By: Carlos Antonio Martinez, Jr.
“My heart can adopt all forms, I follow the religion of Love: Whichever road the camel of Love takes, that is my religion and my faith” Ibn Arabi
Contrary to the majority of “Exoteric Spiritual Systems” Free-Masonry lacks totalitarian ambition. It accepts that although its method is “just and perfect”, it is not the only one through which its goals are accomplished. It recognizes that its modus operandi is merely one more of the Traditional Avenues of Access to Knowledge, just like in the Occidental world so were the diverse Gnostic Schools with which it shares a number of basic elements.
For the individual who knows how and when to advance beyond the appearances which at times seem discordant and contradictory and reaches the central nucleus of a proposed concept and/or theory, it must not be difficult to encounter profound parallelisms among Traditions which emanate from the same fountain. Thus, it is with minimum or no effort that we can realize how Free-Masonry shares so many essential tenets, attributes and characteristics with other socio-cultural movements which have emerged all throughout the history of mankind; Movements which in the form of academies, cults, private associations, clubs, congregations, guilds and corporations united and still unite “men and women of good repute and customs” who labor incessantly in the construction of their Inner Temples.
The acceptance of this proven fact, however, must not lead us to the extreme assumption that “everything is identical”, thus reducing Traditions to its minimum common denominator and therefore losing its intrinsically characteristic richness. The fact that “within their nucleuses” Traditions seem analogous does not make their manifestations appear so before the eyes of the common folk, for in order to really appreciate it, it is necessary to make an active and persevering effort.
One of the traditions which outside the occidental frame distinguishes itself among those most proximate to Free-Masonry, is Sufism. The similarity and compatibility of Sufism with the Craft is such that, quite frequently, learned men and women refer to Free-Masonry as: “Western Sufism”, and, in like manner, they refer to Sufism as: “Free-Masonry of Islam”. Before continuing on, it is important to under-line what I consider the most fundamental difference between these two Traditions: While Free-Masonry accepts any “exoteric frame”, Sufism can only be lived plentifully within the Islamic Religion. In this occasion, therefore, notwithstanding how passion-inspiring the topic may be, I will not address the more or less true relationships existing between these two Institutions and their precursors; I will, however, focus very succinctly on points that are central and common to both Traditions.
There are two origins commonly attributed to Sufism: One, is a type of “Concealed Interior Doctrine” directly transmitted by the Prophet (may Peace be upon him!) to his most intimate Disciples; a somewhat similar to certain Gnostic Interpretations of Primitive Christianity and transmitted to our modern days by way of a “golden thread” of Initiates. And the other, entirely different from the first one, is that of the Persian Influence upon the primogenial Arabic Islam, an influence through which certain pantheist and monist depth was aggregated. It is indeed probable that both theories bear much Truth in them; But, only one reality remains uncontested: Sufism has been present in Islam since the first centuries of its existence, having, just like Free-Masonry, a best or worst fate while living its Principles of Love and Tolerance in any of the social/political contexts of the last twelve hundred years.
Though Sufism is not a monolithic block, and philosophical positions from the most orthodox to the most heterodox have been based on it, the most adequate definition may be the one given to us by Omar Ali Shah: “Doctrine which seeks to remove the veil from the eye of the heart (Ayd al-Qalb) to see what is Real (al-Haq)”. It is difficult to condense greater profoundness in such a few words, and impossible to explain them to he/she who does not feel. On the other hand, the moral aspect, just like in Free-Masonry, is not alien to Sufism; Hence the definition given by Junayd of Bagdad: “Adoption of superior qualities and abandonment of inferior ones”.
Sufism, contrary to practices and Ascetic Schools of the Indian subcontinent with which it is also compared, is vivid and practiced in open communities, thus vertebrating themselves with Progressive Ways from smaller groups headed by a “Master” to larger “Grand Orders”, of which the Naqsbandi is probably the best known. The exterior practices of Sufism are determined in great measure by belonging to either “Order”, and most specially by the “ritualistic knocking”, counsel and input of the founding “Master” who inaugurates all major ceremonies which are then followed by prayers, supplications, invocations, diets, pilgrimages and other activities which are as generic and specific to the Muslim World.
The internal practices are, on the contrary, much more faithful to Sufism and very common/familiar to it independently of the “Order” affiliated with, as it usually happens with any esoteric doctrine of difficult comprehension to the non-initiate. Let us in this occasion only mention the practice of Meditation over the Internal Reality (Haqiqah), over the thought-integrator of opposites, over the motion of Nature innate to all human beings (Fitra) and which reveals in its interior the Full Sense of Creation and the presence of Allah (Dhirku’llah) in an analogous perception.
