Or the seven hermetic principles
Hermes Trismegistus, the three times great or “scribe of the gods” is said to have lived in the early days of ancient Egypt. Whether it really was or is only a legend is unknown. From him, however, start the great occult teachings, also called hermetic.
Considered contemporary with Abraham and, if the legends are true, even instructor of that venerable sage, Hermes was and is recognised as the Great Sun of occultism, whose rays served to illuminate the countless teachings that have been promulgated since his time. All the basic and fundamental teachings incorporated into the esoteric and even ancient teachings of India undoubtedly have their roots in the original hermetic teachings.
Hermes directed his lifework seems towards planting the seeds of the great Truth, which grew and flourished in so many strange and different forms of philosophy that dominated the thinking of the world. The fundamental truths learned by him were kept intact in their initial purity by a few scholars from each era. They kept alive the sacred flame of the hermetic teachings and transmitted the Truth only to those capable of seeing and understanding it.
There were always a few initiated watched over the eternal light of wisdom that illuminates the altar of Truth. They dedicated lives to the labour of love which the poet has so well stated in his lines:
"O, let not the flame die out! Cherished age after age in its dark cavern — in its holy temples
"Oh, do not let the flame die!
Even Jesus was one of the keepers and promoters of the hermetic teachings. “Those who have ears to hear, hear”, used Jesus to conclude his sayings and parables, emphasising the same thing as the hermetic aphorism of Kybalion: “The lips of Wisdom are closed, except to the ears of Understanding.” Jesus also said, “Do not throw pearls to the swine,” as did the hermeneutics who used to keep the pearls of wisdom for those able to understand and recognise their value.
Maybe we judge these teachers being so picky about sharing their knowledge. Looking back in history, the wisdom of the Masters is showed. They knew it was crazy to try teaching the one who is neither ready nor willing to receive the teaching.
The cry “Crucify! Crucify” comes from the lack of understanding of this message. The Christianity and the Christian church adopted the (hermetic) message of Jesus. Still, we had crusades that killed everyone not christian. We had the inquisition that tortured and burned most innocent people. In the name of Jesus, entire populations were erased. The fact that we today usually reject everything that we don’t understand shows us that the message of peace and love brought by Jesus to us was not entirely assumed, and more, was ignored.
“The Kybalion” is a booklet written in the early 20th century. The authors of this work are not known. They call themselves “three initiates”. The “hermetic principles” and their explanation were until then, most probably, transmitted through the millennia orally from the master to the apprentice.
For the rest of this year, I will reveal every day one of the principles, adding to it some personal comments.
Of course, in this era of information, you don’t need to read me. You can find online, if you are interested, everything on this topic. So, you are free to search for yourself.
“The Principles of Truth are Seven; he who knows these, understandingly, possesses the Magic Key before whose touch all the Doors of the Temple fly open.”
The Kybalion
Tomorrow with the first hermeneutic principle:
The Principle of Mentalism –
“EVERYTHING IS MIND; The Universe is Mental.”
23. December 2019 – text original be Diana