theology
Divine Hiddenness
The supreme God's radical concealment beyond ordinary knowledge or perception; the Hidden Father.
1,015 passages · 20 traditions
neoplatonism233
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter I
“Hermes, the God who presides over language, was formerly very properly considered as common to all priests; and the power who presides over the true science concerning the Gods 18 is one and the same in the whole of things. Hence our ancest…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter II
“We shall, therefore, deliver to you the peculiar dogmas of the Assyrians; and also clearly develop to you our own opinions; collecting some things from the infinite writings of the ancients, but others from those particulars which were comp…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter III
“In the first place, therefore, you say, “ it must be granted that there are Gods .” Thus to speak, however, is not right on this subject. For an innate knowledge of the Gods is coexistent with our very essence; and this knowledge is superio…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter IV-b
“This, therefore, subsists contrarily to what you suppose, for the purpose of discovering the peculiarity which you now investigate.
In short, whether you think that there is one genus of the Gods, one of dæmons, and in a similar manner of…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter V-a
“In the next place, let us direct our attention to the solution of your inquiries.
There is, therefore, the good itself which is beyond essence, and there is that good which subsists according to essence; I mean the essence which is most an…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter V-b
“Again, however, according to another mode of considering the subject, it is necessary to ascribe to the Gods the whole of that which is united, of whatever kind it may be; that which is firmly established in itself, and which is the cause o…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter VI
“What, therefore, shall we say concerning the media? I think, indeed, that from what has been before said, they will be manifest to every one; for these give completion to the indivisible connexion of the extremes. Nevertheless, it is necess…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter VII
“Of the extremes, therefore, one is supreme, transcendent, and perfect; but the other is last in dignity, deficient, and more imperfect. And the former, indeed, is capable of accomplishing all things at once, uniformly in an instant; but the…”
Show all 233 →christian_mysticism185
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1a
“51 CHAPTER I Dionysius the Presbyter, to his fellow-Presbyter Timothy.
45 45 The name of St.
Paul’s companion is intended to give colour to the writer’s pseudonym.
See Introduction, p.
1; cf.
iii.
2.
What is the purpose of the discou…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1b
“For even as things which are intellectually discerned 52 52 i.
e.
The Transcendent Truths which are beyond ordinary knowledge.
νοητά .
The word νοῦς = Mind in the sense not merely of abstract intellect but of the spiritual personality.…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1c
“59 59 ὡς οὐκ ὄντος ἴχνους τῶν ἐπὶ τὴν κρυφίαν αὐτῆς ἀπειρίαν διεληλυθότων.
Two interpretations of this passage are possible: (1) Those who have penetrated the hidden Depths cannot describe the Vision (cf.
Dante, Par.
xxxiii.
55–66) ; (2…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1d
“And we press upwards to those beams which in the Holy Scripture shine upon us; wherefrom we gain the light which leads us unto 55 the Divine praises 64 64 πρὸς τοὺς θεαρχικοὺς ὕμνους.
Either (1) “leads us to declare the Divine praises”; or…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1e
“These mysteries we learn from the Divine Scriptures, and thou wilt find that in well-nigh all the utterances of the Sacred Writers the Divine Names refer in a Symbolical Revelation 72 72 ἐκφαντορικῶς καὶ ὑμνητικῶς.
to Its beneficent Emanat…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1f
“And in all the other Divine enlightenments which the occult Tradition of our inspired teachers hath, by mystic Interpretation, accordant with the Scriptures, bestowed upon us, we also have been initiated: apprehending these things in the pr…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1g
“But if It is greater than all Reason and all knowledge, and hath Its firm abode altogether beyond Mind and Being, and circumscribes, compacts, embraces and anticipates all things 87 87 παντῶν .
.
.
προληπτική—i.e.
contains them eternall…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1h
“that which makes an individual thing to be one thing); (2) Mental or Spiritual intercourse; (3) Physical intercourse; (4) Sense perception.
Here it = either (1) or (2), probably (1).
limit, infinity, everything that exists.
And yet since…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1i
“1 .
as “God of Gods” and “Lord of Lords”, 108 108 Ps.
cxxxvi.
2, 3 .
and “Holy of Holies,” 109 109 Isa.
vi.
3 .
as “Eternal,” 110 110 Deut.
xxxiii.
27 .
as “Existent” 111 111 Ex.
iii.
14 .
and as “Creator of Ages,” 112 112 Gen.…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1j
“143 143 God is above Time.
For the Nameless Goodness is not only the cause of cohesion or life or perfection in such wise as to derive Its Name from this or that providential activity alone; nay, rather does It contain all things beforehan…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1k
“) with our hearts predisposed unto the vision of God, and let us bring holy ears to the exposition of God’s holy Names, implanting holy Truths in holy instruments according to the Divine command, and withholding these things from the mocker…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1l
“The formless essence (ἀμορφία) of a thing is simple and imageless—a Platonic idea—perceived by the mind; things which have bodily form are, as it were, types and symbols perceived by the senses.
54 Or “indeterminate.” 55 Thus the three gra…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1m
“65 In the whole of this passage God is spoken of as at the same time Efficient, Formal and Final Cause of the soul’s activity.
D.
teaches that God is present in all things, but not equally in all.
Cf.
Intr., p.
14 66 Gen.
i.
67 Three…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1n
“82 ἐν θειοτέρᾳ μιμήσει τῶν ὑπερουρανίων νοῶν—i.
e.
the angels.
83 Luke xx.
36 84 Meditation leads on to Contemplation; and the higher kind of Contemplation is performed by the Via Negativa.
85 i.e.
The Angels.
I have throughout trans…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1o
“99 Ex.
iii.
14 .
100 John xiv.
6 .
101 John viii.
12 .
102 Gen.
xxviii.
13 .
103 John xiv.
6 .
104 Matt.
xix.
17 .
105 Ps.
xxvii.
4 .
106 Rom.
xvi.
27 .
107 Isa.
v.
1 .
108 Ps.
cxxxvi.
2, 3 .
109 Isa.
vi.
3 .
1…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 11, Section 1a
“CHAPTER XI Concerning ” Peace “ and what is meant by ” Very Being “ Itself , ” Very Life ,” ” Very Power ,” and similar phrases .
1.
Now let us praise with reverent hymns of peace the Divine Peace which is the Source of all mutual attract…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 11, Section 1b
“Plotinus says the Godhead is indivisibly divided.
doth not leave Its own Unity, but, even in the act of going forth to all things, remains entirely within Itself through the excess of that all-transcendent Unity: concerning these things ‘t…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 11, Section 1d
“Now, since thou hast, on a previous occasion, sent me an epistle asking what I mean by Very Being Itself, Very Life Itself, Very Wisdom Itself: and since thou saidst thou couldst not understand why sometimes I call God “Life” and sometimes…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 11, Section 1e
“Hence the Good God is called the Fount, first, of the Very Primaries: then, of those creatures which share completely therein; then, of those which share partially therein.
484 484 Migne’s text here is corrupt, I have emended it.
(1) The…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 12, Section 1a
“181 CHAPTER XII Concerning ” Holy of holies ,” ” King of kings ,” ” Lord of lords ,” ” God of gods .” 1.
Forasmuch as the things which needed to be said concerning this matter have been brought, I think, to a proper ending, we must praise…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 12, Section 1b
“Which meaneth that just as things that have no substantial Being 490 490 i.
e.
The material things (cf.
Myst.
Theol.
I.).
This is the ordinary meaning of the phrase in D.
are transcended by things that have such Being, together with…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 12, Section 1c
“For while this emanation can be communicated the Godhead cannot.
(Cf.
Via Negativa.
See esp.
Myst.
Theol.
I.).
492 i.
e.
The higher ranks whether among angels or among human souls.
(Cf.
“I have said, ‘Ye are gods,’” “hath made us…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 13, Section 1a
“184 CHAPTER XIII Concerning ” Perfect “ and ” One .” 1.
So much for these titles.
Now let us, if thou art willing, proceed to the most .important Title of all.
For the Divine Science attributes all qualities to the Creator of all things…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 13, Section 1b
“abundant and inexhaustible supple, whereby It perfects all perfect 498 498 “Perfect,” a term taken from the Mysteries expressing the final state of the initiated.
things and fills them with Its own Perfection.
2.
And the title “One” impl…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 13, Section 1c
“Emily Brontë: “Every existence would exist in Thee.”) And if all things be conceived as being ultimately unified with each other, then all things taken as a whole are One.
507 507 All things possess the same Super-Essence, and that is why…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 13, Section 1d
“And hence, when we speak of the All-Transcendent Godhead as an Unity and a Trinity, It is not an Unity or a Trinity such as can be known by us or any other creature, though to express the truth of Its utter Self-Union and Its Divine Fecundi…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 13, Section 1e
“But be these matters as God wills 513 513 This anthropomorphic phrase is not inconsistent with the conceptions D.
has been expounding; because he regards the limits of individual human capacities, etc., as timelessly existent in the Super-…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 13, Section 1f
“Thus in the form “1 x 1” the first figure represents the unity underlying all numbers, the second figure represents unity as a particular number among other numbers.
The first figure may thus be taken as a symbol of the Godhead, the second…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1a
“65 CHAPTER II Concerning the Undifferencing and the Differentiation in Divinity, and the Nature of Divine Unification and Differentiation.
166 166 περὶ ἡνωμένης καὶ διακεκριμένης θεολογίας καὶ τίς ἡ θεία ἕνωσις καὶ διάκρισις.
