The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians: A Lost Classic by Magus Incognito
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The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians: A Lost Classic by Magus Incognito
256Paperback
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Overview
Writing as Magus Incognito, William Walker Atkinson reintroduces a new generation of readers to the Rosicrucian ideals, as well as to a myriad of connections between occult concepts as varied as alchemy, reincarnation, the astral plane, auras, Eastern and Western mysticism, and the "evolution of mankind" among seven esoteric versions of planets in our solar system.
There are more than two dozen organizations of Rosicrucians, with local groups in nearly every state—more than 100 in all—and half a million or more followers. Interest continues to be high in this group.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781578635344 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Red Wheel/Weiser |
| Publication date: | 11/01/2012 |
| Pages: | 256 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d) |
About the Author
Clint Marsh is a writer and publisher of practical esoterica. He has served as Reginald Bakeley's American editor since 1998, and maintains a website at www.wonderella.org.
Read an Excerpt
The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians
By Magus Incognito
Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC
Copyright © 2012 Red Wheel/WeiserAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-57863-534-4
CHAPTER 1
The Rosicrucians and Their Secret Doctrine
The student of the history of occultism and the esoteric teachings, and even the average reader of current books and magazines, finds many references to "The Rosicrucians," a supposed ancient secret society devoted to the study of occult doctrines and the manifestation of occult powers. But when such person seeks to obtain detailed information concerning this supposed ancient "order" he finds himself baffled and defeated. Before acknowledging the futility of the quest, however, he usually investigates one or more so-called "orders" having as a part of their title the word "Rosicrucian," only to find himself invited to join such "order" upon the payment of a fee or fees ranging from a small amount in some cases to quite large amounts in others, each "order" claiming to be the "only original order," and asserting that all the others are base imitators.
The truth is that there is not in existence, and never has been in existence, any popular occult order sanctioned by the real Rosicrucians, which anyone may join upon payment of fees, large or small, just as he may join any of the better known fraternal organizations of which there are so many. The true Rosicrucians have no formal organization, and are held together only by the ties of common interest in the occult and esoteric studies, and by the common acceptance of certain fundamental principles of belief and knowledge. This unorganized "order" has members in all walks of life, and in all countries, and its members never announce themselves as "Rosicrucians" to the general public. Admission to this unorganized "order" is never granted upon the payment of a fee, and is possible only upon the request and recommendation of three members in good standing who have themselves been members for a certain period of time, and who have attained a certain degree of proficiency in the attainment of the esoteric knowledge, and in demonstrating the principles discovered by them under the direction of certain higher adepts in the arcane wisdom.
Members of the Rosicrucian body are prominent in the councils of nearly all of the occult organizations and societies throughout the world—in fact, it is these persons who are the real leaven in the general mass, and who keep alive the Sacred Flame of Truth in them. Many Rosicrucians are also prominent in philosophic and scientific circles, and some of them are men quite prominent in the large affairs of the business and professional world, and in the ranks of statesmanship. Others are prominent in movements like the "labor movement" and similar activities. Some are prominent in the councils of the various churches, and others are leaders in Masonry and similar secret societies. In all of such circles the Rosicrucians exert a powerful influence, and always in the direction of good.
"The Brothers of the Rosy Cross"
The modern interest in the Rosicrucian T eachings dates back to the early part of the seventeenth century—about 1610, to be exact. At that time there were rumors of the existence of a society known as "The Brothers of the Rosy Cross," the officers and meeting places of which were not known to the public. The mysterious society was severely attacked by the ecclesiastical authorities and others, and was as vigorously defended by those who were interested in the general subject of occultism and the esoteric teachings. There were many spurious and counterfeit "orders" established during the following century, and for that matter in nearly every century since, but none have been able to show an undoubted connection with the original order. Some of the original teachings of the Rosicrucians have been incorporated in some of the higher degrees of Masonry, and have served a good purpose therein.
