THE KYBALION/PART 4
CHAPTER IV
THE ALL
"Under,
and back of, the Universe of Time, Space and Change,
is ever to be found The Substantial Reality—the
Fundamental
Truth."—The Kybalion.
"Substance"
means: "that which underlies all outward manifestations; the essence; the
essential reality; the thing in itself," etc. "Substantial"
means: "actually existing; being the essential element; being real,"
etc. "Reality" means: "the state of being real; true, enduring;
valid; fixed; permanent; actual," etc.
Under
and behind all outward appearances or manifestations, there must always be a
Substantial Reality. This is the Law. Man considering the Universe, of which he
is a unit, sees nothing but change in matter, forces, and mental states. He
sees that nothing really IS, but that everything is BECOMING and CHANGING.
Nothing stands still-everything is being born, growing, dying-the very instant
a thing reaches its height, it begins to decline—the law of rhythm is in
constant operation—there is no reality, enduring quality, fixity, or
substantiality in anything— nothing is permanent but Change. He sees all things
evolving from other things, and resolving into other things—constant action and
reaction; inflow and outflow; building up and tearing down; creation and
destruction; birth, growth and death. Nothing endures but Change. And if he be
a thinking man, he realizes that all of these changing things must be but
outward appearances or manifestations of some Underlying Power—some Substantial
Reality.
All
thinkers, in all lands and in all times, have assumed the necessity for
postulating the existence of this Substantial Reality. All philosophies worthy
of the name have been based upon this thought. Men have given to this
Substantial Reality many names-some have called it by the term of Deity (under
many titles). Others have called it "The Infinite and Eternal Energy"
others have tried to call it "Matter"—but all have acknowledged its
existence. It is self-evident it needs no argument.
In
these lessons we have followed the example of some of the world's greatest
thinkers, both ancient and modern—the Hermetic. Masters—and have called this
Underlying Power—this Substantial Reality—by the Hermetic name of "THE
ALL," which term we consider the most comprehensive of the many terms
applied by Man to THAT which transcends names and terms.
We
accept and teach the view of the great Hermetic thinkers of all times, as well
as of those illumined souls who have reached higher planes of being, both of
whom assert that the inner nature of THE ALL is UNKNOWABLE. This must be so,
for naught by THE ALL itself can comprehend its own nature and being.
The
Hermetists believe and teach that THE ALL, "in itself," is and must
ever be UNKNOWABLE. They regard all the theories, guesses and speculations of
the theologians and metaphysicians regarding the inner nature of THE ALL, as
but the childish efforts of mortal minds to grasp the secret of the Infinite.
Such efforts have always failed and will always fail, from the very nature of
the task. One pursuing such inquiries travels around and around in the
labyrinth of thought, until he is lost to all sane reasoning, action or
conduct, and is utterly unfitted for the work of life. He is like the squirrel
which frantically runs around and around the circling treadmill wheel of his
cage, traveling ever and yet reaching nowhere—at the end a prisoner still, and
standing just where he started.
And
still more presumptuous are those who attempt to ascribe to THE ALL the
personality, qualities, properties, characteristics and attributes of
themselves, ascribing to THE ALL the human emotions, feelings, and
characteristics, even down to the pettiest qualities of mankind, such as
jealousy, susceptibility to flattery and praise, desire for offerings and
worship, and all the other survivals from the days of the childhood of the
race. Such ideas are not worthy of grown men and women, and are rapidly being
discarded.
(At
this point, it may be proper for me to state that we make a distinction between
Religion and Theology—between Philosophy and Metaphysics. Religion, to us,
means that intuitional realization of the existence of THE ALL, and one's
relationship to it; while Theology means the attempts of men to ascribe
personality, qualities, and characteristics to it; their theories regarding its
affairs, will, desires, plans, and designs, and their assumption of the office
of '' middle-men'' between THE ALL and the people. Philosophy, to us, means the
inquiry after knowledge of things knowable and thinkable; while Metaphysics
means the attempt to carry the inquiry over and beyond the boundaries and into
regions unknowable and unthinkable, and with the same tendency as that of
Theology. And consequently, both Religion and Philosophy mean to us things
having roots in Reality, while Theology and Metaphysics seem like broken reeds,
rooted in the quicksands of ignorance, and affording naught but the most
insecure support for the mind or soul of Man. we do not insist upon our
students accepting these definitions—we mention them merely to show our
position. At any rate, you shall hear very little about Theology and
Metaphysics in these lessons.)
But
while the essential nature of THE ALL is Unknowable, there are certain truths
connected with its existence which the human mind finds itself compelled to
accept. And an examination of these reports form a proper subject of inquiry,
particularly as they agree with the reports of the Illumined on higher planes.
