THE KYBALION/PART 15
CHAPTER XV
HERMETIC AXIOMS
"The
possession of Knowledge, unless accompanied by a manifestation and expression
in Action, is like the hoarding of precious metals-a vain and foolish thing.
Knowledge, like wealth, is intended for Use. The Law of Use is Universal, and
he who violates it suffers by reason of his conflict with natural
forces."—The Kybalion.
The
Hermetic Teachings, while always having been kept securely locked up in the
minds of the fortunate possessors thereof, for reasons which we have already
stated, were never intended to be merely stored away and secreted. The Law of
Use is dwelt upon in the Teachings, as you may see by reference to the above
quotation from The Kybalion, which states it forcibly. Knowledge without Use
and Expression is a vain thing, bringing no good to its possessor, or to the
race. Beware of Mental Miserliness, and express into Action that which you have
learned. Study the Axioms and Aphorisms, but practice them also.
We
give below some of the more important Hermetic Axioms, from TheKybalion, with a
few comments added to each. Make these your own, andpractice and use them, for
they are not really your own until you have Used them.
"To
change your mood or mental state—change your vibration."—The
Kybalion.
One
may change his mental vibrations by an effort of Will, in the direction of
deliberately fixing the Attention upon a more desirable state. Will directs the
Attention, and Attention changes the Vibration. Cultivate the Art of Attention,
by means of the Will, and you have solved the secret of the Mastery of Moods
and Mental States.
"To
destroy an undesirable rate of mental vibration, put into operation the
principle of Polarity and concentrate upon the opposite pole to that which you
desire to suppress. Kill out the undesirable by changing its
polarity."—The Kybalion.
This
is one of the most important of the Hermetic Formulas. It is based upon true
scientific principles. We have shown you that a mental state and its opposite
were merely the two poles of one thing, and that by Mental Transmutation the
polarity might be reversed. This Principle is known to modern psychologists,
who apply it to the breaking up of undesirable habits by bidding their students
concentrate upon the opposite quality. If you are possessed of Fear, do not
waste time trying to "kill out" Fear, but instead cultivate the
quality of Courage, and the Fear will disappear. Some writers have expressed
this idea most forcibly by using the illustration of the dark room. You do not
have to shovel out or sweep out the Darkness, but by merely opening the
shutters and letting in the Light the Darkness has disappeared. To kill out a
Negative quality, concentrate upon the Positive Pole of that same quality, and
the vibrations will gradually change from Negative to Positive, until finally
you will become polarized on the Positive pole instead of the Negative. The
reverse is also true, as many have found out to their sorrow, when they have
allowed themselves to vibrate too constantly on the Negative pole of things. By
changing your polarity you may master your moods, change your mental states,
remake your disposition, and build up character. Much of the Mental Mastery of
the advanced Hermetics is due to this application of Polarity, which is one of
the important aspects of Mental Transmutation. Remember the Hermetic Axiom
(quoted previously), which says:
"Mind
(as well as metals and elements) may be transmuted from state to state; degree
to degree, condition to condition; pole to pole; vibration to
vibration."—The Kybalion.
The
mastery of Polarization is the mastery of the fundamental principles of Mental
Transmutation or Mental Alchemy, for unless one acquires the art of changing
his own polarity, he will be unable to affect his environment. An understanding
of this principle will enable one to change his own Polarity, as well as that
of others, if he will but devote the time, care, study and practice necessary
to master the art. The principle is true, but the results obtained depend upon
the persistent patience and practice of the student.
"Rhythm
may be neutralized by an application of the Art of Polarization."—The
Kybalion.
