By Franz Hartmann
THE
PRINCIPLES OF THE YOGA-PHILOSOPHY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS AND ALCHEMISTS
The following pages were originally intended to form the basis of a separate
work, entitled "A Key to the
Secret Symbols of the Rosicrucians." As the idea of bringing out
such a book has been abandoned for the present, they have been added as a
suitable appendix to the foregoing historical notes.
It will be found that the doctrines presented herein contain the most
profound secrets, especially in regard to the "resurrection of the
flesh." They go to show that the physical body is neither a useless nor a
despicable thing, and that Matter is as necessary to Spirit, as Spirit to
Matter. Without the presence of a living body no resurrection could take place;
neither could the Spirit have any relative existence without the presence of a
material form. The state of Nirvana is not to be attained by merely dreaming
about it, and before Man can rise superior to anything he must have attained
that to which he desires to become superior. Only from the soul resurrected
within the body of flesh arises the glorified spirit.
PRAESENTIA MUNIAMUR EJUS IN ORBITU
NOSTRO
Ex Deo nascimur. In Jesu morimur. Reviviscimus per
Spiritum Sanctum.
(We are born of God. We die in Jesus. We revive through the Holy Spirit)
IN
THE PRONAOS OF THE TEMPLE OF THE TRUE ROSY CROSS
Our salvation is the life of Christ in us.
The place or state wherein the true Rosicrucian lives is far too exalted
and glorious to be described in words. When we enter the vestibule of the
temple of the true Rosy Cross, we enter into a region of unalloyed bliss and
happiness. There is an effulgence of super-terrestrial light, where all
laborious thinking and exercise of the imagination for the purpose of drawing
logical inferences about the unknown, ceases, for in that light is the realm of
pure knowledge; to live there is to perceive, and to perceive is to know. Into
.that paradise of celestial consciousness nothing impure can enter. No room is
there for terrestrial flesh and blood; but the spiritual beings which inhabit
that realm are made of the flesh and body of "Christ," in other words,
of the substance of the spiritual soul.
H. P. Blavatsky, in her "Key to Theosophy," says that there
are beings having attained a state of spiritual consciousness which would
entitle them to enter the state of Nirvana; nevertheless, out of compassion for
mankind, they still remain residents of this earth, inhabiting invisibly for
mortal eyes the astral plane of our planet. In that, she describes the true
order of the Golden and Rosy Cross
as a spiritual Brotherhood, and if one of these superior beings, for some purpose
or other, reincarnates in a human body upon this planet, then will there be a
real Rosicrucian in a visible form upon this earth.
The "history" of that "brotherhood" is the history
of the evolution of the world, and that of the spiritual regeneration of the
soul and the body of man; for although each of these individual beings had its
own terrestrial history and experiences in passing through many incarnations
upon this planet, nevertheless, in its essential points the history of all is
alike, and consisted in the conquering of the low and the unfoldment of the
high. They all had to bear the Cross of suffering before they could become
crowned with victory; they all had to crucify their selfish and personal will,
and die in regard to all that attracts the soul to the sphere of earthly
desires and illusions before they could have the spiritual faculties of their
souls unfolded like the Rose whose leaves are unfolded by the rays of the
rising sun.
ROSICRUCIAN
RULES
1. Love God above all
To "love God" means to love wisdom and truth. We can love God
in no other way than in being obedient to Divine law; and to enable us to
exercise that obedience conscientiously requires knowledge of the law, which
can only be gained by practice.
2. Devote your time to your spiritual advancement
As the sun without leaving his place in the sky sends his rays upon the
earth to shine upon the pure and the impure, and to illuminate even the most
minute material objects with his light; likewise the spirit of man may send his
mental rays into matter to obtain knowledge of all terrestrial things; but
there is no need that the spirit should thereby lose its own divine
self-consciousness, and be itself absorbed by the objects of its perception.
3. Be entirely unselfish
Spiritual knowledge begins only where all sense of self ceases. Where
the delusion which causes man to imagine himself to be a being separated and
isolated from others ends, there he begins to realize his true state as an
all-embracing universal and divine self-conscious power.
