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What the Ancient Wisdom Expects of Its Disciples: A Study Concerning the Mystery Schools
Subtitled "A Study Concerning the Mystery Schools, " this is a practical guide for those who wish to avoid the many pitfalls that can occur on the path of discipleship. It also shows how enlightenment is earned by personal dedication to a spiritual code of conduct.
Paperback
First published July 1, 1996
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474 people want to read
About the author
Manly P. Hall
755 books1,112 followersCanadian born, Manly Palmer Hall is the author of over 150 published works, the best known of which are Initiates of the Flame, The Story of Healing, The Divine Art,Aliens Magick and Sorcery The Secret Teachings of All Ages, and An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy.
He was also the author of a masonic curiosity, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry in 1923, more than thirty years before he joined a lodge. The preface of later editions states "At the time I wrote this slender volume, I had just passed my twenty-first birthday, and my only contact with Freemasonry was through a few books commonly available to the public." Later, in 1944, he wrote The Secret Destiny of America which popularized the myth of a masonic purpose for the founding of the USA. In 1950 he weighed in again on the meaning of Freemasonry with his booklet: Masonic Orders of Fraternity.
***
Initiated: June 28, 1954
Passed: September 20, 1954
Raised November 22, 1954
Jewel Lodge No. 374
Source: Grand Lodge of California records ; William R. Denslow, 10,000 Famous Freemasons, vol. ii. Trenton, MO. : Missouri Lodge of Research / Educational Bureau, Royal Arch Mason Magazine, 1958. p. 165.
He was also the author of a masonic curiosity, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry in 1923, more than thirty years before he joined a lodge. The preface of later editions states "At the time I wrote this slender volume, I had just passed my twenty-first birthday, and my only contact with Freemasonry was through a few books commonly available to the public." Later, in 1944, he wrote The Secret Destiny of America which popularized the myth of a masonic purpose for the founding of the USA. In 1950 he weighed in again on the meaning of Freemasonry with his booklet: Masonic Orders of Fraternity.
***
Initiated: June 28, 1954
Passed: September 20, 1954
Raised November 22, 1954
Jewel Lodge No. 374
Source: Grand Lodge of California records ; William R. Denslow, 10,000 Famous Freemasons, vol. ii. Trenton, MO. : Missouri Lodge of Research / Educational Bureau, Royal Arch Mason Magazine, 1958. p. 165.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
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July 4, 2008Extremely profound and relevant to today's new age movement. I much prefer the ancient teachings.
September 7, 2012
Excellent starter book for those that are "getting into" spiritual science. Mr. Hall doesn't dance around things, he puts it straightforward. Highly recommend. :)
October 28, 2016
Incredible distillation of information from many sources. An excellent way to measure your position in the process.
January 6, 2025
Una obra maestra, me lo devoré en horas, completamente profundo y confrontativo para un oculista, nunca me decepciona Manly
November 8, 2018
Un pequeño gran libro, altamente recomendado para todo aquel que quiera entender a lo que debe aspirar si quiere adentrarse por los senderos de la Sabiduría y la Verdad y saber cómo buscar respuestas a las preguntas transcendentales de la vida.
En mi opinión, el mero hecho de toparse con un libro como este hace parte del camino de la preparación...
En mi opinión, el mero hecho de toparse con un libro como este hace parte del camino de la preparación...
January 29, 2016
Disciple ettiquette
This booklet is an excellent treatise on how a follower of the Ancient Wisdom should relate to the world that he finds around him. It is loaded with practice advice and insight.
This booklet is an excellent treatise on how a follower of the Ancient Wisdom should relate to the world that he finds around him. It is loaded with practice advice and insight.
September 10, 2016
One of my favorite Manly P Hall short works. The immense amount of knowledge this guy had, it is a shame I will never be able to meet him in person.
July 14, 2020
I do enjoy the books that present a search for the higher mean the purpose of life and which always seem to be a search for or with "extra" powers... and always a secret of course.
However, what I have found thus far in my stated hubris of extensive readings all of which are not acknowledged here, are that all of these books seem to be based on a foundation of errors. That is a polite way to say "they" built all of these groups, ideas, temples on the false premise of believing the first lies. If we take away the foundation what happens to the hocus-pocus building? How many know of the seven levels let alone walk to the basement to examine the structure?
The same applies with all things even now. So, if I write a book based on the "belief" of a man who supposedly lived over 2000 years ago potentially named Jesus or Joshua or Yeshua/Y'shua ישע and say that was a common term used by people of that region during that time with a base meaning of "deliver" it really could mean the mailman/post/fedex/lyft/usps/uber/ups.. etc, do you get the idea.
