My Neville GoddardNeville Goddard on Mark 11:13
Executive Summary
Neville Goddard interprets the biblical story of Jesus and the fig tree not as a literal, historical event, but as a psychological drama occurring within the human mind. The tree is not an external object in the world but a powerful symbol for one's own consciousness or "I AMness." The act of cursing the tree is an internal action taken against a habitual, unproductive state of mind.
Key Concepts
- The fig tree is not a physical tree but a symbol for your own consciousness.
- Your "I AMness" is the great tree.
- "Blasting" or cursing the tree is an internal act directed at a state of consciousness.
- The barren tree represents a habitual state of mind that suggests emptiness and fails to produce the desired outcome.
Detailed Explanation
In Neville Goddard's teaching, the story of the fig tree is an allegory for managing one's own consciousness. The character of Jesus, who is "hungry," represents the human desire for a new experience or state of being. The fig tree symbolizes your own consciousness, your fundamental sense of being or "I AMness."
When Jesus approaches the tree and finds "nothing but leaves," it represents the recognition of an unproductive state of mind. This is a habitual state of consciousness that, while appearing to have potential (leaves), ultimately bears no fruit (the fulfilled desire). It is a state that perpetuates emptiness. The story is not about a specific season for figs; it is about a state of consciousness that is barren.
The act of cursing the tree—saying "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever"—is the internal act of turning away from and denying this unproductive state. It is a decisive inner command to destroy a limiting habit of thought from its very foundation. The subsequent discovery that the tree has "dried up from the roots" illustrates the effect of this inner action: the old, unwanted state of consciousness is completely eliminated from one's being.
Important Quotes
What tree am I blasting? Not a tree on the outside. It is my own consciousness.
— Remain Faithful To Your Idea
My consciousness, my I AMness is the great tree, and habit once more suggests emptiness, it
— Remain Faithful To Your Idea
Common Misunderstandings
The primary misunderstanding is to interpret this story literally, as an event involving a physical tree. Neville's teaching clarifies that the entire scene is a psychological allegory. The tree is not external but is your very own consciousness, and the action taken against it is an internal one.
Practical Applications
The practical application of this teaching is to engage in mental housekeeping. You must identify the habitual states of consciousness within you that consistently fail to produce the results you desire—these are your barren fig trees. The method is to internally "curse" or turn away from these unproductive states with finality, withdrawing your attention and belief from them so they wither and die from your consciousness, making way for more fruitful states.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the fig tree represent in Neville Goddard's interpretation of Mark 11:13?
The fig tree represents your own consciousness, your fundamental sense of being, or your "I AMness."
According to Neville, was Jesus cursing a literal tree?
No. The story is interpreted as a psychological drama. The act of cursing the tree is an internal action against a habitual, unproductive state of mind.
What does it mean for the tree to have 'nothing but leaves'?
This symbolizes a state of consciousness that suggests potential but is ultimately empty and fails to produce the desired reality or 'fruit'.
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