised them further by piling entrails on top. Beside this heap he put another of all the bones, dressed up with cunning and covered with shining fat and bade Zeus choose between them. Zeus took up the white fat and was angry when he saw the bones craftily arranged. But he had made his choice and had to abide by it.
Thereafter, only fat and bones were burned to the gods upon their altars. Men kept the good meat for themselves.
Zeus, the Father of Men and of Gods, swore revenge on mankind first, then on mankind’s friend. He made a great evil for men in the likeness of a shy maiden. She was a sweet and lovely thing to look upon. Each of the twelve gods gave her gifts – silvery array and an embroidered veil, bright garlands of blooming flowers and a crown of gold – great beauty shown from it. Because of what they gave her, they called her Pandora, meaning “the gift of all.”
When Zeus presented her, wonder took hold of the gods and men when they beheld her. It is said from her, the first woman, comes the race of women who are an evil to men, and said to have a nature to do evil.

Yet was it really an evil nature or only her curiosity that was the source of all misfortune?

It is said that the gods presented Pandora with a box into which each had put something harmful. They forbade her ever to open it.
Then they sent her to Epimethius, who took her gladly although Prometheus had warned him never to accept anything from Zeus.
In time, Pandora had to know what was in the box.
One day she lifted the lid and out flew plagues innumerable – sorrow and mischief for mankind. In terror, Pandora clapped the lid down, but it was too late.

The story parallels the creation story in the Bible. After the creation of the world, a helpmate is created out of man, for man. This wo-man becomes a suitable partner for the man, thus they become as one. The man and woman live in the Garden of Eden with only one restriction. The tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is the “Pandora’s box” in Genesis. The correlations are outstanding when the passages are interpreted in the Universal Language of Mind, the language with which the inner mind communicates.

Both Pandora and Genesis’ woman (who upon leaving the Garden will be known as Eve) represent the conscious, waking mind of every spirit, whether in a male or female body. This is far beyond the limitations of seeing the passage as fodder for feminists and chauvinists. The Universal Language of Mind affords a spiritual interpretation of very spiritual scriptures. Truth that is universal elevates awareness, rising above temporary holes in mankind’s understanding. No matter what form of body may look back at you in the mirror, the woman in these symbolic stories is you.

Pandora and Eve both represent the outer mind that has the power to create. By opening the box, or eating from the tree, each become aware of something previously unknown. We have exercised a power for which we are now responsible. That power is reasoning. Like a child left unattended we do because we can and now we must learn to do because we think, we understand, we envision.

The first inexperienced attempts wield imagined limitations, the plagues Pandora unleashes. It will remain true for Reasoning Man for thousands of years, imagined limitations are what cause the misfortunes and the ills that we experience individually and collectively.

We, at this stage of evolution, do have a safety guard, a way to insure that we can grow and can gain understanding from misfortune. Symbolically it is the fiery, revolving sword at the gate of the Garden. The sword is a Law known as Karma. It is not a man-made law, it is the expression of the Law of Cause and Effect which permeates our universe. Everything in our universe is subject to Cause and Effect. Every soul who has taken on physical form, chosen the physical world as their place of learning and progression, is subject to Karma.

Karma is a Sanskrit word meaning “action”. The concept of Karma is an indebtedness to Self. Your Karma is what you owe your soul for the privilege of experiencing physical life. This debt is most easily described as the understandings that make up a creator.

Neither good nor bad, karma is the means by which the soul is assured of progression. Your inner self, your subconscious mind or soul can be likened to a puzzle, with pieces to be fitted together. At the present stage in our evolution we are unlocking reasoning and preparing for intuitive, Spiritual Man. Many of the pieces are already put into place. For those considering reincarnation as a truth, the pieces have been placed through hundreds perhaps thousands of lifetimes. We come back into the physical experience with a new conscious mind in order to fit in those pieces that have yet to be placed. As we do so, as Eve’s serpent revealed to her, “God knows well the moment you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like god.” And so we have had the means to become like God, to be compatible to our spiritual parent, ever since we began thinking on our own, developing conscious reasoning. The revealing of talent, of genius, of mystical experience, of Enlightenment is the natural evolution of all humanity. It is the product of God-like understandings in the hands of a spirit reaching for the wisdom of maturity.

