A Few Questions
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Hello.
My name is Rodney and I am thinking of attending a Rosicrucian open ended forum in my area to see if this school of thought fits me personally.
1) Is Rosicrucianism considered a Mystery School following?
2) Although I'm not a Mason, would becoming one contradict the Work of Rosicrucianism or would it compliment it?
3) How many grades and/or degrees are there in Rosicrucianism, and how difficult and how long does it take to achieve the utmost levels of its Work?
These are but a few thoughts I ponder on this fascinating subject.
P.S.: Does anyone here have any thoughts on Max Heindel or Manly P. Hall?
Thank you
Rodney
Answer
Rodney,
These questions come up frequently and they are complex. Being a student for some 30 years, I will try to present my summary to these questions:
Rosicrucianism is considered the teaching associated with the Rosicrucian Mystery School located in Central Europe to this day.
Not all "Rosicrucian's or Rosicrucianism is directly linked this this Order. It is highly secretive about its place in the world and for good reason. Guru worship and attention would make the principal Teachers unable to work in the world. Max Heindel went so far to say that even he was not a Rosicrucian no one should call themselves this. It is a name for the members of the Order only. Everyone else is a "student" or Rosicrucian initiate or teacher.
In short, there were three main periods of Rosicrucianism: one is when it was supposedly founded in the 14th century; a revival occurred in the 17-18th century; and finally a new teachings came forth in the early two decades of the 20th century from several people. There is much controversy about public and esoteric teachers and organizations associated with this name. Many scholars simply believe that the Rosicrucians existed at one time and were simply part of the intellectual elite of the time. They were basically metaphysical philosophers and the lore about special abilities and powers are superstitious. Certain Lore and stories tell a different story but it hard to verify historical documents 200-400 years ago. With the rise of the occult Renaissance between 1875-1925, several European and American teachers associated themselves with this Order. There are many others (over 70 organizations today worldwide) who also made such claims of lineage but the each must decide who had the "goods" or was an actual Initiate. Most serious students would include Max Heindel, Rudolf Steiner (a non-affiliated Initiate to the Order), SR Parchment, Coline Heline, and Manly Palmer Hall as serious contenders. Manly Hall was the philosopher apologist for the Order as found in his Secret Teachings of All Ages and the Phoenix. He chose to forego mystical development to develop a powerful and encyclopedia mind and function as an educator this life. He used his enormous intellect to write many books on esotericism and they remain classics. Heindel and Steiner camps remain at odds (their proponents contest each others spiritual status and knowledge). Most open minded students know that both were seers and had direct spiritual access to other realms and confirmed each others findings. Steiner is a better source for the esoteric place and origins of the Rosicrucian Order in a historical context. (see his Esoteric Christianity and the Mission of Christian Rosenkruetz and Rosicrucian Wisdom)
Initiation: Unless one is an initiate, there is no way to really speak about it but we can gather certain indications from the work and knowledge of those who are recognized as such. The key to this Path is knowledge and world service. Though love and devotion are central, as well, there is a bias towards the search for spiritual knowledge and knowing God directly. This is slightly different than a devotional or mystical path where any experience of the Transcendent is welcome but non always comprehended or repeatable. And this is not intellectual knowledge or book learning. As I understand it, the first stage of initiation is a rebirth experience akin to the traditional Pauline experience. The spiritual worlds open up to one and a mentor or Christ can appear (not always) to assist in the next steps. Intense soul experiences and commitment are taken on at this point to purify and face one's dark soul nature and karmic legacy and transform it gradually and consciously. Karmic events in one's life become clearer.
Often (though not always), the ability to consciously leave the physical body at will is accomplished and one is then conscious during sleep and can recall clearly what did at night. As one goes forward with this double life (it is not recommended to announce to others what is going on or great misunderstanding can result and isolation from others) - one a normal life and the other a purely spiritual life at night or in meditations. Soon one is taught the first and necessary qualities of discrimination and spiritual centeredness in the astral world. Dreams and actual events can be distinguished. False and real Beings are encountered and one learns to sense and see through the metamorphic process of that world. Everything in the astral world is mobile and is controlled by thought and imagination. If one imagines oneself dressed as soldier, it happens. If one imagines being in Tokyo, they go there instantly.
In the early stages of this first initiation (after the spiritual rebirth in Christ Spirit), one has to learn to see and function in the spiritual worlds and this can take many years. There are said to be several higher degrees of initiation which bring one into contact with more expansive worlds and greater Beings. The degrees are irrelevant in a sense since they are not associated with rituals, ceremonies, or magic- the "degrees" are like university schooling and one move to a higher and boarder understanding and skill level (of spirit and soul). Heindel speaks of the 9 lesser Mysteries and the 4 Great Mysteries but others have different descriptions of these stages.
Sometimes the rebirth can happen walking down the street or in meditation or during sleep and one "wakes" up permanently. Though Heindel and Steiner speak with almost everyday casualness about their lives as an initiate, the stress and strain is very hard on the soul and body it is said. Imagine being able to see and feel the emotions and thoughts of anyone, anytime if one wishes. Imagine not being bound to an insensitive body but able to feel the etheric life forces at all times emanating from the planets, plants, animals and men and women.
Masons and Rosicrucians are compatible and some of the early founders of America were affiliates of both schools. Masonry is more accessible today but there is very little esoteric Masonry being practiced it seems. At present there exists a large gap in the next stage of Rosicrucianism. It influences some popular movements indirectly, it seems, but there is no real public advancement in the teaching since the early years of the 20th century. Most organizations are fossilized and still cling to the original but dead founders.
Hope this helps.
Jeff Auer, Moderator
A Quarterly Rosicrucian Online Magazine
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