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Title: Kybalion: A Study of the Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece by Three Initiates, The Three Initiates ISBN: 0-911662-25-1 Publisher: DeVorss & Company Pub. Date: December, 1999 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.61 (41 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Concise summary of timeless spiritual principles
Comment: Along with the Tao Teh Ching, this little book first published by the Yogi Publication Society in 1912, is one of the most complete and concise spiritual texts ever written. Many critics have criticized the Kybalion's lack of "authenticity." The teachings are allegedly taken from an ancient Egpytian teacher or demi-god named Hermes Trismegistus. Scholars, on the other hand, mainly believe that the Hermetic movement was really born in the Greek era. None of this in any way detracts from the value of this work. The true Hermes has always been a trickster god who blurs the distinction between history and mythology, so if you want real knowledge it's far preferable to leave the dry scholarship to the scholars and focus on the principles. Another criticism posed by those who don't understand such matters is that the material contained in the Kybalion is really from other traditions, such as Far Eastern. The true understanding of Hermetic philosophy is that truth is truth and it all comes from the same basic source. It follows from this that beliefs from one part of the world will be duplicated elsewhere. Debates concerning origins are very important in the fields of history, anthropology and archeology. To those on a quest for spiritual knowledge they are meaningless. I won't go through the list of seven principles contained in the Kybalion, but the primary ideas are quite simple, yet at the same time paradoxical. The universe is ultimately One, but that oneness manifests itself in duality. This is identical in essence to the Chinese idea that the Tao expresses itself through Yin and Yang. This duality creates a world where things are always moving from one extreme to the other, or Polarity as the Kybalion describes it. Perhaps the most important principle to keep in mind is that all opposites are really one. Apply this rather abstract notion to worldly matters such as politics and war and you will see the wisdom of it. This is a book worth reading many times.
Rating: 5
Summary: Applicable to Any Religious or Spiritual Tradition
Comment: I first picked up a copy of the Kybalion about 10 years ago from a friend of mine who was deeply into Hermetic study. She recommended it to me as a sort of primer for Hermetic and Occult studies. It was a small book, and I wasn't extremely impressed by what I figured would be a very simple read. I was completely mistaken. This book changed my views on religion, spirituality and magic forever.
The book is an in depth, but well-summarized description of the 7 principles of Hermetics, along with some scientific and spiritual evidence to support those principles. As with all Hermetic works, it is extremely ecclectic and borrows from many sources from modern mysticism to ancient Iamblichan Theurgy. The book is light (if not completely devoid of) specific magical practices, but the background information it gives is priceless.
A further note: long ago I gave up Hermetics as a magical or spiritual path, turning instead to a more earth-based Celtic Shamanism. Despite this, I still refer back to the Kybalion because, in my opinion, the principles it contains can be applied to any religious, spiritual or magical tradition. A definite must buy!
Rating: 5
Summary: THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH
Comment: This book is a wonderful place to begin your search for the truth about the micro and macrocosm. Contained in the pages of this book is the universal laws. These are the keys to true understanding. These keys will provide the means to find the truth in every future study on which one should choose to embark.
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