The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life
Dear friends, I write to you today with a clear intention to express aspects of my beliefs and how I apply them to life. I hope that as you read through this, you will see the time I took to gather my ideas and explain them as clearly as possible. I also hope you approach it with an open mind, taking time with the hope of spiritual and stoic gain. I write to you in trust of opinion and conversation. It is important to constantly and persistently seek wisdom, and it is imperative that the freedom we find be shared—because freedom is the gospel, the “good news.”
In this letter, I will discuss my views on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, being present, faith, God within ourselves and everything around us, the kingdom of heaven, the tree of life, gratitude, and wisdom. I am not a writer or a teacher, so bear with me, as this is my first letter and I have never attempted something like this before.
Now, let’s begin.
“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
—Marcus Aurelius
Throughout my life, I have experienced the flux of having nothing and the ability to feel established with possessions. During times of having little to literally nothing (whether I was living off the land in Utah or locked up in Greensboro jail—and many other moments in time)—those were the times I felt closest to Truth.
Side note: In this letter, I will refer to “God” as “Truth,” since each one of us finds our own God as its truth.
It wasn’t merely the fact that I had nothing that made me feel this way, but rather it was after I allowed myself to be grateful for what I had and found true happiness in the small things throughout the day. These are two things that I believe are necessary for any “relationship” with Truth. I will break these two down as: 1. Being present.
2. True gratitude.
This is the foundation.
1. Being Present
Being present is crucial because, without presence, a divide and disconnect form between you and Truth. This practice is emphasized in nearly every ancient religion and is one of the main teachings I believe Jesus was trying to convey. Biblically, this concept traces back to Adam and Eve when they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil—a topic I will explore further in this letter. There is power in being truly present, just as there is a divide when we disconnect.
When I consider what being truly present means to me, I find it to be a simple yet profound challenge. It is about giving my full attention to the present moment and finding joy in simply being. For example, if I am present while getting ready for work in the morning, I am not dwelling on yesterday or anticipating the day ahead. Instead, I find gratitude in the clean socks I put on, along with each article of clothing that follows. Any interruptions, I embrace. I stay attentive to my senses, aware that things like the weather, unexpected traffic, and other inconveniences are beyond my control—and thus, they hold no power over my mood. When I am truly present, I experience a steady sense of joy, a constant happiness. The longer I maintain this joy and focus on the moment, the easier it becomes to release the past and let go of worries about the future.
We are quick to be distracted, allowing our minds to wander to the past or race ahead to the future. We dwell on unfinished tasks, wondering whether time will slip away before we accomplish them. But this disconnection separates us from Truth, leaving us trapped in anxiety and depression—worried about the future and mourning what’s left behind. If that isn’t the purpose of life, why do we all fall into it? Let go of everything but the now, and begin by focusing on your breath. If you can feel the tingling in your toes, the texture of your shirt against your skin, or the sounds around you—these simple awareness exercises have helped me become more conscious, and I recommend them to anyone seeking presence.
In the Bible, Jesus speaks frequently about being present and how to achieve it. In Luke 17:20-21, it says:
“Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.’”
In Proverbs 22:4, it says:
“The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches, honor, and life.”
To me, throughout both the Old and New Testaments, the “fear of God” represents reverence. When we are truly present, we recognize that Truth exists within us and in all living things—it is the same energy. When we bask in the sheer wonder of this Truth—the force that spins the earth, forms honeycombs into hexagons, enables hummingbirds to fly, causes flowers to bloom in breathtaking colors, and moves the tides—we find ourselves in the kingdom of heaven in each moment. If we revere a higher Truth, we must also revere our own being as part of that Truth, made of the same divine energy.
This idea extends beyond Christianity. In Buddhism (Lankavatara Sutra 1:6), it is written:
“Look within, thou art the Buddha.”
In Hinduism, it is said:
“In the cave of the heart, that is where the divine dwells.”
In Islam (Qur’an 50:16), it states:
“God is closer to you than your jugular vein.”
Side note: I also believe there is a connection between Wisdom/Holy Spirit and our DNA. That may or may not be discussed later in this letter.
