THE HERMETIC PRINCIPLES
From "The KYBALION - Hermetic Philosophy"
by Yogi Ramacharaka, 1904
I. THE PRINCIPLE OF MENTALISM
"The ALL is MIND; The Universe is Mental."
This Principle embodies the truth that "All is Mind." It explains that
THE ALL (which is the Substantial Reality underlying all the outward
manifestations and appearances which we know under the terms of "The
Material Universe"; the "Phenomena of Life"; "Matter"; "Energy"; and,
in short, all that is apparent to our material senses) is SPIRIT, which
in itself is UNKNOWABLE and UNDEFINABLE, but which may be considered
amd thought of as AN UNIVERSAL, INFINITE, LIVING MIND.
It also explains
that all the phenomenal world or universe is simply a Mental Creation
of THE ALL, subject to the Laws of Created Things, and that the universe,
as a whole, and in its parts or units, has its existence in the Mind
of THE ALL, in which Mind we "live and move and have our being." This
Principle, by establishing the Mental Nature of the Universe, easily
explains all the varied mental and psychic phenomena that occupy such
a large portion of the public attention, and which, without such explanation,
are non-understandable and defy scientific treatment.
An understanding
of this great Hermetic Principle of Mentalism enables the individual to
readily grasp the laws of the Mental Universe, and to apply the same to
his well-being and advancement. The Hermetic Student is enabled to
apply intelligently the great Mental Laws, instead of using them in a
haphazard manner. With the Master Key in his possession, the student
may unlock the many doors of the mental and psychic temple of knowledge,
and enter the same freely and intelligently.
This Principle explains
the true nature of "Energy,""Power," and "Matter," and why and how all
tjese are subordinate to the Mastery of Mind. One of the old Hermetic
Masters wrote, long ages ago: "He who grasps the truth of the Mental
Nature of the Universe is well advanced on The Path to Mastery." And
these words are as true to-day as at the time they were first written.
Without this Master Key, Mastery is impossible, and the student knocks
in vain at the many doors of The Temple.
II. THE PRINCIPLE OF CORRESPONDENCE
"As above, so below; as below, so above."
This Principle embodies the truth that there is always a Correspondence
between the laws and phenomena of the various planes of being and life.
The old Hermetic axiom ran in these words: "As above, so below; as below,
so above." And the grasping of this Principle gives one the means of
solving many a dark paradox, and hidden secret of Nature. There are
planes beyond our knowing, but when we apply the Principle of Correspondence
to them we are able to understand much that would otherwise be unknowable
to us. This Principle is of universal application and manifestation,
on the various planes of the material, mental, and spiritual universe--
it is an Universal Law.
The ancient Hermetists considered this Principle
as one of the most important mental instruments by which man was able ]
to pry aside the obstacles which hid from view the Unknown. Its use
even tore aside the Veil of Isis to the extent that a glimpse of the
face of the goddess might be caught. Just as a knowledge of the Principles
of Geometry enables man to measure distant suns and their movements,
while seated in his observatory, so a knowledge of the Principle of
Correspondence enables Man to reason intelligently from the Known to
the Unknown. Studying the monad, he understands the archangel.
III. THE PRINCIPLE OF VIBRATION
"Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates."
This Principle embodies the truth that "everything is in motion";
"everything vibrates"; "nothing is at rest"; facts which Modern Science
endorses, and which each new scientific discovery tends to verify. And
yet this Hermetic Principle was enunciated thousands of years ago, by
the Masters of Ancient Egypt. This Principle explains that the differences
between different manifestations of Matter, Energy, Mind, and even
Spirit, result largely from varying rates of Vibration.
From THE ALL,
which is Pure Spirit, down to the grossest form of Matter, all is in
vibration -- the higher the vibration, the higher the position in the
scale. The vibration of Spirit is at such an infinite rate of intensity
and rapidity that it is practically at rest - just as a rapidly moving
wheel seems to be motionless. And at the other end of this scale, there
are gross forms of matter whose vibrations are so low as to seem at rest.
Between these poles, thre are millions upon millions of varying degrees
of vibration. From corpuscle and electron, atom and molecule, to worlds
and universes, everything is in vibratory motion. This is also true on
plances of energy and force (which are but varying degrees of vibration);
and even on to the spiritual planes.
