Five Trees
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"Five Trees" in Paradise is a mysterious allegory or concept from famous Coptic Gospel of Thomas NHC 2: (gnostic library from Nag Hammadi in Egypt) 19th saying/logiaof Jesus and other sources of religious mythology.
Blatz Translation: (19) Jesus said: Blessed is he who was before he came into being. If you become disciples to me (and) listen to my words, these stones will minister to you. For you have five trees in Paradise which do not change, either in summer or in winter, and their leaves do not fall. He who knows them shall not taste of death.
Marvin Meyer writes: "The five trees in paradise are mentioned frequently in gnostic texts, ordinarily without explanation or elaboration. In Manichaean Psalm Book 161,17-29, it is said that various features of life and faith are put together in groups of five. This section opens with the statement, 'For [five] are the trees that are in paradise [. . .] in summer and winter.' On the trees in paradise according to Genesis, see Genesis 2:9." (The Gospel of Thomas: The Hidden Sayings of Jesus, pp. 77-78)
It seems that this concept is in parallel with five worlds of kabbalah: Asiyah, Yetzirah, Beriah, Atzilut & Adam Kadmon. On the other hand it is in parallel with 5 human senses and is very important to self knowledge or enlightement of a person.
[edit] See also
- Gospel of Thomas
- Tree of Life
- Gnosticism
- Kabbalah
- Christianity
- Jesus
- Logia
- Nag Hammadi Library
- Zeir Anpin
- Arich Anpin