If the Truth within us is the same Truth that creates, then we must honor each moment, knowing it surrounds and fills us. We are made for more. We possess greater power than we are led to believe—the power to create. This is the power to shape our lives into the kingdom of heaven. Anything is possible when we recognize the Truth within us.
How incredible is it that the same energy that moves the universe also moves within us? Yet most people remain unaware of their true power. Be grateful for this gift, and be grateful that we share it with everything around us—because it is everything around us that shapes our kingdom of heaven.
Which leads me to my next point.
2. Gratitude
. I find that gratitude and being present often go hand in hand. I don’t think one can be truly present without gratitude, but one can be grateful without being present. The power of gratitude is one of the most profound experiences I continuously live in. As I mentioned earlier, I have found these truths most evident during my lowest moments—prevailing while living alone off the land in Utah and while being locked up in North Carolina without a release date in sight. I will share these two stories now.
UTAH
There was a time in my life when I found myself on a mountaintop in southern Utah, willingly living off the land with very few possessions. Living alone in the middle of the woods became more isolating and challenging than expected. During this time of discomfort, I had no choice but to stay present. Each day, I caught my own food, gathered firewood, and collected fresh drinking water—tasks that took far more time than one would think, especially while trapping and fishing. I had to remain fully aware and engaged with everything around me, staying present at all times.
When I first ran out of money and had to figure out ways to eat, I would walk around a large pond with a running stream, searching for old fishing wire and anything else useful for catching food. I strung together pieces of fishing wire and used rusty hooks and lures that had been snagged in trees and left behind. With this makeshift equipment, I cast out by hand—facing trial after trial, with more error than success. Attempting to catch food on an empty stomach for days was frustrating and exhausting, but I knew that crying about it wouldn’t help, and quitting wouldn’t feed me.
Then, one day, after countless failed attempts, I cast my line and actually caught a fish. The excitement and gratitude I felt were overwhelming—I was caught off guard by the sheer joy of it. You’ve never seen someone make a fire so fast. That fish, my efforts, and the moment itself filled me with an indescribable sense of gratitude. Later on, a man who often fly-fished near my camp noticed my struggle. I would ask him questions about trapping, fishing, and tanning. One day, he found and gave me a broken children’s fishing pole. I cried with gratitude. The more grateful I became for everything, the more I received.
NORTH CAROLINA
There was another time in my life when I found myself in a jail cell in Greensboro, NC, with no idea when I would be released. The first month was the hardest because I still held onto the hope of getting out quickly and being able to protect the life I had built. But there was no foreseeable release date. Each time my court date arrived, it was postponed for another month, leaving me in an agonizing state of uncertainty.
That first month, I lost my job, the house I was living in, my dog, my girlfriend, most of my possessions, my truck, and even my sentimental books and poetry I had written. It was excruciating to be locked up, powerless to control anything outside. One by one, I watched everything I had slip away.
Then, one day, after praying for help, I was granted peace and clarity. I saw my situation for what it was and found gratitude in things most people wouldn’t understand. Let me state this clearly: If you can be held against your will with no sight of freedom, stripped of your possessions and rights, and still find gratitude, then you can find gratitude anywhere.
Almost every day since then, as I step outside and take my first breath of fresh air in the morning, I am overwhelmingly grateful for the simple ability to breathe freely whenever I choose. We take so much for granted. Our car rides in traffic, our bills—things we often see as daily annoyances—all hold reasons to be grateful. It’s not hard to see if you look.
Once I gained clarity and gratitude, my entire experience changed. Even my daily demeanor became lighter and happier. When a person finds security in themselves without needing external possessions, they find true freedom. When they become grateful for life itself, they find true wealth.
These two stories may not seem significant. Maybe all you see is a broken fishing pole and smiles in jail. But it was more than that—it was what happened inside of me. It was the transformation that followed through the practice of gratitude. As you know, my life has been full of ups and downs—my lows being “really low” and my highs being merely “average” until recent years. My lowest moments took me to depths most people never reach, but my ability to rise again was solely due to my practice of gratitude.