The legend concerning the origin of the order—true in some respects, but erroneous in others—was as follows: That a certain Christian Rosenkreutz, a German nobleman who had donned the robes of a certain order of monks, had visited India, Persia, and also Arabia, and had returned bringing with him a certain Secret Doctrine obtained from the sages and seers of those Oriental lands. He was said to have established the original Rosicrucian Brotherhood about 1425, its existence not becoming generally known until nearly two hundred years afterward. The true Rosicrucians, however, recognize this legendary tale as being merely a cleverly disguised recital of the real facts of the establishment of the unorganized order, which must be read between the lines, aided by the spectacles of understanding, in order that its real import may be grasped.
The present writer does not feel justified in telling in these pages the tale as he understands it, and as it has been transmitted to him by those in authority; in fact, to make the same public, he would be violating a most sacred promise, which would amount to a betrayal of his initiation secrets. He, however, is permitted to state that the Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians is a body of esoteric teachings, handed down for ages by wise men deeply versed in the esoteric doctrines and occult lore. This Wisdom originally came by way of the Orient, and in fact even today comprises part of the Inner Teachings of some of the highest Oriental Brotherhoods. Its history is but another instance of the truth of the old Secret axioms, one of which says that we must "Look to the East, whence comes all Light."
For many years little or nothing was permitted to be revealed to the general public concerning the Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians, but during the past twenty-five years there has been a greater, and still greater freedom in this respect, until today many important Rosicrucian teachings form a part of nearly all writings and teachings upon the subject of the Esotericism in general, and of the Higher Metaphysics in particular. Theosophy, and the general interest in Oriental Philosophies and Religions, have done much to bring into public notice some of the more elementary points of the Secret Doctrine. In fact, in the highest writings and teachings of some of the great organizations above referred to the Rosicrucian may find many half-hidden bits of the Rosicrucian Doctrine, cleverly disguised from the unprepared Many, yet plainly revealed to the prepared Few.
The Higher Alchemy
The Rosicrucians, according to the public encyclopaedias, and other works of reference, are held to have been devoted to the subject of Alchemy. And, indeed, this statement is correct. But the modern compilers of such reference books have fallen into the error of supposing that the Alchemy referred to was performed wholly upon the Plane of Matter—and concerned wholly with the Transmutation of Elements. They are ignorant of the fact that the Alchemy which attracted the Rosicrucians, and which took up most of their time and attention, was Mental Alchemy, and Spiritual Alchemy—something quite different indeed, though having of course a correspondence to the Material Alchemy, according to the Law of Correspondence. The student of the present book will discover this fact, and will receive many valuable hints concerning the higher forms of Alchemy, providing he is prepared to read between the lines of the text, and to reason by Analogy. The axiom "As above, so below," will be found to work out well in this connection.
Why the Esoteric Teaching is Kept Secret
It is difficult to convey to the average European or American the true reasons underlying the Secrecy which invariably surrounds the Esoteric Teachings of all the great schools of occult thought. Such a person is inclined to think that the only reason therefor is the delight in "mystery mongering" which he thinks he finds among all occult teachers. But to one who penetrates even but a short distance on The Path, the true reasons are perceived. Such a one perceives the dangers of premature disclosure of important esoteric principles to the unprepared public mind. The following quotations from a well-known writer will perhaps give a hint to the solution of this question. The writer says:
"The Oriental method of cultivating knowledge has always differed diametrically from that pursued in the West during the growth of modern sciences. Whilst Europe has investigated Nature as publicly as possible, every step being discussed with the utmost freedom, and every fresh fact acquired circulated at once for the benefit of all, Asiatic science has been studied secretly and its conquests jealously guarded. I need not as yet attempt either criticism or defence of its methods. The student will later on see that this falls naturally into its place in the whole scheme of occult philosophy. The approaches to that philosophy have always been open, in one sense, to all. Vaguely throughout the world in various ways have been diffused the idea that some process of study which men here and there did actually follow, might lead to the acquisition of a higher kind of knowledge than that taught to mankind at large in