SECTION IX

MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS
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OTHSTTOX No. 171. What is the origin of life?
Answer: When that question is asked a scientist, he will commence to tell us about protoplasm, protyle or some- thing else of a like nature, but that is fen*1}. No matter how small, insignificant and simple that form may be, it is still a form, and from the occultist's point of view, the question is poorly put, for the spirit is, WAS and WILL ALWAYS BE. As Sir Edwin Arnold says in his beautiful poem, "The Song Celestial" :
"Never the spirit was born, the spirit shall cease to
never : Never was time it was not end and beginning are
dreams,
Birthless and deathless remaineth the spirit forever; Death has not touched it at all uead though the house of it seems.
"Nay. hut as one layeth his worn out robe away, And taking another sayeth, "This will I wear today'; So putteth by the spirit lightly its garment of flesh And passeth on to inherit a residence afresh."
It is life that builds the forms and uses them for a time in orrlcT that it may progress thereby. When their useful-
EOSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
ness has ceased the life passes on, leaving the forms behind, and then they are dead. Thus the question should rather be "How did the dead originate?" for life is — it has neither origin nor termination.
QUESTION Xo. 172. What is matter? Is it not unreal?
Ansiver: There are various theories of matter. If we ask the materialist he, of course, maintains that matter is the one reality ; that all and everything is matter and that noth- ing can exist except that. The Christian Scientist is of the very opposite opinion. He holds that matter is nonexistent — a delusion; that everything that is, is spirit, and so those two classes of people are the very antitheses of one another. But the truth is between.
When God desires to manifest, He emanates within Him- self the thought forms of such a universe as He desires to create, and these archetypal ideas arc spirit when first ema- nated in that central source. But under the influence of time and space, they slowly crystallize and become that which we know as matter. This is a similar process to that which we may observe in the case of a snail. The juices
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 345
of its soft and flexible body gradually crystallize into the hard and flinty shell which is incapable of moving save as propelled by the snail. Thus, as the house of tne snail is crystallized snail, so matter is crystallized spirit. And as the house of the snail remains stationary when not moved by the snail, so matter is immobile save when moved by the spirit. But in the course of time ihe snail's house goes to decay. The matter of which it was formed is broketi* up into minute particles and becomes available for the building of other flexible forms — it may become the body of a snail again. So, also, the crystalized spirit — matter — is reetherialized and becomes spirit again. Matter evolves as well as spirit, for it becomes more ethereal, more flex- ible, and more amenable to the impacts of spirit when it is built into different forms time after time.
Thus we may say with the Christian Scientist that all is spirit, that which appears as matter being in reality spirit in a state of crystallization, and we may also agree with the materialist that all is matter, for spirit which has not yet crystallized into matter will eventually do so. It is a mistake to consider anything in God's Universe as un- real ; both matter and spirit are real. They are the positive and negative poles of God.
346 ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
QUESTION No. 173.
You said in a previous lecture that the earth is the body of a spirit which gives its life for the dwellers upon the surface. Why does it give flowers and fruit to some and earthquake and famine to others?
Answer: During the interval between death and a new birth, the discarnate spirits who have reached the Second Heaven where the archetypes of everything are, build their future environment in which they reap what they have sown. If they have been diligent in past lives, if they have tilled the soil and made two blades of grass to grow where there wap only one, they will build for themselves a still more fertile land which will yield greater fruits for less labor. If they have spent their time thinking of Nirvana, a heavenly place of rest and indolence, and have loved more to enter into metaphysical discussion than to look after material things, they will continue to do so in the Second Heaven, and in consequence their land will be arid when they come back to earth life. They will then ex- perience famine, flood and earthquake, so that they may realize the necessity of providing for material conditions. Thus they will in time learn their lesson and strive to con- quer this world as we have done in the West, for, of course, the inquirer has reference to the people of the East who suffer from flood and famine. They are our younger brethren, behind us in evolution, and must follow in our footsteps. They must learn to forget, for a time, the spiritual worlds in order to attain the development which only the material world can give them. Thus, there is a ideep purpose in the famine which is at present their lot
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
and there is a purpose as deep in our prosperity. Their famine will eventually drive them into more material con- ditions, but we, having a land of plenty with all the good things of this world, where ingenious inventions make life easier on every hand, will eventually say to ourselves, when we have been satisfied with these material blessings, "What is the good of it all ? Give us, rather, the spiritual things/' and we will then enter a spiritual development much higher than that of the East.
QUESTION N"o. 174. What is meant ~by the sentence "Man, know thyself?"
Answer: This sentence was found aoove the entrance to a Greek mystery temple as an indication of the fact that it is obligatory upon man to thoroughly understand the mystery of his own nature, which is much deeper than is apparent on the surface. This, on the principle of the hermetic axiom, "as above, so below." When he under- stands himself and knows himself, he will be able .by analogy to know about God. For it is truly said that "Man was made in the image of God."
But to know himself, it is not only necessary
348 KOSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
should "understand that which he sees, the physical body, but also the invisible bodies which are the causes of his thoughts, feelings and emotions. This was the teaching given in the mystery temples.
There is still another and a far deeper meaning to that sentence. When we ask ourselves the causes of all the sorrow and the misery in the world, we must revert to the earliest epochs of the earth's existence to solve our problem. In the two first Epochs, the Polarian and the Hyper- borean, man was a complete creative unit, capable of send- ing forth from himself the forces which generated a body for another being. But in the Lemurian Epoch, when it became necessary to build a brain and a larynx, the sex force was divided and one half retained in order to accomplish that object. Only the other half remained available for generation. Then man ceased to know him- self, but "Adam knew his wife," and as a result she bore him children.
The spirit inherently feels its own divine creative nature and secretly rebels against the necessity of seek- ing the cooperation of another to generate. As a result, sorrow, trouble and pain have come into the world, and will exist so long as the present method of procreation makes it necessary for two to cooperate to perpetuate the species. And it was the glorious goal that is set before humanity in the future — the coalition of the two poles of the creative force which will again make man an individual creator complete in himself — that was adumbrated in the mystery word "Man, know thyself."
The Apostle John, in his First Epistle, the 3rd chapter, 8th verse, tells us the way of attainment where he says that "He that commiteth sin is of the devil. . . . For this pur- pose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 349
the works of the devil. . . . Whosever is born of God does not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him."
Where the animal propensities are catered to and an abnormal use is made of the sex force, a man is apt to become an idiot, but the thoughts of a spiritual man are pure, chaste and full of wisdom.
At the present time, cooperation of the sexes is neces- sary to procreation of vehicles for Egos who are coming to rebirth, but the time will come when man will cease to create in that manner. He will know himself. Con- centrated thought as the seed will remain within himself, but he will manifest it by means of the larynx as a Creative Word, a word that will form things in the Phys- ical World. Then it will no longer be necessary for man- kind to seek the cooperation of one another in providing new vehicles. This he was taught in the mystery schools, which are way stations upon the path of attainment, and therefore the saying "Man, know thyself" was inscribed upon the Delphian oracle.
QUESTION No. 175. What is the Holy Grail?
Answer: The story of the Holy Grail is one of the myths used by the great leaders of humanity to convey to us spiritual truths in symbols which would at that timo have been incomprehensible to our infant intellect.
350 EOSICEUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
The Grail story is found, variously told, in all the earlier races as far back as we can trace religious teaching, and libraries have been written about this wonderful mystic panacea for all ills.
In medieval times many versions of this legend were recited by minstrels, minnesingers, troubadours or master- singers. Most beautiful, perhaps, was the simple version of Wolfram von Eschenbach, which was taken in hand by the master artist of the nineteenth century, Eichard Wag- ner, in his famous music drama "Parsifal."
