Modern science is shocked by having recently discovered in this invisible realm a whole series of facts which appear marvelous, astonishing, and inexplicable. For these discoveries clearly contradict the materialistic theories under whose sway it acquired the habit of thinking and working.
There is nothing more instructive than the indignant incredulity of certain physical scientists when brought face to face with all those phenomena that tend to prove the existence of an invisible, spiritual world. In this the reputation of these material scientists faces a terrible test.
What is implied by the simplest phenomenon of mental suggestion at a distance and by pure thought, a phenomenon continually being demonstrated in the annals of magnetism, as a mode of motion both of mind and will, outside of physical laws or the visible world.
Thus the door of the spiritual world has been thrown open. In the higher phenomena of somnambulism, this world appears in its full extent.
The Secret Doctrine of the Ancient Masters was not merely a science, but a religio-philosophy. It was a science, philosophy and religion of which all the rest are nothing but preparations or degeneracies, partial or erroneous expressions, according as they proceed to them or turn aside from them.
A theology imprisoned in dogma, and a science chained to materialism, cannot fill the desires of the human heart.
NATURE
The Ancient Masters, scientists of the highest degree, saw that aspect of the Cosmos termed Nature in a much different light than we do, thanks to our type of education.
We are taught that Nature does this and that, showing that the basic meaning of the word is disregarded, while the word itself is distorted in its use to serve the purpose of organized institutions that control the Nation.
Nature does nothing. Nature is the made, and not the maker. Nature is the Visible World, composed of cosmic substance and cosmic force, and under the direction of cosmic intelligence (law).
The word Nature evolved from Nasci—to be born. Nature is born the same as man is. Nature is the existing order and products constituting the Material World, of which man is a part.
The Ancient Masters considered Nature the work of the Great First Cause, the existence of which is admitted by the same physical scientists who deny in the next breath the existence of a Life Principle and a Principle of intelligence.
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903), strong exponent of the modern philosophy of Materialism and Evolutionism, wrote:
“In our search for a cause, we discover no resting place until we arrive at the hypothesis of a First Cause; and we have no alternative but to regard this First Cause as Infinite and Absolute. These are inferences forced upon us by arguments from which there appears no escape” (First Principles).
Nature constitutes the Visible World. It is the Book we read as we strive to learn what we can of the mysteries of the Universe. That is the only book which God ever wrote. It is His Word, and contains the only Basic Truths in the Universe.
More than 2,500 years ago Confucius said:
“Does God speak? The solar system holds its orderly course, the earth fails not to revolve on its axis, the seasons pass in regular order, and all things continue to live and grow according to positive law; yet, I ask, Does God speak?”
Man is part of Nature, and produced exactly as are all other parts of Nature. He is constituted of the same elements, and all phases of cosmic law that apply to nature, also apply to him with equal force and effect.
Nature is that which is. True science must be Natural Science. For it is based on God’s work, and is, therefore, God Science. It is the only Science that correctly records the true interpretations of what we read in the Book of God. Unprejudiced, logical reasoning is the consistent process of reading that Book.
In Nature, Natural Science, and Logic, we have subject, object and process, all indissolubly connected, illustrating the same principles and leading to the same conclusions from every angle of consideration. All must focus on the same point, the Point of Origin.
Nature illustrates the Processes of Creation as well as the Products of Creation. The Products stand before us, and speak for themselves. The Processes are not so patent. They may be clearly seen in the Mind, being understood by the work they do and by what they produce (Rom. 1:20). When these Processes are disclosed without bias or prejudice, then we are able to predict and/or determine the correct results.
How Cosmic Processes do their work, how they grow a plant, produce fruit, build men, produce good and bad health—that is the task to which the Ancient Masters directed their efforts, to learn how to apply certain conditions in order to produce certain results.
Certainty is the product of fixed law. Anything done by cosmic processes is proof that it will always be done in the same way under the same conditions.
Variety of production comes secondarily from the same cause. Under the same conditions the same results are obtained. Under a change of conditions it is evident there must be a corresponding change of results.
This is a certain fact whether in chemistry, mechanics or physiology. The causes of things are dependent in their action upon occasions or conditions as these bring into operation the Law of Production. That is the reason why cosmic processes can produce a plenitude of compounds from a paucity of elements.
Whenever two or more elements come together under favorable conditions, the law of production being fixed, a compound is produced which is necessarily different from any one of the elements. But this compound is subject to change with every change of conditions, as the facts of chemistry constantly prove.
TWO KINDS OF FACTS
Exact science must present a true picture of the Processes as well as of the Products. That picture must be based upon actual facts and not fancies.
Nature is constituted of facts, and is based on Principles. Nature is the product of Principles.
Facts fall into two classes. In both Nature and Science there are (1) Facts Observed, and (2) Facts Inferred. Ancient Science established their existence and traced their connections.