The First Step Toward Truth: Gratitude
The first step toward true reverence for Truth—or what the Bible calls “the fear of God”—is gratitude. How could I claim to honor an omnipotent energy that flows through me and every living thing if I can’t even find joy and gratitude in what I already have? Even if all I had was the world itself—the sun, the weather, the plants and animals, the structures we’ve built, and the minds that created them—I would still have reason to be grateful.
Reverence, my friends. Being present, grateful, and in awe of the Truth around us elevates our energy and shifts our vibrations to higher levels. I cannot overstate the importance of genuine gratitude in all circumstances. In hard times, stay grateful and faithful. In good times, stay grateful and humble.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Gratitude is emphasized throughout the Bible and other ancient texts. Jesus gave thanks before every miracle—an example of how gratitude works. Gratitude and faith breathe life into the unimaginable. Buddha’s teachings often spoke of contentment as the key to happiness.
There are what I like to call “Spiritual Truths” or “spiritual axioms.” When applied, these truths connect us with our inner selves and produce good fruit. Faith, gratitude, manifestation, prayer, meditation, presence, seeking wisdom, and truth—these spiritual axioms allow us to tap into the energy flowing within and around us. They work because they reconnect us with the Truth, bringing us closer to the state of being we had before Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Our Separation from Truth Now
The stories of Adam and Eve, The Epic of Gilgamesh, the Tree of Knowledge in Zoroastrianism, and other ancient texts and mythologies (loosely based on similar themes) all teach about the disconnect between Truth and humanity.
In the biblical story of Adam and Eve, God (YHWH Elohim) created Adam from dust and Eve from Adam’s rib, and they lived in a garden east of Eden. The only rule was not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, or they would “surely die” (I find it interesting that there was no restriction on the Tree of Life or any stated consequence for eating from it).
Adam and Eve were content (as one would expect) to be living in paradise with God, but a serpent found Eve alone one day and told her, “For God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” She ate the fruit and then gave some to Adam.
Later, as God walked through the garden, He called for them. Adam finally emerged and admitted he was ashamed because he was naked. God asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” After this, Adam and Eve were clothed in skins and banished from the Garden. God then said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil… lest he reach out his hand and take also from the Tree of Life and eat and live forever—” and placed a cherubim with a flaming sword east of Eden to guard the way to the Tree of Life.
Side note: There is a lot more to unpack in that story, but I will save it for another letter.
Whether you take the story as historical or symbolic, I believe it speaks to the disconnect that exists within us. Truth is all things, as it created all things. When humanity ate from the Tree of Knowledge, we lost our natural faith, replacing it with intellectual knowledge and emotional duality rather than a state of pure contentment. This is where jealousy, greed, envy, and lust originate. Circumstances, people, and emotions now influence us in ways that make us feel disconnected from our natural state. These feelings create separation—but gratitude and presence counteract that energy, bringing us closer to oneness with Truth.
However, being present and grateful must be applied in all situations, not just when life is “going your way.” During times of tribulation and calamity, we must remain thankful and joyful. When our will is aligned with Truth, every hardship becomes a lesson, and everything ultimately works out for the best. I have practiced this principle for almost a decade, and it has brought me immense peace and prosperity. The more I see it work in my life, the stronger my faith becomes—faith that we are capable of supernatural things, faith in the power of energy, and faith in the unseen forces that shape our reality.
Practicing gratitude and presence alone is beneficial, but it pales in comparison to when these are combined with faith. Faith is another spiritual axiom that does not require belief in a deity to function. Even biblically, a lack of faith in some people could hinder faith from working in others—Jesus could not perform miracles in His hometown of Nazareth because of the people’s disbelief.
Faith is one of the most powerful forces we can wield, and how we use it is even more important. Jesus used the analogy of faith as small as a mustard seed being able to move mountains (Matthew 17:20) or uproot a mulberry tree (Luke 17:6). Other religions and philosophies also emphasize its importance. Buddhism teaches that even the smallest thought or action, when infused with faith, can lead to great transformation. In Hinduism, the Bhagavad Gita speaks of unshakable trust in divine guidance. The Islamic Quran emphasizes trust in divine will. Faith is essential for divine fruit to ripen.