I.
’ Tis th…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1c
“But if he taketh Scriptural Truth as his Standard, this is the very Rule and Light by which we will (so far as in us lies) proceed straight to our defence, and will declare that the Sacred Science sometimes employs a method of Undifference…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1d
“and Manifestations; and following the Holy Scripture they declare that some Attributes belong especially to Undifference, and some, on the other hand, to Differentiation.
190 190 The received text reads: Φᾶσι .
.
.
καὶ τῆς εἰρημένης ἑνώ…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1e
“even as the lights of lamps (to use visible and homely similes) being in one house and wholly interpenetrating one another, severally possess a clear and absolute distinction each from each, and are by their distinctions united into one, an…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1f
“Yea, ‘tis a common and undifferenced activity of the whole Godhead that It is wholly and entirely communicated unto each of them that share It and unto none merely in part; 197 197 D.
here touches on the fundamental difference between spir…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1g
“Their ultimate nature, which they possess in their own original being, is beyond Mind and beyond all Being and Knowledge.
203 203 Even the Differentiations finally lead us up into the Undifferenced Godhead Where they transcend themselves.…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1h
“Even so if any one says that Very Life lives, or that Very Light is enlightened, he will be wrong (according to my view) unless, perchance, he were to use these terms in a different sense from the ordinary one to mean that the qualities of…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1i
“The Godhead is not a Whole because it is indivisible, nor a Part because there is nothing, on the ultimate plane, outside It.
Yet It is a Whole because It includes the true existence of all things, and is Partitive because It contains the…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1j
“And since that Supra-Divine Being hath in loving kindness come down from thence unto the Natural Estate, and verily took substance and assumed the name of Man (we must speak with reverence of those things which we utter beyond human thought…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1k
“Indeed, He is not an unity in this sense, and doth not participate in unity nor possess it; 224 224 These two phrases well express the meaning of the title “Beyond things and supernally infusing Unity” (ὑπερηνωμένη), which I have generally…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1l
“166 περὶ ἡνωμένης καὶ διακεκριμένης θεολογίας καὶ τίς ἡ θεία ἕνωσις καὶ διάκρισις.
167 The point of this section is that God’s Nature is not a sum total of separate Attributes.
Therefore when we say that the Scriptural titles of God are o…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1m
“καὶ τῆς εἰρημένης ἑνώσεως ἴδια καὶ αὖθις τῆς διακρίσεως εἶνάι τινας ἰδικὰς καὶ ἱνώσεις καὶ διακρίσεις.
This, as it stands, must be translated: “They say that certain qualities belong to the said Undifference, and that to Differentiation, o…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1n
“200 Redemption is a work performed by the whole Trinity through the Second Person.
(So, too, is Creation.
Cf.
p.
65, n.
2).
201 i.
e.
We strive to distinguish the two planes of Being in God.
Cf.
Athan.
Creed: “Neither confounding…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1o
“Yet It is a Whole because It includes the true existence of all things, and is Partitive because It contains the principle of separate Individuality whereby Christ possesses a Human Soul distinct from all other human souls, and whereby, too…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 2, Section 1p
“224 These two phrases well express the meaning of the title “Beyond things and supernally infusing Unity” (ὑπερηνωμένη), which I have generally translated, like ἡνωμένη, as “Undifferenced.” 225 τῇ ἐξ αὐτοῦ θεώσει .
.
.
θεῶν πολλῶν γιγνομ…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 3, Section 1a
“CHAPTER III What is the power of Prayer?
Also concerning the Blessed Hierotheus and concerning Reverence and the Writing of Divinity.
1.
And first of all, if it like thee, let us consider the highest Name, even “Goodness,” by which all t…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 3, Section 1b
“Now perhaps there is need of an explanation why, when our renowned teacher Hierotheus hath compiled 236 236 τὰς θεολογικὰς στοιχειώσεις ὑπερφυῶς συναγαγόντος.
his wonderful Elements of Divinity, we have composed other Tractates of Divinity…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 3, Section 1c
“It would be an impiety to do so, for he is almost equal to the Scriptural Writers, as he showed when he met with them to view the body of the B.
V.
M.
even among our inspired Hierarchs (when, as thou knowest, we with him and many of our…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 3, Section 1d
“233 Cf p.
77, n.
1.
234 This is profound.
Spatial metaphors are always dangerous, though unavoidable, in Theology.
In space if A is touching B then B must be touching A.
In the spiritual world this is not so.
God is near me (or rathe…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1a
“CHAPTER IV Concerning ” Good ,” ” Light ,” ” Beautiful ,” “ Desire ,” ” Ecstasy ,” “ Jealousy .” Also that Evil is neither existent nor Sprung from anything existent nor inherent in existent things .
1.
Now let us consider the name of “Go…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1b
“Hence have they their celestial orders, their self-unities, their mutual indwellings, their distinct Differences, the faculties which raise the lower unto the higher ranks, the providences of the higher for those beneath them; their preserv…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1c
“The Good is beyond this distinction, for nothing (on the ultimate plane) is outside It.
See Intr., p.
5.
and Lifelessness an excess of Life and Its Mindless state is an excess of Wisdom, 252 252 This apparently profitless speculation rea…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1d
“Nay, even the foundation and the boundaries of the heavens (as we forgot to say while 91 thinking of other matters) owe their origin to the Good.
Such is this universe, which lessens not nor grows, and such the noiseless movements (if nois…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1e
“260 260 The light permeates water but it does not permeate a stone.
It passes over the stone and permeates the water beyond it.
Yea, and it contributes to the birth of material bodies and brings them unto life, and nourishes them that the…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1f
“But these things are dealt with in the “Symbolic Divinity.” Here I desire to declare what is the spiritual meaning of the name “Light” as belonging to the Good.
267 267 Two worlds: (1) Nature, (2) Grace.
God is revealed in both; the forme…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1g
“and because It is the Cause of the harmony and splendour in all things, flashing forth upon them all, like light, the beautifying communications of Its originating ray; and because It summons all things to fare unto Itself (from whence It h…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1h
“Hence comes the bare existence of all things, and hence their unions, 277 277 ἑνώσεις, διακρίσεις, ταὐτότητες, ἑτερότητες.
their differentiations, their identities, their differences, 278 278 Hence parts are united into wholes and wholes a…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1i
“an introversion 288 288 ἡ εἰς ἑαυτὴν εἴσοδος.
from things without and the unified concentration 289 289 In souls being unified and simplified.
See Intr., p.
25.
of its spiritual powers—which gives it a kind of fixed revolution, and, tur…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1j
“For from It and through It are all Being and life of spirit and of soul; and hence in the realm of nature magnitudes both small, co-equal and great; hence all the measured order and the proportions of things, which, by their different harmo…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1k
“and all things are moved by a longing for the Beautiful and Good, to accomplish every outward work and form every act of will.
And true reasoning will also dare to affirm that even the Creator of all things Himself yearneth after all thing…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1l
“Need is there to understand that in proper truth we do but use the elements and syllables and phrases and written terms and words as an aid to our senses; inasmuch as when our soul is moved by spiritual energies unto spiritual things, our s…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1m
“See also the translator’s note on ἔρως .
Ed .] And in the “Introductions’ of Scripture 310 310 ἐν ταῖς προεισαγωγαῖς τῶν λογίων.
Apparently this was a title of the books ascribed to Solomon.
The present reference is Wisdom viii.
2 .
th…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1n
“And the Divine Yearning brings ecstasy, not allowing them that are touched thereby to belong unto themselves but only to the objects of their affection.
This principle is shown by superior things 106 through their providential care for the…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1o
“And herein the Divine Yearning showeth especially its beginningless and endless nature, revolving in a perpetual circle for the Good, from the Good, in the Good, and to the Good, with unerring revolution, never varying its centre or directi…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1p
“let us now yet further resume and compact them all together into the one and concentrated Yearning which is the Father of them all, and let us collect together into two kinds their general desiderative 109 powers, over which the entire mast…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1q
“In this passage “Non-Existent” is used in three senses: (1) “Matter,” or force, cannot exist without some form (which is its complement) and therefore is technically called non-existent.
(2) Evil cannot exist at all on the ultimate plane o…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1r
“Now we will bid the questioner look towards the truth of things, and in the first place we will venture thus to answer: “Evil cometh not of the Good; and if it cometh therefrom it is not evil.
For even as fire cannot cool us, so Good canno…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1s
“And if any one says that it is productive, and that by the destruction of one thing it giveth birth to somewhat else, the true answer is that it doth not so qua destructive.
Qua destructive and evil it only destroys and debases; but it tak…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1t
“For in the case of other qualities, such as heat or cold, the things which have been warmed have their being even when they lose their warmth, and many of the creatures there are which have no life or mind; and in like manner God transcende…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1v
“cannot be free from pain, nor without a feeling of ill, since there would be something causing Him trouble, yea, all things must in that case be in a state of disorder and perpetual strife; whereas the Good imparts a principle of harmony to…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1ad
“And such was the Incarnate Life of Christ and such is the Life of God in eternity.
So too the wisdom of Christ is, from a worldly point of view, foolishness.
For worldly wisdom = self-seeking, but the Wisdom of Christ = self-abandonment.…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1ae
“Intr., p.
5.
259 Here we get once more the Aristotelian classification of causes.
The Good is:— (i) Formal Cause (1) immanent in the world (Order— τάξις ); (2) containing the world (Embracing Power— περιοχή ).
