A Word to the Wise

The founder of the Christian religion expressed a profound esoteric principle when he said: “Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child shall not enter it” (Mark 10:15). Occult students throughout history have recognized the immense importance of this teaching and have sought to live according to it in everyday life.

Whenever a new philosophy appears in the world, it is received in very different ways. Some people eagerly seize upon every new philosophical effort, attempting only to determine how far it supports their own pre-existing beliefs. To such individuals, the philosophy itself possesses little intrinsic value; its usefulness lies merely in reinforcing opinions they already hold. If the work fulfills their expectations, they embrace it enthusiastically and often with unreasonable partisanship. If it does not, they reject it with irritation, almost as though the author had personally offended them.

Others adopt a skeptical attitude the moment they encounter ideas they have never previously read or heard. They would probably reject as unfair any accusation that their mindset reflects intellectual self-satisfaction or intolerance; yet this is often precisely the case. In doing so, they close their minds to whatever truth might exist within what they dismiss.

Both groups remain trapped beneath the shadow of their own fixed ideas. Their rigid convictions render them inaccessible to the rays of Truth. A child, however, is the exact opposite in this respect. A child is not consumed by feelings of superiority, nor inclined to pretend wisdom or conceal ignorance behind clever remarks or dismissive smiles. A child is openly ignorant. Free from rigid preconceptions and premature judgments, the child is therefore uniquely capable of being taught. The world is approached with that beautiful condition of trust we call childlike faith, untouched by corrosive doubt. The child preserves teachings within the mind until experience eventually proves them true or false.

In occult schools, the student is taught to forget everything previously known whenever a new teaching is presented. One must not allow prejudice, preference, or premature judgment to dominate, but instead maintain the mind in a calm, dignified state of expectation. Just as skepticism can blind us to truth, this receptive attitude allows intuition — or “inner wisdom” — to grasp the truth contained within an idea. This is considered the only reliable way to cultivate genuine perception.

The student is not asked to accept, without question, that a white object is black simply because someone claims it to be so. Rather, the student is encouraged to cultivate a mental attitude that recognizes all things as possible. This allows even supposedly established facts to be temporarily set aside while one investigates whether another perspective may reveal something different. The seeker understands the importance of preserving the mind in the fluid and adaptable state characteristic of childhood, recognizing that human perception still views reality “through a glass darkly” and must always remain alert, seeking “light and more light.”

The advantage of such a mental attitude is obvious. Statements that appear contradictory — and which generate endless disputes — may ultimately prove reconcilable. Only the open mind discovers the hidden point of harmony. Though this work may seem different from others, the author asks only for impartial judgment. If this book is ultimately “weighed and found wanting,” no complaint shall be made; the author fears only hasty criticism based upon unfamiliarity with the system being presented. Any opinion worthy of consideration must rest upon knowledge.

Moreover, many people find it difficult to retract premature opinions. Readers are therefore asked to withhold both praise and criticism until careful study has convinced them of the work’s merit or shortcomings. The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception is not dogmatic, nor does it appeal to any authority beyond the reasoning capacity of the student. It is not intended as a controversy, but rather as an attempt to illuminate difficulties encountered by sincere students of deeper philosophy. Nevertheless, it must always be remembered that no infallible revelation exists capable of encompassing the entirety of such a vast and complex subject.

To claim that this exposition is infallible would be to claim omniscience for the author. Even the so-called “Elder Brothers” themselves admit that errors in judgment occasionally occur. No single book can therefore speak the final word regarding the mystery of existence. The purpose here is simply to present the most elementary Rosicrucian teachings.

The Rosicrucian Fellowship possesses a broad and logically structured conception of the mystery of the universe. From the author’s own years of investigation and study, the teachings presented in this volume appear consistent with observed facts. Yet there remains a strong conviction that this is not the final word; as human understanding advances, new dimensions of truth continue to unfold. Even so, it is believed that the philosophies of the future will follow these same fundamental lines because they appear profoundly sound.

This work should not be understood as a fixed creed “delivered once and for all,” but rather as the author’s understanding of the teachings, strengthened through personal investigation within the inner worlds. The author fully recognizes the responsibility involved in guiding others and therefore wishes to guard carefully against error. What is presented here should be accepted or rejected according to the discernment of the individual reader.

Every effort has been made to render these teachings understandable through consistent terminology and clear definitions designed to eliminate ambiguity. The author has sought to communicate truthful ideas while cautioning against treating the text as a rigid or untouchable literal authority. Otherwise, human errors contained within the work might mistakenly be attributed to the Rosicrucian Brotherhood itself — hence the need for this clarification.

Over the years, the author continued investigations into the invisible worlds, experiencing the expansion of consciousness attained through practicing the principles of the Western Mystery School. Others who followed the same method also reported confirmations of the teachings presented here. In this way, the author obtained further assurance that the teachings of the Elder Brothers are substantially correct.

One technical correction should be noted: it would be more accurate to describe the vital body as being composed of prisms rather than points. As the colorless solar fluid refracts through these tiny prisms, it assumes a delicate rose-colored hue. More recent discoveries also suggest that in each lifetime a new “Silver Cord” is formed. One part emerges from the seed atom of the desire body located in the liver, while the other arises from the seed atom of the dense body within the heart. These unite at the seed atom of the vital body in the solar plexus, producing the awakening of the fetus. The development of this cord during the first seven years of life is closely connected to the mystery of childhood, while its continued growth until adolescence marks the end of childhood itself. From that point onward, solar energy gradually imparts the individual coloring of the adult aura.

References

Excerpt adapted from The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception, published by the Rosicrucian Fellowship. Reproduced with permission from Mrs. Max Heindel and the Rosicrucian Fellowship (Oceanside, California, USA).