These exercises, among other disciplines, are carried out individually, but, under the tutelage of the “Master” of a regular Community where nobody is granted admission, unless he/she has been subject to rigorous trials aimed at provoking the “Awakening of the Sufi”, an event rarely referenced to under such appellative, but, instead, commonly known as: the “Awakening of a Friend”, very close to the Masonic expression: the “Resurrection of a Brother Master Mason”.
May these few lines suffice to at least superficially emboss the coincidences between Sufism and Free-Masonry, in order that the individual interested in the study of Esoterism in general may benefit from the resources offered by either path, and the Free-Mason, with or without an apron, may know of a Sister Tradition in the Muslim World, a world that is now so perversely defamed and slandered by Profane and “Mason” alike, a world that, contrary to the nefarious assertions of our nation’s failed leadership, is plethoric of Hope, Faith and Charity and ever ready to extend the hand of Brotherly/Sisterly Love, Relief and Truth to all the people of the world.
(This chapter is mostly composed of excerpts from The Kybalion)
By: Carlos Antonio Martinez, Jr.
Hermetic Philosophy is Operative Philosophy, and that means that the student of Hermeticism shall self convert into an operator of his own reality, into a maker, into a transformer of those conditions which limit and imprison him on a daily basis.
With an elevated level of conscience, the Hermetist, helping himself with The Seven Universal Principles known in The Kybalion, can transmute the external conditions of his life, just as well as the limitations and defects of his personality, until reaching a True Liberation.
≥These Universal Principles of Truth are seven; he who knows them with full comprehension, posseses the Magickal Key before whose touch all the doors of the Temple fly open≤. – Hermes Trismegistus
These Seven Hermetic Principles upon which the entire Hermetic Philosophy is based, are the following:
- Principle of Mentality or Mentalism.
- Principle of Correspondence.
- Principle of Vibration.
- Principle of Polarity.
- Principle of Rhythm.
- Principle of Cause and Effect.
- Principle of Gender and/or Generation.
Let us proceed to examine them one by one:
PRINCIPLE OF MENTALITY OR MENTALISM
≥The ALL is MIND; The Universe is Mental.≤ – Hermes Trismegistus
This principle embodies the truth that ≥All is Mind≤. It explains that THE ALL (which is the Substantial Reality underlying all the outward manifestation and appearances which we know under the terms of ≥The Manifested Universe≤; the ≥Phenomena of Life≤; ≥Matter≤; ≥Energy≤; and, in short, all that is apparent to our material senses) is SPIRIT which in itself is UNKNOWABLE and UNDEFINABLE, but which may be considered and thought of as AN UNIVERSAL, INFINITE, LIVING MIND. It also explains that all the phenomenal world or universe is simply a Mental Creation of THE ALL, subject to the Laws of Created Things, and that the universe, as a Whole, and in its parts or units, has its existence in the Mind of THE ALL, in which we ≥live, move and have our being≤. This principle, by establishing the Mental Nature of the Universe, easily explains all of the varied mental and psychic phenomena that occupy such a large portion of the public attention, and which, without such explanation, are non-understandable and defy scientific treatment. An understanding of this great Hermetic Principle of Mentalism enables the individual to readily grasp the laws of the Mental Universe, and to apply the same to his well-being and advancement. The Hermetic Student is enabled to apply intelligently the Great Mental Laws, instead of using them in a haphazard manner. With the Master-Key in his/her possession, the student may unlock the many doors of the Mental and Psychic Temple of Knowledge, and enter the same freely and responsibly. This Principle explains the True Nature of ≥Energy≤, ≥Power≤ and ≥Matter≤; and why and how all these are subordinates to the Mastery of Mind. One of the old Hermetic Masters wrote, ages ago: ≥He who grasps the truth of the Mental Nature of the Universe is well advanced on The Path to Mastery≤. And these words are as true today as at the time they were first written. Without this Master-Key, Mastery is impossible, and the student knocks in vain at the many doors of The Temple.
THE PRINCIPLE OF CORRESPONDENCE
≥As above, so below; as below, so above.≤ – Hermes Trismegistus
This Principle embodies the Truth that there is always a Correspondence between the laws and phenomena of the various planes of Being and Life. The old Hermetic Axiom ran in these words: ≥As above, so below; as below, so above≤, and the grasping of this Principle gives one the means of solving many a dark paradox, and hidden secret of Nature. There are planes beyond our knowing, but when we apply the Principles of Correspondence to them we are able to understand that which, otherwise would be unknowable to us. This Principle is of universal application and manifestation, on the various planes of the material, mental, and spiritual universeä it is an Universal Law. The ancient Hermetists considered this Principle as one of the most important mental instruments by which man was able to pry aside the obstacles which hid from view the Unknown. Its use even tore aside the Veil of Isis to the extent that a glimpse of the face of The Goddess might be caught. Just a knowledge of the Principles of Geometry enables man to measure distant planets and their movements, while seated in his observatory, so a knowledge of the Principles of Correspondence enables Man to reason intelligently from the Known to the Unknown.
