This is
the first chapter of the book “The Secret Doctrine of
the Rosicrucians.”
THE
ROSICRUCIANS AND THEIR SECRET DOCTRINE
The chapter begins
with this figure:
Figure 1. Mystical symbol of the Rosicrucian
Brotherhood.
(This is a very bad
start because that statement is false
as I show you in this other article link.)
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.
(All subsequent "Rosicrucian
orders" are spurious.)
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.
(This is being made up by William
Atkinson because Blavatsky specified that the last true Rosicrucian was Cagliostro.)
"The
Brothers of the Rosy Cross"
The modern interest in the
Rosicrucian Teachings 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.
(Several instructors
that I respect, like Blavatsky or Pasteur, say that Christian Rosenkreutz did
exist, and here William Atkinson is being very hypocritical because that
account is related in the "Fama
Fraternitatis" which is a manuscript that has been published since
1614. The thing is that William Atkinson was too sluggish to look for it. As
for his alleged initiations, given the colossal amount of mistakes and
falsehoods that he wrote, I highly doubt that he had them.)
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.
(We know almost nothing about the secret
doctrine of the Rosicrucians, and what William Atkinson reveals in this book is
NOT the Rosicrucian doctrine, but a summary of what he studied, but which is
unfortunately full of errors.)
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.
(It is true that this axiom is very
useful in esoteric study, but contrary to what William Atkinson claims, in this
book he no explained something related with what he calls “mental alchemy”, and
instead he did in his book The Kybalion, but there he made several mistakes
about it.)
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.
(It is not difficult to explain why: it
is mainly because that knowledge brings power and humans are not yet ready to
receive it. Look what they did with the atomic knowledge.)
Such a person is inclined to think
that the only reason therefore 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. »
(This was written by Alfred Sinnett and
is an excerpt from his book "Esoteric
Buddhism.")
"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.
(This is incorrect because the masters
explained that their Brotherhood is the guardian of the hidden knowledge and
they have periodically transmitted portions of that knowledge to humanity; and
that since very ancient times. But the knowledge is adapting to the development that humans are having, and
therefore the Rosicrucians did not receive exactly the same knowledge that the
Atlanteans received.)
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 there from, 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 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.
. . .
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. »
(This was written by William Atkinson
himself who is copying extracts from his book "The Arcane Teachings.")
"The
Seven Aphorisms of Creation"
In the present book, the writer has
presented for the consideration of his readers "The Seven Aphorisms of
Creation" of the Rosicrucians, which embody the fundamental principles of
the Rosicrucian Secret Doctrine. He has also reproduced the leading Secret
Symbols of the Rosicrucians which relate to the Seven Aphorisms of Creation.
The student who will master the
principles herein set forth will have brought himself to a plane of thought
which will naturally tend to place him en rapport with the higher teachers of
the Rosicrucians, and to render him subject to the offer of still higher
information should he desire to proceed further into this great study. Let the
student always remember the ancient axiom: "When the Pupil is ready, the
Master appears." But the Pupil is not "ready" until he has mastered the elementary instruction
such as is given in the pages of this book.
It is not claimed, however, that in
the pages of this book are given all
the Secret Teachings of the Rosicrucians, such as their Formulas and Methods of
Mental Alchemy, and Spiritual Transmutation. Such information cannot be cast
broadcast, for reasons which will be apparent to every earnest and intelligent
student. But, on the other hand, such
information cannot be withheld from those who are ready to receive it,
and who are moved by the proper motives in seeking to acquire the secret
knowledge. When the student learns how to give "The Right Knock,"
then will he find proven the old promise: "Knock, and it shall be opened
unto you."
(Neither the aphorisms nor the symbols
that William Atkinson puts in his book are Rosicrucian.)
The
Symbol of the Rosy Cross
The well-known Symbol of the
Rosicrucians —"The Rosy Cross"— appears in several forms, as for
instance: The Cross surmounted by the Rose; the Sword (the Cross handle)
attached to the Rose; the Cross surmounted by the Crown; a modification of the
Phallic Cross, etc. The explanation of the general Symbol is Sevenfold — the
three highest being reserved for Initiates of a certain rank, only, and
therefore cannot be stated here. Below follow several of the meanings which we
are permitted to translate and explain here:
1) The Cross Surmounted by the Rose, indicates that the
"Rose" (the mystic symbol of the Divine) can be attained only by the
suffering of mortal life (symbolized by the Cross).
Figure 2. The Symbol of the Rosy
Cross. (Conventionalized)
2) The Sword Attached to the Rose indicates that the Sword of the
Spirit must be actively employed in the Battle of Life, in order to win the
reward of the Rose (the Rose being the reward bestowed by the Queen upon the
victorious Knight, in the olden days).
3) The Cross Surmounted by the Crown, indicates that the suffering of
mortal existence, borne by the faithful disciple of Truth, will inevitably be
rewarded by the attainment of the Crown of Mastery. "Every Cross has its
Crown"; and "No Cross, no Crown"; being old aphorisms seeking to
express this truth.
4) The Modified Phallic Cross, indicates the Sexual Duality of the
Manifested Universe — the Presence and Activity of the Universal Male Principle
and the Universal Female Principle, respectively.
(The Modified Phallic Cross of the
Rosicrucians, however, must not be taken to indicate any relationship of the
Rosicrucians with the gross forms of Phallic Worship, however. The latter is
merely the distorted shadow of the Truth, and must not be mistaken for the
Reality.)
Conclusion
Concluding this introductory
statement, and inviting you to enter into the study of the Secret Doctrine of
the Rosicrucians, let us ask you to carefully consider the following words of
an ancient aphorism:
"The possession of Knowledge,
unaccompanied by a manifestation and expression in Action, is like the hoarding
of precious metals by the miser — a vain and foolish thing. Forget not The Law
of Use, in this and all other things."
OBSERVATIONS
William Atkinson shows much
ignorance regarding the Rosicrucians and particularly as regards the symbols
they used, since the true Rosicrucians did not use any of the crosses that he
put above, but a small cross within a large rose, as this document from 1615
shows:
This figure symbolizes the Creator God
that in the occultism is represented with a circle and a point in its center.
Later individuals, who no longer
knew of esoteric symbolism, deformed this figure putting a large cross with a
small rose.
And what William Atkinson calls
"the modified phallic cross" is much older than the Rosicrucians and
does not represent at all the sexual duality of the manifested universe as he
claims, this is a false invention that Atkinson came up with. What really it
represented in ancient times was life.
In ancient Egypt it was carried by
the gods who had control over life and death, such as: the goddess Isis, the god Anubis or the
god Aton.
Later, the Egyptian cross was taken
up by the ancient Greco-Roman cultures who transformed the oval in a circle,
the cross was more small, and became the symbol of the goddess Venus, thus representing femininity.
And this "modified phallic cross" that has nothing to
do with the Rosicrucians, William Atkinson in chapter four assures that it
represents universal androgyny, which is false.
And the cross that he calls
"the cross surmounted by the rose" which according to him is the
conventionalized symbol of the Rosicrucians, is not a Rosicrucian symbol but
rather a Catholic symbol used in the Eucharist.
~ * ~
And this is one more example that
shows you how extent William Atkinson's teaching is full of errors and lies.
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