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Post by Thegnostic on Jan 29, 2005 12:26:03 GMT
All,
Just finished reading this wonderful book (again) and I wonder how many of you have also read it.
I have my own opinion of the Seven Principals but wonder if those who have read it would like to list what the following mean to them, I have added a few of my own thoughts along side each one.
1) Mentalism - All is mind. All creation is in the mind of God. 2) Correspondance - As Above -So Below, from this principle comes astrology but also the appreciation of similarites between different orders of being - mineral, vegtable, animal and human. It is the basis of symbolism and sympathetic magic. 3) Vibration - Nothing rests, everything moves. Thus the difference between different manifestations of matter, such as energy, mind and even spirit is one of vibration. 4) Polarity - Everything is dual; everthing has poles. Opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree as indicated by hot & cold, light & darkness, love & hate. 5) Rhythm - Everything flows out & in. The pendulum swing manifests in everything, eberything is compensated. Sieze by the tide. 6) Cause and Effect - There is cause for every effect and an effect from every cause. There is no such thing as chance. We should seek to understand the causation of the higher planes and work with those. 7) Gender - Gender is everything. The masculine and femine principles are ever at work. On the physical plane this is the sex. It works in the principle of generation, regeneration, reintergration and creation. Every male has a female element and every female a male element. So can we deduce from this that the perfect being must be Androgynous ie Unity/Totality, just a thought?
Just my thoughts seekers. What are yours?
Gnostic
"If you are a true student, you will be able to work out and apply these principles - if not you must develop[ yourself into one, otherwise the Hermetic teachings will be as "words, words, words to you"
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Post by middlepillar on Jan 29, 2005 13:48:28 GMT
Gnostic
This is as you say a truly remarkable book, I have to say that reading it was the main thing that changed my whole understanding of things, and sent me on the path I have now chosen to follow.
Only a little book but quite remarkable
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staffs
Administrator
Staffs
Posts: 3,295
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Post by staffs on Jan 29, 2005 14:25:06 GMT
Anyone got the full title and authour and most importantly the ISBN no and where can we get it.
Should this be on the book review thread ??
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Post by middlepillar on Jan 29, 2005 17:47:32 GMT
Staffs
I was reccommended this book to read by an extremely important member of The SRIA, it was borrowed out of the Library at Hampstead.
The copy I had was extremely old. The Author/Authors are the Three initiates! No other name appears in the book.
And as for the ISDN number it wasnt anywhere to be found, I dont know if Gnostic can help but next time I am up at Hampstead I will try to find out
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Post by Thegnostic on Jan 30, 2005 8:36:45 GMT
All,
This book is widely available as a free PDF file, go the Google and type in Kybalion and you should see it. If not send me an email and I have a pdf copy, 265k download.
The full title is The Kybalion - A STUDY OF THE HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY OF ANCIENT EGYPT AND GREECE BY THREE INITIATES.
Gnostic
The Great one said to me "why are you always looking out - Look In"
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Post by whistler on Jan 30, 2005 8:50:39 GMT
This thread has got me a little confused. Is the the same as another Kybalion - by Staffs
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Post by Thegnostic on Jan 30, 2005 9:14:24 GMT
Hi Whistler,
Got me confused also - I am only aware of the Kybalion of the title I listed being the Hermetic writings of Three Initiates.
Is this the same as the one you are thonking of? I have a pdf copy if you would like it.
Gnostic
"Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death."
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Post by middlepillar on Jan 30, 2005 21:46:45 GMT
Gnostic
You are quite correct. I just googled and it is right there in full.
Thanks
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staffs
Administrator
Staffs
Posts: 3,295
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Post by staffs on Feb 1, 2005 21:13:44 GMT
Tony has sent me this in pdf and if anyone wants a copy i can send it on .
Wow : this is really thoughtful provoking stuff.definitely serious reading.
Now whats that hermetic order called Chris
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bod
Member
UGLE - MM (London), MMM RAM(Middx), OSM (London)
Posts: 1,296
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Post by bod on Feb 1, 2005 21:16:36 GMT
He probably can't name it...
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Post by middlepillar on Feb 3, 2005 18:33:19 GMT
Bod
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious ;D
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Post by Thegnostic on Feb 3, 2005 18:35:11 GMT
Hi Staffs, Chris & Bod,
Hmmmm, very cryptic - Not sure where this is leading but I declare an interest in a magical Hermetic working Order, very popular in the early 1900`s.
Can you guess which one it is by the following statement - " I may fail but I will be renowned......"
Gnostic
"I give you the end of a golden string Only wind it into a ball, It will lead you in at Heavens Gate Built in Jerusalems Wall.