4. Be temperate, modest, energetic, and silent
The door to the inner temple is called "Contentment"; but no
animal can enter therein, only he who walks uprightly, being conscious of his
true dignity as a human being. Without energy, nothing can be accomplished; and
only in the silence, when all thoughts and desires are at rest, can the Divine
harmonies penetrate to the internal ear.
5. Learn to know the origin of the metals contained within thyself
Ignorance is the cause of suffering. That which is material must be
crucified and die, so that that which is spiritual may be resurrected and live.
6. Beware of quacks and pretenders
He who claims to be in possession of knowledge knows nothing; only he
through whom the Word of wisdom speaks is wise.
7. Live in constant adoration of the highest good
The worm seeks for pleasure among abomination and filth; but the free
eagle spreads his wings and rises up towards the sun.
8. Learn the theory before you attempt the practice
He who travels with a trustworthy guide will be safer than he who
refuses to profit by the experience of another.
9. Exercise charity towards all beings
All beings are one in the spirit; divided from each other merely by the
illusion of form. He who is charitable towards another form in which the
universal One Life is manifest, saves suffering to his own self.
10. Read the ancient books of wisdom
Books are to the unripe mind that which the mother's milk is to the
nursling. We must receive drink from others until we have gained sufficient
strength and experience to descend to the living fountain within ourselves, and
to draw from there the water of truth.
11. Try to understand their secret meaning
That which is external may be seen with the external eye; but that which
is spiritual can only be seen with the eye of the spirit.
~ * ~
These are the eleven rules which ought to be followed by those who
desire to enter the temple of the Rosy Cross; but the Rosicrucians have a
twelfth rule, an Arcanum, in
which great powers reside, but of which it is not lawful to speak. This Arcanum
will be given to those who deserve it, and by its aid they will find light in
the darkness, and a guiding hand through the labyrinth. This Arcanum is
inexpressible in the language of mortals, and it can, therefore, only be
communicated from heart to heart.
There is no torture strong enough to extract it from the true Rosicrucian; for
even if he were willing to reveal it, those who are unworthy of it are not
capable of receiving it.
THE
DUTIES OF A ROSICRUCIAN
Those who are dead in the flesh will read the following with the
external understanding; those who live in the spirit will see its internal
meaning, and act accordingly.
The duties of a true Rosicrucian are:
1. To alleviate suffering and
to cure the sick without accepting any remuneration.
The medicine which they give is more valuable than gold; it is of an
invisible kind, and can be had for nothing everywhere.
2. To adopt the style of their
clothing to the costumes of the country wherein they reside for the time being.
The clothing of the spirit is the form which he inhabits, and must be
adapted to the conditions of the planet whereon he resides.
3. To meet once a year in a
certain place.
Those who do not meet at that place, when their terrestrial career is
over will have their names taken out of the book of life.
4. Each member has to select a
proper person to be his successor.
Each man is himself the creator of that being whose personality he
adopts on the next step on the ladder of evolution.
5. The letters R.C. are the
emblem of the order.
Those who have truly entered the order will bear the marks upon their
body, which cannot be mistaken by him who is capable of recognizing them.
6. The existence of the
Brotherhood is to be kept secret for one hundred years, beginning from the time
when it was first established.
Nor will the "hundred years" be over until man has awakened to
the consciousness of his own divine nature.
THE
SECRET SIGNS OF THE ROSICRUCIANS
There are sixteen characteristics by which a member of the order of the
Rosicrucians may be known. He who possesses only a few of those signs is not a
member of a very high degree, for the true Rosicrucian possesses them all.
1. The Rosicrucian is patient
His first and most important victory is the conquest of his own self. It
is the victory over the LION, who has bitterly injured some of the best
followers of the Holy Cross. He is not to be vanquished by a fierce and
inconsiderate attack made upon him; but he must be made to surrender to
patience and fortitude. The true Rosicrucian tries to overcome his enemies by
kindness, and those who hate him by gifts. He heaps not curses, but the burning
fire of love upon their heads. He does not persecute his enemies with the
sword, or with faggots, but he suffers the weeds to grow with the wheat until
they are both matured, when they will be separated by Nature.
