"The lips of wisdom are closed, except to the ears of Understanding"—The Kybalion.
From old Egypt have come the fundamental esoteric and occult teachings which have so strongly influenced the philosophies of all races, nations and peoples, for several thousand years. Egypt, the home of the Pyramids and the Sphinx, was the birthplace of the Hidden Wisdom and Mystic Teachings. From her Secret Doctrine1 all nations have borrowed. India, Persia, Chaldea, Medea, China, Japan, Assyria, ancient Greece and Rome, and other ancient countries partook liberally at the feast of knowledge which the Hierophants and Masters of the Land of Isis so freely provided for those who came prepared to partake of the great store of Mystic and Occult Lore2 which the masterminds of that ancient land had gathered together.
In ancient Egypt dwelt the great Adepts3 and Masters who have never been surpassed, and who seldom have been equaled, during the centuries that have taken their processional flight since the days of the Great Hermes. In Egypt was located the Great Lodge4 of Lodges5 of the Mystics. At the doors of her Temples entered the Neophytes who afterward6, as Hierophants, Adepts, and Masters, traveled to the four corners of the earth, carrying with them the precious knowledge which they were ready, anxious, and willing to pass on to those who were ready to receive the same. All students of the Occult recognize the debt that they owe to these venerable Masters of that ancient land.
But among these great Masters of Ancient Egypt there once dwelt one of whom Masters hailed as "The Master of Masters." This man, if "man" indeed he was, dwelt in Egypt in the earliest days. He was known as Hermes Trismegistus. He was the father of the Occult Wisdom; the founder7 of Astrology; the discoverer of Alchemy. The details of his life story are lost to history, owing to the lapse8 of the years, though several of the ancient countries disputed with each other in their claims to the honor of having furnished his birthplace—and this thousands of years ago. The date of his sojourn9 in Egypt, in that his last incarnation on this planet, is not now known, but it has been fixed10 at the early days of the oldest dynasties of Egypt—long before the days of Moses. The best authorities regard him as a contemporary of Abraham, and some of the Jewish traditions go so far as to claim that Abraham acquired a portion of his mystic knowledge from Hermes himself.
As the years rolled by after his passing from this plane of life (tradition recording11 that he lived three hundred years in the flesh), the Egyptians deified Hermes, and made him one of their gods, under the name of Thoth. Years after, the people of Ancient Greece also made him one of their many gods—calling him "Hermes, the god of Wisdom." The Egyptians revered12 his memory for many centuries-yes, tens of centuries— calling him "the Scribe of the Gods," and bestowing13 upon him, distinctively14, his ancient title, "Trismegistus," which means "the thrice-great"; "the great-great"; "the greatest-great"; etc. In all the ancient lands, the name of Hermes Trismegistus was revered, the name being synonymous with the "Fount of Wisdom."
Even to this day, we use the term "hermetic" in the sense of "secret"; "sealed so that nothing can escape"; etc., and this by reason of the fact that the followers15 of Hermes always observed the principle of secrecy16 in their teachings. They did not believe in "casting pearls before swine," but rather held to the teaching "milk for babes"; "meat for strong men," both of which maxims17 are familiar to readers of the Christian18 scriptures19, but both of which had been used by the Egyptians for centuries before the Christian era.
And this policy of careful dissemination20 of the truth has always characterized the Hermetics, even unto the present day. The Hermetic Teachings are to be found in all lands, among all religions, but never identified with any particular country, nor with any particular religious sect21. This because of the warning of the ancient teachers against allowing the Secret Doctrine to become crystallized into a creed22. The wisdom of this caution is apparent to all students of history. The ancient occultism of India and Persia degenerated23, and was largely lost, owing to the fact that the teachers became priests, and so mixed theology with the philosophy, the result being that the occultism of India and Persia has been gradually lost amidst the mass of religious superstition24, cults25, creeds26 and "gods." So it was with Ancient Greece and Rome. So it was with the Hermetic Teachings of the Gnostics and Early Christians27, which were lost at the time of Constantine, whose iron hand smothered28 philosophy with the blanket of theology, losing to the Christian Church that which was its very essence and spirit, and causing it to grope throughout several centuries before it found the way back to its ancient faith, the indications apparent to all careful observers in this Twentieth Century being that the Church is now struggling to get back to its ancient mystic teachings.
But there were always a few faithful souls who kept alive the Flame, tending it carefully, and not allowing its light to become extinguished. And thanks to these staunch hearts, and fearless minds, we have the truth still with us. But it is not found in books, to any great extent. It has been passed along from Master to Student; from Initiate29 to Hierophant; from lip to ear. When it was written down at all, its meaning was veiled in terms of alchemy and astrology so that only those possessing the key could read it aright. This was made necessary in order to avoid the persecutions of the theologians of the Middle Ages, who fought the Secret Doctrine with fire and sword; stake, gibbet and cross. Even to this day there will be found but few reliable books on the Hermetic Philosophy, although there are countless30 references to it in many books written on various phases of Occultism. And yet, the Hermetic Philosophy is the only Master Key which will open all the doors of the Occult Teachings!
