Secret Philosophy
The Secret Philosophy (a.k.a. Philosophia Occulta) is the name given to the secret, elite "teachings" conveyed to specially selected male "initiates."[1] The term Secret Philosophy is syncretic with the term Esoteric Doctrine
Syncretic Terms
Notes
I'm not sure about the quality or intent of the commentary provided by Magister Pianco. The work does represent the eliticism of the Western esoteric traditions quite well.
The secret philosophy is secret. "The methods by which they devoted themselves to this pursuit differed very much, but they always had the one final aim, to keep the work itself in darkness."[2]
"Here only those men are being dealt with who practise the Secret Philosophy, (Philosophia Occulta). I am not speaking of any other subordinate sect of the Philosophers."[3]
The secret philosophy has a hierarchy similar to the kind you'd find in a military organization. "Each class of Chiefs among the Initiated , and the Initiated themselves, had, according to their rank, certain distinctions, which they wore at their meetings as signs of their rank. "[4]
The secret philosophy is exclusive. Members are handpicked and only the most compliant and suggestible are offered entry into the fraternity.
The secret philosophy has a negative view of "the masses." "From this it can naturally be concluded that the activities of the masses, which as a rule are always rash, hasty, and ill-considered, were sufficiently known to the Initiated."[5]
The secret philosophy is patriarchal. "These Mysteries in part were shared jointly by men and women, but in part were known to men alone."[6]
Initiation into the secrets requires a "confession of sins." The "sins" are then kept on record, presumably to allow the initiate to be controlled."Here the penitent had to lie down at full length, and then in a clear audible voice make a public Confession of his sins, a corresponding list of which he handed to the High Priest." [7]
Footnotes
- ↑ Pianco, Magister. The Rosicrucian Exposed. Edited by Darcy Kuntz. Austin, TX: The Golden Dawn Research Trust, 2007. p. 27.
- ↑ Pianco, Magister. The Rosicrucian Exposed. Edited by Darcy Kuntz. Austin, TX: The Golden Dawn Research Trust, 2007. p. 28.
- ↑ Pianco, Magister. The Rosicrucian Exposed. Edited by Darcy Kuntz. Austin, TX: The Golden Dawn Research Trust, 2007. p. 27.
- ↑ Pianco, Magister. The Rosicrucian Exposed. Edited by Darcy Kuntz. Austin, TX: The Golden Dawn Research Trust, 2007. p. 27.
- ↑ Pianco, Magister. The Rosicrucian Exposed. Edited by Darcy Kuntz. Austin, TX: The Golden Dawn Research Trust, 2007. p. 31.
- ↑ Pianco, Magister. The Rosicrucian Exposed. Edited by Darcy Kuntz. Austin, TX: The Golden Dawn Research Trust, 2007. p. 21.
- ↑ Pianco, Magister. The Rosicrucian Exposed. Edited by Darcy Kuntz. Austin, TX: The Golden Dawn Research Trust, 2007. p. 30.