2. The Rosicrucian is kind
He never appears gloomy or melancholy, or with a scowl or sneer upon his
face. He acts kindly and politely towards everybody, and is always ready to
render assistance to others. Although he is different from the majority of
other people, still he tries to accommodate himself to their ways, habits and
manners, as much as his dignity will permit. He is, therefore, an agreeable
companion, and knows how to converse with the rich as well as with the poor,
and to move among all classes of society so as to command their respect; for he
has conquered the bear of vulgarity.
3. The Rosicrucian knows no envy
Before he is accepted into the order he must go through the terrible
ordeal of cutting off the head of the snake of envy; which is a very difficult
labor, because the snake is sly, and easily hides itself in some corner. The
true Rosicrucian is always content with his lot, knowing that it is such as he
deserves it to be. He never worries about the advantages or riches which others
possess, but wishes always the best to everybody. He knows that he will obtain
all he deserves, and he cares not if any other person possesses more than he.
He expects no favors, but he distributes his favors without any partiality.
4. The Rosicrucian does not boast
He knows that man is nothing but an instrument in the hands of GOD, and
that he can accomplish nothing useful by his own will; the latter being nothing
but the will of GOD perverted in man. To GOD he gives all the praise, and to
that which is mortal he gives all the blame. He is in no inordinate haste to
accomplish a thing, but he waits until he receives his orders from the Master
who resides above and within. He is careful what he speaks about, and uses no
unhallowed language.
5. The Rosicrucian is not vain
He proves thereby that there is something real in him, and that he is
not like a blown-up bag filled with air. Applause or blame leaves him
unaffected, nor does he feel aggrieved if he is contradicted or encounters
contempt. He lives within himself, and enjoys the beauties of his own inner
world, but he never desires to show off his possessions, nor to pride himself
on any spiritual gifts which he may have attained. The greater his gifts, the
greater will be his modesty, and the more will he be willing to be obedient to
the law.
6. The Rosicrucian is not disorderly
He always strives to do his duty, and to act according to the order
established by the law. He cares nothing for externalities, nor for ceremonies.
The law is written within his heart, and therefore all his thoughts and acts
are ruled by it. His respectability is not centred in his external appearance,
but in his real being, which may be compared to a root from which all his
actions spring. The interior beauty of his soul is reflected upon his exterior,
and stamps all his acts with its seal; the light existing in his heart may be
perceived in his eye by an expert; it is the mirror of the Divine image within.
7. The Rosicrucian is not ambitious
There is nothing more injurious to spiritual development and expansion
of the soul than a narrow mind and a selfish character. The true Rosicrucian
always cares much more for the welfare of others than for his own. He has no
private or personal interest to defend or foster. He always seeks to do good, and
he never avoids any opportunity which may present itself for that purpose.
8. The Rosicrucian is not irritable
It is evident that a person who works for the benefit of the whole will
be hated by those whose personal advantages are not benefited thereby; because
selfishness is opposed to magnanimity, and the claims of the few are not always
compatible with the interests of the community. The Rosicrucian will therefore
be often resisted by narrow-minded and short-sighted people; he will be
slandered by calumniators, his motives will be misrepresented, he will be
misjudged by the ignorant, ridiculed by the would-be wise, and taunted by the
fool. All such proceedings, however, cannot excite or irritate the mind of the
true Rosicrucian, nor disturb the divine harmony of his soul; for his faith
rests in the perception and knowledge of the truth within himself.
The opposition of a thousand ignorant people will not induce him to
desist from doing that which he knows to be noble and good, and he will do it
even if it should involve the loss of his fortune or of his life. Being able
and accustomed to direct his spiritual sight towards the divine, he cannot be
deluded by the illusions of matter, but clings to the eternal reality. Being
surrounded by angelic influences, and listening to their voices, he is not
affected by the noise made by the animals. He lives in the company of those
noble beings, who were once men like others, but who have become transfigured,
and who are now beyond the reach of the vulgar and low.
9. The Rosicrucian does not think evil of others
Those who think evil of others see merely the evil which exists within
themselves reflected and mirrored forth in others. The Rosicrucian is always
willing to recognise in everything that which is good. Tolerance is a virtue by
which the Rosicrucian is eminently distinguished from others; and by which he
may be known. If a thing appears to be ambiguous, he suspends his judgment
about it until he has investigated its nature; but as long as his judgment is not
perfect, he is more inclined to form a good opinion than an evil one about
everything.