There is a more to the story of Pandora. When she opened up the box and all these terrible whirlwind things flew out, there was one thing left in box.

The one thing left in the box was hope.

The word hope is from the Latin word cupio which means “to desire”. Think about hope. The word is described as a desire of some good, and even more than that it’s accompanied by an expectation of that good.

Hope is a confidence in the future.

Hope is trust.

All the great masters and teachers throughout the history of the world have brought hope to mankind. They did this because they lived their lives according to the great Law of Creation. This principle of creation is the foundation upon which our universe lives and moves and has its being. In the Bible that law is stated as, “Seek ye first the kingdom of Heaven and all else will be given unto you.”

The lives of Spiritual Masters were a living example of the Law of Abundance. They believed that as they aided others to prosperity and abundance, they would also experience prosperity and abundance. Any teacher can tell you the Truth of this Law. As you teach, you realize just how much you know. Not only were the Masters’ lives a manifestation of that law, but they taught their disciples and their followers the same. That’s why we can remember them because in almost all cases it is not the Master who wrote their teachings, but rather the disciples and the followers of those teachings.

Confucius, one of these great master teachers, brought a hope to the world. The hope Confucius brought to the world is to venerate the past into a glorious future. To know more about him you’ll want to research The Analects, an exceptional Holy work based on his teachings for the superior man.

Lao Tzu, a contemporary of Confucius, brought a hope also. His hope is in the continuity of existence beyond our physical life. Eternal life. Much of his teachings appear in the Tao Te Ching.

Zarathustra, the Persian Christ, brought a hope. That hope is of discrimination, to be able to separate and identify good and evil so the power of reasoning can be unleashed. If you want to know more about Zarathustra, read the Zend-Avesta.

Gautama, who became the Buddha, brought a hope. His hope is relinquishing desires in order to be enlightened. To know more, you’ll want to read the Dhammapada and investigate his Eightfold Path.

Jesus of Nazareth became the Christ. His hope is to become whole and perfect as our Heavenly Father. His teachings and miraculous healings that restored others to wholeness are recorded in the New Testament of the Bible.

Hope is what each Great Master offers the waiting humanity of any time, and any place that they appear. Hope is what leads us to imagine what we can be. It is the power to believe in the inherent goodness in us all.

As the forces of the universe move, Earth is moving away from the influences of the constellation of Pisces and toward those of Aquarius. The astronomical and the astrological change, affects the planet as assuredly as our moon pull the tides of Earth’s oceans. Increasing numbers of people are manifesting awareness of this change, individually and collectively. This influence is not just individual, it affects everybody, and the entire creation.

The change is most evident in the way humanity is seeking spiritual leadership and guidance in ways that are new and different from earlier times. The School of Metaphysics exists to provide spiritual leadership and guidance for all of mankind, not just a select few, but for anyone. We teach spiritual teachers.

At a teachers conference some time ago, I noted something that occurs in many places and contexts. It can occur at the workplace, in the home, or at school. As people were introducing themselves, they were asked to respond to whether or not they had completed an assignment. As I saw and listened to the responses, I was impressed in a variety of ways. Sometimes I experienced a joy and a type of recognition of learning, and at other times I experienced a disheartening dejection.

When someone would say “I fulfilled the assignment,” “I accomplished it,” there was a real sharing of joy because that person had moved forward. I was able to share with them in that. My life and the lives of others, were enriched because they had become prosperous.

For those who stood up and said I did not fulfill the assignment there was a sadness I experienced because I know that our everyday physical life is a place where we practice fulfilling the assignments of our souls. Failing in outer tasks usually means we are equally failing inwardly. The assignment of the soul is not something given by a teacher. It is not something given by a boss or by someone who supervises you. This assignment is akin to the individual’s Karma, almost a partner.

