THE KYBALION/ PART 1
CHAPTER I
THE HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY
"The
lips of wisdom are closed, except to the ears of Understanding"—The
Kybalion.
From
old Egypt have come the fundamental esoteric and occult teachings which have so
strongly influenced the philosophies of all races, nations and peoples, for
several thousand years. Egypt, the home of the Pyramids and the Sphinx, was the
birthplace of the Hidden Wisdom and Mystic Teachings. From her Secret Doctrine
all nations have borrowed. India, Persia, Chaldea, Medea, China, Japan,
Assyria, ancient Greece and Rome, and other ancient countries partook liberally
at the feast of knowledge which the Hierophants and Masters of the Land of Isis
so freely provided for those who came prepared to partake of the great store of
Mystic and Occult Lore which the masterminds of that ancient land had gathered
together.
In
ancient Egypt dwelt the great Adepts and Masters who have never been surpassed,
and who seldom have been equaled, during the centuries that have taken their
processional flight since the days of the Great Hermes. In Egypt was located
the Great Lodge of Lodges of the Mystics. At the doors of her Temples entered
the Neophytes who afterward, as Hierophants, Adepts, and Masters, traveled to
the four corners of the earth, carrying with them the precious knowledge which
they were ready, anxious, and willing to pass on to those who were ready to
receive the same. All students of the Occult recognize the debt that they owe
to these venerable Masters of that ancient land.
But
among these great Masters of Ancient Egypt there once dwelt one of whom Masters
hailed as "The Master of Masters." This man, if "man" indeed
he was, dwelt in Egypt in the earliest days. He was known as Hermes
Trismegistus. He was the father of the Occult Wisdom; the founder of Astrology;
the discoverer of Alchemy. The details of his life story are lost to history,
owing to the lapse of the years, though several of the ancient countries
disputed with each other in their claims to the honor of having furnished his
birthplace—and this thousands of years ago. The date of his sojourn in Egypt,
in that his last incarnation on this planet, is not now known, but it has been
fixed at the early days of the oldest dynasties of Egypt—long before the days
of Moses. The best authorities regard him as a contemporary of Abraham, and
some of the Jewish traditions go so far as to claim that Abraham acquired a
portion of his mystic knowledge from Hermes himself.
As
the years rolled by after his passing from this plane of life (tradition
recording that he lived three hundred years in the flesh), the Egyptians
deified Hermes, and made him one of their gods, under the name of Thoth. Years
after, the people of Ancient Greece also made him one of their many
gods—calling him "Hermes, the god of Wisdom." The Egyptians revered
his memory for many centuries-yes, tens of centuries— calling him "the
Scribe of the Gods," and bestowing upon him, distinctively, his ancient
title, "Trismegistus," which means "the thrice-great";
"the great-great"; "the greatest-great"; etc. In all the
ancient lands, the name of Hermes Trismegistus was revered, the name being
synonymous with the "Fount of Wisdom."
Even
to this day, we use the term "hermetic" in the sense of
"secret"; "sealed so that nothing can escape"; etc., and
this by reason of the fact that the followers of Hermes always observed the
principle of secrecy in their teachings. They did not believe in "casting
pearls before swine," but rather held to the teaching "milk for
babes"; "meat for strong men," both of which maxims are familiar
to readers of the Christian scriptures, but both of which had been used by the
Egyptians for centuries before the Christian era.
And
this policy of careful dissemination of the truth has always characterized the
Hermetics, even unto the present day. The Hermetic Teachings are to be found in
all lands, among all religions, but never identified with any particular
country, nor with any particular religious sect. This because of the warning of
the ancient teachers against allowing the Secret Doctrine to become
crystallized into a creed. The wisdom of this caution is apparent to all
students of history. The ancient occultism of India and Persia degenerated, and
was largely lost, owing to the fact that the teachers became priests, and so
mixed theology with the philosophy, the result being that the occultism of
India and Persia has been gradually lost amidst the mass of religious
superstition, cults, creeds and "gods." So it was with Ancient Greece
and Rome. So it was with the Hermetic Teachings of the Gnostics and Early
Christians, which were lost at the time of Constantine, whose iron hand smothered
philosophy with the blanket of theology, losing to the Christian Church that
which was its very essence and spirit, and causing it to grope throughout
several centuries before it found the way back to its ancient faith, the
indications apparent to all careful observers in this Twentieth Century being
that the Church is now struggling to get back to its ancient mystic teachings.