(ii) Efficient Cause (Caus…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1ag
“The types of things existent in the permanent spiritual world before the things were created in this transitory material world; the Platonic Ideas.
There was also a Jewish belief in such a pre-existence of things.
Cf.
Rev.
iv.
11 (R.…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1ah
“Aug., Transcende mundum et sape animum, transcende animum et sape Deum.
307 This shows that the Via Negativa starts from something positive.
It is a transcendence, not a mere negation.
308 Prov.
iv.
6, 8 .
309 ὁ ἐμὸς Ἔρως ἐσταύρωται&g…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1aj
“Good cannot have produced it because a thing cannot produce its own opposite; evil cannot have produced itself because evil is always destructive and never productive.
All things that exist are produced by the Good or the desire for the Go…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 4, Section 1ak
“In the one case we get Immanence without Transcendence: in the other Transcendence without Immanence.
D.
holds a Transcendent Immanence (cf.
Bradley, Appearance and Reality, rebutting charge of Pantheism).
328 e.
g.
The cruelty of Nat…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 5, Section 1a
“131 CHAPTER V Concerning ” Existence “ and also concerning ” Exemplars .” I.
Now must we proceed to the Name of “Being” which is truly applied by the Divine Science to Him that truly Is.
But this much we must say, that it is not the purpo…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 5, Section 1b
“367 367 Sense-perception is a direct apprehension of that which we actually touch, see, hear, taste, or smell; Reason or Inference is an indirect apprehension of that which we do not actually touch, see, etc.
Intuition is a direct apprehen…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 5, Section 1d
“All the properties, etc., of each thing exist outside that thing as an element in the Transcendent Being of God.
the Existence of those that have any kind of existence, the Life-Process of those which in any way pass through that process.…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 5, Section 1f
“And the highest measure of existence He bestows upon the more exalted Beings, which the Scripture calls eternal; 380 380 2 Cor.
iv.
18 but also the mere existence of the world as a whole is perpetual; and its very existence comes from the…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 5, Section 1h
“is attacking the irreligious attitude in science, philosophy, and life.
We must seek for all things (including our own personalities) not in themselves but in God.
The great defect of Natural Science in the nineteenth century was its fail…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 5, Section 1i
“364 The ultimate Godhead is reached only by the Negative Path, and known only by Unknowing.
The Affirmative Path of philosophical knowledge leads only to the differentiated manifestations of the Godhead: e.g.
the Trinity, in Its creative…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 5, Section 1j
“Hence the title “Existent” is not quite so general as the title “Good.” “Living” is a less general title still (since a stone, for instance, has no life), and “Wise” is yet less general (since a plant is not wise).
Thus we get the followin…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 5, Section 1k
“Hence the soul possessing God is in a state of “having nothing and yet possessing all things.” Cf.
Dante, cio che per l’universa si squaderna, etc.
382 Cf.
Section 5.
383 i.
e.
The Platonic ideas of things—their ultimate essences.
Bu…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 5, Section 1l
“This apparent hair-splitting is really of the utmost practical importance.
D.
is attacking the irreligious attitude in science, philosophy, and life.
We must seek for all things (including our own personalities) not in themselves but in…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 6, Section 1b
“And wherever (under the form of intelligence, reason, sensation, nutrition, growth, or any mode whatsoever) you find life or the 146 Principle of life or the Essence of life, there you find that which lives and imparts life from the Life tr…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 7, Section 1a
“CHAPTER VII Concerning “Wisdom,” “Mind,” “Reason,” “Truth,” “Faith.” 1.
Now, if it like thee, let us consider the Good and Eternal Life as Wise and as Very Wisdom, or rather as the Fount of all wisdom and as Transcending all wisdom and und…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 7, Section 1b
“(2) Wisdom as a whole = Wisdom embodied in the universe as a whole.
(3) Wisdom in each individual instance = Wisdom as shown in the structure of some particular plant or animal, or part of a plant or animal.
(1) Is an Emanation; (2) and (…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 7, Section 1c
“And in the same way we attribute lack of Reason to Him that is above Reason, and Imperfectibility to Him that is above and before Perfection; and Intangible and Invisible Darkness we attribute to that Light which is Unapproachable because I…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 7, Section 1d
“Furthermore, we must ask how it is that we know God when He cannot be perceived by the mind or the senses and is not a particular Being.
Perhaps ‘tis true to say that we know not God by His Nature (for this is unknowable and beyond the rea…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 7, Section 1f
“The angels are conceived of as being always in such a state of contemplation.
408 God is the Manifested Absolute.
Hence qua Absolute He is supra-sapient, qua Manifested He is wise (cf.
ch.
i, § 1).
The Persons of the Trinity possess on…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 8, Section 1a
“CHAPTER VIII Concerning ” Power ,” ” Righteousness ,” ” Salvation ,” ” Redemption “; and also concerning ” Inequality .” 1.
Now since the Sacred Writers speak of the Divine Truthfulness and Supra-Sapient Wisdom as Power, and as Righteousne…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 8, Section 1b
“From this Source come the Godlike Powers of the Angelic Orders; from this Source they immutably possess their being and all the ceaseless and immortal motions of their spiritual life; and their very stability and unfailing desire for the Go…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 8, Section 1c
“The wise Elymas, forsooth, did not perceive this; and so is like an unskilled athlete, who (as often happens), thinking his adversary to be weak, through judging by his own estimation, misses him each time and manfully strikes at his shadow…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 8, Section 1e
“It thus = (1) “equality”; (2) “rightness.” D.
maintains that all things possess the latter though not the former.
421 The highest power our minds can conceive is that of the angels.
But God has the dominion over them, and hence His power…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 9, Section 1a
“162 CHAPTER IX Concerning ” Great ,” ” Small ,” ” Same ,” ” Different ,” ” Like ,” “ Unlike ,” ” Standing ,” ” Motion ,” ” Equality .” 1.
Now , since Greatness and Smallness are ascribed to the Universal Cause, and Sameness and Difference,…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 9, Section 1b
“Dante passes outwards through the concentric spheres of space to the Empyrean which is beyond space and encloses it.
There he sees the Empyrean as a point and his whole journey from sphere to sphere as a journey inwards instead of outwards…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 9, Section 1c
“For just as, supposing we were in thought to represent the soul itself in bodily shape, and represent this indivisible substance as surrounded by bodily parts, we should, in such a case, give the surrounding parts a different meaning suited…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 9, Section 1d
“Scripture itself declares 451 451 Cf.
e.
g.
Ps.
lxxxvi.
8 .
that God is Dissimilar to the world, and not to be compared therewith.
It says that He is different from all things, and (what is yet more strange) that there is nothing eve…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 9, Section 1e
“power bestowed upon all according to their worth; and because all Equality (perceived or exercised by the intellect, or possessed in the sphere of 169 reason, sensation, essence, nature, or will) is transcendently contained beforehand as an…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Mystical Theology | Chapter I-a
“Wheat is the Divine Gloom.
T rinty, which exceedeth all Being, Deity, and Goodness!
514 514 Lit.
“Super-Essential, Supra-Divine, Super-Excellent.” Thou that instructeth Christians in Thy heavenly wisdom!
Guide us to that topmost height…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Mystical Theology | Chapter I-b
“They are useful and necessary up to a point, but the Truth lies beyond them and is to be apprehended to a supernatural manner by what later writers call “infused” contemplation.
The sum of the whole matter is that God is incomprehensible.…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Mystical Theology | Chapter II-a
“How it is necessary to be united with and render praise to Him Who is the cause of all and above all.
Unto this Darkness which is beyond Light we pray that we may come, and may attain unto vision through the loss of sight and knowledge, an…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Mystical Theology | Chapter II-b
“but now ascending upwards from 196 particular to universal conceptions we strip off all qualities 528 528 The process from the universal to the particular is the process of actual development (existence before life, and life before rational…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Mystical Theology | Chapter III-a
“What are the affirmative expressions respecting God, and what are the negative.
Now I have in my Outlines of Divinity set forth those conceptions which are most proper to the affirmative method, and have shown in what sense God’s holy natu…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Mystical Theology | Chapter III-b
“Now in the former treatises the course of the argument, as it came down from the highest to the lowest categories, embraced an ever-widening number of conceptions which increased at each stage of the descent, but in the present treatise it…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Mystical Theology | Chapter IV
“That He Who is the Pre-eminent Cause of everything sensibly perceived is not Himself any one of the things sensibly perceived. We therefore maintain 536 536 Being about to explain, in these two last chapters, that no material or mental qual…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Mystical Theology | Chapter V-a
“That He Who is the Pre-eminent Cause of everything intelligibly perceived is not Himself any one of the things intelligibly perceived.
Once more, ascending yet higher we maintain 537 537 It is not (1) a Thinking Subject; nor (2) an Act or…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Mystical Theology | Chapter V-b
“The ultimate truth about God and our relation to Him is held to be that He is a “Person” and that He has “made” the world.
(This attitude is seen at its worst in Unitarian theology.
Bradley’s criticisms on Lotze show how this fails on the…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Mystical Theology | Chapter V-c
“begins with the notion of Goodness (which he holds to be possessed by all things) and proceeds thence to Existence (which is not possessed by things that are either destroyed or yet unmade), and thence to Wisdom (which is not possessed eith…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Mystical Theology | Chapter V-d
“safeguards the position against pure negativity by explaining that they are not absent either.
The rest of this chapter deals with the qualities (1) of inanimate matter; (2 ) of material life.