The soul who you are came to Earth for specific purposes. Some were based upon what is lacking in your inner understanding, the hope that this life will bring resolution, a paying of the karmic debt to self. Other purposes were based upon the understandings you already possess within the fibre of your being. Your soul intended to put these understandings to use for the greater good of yourself and others. To respond is to do your dharma in life. Dharma is the assignment for a lifetime given by your soul. It is your duty that is to be fulfilled. How you approach work in your outward life reveals whether you are acting in alignment with the desires of your soul.

Your duty is to use all of those puzzle pieces you already have, all of those understandings that you as an individual have worked so long and so hard to gain. To draw upon “inherent” talents and wisdom. Maybe you’re not aware of what those are yet. Maybe you are just beginning to awaken them. Apart from your awareness and application of them, they are your wealth. Those understandings are what make you unique. They bring to you and everyone you meet a richness.

Those individuals who have awareness and a commitment to fulfilling their soul’s assignment readily adapt to Spiritual Renaissance. They stand out in a crowd. They think differently than the average. They are progressive in their thoughts, ideas, and practices. They live their ideals, and their ideals are evolved, reflecting Truths that touch all our lives.

The School of Metaphysics is comprised of these types of people, from all walks of life, all backgrounds, all religions and intellectual disciplines. People who believe in pursuing Enlightenment through personal excellence and spiritual disciplines. This School has an assignment. One that cannot be accomplished by a single person. Until now this assignment has been accomplished by individual, Great Masters throughout time and in different places on Earth. At humanity’s present stage of evolution – moving from Reasoning, Animal Man into Intuitive, Spiritual Man – it is time for this assignment to be assumed by many.

This is the visionary mission of the School of Metaphysics.

There are many who are prepared inwardly to accept the assignment. The assignment is to unlock the power of reasoning so that intuition can become fully functional. It is to bring out the Christ principle, the Buddha principle, the Cosmic consciousness, in any individual because it exists right now in you and in me. We need only mature our consciousness to realize it.

One who is self aware is willing to move past limitations. He or she is willing to admit misfortune and put it in its proper perspective so that hope can be perceived. There may have been times that you were in situations where you were bereft with hopelessness. You would look and there was no hope to be found. Maybe quitting was the only answer that you could see. Quitting your job. Ending your marriage. Escaping your trouble through drugs or denial. The problem is even when you quit the hopelessness remained because you misinterpreted what was before you. You began to drown in Pandora’s troubles, blaming, pitying, denying.

There are times in life when you just don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. As a comfort during those times, let us meditate for illumination. Let us not be distracted by our lacks, rather, let us contemplate hope. Let us learn what brings hope into existence.
In pondering and meditating upon this query, the best insight I have received is a power each of us possesses. It is a power we’ve had since we were brought into existence as spirit. It is a power that manifests itself through every level of consciousness. It is a power that at any time, at any moment, you can draw upon.

This power is the power of love.

Every night at 10:30 p.m. Central Time a Circle of Love is created. It may be formed by students in a School of Metaphysics in the heartland of the United States. It may be formed by school children in India, or a group of health practitioners in England, or a family in Texas.

A Circle of Love is a practice that illuminates the individual, the world, and the universe with love. Every time a Circle of Love is created, every time it is joined with other circles spreading across the globe, hope is brought to every part of creation.

Whenever we expand light and love throughout the universe, we cause a change in the vibration of God.

A change we call Spiritual Renaissance.

“If I speak with human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and with full knowledge comprehend all mysteries; if I have faith enough to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give everything I have to feed the poor and hand over my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish, love is never rude, it is not self seeking, it is not prone to anger, neither does it brood over injuries, love does not rejoice in what is wrong, but rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to loves forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure, love never fails. Prophecies will cease, tongues will be silent, knowledge will pass away, our knowledge is imperfect, and our prophesying is imperfect. When the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child I spake as a child, I thought as a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish things aside. Now we see indistinctly as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face. My knowledge is imperfect now, then I shall know even as I am known. There are in the end three things that last; faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.”
– II Corinthians, Bible