The story relates that on the night when our Savior ate the last supper with His disciples, He drank from a cer- tain cup or chalice, and later on, when the lifeblood flowed from His wounded side, Joseph of Arithmathea caught the life blood of our dying Savior in yon chalice. He also took the spear wherewith that wound had been inflicted. These relics he carried with him for many years, and such was the wonderful life giving power of the Savior's blood that it sustained him throughout all his privations, in prison, and on his wanderings. At last, the relics were taken up into heaven for a time in the care of Angels, but one night there appeared a mystic messenger sent from God to the holy Titurel with command that he build a castle high in the air, upon a mountain top, and there gather around himself a band of knights, who must he chaste and pure. These Grail Knights were permitted to behold the sacred relics at stated times and thus they became inspired with desire and power to go into the world to do mighty spiritual deeds. In time Titurel gave the wardership of the Grail to his son Amfortas and in his reign as King of the Grail, a sad calamity befell the Grail Knights.
There lived in ffa heathen vale" below the castle a black
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 351
knight by the name of Klingsoi who desired to become a Knight of the Grail. He was not chaste, so in order to meet the condition he mutilated himself in such a manner that it became impossible for him to gratify desire. But when he applied to the holy Titurel, the latter saw his heart and refused him admittance. Then Klingsor swore that if he might not serve the Grail, the Grail should serve him. He peopled the garden of his magic castle with il- lusory phantasmic flower maidens who waylaid the Knights of the Grail on their passage to and from the castle, se- duced them and thus disqualified them for further service as Grail Knights.
Fearing that all the Knights of the Grail would be- come prisoners of Klingsor, Amfortas decided to fight the black magician. He took with him the holy spear to ac- complish his object. But Klingsor evoked Kundry, who is a creature of two existences. At one time she is the faith- ful and willing servitor of the Grail, at another time the unwilling tool of Klingsor. When serving the Grail, she is humble, obedient and simply clad. Under the spell of Klingsor, she becomes beautiful in the extreme, a woman of seducing charms, and these she is forced to use as Klingsor bids her, for he has power over her by virtue of the fact that he is not susceptible to her charms on account of his act of mutilation.
Kundry meets Amfortas, who falls before her charms. While 1 ying in her arms the spear falls from his hand and is snatched by the waiting Klingsor, who inflicts a wound that cannot heal, and for many years the King suffers tortures, particularly when he unveils the Holy Grail for the benefit of his knights. Then the spear wound com- mences to bleed anew, causing him the most excruciating pain.
352 ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
Roughly speaking, and giving one of the several valid interpretations which appertain to the Grail mystery, as to other symbols, Kundry is the negative dense body which at one time is under the control of the higher nature symbolized by the Grail Knights, and another time ruled by the lower desire nature symbolized by Klingsor, which tempts the spirit to forsake its higher ideals, and causes suffering when temptation is yielded to. In Parsifal, the pure and guileless one, we see the man who overcomes and therefore succeeds to the wardership of the Grail.
On Good Friday morning, 1857, Eichard Wagner sat at the Villa Wesendonck by the Zurich Sea, and as he looked about him the sun was shining, all nature was smiling and from the millions of seeds buried in the ground around him, innumerable plants and flowers were sprouting. The thought struck Wagner, "What is the connection between the death of the Savior at this time of the year and this manifold sprouting life," and in that thought he came very near to the key to the mystery of the Grail, for the Grail was a Mystery School, one of many which existed in the Middle Ages. The stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table are not fables, they are facts. Therewas such a Mystery in Wales as late as the time of Queen Elizabeth. And these Mystery Schools exist to the very present day, though not as pub- licly known as they were in the more spiritual mediaeval times. The Mystery of King Arthur dealt more with the material and temporal side of life than the Mystery of the Grail, which was altogether pure and spiritual. And there the pupil was taught, not in words, but the feeling was given to him, a teaching from within, which we may ex- press as follows:
"You see all around you the various kingdoms in the
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 353
world. There is man, animal, plant and mineral. The life which is in each of these kingdoms is the one universal life of God, which manifests through all these various forms. When the forms decay it becomes necessary to provide other forms in their places, hence the generative activity which serves this purpose. In the plant king- dom,, which is beneath you, that activity is pure, chaste and immaculate. There is no passion connected with it in any respect.
In the kingdoms of the Gods, which are beyond }mi, it is also carried on as a process of regeneration wilich is pure and holy. But in the kingdoms which stand between the plant and the gods, conditions are the reverse of chaste. Man and animal are passionate. Man is, in fact, the inverted plant. The plant is unashamed and stretches its creative organ, the flower, towards the sun, a thing of beauty and delight, pure, chaste and passionless. Man turns his creative organ toward the earth ; he hides it with shame because it is filled with passion. In time man is to become a god, he is to use his creative ability for the ben- efit of others and not for sense gratification. And so in time man must become plant-like on a higher scale. There- fore, you see this symbol : The pod of the plant which holds the seed is the grail cup, and the spear which brings that seed forth from the flower is the ray of the sun. You, also, must learn to take the solar force, which is the builder of all forms, and use it in your creative organ without passion, so that that which you create shall be immaculately conceived and not as now begotten in sin.
The juice of the plant flows through its green stem and leaves uncolored, pure and chaste. Your blood is red and filled with passion, but in the regeneration that blood must be cleansed by the spiritual force which will come to you
354: KOSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
from the spiritual sun, as the forces from the physical sun bring forth the juice of the plant. And having become thus regenerated, you will die as a man to be resurrected a God.
QUESTION No. 176.
What was the connection between the pyramid builders of Egypt and the pyramid builders of Central America? Which is the older civilization?
Answer: Anthropological researches have shown that the Negro races have a long, narrow head, narrow eye sockets and flat hair. The Mongolian races, the Indians, etc., have round heads, round eye sockets and their hair is round. The head of the white races is oval, so are the eye sockets and the hair, showing that we have upon earth three kinds of people and these are the remnants of the Lemurian Races which lived in the Third Epoch of the earth's development. The Mongolians, Indians, etc., are the remnants of the Atlantean peoples and tlie white races are the present Aryans. Upon examination, it will be found that the Egyptians belonged to our present Aryan races, while the Aztecs show the peculiarities of skull, orbit and hair distinctive of the Atlantean people. Therefore that civilization is older than the Egyptian.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 355
Not much has been written concerning the pyramids of Central America, but Piazzi Smith and Eichard Proc- tor, both professional astronomers, have written consid- erable concerning the pyramids of Egypt, and have en- deavored to find out what their use was. From the meas- urements of the pyramids, Piazzi Smith deduces the theory that they were built by divine architects, a theory which Professor Proctor ridicules, although he finds the measure- ments support the theories of Professor Smith, but he attributes it to coincidence. When the base of the pyramid measures as many hundreds of inches as there are days in a year; when the diagonals of the base show the same num- ber of inches as there are years in the great sidereal world year, it merely happened so, in the estimation of Professor Proctor. These coincidences are so numerous, however, that to an unbiased mind they appear to be an embodiment of a definite design. Professor Proctor, being an unwill- ing witness for the theory that the Pyramid was designed for astrological purposes, gives augmented value to his testimony when he admits that of all the theories advanced concerning the use of the pyramids, the theory that they were built for astrological purposes, is the only one that can withstand the weight of the contrary evidence. There- fore, though he characterizes it as a wild theory, it is the only tenable one, according to evidence.
As a matter of fact, the pyramids were temples of initia- tion, built by the Hierophants of the lesser mysteries, and as initiation of candidates is founded upon the passage of the heavenly bodies, the stars, through the twelve signs of the zodiac, so naturally, these temples of initiation embodied all the cosmic measurements. Only the pyramid of Cheops among the Egyptian group was thus used. The other? were simply imitations built at later times by some
356 EOSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
of the Pharaohs. The lesser mysteries have existed in dif- ferent parts of the world and at various times. In India, in Egypt, in Greece, and also in Central America. There- fore, the connection between the pyramid builders of one part of the world and another is that they were all the Hierophants of the lesser mysteries and that their temples were used for purposes of initiations.
