of REALITY is Universal Life. The Substance of REALITY is Universal Substance. The Infinite Mind of REALITY, in its Ideative and Volitional activities, is the Creative and Conative Power of the Universe.
V. REALITY is immanent in its Creation, and in every part thereof. In the characters of its conscious creations it manifests itself as the artist in his work, the poet, playwright, or writer in his characters. The created universe is the cosmic dramatization of REALITY, through which it lives and acts, moves and plays its infinitude of parts. REALITY, being indivisible and immutable, is immanent in each of its creations in its Totality of Being. In and back of each conscious being is the Presence and Power of REALITY. REALITY is immanent in You. Hence the following
MESSAGE OF REALITY.
There is one principle of REALITY—the essence, nature, substance, and principle of All-that-is. This principle— REALITY—always remains itself, indivisible and immutable, notwithstanding the infinity of apparent differences in manifestation of form, shape, state, or condition under which it occurs, appears, or presents itself in the phenomenal universe. You yourself are the Manifestation of that principle—REALITY. And, likewise, You are identical with it in the totality of its essence, nature, substance, and REALITY. The recognition of this Identity by the Intellect constitutes the perception of Truth; the realization of it by Intuition constitutes Illumination; the manifestation of it by Volition constitutes Mastery.
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In this book you are invited to pursue the inquiry in detail, both in the examination and investigation of the Axioms of REALITY, the consideration of the Nature of REALITY, the Process of Manifestation, and the Facts of Immanence, Identity, and Mastery.
THE MEANING OF TERMS.
Before proceeding to the Axioms of REALITY the student is asked and advised to acquaint himself or herself with the definition of the principal terms employed in our inquiry. It is impossible for one to intelligently study the Axioms unless he or she be fully acquainted with and informed regarding the terms employed. A term is a peg upon which a thought is suspended. The association of each thought with its own particular term is needed in order that one may reason clearly. The clear and correct understanding of terms is the first requisite of logical thought and reasoning. Therefore, we say to the student: Master the definitions before you proceed further, and then as you proceed frequently refer to them.
FUNDAMENTAL DEFINITIONS.
ULTIMATE: Extreme, final; incapable of further analysis, division, separation, resolution, refinement, purification, or simplification.
INFINITE: Without limits, bounds, or measurements; ultimate capacity and possibility of expression and manifestation in time, space, quantity, quality, and variety.
ETERNAL: Without beginning or ending of existence; always existing; existence without intermission; ceaseless; constant; everlasting; perpetual.
PRINCIPLE: The source or origin from which anything proceeds; ultimate element or essence; the original inherent essence of a thing, and its final and ultimate essential nature.
ESSENCE: That which is the very and actual nature of anything.
NATURE: The inherent and essential "thingness" of the being of anything.
SUBSTANCE: That which underlies all outward manifestations; that which constitutes anything what it is; real and existing essence, nature, or being; that which constitutes the Thing-in-Itself, as distinguished from its appearances or outward manifestations.
Chapter III.
Axioms of Reality
YOU ARE now invited to acquaint yourselves with the Axioms of REALITY. An axiom is a self-evident and necessary truth—a proposition based on reason, which it is necessary to take for granted in subsequent thought; or a proposition which is so evident that when presented to the reasoning mind it requires no further demonstration but commends itself at once to the acceptance of everyone capable of thinking.
The science of logic, like that of higher mathematics, is based upon axioms. An axiom, being based upon the general and invariable report of reason of the race, is not subjected to the demand for repeated proof upon each occasion of its frequent employment as a basis for demonstration and argument. To dispute the evidence of the axioms of rational thought is akin to disputing the validity of human thought itself. In the latter case, however, even the validity of the disputation would be attacked at the same time that the axiom was attacked, for the disputation itself is a manifestation of human thought. The axioms hold ever, unless we deny the validity of reason.
In the Axioms of REALITY herein given will be found the fundamental and elementary reports of the reason regarding the Ultimate Principle of REALITY, which we have stated as the subject of our inquiry. These axioms should be carefully studied, considered, and committed to memory. They will be found to furnish an infallible touchstone with which to test the soundness of any philosophical or metaphysical doctrine, dogma, or teaching. They are the report of the highest philosophical thought of the ages directed to the subject. They represent the essence of the thought of the illumined of the race upon the subject of REALITY. With the Axioms of REALITY the student has at hand the master key with which to open the many doors of the temple of knowledge. Rightly used they will disclose the Truth-of-Truths.
We beg of the student to tarry awhile with the axioms, to dwell with them awhile before passing on. The mind that is saturated with the Truth embodied in the axioms cannot go far astray on the path of philosophical knowledge. They will serve as a constant series of infallible guideposts, pointing ever to the Truth. Do not pass them by as dull, dry, tedious, or technical, for in them you will find all the interest that is imaginable. In their few words is to be found the essence of all philosophy and metaphysics. Make them your own, treat them well, and in the hour of mental stress and trial they will be found by your side, whispering the word of Truth in your ear, clearing away all doubts, and brushing aside all conflicting and contradictory arguments. Hold fast to the axioms,—this is our first and last advice to the student,—hold fast to the axioms!
AXIOM OF ACTUAL EXISTENCE.
First Axiom of REALITY: REALITY is existent in truth, in verity, and in fact as the essence, nature, substance, and principle of All-that-is.
This axiom announces the actual existence of REALITY; not the imaginary existence, but the real, veritable, truthful, and in-fact existence; not the temporary or temporal shadow of existence, but the fixed, unalterable, eternal existence, which alone constitutes Real existence; not the existence of the fleeting form, but the existence of the eternal essence. This actual existence is the "REALITY" of philosophy. Only that which exists and remains unchanged, invariable, and permanent may be said to be REALITY in the strict philosophical sense of the term.
On every side, and in everything, we perceive the manifestation of constant change of form, shape, and activity; everlasting and ever-manifest transmutation of substance from one phase to another; impermanence in everything; nothing stable; nothing constant; nothing persisting; everything in constant motion; everything in a state of flux; everything flowing on like a river, never the same for two consecutive moments; everything the ever-changing particles of a huge cosmic flame; nothing permanently "being"; everything constantly "becoming" or passing from one state to another; action and reaction; cycles and rhythms; the beginningless and endless sequence of events; the constant operation of cause and effect; the Law of Change ever modifying and altering the shape, form, activity, state, and condition of everything, even
