The chapter 3 of the book The Kybalion talks a bit about mental
transmutation and details more about the first hermetic principle, which is the
principle of mentalism.
"Mind
(as well as metals and elements) may be transmuted, from state to state; degree
to degree; condition to condition; pole to pole; vibration to vibration. True
Hermetic Transmutation is a Mental Art.” — The Kybalion.
As we
have stated, the Hermetists were the original alchemists, astrologers, and
psychologists, Hermes having been the founder of these schools of thought. From
astrology has grown modern astronomy; from alchemy has grown modern chemistry;
from the mystic psychology has grown the modern psychology of the schools.
(This is incorrect because Blavatsky explained that
alchemy, astrology, and psychic techniques like mesmerism and hypnosis were
previously known in the Orient.)
But it
must not be supposed that the ancients were ignorant of that which the modern
schools suppose to be their exclusive and special property. The records
engraved on the stones of Ancient Egypt show conclusively that the ancients had
a full comprehensive knowledge of astronomy, the very building of the Pyramids
showing the connection between their design and the study of astronomical
science. Nor were they ignorant of Chemistry, for the fragments of the ancient
writings show that they were acquainted with the chemical properties of things;
in fact, the ancient theories regarding physics are being slowly verified by
the latest discoveries of modern science, notably those relating to the
constitution of matter.
(I suspect this was invented by the author of the
Kybalion because I haven't heard of any ancient Egyptian texts that talk about
chemistry and physics.)
Nor
must it be supposed that they were ignorant of the so-called modern discoveries
in psychology—on the contrary, the Egyptians were especially skilled in the
science of Psychology, particularly in the branches that the modern schools
ignore, but which, nevertheless, are being uncovered under the name of
"psychic science" which is perplexing the psychologists of to-day,
and making them reluctantly admit that "there may be something in it after
all."
The
truth is, that beneath the material chemistry, astronomy and psychology (that
is, the psychology in its phase of "brain-action") the ancients
possessed a knowledge of transcendental astronomy, called astrology; of
transcendental chemistry, called alchemy; of transcendental psychology, called
mystic psychology. They possessed the Inner Knowledge as well as the Outer
Knowledge, the latter alone being possessed by modern scientists. Among the
many secret branches of knowledge possessed by the Hermetists, was that known
as Mental Transmutation, which forms the subject matter of this lesson.
"Transmutation"
is a term usually employed to designate the ancient art of the transmutation of
metals—particularly of the base metals into gold. The word
"Transmute" means "to change from one nature, form, or
substance, into another; to transform" (Webster). And accordingly,
"Mental Transmutation" means the art of changing and transforming
mental states, forms, and conditions, into others. So you may see that Mental
Transmutation is the "Art of Mental Chemistry," if you like the
term—a form of practical Mystic Psychology.
But
this means far more than appears on the surface. Transmutation, Alchemy, or
Chemistry on the Mental Plane is important enough in its effects, to be sure,
and if the art stopped there it would still be one of the most important
branches of study known to man. But this is only the beginning. Let us see why!
The
first of the Seven Hermetic Principles is the Principle of Mentalism, the axiom
of which is "THE ALL is Mind; the Universe is Mental," which means
that the Underlying Reality of the Universe is Mind; and the Universe itself is
Mental—that is, "existing in the Mind of THE ALL." We shall consider
this Principle in succeeding lessons, but let us see the effect of the
principle if it be assumed to be true.
If the
Universe is Mental in its nature, then Mental Transmutation must be the art of
CHANGING THE CONDITIONS OF THE UNIVERSE, along the lines of Matter, Force and
mind. So you see, therefore, that Mental Transmutation is really the
"Magic" of which the ancient; writers had so much to say in their
mystical works, and about which they gave so few practical instructions. If All
be Mental, then the art which enables one to transmute mental conditions must
render the Master the controller of material conditions as well as those
ordinarily called "mental."
As a
matter of fact, none but advanced Mental Alchemists have been able to attain
the degree of power necessary to control the grosser physical conditions, such
as the control of the elements of Nature; the production or cessation of
tempests; the production and cessation of earthquakes and other great physical
phenomena.
(I'm not sure earthquakes can be avoided.)
But
that such men have existed, and do exist today, is a matter of earnest belief
to all advanced occultists of all schools. That the Masters exist, and have
these powers, the best teachers assure their students, having had experiences
which justify them in such belief and statements. These Masters do not make
public exhibitions of their powers, but seek seclusion from the crowds of men,
in order to better work their may along the Path of Attainment. We mention
their existence, at this point, merely to call your attention to the fact that
their power is entirely Mental, and operates along the lines of the higher
Mental Transmutation, under the Hermetic Principle of Mentalism.
(This
is false because the power of the masters comes from their spiritual soul,
which is superior to the mental one.)
"The
Universe is Mental"—The Kybalion.