So in this book; What the Ancient Wisdom Expects of its Disciples, A Study Concerning the Mystery Schools. Manly P. Hall discusses religion or metaphysics running amok so a movement to return to the original founding principles of the beginning and only those who use the Code of Conduct would be enlightened. This is of course the Way of Initiation (See other Hall books). Only the REAL enlightened are known by their works, after their second birth of course. All sound familiar well if not you need to definitely read more. So anyway, you will receive a summary then greeting followed by a warning; even "The Master", was tempted. Lies make up the world now with a multitude of new ways of thinking as everyone journeys and collects people and money in their elaborations as The Way of psychology is revealed to them. The book was published in 1925 so good timing since the field of Psychology was just getting warmed up.
Really liking all of Manly's publications I do enjoy lists, proper guidance for all to follow, ideas for thought so sets a path for those who wander searching endlessly day after day. I've read the booklet three times today alone and will of course read it again in the future. I like to mediate on the writing of others, their views, ideas, guidance, well you get the idea, right?
How do you come to know a "man" if the clothes are always the same. If all men wear the same clothes and babble on are you not interested in the Logos of the quiet one. Isn't God found in the still small voice, perhaps that was a Watcher after the landing, the fire of the engines shut down and after the great wind had calmed and they disembarked quietly listening and speaking, also searching for the other representative of the word.
Originally, I wrote humans instead of man, but then what about the animals, beasts, jinn, wolves and their behavior, should we not listen to them also? Those who have ears, how can I discuss the book if I know that the foundation is not built on rock, not on sand but only the idea of the narrow path. Because everyone at least 13 other temples also talked about how glorious the temple is and only they too have the key to the gate. How hard to share the years of what now to many seems as gibberish. "For in much wisdom is much grief", And "he who increases knowledge increases sorrow" and perhaps to only follow the wide path skipping along unquestioning ignorantly blissful and all else is vanity. Though I do desire truth, speak truth, live truth what else can there be for a life but as the Budda, as Frater commands and so I will continue as surely as I AM I WILL to seek endlessly the Creator of the All.
If you open the door and there are only more doors do you choose to walk in or turn away and shut the door, staying safely on the land you inhabit. If you open the many doors and find there is no foundation will the temple fall. Does not the love and great appreciation for the wonder of all that humbles a man to prostration the recognition of such a Creation enough to rent your clothing and cast into the black mirror light. If you step on the path but do not move forward is that not also that which is crouching at the door.
If I continue to find so much more of that of which I know not to be, all presented along the same lines of give up all to the poor and be happy in it, yet you are responsible for your own bread makes me spew thee out of my mouth; when ever can the poor feed the poor. Do you cast away through the circles those gifts which are awarded thee, fear not your lacking grace.
Using a well known liar & historian Josephus as a reference is like denying that Jachin and Boaz are positive and negative, that the BBQ outside does not billow with a drug of fatty flesh intoxicating the Gods to sedation and compliance.
So though I do like the principles and the layout, I cannot get over the facts of the nonexistent foundation for which is floats...
However, what I have found thus far in my stated hubris of extensive readings all of which are not acknowledged here, are that all of these books seem to be based on a foundation of errors. That is a polite way to say "they" built all of these groups, ideas, temples on the false premise of believing the first lies. If we take away the foundation what happens to the hocus-pocus building? How many know of the seven levels let alone walk to the basement to examine the structure?
The same applies with all things even now. So, if I write a book based on the "belief" of a man who supposedly lived over 2000 years ago potentially named Jesus or Joshua or Yeshua/Y'shua ישע and say that was a common term used by people of that region during that time with a base meaning of "deliver" it really could mean the mailman/post/fedex/lyft/usps/uber/ups.. etc, do you get the idea.
So in this book; What the Ancient Wisdom Expects of its Disciples, A Study Concerning the Mystery Schools. Manly P. Hall discusses religion or metaphysics running amok so a movement to return to the original founding principles of the beginning and only those who use the Code of Conduct would be enlightened. This is of course the Way of Initiation (See other Hall books). Only the REAL enlightened are known by their works, after their second birth of course. All sound familiar well if not you need to definitely read more. So anyway, you will receive a summary then greeting followed by a warning; even "The Master", was tempted. Lies make up the world now with a multitude of new ways of thinking as everyone journeys and collects people and money in their elaborations as The Way of psychology is revealed to them. The book was published in 1925 so good timing since the field of Psychology was just getting warmed up.
