Chapter
4 - The ALL
"Under,
and back of, the Universe of Time, Space and Change, is ever to be
found The Substantial Reality -the Fundamental Truth."-The
Kybalion.
"Substance" means: "that which underlies all outward
manifestations; the essence; the essential reality; the thing in
itself," etc. "Substantial" means: "actually existing; being the
essential element; being real,'' etc. ''Reality'' means: "the state
of being real; true, enduring; valid; fixed; permanent; actual,"
etc.
Under and behind all outward appearances or manifestations, there
must always be a Substantial Reality. This is the Law. Man
considering the Universe, of which he is a unit, sees nothing but
change in matter, forces, and mental states. He sees that nothing
really IS, but that everything is BECOMING and CHANGING. Nothing
stands still-everything is being born, growing, dying-the very
instant a thing reaches its height, it begins to decline-the law of
rhythm is in constant operation-there is no reality, enduring
quality, fixity, or substantiality in anything - nothing is
permanent but Change. He sees all things evolving from other
things, and resolving into other things-a constant action and
reaction; inflow and outflow; building up and tearing down;
creation and destruction; birth, growth and death. Nothing endures
but Change. And if he be a thinking man, he realizes that all of
these changing things must be but outward appearances or
manifestations of some Underlying Power-some Substantial
Reality.
All thinkers, in all lands and in all times, have assumed the
necessity for postulating the existence of this Substantial
Reality. All philosophies worthy of the name have been based upon
this thought. Men have given to this Substantial Reality many
names-some have called it by the term of Deity (under many titles);
others have called it "The Infinite and Eternal Energy''; others
have tried to call it "Matter"-but all have acknowledged its
existence. It is self-evident-it needs no argument.
In these lessons we have followed the example of some of the
world's greatest thinkers, both ancient and modern-the Hermetic
Masters-and have called this Underlying Power-this Substantial
Reality-by the Hermetic name of "THE ALL," which term we consider
the most comprehensive of the many terms applied by Man to THAT
which transcends names and terms.
We accept and teach the view of the great Hermetic thinkers of all
times, as well as of those illumined souls who have reached higher
planes of being, both of whom assert that the inner nature of THE
ALL is UNKNOWABLE. This must be so, for naught by THE ALL itself
can comprehend its own nature and being.
The Hermetists believe and teach that THE ALL, "in itself," is and
must ever be UNKNOWABLE. They regard all the theories, guesses and
speculations of the theologians and metaphysicians regarding the
inner nature of THE ALL, as but the childish efforts of mortal
minds to grasp the secret of the Infinite. Such efforts have always
failed and will always fail, from the very nature of the task. One
pursuing such inquiries travels around and around in the labyrinth
of thought, until he is lost to all sane reasoning, action or
conduct, and is utterly unfitted for the work of life. He is like
the squirrel which frantically runs around and around the circling
treadmill wheel of his cage, traveling ever and yet reaching
nowhere-at the end of a prisoner still, and standing just where he
started.
And still more presumptuous are those who attempt to ascribe to THE
ALL the personality, qualities, properties, characteristics and
attributes of themselves, ascribing to THE ALL the human emotions,
feelings, and characteristics, even down to the pettiest qualities
of mankind, such as jealously, susceptibility to flattery and
praise, desire for offerings and worship, and all the other
survivals from the days of the childhood of the race. Such ideas
are not worthy of grown men and women, and are rapidly being
discarded.
(At this point, it may be proper for me to state that we make a
distinction between Religion and Theology-between Philosophy and
Metaphysics. Religion, to us, means that intuitional realization of
the existence of THE ALL, and one's relationship to it; while
Theology means the attempts of men to ascribe personality,
qualities, and characteristics to it; their theories regarding its
affairs, will, desires, plans, and designs; and their assumption of
the office of "middle-men" between THE ALL and the people.
Philosophy, to us, means the inquiry after knowledge of things
knowable and thinkable; while Metaphysics means the attempt to
carry the inquiry over and beyond the boundaries and into regions
unknowable and unthinkable, and with the same tendency as that of
Theology. And consequently, both Religion and Philosophy mean to us
things having roots in Reality, while Theology and Metaphysics seem
like broken reeds, rooted in the quicksands of ignorance, and
affording naught but the most insecure support for the mind or soul
of Man. We do not insist upon our students accepting these
definitions-we mention them merely to show our position. At any
rate, you shall hear very little about Theology and Metaphysics in
these lessons.)
But while the essential nature of THE ALL is Unknowable, there are
certain truths connected with its existence which the human mind
finds itself compelled to accept. And an examination of these
reports form a proper subject of inquiry, particularly as they
agree with the reports of the Illumined on high planes. Add to this
inquiry we now invite you.