QUESTION Xo. 177.
What is the essential difference between the teachings of the Rosicrucian Philosophy and the orthodox church?
Answer: There are many, but perhaps the principal one is the teaching of orthodoxy that at each birth a newly created soul enters material existence fresh from the hand of God, that it lives here in a material body for a longer or shorter span of time and then passes out by death into the invisible beyond, there to remain for all eternity in a state of happiness or misery according to what it did while here in the body.
The Eosicrucian teaching is that each soul is an integral part of God, which is seeking to gain experience by re- peated existences in gradually improving material bodies and that, therefore, it passes into and out of material ex-
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 357
istences many times; that each time it gathers a littb more experience than it previously possessed and in time is nour- ished from nescience to omniscience — from impotence to omnipotence — by means of these experiences.
Our sense of justice revolts against a teaching which sends one soul into a home of culture and a noble family where it has the advantage of wealth, where moral teach- ings are implanted in the growing child, but sends another into the slums, its father a thief and the mother, psrhaps, immoral, and where its teachings consist in lying, stealing, etc. If here only once, all should have the same chance if they are to be judged by the same laws, and we know that no two people have the same experiencss in life. We know that where one meets many temptations, another lives comparatively untouched by the storms of life. Therefore, when one soul is placed in a moral environ- ment and another in immoral surroundings, it is not right to send the one to a heaven of enjoyment and eternal bliss for doing the right he could not help doing, nor is it just to send the other to a hell for stealing and robbing when the environment and the conditions into which he was thrown were such that he could not help himself.
Therefore, the Rosicrucian teaching holds that we come into whatever place is best fitted for us by our previous experiences in former lives, and that we get just what we deserve in all cases; that all experiences which come to us are just what we need to give us the appropriate im- petus for our next step in unfoldment.
358 ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
QUESTION No. 178.
Kindly state the essentials wherein the Rosicrucian Phi' lowphy differs from Theosophy.
Answer: We are not as much concerned in seeking out differences as in finding agreements. It may be said, how- ever, that the Rosicrucian Philosophy is the Western teach- ing given to the Western people at this time for their ad- vancement. If we take Theosophy as meaning Thco Sophia (Divine Wisdom), then, of course, the • Rosicrucian Phi- losophy is only a part of that Divine Wisdom, like all other religious systems. But if we take theosophy to mean the philosophy promulgated by the Theosophical Society, or Societies, for there are several brands, then we may say that the Rosicrucian teaching is much more compre- hensive and complete. Besides, in teaching their philos- ophy the Rosicrucians are diametrically opposed to the method of the Theosophical Society, which has for its objects :
First, The formation of a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood,
Second, The study of comparative religion, and
Third, The investigation of the unexplained laws in nature and the powers latent in man.
The Brothers of the Rosy Cross contend that the ma- jority of advanced p?ople are in sympathy with the idea of Universal Brotherhood, and that we need not be theoso- phists to Iiave that idea at heart. Countless other societies have altruistic ideas along the lines of brotherhood. Many scientists are studying comparative religion and doing it exceedingly well. It is not necessary to be a theosophist
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 359
in order to follow that object, but it is necessary to be an occultist in order to follow out the third object of the Theosophical Society, namely, the study of the unex- plained laws of nature and the powers latent in man.
Therefore, the Rosicmeians recommend that all thoughts be centered upon living such a life and practicing such exercises as will develop the latent powers in each pupil so that he may see and know the invisible worlds whence come the causes we see manifested here. When this object is attained, and not till then, is he capable of investigating the unexplainel laws of nature. He is then also in a much better position than the scientists or anyone else to study comparative religion, for he sees the central source from whence all religions sprang, each being adapted to the peo- ple to whom given. He also sees how they fit into the grand scheme of evolution, and when he has become capable of reaching the consciousness of the inner worlds the unity of life is so apparent that he does not need to trouble him- self about the first object of the Theosophical Society, the universality of the One Life which makes brotherhood a fact in nature, beyond necessity of statement.
To reach that last step, we must have the true view of the matter. We may preach to a stove that its duty is to heat and warm us, but unless we comply with the laws of its nature and put fuel into it, our preaching will be of no avail. On similar principle, unless we reach the step of exaltation where our hearts are filled with the divine love, we may preach and put forth teachings concerning Universal Brotherhood, but it will do no good. If we fill the stove with fuel, it will heat us, and if we fill our hearts with love they will radiate that quality without state- ment of objects such as the first one mentioned.
Therefore, the principal difference between the Theo-
3GO ROSICEUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
sophical Society and the R 03 i crucian fellowship is a com- plete reversion of method. For, whereas the Theosophical Society aims to form a nucleus of the Universal Brother- hood by the study of comparative religion and only take up the development of the hidden side' of man's nature last- — and many even decry development of the hidden powers — the Eosicrucian teaching urges the pupil first of all to live the life, to concentrate all the powers of his being to so walk that he may be fitted for possession of the soul- powers absolutely essential to the investigations he con- tamplates.
QUESTION No. 179.
Is the White Lodge of the Theosophical Society the same as the Temple of the Rosicrucians?
Answer: N"o, the Theosophical Society is simply an exoteric organization for the dissemination of a certain phi- losophy, mostly derived from the Eastern Religions, while the Rosicrucian Fellowship aims to promulgate the teach- ings of the Western Mystery School, the Order of Rosi- crucians, which is secret and not accessible to anyone except upon direct invitation.
As to the relation of the Order of Rosicrucians and kin-
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 361
died Mystery Orders to the White Lodge, we may say that there are in different places of the earth a number of these schools of the lesser mysteries, each of them composed of twelve brethren, and also a thirteenth member. The latter is the link between the different schools, and all these heads or thirteenth members compose what is ordinarily known as the White Lodge, namely, a supreme conclave of the Eldest among our Brothers, who are now in full charge of human evolution and plan the steps we are to follow in order to advance.
QUESTION Xo. 180.
What do you understand l>y the term Master, and is the Rosicrucian Fellowship movement inspired by them9
Answer: In the far East the pupil who aspires to the higher life seeks a "Master" and is bound hand and foot, figuratively speaking, to that Master. He must blindly follow the instructions of his Master, without the least hesitancy or exhibition of curiosity concerning the purpose of whatever directions are given him. He must 'render the Master personal service of whatever kind required and at whatever cost or inconvenience to himself, and thus, in short, he becomes virtually the slave of an often very ex- acting taskmaster.
That seems to be a very barbaric method, but it is doubt-
362 ROSICRTK'IAN PHILOSOPHY
less the only way to overcome the indolence of the Oriental, and as they are a backward class of Egos they are accus- tomed to servility and subserviency, so that it works no hardship to their finer feelings. But here in the West such a method would be altogether degrading, for we have ad- vanced to such a stage of individuality that we can onljf progress by action from within, and if we make any prom- ises or take any vows \ve ought not to obligate ourselves to anyone else, but make our promises and vows to ourselves ; for if we cannot keep our vows to ourselves, we certainly cannot keep promises made to others.
Furthermore, we may break a promise given to someone else and deceive him into believing that we have kept our faith, but we cannot deceive ourselves. If we break a promise made to ourselves we know it at once, and there- fore the pupil in the West is instructed to make his prom- ise to himself, for that is stronger than any vow to an out- sider. The teacher in the West is the closest fri?nd and adviser of the pupil, for he follows the example of the Christ, who said to his disciples: "This is my command- ment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Ye are my friends if ye do what I command you (and) hence- forth 1 call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth ; but T have called you friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." John, chapter 15, 'verses 12, 14, 15.