Most people put their faith in a god, in themselves, or in their ambitions, desires, and abilities. But I believe that the same DNA that was present at the beginning of time—the image of Elohim (the Creator)—is the same DNA that exists within us. This means I have faith in the energy that flows through me, vibrates all around me, and ultimately shapes the life I desire.
There is a lot to unpack in those last few sentences, so before I go deeper into an explanation, let me first state that by no means do I claim to have all the answers. I am simply seeking Truth wherever it may be and sharing with you what I believe to be true and what I am searching for. With that being said, I quote Alan Watts and continue:
“You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.”
Through my own studies, I believe in the existence of multiple god-like figures and supernatural beings. Christians call them angels, cherubim, and the Holy Spirit, but I believe that Elohim, the Creator, used His own DNA along with a man-like being to create the humanity we know today. I think that, in the beginning, there were multiple creators, which is why Nephilim, giants, and cyclopes are mentioned in the Bible and found in historical accounts.
With God’s DNA as our own—our genetic code continuing and remaining throughout time—our bodies carry the history of existence and a power greater than we realize. I also believe this is what Jesus was trying to tell us: the power of God lies within us, within our energy.
At the smallest level of our being, beyond atoms, are quarks and electrons. Quarks combine through nuclear force to create protons for the nucleus of an atom, while electrons orbit the nucleus, forming structure through electrical, chemical, and bonding forces. The tiniest parts of us are pure energy—no different from the energy in the trees—yet something in our DNA sets us apart from the plants and animals of this world.
To be a child of God could very well mean to be a literal descendant of God. Why do you think manifestation, self-healing, and similar practices work for so many so-called “non-believers”? It is because the power has always been within us. What stops us is the weight of the past, the uncertainty of the future, and our inability to remain present, grateful, and in constant faith.
When you do what feels right in your soul—whether as a parent, a spouse, an employee, a boss, or in how you spend your time and treat others—you are aligned with God’s will. Everything else will fall into place, working out better than you could ever imagine, because the essence of creation flows through your very being and understands the present more deeply than we can comprehend.
Consider this in the way Christians view “praying in tongues” (which differs from the “gift of tongues”). Many Christians believe that when they pray in tongues, they speak a divinely inspired language of unknown sounds and words—spoken through them by God. Since God knows their needs better than they do, He speaks through them to Himself in a language only He understands, allowing them to pray in alignment with His will.
This same principle applies to the belief that the “likeness” or “image” of God is within us and always has been. When we recognize that we carry the power of being literal children of God, our lives begin to reflect the “kingdom of Heaven.” As Jesus said in Luke, “Behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
The energy we put out—because of what we are made of—shapes our lives, heals our sicknesses, and creates miracles.
• Faith (what we believe, think, say, act upon, and expect) is that energy.
• Being present and grateful directs and aligns that energy.
• God is in our DNA.
“Doubt is a question mark; faith is an exclamation point. The most interesting things in life are behind the question mark.” — Osho
In conclusion, I believe that while the Bible and other scriptures contain valuable knowledge, they have been tampered with and altered, misleading people from the full truth. I believe much of it is true, but the core message has been distorted. In Matthew, it says, “… Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Christianity makes up 31% of the world’s population, making it the largest religion. But if the gate is narrow, how can that be? My truth is bigger than any book—it flows through my body. When I am present, grateful, and faithful, my life aligns in divine ways.
Side note: Dr. Joe Dispenza’s book Becoming Supernatural presents scientific research and studies demonstrating how energy and vibrations attract and heal in profound ways through presence, gratitude, and faith. If you’re interested, I encourage you to look into it further.
I didn’t write this letter to claim that I have life figured out. I wrote it to share what I stand on and where my heart is. Practicing these principles not only brings success in life but also strengthens my character—cultivating positivity, patience, kindness, discipline, respect, humility, and so many other values that guide my path.
I hope this letter speaks to you and that you find peace in what I’ve shared.
Sincerely, Gordon Curry