"THAT
which is the Fundamental Truth-the Substantial Reality-is beyond
true naming, but the Wise Men call it THE ALL." -The
Kybalion.
"In its Essence, THE ALL is UNKNOWABLE." -The
Kybalion.
"But, the report of Reason must be hospitably received, and treated
with respect." - The Kybalion. The human reason, whose reports we
must accept so long as we think at all, informs us as follows
regarding THE ALL, and that without attempting to remove the veil
of the Unknowable:
(I) THE ALL must be ALL that REALLY IS. There can be nothing
existing outside of THE ALL, else THE ALL would not be THE
ALL.
(2) THE ALL must be INFINITE, for there is nothing else to define,
confine, bound, limit or restrict THE ALL. It must be Infinite in
Time, or ETERNAL,-it must have always continuously existed, for
there is nothing else to have ever created it, and something can
never evolve from nothing, and if it had ever "not been," even for
a moment, it would not "be" now,-it must continuously exist
forever, for there is nothing to destroy it, and it can never "not
be," even for a moment, because something can never become nothing.
It must be Infinite in Space-it must be Everywhere, for there is no
place outside of THE ALL-it cannot be otherwise than continuous in
Space, without break, cessation, separation, or interruption, for
there is nothing to break, separate, or interrupt its continuity,
and nothing with which to "fill in the gaps." It must be Infinite
in Power, or Absolute, for there is nothing to limit, restrict,
restrain, confine, disturb or condition it-it is subject to no
other Power, for there is no other Power.
(3) THE ALL must be IMMUTABLE, or not subject to change in its real
nature, for there is nothing to work changes upon it; nothing into
which it could change, nor from which it could have changed. It
cannot be added to nor subtracted from; increased nor diminished;
nor become greater or lesser in any respect whatsoever. It must
have always been, and must always remain, just what it is now-THE
ALL-there has never been, is not now, and never will be, anything
else into which it can change.
THE ALL being Infinite, Absolute, Eternal and Unchangeable it must
follow that anything finite, changeable, fleeting, and conditioned
cannot be THE ALL. And as there is Nothing outside of THE ALL, in
Reality, then any and all such finite things must be as Nothing in
Reality. Now do not become befogged, nor frightened-we are not
trying to lead you into the Christian Science field under cover of
Hermetic Philosophy. There is a Reconciliation of this apparently
contradictory state of affairs. Be patient, we will reach it in
time.
We see around us that which is called "Matter," which forms the
physical foundation for all forms. Is THE ALL merely Matter? Not at
all! Matter cannot manifest Life or Mind, and as Life and Mind are
manifested in the Universe, THE ALL cannot be Matter, for nothing
rises higher than its own source-nothing is ever manifested in an
effect that is not in the cause-nothing is evolved as a consequent
that is not involved as an antecedent. And then Modern Science
informs us that there is really no such thing as Matter-that what
we call Matter is merely "interrupted energy or force," that is,
energy or force at a low rate of vibration. As a recent writer has
said "Matter has melted into Mystery." Even Material Science has
abandoned the theory of Matter, and now rests on the basis of
"Energy."
Then is THE ALL mere Energy or Force? Not Energy or Force as the
materialists uses the terms, for their energy and force are blind,
mechanical things, devoid of Life or Mind. Life and Mind can never
evolve from blind Energy or Force, for the reason given a moment
ago:
''Nothing can rise higher than its source-nothing is evolved unless
it is involved-nothing manifests in the effect, unless it is in the
cause." And so THE ALL cannot be mere Energy or Force, for, if it
were, then there would be no such things as Life and Mind in
existence, and we know better than that, for we are Alive and using
Mind to consider this very question, and so are those who claim
that Energy or Force is Everything.
What is there then higher than Matter or Energy that we know to be
existent in the Universe? LIFE AND MIND! Life and Mind in all their
varying degrees of unfoldment! "Then," you ask, "do you mean to
tell us that THE ALL is LIFE and MIND?" Yes! and No! is our answer.
If you mean Life and Mind as we poor petty mortals know them, we
say No! THE ALL is not that! "But what kind of Life and Mind do you
mean?" you ask.
The answer is "LIVING MIND, as far above that which mortals know by
those words, as Life and Mind are higher than mechanical forces, or
matter-INFINITE LIVING MIND as compared to finite Life and Mind."
We mean that which the illumined souls mean when they reverently
pronounce the word: "SPIRIT!"
"THE
ALL" is Infinite Living Mind-the illumined call it
SPIRIT