The Eosicrucian Fellowship is not backed by these teachers or inspired by them ; they gave certain teachings to the writer on the condition that he should spread them to the be~t of his ability, and: announced their readiness to help others who would qualify for that instruction. Stu- dents of these teachings have banded together for the ben- efit of associated study, but there is no hard and fast organ-
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 363
ization, nor is it intended to form one, but to let people obtain this teaching anywhere they please. We prefer that they should remain in their churches.
QUESTION No. 181.
// one wlw believes in the teachings advanced by the Rosicrucians earnestly maintains that they are true, is he not in danger of becoming dogmatic and intolerant of the opinions of others1? And what should be his attitude to- wards those who refuse to accept these teachings?
Answer: It is of utmost importance that we should recognke the fact that, at least in our present limited existence, we cannot possibly arrive at truth in the ulti- mate. Therefore, that which seems to us "truth, and the whole truth" is most likely after all only a part of the truth. As we evolve and become capable of understand- ing more and more, our conceptions of life, the world, and God, change. Therefore, we ought at all times to have the open mind so that we may receive new truth, and al- though we should never be lukewarm but always earnest for that which we believe to be the truth, we should never forget the fact that there are still greater truths which we have not yet learned. Then we are open minded and cannot become creed bound or hide bound.
ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
Some people grow so extremely enthusiastic when they have found something which appeals to them as truth, that they at once commence a veritable crusade to compel others to share it with them. That is a great mistake. If we go into a church and commence asking questions which raise doubts in the minds of the members and make them uneasy concerning their faith, we may easily cause a sad state of disturbance. If that which we have to give appeals to them and becomes an anchor to them, so that they may rest in the new and higher faith, well and good. But if it so happens that that which we have to give is beyond them, is unacceptable, we maj lead them into an extremely unhappy frame of mind and they may turn to materialism, atheism or some other dreadful, skeptical attitude. Their life, in that case, will lie at our door. \\e should always make it a rule in the world to be very quiet about what we believe or do not believe, though never neglectful to say a little word where an opportunity is given, and if that word brings an inquiry we should answer it fearlessly. Thus we may gradually lead the in- quirer on. He will not be thus led unless he is seeking, and when we find out that he desires the information, we should give him all he wants and give it freely. Bit we reiterate that it is a serious responsibility to tJintst our opinion upon ears that are unwilling or not ready.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 365
QUESTION Xo. 182.
How is it that not many who study the highest phi- losophy interest themselves in bettering industrial condi- tions, such as the abolition of wage slavery, which is as de- grading and brutal as Negro slavery?
Answer: All occultists recognize the crying needs of the day, and none long more ardently for the day of lib- eration, the day when brotherly love shall be a fact, when the nations shall beat their swords into plow share and their spears into pruning hooks, as prophesied by Isaiah, but they go about making these conditions in a different way. Socialistic Labor Unions and such like organizations are seelnng to better conditions, but the occultist maintains that their methods are inefficient, and frustrate lasting realization of their object, for there can be no doubt that it is men who make conditions and not conditions that make the men. If, therefore, we seek to better humanity and raise their standard of right and wrong, if we seek to ele- vate their ideals, then when men have become better, as a natural consequence, conditions will be better.
Under the present conditions, when a labor union, by strike or through the employer's fear of a strike, have suc- ceeded in gaining a better condition, the employer at once commences to plot how he may checkmate them and frus- trate their object. He bands together with other em- ployers for mutual protection and these organizations are always at war with the labor unions. The better conditions which are obtained by one are continually changed by the other. When, however, the employer as well as the em- ployed have been Christianized and have learned to do unto
366 KOSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
others as they would have others do unto them, there will be no necessity for labor unions, for the employers will look out for the welfare of their employes and anticipate their wants. This state of affairs, the occultist believes, can be brought about by thi-nking about it, because all things and all conditions have first been thoughts in the minds of men. Therefore, he earnestly prays that the minds of men may be opened to the fact of universal brotherhood, that they may take into their hearts the love of God and become united in seeking to do the right in- stead of separately planning how to oppress and intimidate others.
QUESTION No. 183.
Can anyone study occultism, live the higher life and "be a millionaire?
Answer: Christ said to the rich young man, "Go, get rid of all thou hast," but the young man, being very much taken up with the good things of this life, went away sadly, and the Christ remarked concerning the difficulty besetting the rich man's entrance into heaven. He did not say that it is impossible, but he knew what a snare and a temptation there is in riches. Nevertheless, a man may
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 367
be a millionaire and still striving to live the higher life. Riches are a clog and a fetter, but it would be absolutely wrong to infer that riches prevent occult development. All depends upon what view a man takes of his riches. If he uses them for the purpose of self-aggrandizement and to oppress his fellowmen, of course there can be no spir- itual growth, but where a man regards himself as the steward of his possessions, and where he aims to build fac- tories having model conditions and model tenement houses, etc., where he works strenuously himself to see that his philanthropic ideas are being carried out, and that his fellowmen are receiving good conditions and every chance for self improvement, wealth is an enormous power for good. When a man works thus unselfishly for the welfare of others he will not have much chance to think of self- improvement, and his spiritual growth will be unconscious rather than otherwise. Nevertheless, he will progress enor- mously, and his opportunities to do better and greater work will increase as the years pass by in this life and also in future lives. That was really the meaning of the parable of the talents. Those who used their talents were made rulers over a number of cities in order to give them ade- quate employment in the evolutionary scheme. On the other hand, if a man owns a factory and becomes so im- bued with a desire for occult development that he selfishly sells out his factory and throws his workmen out of em- ployment in order that he may develop his own powers and live the higher life, such a man is shirking his duty and will undoubtedly receive a rebuke at the hands of the Master, for he has buried his talent and in a new life he will find himself deprived of the opportunity which he has neglected.
368 KOSICEUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
QUESTION No. 184.
Do you believe in capital punishment? Is it not better and more merciful than imprisonment for life?
Answer: Among the savages might is right, the stronger always overpowers the weaker. We pride ourselves that in our civilization we have come to a higher stage, and that we practice altruism in all departments of our polity. Nevertheless, although we do not go out with a club and promiscuously murder our fancied adversaries, except in war, we do murder in a refined way by what we call law. There was a time when the thief was hanged by law. Now- adays we designate such punishment barbaric, but capital punishment is still a blot upon our civilization. Besides, we are much more refined in our cruelty than the people in older civilizations, for they hanged or beheaded the so- called criminal in short order, while we keep him incar- cerated for years, subject him to the torture of long jury trials, set the day for his execution a long way ahead and allow him in the meantime to suffer death by anticipation during all the intervening time.
We profess that our object is not retaliation, but plead that it is necessary to safeguard society and to deter others from committing like crimes, but capital punishment pro- motes murder. When a man has homicidal tendencies, he should be properly restrained so that he may not hurt his fellowmen. To kill him, however, does not restrain him; death liberates him in the Desire World, and as the Desire World is all about us he is at perfect liberty to go among people and instil into them thoughts of hatred and ven- geance against society. Therefore, murder is multiplied.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 369
Besides,, homicidal mania is aided by the press. The glar- ing headlines which recite the ghastly minutiae of the crime incite others to go and act likewise. If the press would only be silent about murders and suicides we should have a great deal less crime in the land, and it is very gratifying to see that there are at least some newspapers, for instance a Christian Science publication, which refuses to print any- thing that is not good.