537 It is not (1) a Thinking Subject; nor (2)…”
Meister Eckhart's Sermons (Field translation) | I-b
“It is also a fellowship with the Devil, for everything hath fellowship with its like; and sin maketh the soul and Satan resemble each other.
It is also an expulsion of Christianity, for it depriveth the sinner of all the profit that comes…”
Meister Eckhart's Sermons (Field translation) | II-c
“No man desires anything so eagerly as God desires to bring men to the knowledge of Himself.
God is always ready, but we are very unready.
God is near us, but we are far from Him.
God is within, and we are without.
God is friendly; we ar…”
Meister Eckhart's Sermons (Field translation) | III-a
“THE ANGEL’S GREETING St Luke i.
28 .—“Hail, thou that art highly favoured among women, the Lord is with thee.” Here there are three things to understand: the first, the modesty of the angel; the second, that he thought himself unworthy to…”
Meister Eckhart's Sermons (Field translation) | III-b
“The earth cannot flee from heaven: whether it flee up or down, the heaven rains its influence upon it, and stamps its impress upon it, and makes it fruitful, whether it be willing or not.
Thus doth God with men: whoever thinketh to escape…”
Meister Eckhart's Sermons (Field translation) | IV-a
“TRUE HEARING Ecclesiasticus xxiv.
30 .—“Whoso heareth Me shall not be confounded.” The everlasting and paternal wisdom saith, “Whoso heareth Me is not ashamed.” If he is ashamed of anything he is ashamed of being ashamed.
Whoso worketh in…”
Meister Eckhart's Sermons (Field translation) | V-a
“THE SELF-COMMUNICATION OF GOD St John xiv.
23 .—“If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” We read in the Gospels that Our Lord fed many people with five…”
Meister Eckhart's Sermons (Field translation) | V-c
“Thus happens it to the noble soul which goes to God to school, and learns there what God is in His essence, and what He is in the Trinity, and what He is in man, and what is most acceptable to Him.
St Augustine saith that the righteousness…”
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter X-b
“And He that made man for love, by the same love He would restore man to the same bliss, and overpassing; and like as we were like-made to the Trinity in our first making, our Maker would that we should be like Jesus Christ, Our Saviour, in…”
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter XXX
“"Two parts of Truth: the part that is open: our Saviour and our salvation;—and the part that is hid and shut up from us: all beside our salvation" He gave me understanding of two parts [of truth]. The one part is our Saviour and our salvati…”
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter XXXII-a
“"There be deeds evil done in our sight, and so great harms taken, that it seemeth to us that it were impossible that ever it should come to good end." "That Great Deed ordained ...
by which our Lord God shall make all things well" One time…”
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter XXXII-b
“And in this sight I marvelled greatly and beheld our Faith, marvelling thus: Our Faith is grounded in God's word, and it belongeth to our Faith that we believe that God's word shall be saved in all things; and one point of our Faith is that…”
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter XXXIII
“"It is God's will that we have great regard to all His deeds that He hath done, but evermore it needeth us to leave the beholding what the Deed shall be" And yet in this I desired, as [far] as I durst, that I might have full sight of Hell a…”
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter XXXIV
“"All that is speedful for us to learn and to know, full courteously will our Lord shew us" Our Lord God shewed two manner of secret things. One is this great Secret [Counsel] with all the privy points that belong thereto: and these secret t…”
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter XXXVI-a
“"My sin shall not hinder His Goodness working....
A deed shall be done—as we come to Heaven—and it may be known here in part;—though it be truly taken for the general Man, yet it excludeth not the special.
For what our good Lord will do b…”
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter XXXVI-b
“And that this is our Lord's working in us, I am sure the soul that hath understanding therein by grace shall see it and feel it.
And though it be so that this deed be truly taken for the general Man, yet it excludeth not the special.
For…”
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter XLVI-b
“For I saw in the same Shewing that much privity is hid, which may never be known until the time that God of His goodness hath made us worthy to see it; and therewith I am well-content, abiding our Lord's will in this high marvel.
And now I…”
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter LI-d
“And thus Mercy and Pity dwelleth with mankind unto the time we come up into Heaven.
But man is blinded in this life and therefore we may not see our Father, God, as He is.
And what time that He of His goodness willeth to shew Himself to m…”
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter LXXXV
“"Lord, blessed mayest Thou be, for it is thus: it is well" And in this sight I marvelled highly. For notwithstanding our simple living and our blindness here, yet endlessly our courteous Lord beholdeth us in this working, rejoicing; and of…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 1 (part 1)
“p.
33 THE DOCTRINES OF JACOB BOEHME.
"Our whole doctrine is nothing else but an instruction to show how man may create a kingdom of light within himself.
.
.
.
He in whom this spring of divine power flows, carries within himself the d…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 1 (part 2)
“"Natural man knows nothing about the mystery of the kingdom of God, because he is outside and not within the state of divinity, as is daily proved by the action of the philosophisers who are disputing about the attributes and the will of Go…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 1 (part 7)
“It is well known that the light of the sun does .not shine upon the earth because we desire it to shine, neither can we attract the sunlight to us.
All we do is to step out of the darkness, or climb to the top of.
the mountain which rises…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 1 (part 10)
“It is itself the most secret thing, which can be known by no one except by him who has experienced it; neither do those that live entirely within the realm of animality, or within that of the speculating intellect, believe that such a state…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 1 (part 11)
“54 From this it appears that truly inspired writings are quite different from those produced by ordinary mediumship; because in the former instance the seer perceives the truths which he is to express, while in the latter case the medium is…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 2 (part 1)
“p.
58 CHAPTER II.
THE UNITY OF THE ALL.
"We are all one body in Christ, and have all the Spirit of Christ within our reach.
If, then, we enter into the Christ, we may see and know everything by the power of His Spirit." ( Forty Question…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 2 (part 3)
“This other will is the sensitivity and conceivability of the primordial will, by means of which that which is nothing finds itself to be something.
By so doing the inconceivable causeless will issues by means of that which it has eternally…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 2 (part 4)
“She is passive, but the Spirit of God is active, like the soul in the body." ( Clavis , v.
18.) This eternal Trinity is inconceivable in its aspect as a spiritual potentiality, in the same sense as a fire is inconceivable if it does not bu…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 2 (part 5)
“The will beholding itself in the mirror of wisdom causes its own image to appear within the groundlessness, and thus it creates a foundation in its own imagination." ( Menschwerdung , ii.
1.) "Wisdom, the eternal virgin, the playmate of Go…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 2 (part 6)
“2.) "If there is to be a light, there must be a fire.
The fire produces the light, and the light renders the fire manifest; it receives the nature of the fire within itself and resides in the fire." ( Mysterium , xl.
2.) "Joy enters the s…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 2 (part 7)
“The light of God has also the quality of the fire, but in it the wrath is changed into love; hate and bitter pain into mild beneficence and sweet desire or satisfaction." ( Menschwerdung , i.
5–16.) "The fountain of love is a clasping and…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 3 (part 4)
“The will cannot attain this light, and the more it desires for freedom the greater will be the attraction caused by the desire." ( Six Theosophical Points , i, 38.) "There must be au opposition, for the will desires not to be dark, and this…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 3 (part 5)
“The first of these three states, being a beginning of all power and strength, originates from the quality of the Father; the second, being the source of all activity and differentiation, comes from the quality of the Son; and the third, bei…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 3 (part 6)
“49.) Thus the light conquers the darkness, but does not destroy it; it merely becomes victorious over it and consumes it in a manner comparable to that of the assimilation of food by the organism which conquers and consumes that food by mea…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 3 (part 7)
“171.) When the power of the light becomes revealed it manifests its activity first of all in the Fifth Quality , which is evolved by means of the preceding four as sweet love, or a luminous water-spirit.
"The first three principles are mer…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 3 (part 9)
“"The eternal will, the Father, conducts His heart, His eternal Son, by means of the fire into great triumph, into His kingdom of joy." ( Grace , ii.
21.) "When the Father speaks His Word—that is to say, when He generates His Son—which is d…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 4 (part 1)
“p.
89 CHAPTER IV.
CREATION.
Everything we see in nature is manifested truth; only we are not able to recognise it as such, unless the truth is manifest within ourselves.
God is the supreme, fundamental, universal, self-existent eternal…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 4 (part 2)
“91 "Christ never said, 'I, in my human selfhood, am the voice of God, I am speaking as God, in or with God,' &c.; but He said, 'The words which I speak are the Father's, who lives in me '—that is to say, who lives in my human or natural sel…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 4 (part 3)
“7.) "We cannot reasonably suppose any formation or differentiation to have existed in the eternal One from which, or according to which (formation) something could have been made; for if such a form, or predisposition to making a form, had…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 4 (part 5)
“90.) These "angels" (good or evil) are living and conscious powers existing in nature.
Neither the power of God nor any angel, or devil or creature of any kind, can have any existence outside of Nature, i.e.
, outside of the dark fire-gro…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 4 (part 6)
“"The created world was before the mysterium magnum, for all things were then in a spiritual condition in wisdom, as in a continual play or wrestle of love.
The one only Will conceived this spiritual form into the Word, and permitted the in…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 4 (part 7)
“25.) "Whether or not God will create something more out of His will after the end of this time is not perceptible to my spirit, for it does not penetrate deeper than within its own centre wherein it lives, and therein is the paradise and th…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 5 (part 2)
“It ought to be kept in mind that "myths" are not "fables." Myths are representations of actualities clothed in a fabulous form.
Their kernel is true, even if the shell in which it is clothed is an illusion.
