1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When Gods created man, they made him in the likeness of Gods.
The name Adam means "red," "ruddy," "firm." Adam is the first man of the human race according to the Bible. Metaphysically Adam represents the first movement in the evolution of the man idea in its contact with life and substance. Adam also represents generic man; that is, the whole human race epitomized in the typical individual-man idea. Adam in his original state was a spiritually illumined Creation. Spirit breathed into him continually the necessary inspiration and knowledge to give him superior understanding. But he began "eating" or appropriating thoughts of two powers: God and not-God, Good and Evil. (The first perception of Duality) The result, so the allegory runs, was that he fell away from spiritual life and all that it involves.
2 Male and Female, they created them, and they blessed them and named them Man when they were created.
Man is Spirit, absolute and unconditioned; but man forms a Spiritual Consciousness into which he breathes the Breath of Life; this, in its perfect expression, is the Son of Man, the expression of the divine idea. This Adam is all of what we term Soul, Intellect, and Body. We are continually at work with this Adam; we can breathe into his nostrils the Breath of Life, inspiring him with the idea of Life in all its unlimited fullness. We can lift up this Adam by infusing into him this sublime idea, and in no other way.
3 When Adam had lived a hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
Again, The name Seth means "substituted," "settled," "compensated." Seth represents the root idea of surrounding sympathetic forces.
4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters.
There are many paths that come from seeking enlightenment. These are symbolized by the many sons and daughters of Adam.
5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.
6 When Seth had lived a hundred and five years, he became the father of Enosh.
The name Enosh means "transient man," "mortal man." Enosh represents the outer or materialistic consciousness in its limited, material, corruptible concept of the Self.
7 Seth lived after the birth of Enosh eight hundred and seven years, and had other sons and daughters.
The root idea represented by Seth produces sympathetic forces in consciousness. These forces are symbolized by the other sons and daughters of Seth.
8 Thus all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died.
9 When Enosh had lived ninety years, he became the father of Kenan.
The name Kenan means "self-centered one," "possession invading space." Kenan denotes the seemingly established materiality of consciousness and Self.
10 Enosh lived after the birth of Kenan eight hundred and fifteen years, and had other sons and daughters.
Acknowledging mortality can produce other paths of living. These are symbolized by the other sons and daughters of Enosh.
11 Thus all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he died.
12 When Kenan had lived seventy years, he became the father of Ma-hal'alel.
The name Mahalalel means "mighty rising," "glory of brightness," "praise of God." Metaphysically, Mahalalel denotes that in man which praises and blesses and glorifies God, the good.
13 Kenan lived after the birth of Ma-hal'alel eight hundred and forty years, and had other sons and daughters.
Living in a state of sorrow produces other paths. These paths are symbolized by the sons and daughters of Kenan.
14 Thus all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died.
15 When Ma-hal'alel had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Jared.
The name Jared means "descending," "low country." Metaphysically, Jared denotes the Descent of Spirit through praise and acknowledgment of God (Mahalalel, father of Jared), into the seemingly earthly or physical in man ("low ground") in order to lift man wholly into Spiritual Consciousness (Enoch, son of Jared).
16 Ma-hal'alel lived after the birth of Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and had other sons and daughters.
Acknowledging God leads to many other paths as well. These paths are symbolized by the other sons and daughters of Mahalalel.
17 Thus all the days of Ma-hal'alel were eight hundred and ninety-five years; and he died.
18 When Jared had lived a hundred and sixty-two years he became the father of Enoch.
Acknowledging God produces dedication to him. The name Enoch means "founder," "instructor," "repentance." Enoch represents entrance into and instruction in the new Spiritual Life.
19 Jared lived after the birth of Enoch eight hundred years, and had other sons and daughters.
This Descent of Spiritual Consciousness also produces other paths that may be taken. These paths are symbolized by the other sons and daughters of Jared.
20 Thus all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died.
21 When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methu'selah.
The name Methuselah means "man of the sword," "sting of death." Methuselah has the record of having lived in the earthly body longer than any other man. Metaphysically, Methuselah denotes a quick, piercing thought or word ("sword," "dart") of life, power, and oneness with God, which while it causes a renewal of youth to a degree and serves to lengthen one's life in the body, does not become abiding enough in the consciousness at the Methuselah stage of man's spiritual development to put away the appearance of death entirely.
22 Enoch walked with the Gods after the birth of Methu'selah three hundred years, and had other sons and daughters.
Dedicated prayer leads to enlightenment. It also leads to many other paths. These paths are symbolized by Enoch’s other sons and daughters.
23 Thus all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
24 Enoch walked with the Gods; and he was no more, for the Gods took him.
The result of living a life of dedicated prayer to the forces from which you were created is that you experience a profound change in consciousness. The Ego is transmuted to the point that there is no Self, but God. This is what is being talked about here.
25 When Methu'selah had lived a hundred and eighty-seven years, he became the father of Lamech.
The name Lamech means "strong young man," "health," "power." Metaphysically, Lamech represents the strength of youth, the vital something in us that overcomes thoughts and tendencies leading to dissolution. The vital life principle constantly inspires us from within to keep on living. This thought of youth was in Lamech, the father of Noah, and it found expression in Noah. The strength and youth symbolized by the Lamech descended from Adam through Cain is carnal and physical. The Lamech descended from Adam through Seth, which God sent to replace Abel, represents a higher, a more spiritual understanding.
Lamech signifies the principle of life, which not only tends to keep one alive in the body but also brings about the building of a new body and re-entrance into manifest existence for each one who lets go of his consciousness of life in the body for a time.
26 Methu'selah lived after the birth of Lamech seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had other sons and daughters.
Understanding the changes that will occur after death can lead to many other paths. These paths are symbolized by the other sons and daughters of Methuselah.
27 Thus all the days of Methu'selah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.
28 When Lamech had lived a hundred and eighty-two years, he became the father of a son,
29 and called his name Noah, saying, "Out of the ground which YHVH has cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the toil of our hands."
The name Noah means "rest," "calm," "peace." Noah was the son of Lamech, the "strong young man." It is in the strength of our youth that we idealize the material and attach our spiritual enthusiasm to the things of sense. But the law of reaction sets in: Noah (rest) finds "favor in the eyes of YHVH." If in the strength of your youth you have indulged in the things of sense, the law of spiritual equilibrium (YHVH) is now working itself out in a "rest" and you may have bodily ills. Thus your race of wicked thoughts is drowned and your earth cleansed. Noah can also denote the obedience through which seed for a new state of consciousness is saved. Again Noah represents the consciousness at rest in God.
30 Lamech lived after the birth of Noah five hundred and ninety-five years, and had other sons and daughters.
Spiritual Power produces many other paths as possibilities and these are symbolized by the other sons and daughters of the Lamech of the line of Seth.
31 Thus all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died.
32 After Noah was five hundred years old, Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
The sons of Noah represent typical states of mind. Shem ("renowned") represents the spiritual; Ham ("warm") represents the physical mind, and Japheth ("extended") represents the intellect or reason.