Chapter
15 - Hermetic Axioms
"The
possession of Knowledge, unless accompanied by a manifestation and
expression in Action, is like the hoarding of precious metals-a
vain and foolish thing. Knowledge, like Wealth, is intended for
Use. The Law of Use is Universal, and he who violates it suffers by
reason of his conflict with natural forces."-The
Kybalion
The Hermetic Teachings, while always having been kept securely
locked up in the minds of the fortunate possessors thereof, for
reasons which we have already stated, were never intended to be
merely stored away and secreted. The Law of Use is dwelt upon in
the Teachings, as you may see by reference to the above quotation
from The Kybalion, which states it forcibly. Knowledge without Use
and Expression is a vain thing, bringing no good to its possessor,
or to the race.
Beware
of Mental Miserliness, and express into Action that which you have
learned. Study the Axioms and Aphorisms, but practice them also. We
give below some of the more important Hermetic Axioms, from The
Kybalion, with a few comments added to each. Make these your own,
and practice and use them, for they are not really your own until
you have Used them. "To change your mood or mental state-change
your vibration."
One may change his mental vibrations by an effort of Will, in the
direction of deliberately fixing the Attention upon a more
desirable state. Will directs the Attention, and Attention changes
the Vibration. Cultivate the Art of Attention, by means of the
Will, and you have solved the secret of the Mastery of Moods and
Mental States.
"To
destroy an undesirable rate of mental vibration, put into operation
the Principle of Polarity and concentrate upon the opposite pole to
that which you desire to suppress. Kill out the undesirable by
changing its polarity."-The Kybalion.
This is one of the most important of the Hermetic Formulas. It is
based upon true scientific principles. We have shown you that a
mental state and its opposite were merely the two poles of one
thing, and that by Mental Transmutation the polarity might be
reversed.
This principle is known to modern psychologists, who apply it to
the breaking up of undesirable habits by bidding their students
concentrate upon the opposite quality. If you are possessed of
Fear, do not waste time trying to "kill out" Fear, but instead
cultivate the quality of Courage, and the Fear will disappear. Some
writers have expressed this idea most forcibly by using the
illustration of the dark room.
You do not have to shovel out or sweep out the Darkness, but by
merely opening the shutters and letting in the Light the Darkness
has disappeared. To kill out a Negative quality, concentrate upon
the Positive Pole of that same quality, and the vibrations will
gradually change from Negative to Positive, until finally you will
become polarized on the Positive pole instead of the
Negative.
The reverse is also true, as many have found out to their sorrow,
when they have allowed themselves to vibrate too constantly on the
Negative pole of things. By changing your polarity you may master
your moods, change your mental states, remake your disposition, and
build up character. Much of the Mental Mastery of the advanced
Hermetics is due to this application of Polarity, which is one of
the important aspects of Mental Transmutation. Remember the
Hermetic Axiom (quoted previously), which says:
"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."-The Kybalion.
The mastery of Polarization is the mastery of the fundamental
principles of Mental Transmutation or Mental Alchemy, for unless
one acquires the art of changing his own polarity, he will be
unable to affect his environment. An understanding of this
principle will enable one to change his own Polarity, as well as
that of others, if he will but devote the time, care, study and
practice necessary to master the art. The principle is true, but
the results obtained depend upon the persistent patience and
practice of the student.
"Rhythm
may be neutralized by an application of the Art of
Polarization."-The Kybalion.
As we have explained in previous chapters, the Hermetists hold that
the Principle of Rhythm manifests on the Mental Plane as well as on
the Physical Plane, and that the bewildering succession of moods,
feelings, emotions, and other mental states, are due to the
backward and forward swing of the mental pendulum, which carries us
from one extreme of feeling to the other.
The Hermetists also teach that the Law of Neutralization enables
one, to a great extent, to overcome the operation of Rhythm in
consciousness. As we have explained, there is a Higher Plane of
Consciousness, as well as the ordinary Lower Plane, and the Master
by rising mentally to the Higher Plane causes the swing of the
mental pendulum to manifest on the Lower Plane, and he, dwelling on
his Higher Plane, escapes the consciousness of the swing backward.
This is effected by polarizing on the Higher Self, and thus raising
the mental vibrations of the Ego above those of the ordinary plane
of consciousness. It is akin to rising above a thing, and allowing
it to pass beneath you.