"There are seven principal qual…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 5 (part 5)
“109 the spirit of holiness cannot enter unless unholiness is chased away.
In this battle against evil the angels are always ready to assist man in an invisible manner against the temptations of the "devils," provided that he is willing to…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 5 (part 9)
“1.) "Lucifer having left the harmony of God, the holy name of God separated from him and remained in its own unity; but Lucifer remained in the qualities of the central fire which he had awakened within himself." ( Theosophical Questions ,…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 6 (part 1)
“p.
122 CHAPTER VI.
THE RESTORATION OF NATURE AND THE GENERATION OF MAN.
" If we speak about heaven and the birth of the elements, we are then not telling of things that are far away or foreign to us, but of that which is taking place wit…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 6 (part 3)
“123.) "The day's works refer to the seven qualities, six of them belonging to the actual regiment, but the seventh, or the essentiality, is that wherein the others are resting; for these qualities have been spoken out by God and rendered vi…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 6 (part 5)
“But when this took place the love in the light of God broke through that heaven of division and ignited the heat." ( Aurora , xxv.
68.) "God, the eternal light and the eternal will, shines within the darkness, and the darkness has captured…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 6 (part 8)
“They are fire-flames, illumined by the light of God, but we attain the great fountain of meekness and love which is welling up within the holy essentiality of God." 1 ( Menschwerdung , i.
5.) Man comprises all three principles: the princip…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 6 (part 9)
“Thus he was in possession of divine and terrestrial essentiality; but the terrestrial one was in the divine one like consumed or impotent (latent).
The substance or the matter from which the body was made or created contained itself also t…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 7 (part 1)
“p.
140 CHAPTER VII.
MAN.
"God created man in His own image.
Male and female ( in one ) created He them." Man in his cosmic aspect is a being very superior to that which is commonly looked upon as a "man," and which is described in books…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 7 (part 2)
“36.) "In Paradise there is perfect life without disturbance, and a perpetual day, and the paradisiacal man is clear like transparent glass, and he is fully penetrated by the light of the divine sun." 1 ( Signature , xi.
5 1.) His body like…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 7 (part 4)
“28.) "In Paradise the substance of the divine world penetrated the substance belonging to time, comparable to the power of the sun penetrating a fruit growing on a tree, and endowing it with such qualities as render it lovely to the sight a…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 7 (part 5)
“13.) Man can attain real similarity to God and perfect beatitude only by decisively willing to put his will into the Son, as the Heart or Light of the Father.
"God has the eternal and unchangeable will to generate His Heart and his Son, an…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 8 (part 1)
“p.
164 CHAPTER VIII.
NATURE, OR THE THIRD PRINCIPLE.
"The godless seeks for God outside of his own self, and the Christless sectarians seek for a personal Christ in history; but the man of God and the true Christian know God and Christ w…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 8 (part 2)
“31.) "This terrestrial world is based upon the world of darkness, and if the good bad not been also embodied therein, there would be in it no other doing than that of the world of darkness; but this is prevented by the divine power and by t…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 8 (part 3)
“Thereby it receives the form of the latter as a light and power, without, however, being able to grasp the interior spirit itself; for the spirit does not dwell in the exterior, but has possession of its own self in its own interior state."…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 8 (part 5)
“Thus the earth is filled with hunger after the stars and after the spiritus mundi , so that they have no peace." ( Clavis , 110.) "The earth is turning around because she has both fires, the hot and the cold fire, and that which is below al…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 8 (part 6)
“1.) "The terrestrial consciousness corrupted the celestial one, and the former became the Turba of the latter.
Likewise, the Fiat made the earth and stones out of the eternal essentiality." ( Menschwerdung , i.
9.) "But in the earth we fi…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 8 (part 7)
“The outbreathed desire—that is to say, the love of the divine power for nature, wherefrom nature and self-will have originated—is longing to get rid of the natural perverted self-will, and is destined, at the end of time, to be free of the…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 8 (part 8)
“For the internal being is continually labouring to manifest itself outwardly.
Thus everything has its own mouth for the purpose of revealing itself, and therein is based the language of nature, by means of which each thing speaks out of it…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 9 (part 1)
“p.
180 CHAPTER IX.
GENERATION.
"Let every Brahman, with fixed attention, consider all nature, both visible and invisible, as existing in the Divine Spirit.
For when he contemplates the boundless universe in the Divine Spirit, he cannot…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 9 (part 4)
“9.) "After the fall man with his interior body lived only in time; the precious gold of heavenly corporeity, which should tincture, penetrate and bless the external body, had lost its colour." 3 ( Signature , v.
8.) Moreover, the powers of…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 10 (part 1)
“p.
198 CHAPTER X.
THE CHRIST.
"The inner element which holds the whole body of this world has become the eternal body of Christ; for the whole of Divinity in the word and heart of God has entered therein in eternity; and the same Divinit…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 10 (part 2)
“8.
1.) "The name Jesus was incorporated into the image of eternity as a future Christ, that it may become a redeemer of men, and out of the dying in the wrath regenerate them again into the pure being of divine and paradisiacal power." ( S…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 10 (part 3)
“It was she in whom the voice of God promised again to introduce the living, holy substance from heaven, and to generate anew and in divine power the faded image of God that was contained therein." 1 ( Grace , vii.
18.) This, however, did n…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 10 (part 8)
“9.) "In those heathen that were highly intellectual in the light of nature the interior holy realm was mirrored, and although the true divine intelligence was closed to them, and although they beheld merely an external reflection, neverthel…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 11 (part 3)
“Now can I truly say, 'The soul of Christ is my brother, and the body of Christ is the nutriment of my soul.'" ( Three Principles , xxii.
78.) p.
229 But if Christ had come only from a terrestrial virgin He would not have come from above,…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 11 (part 6)
“90.) "The living Word that dwelt within the eternal virgin attracted to itself the flesh of Mary—that is to say, the essences from the corporeal body of Mary—and thus there grew in nine months a complete human being with soul, spirit, and f…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 11 (part 8)
“Neither is God measurable, and there has no place of residence been discovered in Him, unless He should establish for Himself such a dwelling in one of His creatures; but even then He remains a whole apart from and beyond such a created bei…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 11 (part 9)
“225:1 All disputes about the nature of Christ only prove that the disputants are not Christians, because if they were true followers of the Christ they would have the living Christ within themselves, and know His true nature.
The misunders…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 11 (part 10)
“"Human reason can understand nothing about the kingdom of Christ, nor about His person or office, because the testament of Christ is celestial, and human reasoning is terrestrial; the latter seeks Christ in time, while He can only be found…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 12 (part 9)
“8.) "When the earth received the blood of Christ she trembled and shook, for the wrath of God was now conquered in her, and there entered into her the living blood which had come from heaven out of the substantiality of God." ( Menschwerdun…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 13 (part 2)
“265 To form a correct conception of the regeneration of man, and of what kind of a being it is which is to be brought to life in us, we must learn to know what is eternity and time, light and darkness, good and evil, and especially the orig…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 13 (part 13)
“Nevertheless he has nothing (objectively), because that which is before Him is nothing in His comprehension, for it does not comprehend Him.
Likewise will this be the state of a person according to his submitted will if he entirely surrend…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 13 (part 14)
“It would then be easy for us to grant our own desires, if in that divine state there could be room for personal desires of any kind.
268:1 True prayer is the bringing of will, thought, and word into one Δ by the power of the Spirit of God.…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 14 (part 4)
“Each person feels that according to the quality of his Turba , one in one way and another in another.
The avaricious soul, for instance, suffers from cold; the angry soul from heat; the envious soul experiences bitterness; the conceited is…”
The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme | Chapter 14 (part 12)
“Certainly, from the point of view of the divine spirit, all forms are merely illusive, and as long as man is rooted within that spirit he may recognise them as such; but for the godless they are horrible realities, as real as the images of…”
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The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | The Monad-a
“[I also] asked to [understand it; and he said] to me: “The monad [is a unity with nothing] higher than it. [It is that which exists] as [God] and as Father of the All, [the unseen] one, who is higher than [the All, who exists as] indestruct…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | Barbelo
“This is because [we do] not [understand unspeakable things, and we] do not understand what [cannot be measured], apart from him who originated [from] him, that is, [the] Father, because he [alone] is the one
who [explained] it to us, given…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | The Mother Repents
“I, however, said: “Lord, what (is) ‘she moved back and forth’?”
And he grinned, and said: “Think not that it agrees with what Moses said, ‘above the waters,’ no!
Instead, when she had witnessed the evil that had occurred, and the theft he…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | The Chief Archon Pollutes Eve
“I appeared in the shape of an eagle on the tree of knowledge, which is Reflection of Providence of Pure Light, so that I could instruct them and rouse them out of their deep sleep, because both of them were in a fallen condition, and they w…”
Gospel of Judas | Introduction
“33 This is the secret message of judgment Jesus spoke with Judas Iscariot over a period of eight days, three days before he celebrated Passover. When he appeared on earth, he did signs and great wonders for the salvation of humanity. Some […”
Gospel of Judas | Jesus Criticizes the Disciples
“One day he was with his disciples in Judea. He found them sitting together practicing their piety. When he [came up to] his disciples 34 sitting together praying over the bread, [he] laughed. The disciples said to him, "Master, why are you…”
Gospel of Judas | Jesus Reveals Everything to Judas-a
“Jesus said, "[Come] and I'll teach you about the [mysteries that no] human [will] see, because there exists a great and boundless realm whose horizons no angelic generation has seen, [in] which is a [great] invisible Spirit, which no [angel…”
Gospel of Philip | Section 1a
“(Above image of the Gospel of Thomas courtesy of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, Claremont Graduate University) Visit the Bookstore for a complete selection of translations and books about The Nag Hammadi Library The Nag Hamma…”
Show all 105 →theosophy93
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 1)
“The Secret Doctrine by H.
