An
Impossible Dream?—An Attempt
to Reunite Philosophy, Religion and Science:
Volume
1—Interpretation of Ancient and Arcane Teachings
(Item #1024):
Incorporates and the material in Items #1008, #1009, #1011
and #1012: Chapter 1, The Emerald Tablet; Chapter 2, Poemandres, the Vision
of Hermes; Chapter 3, Evolutionary Cycles; Chapter 4, The Grandmaster. 8-1/2
x 11 inch format, elegantly comb-bound, 254
pp., 64 tables and illustrations: 23 in color–$27.50
Volume
2—Mystical and Metaphysical Essays (Item
#1025):
Incorporates
the material in Items #1004, #1005, #1006, #1007, #1010, #1013, and #1014:
Part I, A Self-Realization Trilogy (3 Chapters); Part II, They Who Sow in
Tears Shall Reap in Joy (2 Chapters); Part III, The Greater and the Lesser
Worlds (4 Chapters). 8-1/2
x 11 inch format, elegantly comb-bound, 258
pp., 65 tables and illustrations: 15 in color–$27.50
The Series of Two Volumes (Item #1026) –$50.00
The Ancient
Mysteries were introduced into Greece from Egypt, which, in turn, had received
them from India. The Lesser Mysteries were concerned with the descent
of Man into generation; the Greater Mysteries dealt with the spiritual
regeneration of Man. Initiated candidates were sworn to secrecy as to the instruction
and insights which they had received, the penalty for revealing these secrets
being very severe—including banishment and death. This was necessary in
order to prevent such privileged information being revealed to unqualified persons
who might abuse and misuse this knowledge. Less advanced candidates for initiation
were instructed in arts and sciences of a more pragmatic nature—such as
many of us, thanks to the modern scientific and technological revolution, now
take for granted. Candidate possessing greater advancement received more esoteric
and metaphysical teachings. One of the methods used in the Mystery Schools utilized
drama as a means of opening up the intuitive understanding of the candidate,
impressing important truths upon him or her at the unspoken level—which
could at a later stage of his or her development be brought down to a more concrete
level of expression. Outstanding example of initiate teachers of these institutions
were Orpheus (in Theology), Pythagoras (in Science) and Plato
(in Philosophy). Eventually, the Mysteries degenerated due to the corruption
of the priesthood, the destruction of the great library at Alexandria, and the
advent of Christianity—which advocated revealing the great secrets to the
profane. With the coming to power of the Church, the great pagan institutions
were abolished, and it was left to the efforts of later groups of individuals,
such as the Neoplatonists, Gnostics, Troubadours, Alchemists and Rosicrucians
to restore and continue the great esoteric tradition. Philosophy, Religion and
Science went their separate ways, each undergoing its own transition and metamorphosis—which
process was both inevitable and necessary so as to enable each to develop in
the manner appropriate to it, keeping pace with the progress of human society
and human thinking, and free of influences and adulterations from one or both
of the others.
It is the purpose
of this collection of essays to attempt a reunification of Philosophy, Religion
and Science—interweaving these three major disciplines together in a responsible
way—drawing from both esoteric ancient teachings and from the more contemporary
Kabbalistic, Alchemical, Rosicrucian, Freemasonic, Theosophical and Anthroposophical
writings which reflect them. These essays were developed over a period of 7
years from talks, lectures and courses given by the author. Originally published
as separate booklets, which still continue to be available, they are now combined
into the present two volumes.
VOLUME 1 combines detailed interpretations of the two best known of the Hermetic writings: (1) the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus (CHuRaM Telat Machasot)—the great alchemical formula for personal spiritual regeneration (Spiritual Alchemy) which states the famous Hermetic axiom (the Law of Correspondences) “As Above So Below”; and (2) Poemandres, the Vision of Hermes—the second book of The Divine Pymander—which delineates the creative process of world building (cosmogenesis), and summarizes the essence of the Lesser and Greater Mysteries; together with (3) a detailed description of the esoteric conception of the Evolutionary Cycles through which our present Human Life Wave has passed and developed up to the current stage—drawing from a number of Theosophical, Anthroposophical and Rosicrucian sources; and (4) an eclectic interpretation of the Masonic (Hiramic) Legend—entitled “The Grandmaster”. 8-1/2 x 11 inch format, elegantly comb-bound, 254 pages, 64 tables and illustrations: 23 in color.
VOLUME 2 incorporates seven mystical and metaphysical essays dealing with the process of Self-Realization, the constitution of Man, the Microcosm, and the holistic nature of the Greater World or Macrocosm.