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staffs
Administrator
Staffs
Posts: 3,295
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Post by staffs on Sept 3, 2005 9:16:04 GMT
I have tried reading through this book again and it is way beyond my level of understanding.
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Post by a on Sept 3, 2005 10:16:09 GMT
Staffs
I have not read the book. But conceptually here are some things that I have found to be useful.
1. Dont try to force it, understanding will come when the time is right. Probably a little everyday thing will make you think, then another and another, and in time things falls into place. The trick is learning to listen and recognise.
2. You know from Middlepillars post above that there are those within UGLE who can make sense of it. So you know that there is value there. So be patient, and when you are ready you will be able to make a post confirming the value.
3. Words are esoterically very potent. Wars can be started with them and peace can be found with some words of friendship. Different people get different levels of knowledge and understanding from the same words. These words may be confusing to you today, but could I suggest that you may want to consider using this book as a measure of your own inner progress. Try reading it again in five years and see if it makes any more sense.
4. If you tell yourself that its doesn't make sense - it wont. Try telling yourself that it will make sense, it is within your power to make it make sense, and in time you may be pleasantly suprised. If you work hard enough. Though relaxation is paramount. Now there is a quandray.
I had better shut up and go and read the book now.
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giovanni
Member
odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
Posts: 2,627
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Post by giovanni on Sept 3, 2005 12:02:07 GMT
Don't be worried, Staffs.
I read a book on alchemy, for the 1st time, more that ten years ago. I understood nothing. 8 years later I read it for the 2nd time: better. When I read it for the 3rd time, I understood everything. Some books work on the unconscious, and so does the Kybalion. Remember: don't hurry, festina lente.
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Post by middlepillar on Sept 13, 2005 21:26:05 GMT
I have tried reading through this book again and it is way beyond my level of understanding. Lee Our last Supreme magus in the SRIA once told me, that I should not attempt to go through a door if it did not feel right, as well as that I should never try to force anything that I didnt understand. He said that if I came across anything like this I should immediately retreat and go back to it when I felt ready (He never said when that would be!). Most importantly he said if I did ever go through the door before I was ready then the path would be lost forever, remember I read this book after journeying through Freemasonry for 17 years. If it doesnt make sense now dont worry try it again after you have been Installed in the Chair! It may make more sense then, hopefully. For me personally there are snippets in this book that are just spot on and I feel it is a great little book to keep in the drawer and pull out when in need of reflection. The Chapter on rythym is just something that really hit me when I first read it and I often think about it when I am just 'thinking'! (daydreaming I suppose)
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Post by maat on Sept 13, 2005 23:50:18 GMT
Staffs - Giovanni's advice is very pertinent. Just put it aside for the moment - another moment will present itself sooner or later.
You will be absolutely amazed by yourself as you steadily progress in your Masonic Art (and Craft).
Do you play the game of Su doku over there? Bit like magic squares. So far as I can see - as you seek knowledge in many different areas over many years, there comes a time when all the 'bits n pieces' start fitting together - and in such a way that each enhances the other - and you are left in no doubt as to what is implied.
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Post by a on Sept 14, 2005 6:38:43 GMT
as you seek knowledge in many different areas over many years, there comes a time when all the 'bits n pieces' start fitting together - and in such a way that each enhances the other - and you are left in no doubt as to what is implied. Excellent comment, I should focus on this everyone. A broad education, spanning many diverse fields, may appear daunting. And far from being a "master of none" if you have let your heart guide you, there will come a time that Maat's comment makes perfect sense. But it is not given to you on a plate. You have to work to get there. And in this case, the "Jack of all trades" really is the "Master". The Master of themselves. A specialist education may make you an expert in one field/perspective, but a broad education with an open heart and mind, will help you take those vital steps.
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Post by taylorsman on Sept 14, 2005 7:12:06 GMT
I agree with you up to a point Stewart that a wide General Knowledge is a wonderful thing. I have one myself, mostly self educated since leaving school and I derive great pleasure from it.
The problem is that those who drive State Education especially big business as typified by Mr Digby-Jones demand that Education be for their benefit, to turn out potential workers of whatever type be these manual, clerical or admin and not necessarily for the rounding out of the person themselves. As they Pay the Piper, Taxes, they Call the Tune. So Engineering, Maths, European Languages will get the backing and the funding but Art, Music, History will be put on a back burner.
Sad, but that is the way of things in this modern world.
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Post by a on Sept 14, 2005 7:31:11 GMT
Taylorsman
Fortunately we have tools such as Freemasonry to help us broaden our education and help us know ourselves a little better.
Also as you know the state education sysyems is (or at least was) one major difference between our home land and England. In Scotland there is (or was) more focus on breadth than depth, when compared to England.
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