P.
Blavatsky -- Vol.
1 [[Vol.
1, Page xvii]] INTRODUCTORY.
------- "Gently to hear, kindly to judge." -- S HAKESPEARE.
S INCE the appearance of Theosophical literature in England, it has become customary to c…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 2)
“"When Buddhi absorbs our E GOtism (destroys it) with all its Vikaras, Avalokiteshvara becomes manifested to us, and Nirvana, or Mukti, is reached," "Mukti" being the same as Nirvana, i.e.
, freedom from the trammels of "Maya" or illusion.…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 3)
“I say "a few truths," advisedly, because that which must remain unsaid could not be contained in a hundred such volumes, nor could it be imparted to the present generation of Sadducees.
But, even the little that is now given is better than…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 6)
“When, however, he takes the opportunity of saying in the same breath that Odin "was worshipped as the supreme deity during a period long anterior to the age of the Veda and of Homer" ( Compar.
Theol., p.
318), he has not the slightest " h…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 7)
“Thus, though the Mother of Mercury (Budha, Thot-Hermes, etc.), was Maia, the mother of Buddha (Gautama), also Maya, and the mother of Jesus, likewise Maya (illusion, for Mary is Mare, the Sea, the great illusion symbolically) -- yet these t…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 8)
“This statement is rendered more credible by a consideration of the following facts: the tradition of the thousands of ancient parchments saved when the Alexandrian library was destroyed; the thousands of Sanskrit works which disappeared in…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 3 (part 1)
“The Secret Doctrine by H.
P.
Blavatsky -- Vol.
1 [[Vol.
1, Page 1]] PROEM ------- PAGES FROM A PRE-HISTORIC PERIOD.
A N Archaic Manuscript -- a collection of palm leaves made impermeable to water, fire, and air, by some specific unknow…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 3 (part 2)
“The latter is either "awake" or "asleep." The Svabhavikas, or philosophers of the oldest school of Buddhism (which still exists in Nepaul), speculate only upon the active condition of this "Essence," which they call Svabhavat, and deem it f…”
Show all 93 →western_esoteric93
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 5 (part 1)
“Click to view THE TEMPTATION OF EVIL From Cædmon.
INTRODUCTION THE mystic tradition in Christian Times is preserved, apart from all questions and traces of Instituted Mysteries, in the literature of Christian Mystical Theology; it is a lar…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 5 (part 5)
“The technicalities of the occult sciences may seem hard to the beginner, and they are actually hard like the wilderness, because they are barren wastes, but they are in words of one syllable if compared with the little catechisms of eternal…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 5 (part 6)
“It is the calculus of probabilities on the basis of experience in respect of empirical things.
Putting it aside, on the fringe of the whole circle there are further a few score of follies which one would not term the grades of preparation…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter II (part 1)
“CHAPTER II THE SEVEN HERMETIC PRINCIPLES "The Principles of Truth are Seven; he who knows these, understandingly, possesses the Magic Key before whose touch all the Doors of the Temple fly open."--The Kybalion.
The Seven Hermetic Principle…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter II (part 2)
“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…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter IV (part 1)
“CHAPTER IV THE ALL "Under, and back of, the Universe of Time, Space and Change, is ever to be found The Substantial Reality--the Fundamental Truth."--The Kybalion.
"Substance" means: "that which underlies all outward manifestations; the es…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter IV (part 2)
“And still more presumptuous are those who attempt to ascribe to THE ALL the personality, qualities, properties, characteristics and attributes of themselves, ascribing to THE ALL the human emotions, feelings, and characteristics, even down…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter VI (part 3)
“To know it otherwise, but actual experience, we must be THE ALL itself.
It is true that the higher we rise in the scale--the nearer to "the mind of the Father" we reach--the more apparent becomes the illusory nature of finite things, but n…”
Show all 93 →egyptian47
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 7 (part 3)
“xi.) that the Prisse papyrus was copied about the period of the XVIIth dynasty and that the works in it only date from the XIIth dynasty; but many Egyptologists assign the composition of the work to the age of Assa.
See Wiedemann, Aegyptis…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 8 (part 2)
“Verily it shall be cast forth by my healing words of power, and I will drive it away from before the sight of thy sunbeams." The holy god opened his mouth and said, "I was passing along my path, and I was going through the two regions of my…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 8 (part 3)
“As a result, it seems that the word "God" should be reserved to express the name of the Creator of the Universe, and that neteru , usually rendered "gods," should be translated by some other word, but what that word should be it is almost i…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 8 (part 4)
“No man knoweth how to know Him--His name remaineth hidden; His name is a mystery unto His children.
His names are innumerable, they are manifold and none knoweth their number--God is truth and He liveth by truth and He feedeth thereon.
He…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 8 (part 5)
“The opinion of Tiele is that the religion of Egypt was from the beginning polytheistic, but that it developed in two opposite directions: in the one direction gods were multiplied by the addition of local gods, and in the other the Egyptian…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 8 (part 6)
“, the litany from the tomb of Seti I., published by Naville, La Litanie du Soleil , Leipzig, 1875, p.
13 ff.
2.
E.g.
, Hymn to Amen-Ra, translated by Goodwin from papyrus No.
17, now preserved in the Gizeh Museum (see Les Papyrus Égypt…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 8 (part 8)
“His name is gracious, and the love of him is sweet; and at the dawn all people make supplication unto him through his mighty power and terrible strength, and every god lieth in fear of him.
He is the young bull that destroyeth the wicked,…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 10 (part 15)
“500, Paris, 1879, p.
27.
4 Pyramid of Unas, l.
564.] Disguised in female forms, the four goddesses go to the house of Ra-user, and, professing to have a knowledge of the art of midwifery, they are admitted to the chamber where the child…”
Show all 47 →jewish_mysticism41
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1a
“CHAPTER V.
1.
(It is written) Isa.
i.
4: "Woe unto the sinful nation, unto the people heavy with iniquity, unto the seed of evildoers, &c." (Here the author of the "Siphra Dtzenioutha" reasoneth concerning the small word HVI, "woe," whi…”
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1c
“And to it also pertain the following names, namely, the name) IH, Yah (whensoever it is written in full with A in this manner:) IVD HA, Yod Ha (and containeth the number of the numeral powers of the letters of the Tetragrammaton, namely, 26…”
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1d
“5; "And thou shalt place upon me thine hand:" KPKH, Khephakha .
(Where this word KPKH, if it be written according to the usual p.
100 custom KPK, Khephakh , yieldeth the number 120.
But now by adding the paragogic H of the female, there…”
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1e
“31: "And He was wise above every man." Because these are not classed with man.
21.
(But when it is said) "And the Tetragrammaton gave him wisdom," then is understood the supernal He .
(Because he gave unto him the influx of the wisdom of…”
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1f
“[The letters of the Hebrew alphabet are divided into three classes, the three mothers as they are called, AMSh; the seven duplex letters, BGDKPRTh, so called because they are sometimes tenues and sometimes aspirates, according to whether th…”
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1g
“The four wheels are their correlatives under the second Sephira, on their four sides--namely, the four elements of the air, fire, water, and earth, which are the abodes of the spirits of the elements, the sylphs, salamanders, undines, and g…”
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1h
“35: "Ye shall not do iniquity in judgment, in dimension, in weight, and in measure." (Where these four are mystically intimated.) 37.
(There is one) rigorous judgment (of severity),another that is not rigorous (that is, of the kingdom).
T…”
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1i
“And IVBL, Yobel , "jubilee," is H, He (the first He of the Tetragrammaton); and He is the spirit rushing forth over all (because the mother is the world to come, when in the resurrection all things will receive the spirit); and all things s…”
Show all 41 →platonism40
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1e
“And I rather imagine that Cebes is referring to you; he thinks that you are too ready to leave us, and too ready to leave the gods who, as you acknowledge, are our good rulers.
Yes, replied Socrates; there is reason in that.
And this indi…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1i
“They are temperate because they are intemperate-which may seem to be a contradiction, but is nevertheless the sort of thing which happens with this foolish temperance.
For there are pleasures which they must have, and are afraid of losing;…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1m
“And yet from these equals, although differing from the idea of equality, you conceived and attained that idea?
Very true, he said.
Which might be like, or might be unlike them?
Yes.
But that makes no difference; whenever from seeing one…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1n
“For this is clear, that when we perceived something, either by the help of sight or hearing, or some other sense, there was no difficulty in receiving from this a conception of some other thing like or unlike which had been forgotten and wh…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1p
“or are they each of them always what they are, having the same simple, self-existent and unchanging forms, and not admitting of variation at all, or in any way, or at any time?
They must be always the same, Socrates, replied Cebes.