An understanding of this Principle,
with the appropriate formulas, enables Hermetic students to control
their own mental vibrations as well as those of others. The Masters
also apply this Principle to the conquering of Natural phenomena, in
various ways. "He who understands the Principle of Vibration, has
grasped the sceptre of power," says one of the old writers.
IV. THE PRINCIPLE OF POLARITY
"Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has
its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are
identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths
are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled."
This Principle embodies the truth that "everything is dual"; "everything
has two poles"; "everything has its pair of opposites," all of which
were old Hermetic axioms. It explains the old paradoxes, that have
perplexed so many, which have been stated as follows: "Thesis and
antithesis are identical in nature, but different in degree"; opposites
are the same, differing only in degree"; "the pairs of opposites may be
reconciled"; "extremes meet"; everything is and isn't, at the same time";
"all truths are but half truths"; every truth is half-false"; "there
are two sides to everything," etc., etc., etc.
It explains that in
everything there are two poles, or opposite aspects, and that "opposites"
are really only the two extremes of the same thing, with many varying
degrees between them. To illustrate: Heat and Cold, although "opposites,"
are really the same thing, the differences consisting merely of degrees
of the same thing. Look at your thermometer and see if you can discover
where "heat" terminates and "cold" begins! There is no such thing as
"absolute heat" and "absolute cold" - the two terms "heat" and "cold"
simply indicate varying degrees of the the same thing, and that "same
thing" which manifests as "heat" and "cold" is merely a form, variety,
and rate of Vibration. So "heat" and "cold" are simply the "two poles"
of that which we call "Heat" - and the phenomena attentant thereupon are
manifestations of the Principle of Polarity.
The same Principle manifests
in the case of "Light and Darkness", which are the same thing, the
difference consisting of varying degrees between the two poles of the
phenomena. Where does "darkness" leave off, and "light" begin? What
is the difference between "Large and Small"? Between "Hard and Soft"?
Between "Black and White"? Between "Sharp and Dull"? Between "Noise
and Quiet"? Between "High and Low"? Between "Positive and Negative"?
The Principle of Polarity explains these paradoxes, and no other Principle
may supercede it.
The same Principle operates on the Mental Plane.
Let us take a radical and extreme example -- that of "Love and Hate,"
two mental states totally different. And there there are degrees of
Hate and degrees of Love, and a middle point in which we use the terms
"Like or Dislike," which shade into each other so gradually that sometimes
we are at a loss to know whether we "like" or "dislike" or "neither."
And all are simply degrees of the same thing, as you will see if you will
but think for a moment. And, more than this (and considered of more
importance to Hermetists), it is possible to change the vibrations of
Hate to the vibrations of Love, in one's own mind, and in the minds of
others.
Many of you, who read these lines, have had personal experiences
of the involuntary rapid transition from Love to Hate, and the reverse,
in your own case and that of others. And you will therefore realize the
possibility of this being accomplished by the use of the Will, by means
of the Hermetic formulas. "Good and Evil" are but the poles of the
same thing, and the Hermetist understands the art of transmuting Evil
into Good, by means of an application of the Principle of Polarity.
In short, the "Art of Polarization" becomes a phase of "Mental Alchemy"
known and practiced by the ancient and modern Hermetic Masters. An
understanding of the Principle will enable one to change his own Polarity,
as well as that of others, if he will devote the time and study necessary
to master the art.
V. THE PRINCIPLE OF RHYTHM
"Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides;
all things rise and fall; the pendulum-swing manifests in everything;
the measure of the swing to the right is the measure of the swing to
the left; rhythm compensates."
This Principle embodies the truth that in everything there is manifested
a measured motion, to and fro; a flow an inflow; a swing backward and
foreward; a pendulum-like movement; a tide-like ebb and flow; between
the two poles which exist in accordance with the Principle of Polarity
described a moment ago. There is always an action and a reaction; an
advance and a retreat; a rising and a sinking. This is in the affairs
of the Universe, suns, worlds, men, animals, mind, energy, and matter.
This law is manifest in the creation and destruction of worlds; in the
rise and fall of nations; in the life of all things; and finally in the
mental states of Man (and it is with this latter that the Hermetists
find the understanding of the Principle most important).
