Hermes Trismegistus' "First Book" 7,8 and 9

This is a continuing series of explanations of Hermes Trismegistus' "First Book". I am attempting to separate out the lessons listed in Hermes first book, explaining each statement made by Hermes to the best of my ability and offering it to those who want my own personal interpretation. Of course, it becomes obvious that my answers are perceptions based on my own reasoning power, but I hope that some of these answers will spread some enlightenment to those who seek the answers from themselves.

7. And let this, O Son, be the end of Religion and Piety; whereunto when thou art once arrived, thou shalt both live well, and die blessedly, whilst thy Soul is not ignorant whether it must return and fly back again.

When one has achieved a state of enlightenment there is no need to continue to strive for such a state of bliss. Once ones religion has allowed one to gain a state of goodness which does not retrograde into the tribulation of existence one can focus on other aspects of growth and creation. The devoutness and piety fades because enlightenment is not something one escapes from and ones religion becomes second nature instead of something continually strived for. The state of enlightenment guarantees a negation of the fear associated with the unknown, namely death and one will accept the finality of existence and understand that with conception comes a grand creator that will nurture the spirit in the beyond.

8. For this only, O Son, is the way to the Truth, which our Progenitors travelled in; and by which, making their Journey, they at length attained to the Good. It is a Venerable way, and plain, but hard and difficult for the Soul to go in that is in the Body.

The state of bliss achieved is enough to allow one to stare quite solidly into the face of the most terrible of horrors, undeniable truth. Once one knows where undeniable truth is found a state of goodness is obtained. The light of truth allows one to see more clearly the pathways that must be walked in order to gain that which you strive for. The setting of goals becomes a next priority and these goals usually reflect the goodness that one is and brings forth a betterment for the entire world. The difficulty is achieving the goals. The difficulty lies in continually striving for the goal you have set even when all odds are against you achieving that goal. Tribulation leaves one and all that one is faced with is the struggle to obtain rather than faceless misery and torture. The struggle to obtain is what is difficult on the body, but continually renews the spirit through a humble pandering to the grand creator. Quite simply, why else would the soul have been given a body except to carry it to the destined goal that needs to be achieved.

9. For first must it war against its own self, and after much Strife and Dissention it must be overcome of one part; for the Contention is of one against two, whilst it flies away and they strive to hold and detain it.

In the beginning the mind and body are at bay while the spirit wars with itself on what morality is. Does the animalistic side of existence take over the conscience? Does the human animal allow the lower baser instinct for acquisition of materials override the need for higher goals and higher expectations? During this time the spirit wars with itself and rationalizes away the fact that everything is natural, therefore all things that the human animal does is a natural act. The strong overpower the weak. You take from life what you will and because you have that ability one feels no guilt. The law of nature means only the stronger human animal survives and conquers. Since the human animal is a part of nature; everything the human animal does is an acceptable natural act. Once the spirit is aware that higher expectations of the human animal leads to a more fulfilling life, a war is waged between the spirit and the mind and body. The spirit stands against the mind and body and will win for the spirit is far more powerful. The mind and body will attempt to force the spirit into submission and take from the world instead of give. The story of the Garden of Eden is a splendid example of the spirit warring against the mind and the body. The Catholic God did not get angry with Adam and Eve for partaking of the tree of knowledge; it was pity their deity felt for them. The Catholic deity realized that Adam and Eve would be forced to travel a road of tribulation and torment to once again achieve the bliss that was offered to them. Once the spirit realizes where the bliss is, there is nothing that will stop the spirit from obtaining bliss once more.