But
students and Hermetists of lesser degree than Masters—the Initiates and
Teachers—are able to freely work along the Mental Plane, in Mental
Transmutation. In fact all that we call "psychic phenomena,";
"mental influence"; "mental science"; "new-thought
phenomena," etc., operates along the same general lines, for there is but
one principle involved, no matter by what name the phenomena be called.
The
student and practitioner of Mental Transmutation works among the Mental Plane,
transmuting mental conditions, states, etc., into others, according to various
formulas, more or less efficacious. The various "treatments,"
"affirmations," "denials" etc., of the schools of mental
science are but formulas, often quite imperfect and unscientific, of The
Hermetic Art. The majority of modern practitioners are quite ignorant compared
to the ancient masters, for they lack the fundamental knowledge upon which the
work is based.
Not
only may the mental states, etc., of one's self be changed or transmuted by
Hermetic Methods; but also the states of others may be, and are, constantly
transmuted in the same way, usually unconsciously, but often consciously by
some understanding the laws and principles, in cases where the people affected
are not informed of the principles of self-protection. And more than this, as
many students and practitioners of modern mental science know, every material
condition depending upon the minds of other people may be changed or transmuted
in accordance with the earnest desire, will, and "treatments" of
person desiring changed conditions of life.
The public are so generally
informed regarding these things at present, that we do not deem it necessary to
mention the same at length, our purpose at this point being merely to show the
Hermetic Principle and Art underlying all of these various forms of practice,
good and evil, for the force can be used in opposite directions according to
the Hermetic Principles of Polarity.
In this
little book we shall state the basic principles of Mental Transmutation, that
all who read may grasp the Underlying Principles, and thus possess the
Master-Key that will unlock the many doors of the Principle of Polarity.
We
shall now proceed to a consideration of the first of the Hermetic Seven
Principles—the Principle of Mentalism, in which is explained the truth that
"THE ALL is Mind; the Universe is Mental," in the words of The
Kybalion. We ask the close attention, and careful study of this great
Principle, on the part of our students, for it is really the Basic Principle of
the whole Hermetic Philosophy, and of the Hermetic Art of Mental Transmutation.
OBSERVATIONS
In this chapter, the author of the Kybalion confuses mental transmutation with magic and with the ability to change the conditions of nature. What is magic? Magic
is the management of energies through rituals and invocations, and
although the use of the mind is something very useful in magic, it is
not the most important parameter to be successful in magic, since the
main factor is the development that the magician has reached.
And
in the same way, the control of the elements and the weather is
achieved by developing the ability to direct the spirits of nature. And
in this also the mental is somewhat useful, but it is above all the
development of power that allows a person to achieve this feat.
In addition, the axiom that the author of the Kybalion repeats so much, that "the ALL is mind", is false because the mental substance (Manas in Sanskrit) is essentially located in the plane of existence that is known as
"the mental plane" and that it is the fifth highest plane of the seven planes that are located at the planetary level:
But
although for humans the mind is something very important, because it is
the most elaborate instrument that they currently have in order to
obtain the best understanding of things. It
is not the only one, and the masters explained that the mental is only
an instrument that is used for the five densest planes, while other
instruments are used for the other higher planes.
And
as humans continue to evolve, they will use their mind
less and less, and instead they will use their spiritual consciousness
more and more, that is, their spiritual soul (Buddhi in Sanskrit). And the soul does not communicate through words but through archetypes.
And the celestial beings are still much higher than the spiritual soul, since when Lili asked the angel:
What is the soul?
The angel answered him:
“That which seems so elusive to you is a thick wall to me.”
And we are just talking about the first element that is above the mental!
The angel answered that to Lili because the angelic hierarchy is much higher than the buddhic plane, since she inhabits the following three planes of the solar system:
And
the theosophical instructors explained that the three highest planes of
the solar system are called "The World without forms", because there no
longer exist entities with forms (even if these forms are subtle as is
the case of celestial beings: angels, archangels, seraphim, etc.) but on those higher planes the Cosmic Consciousnesses
unfold, which no longer have a configuration that shows a form, but are
like gigantic "LIGHTS" endowed with consciousness.
And
Blavatsky explained that these seven great planes of the solar system
barely constitute the densest plane of the seven immense planes that
make up the Universe. And nothing can be said about those immense superior planes anymore because they go beyond our understanding.
This shows you that the mental is only a miniscule portion of
THE ALL, to the degree that if we consider the 343 planes of existence
that have been revealed to us to exist (and I wouldn't be surprised if
there are more), then it turns out that the mental only is 0.003% of
ALL.
So the assertion made by the author of the Kybalion is false, and the axiom he pointed out should rather have said:
« The mind is only a very small portion of the ALL. »
As for the Universe, it is clearly not mental but physical, and therefore the second part of the axiom should have added:
« The Universe is not mental, but the mind can influence our environment. »
And
it is that our mind can influence our thoughts, our emotions and even
matter, but that does not mean that everything is mental, but that the
mind has authority in its plane and in the planes that are below it. But instead the mind has no domain in the planes that are above it.
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