And wh…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1q
“Then reflect, Cebes: is not the conclusion of the whole matter this?-that the soul is in the very likeness of the divine, and immortal, and intelligible, and uniform, and indissoluble, and unchangeable; and the body is in the very likeness…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1r
“And this, my friend, may be conceived to be that heavy, weighty, earthy element of sight by which such a soul is depressed and dragged down again into the visible world, because she is afraid of the invisible and of the world below-prowling…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1s
“The lovers of knowledge are conscious that their souls, when philosophy receives them, are simply fastened and glued to their bodies: the soul is only able to view existence through the bars of a prison, and not in her own nature; she is wa…”
Show all 40 →taoism38
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 1
“The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name. (Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven and earth; (conceived of as) having a n…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 4
“The Tao is (like) the emptiness of a vessel; and in our employment of it we must be on our guard against all fulness. How deep and unfathomable it is, as if it were the Honoured Ancestor of all things! We should blunt our sharp points, and…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 6
“The valley spirit dies not, aye the same; The female mystery thus do we name. Its gate, from which at first they issued forth, Is called the root from which grew heaven and earth. Long and unbroken does its power remain, Used gently, and wi…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 10
“When the intelligent and animal souls are held together in one embrace, they can be kept from separating. When one gives undivided attention to the (vital) breath, and brings it to the utmost degree of pliancy, he can become as a (tender) b…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 14
“We look at it, and we do not see it, and we name it 'the Equable.' We listen to it, and we do not hear it, and we name it 'the Inaudible.' We try to grasp it, and do not get hold of it, and we name it 'the Subtle.' With these three qualitie…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 15
“The skilful masters (of the Tao) in old times, with a subtle and exquisite penetration, comprehended its mysteries, and were deep (also) so as to elude men's knowledge. As they were thus beyond men's knowledge, I will make an effort to desc…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 17
“In the highest antiquity, (the people) did not know that there were (their rulers). In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them. Thus it was that when faith (in the Tao) was…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 21
“The grandest forms of active force From Tao come, their only source. Who can of Tao the nature tell? Our sight it flies, our touch as well. Eluding sight, eluding touch, The forms of things all in it crouch; Eluding touch, eluding sight, Th…”
Show all 38 →greek_mystery36
Orphic Hymns | Hymn I. THE GODDESS PROTHYRÆA
“I. TO THE GODDESS PROTHYRÆA * . The FUMIGATION from STORAX. O venerable goddess, hear my pray'r, For labour pains are thy peculiar care; in thee, when stretch'd upon the bed of grief, The sex as in a mirror view relief. Guard of the race, e…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn II. NIGHT
“II. TO NIGHT. The FUMIGATION with TORCHES. NIGHT, parent goddess, source of sweet repose, From whom at first both Gods and men arose, Hear, blessed Venus, deck'd with starry light, 3 In sleep's deep silence dwelling Ebon night! Dreams and s…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn III. HEAVEN
“III. TO HEAVEN. The FUMIGATION from FRANKINCENSE. GREAT Heav'n, whose mighty frame no respite knows, Father of all, from whom the world arose: Hear, bounteous parent, source and end of all, Forever whirling round this earthly ball; Abode of…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn V. PROTOGONUS, Or the FIRST-BORN
“V. TO PROTOGONUS, Or the FIRST-BORN. The FUMIGATION from MYRRH. O Mighty first-begotten, hear my pray'r, 1 Two-fold, egg-born, and wand'ring thro' the air, p. 119 Bull-roarer, glorying in thy golden wings, 3 From whom the race of Gods and m…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn X
“X. TO PAN * The FUMIGATION from VARIOUS ODORS I Call strong Pan, the substance of the whole, Etherial, marine, earthly, general soul, Immortal fire; for all the world is thine, And all are parts of thee, O pow'r divine. p. 131 Come, blessed…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn XI. HERCULES
“XI. TO HERCULES. The FUMIGATION from FRANKINCENSE. HEAR, pow'rful, Hercules untam'd and strong, To whom vast hands, and mighty works belong, Almighty Titan, prudent and benign, Of various forms, eternal and divine, Father of Time, the theme…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn XVII. PLUTO
“XVII. TO PLUTO. PLUTO, magnanimous, whose realms profound Are fix'd beneath the firm and solid ground, In the Tartarian plains remote from fight, And wrapt forever in the depths of night; Terrestrial Jove, thy sacred ear incline, 5 5 And, p…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn XXI. THE SEA, OR TETHYS
“XXI. TO THE SEA, OR TETHYS * . The FUMIGATION from FRANKINCENSE and MANNA. TETHYS I call, with eyes cærulean bright, Hid in a veil obscure from human sight; Great Ocean's empress, wand'ring thro' the deep, And pleas'd with gentle gales, the…”
Show all 36 →renaissance_hermeticism31
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | INTRODUCTION-i
“The life of man is more than an experience or trial; it is an effort, a struggle to reproduce and represent upon earth some of that goodness, beauty, and truth which are diffused over the universe and constitute its harmony.
Long, slow, an…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | First Dialogue-f
“One thing is certain, that he who loves wisely in youth will in age not go astray.
But derision is for those of mature age, into whose hands Love puts the alphabet.
Cic.
Tell me now why Fate is called blind and bad.
Tans.
Again, blind…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | Second Dialogue-a
“.
Tansillo.
Now begins the enthusiast to display the affections and uncover the wounds which are for a sign in his body, and in substance or essence in his soul, and he says thus: 9.
Of Love the standard-bearer I; My hopes are ice, and g…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | Third Dialogue-b
“It is not a fury of black bile which sends him drifting outside of judgment, reason, and acts of prudence, and tossed by the discordant tempest, like those who, having violated certain laws of the divine Adrastia, are condemned to be scourg…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | Third Dialogue-e
“Others esteem him unhappy through this appearance of an evil destiny, as being condemned to these pangs, for he will never cease from acknowledging the obligation he is under to love, nor cease from rendering thanks to him because he has pr…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | Fourth Dialogue-a
“.
Tansillo .
Thus is described the discourse of heroic love, in all which tends to its own object, which is the highest good; and heroic intellect, which devotes itself to the study of its own object, which is the primal verity, or absolu…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | Fifth Dialogue-i
“It seems to me, that it means that his particular intelligence is to the universal intelligence ever the same—that is to say, the one is ever illuminated by the other, over the whole hemisphere; notwithstanding that to the inferior powers,…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | Fifth Dialogue-o
“For love, while it is finite, contented, and fixed in a certain measure, is not in the form of the species of divine beauty, but as it goes on with ever higher aspirations, it may be said to verge towards the infinite.
Cic.
.
How is brea…”
Show all 31 →hermeticism20
Corpus Hermeticum 1: Poimandres | Section 1f
“All this befell me from my Mind, that is Man-Shepherd, Word (Logos) of all masterhood, by whom being God-inspired I came unto the Plain of Truth.
Wherefore with all my soul and strength thanksgiving give I unto Father-God.
31.
Holy art T…”
Corpus Hermeticum 2: The Serapeum | Section 1a
“To Asclepius <This dialogue sets forth the difference between the physical and metaphysical worlds in the context of Greek natural philosophy.
Some of the language is fairly technical: the "errant spheres" of sections 6 and 7 are the celes…”
Corpus Hermeticum 2: The Serapeum | Section 1d
“Not only, then, is God not understood by all, but both unto the gods and some of the men they out of ignorance do give the name of Good, though they can never either be or become Good.
For they are very different from God, while Good can n…”
Corpus Hermeticum 4: The Epistles | Section 1a
“The Cup or Monad <This short text gives an unusually lucid overview of the foundations of Hermetic thought.
The stress on rejection of the body and its pleasures, and on the division of humanity into those with Mind and those without, are…”
Corpus Hermeticum 4: The Epistles | Section 1b
“And having raised themselves so far they sight the Good; and having sighted it, they look upon their sojourn here as a mischance; and in disdain of all, both things in body and the bodiless, they speed their way unto that One and Only One.…”
Corpus Hermeticum 5: The Discourse of Hermes to Asclepius | Section 1a
“Though Unmanifest God Is Most Manifest 1.
I will recount to thee this sermon (logos) too, O Tat, that thou may'st cease to be without the mysteries of the God beyond all name.
And mark thou well how that which to the many seems unmanifest…”
Corpus Hermeticum 5: The Discourse of Hermes to Asclepius | Section 1b
“Would that it were possible for thee to get thee wings, and soar into the air, and, poised midway 'tween earth and heaven, behold the earth's solidity, the sea's fluidity (the flowings of its streams), the spaciousness of air, fire's swiftn…”
Corpus Hermeticum 5: The Discourse of Hermes to Asclepius | Section 1c
“And for this cause hath He all names, in that they are one Father's.
And for this cause hath He Himself no nome, in that He's Father of [them] all.
Who, then, may sing Thee praise of Thee, or [praise] to Thee?
Whither, again, am I to tur…”
Show all 20 →sufism13
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | PROLOGUE-a
“HEARKEN to the reed-flute, how it complains, Lamenting its banishment from its home: "Ever since they tore me from my osier bed, My plaintive notes have moved men and women to tears.
I burst my breast, striving to give vent to sighs, And t…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | PROLOGUE-b
“Knowest thou why thy mirror reflects not?
Because the rust has not been scoured from its face.
If it were purified from all rust and defilement, It would reflect the shining of the SUN Of GOD.6 O friends, ye have now heard this tale, Whic…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY V-c
“The skill taught by God to the silkworm Is a learning beyond the reach of the elephant.
The earthly Adam was taught of God names, 4 So that his glory reached the seventh heaven.
He laid low the name and fame of the angels, 5 Yet blind ind…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY V-d
“But the light that lights the heart is the Light of God, Which is distinct from the light of reason and sense.
At night there is no light, and colors are not seen; Hence we know what light is by its opposite, darkness.
At night no colors…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY V-e
“"In yourselves are signs; will ye not behold them?" (Koran li, 21).
