Tree of knowledge of good and evil. Tree of life.

Tree of knowledge.

Tree of knowledge.
by Edinburgh artist Mike Heseltine.

I see the story of Adam and Eve as an allegory where the 'Tree of knowledge of good and evil' represents a duality consciousness. It is the constant narrative in your head which identifies us as an individual, separate from the rest of the world. It is a fall into dualistic thinking. Before eating from the tree, Adam and Eve lived in harmony with God and nature, but they then became self aware, a state of duality consciousness which involves navigating choices and consequences. This aligns with the human experience we have today. When challenged by God, Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. With this act of not taking responsibility for their actions, driven by a new dualistic and egoic sense of self, suffering was born. The ego wants us to be special, blameless, competitive and judgemental. But in my life, none of these things have provided me with any degree of happiness. In the allegory, the serpent promised that eating the apple would make them like God. In other words, happiness is not here, but in the future and only if you eat the apple. I have only experienced a deep sense of happiness, when I have stopped thinking of the future. It is experienced in the total acceptance of what is and being present in the moment. Happiness is already here, if we don't listen to the false promises of the serpent.

In this painting I was thinking about how our egos continually grasp for something better. We originate from stillness and become obsessed with knowledge and thinking. This distraction stops us from seeing what really is.

Recent paintings | Contact: | About
Follow on Facebook Instagram Profile