The advanced Hermetist polarizes himself at the Positive Pole of
his Being-the "I Am" pole rather than the pole of personality, and
by "refusing" and "denying" the operation of Rhythm, raises himself
above its plane of consciousness, and standing firm in his
Statement of Being he allows the pendulum to swing back on the
Lower Plane without changing his Polarity. This is accomplished by
all individuals who have attained any degree of self-mastery,
whether they understand the law or not. Such persons simply
"refuse" to allow themselves to be swung back by the pendulum of
mood and emotion, and by steadfastly affirming the superiority,
they remain polarized on the Positive pole.
The Master, of course, attains a far greater degree of proficiency,
because he understands the law which he is overcoming by a higher
law, and by the use of his Will he attains a degree of Poise and
Mental Steadfastness almost impossible of belief on the part of
those who allow themselves to be swung backward and forward by the
mental pendulum of moods and feelings. Remember, always, however,
that you do not really destroy the Principle of Rhythm, for that is
indestructible. You simply overcome one law by counter-balancing it
with another, and thus maintain an equilibrium. The laws of balance
and counter-balance are in operation on the mental as well as on
the physical planes, and an understanding of these laws enables one
to seem to overthrow laws, whereas he is merely exerting a
counterbalance.
"Nothing
escapes the Principle of Cause and Effect, but there are many
Planes of Causation, and one may use the laws of the higher to
overcome the laws of the lower."-The
Kybalion.
By an understanding of the practice of Polarization, the Hermetists
rise to a higher plane of Causation and thus counter-balance the
laws of the lower planes of Causation. By rising above the plane of
ordinary Causes they become themselves, in a degree, Causes instead
of being merely Caused. By being able to master their own moods and
feelings, and by being able to neutralize Rhythm, as we have
already explained, they are able to escape a great part of the
operations of Cause and Effect on the ordinary plane.
The masses of people are carried along, obedient to their
environment; the wills and desires of others stronger than
themselves; the effect of inherited tendencies; the suggestions of
those about them; and other outward causes; which tend to move them
about on the chess-board of life like mere pawns. By rising above
these influencing causes, the advanced Hermetists seek a higher
plane of mental action, and by dominating their moods, emotions,
impulses and feelings, they create for themselves new characters,
qualities and powers, by which they overcome their ordinary
environment, and thus become practically players instead of mere
Pawns. Such people help to play the game of life understandingly,
instead of being moved about this way and that way by stronger
influences and powers and wills.
They use the Principle of Cause and Effect, instead of being used
by it. Of course, even the highest are subject to the Principle as
it manifests on the higher planes, but on the lower planes of
activity, they are Masters instead of Slaves. As The Kybalion
says:
"The wise ones serve on the higher, but rule on the lower. They
obey the laws coming from above them, but in their own plane, and
those below them, they rule and give orders. And, yet, in so doing,
they form a part of the Principle, instead of opposing it. The wise
man falls in with the Law, and by understanding its movements he
operates it instead of being its blind slave. Just as does the
skilled swimmer turn this way and that way, going and coming as he
will, instead of being as the log which is carried here and
there-so is the wise man as compared to the ordinary man-and yet
both swimmer and log; wise man and fool, are subject to Law. He who
understands this is well on the road to Mastery."-The
Kybalion.
In conclusion let us again call your attention to the Hermetic
Axiom:
"True
Hermetic Transmutation is a Mental Art."-The
Kybalion.
In the above axiom, the Hermetists teach that the great work of
influencing one's environment is accomplished by Mental Power. The
Universe being wholly mental, it follows that it may be ruled only
by Mentality. And in this truth is to be found an explanation of
all the phenomena and manifestations of the various mental powers
which are attracting so much attention and study in these earlier
years of the Twentieth Century. Back of and under the teachings of
the various cults and schools, remains ever constant the principle
of the Mental Substance of the Universe.
If the Universe be Mental in its substantial nature, then it
follows that Mental Transmutation must change the conditions and
phenomena of the Universe. If the Universe is Mental, then Mind
must be the highest power affecting its phenomena. If this be
understood then all the so-called "miracles" and "wonder-workings
are seen plainly for what they are.
"THE
ALL is MIND; The Universe is Mental."-The
Kybalion.