THE PRINCIPLE OF VIBRATION
≥Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.≤ – Hermes Trismegistus
This Principle embodies the Truth that ≥everything is in motion≤; ≥everything vibrates≤; ≥nothing is at rest≤; facts which Modern Science endorses, and which each new scientific discovery tends to verify. And yet this Hermetic Principle was enunciated thousands of years ago, by the Masters of Ancient Egypt. This Principle explains that the differences between the manifestations of Matter, Energy, Mind, and even Spirit, result largely from varying rates of Vibration. From THE ALL, which is Pure Spirit, down to the grossest form of Matter, all is in vibration – the higher the vibration, the higher the position in the scale. The Vibration of Spirit is at such an infinite rate of intensity and rapidity that it is practically at rest, just as a rapidly moving wheel seems to be motionless. And at the other end of the scale, there are gross forms of matter whose vibrations are so low as to seem at rest. Between these poles, there are millions upon millions of varying degrees of vibration. From corpuscle and electron, atom and molecule, to worlds and universes, everything is in vibratory motion. This is also true on the planes of energy and force (which are but varying degrees of vibration); and also on the mental planes (whose states depend upon vibrations); and even on to the spiritual planes. An understanding of this Principle, with the appropriate formulas, enables the Hermetic students to control their own mental vibrations as well as those of others. The Masters also apply this Principle to the conquering of Natural Phenomena, in various ways. ≥He who understands the Principle of Vibration, has grasped the scepter of power≤, said one of the old Hermetic Philosophers.
THE PRINCIPLE OF POLARITY
≥Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled.≤ – Hermes Trismegistus
This Principle embodies the Truth that ≥everything is dual≤; ≥everything has two poles≤; ≥everything has its pair of opposites≤, all of which were Old Hermetic Axioms. It explains the old paradoxes, that have perplexed so many, which have been stated as follows: ≥Thesis and antithesis are identical in nature, but different in degree≤; ≥opposites are the same, differing only in degree≤; ≥the pairs of opposites may be reconciled≤; ≥extremes meet≤; ≥everything is and is not, at the same time≤; ≥all truths are but half-truths≤; ≥every truth is half-false≤; ≥there are two sides to everything≤, etc. It explains that in everything there are two poles, or opposite aspects, and that ≥opposites≤ are really only the two extremes of the same thing, with many varying degrees between them. To illustrate: Heat and Cold, although ≥opposites≤, are really the same thing, the differences consisting merely of degrees of the same thing. Look at your thermometer and see if you can discover where ≥heat≤ terminates and ≥cold≤ begins! There is NO such thing as ≥Absolute Heat≤ or ≥Absolute Cold≤, the two terms simply indicate varying degrees of the same thing, and that ≥same thing≤ which manifests as ≥heat≤ and ≥cold≤ is merely a form, variety, and rate of Vibration. So ≥heat≤ and ≥cold≤ are simply the two poles of that which we call ≥Heat≤, and the phenomena attendant thereupon are manifestations of the Principle of Polarity. The same Principle manifests in the case of ≥Light and Darkness≤, which are the same thing, the difference consisting of varying degrees between the two poles of the phenomena. Where does ≥Darkness≤ leave off, and ≥Light≤ begin? What is the difference between ≥Large and Small≤? Between ≥Hard and Soft≤? Between ≥Black and White≤? Between ≥Sharp and Dull≤? Between ≥Noise and Quiet≤? Between ≥High and Low≤? Between ≥Positive and Negative≤? The Principle of Polarity explains these paradoxes, and NO other Principle can supersede it. The same Principle operates on the Mental Plane. Let us take a radical and extreme example, that of ≥Love and Hate≤, two mental states apparently totally different, and yet there are degrees of Hate and degrees of Love, and a middle point in which we use the terms ≥Like or Dislike≤, which shade into each other so gradually that sometimes we are at a loss to know whether we ≥like≤, ≥dislike≤ or ≥neither≤. And all are simply degrees of the same thing, as you will see if you will but think a moment. And, more than this (and considered of more importance by the Hermetists), it is possible to change the vibrations of Hate to the vibrations of Love, in oneπs own mind, and in the minds of others. Many of you, who read these lines, have had personal experiences of the involuntary rapid transition from Love to Hate, and the reverse, in your own case and that of others. And you will therefore realize the possibility of this being accomplished by the use of the Will, by means of the Hermetic Formulas. ≥Good and Evil≤ are but the poles of the same thing, and the Hermetist understands the art of transmuting Evil into Good, by means of an application of the Principle of Polarity. In short, the Art of Polarization becomes a phase of ≥Mental Alchemy≤ known and practiced by the ancient and modern Hermetic Masters. An understanding of the Principle will enable one to change his own Polarity, as well as those of others, if he/she will devote the time and study necessary to master the art.
THE PRINCIPLE OF RHYTHM
≥Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides; all things rise and fall; the pendulum-swing manifests in everything; the measure of the swing to the right is the measure of the swing to the left; rhythm compensates.≤ – Hermes Trismegistus
This Principle embodies the Truth that in everything there is manifested a measured motion, to and fro; a flow and inflow; a swing backward and forward; a pendulum-like movement; a tide-like ebb and flow; a high tide and low tide; between the two poles which exist in accordance with the Principle of Polarity described a moment ago. There is always an action and a reaction; an advance and a retreat; a rising and a sinking. This is in the affairs of the Universe, Suns, Worlds, Men, Animals, Mind, Energy and Matter. This law is manifest in the creation and destruction of worlds; in the rise and fall of nations; in the life of all things; and finally in the mental states of Man (and it is with this latter that the Hermetists find the understanding of the Principle most important). The Hermetists have grasped this Principle, finding its universal application, and have also discovered certain means to overcome its effects in themselves by the use of appropriate formulas and methods. They apply the Mental Law of Neutralization. They cannot annul the Principle, or cause it to cease its operation, but they have learned how to escape its effects upon themselves to a certain degree depending upon the Mastery of the Principle. They have learned how to USE it, instead of being USED BY it. In this and similar methods consist the Art of the Hermetists. The Master of Hermetics polarizes himself at the point at which he desires to rest, and then neutralizes the Rhythmic swing of the pendulum which would tend to carry him to the other pole. All individuals who have attained any degree of Self-Mastery do this to a certain extent, more or less unconsciously, but the Master does this consciously, and by the use of his Will, and attains a degree of Poise and Mental Firmness almost impossible of belief on the part of the masses who are swung backward and forward like a pendulum. This Principle and that of Polarity have been closely studied by the Hermetists, and the methods of counteracting, neutralizing, and USING them form an important part of the Hermetic Mental Alchemy.
THE PRINCIPLE OF CAUSE AND EFFECT
≥Every Cause has its Effect; every Effect has its Cause; everything happens according to Law; Chance is but a name for Law not recognized; there are many planes of causation, but nothing escapes the Law≤ – Hermes Trismegistus
This Principle embodies the fact that there is a Cause for every Effect, and an Effect for every Cause. It explains that ≥Everything happens according to Law≤; that nothing ever ≥merely happens≤; that there is no such thing as Chance; that while there are various planes of Cause and Effect, the higher dominating the lower planes, still nothing ever entirely escapes the Law. The Hermetists understand the arts and methods of rising above the ordinary plane of Cause and Effect, to a certain degree, and by mentally rising to a higher plane they become Causers instead of Effects. The masses of people are carried along, obedient to environment; the wills and desires of others stronger than themselves; heredity; suggestion; and other outward causes moving them about like pawns on the Chessboard of Life. But the Masters, rising to the plane above, dominate their moods, characters, qualities and powers, as well as the environment surrounding them, and become Movers instead of Pawns. They help to play the Game of Life, instead of being played and moved about by other wills and environment. They USE the Principle instead of being its tools. The Masters obey the Causation of the higher planes, but they help to RULE on their own plane. In this statement there is condensed a wealth of Hermetic Knowledge, let him/her read who can.
THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER
≥Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles; Gender manifests on all planes.≤ – Hermes Trismegistus
This Principle embodies the Truth that there is GENDER manifested in everything, the Masculine and Feminine Principles ever at work. This is true not only of the Physical Plane, but of the Mental and even Spiritual Planes. On the Physical Plane, the principle manifests as SEX, on the higher planes it takes higher forms, but the Principle is ever the same. No creation, physical, mental and/or spiritual, is possible without this Principle. An understanding of its Laws will throw light on many a subject that has perplexed the minds of men. The Principle of Gender works ever in the direction of generation, regeneration, and creation. Everything, and every person, contains the two Elements or Principles, or this Great Principle, within it, him, or her. Every Male thing has the Female Element also; every Female contains also the Male Principle. If you would understand the Philosophy of Mental and Spiritual Creation, Generation and Regeneration, you must comprehend and study this Hermetic Principle. It contains the solution of many mysteries of Life. We caution you, however, that this Principle has NO reference to the many base, pernicious and degrading lustful theories, teachings and practices, which are taught under fanciful titles, and which are a prostitution of the Great Natural Principle of Gender. Such base revivals of the ancient infamous forms of Phallicism tend to ruin mind, body and soul, and the Hermetic Philosophy has ever sounded the warning note against these degraded teachings which tend toward lust, licentiousness, and perversion of Natureπs Principles. If you seek such teachings, you must go elsewhere for them; Hermeticism contains nothing for you along these lines. To the pure, all things are pure; to the base, all things are base.
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