As to the part of the question which says, "Is death not better than imprisonment for life?" we may say "Per- haps, under the present conditions of prison regime, it is." But that branch of our institutions also calls for reform and we have much to do and undo in our treatment of thosi whom we call criminals. They are our brothers, just as much as flTe~~so-called respectable members of society who have not yet committed the unpardonable crime of being found out. It is true that we have made prison life some- what better and less barbaric than it used to be. It is also true that we have probation and suspended sentences nowadays, but we are far from treating these weaker brothers properly yet. If we could understand thoroughly fhat they are our brothers and treat them as we would treat a weak brother who was the son of our own mother, we should be doing nearer right, for who amongst us if his own brother committed a wrong would send him to prison with scorn or call him "jail bird" when he had served his sentence, or ostracise him for life because of a weakness? When a person is sick with typhoid fever we do not get angry with him and send him to the hospital for a month ; we send him there until cured, we take good care of him, and aim to aid him in recovering his health, and we rejoice with him when he is well. A criminal is weak and mentally sick. He should not be sent to prison
370 ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
for a term, but should be sent to an institution where he could be properly taught and helped to overcome his weak- ness. Not until we treat our weaker brothers with such loving care may we say that we have risen above the bar- barian maxim of demanding an eye for an eye. How can we dare to pray "forgive us our transgressions as we for- give those who trespass against us," while we treat these poor brothers as we do even now?
QUESTION No. 185.
What is the viewpoint of the Rosicrucians on woman suffrage ?
Answer: The spirit is neither male nor female, but manifests alternately as man and woman, so that looking at woman suffrage from the larger standpoint, it would be to the advantage of the men of the present day to grant women that which is really their right — a full and com- plete equality in every particular. The double social stand- ard which obtains at the present time, whereby a man may commit the social sin without being ostracized, should be done away with. Woman's work should be paid as much as man's work, and in every case the lines which are laid down so admirably in Edward Bellamy's novel, "Looking Backward," should be followed.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 371
The advisability of this equitable social arrangement will be evident if we look at life from the viewpoint that this earth life is but one in many, and that we are born as men and women alternately ; but there are other reasons why woman should be given the franchise. In man the dense body is positive and man's positive forces are there- fore particularly focused upon the Chemical Region of the Physical World. He is most particularly interested in that which he can weigh, measure, analyze and work with in his daily life; his development is particularly along the material lines, shaping the earth and everything upon it to suit his fancy, but taking little or no interest in the spiritual side of things.
Woman, on the other hand, has the positive vital body and as a result is intuitively in touch with the spiritual vibrations of the universe. She is more idealistic and imaginative, taking a great interest in all the things which make for the moral upliftment of the race, and as it is only by the moral and the spiritual growth that humanity can advance at this time, she is really the prime factor in evolution. It would be of an enormous benefit to the race if she were given an equal right with man in every par- ticular. For not until then can we hope to see reforms brought about that will really unite humanity. We see that by analogy if we will look into the home, where woman is really the central pillar around which both husband and children cluster. According to her ability she makes the home what it is, she is the cementing influence and the peacemaker. The father may pass out by death or other- wise, the children may leave, while the mother remains, the home is there; but when the mother is taken away by death, the home is at once broken up.
Some have argued, "Yes, but when she is taken away by
372 BOSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
politics the home will be broken up just as much." But of that there need be no fear. During the transition stage while women have to fight for their rights, and, possibly, a short time afterward, until they have adjusted themselves, there may in some cases be a neglect of the home, but in the places where it has already been tried no homes have been broken up and much good has been achieved, for women can always be counted upon to stand for any im- provement which makes for morality. While laws are only makeshifts to bring humanity to a higher plane where each one will be a law unto himself, doing right without coercion, it is nevertheless necessary that such reforms should be brought about at the present time by legislation.
QUESTION No. 186.
// occultists abstain from flesh eating because it requires a tragedy in its preparation,, and they do not wish to be a party to talcing life, either directly or by proxy, is it not also taking life when we eat eggs or fruit, vegetables, etc. ?
Answer: The case mentioned by the inquirer is very different from taking life by killing an animal. In fact, while it is necessary to kill an animal in order to obtain its flesh, and we are, therefore, doing it harm, we are actually helping a tree when we take the fruit away from
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 373
it, as will be readily seen when we understand the process of germination.
The process is the same with animals as with human beings, and in fact with all kingdoms. When an animal is to be born, the group spirit, helped by nature spirits and angels, fashions the vital body of the coming animal, which is then deposited in the womb of the mother and the seed atoms are deposited in the semen of the male; then gesta- tion takes place and an animal is born. Without the pres- ence of the seed atom and the matrix vital body no dense animal body can be formed. Similar conditions govern fecundation in the case of an egg, or of a plant seed. They are like the female ova — they are so many opportunities. If an egg is put into an incubator or under a hen, the group spirit sends forth the requisite life, accepting the opportunity for embodiment. If a seed is dropped in the soil, that is al?o fertilized when the proper conditions have been made for its development, but not before. When an egg is crushed, cooked or in other ways disqualified for its primal designation, or where a seed is stored for years per- haps, there is no life, and consequently we do no wrong when we use these products for food. It is even beneficial to plants when the ripe fruits are removed, because then they cease to take sap from the tree unnecessarily.
374 EOSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
QUESTION No. 187.
7s that terrible entity which Glyndon saw in Bulwer Lyt- ioris "Zanoni" the same as Mr. Plyde in Robert L. Steven- son s story ?
Answer: isTo. There is a similarity in certain respects, but in other points there is a very great difference. The dreadful entity seen by Glyndon is spoken of in occultism as the "Dweller on the Threshold." When the neophyte enters into the Desire World consciously, having left his physical body behind in sleep, he must pass an entity such as that described by Glyndon. This is the embodiment of all the evil deeds of his past which, having not yet been expiated, await eradication in future lives. He must recog- nize and acknowledge that entity as part of himself. He must promise himself to liquidate, as soon as possible, all the debts represented by yon terrible shape.
This entity is not even apparent to the ordinary man during the times between death and a new birth, though ever present. It is a demon, and is offset by another shape which represents all the good a man has done in the past, and may be called his guardian angel, but these twin forms, as said, are invisible to the ordinary man at all times, though ever potent in his life.
It sometimes happens, however, that an individual passes out at death with a desire nature so extremely strong that after he has expiated the deeds it contained in Purgator}', and has entered the Second Heaven, this shell holds to- gether and lasts until the man is reborn. It is then drawn to him by magnetic attraction and he possesses, as it were, a double desire body. The desire body of the old life may
QUESTIONS AXD ANS\YERS 375
then at times make itself felt and cause him to lead a double life, substantially as lelated by Bobert Louis Steven- son, impelling him to do deeds which he loathes, because the suffering engendered in expurgating them is acting as conscience and causing him to repel the evil. Fortunately, however, such cases are extremely rare at this present date.
QUESTION No. 188.
If we amputate the arm of a man, saiv off the limb of a tree and blast away a portion of a cliff, will the invisible counterpart of these different objects also be severed?
Answer: In the case of the arm which is amputated, the etheric counterpart will still remain with the vital body, although there is a certain magnetic tie between that and the physical arm which is buried. A case is on record of a man who, having had his arm amputated, complained bitterly of pains as if something were piercing the flesh of his aim. This pain continued for several weeks, when the arm was at last exhumed and it was found that in boxing a nail had been driven through the flesh in the place where the man felt pain. When the nail was removed the pain ceased. Persons who have had arms or limbs amputatec.
37U ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
sometimes complain of pain in the member for a few years after the operation. Then the pain ceases because the etheric arm has decayed synchronously with the limb in the grave.
The vital bod}'' of the plant is only composed of the two densest ethers — the chemical ether and the life ether — which enable the plant to grow and propagate, but it lacks the two higher ethers — the light ether and reflecting ether — hence it has no sensation or memory of what passes around it. Therefore, amputation of a limb will not be felt by the plant, and in the case of the cliff which is blasted, only the chemical ether is present, so that the crys- tals will have no feelings at all. Still, it would be wrong to infer that there is no feeling in either of these cases, for though the plants and the minerals have no individual means of feeling, they are enveloped and interpenetrated by the ethers and the Desire World of the planet, and the Planetary spirit feels everything, on the same principle that our finger, having no individual desire body, cannot feel, but we, the indwelling spirits inhabiting the body, feel any hurt done to the finger.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 377
QUESTION No. 189.