In the early days, there was a compilation31 of certain Basic Hermetic Doctrines32, passed on from teacher to student, which was known as "THE KYBALION," the exact significance and meaning of the term having been lost for several centuries. This teaching, however, is known to many to whom it has descended33, from mouth to ear, on and on throughout the centuries. Its precepts34 have never been written down, or printed, so far as we know. It was merely a collection of maxims, axioms, and precepts, which were non-understandable to outsiders, but which were readily understood by students, after the axioms, maxims, and precepts had been explained and exemplified by the Hermetic Initiates35 to their Neophytes. These teachings really constituted the basic principles of "The Art of Hermetic Alchemy," which, contrary to the general belief, dealt in the mastery of Mental Forces, rather than Material Elements-the Transmutation of one kind of Mental Vibrations36 into others, instead of the changing of one kind of metal into another. The legends of the "Philosopher's Stone" which would turn base metal into Gold, was an allegory relating to Hermetic Philosophy, readily understood by all students of true Hermeticism.
In this little book, of which this is the First Lesson, we invite our students to examine into the Hermetic Teachings, as set forth37 in THE KYBALION, and as explained by ourselves, humble38 students of the Teachings, who, while bearing the title of Initiates, are still students at the feet of HERMES, the Master. We herein give you many of the maxims, axioms and precepts of THE KYBALION, accompanied by explanations and illustrations which we deem likely to render the teachings more easily comprehended by the modern student, particularly as the original text is purposely veiled in obscure terms.
The original maxims, axioms, and precepts of THE KYBALION are printed herein, in italics, the proper credit being given. Our own work is printed in the regular way, in the body of the work. We trust that the many students to whom we now offer this little work will derive39 as much benefit from the study of its pages as have the many who have gone on before, treading the same Path to Mastery throughout the centuries that have passed since the times of HERMES TRISMEGISTUS—the Master of Masters—the Great-Great. In the words of "THE KYBALION":
"Where fall the footsteps of the Master, the ears of those
ready for his Teaching open wide."—The Kybalion.
"When the ears of the student are ready to hear, then cometh
the lips to fill them with Wisdom."—The Kybalion.
So that according to the Teachings, the passage of this book to those ready for the instruction will attract the attention of such as are prepared to receive the Teaching. And, likewise, when the pupil is ready to receive the truth, then will this little book come to him, or her. Such is The Law. The Hermetic Principle of Cause and Effect, in its aspect of The Law of Attraction, will bring lips and ear together—pupil and book in company. So mote40 it be!
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1 doctrine | |
n.教义;主义;学说 | |
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2 lore | |
n.传说;学问,经验,知识 | |
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3 adepts | |
n.专家,能手( adept的名词复数 ) | |
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4 lodge | |
v.临时住宿,寄宿,寄存,容纳;n.传达室,小旅馆 | |
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5 lodges | |
v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 );暂住;埋入;(权利、权威等)归属 | |
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6 afterward | |
adv.后来;以后 | |
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7 Founder | |
n.创始者,缔造者 | |
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8 lapse | |
n.过失,流逝,失效,抛弃信仰,间隔;vi.堕落,停止,失效,流逝;vt.使失效 | |
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9 sojourn | |
v./n.旅居,寄居;逗留 | |
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10 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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11 recording | |
n.录音,记录 | |
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12 revered | |
v.崇敬,尊崇,敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13 bestowing | |
砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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14 distinctively | |
adv.特殊地,区别地 | |
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15 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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16 secrecy | |
n.秘密,保密,隐蔽 | |
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17 maxims | |
n.格言,座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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18 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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19 scriptures | |
经文,圣典( scripture的名词复数 ); 经典 | |
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20 dissemination | |
传播,宣传,传染(病毒) | |
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21 sect | |
n.派别,宗教,学派,派系 | |
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22 creed | |
n.信条;信念,纲领 | |
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23 degenerated | |
衰退,堕落,退化( degenerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24 superstition | |
n.迷信,迷信行为 | |
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25 cults | |
n.迷信( cult的名词复数 );狂热的崇拜;(有极端宗教信仰的)异教团体 | |
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26 creeds | |
(尤指宗教)信条,教条( creed的名词复数 ) | |
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27 Christians | |
n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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28 smothered | |
(使)窒息, (使)透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 ); 覆盖; 忍住; 抑制 | |
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29 initiate | |
vt.开始,创始,发动;启蒙,使入门;引入 | |
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30 countless | |
adj.无数的,多得不计其数的 | |
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31 compilation | |
n.编译,编辑 | |
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32 doctrines | |
n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 );教义;学说;(政府政策的)正式声明 | |
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33 descended | |
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 | |
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34 precepts | |
n.规诫,戒律,箴言( precept的名词复数 ) | |
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35 initiates | |
v.开始( initiate的第三人称单数 );传授;发起;接纳新成员 | |
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36 vibrations | |
n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 );震动;感受;(偏离平衡位置的)一次性往复振动 | |
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37 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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38 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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39 derive | |
v.取得;导出;引申;来自;源自;出自 | |
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40 mote | |
n.微粒;斑点 | |
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