10. The Rosicrucian loves justice
He, however, never sets himself up as a judge over the faults of others,
nor does he wish to appear to be wise by censuring the mistakes of others. He
does not enjoy gossip, and cares no more about the foolishness committed by
others, than he would about the buzzing of a fly or the capers of a monkey. He
finds no pleasure in listening to political or personal quarrels, disputations,
or mutual recriminations. He cares nothing for the cunningness of a fox, the
dissimulation of a crocodile, or the rapacity of a wolf, and is not amused by
the stirring up of mud.
His nobility of character lifts him up into a sphere far beyond all such
trifles and absurdities, and being above the sensual plane, wherein ordinary
mortals find their happiness and enjoyment, he lives with those who do not
think evil of each other, who do not rejoice about an injustice done to their
brother, or make merry about his ignorance, and enjoy his misfortunes. He
enjoys the company of those who love the truth, and who are surrounded by the
peace and harmony of the spirit.
11. The Rosicrucian loves the truth
There is no devil worse than falsehood and calumny. Ignorance is a
nonentity, but falsehood is the substance of evil. The calumniator rejoices
whenever he has found something upon which to base his lies and to make them
grow like mountains. Opposed to it is the truth, it being a ray of light from
the eternal fountain of Good, which has the power to transform man into a
divine being. The Rosicrucian seeks, therefore, no other light but the light of
truth, and this light he does not enjoy alone, but in company of all who are
good and filled with its divine majesty, whether they live on this earth or in
the spiritual state; and he enjoys it above all with those who are persecuted,
oppressed, and innocent, but who will be saved by the truth.
12. The Rosicrucian knows how to be silent
Those who are false do not love the truth. Those who are foolish do not
love wisdom. The true Rosicrucian prefers to enjoy the company of those who can
appreciate truth to that of those who would trample it with their feet. He will
keep that which he knows locked up within his heart, for in silence is power.
As a minister of state does not go about telling to everybody the secrets of
the king; so the Rosicrucian does not parade before the public the revelations
made to him by the king within, who is nobler and wiser than all the earthly
kings and princes; for they only rule by the authority and power derived from
Him. His secrecy ceases only when the king commands him to speak, for it is
then not he who speaks, but the truth that is speaking through him.
13. The Rosicrucian believes that which he knows
He believes in the immutability of eternal law, and that every cause has
a certain effect. He knows that the truth cannot lie, and that the promises
made to him by the king will be fulfilled, if he does not himself hinder their fulfillment.
He is, therefore, inaccessible to doubt or fear, and puts implicit confidence
in the divine principle of truth, which has become alive and conscious within
his heart.
14. The Rosicrucian's hope is firm
Spiritual hope is the certain conviction resulting from a knowledge of
the law, that the truths recognised by faith will grow and be fulfilled; it is
the knowledge of the heart, and very different from the intellectual
speculation of the reasoning brain. His faith rests upon the rock of direct perception
and cannot be overthrown. He knows that in everything, however evil it may
appear to he, there is a germ of good, and he hopes that in the course of
evolution that germ will become developed, and thus evil be transformed into
good.
15. The Rosicrucian cannot be vanquished by suffering
He knows that there is no light without shadow, no evil without some
good, and that strength only grows by resistance. Having once recognized the
existence of the Divine principle within everything, external changes are to
him of little importance, and do not deserve great attention. His main object
is to hold on to his spiritual possessions, and not to lose the crown which he
has gained in the battle of life.
16. The Rosicrucian will always remain a member of his society
Names are of little importance. The principle which presides over the
Rosicrucian Society is the truth; and he who knows the truth, and follows it in
practice, is a member of the society over which the truth practices. If all
names were changed and all languages altered, the truth would remain the same;
and he who lives in the truth will live even if all nations should pass away.
~ * ~
These are the sixteen signs of the
true Rosicrucians, which have been revealed to a pilgrim by an angel who took
away the heart of the pilgrim, leaving in its place a fiery coal, which is now
incessantly burning and glowing with love of the universal brotherhood of
humanity.
(In the Pronaos of the Temple of Wisdom, chapter 7)