THE PRINCIPLE OF VIBRATION TAUGHT BY THE KYBALION

The chapter 9 of the book The Kybalion details the third hermetic principle, which is the principle of vibration.

 

"Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.” — The Kybalion.

 

The great Third Hermetic Principle—the Principle of Vibration—embodies the truth that Motion is manifest in everything in the Universe—that nothing is at rest—that everything moves, vibrates, and circles. This Hermetic Principle was recognized by some of the early Greek philosophers who embodied it in their systems. But, then, for centuries it was lost sight of by the thinkers outside of the Hermetic ranks. But in the Nineteenth Century physical science re-discovered the truth and the Twentieth Century scientific discoveries have added additional proof of the correctness and truth of this centuries-old Hermetic doctrine.

 

The Hermetic Teachings are that not only is everything in constant movement and vibration, but that the "differences" between the various manifestations of the universal power are due entirely to the varying rate and mode of vibrations. Not only this, but that even THE ALL, in itself, manifests a constant vibration of such an infinite degree of intensity and rapid motion that it may be practically considered as at rest, the teachers directing the attention of the students to the fact that even on the physical plane a rapidly moving object (such as a revolving wheel) seems to be at rest.

 

(Here the author of the Kybalion is confusing the ALL, which is the entity that is made up of everything that exists, with the part that is vibrationally higher than this entity.

 

To give you an analogy, consider man who is composed of seven principles, which are: his physical body, his energetic body, his astral body, etc. But it is his divine spirit that is the most intensely vibrating part of his entire being. They are not all his bodies. And the same happens with the ALL.)

 

 

The Teachings are to the effect that Spirit is at one end of the Pole of Vibration, the other Pole being certain extremely gross forms of Matter. Between these two poles are millions upon millions of different rates and modes of vibration.

 

Modern Science has proven that all that we call Matter and Energy are but "modes of vibratory motion," and some of the more advanced scientists are rapidly moving toward the positions of the occultists who hold that the phenomena of Mind are likewise modes of vibration or motion. Let us see what science has to say regarding the question of vibrations in matter and energy.

 

In the first place, science teaches that all matter manifests, in some degree, the vibrations arising from temperature or heat. Be an object cold or hot—both being but degrees of the same things—it manifests certain heat vibrations, and in that sense is in motion and vibration. Then all particles of Matter are in circular movement, from corpuscle to suns. The planets revolve around suns, and many of them turn on their axes. The suns move around greater central points, and these are believed to move around still greater, and so on, ad infinitum. The molecules of which the particular kinds of Matter are composed are in a state of constant vibration and movement around each other and against each other. The molecules are composed of Atoms, which, likewise, are in a state of constant movement and vibration. The atoms are composed of Corpuscles, sometimes called "electrons," "ions," etc., which also are in a state of rapid motion, revolving around each other, and which manifest a very rapid state and mode of vibration. And, so we see that all forms of Matter manifest Vibration, in accordance with the Hermetic Principle of Vibration.

 

And so it is with the various forms of Energy. Science teaches that Light, Heat, Magnetism and Electricity are but forms of vibratory motion connected in some way with, and probably emanating from the Ether. Science does not as yet attempt to explain the nature of the phenomena known as Cohesion, which is the principle of Molecular Attraction; nor Chemical Affinity, which is the principle of Atomic Attraction; nor Gravitation (the greatest mystery of the three), which is the principle of attraction by which every particle or mass of Matter is bound to every other particle or mass. These three forms of Energy are not as yet understood by science, yet the writers incline to the opinion that these too are manifestations of some form of vibratory energy, a fact which the Hermetists have held and taught for ages past.

 

The Universal Ether, which is postulated by science without its nature being understood clearly, is held by the Hermetists to be but a higher manifestation of that which is erroneously called matter—that is to say, Matter at a higher degree of vibration—and is called by them "The Ethereal Substance." The Hermetists teach that this Ethereal Substance is of extreme tenuity and elasticity, and pervades universal space, serving as a medium of transmission of waves of vibratory energy, such as heat, light, electricity, magnetism, etc. The Teachings are that The Ethereal Substance is a connecting link between the forms of vibratory energy known as "Matter" on the one hand, and "Energy or Force" on the other; and also that it manifests a degree of vibration, in rate and mode, entirely its own.