Facts observed are known as phenomena—the things we see and feel, the symptoms, as the doctor would say, constituting the Visible World.
Here at the starting point is where we encounter the first error of Inductive Science, and from there on physical science is hopelessly lost.
While physical science denies it, all experience proves that the Visible World is not the Real World. We term it the Shadow World, the World of Illusion, in which the unenlightened man shares his knowledge with the beast, and upon which plane all men are in the same class until they see the light by finding the Kingdom of God within the organism it has made.
The theories of modern science are based upon what it finds in the World of Illusion. It believes only what it sees, and thus thinks that Life is the expression of a series of chemical changes.
The chemical changes observed are effects only, and are produced by an invisible cause.
Every cause is a power or principle, constituted of Force, operating under the control and direction of Law.
The scientist who trust to observation for his facts, is looking at the wrong side of Nature. He lives in the World of Illusion but knows it not.
The great truths which have shaken society to its center, have always appeared insignificant to the superficial observer; while to the discoverer, the true philosopher, the comprehensive thinker, the True Principle is a Pearl of priceless value.
To him who has attained the true vantage-ground by discovering the Principle, everything is clear, full and obvious. Speculation then gives way to knowledge, and empiricism to the certainty of science.
It is the Real World, the hidden causes of things, the invisible forces and the laws of their operation, that we must discover if we would know the mysterious secrets back of Life and Death.
SEE THE INVISIBLE FROM WITHIN
Facts inferred are considered as conclusion reached by a process of logical and consistent reasoning from Facts observed.<
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The Ancient Masters explained it thus:
“The invisible things of God from the creation of the world are clearly seen (in the mind), being understood by the things that are made” (visible).—Rom. 1:20).
Man is possessed of Reason. The first task of Reason is to infer the Invisible from the Visible, the Spiritual from the Physical, the Unknown from the Known. In this respect, Reason is a faculty never used by modern science.
Inferences are special conclusions from particular circumstances. They serve as links in the chain of reasoning. Had they been considered by modern science, it had never developed nor accepted the theory of Evolution.
Observation shows that phenomena are effects. Reason declared that effects are necessarily the product of Causes. Hence, the Facts Inferred become at once the great necessity of an exact Science.
Modern science positively disregards Facts Inferred. It holds that they are of no value until definitely verified. But it is this verification that makes them to be Facts of Inference.
Facts Inferred would seem to be the circumstantial evidence of Science, and hence the most reliable form of scientific knowledge. But as they are barred from consideration by the ethics of modern science, it can be understood why the Life Principle, Cosmic Intelligence and the God of Creation are rejected by modern science as rank superstition.
SCIENCE OF MAN
Nature is composed of Causes and Effects, constituting the Facts Inferred from the Facts Observed.
Ancient Science traced by logical and consistent processes the exact relationship between these two classes of Facts, showing what Causes produce what Effects, in order that they might obviate, produce, control or at least explain, the Effects.
Science must be practical to be useful and valuable. Its province is to confer power by developing Knowledge based on Truths and the Facts of Nature. When these Truths and Facts are disregarded, distorted, or suppressed, there can be no science. On this point Carrel wrote:
“Evident facts having an unorthodox appearance are suppressed. By reason of these difficulties (suppressions), the inventory of the things which could lead us to a better understanding of the human being, has been left incomplete” (Man The Unknown, P. 40).
When the facts of Nature weaken or destroy the theory of materialism and evolutionism, they must be suppressed. It is the work of scientists in protecting their theories by the deliberate suppression of “evident facts having an unorthodox appearance” that prevents the modern world from having A Science of Man.
ANCIENT WISDOM DESTROYED
The Ancient Masters had a perfect system of Cosmic Science, developed over a million years ago, and handed down from one age to another.
Various despots at different times tried to destroy this ancient system, and the work of destruction was finally consummated under Constantine and his successors. David Livingston briefly tells the story in these words:
“It is a fact of history that this champion of Christianity (Constantine), motivated by the vain ambition to possess the exclusive religious power in the world, sent emissaries to the East, for the sole purpose of destroying their sacred scriptures, that he might hold this power over all people—controlling not only their temporal but their spiritual destinies also.
“He had gained a knowledge of the priceless value of these Eastern Records, having previously summoned to the Council (of Nicea) some 2,000 learned men out of all countries, who came with their choicest revelations; and it was from the cream of these sacred writings that the Constantine (Christian) Bible was composed.
“Then, after obtaining from them what was adjudged to be the best, these emissaries were sent to obliterate, at any cost, the priceless records of tens of thousands of years, such as the Revelations of the Avestas of the Persians, containing the record of the life and teachings of Zarathustra 7000 B.C., the most ancient of the Ascended Masters known to the outer world; and the Vedas of India, containing the wonders of the great Brahma.
