God is ALL in All
This is a Philosophical and Spiritual endeavor to extract, Harmonize, and synthesize the Universal Truths underlying the world's Diverse Religious, Mystical, and Philosophical traditions. Most famously associated with the concept of Perennial Philosophy, it posits that All Major Traditions share a single, transcendent metaphysical Source and Core Set of Truths.
"By the Power of Truth, I, while Living, have Conquered the Universe."
"I Am Nothing, yet I Am Everything."
"There is a Mountain situated in the midst of the earth, or Center of the world, which is both small and great. It is soft, also above measure hard and stony. It is far off, and near at hand, but by the providence of God, Invisible. In it are hidden most ample treasures, which the world is not able to value. This mountain by envy of the devil, who always opposeth the glory of God and the happiness of man, is compassed about with very cruel beasts and other [sic] ravenous birds, which make the way thither both difficult and dangerous; and therefore hitherto, because the time is not yet come, the way thither could not be sought after nor found out. But now at last the way is to be found by those that are worthy, but notwithstanding by every man's self-labor and endeavors."
"To this mountain you shall go in a certain night (when it: comes) most long and most dark, and see that you prepare yourselves by prayer. Insist upon the way that: leads to the mountain, but ask not of any man where the way lies: only follow your Guide, who will offer himself to you, and will meet you in the way but you shall not know him. This Guide will bring you to the mountain at midnight, when all things are silent and dark. It is necessary that you arm yourselves with a resolute heroic courage, lest you fear those things that will happen, and so fall back. You need no sword, nor any other bodily weapons, only call upon God sincerely and heartily."
"When you have discovered the mountain, the first miracle that will appear is this. A most vehement and very great wind, that will shake the mountain and shatter the rocks to pieces. You shall be encountered also by lions and dragons and other terrible beasts, but fear not any of these things. Be resolute and take heed that you return not, for your Guide who brought you thither will not suffer any evil to befall you. As for the treasure, it is not yet discovered but it is very near. After this wind will come an earthquake, that will overthrow those things which the wind hath left and make all flat. But be sure that you fall not off."
"The earthquake being past, there shall follow a fire, that will consume the earthly rubbish, and discover the treasure, but as yet you cannot see it. After all these things and near the daybreak there shall be a great calm, and you shall see the Day-Star arise and the dawning will appear, and you shall perceive a great treasure. The chiefest thing in it, and the most perfect, is a certain exalted tincture, with which the world (if it served God and were worthy of such gifts) might be tinged and turned into most pure gold."
"This tincture being used, as your Guide shall reach you, will make you young when you are old, and you shall perceive no disease in any part of your bodies. By means of this tincture also you shall find pearls of that excellency which cannot be imagined. But do not you arrogate anything to yourselves because of your present power, but be contented with that which your Guide shall communicate to you. Praise God perpetually for this His gift, and have a special care that you use it not for worldly pride, but employ it in such works which are contrary to the world. Use it rightly and enjoy it so, as if you had it not. Live a temperate Life, and beware of all sin, otherwise your Guide will forsake you, and you shall be deprived of this happiness. For know this of a Truth, whosoever abuseth this tincture and lives not Exemplarly, Purely, and Devoutly before men he shall lose this benefit, and scarce any hope will there be left ever to recover it afterwards."
This profound text is a classic Rosicrucian and Alchemical allegory, detailing the arduous but magnificent journey of the Soul toward Spiritual Apotheosis and the Realization of the Divine within.
The Mountain at the Center of the 'earth' or 'world' represents the human Microcosm—the physical body and the mortal Consciousness. The Mountain situated in its Center is the Heart Center or the Pineal seat of the Soul. It is 'Invisible' to the profane senses, yet it holds the 'most ample treasures' of Divine Wisdom. The 'cruel beasts and ravenous birds' that surround it are not physical creatures, but the unchecked passions, fears, doubts, and egoic desires of the lower animal nature that prevent the individual from accessing their own Spiritual core.
The Guide instructs the individual to travel in a night 'most long and most dark' refers to the Mystical 'Dark Night of the Soul.' This is the deliberate withdrawal of attention from the illusions of the external, sensory world. To find the Mountain, one must enter the absolute silence of inner meditation ('at midnight, when all things are silent and dark'). The 'Guide' whom you shall not initially recognize is the Higher Self—the 'I AM' Presence or the Holy Guardian Angel. You cannot ask another man for this path; it must be walked through 'self-labor and endeavors,' armed only with heroic courage and sincere reliance on the Divine.
The Wind, Earthquake, and Fire represent the turbulent stages of Mental and Spiritual alchemy. When you finally confront your Inner Reality, the 'wind' and 'earthquake' shatter the rigid, stony structures of your old beliefs and egoic identity. The 'lions and dragons' are the final, desperate manifestations of your own lower will ('the Dweller on the Threshold') trying to frighten you into turning back. The 'Fire' is the Purifying Flame of God that burns away all 'earthly rubbish' and mortal impurities. Throughout this destructive transmutation, the Guide ensures your Spiritual safety.
Following the Purification comes the 'great calm'—the peace that surpasses all understanding. The rising of the Day-Star is the dawning of the Christ Consciousness or Buddha-Mind within you. The 'exalted tincture' that turns the world to pure gold is the Philosopher's Stone. It is the Fully Awakened, Focused Power of Divine Love and Will. This is the Mastery of the Great Magical Agent, capable of healing the physical vessel, renewing vitality, and manifesting Spiritual pearls of inconceivable value.
The Solemn Warning within the text concludes with a strict mandate of White Magic. The individual is warned never to use this Supreme Power for worldly pride or selfish gain. To wield the Creative Energy of the Universe requires perfect Humility, Temperance, and Righteousness. To abuse this profound connection for the glorification of the ego is to instantly sever the connection with the Guide (the Divine Mind), plunging the individual back into the mortal illusion and losing the Greatest Treasure of Existence.
"The Philosopher's Stone is an ancient symbol of the Perfected and Regenerated man whose Divine Nature shines forth through a chain of Purified and Unfolded Vehicles." - Manly P. Hall