Do you know of a place, a home or retreat where one may go to Hue this beautiful, simple and harmless life you arc advocating?
Answer: No, we do not know of any home, and if a home were founded for that purpose, we should feel very sorry for its inmates. If we have a high temper and go into the mountains to live as recluses where there are no people to rile our sensibilities, it is small credit to us that we do not hecome impatient with others. If we find it dif- ficult to overcome our vices or faults in the city, and go into the wilds where those temptations do not exist, small is our credit for not yielding. We have been placed in cities and among our fellows in order that we should accustom and accommodate ourselves to them, and learn to keep our tempers despite any riling — learn to shun temptations where they exist. One may be in the mountains and his heart in the city, or he may immure himself in a monas- tery and yet be longing for the pleasures of the world. It is best to stay in the place where we are found and there develop the spiritual qualities that shall make us better men and women. There is work to be done in the world, and if we fly from the world, how shall we do it? We have a responsibility to our fellowmen. Unless we discharge that responsibility we are shirking our duty, and fate will bring us back in such an environment that we cannot escape. Therefore, it is better to aim to learn all the lessons that are at our hands instead of running away from them.
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QUESTIONS CONCERNING LIFE ON EARTH
1. — If we were pure spirits and part of an all-knowing God, why was it necessary for us to take this long pilgrimage of sin and sorrow through matter?
2. — If God made man a little lower than the Angels, how will man ultimately become their superior in the spiritual world?
3. — Why should it he necessary for us to come into this physical existence? Could we not have learned the same lessons without being imprisoned and limited by the dense conditions of the material world?
4. — If this earth life is so important, and really the basis of all our soul growth, the latter resulting from the experiences we gain here, why is our earth life so short in comparison with the life in the inner worlds, approximating a thousand years between two earth lives?
5. — How long will it be before we can do without these physical bodies and function altogether in the spir- itual worlds again ?
6. — Does the spirit enter the body at the time of con- ception or at the time of birth?
7. — What was the purpose in the division of the sexes? 8. — Is the soul of a woman masculine and the soul of a man feminine?
379
380 BOSICEUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
9. — Do we keep the same temperament through all our lives?
10. — Is the desire body subject to sickness, and does it need nutrition and replenishment?
11. — How is it that we atone for all sin in Purgatory and then at rebirth must again suffer through the law of cause and effect for sins of a former life?
12. — Is conscience the voice of God or of our Guardian Angel ?
13. — What is genius?
14. — Is a soul that is born as a woman always a woman in its after lives, and how long is the interval be- tween two earth lives?
15. — When a man pays his debts, cares' for his family and lives a moral life here, will he not be all right here- after?
16. — It is sometimes contended by people that we have a right to think what we will and are not responsible for our thoughts. Is that so from an occult point of view ?
17. — If a person is constantly bothered by evil thoughts which keep coming into his mind although he is always fighting them, is there any way in which he can cleanse his mind so that he will think only good and pure thoughts?
18. — If woman proceeded from man as per tht rib story, will she in the final return to unity be reabsorbed, losing her individuality in the masculine divinity ?
19. — Why has woman been cursed by inequality, assumed inferiority and injustice since the beginning of hu- man existence upon this plane ?
20. — Why was the suffering Marguerite so extreme and out of proportion to that of Faust, even to imprison-
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 381
merit and the death penalty, while his life, liberty and pursuit of happiness was unmolested?
Marriage.
21. — Is there any place, either in the Old or Xew Testa- ment, wherein men were told to marry and then live as brother and sister at any time or under any con- dition? And if not in the Bible, why do you teach it ?
22. — Is there a soul mate belonging to every soul through- out all eternity ? If so would it not be better to re- main unmarried a thousand years than to marry the wrong mate?
23. — Is it wrong for first, second or third cousins to marry, and if so, why?
24. — Would it be wise for two people of the same tem- perament to marry if they were both born under the same sign of the Zodiac, in August, for instance ?
25. — Please give the view of the occultist regarding the white races intermarrying with the inferior Mon- golians and Negroes, also in regard to their progeny.
26. — Why is the Negro commonly said to be marked with the curse of Cain, if he is the descendant of Ham, according to Biblical ethnology ? How can that race be any older than the sons of Shem or Japheth ? Is not the most intellectual, successful and enduring race that history records, namely the Jews, the one that has kept itself most free from a mixture?
Children.
27. — Has the Rosicrucian Philosophy any specific teach- ino- concerning the training of children?
382 ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
28. — Why are children born in a family where they are not welcome?
29. — Where children do not come to a man and wife who deeply long for them, is there not some way to in- duce some soul in the unseen world to accept their invitation to reincarnate? Where the conditions in the home are most favorable, it would seem that among the many souls awaiting incarnation one would find the conditions right?
30. — How do you explain the fact that a child so often inherits the bad characteristics of the parents?
31. — Does not the child inherit the blood and nervous sys- tem from its parents? If so, will it not inherit dis- ease and nervous disorders also?
Sleep and Dreams.
32. — Can a person be influenced in natural sleep as he can in hypnotic sleep, or is there a difference?
33. — What are dreams, have they all a significance, and how can we invite or induce dreams ?
34. — What is sleep and what causes the body to go to sleep ?
Health and Disease.
35. — Do the Eosicrucians believe in materia medica or do they follow Christ's method of healing?
36. — Do you think it wrong to take medicine to remove pain, since all is the result of our own doings, if one is not hopelessly ill or dying?
37. — In case of sickness, what form of healing do you advise, physician's or practitioner's, as in the Chris- tian Science belief?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 383
38. — What is your opinion in regard to fasting as a means of curing disease ?
39. — Do you consider it wrong to try to cure a bad habit, such as, for instance, drunkenness, by hypnotism?
40. — Are there any methods of eradicating the calcareous matter which comes into our bodies by wrong meth- ods of diet?
41. — Is not Nature guilty of frequent physical malforma- tion in the plant and animal world, as well as the human race, and can there be a perfectly whole and sane intelligence with a forceful will in a diseased or malformed body?
42. — Do you believe in vaccination ?
43. — If, as you state, the Ego dwells in the blood, is not the practice of blood transfusion from a healthy to a diseased person dangerous? Does it affect or in- fluence the Ego in any way, and if so, how ?
44. — What are the causes of insanity ?
45. — When an insane person dies, will he still be insane in the Desire World ?
QUESTIONS CONCERNING LIFE AFTER DEATH
46. — What is the use of knowing about the after death state, what happens in the Invisible World, and all these things? Is it not far better to take one world at a time? Sufficient unto the day is the trouble thereof, why borrow more?
47. — Is there any time set to the limit of earth life be- fore we are born ?
48. — Is it possible to shorten the time between death and a new birth so as to hasten one's evolution, and if so, how?
384 EOSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
49. — Are there seasons and times, ages and epochs in the other world ?
50. — Does a person who has been buried alive become con- scious of his condition, and how does the spirit get back to the body when it lies in the grave?
51.— Why do children die?
52. — What is the cause of the vast number of deaths which occur in infancy and childhood?
53. — Does the cremation of the dense body after death affect the spirit in any way?
54. — If a person has lost his memory through nervous shock or fever, does that affect his vital body and prevent him from getting the record of his life in the three days immediately following death ?
55. — If a disembodied spirit can pass through a wall, can it also pass through a mountain and the earth, and can it see what is inside?
56. — Do we meet our loved ones after death, even if they have held a different belief from our own, or, per- haps, been atheists?