 

(Here the author of the Kybalion is very outdated because although it is true that scientists had theorized the hypothesis that there was an invisible substance in space that was what allowed the propagation of light, heat, magnetism, etc., and this substance scientists called "ether".

 

The negative result of the Michelson-Morley experiment in 1887 suggested to them that the ether did not exist, and the theory of relativity published in 1905 by Albert Einstein made them completely reject that ether.

 

And this shows that the author of the Kybalion was not up to date because by the time he published his book, in 1908, what he wrote was already obsolete.)

 

 

Scientists have offered the illustration of a rapidly moving wheel, top, or cylinder, to show the effects of increasing rates of vibration. The illustration supposes a wheel, top, or revolving cylinder, running at a low rate of speed—we will call this revolving thing "the object" in following out the illustration. Let us suppose the object moving slowly. It may be seen readily, but no sound of its movement reaches the ear. The speed is gradually increased. In a few moments its movement becomes so rapid that a deep growl or low note may be heard. Then as the rate is increased the note rises one in the musical scale. Then, the motion being still further increased, the next highest note is distinguished. Then, one after another, all the notes of the musical scale appear, rising higher and higher as the motion is increased. Finally when the motions have reached a certain rate the final note perceptible to human ears is reached and the shrill, piercing shriek dies away, and silence follows. No sound is heard from the revolving object, the rate of motion being so high that the human ear cannot register the vibrations.

 

Then comes the perception of rising degrees of Heat. Then after quite a time the eye catches a glimpse of the object becoming a dull dark reddish color. As the rate increases, the red becomes brighter. Then as the speed is increased, the red melts into an orange. Then the orange melts into a yellow. Then follow, successively, the shades of green, blue, indigo, and finally violet, as the rate of sped increases. Then the violet shades away, and all color disappears, the human eye not being able to register them. But there are invisible rays emanating from the revolving object, the rays that are used in photographing, and other subtle rays of light. Then begin to manifest the peculiar rays known as the "X Rays," etc., as the constitution of the object changes. Electricity and Magnetism are emitted when the appropriate rate of vibration is attained.

 

When the object reaches a certain rate of vibration its molecules disintegrate, and resolve themselves into the original elements or atoms. Then the atoms, following the Principle of Vibration, are separated into the countless corpuscles of which they are composed. And finally, even the corpuscles disappear and the object may be said to Be composed of The Ethereal Substance. Science does not dare to follow the illustration further, but the Hermetists teach that if the vibrations be continually increased the object would mount up the successive states of manifestation and would in turn manifest the various mental stages, and then on Spiritward, until it would finally re-enter THE ALL, which is Absolute Spirit.

 

(Here the author continues to confuse the Supreme Spirit with THE ALL.)

 

The "object," however, would have ceased to be an "object" long before the stage of Ethereal Substance was reached, but otherwise the illustration is correct inasmuch as it shows the effect of constantly increased rates and modes of vibration.

 

 

It must be remembered, in the above illustration, that at the stages at which the "object" throws off vibrations of light, heat, etc., it is not actually "resolved" into those forms of energy (which are much higher in the scale), but simply that it reaches a degree of vibration in which those forms of energy are liberated, in a degree, from the confining influences of its molecules, atoms and corpuscles, as the case may be. These forms of energy, although much higher in the scale than matter, are imprisoned and confined in the material combinations, by reason of the energies manifesting through, and using material forms, but thus becoming entangled and confined in their creations of material forms, which, to an extent, is true of all creations, the creating force becoming involved in its creation.

 

But the Hermetic Teachings go much further than do those of modern science. They teach that all manifestation of thought, emotion, reason, will or desire, or any mental state or condition, are accompanied by vibrations, a portion of which are thrown off and which tend to affect the minds of other persons by "induction." This is the principle which produces the phenomena of "telepathy"; mental influence, and other forms of the action and power of mind over mind, with which the general public is rapidly becoming acquainted, owing to the wide dissemination of occult knowledge by the various schools, cults and teachers along these lines at this time.