“It was to effect this monstrous destruction (of these ancient scriptures) that Costullius, a monk, plotted the destruction of the world’s largest library at Alexandria, first in 390 A.D., which was only partially successful, but was finally consummated in 640 A.D., at the instigation of three Christian monks” (God’s Book Eskra, P. 727. notes 11, 12; “Magic Presence,” P. 353).—Book of David, P. 140.
The great stroke of destruction was planned under Constantine at the First Council of Nicea in 325 A.D., and as the work of destruction progressed, all of Europe slowly sank into a state of dismal darkness that has extended unto this day, giving the Christian world that system of science which we have been discussing.
No public report of the proceedings of that convention was ever made and issued; but a secret report was compiled and is concealed in the files of the Vatican at Rome. It is shown to all priests when they have reached a certain grade in their work.
The pseudo-science of today is approximately three centuries old, and is the work of materialists, evolutionists and atheists. And we speak of Russia as a “godless country.”
Now with materialism exploded by recent discoveries, and the Spiritual World of the Ancient Masters shown to be a fact, great confusion reigns in all branches of physical science.
ANCIENT SCIENCE
The Ancient Masters took the position that man could not solve the mysteries of the vast Invisible World without precise knowledge of the physical.
They postulated that the Spiritual or Invisible World was directly connected with the Physical World, and that its center was within the living organism and was manifest in the intellectual principle and the animating force.
That center they regarded as the Soul or Spirit, which was to them the Key that unlocks the mysteries of being.
By concentration of their will-power and the development of their latent faculties, they attained to the Divine Center which they called God. The Luke refers to this as follows:
“The Kingdom of God is within you” (17:21)
The Masters were not mere visionaries, paltry dreamers, nor the slaves of ambition. The world has never known greater men. They shone as stars of the first magnitude in the world of Divine Souls.
The pseudo scientists of this age represent a barren generation of greedy men, controlled in their work by organized institutions, devoid of ideals, light of faith, not inspired by any desire to improve the lot of mankind, believing in neither God nor the Soul, and scorning the suggestion of a Future Life. And we call Russia a “godless country.”
The Ancient Philosophy was generally divided into four categories:
1. Theogony, or the science of absolute principles, identical with the science of numbers as applied to the Universe, or sacred mathematics;
2. Cosmogony, or the realization of eternal principles;
3. Psychology, or the constitution of man; and
4. Physics, the science of kingdoms of terrestrial Nature and of their properties.
The essential principles of the Ancient Doctrines may be formulated as follows: Spirit is the only reality-a fact now proven by modern science but not admitted. Matter is condensed spiritual substance, and the theory of materialism is bankrupt.
Creation is an eternal process, never beginning and never ending. It continues just as life continues. The microcosm (man) by reason of his constitution, is the image and mirror of the Macrocosm (Universe), divine, human, and natural world.
It is for this reason that man, literally the image of God in spirit, can become his living world.
SPIRITUAL KINGDOM WITHIN
Gnosis, or the rational mysticism of all times, is the art of finding God in oneself by the development of the occult depths and latent powers of spiritual and physical consciousness.
To explain light, magnetism and electricity, it was necessary for modern science to posit the existence of a material substance that is subtle and imponderable, filling all space and penetrating all bodies-Matter which modern scientists call Ether.
This
is another step in the direction of the ancient philosophical doctrine of the Soul of the Cosmos,—Universal Spirit.
Ancient Science was the logical development of discovered Truths and Facts in Nature, from which the Masters deduced a scientific system of philosophy and religion that harmonized and agreed with Cosmic Process and Laws.
For the purpose of preservation, their system was concealed from the eyes of the world in a puzzling mass of symbols, allegories, parables, fables and fiction.
The written records of this system are termed the ancient scriptures. They were not prepared to teach the masses, but to conceal and to protect the Ancient Wisdom from loss and destruction. Being unable, without the key, to decipher the symbols, allegories, parables, fables and fiction, the despots would regard the whole thing as of no harm nor value, and not molest it. Otherwise the Ancient Wisdom had been utterly lost.
Man is the subject of the ancient scriptures, and the Science of Man is the Key to them.
The clergy knows nothing of the Ancient Wisdom concealed in the scriptures, or it would not teach that, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5).
The Spirit in man is the Image of God; and in the body of every man is the kingdom of God, as stated in the Luke (17:21). That is the occult reason why man’s body is more than form.
Spiritual life means the development of spiritual consciousness within, and not the observance of some creed.
Our defective understanding, our distorted vision, our social bondage, our controlled minds,—these are the natural products of modern education and training, and are designed to crush the Spirit within and fit man in the social pattern created by organized institutions.
Man’s Higher Consciousness Page 33