fifth book, 308 p. / isbn 978 90 6732 4946
MYSTERIES AND HYMNS OF GOD, COSMOS, HUMANITY – REALIZING THE PLAN OF GOD
Stray no longer on the periphery, but start to live from your innermost nucleus in the power of the universal gnosis.
What is the source of all life? How can you connect to it? What can you do to become inspired by this magnificent and joyful perspective? These questions are the central points in the first part of this book. Light is shed on them on the basis of the rich tradition of the Rosycross in accordance with classical texts attributed to the legendary Egyptian initiate Hermes Trismegistus. The second part of this book consists of 22 hymns from the spiritual world literature that you may find inspirational in your daily life.
According to the thrice-great Hermes, humanity errs because it has accepted ignorance as a guide. In the manuscripts attributed to him, Hermes teaches how to reach gnosis, how to reach the inner knowledge of your deepest being. That is the basis on which you can be renewed as to spirit, soul and personality by means of a comprehensive renewal process called transfiguration.
The wisdom of Hermes is a sublime synthesis of religion, philosophy and spirituality that emanates from an inner, divine touch. Hermes declares that God, cosmos and humanity are inseparably connected to one another and explains what that means for the life of all human beings. Immerse yourself in this liberating vision of life and investigate its effect on you.
The question whether God exists is not so very important since it is evident that there is a primeval source from which everything emanates, that nourishes everything and to which everything returns. The much more important question is whether you truly exist. The true aspect within you – that is the immortal and divine aspect within you – may still be dormant, but it can awaken and grow once you start to follow a path of spiritual consciousness and renewal in your daily life. Explore the nine aspects of this universal path of initiation that has been known for centuries as ‘the way of the stars’.
CONTENTS
preface
introduction – the way of the stars
PART 1: MYSTERIES OF GOD, COSMOS, HUMANITY
- experiencing the divine
- distinguishing dimensions
- consciously perceiving, thinking and acting
- receiving esoteric teachings
- realizing purification
- praising God
- assimilating spiritual powers
- going the path of godliness
- proclaiming the Gnosis
PART 2: HYMNS OF GOD, COSMOS, HUMANITY
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- Hymn to the Sun (Akhenaton)
- The Emerald Tablet (Hermes Trismegistus)
- No one has authority over the One (The Secret Book of John)
- Prayer of thanksgiving (Nag Hammadi)
- Hymns of repentance (Gospel of the Pistis Sophia)
- Ode to Wisdom (Wisdom of Solomon)
- Universal Confession of Faith (Karl von Eckartshausen)
- Hymn to Ahura Mazda (Henry van Dyke)
- Testimonies by Mani (Mani)
- O fire of the Spirit (Hildegard von Bingen)
- The love song of the nymphs (The Alchemical Wedding)
- Life is love (Mikhail Naimy)
- The song of the reed flute (Rumi)
- Gitanjali (Rabindranath Tagore)
- Salat (Inayat Khan)
- The Lord’s prayer (Matthew)
- The high priestly prayer (John)
- Psalms (Bible)
- Prayer of Paul the Apostle (Nag Hammadi)
- Hymn of praise at an initiation ritual (Nag Hammadi)
- The Nuctemeron (Apollonius of Tyana)
- Rich perspectives (Zarathustra)
Literature references