 

Every thought, emotion or mental state has its corresponding rate and mode of vibration. And by an effort of the will of the person, or of other persons, these mental states may be reproduced, just as a musical tone may be reproduced by causing an instrument to vibrate at a certain rate—just as color may be reproduced in the same may. By a knowledge of the Principle of Vibration, as applied to Mental Phenomena, one may polarize his mind at any degree he wishes, thus gaining a perfect control over his mental states, moods, etc. In the same way he may affect the minds of others, producing the desired mental states in them. In short, he may be able to produce on the Mental Plane that which science produces on the Physical Plane—namely, "Vibrations at Will." This power of course may be acquired only by the proper instruction, exercises, practice, etc., the science being that of Mental Transmutation, one of the branches of the Hermetic Art.

 

A little reflection on what we have said will show the student that the Principle of Vibration underlies the wonderful phenomena of the power manifested by the Masters and Adepts, who are able to apparently set aside the Laws of Nature, but who, in reality, are simply using one law against another; one principle against others; and who accomplish their results by changing the vibrations of material objects, or forms of energy, and thus perform what are commonly called "miracles."

 

As one of the old Hermetic writers has truly said: "He who understands the Principle of Vibration, has grasped the scepter of Power."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OBSERVATIONS

 

I agree with this chapter that everything vibrates, but the author of the Kybalion makes big mistakes when he explaining this principle, since apart from the mistakes that I mentioned above, in his text he also makes a description of the different types of waves that are in the electromagnetic spectrum:

 

 

But he makes the mistake of stating that the faster an object rotates, the more it will emit high frequency waves, and that is false, as I will show you below:

 

He first begins by saying that “as the speed gradually increases, a very low note begins to be heard. And as the speed continues to increase, the note rises up the musical scale.”

 

This is partially true, but it is due to the friction that the object makes with the air. Instead put that object in a vacuum and you won't hear anything no matter how fast it spins.

 

And the author of the Kybalion confuses sound with a musical note, since a musical note produces a sound, but a sound is not necessarily a musical note. And here, for example, the sound produced by the object will become more and more acute as the speed increases, but that does not mean that it will be emitting the different notes of the musical scale, as if it were of a musical instrument.

 

The author of the Kybalion says also that at higher speeds the object will emit the different colors of the rainbow, but that is also incorrect because the emission of light from an object does not depend on the speed with which it rotates, but depend on the reactions that this object produces with light. For example, turn on a red bulb and a blue bulb, and regardless of whether they turn or not, the two bulbs respectively will continue to emit red light and blue light.

 

The author of the Kybalion says also that at higher speeds the object will begin to emit high frequency rays that are invisible to the human eye. And that is also false, and the proof is that there are stars that rotate much slower than the Earth, but still they emit x-rays and gamma rays, while our planet does not.

 

And this is because the emission of radiation does not depend on the speed at which an object rotates, but rather on the physical and chemical reactions that take place inside it.

 

The author of the Kybalion goes on to say that at higher speeds "when the appropriate degree of vibration is reached, electricity and magnetism are emitted."

 

And this is also false, because for example, leave a battery immobile and still this battery will produce electricity; leave a magnet immobile and still this magnet will produce magnetism. And this is because electricity and magnetism do not depend on speed either, but have to do with the characteristics of the materials that make up this object.

 

And the author of the Kybalion continues with his story stating that the higher the vibration the object disintegrates and becomes "ethereal substance." And there the author of the Kybalion is showing charlatanism because it was not the hermeticists who called this superior state of matter "ethereal substance", but it was a liar named Charles Leadbeater.

 

He invented the lie that atoms were transformed into ethers on the etheric plane, and later this lie was taken up by other liars such as: Rudolf Steiner, Max Heindel, Alice Bailey, etc.

 

But it turns out that both science and the true esoterism have shown that the "ethers" do not really exist and they were just a deep falsehood invented by that individual (see link).

 

And this indicates to me that the author of the Kybalion did not know how to distinguish between the true esoteric teachings that the authentic masters transmitted and the pseudo-teachings that the liars later wrote, and unfortunately in his ignorance he mixed the two within his book.