The ancient fables read by generation after generation could be described as metaphors pointing to profound truths or wisdom. Instead of the teacher attempting to instruct the pupil using long, abstract explanations, a fable metaphorically illustrates the as yet hidden knowledge and brings it to life, so that the hearer can more easily make it his own. And instead of the pupil becoming bored or distracted by unfamiliar words and concepts, a clear picture comes to life and becomes instantly comprehensible. Lessons that would otherwise require an entire lifetime to experience and absorb can be quickly grasped in mental pictures constructed through the use of metaphor.

Many great teachers, most notably in the parables attributed to Jesus, have used metaphors throughout history. One example is the story of the prodigal son, who leaves home to wander the world, and who returns wiser than he was before, after having learned much through years of struggle and hardship. Upon his return to home he is welcomed by his father and treated lavishly, receiving even more benefits and recognition than another son who had remained behind.

In our own time, many young people leave home and family to travel the globe to discover and experience. They may feel a strong connection to this parable because it resonates with their own life story. Those who venture to live far from home ultimately profit from their experiences, both the good and the bad. A lesson to be learned from their experiences is that no one can lead a sheltered life and fully mature as a human being until he leaves home and “internalizes” many hard-learned lessons on his own. It is perhaps this simple lesson that gives the story its lasting relevance and value.

However, looking deeper, we can find another parallel reality behind this story. We learn in The Grail Message of Abd-ru-shin that human beings originate on the spiritual sphere or plane of creation, but leave it to descend into distant worlds where they can experience things that attract them here ‘down below’. Only after their wanderings through the world can they develop up to that point when they have awakened their abilities, mature, and become able to return home. The author of the Grail Message explains how it is only through experiencing life in the material world that we can do this. Human beings remain in the world of matter until such time as they no longer need it, when they have become wise enough to desire only to fulfill the will of the Creator who allowed them to come into existence. Only then can they return home, capable of fulfilling their destiny and the purpose of their existence.

Why are metaphors able to open the door of human consciousness so simply and so effectively? The key to this can also be found in the Grail Message. We learn that the natural laws controlling all the happenings in our world are the same laws controlling activity on all other spheres or planes of Creation. There is one and only one way that things can work everywhere, because everything issued from the same source. When we eventually understand the creative laws governing how things work down here, we will also know at the same time how everything works ‘up there’. There is a definite “parallel”, or an equivalent mechanism at work in the other planes or spheres. Parallels exist between what we call nature, i.e., earthly activity not directly related to human beings, and the activity in the highest heavens. Not surprisingly, the earth, in a sense, is an approximate metaphor for the beyond.

We can find many metaphors or parallels between life’s events in this world and the next, and earthly experiencing tells us what we need to do to successfully navigate the planes or spheres lying ahead of us on our path homeward. The parallels between the lawful activity here and in the beyond provide the enormous value of metaphors in the great fables, parables, and all around us, for “those who have ears to hear”. The story of the prodigal son, therefore, is the story of everyman.

Paul Bertram

* READERS COMMENTS: Write us to comment on this article at Readers Comments! We are pleased to learn more about the views of our web readers. And let us know if you have important questions on the important life issues. Our editors will endeavour to provide sensible answers.