books or by public teachers. The East, as pointed out, has always been more than vaguely impressed with this belief; but even in the West the whole block of symbolical literature relating to astrology, alchemy, and mysticism generally has fermented in European society, carrying to some peculiarly receptive and qualified minds the conviction that behind all this superficially meaningless nonsense great truths lay concealed. For such persons eccentric study has sometimes revealed hidden passages leading to the grandest imaginable realms of enlightenment. But till now, in all such cases, in accordance with the law of those schools, the neophyte no sooner forced his way into the region of mystery than he was bound over to the most inviolable secrecy as to everything connected with his entrance and further progress there. In Asia, in the same way, the chela, or pupil of occultism, no sooner became a chela than he ceased to be a witness on behalf of the reality of occult knowledge. I have been astonished to find, since my own connection with the subject, how numerous such chelas are. But it is impossible to imagine any human act more improbable than the unauthorized revelation by any such chela, to persons of the outer world, that he is one; and so the great esoteric school of philosophy successfully guards its seclusion. * * * It is however desirable to disabuse the reader of one conception in regard to the objects of adeptship that he very likely has formed. The development of those spiritual faculties, whose culture has to do with the highest objects of the occult life, gives rise as it progresses to a great deal of incidental knowledge, having to do with physical laws of Nature not yet generally understood. This knowledge, and the practical art of manipulating certain obscure forces of Nature, which it brings in its train, invest an adept, and even an adept's pupils, at a comparatively early stage of their education, with very extraordinary powers, the application of which to matters of daily life will sometimes produce results that seem altogether miraculous; and from the ordinary point of view, the acquisition of apparently miraculous power is such a stupendous achievement, that people are sometimes apt to fancy that the adept's object in seeking the knowledge he attains has been to invest himself with these coveted powers. It would be as reasonable to say of any great patriot of military history that his object in becoming a soldier has been to wear a gay uniform and impress the imagination of the nurse maids."
"The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians"
What is known as "The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians" is an extensive body of esoteric teaching and occult lore which has been transmitted from Master to Student, from Hierophant to the new Initiate, for countless generations. Seldom has any part of the Secret Doctrine been committed to writing, or exposed to public view on the printed page, until the present generation. Previous to that time the little that was written, or printed, concerning this body of teachings was disguised in the vague terms of alchemy and astrology, so that the same would have one meaning to the average reader and another and closer meaning to those who possessed the key to the mystery. The frequent references in the ancient books to "sulphur," "mercury," and other chemical elements, and to "The Philosopher's Stone," etc., were all intended to indicate certain portions of the teachings of the Secret Doctrine to those who already possessed the key.
The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians is believed by those best informed to have been built up gradually, carefully, and slowly, by the old occult masters and adepts, from the scattered fragments of the esoteric teachings which were treasured by the wise men of all races. The legend runs that these fragments of the Secret Doctrine were the scattered portions of the old esoteric teaching of ancient Atlantis— the bits of the great mass of the Atlantean occult teachings which were scattered in all directions by the great cataclysm which had destroyed that great continent. The few survivors of the Atlantean civilization carefully preserved these Fragments of Truth, and passed them on to their chosen students and capable descendants.
The old Masters who made it the object of their lives to gather together once more these scattered fragments, and to thus reconstruct the Occult Doctrine of the Atlanteans, found a portion of their material in Egypt, in India, in Persia, in Chaldea, in Medea, in China, in Assyria, and in Ancient Greece, and also in the mystic records of the Hebrews, such as the Kaballah and the Zohar. The common source, however, may be regarded as distinctly Oriental. The great philosophies of the East, in fact, may be said to have been built upon the base of these still more ancient teachings. Moreover, the great Grecian Secret Teachings are believed to have been based upon knowledge obtained from this same common source. So, at the last, the Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians may be said to be the Secret Doctrine of Atlantis, transmitted through the descendants of the people of that great centre of occult knowledge.