And to this inquiry we now invite you.
"THAT
which is the Fundamental Truth—the Substantial
Reality—is beyond true naming, but the Wise Men call
it THE ALL."—The Kybalion.
"In
its Essence, THE ALL is UNKNOWABLE."—The Kybalion.
"But,
the report of Reason must be hospitably received, and treated with
respect."—The Kybalion.
The
human reason, whose reports we must accept so long as we think at all, informs
us as follows regarding THE ALL, and that without attempting to remove the veil
of the Unknowable:
(1)
THE ALL must be ALL that REALLY IS. There can be nothing existing outside of
THE ALL, else THE ALL would not be THE ALL.
(2)
THE ALL must be INFINITE, for there is nothing else to define, confine, bound,
limit; or restrict THE ALL. It must be Infinite in Time, or ETERNAL,—it must
have always continuously existed, for there is nothing else to have ever
created it, and something can never evolve from nothing, and if it had ever "not
been," even for a moment, it would not "be" now,—it must
continuously exist forever, for there is nothing to destroy it, and it can
never "not-be," even for a moment, because something can never become
nothing. It must be Infinite in Space—it must be Everywhere, for there is no
place outside of THE ALL—it cannot be otherwise than continuous in Space,
without break, cessation, separation, or interruption, for there is nothing to
break, separate, or interrupt its continuity, and nothing with which to "fill
in the gaps." It must be Infinite in Power, or Absolute, for there is
nothing to limit, restrict, restrain, confine, disturb or condition it—it is
subject to no other Power, for there is no other Power.
(3)
THE ALL must be IMMUTABLE, or not subject to change in its real nature, for
there is nothing to work changes upon it nothing into which it could change,
nor from which it could have changed. It cannot be added to nor subtracted
from; increased nor diminished; nor become greater or lesser in any respect
whatsoever. It must have always been, and must always remain, just what it is
now—THE ALL—there has never been, is not now, and never will be, anything else
into which it can change.
THE
ALL being Infinite, Absolute, Eternal and Unchangeable it must follow that
anything finite, changeable, fleeting, and conditioned cannot be THE ALL. And
as there is Nothing outside of THE ALL, in Reality, then any and all such
finite things must be as Nothing in Reality. Now do not become befogged, nor
frightened—we are not trying to lead you into the Christian Science field under
cover of Hermetic Philosophy. There is a Reconciliation of this apparently
contradictory state of affairs. Be patient, we will reach it in time.
We
see around us that which is called "Matter," which forms the physical
foundation for all forms. Is THE ALL merely Matter? Not at all! Matter cannot
manifest Life or Mind, and as Life and Mind are manifested in the Universe, THE
ALL cannot be Matter, for nothing rises higher than its own source—nothing is
ever manifested in an effect that is not in the cause—nothing is evolved as a
consequent that is not involved as an antecedent. And then Modern Science
informs us that there is really no such thing as Matter—that what we call
Matter is merely "interrupted energy or force," that is, energy or
force at a low rate of vibration. As a recent writer has said "Matter has
melted into Mystery." Even Material Science has abandoned the theory of
Matter, and now rests on the basis of "Energy."
Then
is THE ALL mere Energy or Force? Not Energy or Force as the materialists use
the terms, for their energy and force are blind, mechanical things, devoid of
Life or Mind. Life and Mind can never evolve from blind Energy or Force, for
the reason given a moment ago: "Nothing can rise higher than its
source—nothing is evolved unless it is involved—nothing manifests in the
effect, unless it is in the cause. " And so THE ALL cannot be mere Energy
or Force, for, if it were, then there would be no such things as Life and Mind
in existence, and we know better than that, for we are Alive and using Mind to
consider this very question, and so are those who claim that Energy or Force is
Everything.
What
is there then higher than Matter or Energy that we know to be existent in the
Universe? LIFE AND MIND! Life and Mind in all their varying degrees of
unfoldment! "Then," you ask, "do you mean to tell us that THE
ALL is LIFE and MIND?" Yes! and No! is our answer. If you mean Life and
Mind as we poor petty mortals know them, we say No! THE ALL is not that!
"But what kind of Life and Mind do you mean?" you ask.
The
answer is "LIVING MIND," as far above that which mortals know by
those words, as Life and Mind are higher than mechanical forces, or
matter—INFINITE LIVING MIND as compared to finite "Life and Mind." We
mean that which the illumined souls mean when they reverently pronounce the
word: "SPIRIT!"
"THE
ALL" is Infinite Living Mind—the Illumined call it SPIRIT!
NEXT CHAPTER
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