57. — Do we recognize loved ones who have passed out through the gate of death ?
58. — Does the man who commits suicide stay longer in Purgatory than the people who die naturally?
59. — Does a good man have to go through Purgatory and be conscious of all the evil that is there before he can get into the First, Second and Third Heavens, and if so, isn't that an undeserved punishment?
60. — What is the condition of the victim of a murder and the victim of an accident subsequent to death?
61. — Where is heaven?
62. — It is said that there is no sorrow in heaven, but if
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 385
our loved ones are met there and then pass on, does not the parting from them involve a sense of dis- satisfaction?
63. — Please explain how to concentrate in order to help those in the other world. Do you mean sitting in the silence and sending out loving, helpful thoughts to them?
64. — Do those who have passed out of earth life keep watch and ward over us who are left behind? For instance, do mothers look after their little children or even the larger ones ?
QUESTIONS CONCERNING REBIRTH
65. — Why, with a few exceptions, are we reincarnated without having the slightest knowledge of any pre- vious existence, and thus suffer blindly in this life for transgressions of which we are entirely ignorant, committed in some former life? Does it not seem as though we could get better and quicker spiritual ad- vancement if we knew how and why we had erred before, and what acts we must correct before we can progress ?
66. — Are all the human beings that people the earth at the present time souls .that have gone through earth life before, or are new souls being created all the time ?
67. — How do we know beyond a doubt that rebirth is a fact ? Is it not possible that those who so state may be suffering from hallucination?
68. — Do the souls that have passed into Purgatory and through the First, Second and Third Heavens come back here and reincarnate on this earth, or do they go to other spheres ?
13
386 ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
69. — Do we come in contact with the friends of one life when we are born again into a new life?
70. — Is the experience gained in each incarnation re- corded separately and added to the previous ones, so that in the ultimate the spirit is entirely conscious of the complete sum of its experiences, or is that experience more or less unconsciousty absorbed by the next succeeding incarnation, so that only a gen- eral effect is obtained ?
71. — When the spirit coming down to rebirth has drawn to itself its mind stuff and sinks into the Desire World, will it not then be in Purgatory again ?
72. — How can you believe in the theory of reincarnation — that we come back here in the body of an animal? Is it not much more beautiful to believe in the Chris- tian doctrine that we go to heaven with God and the Angels?
QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE BIBLE TEACHINGS
73. — Why is it that every sect interprets the Bible dif- ferently and that each one gets an apparent vindi- cation for its idea from that book ?
74. — What is meant by the second aspect of the Triune God?
75. — Are the Recording Angels individual beings?
76. — Do the Angels and Archangels watch over us in- dividually as well as collectively and know just what our lives are?
77. — Have Angels wings as shown in pictures?
78. — Do the Rosicrucians accept the Bible as the Word of God from cover to cover?
79. — What is the viewpoint of the Rosicrucians concern- ins; the creation of the world in seven days?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 387
80. — The Bible teaches the immortality of the soul in an authoritative manner. The Rosicrucian teaches the same professedly by appealing to reason. Are there no positive proofs of immortality ?
81. — Is there any authority in the Bible for the theory of rebirth ?
82. — According to the Bible only man was given a soul. Why, then, do you say that the animals have a group spirit ?
83. — Is it true that Eve was taken out of Adam's side?
84. — If God made man in his image and likeness and sup- posedly perfect, why were the different epochs prior to the fall of Adam and Eve necessary?
85.— What was the sin or fall in Eden?
86. — Is the Tree of Life spoken of in the Bible the,, same as the Philosopher's Stone of the Alchemist ?
87. — The Lord had respect unto Abel and his bloody of- fering, but unto Cain and his sweet and clean offer- ing He had not respect. Why?
88. — What is the esoteric significance of the Ark of the Covenant ?
89. — Is there an occult significance in the various Chris- tian feasts of the year?
90. — I understood you to say that the Christ had been in- carnated only once, in Jesus. Was he not previously incarnated in Buddha and still earlier in Krisna?
91. — W^e are told that God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth
in Him shall not die but have everlasting life. How
do you reconcile that idea with the words of Christ,
"I came not to bring peace, but a sword."
92. — What is meant by everlasting salvation and damna- tion?
388 EOSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
93. — What is the teaching of the Kosicrucians concerning the Immaculate Conception?
94. — Was not the Star of Bethlehem a comet?
95. — What were the gifts of the Wise Men?
96. — Was not Jesus a Jew, and if so, what did he mean by saying "Before Abraham was I am," for even if He reincarnated, Abraham was the father of the Jewish race?
97. — Jesus was baptized at thirty, receiving the Christ spirit. Please explain this baptism.
98. — In your teaching you state that we stay for a time averaging one-third of the length of the earth life in Purgatory, in order that our sins may be ex- piated prior to going to heaven. How, then, do you reconcile this teaching with the words of the Christ to the dying thief, "Today thou shalt be with Me in Paradise."
99. — What is the esoteric meaning of the two thieves on
the cross?
100. — What is the meaning of the cross, is it simply the instrument of torture as usually taught in the ortho- dox religion ?
101. — Could not the mission of Christ have been accom- plished without such a drastic method as crucifixion ? 102. — According to the Rosicrucian teaching, when will
Christ come again ?
103. — What is meant by the saying that Christ was made a
High Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec?
104. — What did Christ mean when he said, "All who came
before Me were thieves and robbers" ?
105. — What did Christ mean when He said "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall not enter therein" ?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 389
106. — Did not Jesus eat fish? Why, then, are the Rosi- crucians vegetarians ?
107.— If Christ fed the multitude with fish, why is it wrong for us to use them as food ?
108. — Please explain why the fatted calf was not killed for the righteous son instead of for the prodigal. Was that not giving a reward for wrong doing?
109. — Why did the Lord commend the unjust steward, as related in the sixteenth chapter of Luke?
110. — What is meant by sinning against the Holy Ghost?
111. — Is the Christian Creed authoritative?
112. — How do you reconcile the law of cause and effect with the doctrine of the forgiveness of sins ?
113. — By what power did Peter raise Dorcas from the dead ?
114. — Do you believe in conversion?
115. — Is there any value in confession and absolution?
HG.^Is there an)7 value in the Latin ritual used by the Catholic Church ? Would it not be better if it were translated so that people could understand it, and are not the extemporaneous prayers used in the Prot- estant Churches much to be preferred to the ritual and stereotyped masses of the Catholics?
117. — What is the actual merit in martyrdom; did the martyrs really become saints?
118. — In one of your lectures, you said in effect that it was a mistake to send missionaries to foreign countries ; that the religions practiced by the so-called heathen are right for them at the present time, but that the missionaries have done little harm as yet. How, then, do you reconcile the command of the Christ, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
390 EOSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
QUESTIONS CONCERNING SPIRITUALISTIC PHENOMENA
119. — Is mediumship injurious to health?
120. — Where mediums make so-called soul trips, what is it that leaves the physical body, and can it leave in the waking state to gather data ?
121. — I have taken many soul flights, and on one of these journeys my guide took me through gates into a crystal city and on into a temple filled with ethereal people, saying, "This is God's Holy City." Will you kindly tell me where this is and why there are gates and walls around the city, and why everything looked like crystal ?
122. — Are not the desire bodies left by those who have progressed beyond the Desire World used by ele- ment als to deceive friends and relatives of the de- ceased person? How can they be detected and rec- ognized by them?
123. — Can elementals assume the shape of animals or rep- tiles, and what can be done to stop them from doing it?
124. — How can one avoid becoming obsessed ?
125. — What is psychometry?
126. — Is it true that at spiritualistic seances persons are sometimes transported bodily from one place to an- other by invisible hands, flowers are brought into the room through closed windows and doors, and if so, how can that be done ?