The following quotation from a writer who, himself, has gathered together many bits of the ancient wisdom, may be interesting. Speaking of these ancient teachings he says: "The teaching has come down to the present age through the corridors of time, from the dim ages of past eras, races, and schools of thought. Even those highest in the ancient occult councils, however, are unable to trace the teachings, in an unbroken direct line, further back than the time of Pythagoras (about 500 B. C.), and a little later in Ancient Greece, although they find many references thereto, and extracts therefore, in some of the older records of ancient Egypt and Chaldea, which serve to show that the schools of Pythagoras, and other ancient Grecian occultists, were founded on occult instruction still more remote, received in a direct line of succession of teachers and pupils extending over centuries. Investigators have found traces of the teachings in the records of Persia and Media, and it is believed that the inspiration for the original philosophical teachings of Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was received from the same sources. Traces are also found in the Hebrew Esoteric Teachings."
The writer continues: "The Grecian Teachings were undoubtedly obtained directly from Egyptian sources, through Pythagoras, the relation between the early Grecian teachings and philosophies, and the older school of old Egypt, being very close and intimate. Pythagoras is known to have received instruction from Egyptian and Persian hierophants. There is to be found the closest resemblance between the ancient Grecian teachings, and those of the Egyptian Esoteric Fraternities. Some of the Teachers, however, hold that the Grecian and Egyptian schools, respectively, were but two separate offshoots of an original and older Teaching which had its origin in the lost continent of Atlantis. There are many traditions connecting the Teaching with Atlantis, and it is possible that both Greece and Egypt received it from this common source, instead of Greece being indebted to Egypt for the line of transmission. But, be this as it may, it is a fact that all of the traces of teaching that the various occultists gather from the traditions, scraps of doctrine, and legends regarding Atlantis, can be reconciled with the best esoteric and occult knowledge had by the race today. The fragments of the Egyptian Esoteric Teachings, many of which are still preserved in an undoubted direct line of succession, are practically identical, in fundamental and basis points, with the Grecian Occult Teachings. And, as has been said, the Persian, Medean, and Chaldean legends and traditions, and scraps of teachings which have been preserved, show a common source or origin with those of Egypt and ancient Greece."
The writer adds: "We are speaking now of the historical view of the subject, only. The occult traditions hold that the Teaching, in some form, is as old as the race itself, and has been known to the advanced minds of every great civilization of the past, many of which disappeared thousands of years ago, all traces of them having been lost to the present sub-race. The traditions hold that the Teaching was handed down from the Elder Brethren of the race—certain advanced souls who appeared in the earlier days, in order to plant the seeds of Truth, so that they would grow, blossom, and bear fruit throughout the ages to follow. We do not ask you to accept this statement—it is not material—for the Teaching bears evidences of its own Truth within itself, without needing the force of such high authority. The ancient tradition is mentioned merely that the student may know that the same is accepted as truth by many of the highest occult authorities and teachers."
(Continues...)
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Table of Contents
Introduction Clint Marsh xi
Part I The Rosicrucians and Their Secret Doctrine 1
The Legendary Rosicrucians
Truth and Error Regarding Them
Counterfeit Rosicrucian Orders
Who Are the Rosicrucians?