As
we have explained in previous chapters, the Hermetists hold that the Principle
of Rhythm manifests on the Mental Plane as well as on the Physical Plane, and
that the bewildering succession of moods, feelings, emotions, and other mental
states, are due to the backward and forward swing of the mental pendulum, which
carries us from one extreme of feeling to the other. The Hermetists also teach
that the Law of Neutralization enables one, to a great extent, to overcome the
operation of Rhythm in consciousness. As we have explained, there is a Higher
Plane of Consciousness, as well as the ordinary Lower Plane, and the Master by
rising mentally to the Higher Plane causes the swing of the mental pendulum to
manifest on the Lower Plane, and he, dwelling on his Higher Plane, escapes the
consciousness of the swing backward. This is effected by polarizing on the
Higher Self, and thus raising the mental vibrations of the Ego above those of
the ordinary plane of consciousness. It is akin to rising above a thing and allowing
it to pass beneath you. The advanced Hermetist polarizes himself at the
Positive Pole of his Being-the "I Am" pole rather than the pole of
personality and by "refusing" and "denying" the operation
of Rhythm, raises himself above its plane of consciousness, and standing firm
in his Statement of Being he allows the pendulum to swing back on the Lower
Plane without changing his Polarity. This is accomplished by all individuals
who have attained any degree of self-mastery, whether they understand the law
or not. Such persons simply "refuse" to allow themselves to be swung
back by the pendulum of mood and emotion, and by steadfastly affirming the
superiority they remain polarized on the Positive pole. The Master, of course,
attains a far greater degree of proficiency, because he understands the law
which he is overcoming by a higher law, and by the use of his Will he attains a
degree of Poise and Mental Steadfastness almost impossible of belief on the
part of those who allow themselves to be swung backward and forward by the
mental pendulum of moods and feelings.
Remember
always, however, that you do not really destroy the Principle of Rhythm, for
that is indestructible. You simply overcome one law by counter-balancing it
with another and thus maintain an equilibrium. The laws of balance and
counter-balance are in operation on the mental as well as on the physical
planes, and an understanding of these laws enables one to seem to overthrow
laws, whereas he is merely exerting a counterbalance.
"Nothing
escapes the Principle of Cause and Effect, but there are many Planes of
Causation, and one may use the laws of the higher to overcome the laws of the
lower."—The Kybalion.
By
an understanding of the practice of Polarization, the Hermetists rise to a
higher plane of Causation and thus counter-balance the laws of the lower planes
of Causation. By rising above the plane of ordinary Causes they become
themselves, in a degree, Causes instead of being merely Caused. By being able
to master their own moods and feelings, and by being able to neutralize Rhythm,
as we have already explained, they are able to escape a great part of the
operations of Cause and Effect on the ordinary plane. The masses of people are
carried along, obedient to their environment; the wills and desires of others
stronger than themselves; the effects of inherited tendencies; the suggestions
of those about them; and other outward causes; which tend to move them about on
the chess-board of life like mere pawns. By rising above these influencing
causes, the advanced Hermetists seek a higher plane of mental action, and by
dominating their moods, emotions, impulses and feelings, they create for
themselves new characters, qualities and powers, by which they overcome their
ordinary environment, and thus become practically players instead of mere
Pawns. Such people help to play the game of life understandingly, instead of
being moved about this way and that way by stronger influences and powers and
wills. They use the Principle of Cause and Effect, instead of being used by it.
Of course, even the highest are subject to the Principle as it manifests on the
higher planes, but on the lower planes of activity, they are Masters instead of
Slaves. As The Kybalion says:
"The
wise ones serve on the higher, but rule on the lower. They obey the laws coming
from above them, But on their own plane, and those below them they rule and
give orders. And, yet, in so doing, they form a part of the Principle, instead
of opposing it. The wise man falls in with the Law, and by understanding its
movements he operates it instead of being its blind slave. Just as does the
skilled swimmer turn this way and that way, going and coming as he will,
instead of being as the log which is carried here and there—so is the wise man
as compared to the ordinary man—and yet both swimmer and log; wise man and
fool, are subject to Law. He who understands this is well on the road to
Mastery."—The Kybalion.
In
conclusion let us again call your attention to the Hermetic Axiom:
"True
Hermetic Transmutation is a Mental Art."—The Kybalion.
In
the above axiom, the Hermetists teach that the great work of influencing one's
environment is accomplished by Mental Power. The Universe being wholly mental,
it follows that it may be ruled only by Mentality. And in this truth is to be
found an explanation of all the phenomena and manifestations of the various
mental powers which are attracting so much attention and study in these earlier
years of the Twentieth Century. Back of and under the teachings of the various
cults and schools, remains ever constant the Principle of the Mental Substance
of the Universe. If the Universe be Mental in its substantial nature, then it
follows that Mental Transmutation must change the conditions and phenomena of
the Universe. If the Universe is Mental, then Mind must be the highest power
affecting its phenomena. If this be understood then all the so-called
"miracles" and "wonder-workings" are seen plainly for what
they are.
"THE
ALL is MIND; The Universe is Mental."—The Kybalion.
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