Letter # 37: “Hope Lurks In Pandora's Box".

The religions of ancient Greece are now relegated to the recycle bin but they contain timeless wisdom. Let's examine the wisdom in the story of Pandora. In my line of work, I have often heard people use the phrase: “Let’s not open Pandora’s box.” Who was Pandora anyway? Feminists might find the story offensive but it is hope inspiring. Hesiod wrote that Pandora was beautiful, and wore a silver robe, an embroidered veil and a gold crown. Pandora inspired wonder in mortals and gods but she was made to torment the race of men. Zeus the God of the gods, had ordered it so. He ordained the creation of Pandora, the first woman, in an angry reprisal against Prometheus who had given men the boon of fire. Zeus stipulated that Pandora be beautiful but also deceitful, and even worse, she was to carry a jar (box) that contained "burdensome toil and sickness that brings death to men" [Wikipedia]. Prometheus fearing more reprisals from Zeus, warned his brother Epimetheus not to accept any gifts from Zeus. When Zeus offered Pandora to Epimetheus, he went against his brother’s advice. Epimetheus accepted Pandora. Pandora promptly opened her jar and released the evils it contained. As a result, the story tells us, "the earth and sea are full of evils". However, she closed the jar quickly such that one item, however, did not escape, “elpis”, or hope.
Theogonis of the the (600 BCE) wrote:
Hope is the only good god remaining among mankind; the others have left and gone to Olympus.Trust, a mighty god has gone, Restraint has gone from men,and the Graces my friend, have abandoned the earth.Men’s judicial oaths are no longer to be trusted, nor does anyone revere the immortal gods; the race of pious men has perished andmen no longer recognize the rules of conduct or acts of piety.
It doesn’t sound very good, does it? All of us will have our own Pandora’s boxes but remember that hope still lurks in there.


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
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“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
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References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.