"The Brothers of the Rosy Cross"
"The Early History of the Rosicrucians
The Legend of Christian Rosenkreutz, and the Truth Behind It
"Look to the East, Whence Comes All Light"
Lifting the Veil of Secrecy
Why the Esoteric Teaching Always Is Secret
The Higher Alchemy
Contrasting Methods of Orient and Occident
"The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians"
An Age-old Wisdom Teaching
Found in Egypt, Indian, Persia, Chaldea, Medea, China, Assyria, Ancient Greece, and in the Ancient Hebrew Secret Teaching
The Basis of Great Oriental Philosophies
The Secret Doctrine of Atlantis, Its Real Source and Origin
Pythagoras
Gautama, the Buddha
"The Seven Aphorisms of Creation"
The Secret Symbols of the Rosicrucians
The Explanation of the Symbol of the Rosy Cross
Part II The Eternal Parent 13
The Sleep of the Cosmic Night
Before the Rekindling of the Flame of Spirit
Before the Advent of Time
Before the Beginning of Change
The Infinite Unmanifest
The Symbol of Infinite Space
That Which Was Before the Universe Was
The Cosmic Days and Nights
"The Days and Nights of Brahm"
The Essence of the Flame of the Spirit
"The Dark Flame"
Duration Without Time
Pure Duration
Formless Existence
Absolute Motion Identical With Absolute Rest
Existence Without Qualities
Superconscious Existence, Not Unconscious Existence
The One-All Without a Second
The Immeasurable Infinite
The Farhomless Abyss
Part III The Soul of the World 31
The Germ Within the Cosmic Egg
The Formless Takes on Form
The Flame Is Rekindled
The Beginning of Time
The Commencement of Action
The Manifestation of the Pairs of Opposites
The Birth of the World Soul
The Dawn of the New Cosmic Day
The Appearance of The Demiurge
The Presence of the Anima Mundi
The Manifestation of the World Spirit
The Production of the Logos
The First Born of the Infinite Unmanifest
The Cosmic Egg
The First Cause
The "Golden Egg of the Kalahansa"
The Symbol of the Egg, in the Secret Doctrine
The Teaching Concerning the Logos
The Doctrine Respecting the Demiurge
The Universal Will
Plastic Nature
The Will-to-Live
The First Manifestation
The Garments of the World Soul
The Thrill of Life in the World Soul
Part IV The Universal Androgyne 41
The Birth of Sex
The Neuter Becomes Bi-Sexual
The Cosmic Hermaphrodite
The Universal Androgyne
Bi-Sexuality in the Universal Manifestation
The Inner Teachings
The Ancient Mysteries
Phallicism, the Shadow of the Truth
The Symbol of Universal Bi-Sexuality
The Cross and the Circle
The Phallic Cross
The Swastica
The Rose Cross
The Male Universal Principle
The Female Universal Principle
Sex Manifest on All Planes of Existence
The Positive and the Negative Poles of Being
Sex Activity in Electricity and Magnetism
Sex, the Secret of Chemical Affinity
How Love Makes the World Go Round
How the One Becomes Two, and the Two Becomes the Many
Part V The One and the Many 49
How the One Becomes the Many
How Unity Becomes Diversity
How the Identical Becomes Variety
No Separation Possible to Unity
The Manifold Reflection of the One Reality
The Falling Raindrops
The Jars of Water
The Ocean of Being and Its Bubbles
Absolute Being is One
Relative Being is Apparently Many
Monism
Involution and Evolution
The World Soul and Its Material Garments
The Descent into Matter
The Ascent from Matter
The Spiral Stairway of Being
Sub-Mineral Forms
Mineral Forms
Plant Forms
Animal Forms
Human Forms
Superhuman Forms
God-like Forms
How the One Apparently Becomes Many, and Yet Remains One in Reality
The Paradox of Being
Part VI The Universal Flame of Life 57
The Sparks of the Flame of Life
The Rosicrucian Symbol of the Flaming Fire
The Fire of Spirit
The Essence of the Spiritual Flame of Life
Life is Universal
There is Nothing Without Life in the Universe
The Universe is Not Half-dead, but All-Alive
The Living Universe
Life in the Ether
Life in All Matter
The Universe a Living Dynamism
Life in the Atoms
Life in the Chemical Elements
Life in the Mineral World
Life in the Plant World
Life in the Animal World
Life in the Human World
Life in the Superhuman World
Life in the Divine World