12.
See Gulshan i Raz, I.
92.
Mr.
Mansel (Bampton Lectures, p.
49) says: "A thing can be known as that which it is only by being distinguished from that which it is n…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY VIII-a
“The Harper.
In the time of the Khalifa 'Omar there lived a harper, whose voice was as sweet as that of the angel Israfil, and who was in great request at all feasts.
But he grew old, and his voice broke, and no one would employ him any lo…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY IX-b
“Woman is a ray of God, not a mere mistress, The Creator's self, as it were, not a mere creature!
Moses and Pharaoh, alike doers of God's will, as Light and Darkness.
Poison and Antidote.
Verily, both Moses and Pharaoh walked in the right…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY IX-c
“When love of God kindles a flame in the inward man, He burns, and is freed from effects.
He has no need of signs to assure him of love, For love casts its own light up to heaven.
Other details are wanting to complete this subject, But tak…”
Show all 13 →buddhism10
The Dhammapada | Chapter XI, Section 1a
“p.
41 CHAPTER XI.
OLD AGE.
146.
How is there laughter, how is there joy, as this world is always burning?
Why do you not seek a light, ye who are surrounded by darkness?
147.
Look at this dressed-up lump, covered with wounds, joined…”
The Dhammapada | Chapter XIV, Section 1a
“p.
49 CHAPTER XIV.
THE BUDDHA (THE AWAKENED).
179.
He whose conquest is not conquered again, into whose conquest no one in this world enters, by what track can you lead him, the Awakened, the Omniscient, the trackless?
180.
He whom no…”
The Dhammapada | Chapter XIV, Section 1c
“But that is not a safe refuge, that is not the best refuge; a man is not delivered from all pains after having gone to that refuge.
190.
He who takes refuge with Buddha, the Law, [188-192.
These verses occur in Sanskrit in the Prâtihârya…”
The Dhammapada | Chapter XXVI, Section 1d
“Him I call indeed a Brâhma n a who has left what gives pleasure and what gives pain, who is cold, and free from all germs (of renewed life), the hero who has conquered all the worlds.
419.
Him I call indeed a Brâhma n a who knows the dest…”
Vajrakkhedika (Diamond Cutter) | Section 1c
“Because that Bodhisattva, O Subhûti, who gives a gift, without believing in anything, the measure of his stock of merit is not easy to learn.'--'What do you think, O Subhûti, is it easy to learn the measure of space in the eastern quarter?'…”
Vajrakkhedika (Diamond Cutter) | Section 1d
“In the next or third 500 years, they will be strong in 'much learning,' i.e.
bahu s ruta, religious knowledge.
In the next or fourth 500 years, they will be strong in founding monasteries, &c.
In the last or fifth 500 years, they will be…”
Vajrakkhedika (Diamond Cutter) | Section 1i
“Therefore it is called the Pra gñ â-pâramitâ.
'Then, what do you think, O Subhûti, is there anything (dharma) that was preached by the Tathâgata?' Subhûti said: 'Not indeed, O Bhagvat, there is not anything that was preached by the Tathâga…”
Vajrakkhedika (Diamond Cutter) | Section 1p
“If, O Subhûti, there existed a stock of merit, the Tathâgata would not have preached: "A stock of merit, a stock of merit indeed!"'(19) XX.
'What do you think then, O Subhûti, is a Tathâgata to be seen (known) by the shape of his visible b…”
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The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter II, Section 1b
“It is not born, nor does it ever die, nor, having existed, does it exist no more.
Unborn, everlasting, unchangeable, and primeval, it is not killed when the body is killed .
O son of P ri thâ!
how can that man who knows it thus to be ind…”
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter VII, Section 1a
“CHAPTER VII.
The Deity said: O son of P ri thâ!
now hear how you can without doubt know me fully, fixing your mind on me, and resting in me, and practising devotion.
I will now tell you exhaustively about knowledge together with experien…”
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter VII, Section 1b
“Whichever form (of deity) any worshipper wishes to worship with faith, to that form I render his faith steady.
Possessed Of that faith, he seeks to propitiate (the deity in) that (form), and obtains from it those beneficial things which he…”
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter VIII, Section 1b
“This same assemblage of entities, being produced again and again, dissolves on the advent of night, and, O son of P ri thâ!
issues forth on the advent of day, without a will of its own .
But there is another entity, unperceived and eterna…”
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter IX, Section 1a
“CHAPTER IX.
Now I will speak to you, who are not given to carping, of that most mysterious knowledge, accompanied by experience, by knowing which you will be released from evil.
It is the chief among the sciences, the chief among the myst…”
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter X, Section 1a
“CHAPTER X.
Yet again, O you of mighty arms!
listen to my excellent words, which, out of a wish for your welfare, I speak to you who are delighted (with them).
Not the multitudes of gods, nor the great sages know my source; for I am in ev…”
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter XI, Section 1a
“CHAPTER XI.
Ar g una said: In consequence of the excellent and mysterious words concerning the relation of the supreme and individual soul,, which you have spoken for my welfare, this delusion of mine is gone away.
O you whose eyes are li…”
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter XI, Section 1c
“O infinite lord of gods!
O you pervading the universe!
you are the indestructible, that which is, that which is not, and what is beyond them .
You are the primal god, the ancient being, you are the highest support of this universe .
You…”
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The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 1:1-1:29
“[1:1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[1:2] The same was in the beginning with God.
[1:3] All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.
[1:4]…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 5:37-6:17
“[5:37] And the Father that sent me, he hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.
[5:38] And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he sent, him ye believe not.
[5:39] Ye search the sc…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 6:41-6:67
“[6:41] The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, I am the bread which came down out of heaven.
[6:42] And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, I am come d…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 7:25-7:51
“[7:25] Some therefore of them of Jerusalem said, Is not this he whom they seek to kill?
[7:26] And lo, he speaketh openly, and they say nothing unto him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is the Christ?
[7:27] Howbeit we kno…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 7:52-8:23
“[7:52] They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
[7:53] [And they went every man unto his own house:
[8:1] but Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
[8:2] And early…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 8:48-9:14
“[8:48] The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?
[8:49] Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me.
[8:50] But I seek not mine own glory: there is…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 17:12-18:9
“[17:12] While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
[17:13] But now I come to thee; and these t…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 19:36-20:16
“[19:36] For these things came to pass, that the scripture might be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
[19:37] And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
[19:38] And after these things Joseph of…”
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The Soul of the Indian | Chapter I-a
“THE GREAT MYSTERY Solitary Worship.
The Savage Philosopher.
The Dual Mind.
Spiritual Gifts versus Material Progress.
The Paradox of “Christian Civilization.” The original attitude of the American Indian toward the Eternal, the “Great My…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter II-d
“Names of any dignity or importance must be conferred by the old men, and especially so if they have any spiritual significance; as Sacred Cloud, Mysterious Night, Spirit Woman, and the like.
Such a name was sometimes borne by three generat…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter III-d
“After silent prayer, each medicine-man in turn addressed himself to his charge, exhorting him to observe all the rules of the order under the eye of the Mysterious One, and instructing him in his duty toward his fellow-man and toward the Ru…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter IV-a
“BARBARISM AND THE MORAL CODE Silence the Corner-Stone of Character.
Basic Ideas of Morality.
“Give All or Nothing!” Rules of Honorable Warfare.
An Indian Conception of Courage.
Long before I ever heard of Christ, or saw a white man, I h…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter V-a
“THE UNWRITTEN SCRIPTURES A Living Book.
The Sioux Story of Creation.
The First Battle.
Another Version of the Flood.
Our Animal Ancestry.
A missionary once undertook to instruct a group of Indians in the truths of his holy religion.
H…”
Myths of the Cherokee | Myth 81c
“She was very glad to meet her brother and talked with him a long time, but did not ask him to come inside, and at last he went away without having seen her husband.
Several other times her brother came to the mountain, but always his siste…”
norse3
The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1m
“I ween that I hung | on the windy tree, Hung there for nights full nine; With the spear I was wounded, | and offered I was To Othin, myself to myself, On the tree that none | may ever know What root beneath it runs.
[138.
In the manuscrip…”
The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1g
“Lines 5-6, one or both of them probably interpolated, seem to symbolize the refining of gold by fire.
Hor ("The High One"): Othin.
22.
Heith ("Shining One"?): a name often applied to wise women and prophetesses.
The application of this…”
The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1h
“Here the Volva turns from her memories of the past to a statement of some of Othin's own secrets in his eternal search for knowledge (stanzas 27-29).
Bugge puts this stanza after stanza 29.
The horn of Heimdall : the Gjallarhorn ("Shrieki…”
shinto1
The Kojiki: The Beginning of Heaven and Earth | Section 1
“p. 15 RECORDS OF ANCIENT MATTERS [SECT. I.—THE BEGINNING OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.] The names of the Deities 1 that were born 2 in the Plain of High Heaven 3 when the Heaven and Earth began were the Deity Master-of-the-August-Centre-of-Heaven, 4…”
upanishads1
Îsâ-Upanishad | Îsâ, Section 1a
“p.
308 p.
309 VÂ G ASANEYI-SA M HITÂ-UPANISHAD, SOMETIMES CALLED Î S ÂVÂSYA OR Î S Â-UPANISHAD p.
310 p.
311 VÂ G ASANEYI-SA M HITÂ-UPANISHAD.
1.
ALL this, whatsoever moves on earth, is to be hidden in the Lord (the Self).
When thou…”