But
there were always a few faithful souls who kept alive the Flame, tending it
carefully, and not allowing its light to become extinguished. And thanks to
these staunch hearts, and fearless minds, we have the truth still with us. But
it is not found in books, to any great extent. It has been passed along from
Master to Student; from Initiate to Hierophant; from lip to ear. When it was written
down at all, its meaning was veiled in terms of alchemy and astrology so that
only those possessing the key could read it aright. This was made necessary in
order to avoid the persecutions of the theologians of the Middle Ages, who
fought the Secret Doctrine with fire and sword; stake, gibbet and cross. Even
to this day there will be found but few reliable books on the Hermetic
Philosophy, although there are countless references to it in many books written
on various phases of Occultism. And yet, the Hermetic Philosophy is the only
Master Key which will open all the doors of the Occult Teachings!
In
the early days, there was a compilation of certain Basic Hermetic Doctrines,
passed on from teacher to student, which was known as "THE KYBALION,"
the exact significance and meaning of the term having been lost for several
centuries. This teaching, however, is known to many to whom it has descended,
from mouth to ear, on and on throughout the centuries. Its precepts have never
been written down, or printed, so far as we know. It was merely a collection of
maxims, axioms, and precepts, which were non-understandable to outsiders, but
which were readily understood by students, after the axioms, maxims, and
precepts had been explained and exemplified by the Hermetic Initiates to their
Neophytes. These teachings really constituted the basic principles of "The
Art of Hermetic Alchemy," which, contrary to the general belief, dealt in
the mastery of Mental Forces, rather than Material Elements-the Transmutation
of one kind of Mental Vibrations into others, instead of the changing of one
kind of metal into another. The legends of the "Philosopher's Stone"
which would turn base metal into Gold, was an allegory relating to Hermetic
Philosophy, readily understood by all students of true Hermeticism.
In
this little book, of which this is the First Lesson, we invite our students to
examine into the Hermetic Teachings, as set forth in THE KYBALION, and as
explained by ourselves, humble students of the Teachings, who, while bearing
the title of Initiates, are still students at the feet of HERMES, the Master.
We herein give you many of the maxims, axioms and precepts of THE KYBALION,
accompanied by explanations and illustrations which we deem likely to render
the teachings more easily comprehended by the modern student, particularly as
the original text is purposely veiled in obscure terms.
The
original maxims, axioms, and precepts of THE KYBALION are printed herein, in
italics, the proper credit being given. Our own work is printed in the regular
way, in the body of the work. We trust that the many students to whom we now
offer this little work will derive as much benefit from the study of its pages
as have the many who have gone on before, treading the same Path to Mastery throughout
the centuries that have passed since the times of HERMES TRISMEGISTUS—the
Master of Masters—the Great-Great. In the words of "THE KYBALION":
"Where
fall the footsteps of the Master, the ears of those
ready for his Teaching open wide."—The Kybalion.
"When
the ears of the student are ready to hear, then cometh
the lips to fill them with Wisdom."—The Kybalion.
So
that according to the Teachings, the passage of this book to those ready for
the instruction will attract the attention of such as are prepared to receive
the Teaching. And, likewise, when the pupil is ready to receive the truth, then
will this little book come to him, or her. Such is The Law. The Hermetic
Principle of Cause and Effect, in its aspect of The Law of Attraction, will
bring lips and ear together—pupil and book in company. So mote it be!
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