The Hermetists
have grasped this Principle, finding its universal application, and have
also discovered certain means to overcome its effects in themselves by
the use of the appropriate formulas and methods. They apply the Mental
Law of Neutralization. They cannot annul the Principle, or cause it to
cease its operation, but they have learned how to escape its effects on
themselves to a certain degree depending upon the Mastery of the Principle.
They have learned how to USE it, instead of being USED BY it. In this
and similar methods, consist the Art of the Hermetists. The Master of
Hermetics polarizes himself at the point at which he desires to rest,
and then neutralizes the Rhythmic swing of the pendulum which would tend
to carry him to the other pole.
All individuals who have attained any
degree of Self-Mastery do this to a certain degree, more or less
unconsciously, but the Master does this consciously, and by the use of
his Will, and attains a degree of Poise and Mental Firmness almost
impossible of belief on the part of the masses who are swung backward
and forward like a pendulum. This Principle and that of Polarity have
been closely studied by the Hermetists, and the methods of counteracting,
neutralizing, and USING them form an important part of Hermetic Mental
Alchemy.
VI. THE PRINCIPLE OF CAUSE AND EFFECT
"Every cause has its Effect; every Effect has its Cause;
everything happens according to this Law; Chance is but a name for Law
not recognized; there are many planes of causation, but nothing escapes
the Law."
This Principle embodies the fact that there is a Cause for every Effect;
an Effect for every Cause. It explains that: "Everything Happens according
to Law"; that nothing ever "merely happens"; that there is no such thing
as Chance; that while there are various planes of Cause and Effect, the
higher dominating the lower planes, still nothing ever entirely escapes
the Law.
The Hermetists understand the art and method of rising above
the ordinary plane of Cause and Effect, to a certain degree, and by
mentally rising to a higher plane they become Causers instead of Effects.
The masses of people are carried along, obedient to environment; the
wills and desires of others stronger than themselves; heredity; suggestion;
and other outward causes moving them about like pawns on the Chessboard
of Life.
But the Masters, rising to the plane above, dominate their
moods, characters, qualities, and powers, as well as the environment
surrounding them, and become Movers instead of pawns. They help to
PLAY THE GAME OF LIFE, instead of being played and moved about by other
wills and environment. They USE the Principle instead of being its tools.
The Masters obey the Causation of the higher planes, but they help to
RULE on their own plane. In this statement there is condensed a wealth
of Hermetic knowledge -- let him read who can.
VII. THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER
"Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and
Feminine Principles; Gender manifests on all planes."
This Principle embodies the truth that there is Gender manifested in
everything -- the Masculine and Feminine Principles ever at work. This
is true not only of the Physical Plane, but of the Mental and even the
Spiritual Planes.
On the Physical Plane, the Principle manifests as
SEX, on the higher planes it takes higher forms, but the Principle is
ever the same. No creation, physical, mental or spiritual, is possible
without this Principle. An understanding of its laws will throw light
on many a subject that has perplexed the minds of men. The Principle
of Gender works ever in the direction of generation, regeneration, and
creation. Everything, and every person, contains the two Elements or
Principles, or this great Principle, within it, him or her. Every Male
thing has the Female Element also; every Female contains also the Male
Principle. If you would understand the philosophy of Mental and Spiritual
Creation, Generation, and Re-generation, you must understand and study
this Hermetic Principle. It contains the solution of many mysteries of
Life.
We caution you that this Principle has no reference to the many
base, pernicious and degrading lustful theories, teachings and practices,
which are taught under fanciful titles, and which are a prostitution of
the great natural principle of Gender. Such base revivals of the ancient
infamous forms of Phallicism tend to ruin mind, body and soul, and the
Hermetic Philosophy has ever sounded the warning note against these
degraded teachings which tend toward lust, licentiousness, and perversion
of Nature's principles. If you seek such teachings, you must go elsewhere
for them - Hermeticism contains nothing for you along these lines. To
the pure, all things are pure; to the base, all things are base.
These Principles have existed since the Age of Taurus, when they were
taught to the Egyptian Mystery schools by Hermes Trismegistus. Since
that time they have become the basis for most studies of metaphysics,
Modern Physics, Quantum Mechanics and other New Age teachings. Thus
are we guided by the
Wisdom of the Ages
For information on further study and application these Hermetic Principles,
please check out the courses of
The Mental Science Institute .