"The possession of Knowledge, unless accompanied by a manifestation1 and expression in Action, is like the hoarding2 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 secreted4. The Law of Use is dwelt upon in the Teachings, as you may see by reference to the above quotation5 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 Aphorisms6, 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
One may change his mental vibrations8 by an effort of Will, in the direction of deliberately9 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 undesirable10 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 possessed12 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 shovel13 out or sweep out the Darkness, but by merely opening the shutters14 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 disposition15, 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 transmuted16 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 persistent18 patience and practice of the student.
"Rhythm may be neutralized19 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 pendulum21, which carries us from one extreme of feeling to the other. The Hermetists also teach that the Law of Neutralization22 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, dwelling23 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 Ego24 above those of the ordinary plane of consciousness. It is akin11 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 standing17 firm in his Statement of Being he allows the pendulum to swing back on the Lower Plane without changing his Polarity. This is accomplished25 by all individuals who have attained26 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 steadfastly27 affirming the superiority they remain polarized on the Positive pole. The Master, of course, attains28 a far greater degree of proficiency29, 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 Poise30 and Mental Steadfastness31 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 equilibrium32. 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 overthrow33 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 neutralize20 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 effects 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 mere3 pawns34. 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 on 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 Mentality35. And in this truth is to be found an explanation of all the phenomena36 and manifestations37 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 cults38 and schools, remains39 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.
The End
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1
manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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2
hoarding
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| n.贮藏；积蓄；临时围墙；囤积v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的现在分词 ) | |
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3
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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4
secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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quotation
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| n.引文，引语，语录；报价，牌价，行情 | |
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aphorisms
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| 格言，警句( aphorism的名词复数 ) | |
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7
vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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8
vibrations
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| 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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9
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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10
undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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11
akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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12
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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13
shovel
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| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
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14
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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15
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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16
transmuted
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| v.使变形，使变质，把…变成…( transmute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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18
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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19
neutralized
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| v.使失效( neutralize的过去式和过去分词 )；抵消；中和；使（一个国家）中立化 | |
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20
neutralize
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| v.使失效、抵消，使中和 | |
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21
pendulum
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| n.摆，钟摆 | |
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22
neutralization
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| n.中立化，中立状态，中和 | |
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23
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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24
ego
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| n.自我，自己，自尊 | |
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25
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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26
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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27
steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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28
attains
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的第三人称单数 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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29
proficiency
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| n.精通，熟练，精练 | |
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30
poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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31
steadfastness
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| n.坚定，稳当 | |
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32
equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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33
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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34
pawns
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| n.（国际象棋中的）兵( pawn的名词复数 )；卒；被人利用的人；小卒v.典当，抵押( pawn的第三人称单数 )；以（某事物）担保 | |
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35
mentality
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| n.心理，思想，脑力 | |
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36
phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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37
manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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38
cults
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| 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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39
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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