127, — "\yiii yOU kindly explain the use of the planchette, and state if it is advisable to try to produce the phenomena among amateurs?
128. — Is a vampire the same as a werewolf?
129. — What is the difference between a trance medium,
QUESTIONS AND ANSWEKS 391
materializing medium,, the trained clairvoyant and the ordinary person ?
130. — If mediumship is so dangerous, why do not the me- diums cease to allow themselves to be controlled?
QUESTIONS CONCERNING CLALB 7OYANCE
131. — What is the difference between a clairvoyant, an Initiate and an Adept?
132. — Why is it that trained clairvoyants do not offer to lend themselves to some simple but conclusive tests conducted by men o,f science which would convince everybody of the reality of faculties transcending the physical senses ?
133. — If clairvoyance is such an accurate means of inves- tigation, such a high spiritual faculty, why do we usually see it in possession of people of little educa- tion and coarse breeding, who have seemingly very little spirituality and who often tell lies?
134. — What do you mean by initiation, and why are only men Initiates?
135. — Is it not the duty of one who is informed on sub- jects concerned with the higher life to give informa- tion and help to the less informed ?
^.36. — What qualifications are necessary to become an In- visible Helper? Must the whole life be given over to spiritual endeavor?
137. — What purpose has the person in going out of his body ?
138. — Is it absolutely necessary to live a life of aceticism in order to become spiritual and endowed with psy- chic powers?
139. — Are all children clairvoyant up to a certain age?
140. — What is the difference between white and black
392 ROSICBUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
magic, and what is the effect of the practice of black magic upon the soul?
141. — You speak of the western and eastern schools of oc- cultism. Is not the western school the better, and if cio, why?
1-12. — What is the difference between etheric sight, clair- voyance, and the sight pertaining to the World of Thought ?
143. — Is it safe for a person in a greatly debilitated nervous condition to take occult training given by the Rosi- crucians, or is it necessary for such a person to first recover? Is health regained by occult training?
144. — A sound body being necessary for spiritual unfolcl- ment, what does the Rosicrucian teaching hold out to one not at present in the best physical condition? Will perfect health be one result of the study of this philosophy, and if the teaching is practiced, will it tend to keep a person in good health?
145. — In "what way will it help us in the life after death if we have cultivated clairvoyance in the present life?
146. — Would the contemplation of the God within, if per- sistently carried on, aid one in spiritual growth and bring one to adeptship?
147. — Has it not been recorded that certain individuals have developed spiritual power, clairvoyance, sixth sense, or whatever we wish to call it, by living a clean life in harmony with nature's laws, and does not the teachings of modern occultists with so many terms of technicality have a tendency to create con- fusion rather than bring the desired results ?
148. — Is it possible to cultivate clairvoyance by the use of drugs, by crystal gazing or breathing exercises,
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 393
and do these methods not bring results quicker than
the methods you advocate?
149. — What time in the morning is best for concentration? 150. — It is difficult for me to review the events of the «iy
in reverse order when doing my evening exercises.
Is this absolutely necessary, and if so, why? 151. — What value are breathing exercises in developing
body and mind? 152. — Is not the Invisible World of which you speak very
unreal and shadowy in comparison to this world in
which we now live?
QUESTIONS CONCERNING ASTROLOGY
153. — Is it possible that astrology and palmistry can be true, inasmuch as we could avert coming disaster by being forewarned in that manner? And would it not interfere with our destiny?
154. — Is it wrong to use palmistry, astrology or phrenol- ogy as a means of livelihood?
155. — Are Mars, Jupiter and other planets inhabited; if so. are those people superior to the people on earth; do the souls from the earth ever .reincarnate on other planets and vice versa?
156. — Does not the nebular theory account for the exist- ence of the universe in a much more scientific man- ner than the creation stories of the Bible?
157. — What are comets?
158. — Does the movement of a planet through space create a noise?
159. — What is the esoteric significance of the use of the names of the twelve sons of Jacob in connection with the twelve signs of the zodiac, and are these used
394 ROSICRUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
in connection with the earth's zodiac or the sun's zodiac, or both?
160. — Can you give an idea of the difference between helio- centric and geocentric astrology ? Is the geocentric concerned only with the affairs of this earth, the material life, and the heliocentric with the soul or the spiritual side ? The sun, being the spiritual planet and the ruler of our solar system, would lead to this conclusion. Inasmuch as we use the sun's 1 zodiac in heliocentric astrology and the earth's zodiac in geocentric. Can predictions in this life ever be made by the sun's zodiac, or is the latter simply concerned with the spiritual side of a person's nature ?
161. — How is it possible to get on good terms with Saturn? The inquirer has been under his influence all his life. Sickness, poverty, loss of inheritance, and accidents are bad enough, but can Saturn also cause us trouble spiritually; can he put barriers up for our unfokl- ment when our spirit is struggling for the good, and are we liberated from his influence when we pass out at death ?
162. — How may we .pray to or address Saturn when he is the ruling star causing us trouble and sorrow ?
QUESTIONS CONCERNING ANIMALS
163. — Why do animals, which are a lower evolution, have an instinct which seems so much more reliable than the reason of human beings?
164.— Can you throw some light on what our attitude to- ward the lower forms of life should be? Have we the right to kill anything harmless, since every liv-
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 395
ing thing is in a sense our brother ? How about the venomous insects and reptiles ?
165. — Are not venomous and destructive reptiles created by the evil thoughts of men, so far as the form is con- cerned? And, therefore, is it not an act of love to kill them and thus liberate the divine spark within so that it may occupy a higher form ?
166. — What is a group spirit, where is it, and what does it look like?
167. — Are animals amenable to the law of causation?
168. — Do animals live after death?
169. — When a pet dog or cat dies, does the entire group spirit to which it belongs die at the same time? Also what becomes of the animal soul, and does the human love and care it has received help it on its upward journey?
170. — What substance does a person or animal throw off whereby they can be traced, as, for example, crim- inals are traced by bloodhounds?
MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS
171. — What is the origin of life?
172. — What is matter? Is it not unreal?
173. — You said in a previous lecture that the earth is the body of a spirit which gives its life for the dwellers upon the surface. Why does it give flowers and fruit to some and earthquake and famine to others?
174. — What is meant by the sentence, "Man, know thy- self?
175.— What is the Holy Grail?
176. — What was the connection between the pyramid build- ers of Egypt and the pyramid builders of Central America? Which is the older civilization?
396 BOSICHUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
177. — What is the essential difference between the teach- ings of the Rosicrucian Philosophy and the orthodox church ?
178. — Kindly state the essentials wherein the Rosicrucinn Philosophy differs from Theosophy.
179.— Is the White Lodge of the Theosophical Society the same as the Temple of the Rosicrucians ?
180. — What do you understand by the term Master, and is the Rosicrucian Fellowship a movement inspired by them ?
181. — If one who believes in the teachings advanced by the Rosicrucians earnestly maintains that they are true, is he not in danger of becoming dogmatic and in- tolerant of the opinions of others? And what should be his attitude toward those who refuse to accept these teachings?
182. — How is it that not many who have studied the highest philosophy interest themselves in bettering industrial conditions, such as the abolition of wage slavery, which is as degrading and brutal as Negro slavery?
183. — Can anyone study occultism, live the higher life and be a millionaire?
184. — Do you believe in capital punishment? Is it not bet- ter and more merciful than imprisonment for life?
185. — WThat is the viewpoint of the Rosicrucians on woman suffrage ?
186. — If occultists abstain from flesh eating because it re- quires a tragedy in its preparation, and they do not wish to be. a party to taking life, either directly or by proxy, is it not also taking life when we eat eggs or fruit, vegetables, etc. ?
387. — Is that terrible entity which Glyndon saw in Bulwer
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 397
Lytton's "Zanoni" the same as Mr. Hyde in Eobert