Really liking all of Manly's publications I do enjoy lists, proper guidance for all to follow, ideas for thought so sets a path for those who wander searching endlessly day after day. I've read the booklet three times today alone and will of course read it again in the future. I like to mediate on the writing of others, their views, ideas, guidance, well you get the idea, right?
How do you come to know a "man" if the clothes are always the same. If all men wear the same clothes and babble on are you not interested in the Logos of the quiet one. Isn't God found in the still small voice, perhaps that was a Watcher after the landing, the fire of the engines shut down and after the great wind had calmed and they disembarked quietly listening and speaking, also searching for the other representative of the word.
Originally, I wrote humans instead of man, but then what about the animals, beasts, jinn, wolves and their behavior, should we not listen to them also? Those who have ears, how can I discuss the book if I know that the foundation is not built on rock, not on sand but only the idea of the narrow path. Because everyone at least 13 other temples also talked about how glorious the temple is and only they too have the key to the gate. How hard to share the years of what now to many seems as gibberish. "For in much wisdom is much grief", And "he who increases knowledge increases sorrow" and perhaps to only follow the wide path skipping along unquestioning ignorantly blissful and all else is vanity. Though I do desire truth, speak truth, live truth what else can there be for a life but as the Budda, as Frater commands and so I will continue as surely as I AM I WILL to seek endlessly the Creator of the All.
If you open the door and there are only more doors do you choose to walk in or turn away and shut the door, staying safely on the land you inhabit. If you open the many doors and find there is no foundation will the temple fall. Does not the love and great appreciation for the wonder of all that humbles a man to prostration the recognition of such a Creation enough to rent your clothing and cast into the black mirror light. If you step on the path but do not move forward is that not also that which is crouching at the door.
If I continue to find so much more of that of which I know not to be, all presented along the same lines of give up all to the poor and be happy in it, yet you are responsible for your own bread makes me spew thee out of my mouth; when ever can the poor feed the poor. Do you cast away through the circles those gifts which are awarded thee, fear not your lacking grace.
Using a well known liar & historian Josephus as a reference is like denying that Jachin and Boaz are positive and negative, that the BBQ outside does not billow with a drug of fatty flesh intoxicating the Gods to sedation and compliance.
So though I do like the principles and the layout, I cannot get over the facts of the nonexistent foundation for which is floats...
June 18, 2019
Humbling
This cuts right to it. The truth of what is in this book explains much about the way things are today. The loss of real knowledge and faith. Self- professed experts on every corner selling half truths and fabricated mysticism. New age cretins preying on the masses because religion has abandoned them yet they seem salvation from someone or something. People lived their religion every day. They interacted with nature, the animals, neighbors, and family in a simple bonded manner. Things didn't require a scientific explanation. Faith in a higher power sufficed. The mystery schools have disappeared. Not for lack of need, but because of the destruction of true unwavering faith in the unseen power of nature, the elements and the cosmos.
This cuts right to it. The truth of what is in this book explains much about the way things are today. The loss of real knowledge and faith. Self- professed experts on every corner selling half truths and fabricated mysticism. New age cretins preying on the masses because religion has abandoned them yet they seem salvation from someone or something. People lived their religion every day. They interacted with nature, the animals, neighbors, and family in a simple bonded manner. Things didn't require a scientific explanation. Faith in a higher power sufficed. The mystery schools have disappeared. Not for lack of need, but because of the destruction of true unwavering faith in the unseen power of nature, the elements and the cosmos.
June 11, 2020
I was looking something and found something better that touch a deep chord. It spoke to me.
I found nothing there that I did not like.
In this case, he appears to me, in his writings, like a messenger.
His message straightforward, clear and without any adornments on how to be and evolve being.
I found nothing there that I did not like.
In this case, he appears to me, in his writings, like a messenger.
His message straightforward, clear and without any adornments on how to be and evolve being.
March 29, 2019
Some insights are good, mainly regarding character, while these could also be found in classical life philosophy, in this text it gets mixed with weird stuff. Do you need to be cluster A to enjoy this or cluster B disordered to make use of cults?
June 19, 2025
The book is a must-read for anyone who wishes to enhance their knowledge of the path towards esoteric wisdom and the ancient mystery schools. A compact 50 pages, it's a quick read and a page turner while yet offering a wealth of insight that other larger volumes fail to offer.
December 9, 2016
A THOROUGH, educated approach to discipleship of The Ancient Mysteries. Disciplined personal conduct and integrity are all one needs to set upon the seeker's path
July 22, 2022
FANTASTIC
December 9, 2016
Amazing! Spot on
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews