The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception by Max Heindel

CREED OR CHRIST

No man loves God who hates his kind,
Who tramples on his brother's heart and soul;
Who seeks to shackle, cloud, or fog the mind
By fears of hell has not perceived our goal.

God-sent are all religions blest;
And Christ, the Way, the Truth, the Life,
To give the heavy laden rest
And peace from sorrow, sin, and strife.

Behold the Universal Spirit came
To ALL the churches, not to one alone;
On Pentecostal morn a tongue of flame
Round EACH apostle as a halo shone.

Since then, as vultures ravenous with greed,
We oft have battled for an empty name,
And sought by dogma, edict, cult, or creed,
To send each other to the quenchless flame.

Is Christ then twain? Was Cephas, Paul,
To save the world, nailed to the tree?
Then why divisions here at all?
Christ's love enfolds both you and me.

His pure sweet love is not confined
By creed which segregate and raise a wall.
His love enfolds, embraces human kind,
No matter what ourselves or Him we call.

Then why not take Him at His word?
Why hold to creeds which tear apart?
But one thing matters, be it heard
That brother love fill every heart.

There's but one thing the world has need to know.
There's but one balm for all our human woe:
There's but one way that leads to heaven above--
That way is human sympathy and love.

-Max Heindel.


A WORD TO THE WISE.


The founder of the Christian Religion stated an occult maxim when He
said: "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child
shall not enter therein" (Mark X:15). All occultists recognize the
far-reaching importance of this teaching of Christ, and endeavor to "live"
it day by day.

When a new philosophy is presented to the world it is met in different
ways by different people.

One person will grasp with avidity any new philosophical effort in an
endeavor to ascertain how far IT SUPPORTS HIS OWN IDEAS. To such an one the
philosophy itself is of minor importance. Its prime value will be its vin-
dication of HIS ideas. If the work comes up to expectation in that respect,
he will enthusiastically adopt it and cling to it with a most unreasoning
partisanship; if not, he will probably lay the book down in disgust and dis-
appointment, feeling as if the author had done him an injury.

Another adopts an attitude of skepticism as soon as he discovers that it
contains something which HE has not previously read, heard, or originated in
his own thought. He would probably resent as extremely unjustified the ac-
cusation that his mental attitude is the acme of self-satisfaction and in-
tolerance; such is nevertheless the case; and thus he shuts his mind to any
truth which may possibly be hidden in that which he off-hand rejects.

Both these classes stand in their own light. "Set" ideas render them
impervious to rays of truth. "A little child" is the very opposite of its
elders in that respect. It is not imbued with an overwhelming sense of su-
perior knowledge, nor does it feel compelled to look wise or to hide its
nescience of any subject by a smile or a sneer. It is frankly ignorant,
unfettered by preconceived opinions and therefore EMINENTLY TEACHABLE. It
takes everything with that beautiful attitude of trust which we have desig-
nated "child-like faith," wherein there is not the shadow of a doubt. There
the child holds the teaching it receives until proven or disproven.

In all occult schools the pupil is first taught to forget all else when
a new teaching is being given, to allow neither preference nor prejudice to
govern, but to keep the mind in a state of calm, dignified waiting. As
skepticism will blind us to truth in the most effective manner, so this
calm, trustful attitude of the mind will allow the intuition, or "teaching
from within," to become aware of the truth contained in the proposition.
That is the only way to cultivate an absolutely certain perception of truth.

The pupil is not required to believe off-hand that a given object which
he has observed to be white, is really black, when such a statement is made
to him; but he must cultivate an attitude of mind which "believeth all
things" AS POSSIBLE. That will allow him to put by for the time being even
what are generally considered "established facts," and investigate if per-
chance there be another viewpoint hitherto unobserved by him whence the ob-
ject referred to would appear black. Indeed, he would not allow himself to
look upon anything as "AN ESTABLISHED FACT," for he realizes thoroughly the
importance of keeping his mind in the fluidal state of ADAPTABILITY which
characterizes the little child. He realizes in every fibre of his being
that "now we see through a glass, darkly," and Ajax-like he is ever on the
alert, yearning for "Light, more Light."

The enormous advantage of such an attitude of mind when investigating
any given subject, object or idea must be apparent. Statements which appear
positively and unequivocally contradictory, which have caused an immense
amount of feeling among the advocates of opposite sides, may nevertheless be
capable of perfect reconciliation, as shown in one such instance mentioned
in the present work. THE BOND OF CONCORD IS ONLY DISCOVERED BY THE OPEN
MIND, however, and though the present work may be found to differ from oth-
ers, the writer would bespeak an impartial hearing as the basis of SUBSE-
QUENT judgment. If the book is "weighed and found wanting," the writer will
have no complaint. He only fears a hasty judgment based upon lack of knowl-
edge of the system he advocates--a hearing wherein the judgment is "wanting"
in consequence of having been denied an impartial "weighing." He would fur-
ther submit, that the only opinion worthy of the one who expresses it MUST
BE BASED UPON KNOWLEDGE.

As a further reason for care in judgment we suggest that to many it is
exceedingly difficult to retract a hastily expressed opinion. Therefore it
is urged that the reader withhold all expressions of either praise or blame
until study of the work has reasonably satisfied him of its merit or de-
merit.

The Rosicrucian Cosmo-conception is not dogmatic, neither does it appeal
to any other authority than the reason of the student. It is not controver-
sial, but is sent forth in the hope that is may help to clear some of the
difficulties which have beset the minds of students of the deeper phi-
losophies in the past. In order to avoid serious misunderstanding, it
should be firmly impressed upon the mind of the student, however, that there
is no infallible revelation of this complicated subject, which includes ev-
evrything under the sun and above it also.

An infallible exposition would predicate omniscience upon the part of
the writer, and even the Elder Brothers tell us that they are sometimes at
fault in their judgment, so a book which shall say the last word on the
World-Mystery is out of the question, and the writer of the present work
does not pretend to give aught but the most elementary teachings of the
Rosicrucians.

The Rosicrucian Brotherhood has the most far-reaching, the most logical
conception of the World-Mystery of which the writer has gained any knowledge
during the many years he has devoted exclusively to the study of this sub-
ject. So far as he has been able to investigate, their teachings have been
found in accordance with facts as he knows them. Yet he is convinced that
the Rosicrucian Cosmo-conception is far from being the last word on the
subject; that as we advance greater vistas of truth will open to us and
make clear many things which we now "see through a glass, darkly." At the
same time he firmly believes that all other philosophies of the future will
follow the same main lines, for they appear to be absolutely true.

In view of the foregoing it will be plain that this book is not consid-
ered by the writer as the Alpha and Omega, the ultimate of occult knowledge,
and even though is entitled "The Rosicrucian Cosmo-conception," the writer
desires to strongly emphasize that is not to be understood as a "faith once
for all delivered" to the Rosicrucians by a founder of the Order or by any
other individual. It is emphatically stated that THIS WORD EMBODIES ONLY
THE WRITER'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROSICRUCIAN TEACHINGS concerning the
World-Mystery, strengthened by his personal investigations of the inner
Worlds, the ante-natal and post-mortem states of man, etc. The responsibil-
ity upon one who wittingly or unwittingly leads others astray is clearly re-
alized by the writer, and he wishes to guard as far as possible against that
contingency, and also to guard others against going wrong inadvertently.

What is said in this work is to be accepted or rejected by the reader
according to his own discretion. All care has been used in trying to make
plain the teaching; great pains have been taken to put it into words that
shall be easily understood. For that reason only one term has been used
throughout to convey each idea. The same word will have the same meaning
wherever used. When any word descriptive of an idea is first used, the
clearest definition possible to the writer is given. None but English terms
and the simplest language have been used. The writer has tried to give as
exact and definite descriptions of the subject under consideration as pos-
sible; to eliminate all ambiguity and to make everything clear. How far he
has succeeded must be left to the student to judge; but having used every
possible means to convey the teaching, he feels obliged to guard also
against the possibility of this work being taken as a verbatim statement of
the Rosicrucian teachings. Neglect of this precaution might give undue
weight to this work in the minds of some students. That would not be fair
to the Brotherhood nor to the reader. It would tend to throw the
responsibility upon the Brotherhood for the mistakes which must occur in
this as in all other human works. Hence the above warming.

During the four years which have elapsed since the foregoing paragraphs
were written, the writer has continued his investigations of the invisible
worlds, and experienced the expansion of consciousness relative to these
realms of nature which comes by practice of the precepts taught in the West-
ern Mystery School. Others also who have followed the method of
soul-unfoldment herein described as particularly suited to the Western
peoples, have likewise been enabled to verify for themselves many things
here taught. Thus the writer's understanding of what was given by the Elder
Brothers has received some corroboration and seems to have been substan-
tially correct, therefore he feels it a duty to state this for the encour-
agement of those who are still unable to see for themselves.

If we said that the vital body is built of PRISMS instead of points, it
would have been better, for it is by refraction through these minute prisms
that the colorless solar fluid changes to a rosy hue as observed by other
writers beside the author.

Other new and important discoveries have also been made; for instance,
we know now that the Silver Cord is grown anew in each life, that one part
sprouts from the seed atom of the desire body in the great vortex of the
liver, that the other part grows out of the seed atom of the dense body in
the heart, that both parts meet in the seed atom of the vital body in the
solar plexus, and that this union of the higher and lower vehicles causes
the quickening. Further development of the cord between the heart and solar
plexus during the first seven years has an important bearing on the mystery
of childlife, likewise its fuller growth from the liver to the solar plexus,
which takes place during the second septenary period, is a contributory
cause of adolescence. Completion of the Silver Cord marks the end of
childlife, and from that time the solar energy which enters through the
spleen and is tinted by refraction through the prismatic seed atom of the
vital body located in the solar plexus, commences to give a distinctive and
individual coloring to the aura which we observe in adults.

***

LIST OF CONTENTS.

PART I.

MAN'S PRESENT CONSTITUTION AND METHOD OF DEVELOPMENT.


A Word to the Wise ................................................... 5
The Four Kingdoms, diagram ........................................... 16
Introduction ......................................................... 17

CHAPTER I. The Visible and Invisible Worlds ......................... 24
Chemical Region of the Physical World ............................ 29
Etheric Region of the Physical World ............................. 34
The Desire World ................................................. 38
The World of Thought ............................................. 48
Diagram 1. The Material World a Reverse Reflection
of the Spiritual Worlds .................................... 52
Diagram 2. The Seven Worlds ..................................... 54

CHAPTER II. The Four Kingdoms ....................................... 56
Diagram 3. The Vehicles of the Four Kingdoms .................... 73
Diagram 4. The Consciousness of the Four Kingdoms ............... 74

CHAPTER III. Man and the Method of Evolution.
Activities of Life; Memory and Soul-growth ....................... 87
The Constitution of the Seven-fold Man ........................... 88
Diagram 5. The Three-fold Spirit, the Three-fold Body and
the Three-fold Soul ........................................ 95
Death and Purgatory .............................................. 96
Diagram 5 1/2. The Silver Cord .................................. 98
The Borderland ................................................... 112
The First Heaven ................................................. 113
The Second Heaven ................................................ 121
The Third Heaven ................................................. 129
Preparations for Rebirth ......................................... 133
Birth of the Dense Body .......................................... 139
Birth of the Vital Body and Growth ............................... 141
Birth of the Desire Body and Puberty ............................. 142
Birth of the Mind and Majority ................................... 142
The Blood; the Vehicle of the Ego ................................ 143
A Life Cycle (diagram) ........................................... 146

CHAPTER IV. Rebirth and the Law of Consequence ...................... 147
Wine as a Factor in Evolution .................................... 165
A Remarkable Story ............................................... 172

PART II.

COSMOGENESIS AND ANTHROPOGENESIS.

CHAPTER V. The Relation of Man to God ............................... 177
Diagram 6. The Supreme Being, the Cosmic Planes and God ......... 178

CHAPTER VI. The Scheme of Evolution.
The Beginning .................................................... 183
The Seven Worlds ................................................. 186
The Seven Periods ................................................ 188
Diagram 7. The Saturn Period..................................... 193

CHAPTER VII. The Path of Evolution .................................. 194
Revolutions and Cosmic Nights .................................... 195
Diagram 8. The Seven Worlds, Seven Globes and Seven Periods ...... 197

CHAPTER VIII. The Work of Evolution.
Ariadne's Thread ................................................. 201
The Saturn Period ................................................ 204
Recapitulation ................................................... 208
The Sun Period ................................................... 209
The Moon Period .................................................. 213
Diagram 9. The Twelve Creative Hierarchies ...................... 221

CHAPTER IX. Stragglers and Newcomers ................................ 223
Classes of Beings at the Beginning of the Moon Period ............ 226
Diagram 10. Classes at the Beginning of Earth Period ............ 230

CHAPTER X. The Earth Period .......................................... 233
Saturn Revolution of the Earth Period ............................ 236
Sun Revolution of the Earth Period ............................... 240
Moon Revolution of the Earth Period ............................. 242
Rest Periods Between Revolutions ................................. 243
The Fourth Revolution of the Earth Period ........................ 245

CHAPTER XI. Genesis and Evolution of Our Solar System.
Chaos ............................................................ 246
The Birth of the Planets ......................................... 252
Diagram 11. Aspects of God and Man .............................. 253
Diagram 12. A Man's Past, Present and Future Form ............... 257

CHAPTER XII. Evolution on the Earth.
The Polarian Epoch ............................................... 261
The Hyperborean Epoch ............................................ 262
The Moon; the Eighth Sphere ...................................... 264
The Lemurian Epoch ............................................... 265
Birth of the Individual .......................................... 266
Separation of the Sexes .......................................... 267
Influence of Mars ................................................ 268
The Races and Their Leaders ...................................... 270
Influence of Mercury ............................................. 273
The Lemurian Race ................................................ 275
The Fall of Man .................................................. 282
The Lucifer Spirits .............................................. 286
The Atlantean Epoch .............................................. 291
The Aryan Epoch .................................................. 304
The Sixteen Paths to Destruction ................................. 306

CHAPTER XIII. Back to the Bible ..................................... 308

CHAPTER XIV. Occult Analysis of Genesis.
Limitations of the Bible ......................................... 317
In the Beginning ................................................. 321
The Nebular Theory ............................................... 322
The Creative Hierarchies ......................................... 325
The Saturn Period ................................................ 327
The Sun Period, the Moon Period .................................. 328
The Earth Period ................................................. 329
Jehovah and His Mission .......................................... 333
Involution, Evolution and Epigenesis ............................. 336
A Living Soul? ................................................... 344
Adam's Rib ....................................................... 346
Guardian Angels .................................................. 347
Mixing Blood in Marriage ......................................... 352
The Fall of Man .................................................. 360
Diagram 13. The Beginning and End of Sex ........................ 364

PART III.

MAN'S FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND INITIATION.

Diagram. The Seven Days of Creation ............................. 366

CHAPTER XV. Christ and His Mission.
The Evolution of Religion ........................................ 367
Jesus and Christ-Jesus ........................................... 374
Diagram 14. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ............. 377
Not Peace but a Sword ............................................ 383
The Star of Bethlehem ............................................ 388
The Heart an Anomaly ............................................. 393
The Mystery of Golgotha .......................................... 400
The Cleansing Blood .............................................. 406
Diagram, "As Above, so Below" .................................... 410

CHAPTER XVI. Future Development and Initiation.
The Seven Days of Creation ....................................... 411
Diagram 15. The Symbolism of the Caduceus ....................... 413
Radiates, Mollusks, Articulates and Vertebrates .................. 416
Spirals within Spirals ........................................... 420
Alchemy and Soulgrowth ........................................... 421
The Creative Word ................................................ 425

CHAPTER XVII. The Method of Acquiring First-Hand Knowledge.
The First Steps .................................................. 430
Western Methods for Western People ............................... 437
The Science of Nutrition ......................................... 441
Table of Food Values ............................................. 450
The Law of Assimilation .......................................... 457
Live and Let Live ................................................ 460
The Lord's Prayer ................................................ 462
Diagram 16. The Lord's Prayer ................................... 464
The Vow of Celibacy .............................................. 467
The Pituitary Body and the Pineal Gland .......................... 473
Diagram 17. Path of the Unused Sex Currents ..................... 475
Esoteric Training ................................................ 477
How the Inner Vehicle is Built ................................... 480
Concentration .................................................... 486
Meditation ....................................................... 489
Observation ...................................................... 492
Discrimination ................................................... 493
Contemplation .................................................... 494
Adoration ........................................................ 495

CHAPTER XVIII. The Constitution of the Earth and Volcanic Eruptions . 498
The Number of the Beast .......................................... 499
Diagram 18. The Constitution of the Earth ....................... 509

CHAPTER XIX. Christian Rosenkreuz and the Order of Rosicrucians ..... 515
Ancient Truths in Modern Dress ................................... 515
Initiation ....................................................... 524
The Rosicrucian Fellowship ....................................... 530
Correspondence Courses ........................................... 533
Symbolism of Rose Cross .......................................... 534

Topical Index ........................................................ 539
Index ............................................................ 543
Index of Diagrams and Tables ..................................... 599

Morning and Evening Exercises
Evening Exercise ................................................. 601
Morning Exercise ................................................. 602

Illustrations

1909