Living Crystals
Scientific Proof of Life in the Inorganic World
Marvelous Reports of Modern Science
Metallic Vegetation
How Modern Science Confirms the Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians
Part VII The Planes of Consciousness 69
The Seven Planes of Consciousness
Life the Essence of Spirit
Consciousness the Essence of Life
Everything is Conscious
Nothing is Unconscious
The Plane of Elemental Consciousness
Mental Action in the Atoms and Electrons
How the Occultist Works "Magic" by Knowledge of the Elemental Consciousness
The Plane of Mineral Consciousness
The Presence of Consciousness in the Crystals
The Secret of Cohesion and Mineral Organization
The Plane of Plane Consciousness
How Plants Manifest Intelligent Action
Plants Exhibit Consciousness Pertaining to Nutrition, Nervous Organization, and Thought Processes
Intelligence in Plants
Wonderful Reports of Modern Science
Rosicrucian Secret Doctrine Corroborated by Modern Science
The Plane of Animal Consciousness
The Evolution of Mind in the Animal World
A Fascinating Story
Part VIII The Three Higher Planes of Consciousness 97
The Plane of Human Consciousness
The Dawn of Self-Consciousness
The "I Am I"
The Inward Mental Gaze
Simple Consciousness versus Self-Consciousness
The Psychology of Self-Consciousness
The Mystery of the Sense of Selfhood
How Man Pays the Price of Self-Consciousness
The Mastery of Mind
The Plane of the Consciousness of the Demi-Gods
The Light from Above
Mystic Experiences
Illumination
Cosmic Consciousness
At One with the Universe
Testimony of the Poets, Mystics, and Seers
Recognition of the Oversoul
The Phenomenon of Cosmic Consciousness
Beings Who Function Habitually on the Plane of the Demi-Gods
Legendary Beings of the Ancients
The Planes of the Consciousness of the Gods
Transcendental Knowledge
Exalted Beings "Like Unto the Gods"
The Secret of the Archangels
The Truth of the Symbols
The Riddle of the Symbol
Part IX The Sevenfold Soul of Man 121
The Soul is One in Essence, Yet Wrapped in a Sevenfold Veil
Veils Which Conceal, but Yet Reveal
The Elemental Soul
The Pattern of Form
The Etheric Double
The So-called Astral Body
The "Ghost"
The Mineral Soul
The Spirit of the Chemical Processes in the Laboratory of the Body
The Plant Soul
The Spirit of the Vegetable Processes of Growth in the Body
The Animal Soul
The Spirit of the Animal Functions of the Body
The Truth About the Animal Passions and the Physical Processes
The Human Soul
The Spirit of Intellectual Activity and Reasoning Processes
A Plane of Great Trials and Struggles
The Soul of the Demi-Gods
The Spirit of the Altruistic Emotions and Activities, and of Cosmic Consciousness
The Higher Planes of the Soul
The Soul of the Gods
The Spirit of the Divine Faculties of the Soul
Summary of the Spiritual Evolution from Element to Godhood
Part X Metempsychosis 141
The Occult Doctrine of Metempsychosis, Reincarnation, or Transmigration of Souls
The Most Ancient of the World's Beliefs Concern the Soul
The Teachings of the Ancient Egyptians, Chaldeans, Persians, Hindus, and Greeks, and of Many Other Ancient Peoples
The Teaching of the Great Philosophers of All Times
How One Knows for Himself the Truth of Metempsychosis
Hidden Memories Awakened
Past Events Brought into the Field of Consciousness
Infant Prodigies, and Their Explanation
Remarkable Instances of Memories of the Past Life
The Law of Attraction determines Rebirth
The Life After Death, and Its Incidents and Phenomena
The Astral World
The Mystery of the Soul Sleep
The Astral Planes and Sub-planes
Life on the Astral Planes
How a Soul is Reborn on Earth
The Current of Rebirth
The Power of Desire in Determining the Character of Rebirth
Part XI The Soul's Progress 161
The Chain of the Seven Planets
The Spiral Stairway of Spiritual Progress
The Ascending Tide of Life
The Spiritual Wakes
The Seven Rounds
The Seven Races in Each Round
The Fourth Round on Earth
The First Race
The Second Race
The Third Race
Life in Lemuria
The Destruction of Lemuria
The Fourth Race
Life in Atlantis
The Doom of Atlantis
The Atlantean Survivors