And still more presumptuous are those who attempt to ascribe to the all the personality, qualities, properties, characteristics and attributes of themselves, ascribing to the all the human emotions, feelings, and characteristics, even down to the pettiest qualities of mankind, such as jealousy, susceptibility to flattery and praise, desire for offerings and worship, and all the other survivals from the days of the childhood of the race.  Such ideas are not worthy of grown men and women, and are rapidly being discarded.

(At this point, it may be proper for me to state that we make a distinction between Religion and Theology—­between Philosophy and Metaphysics.  Religion, to us, means that intuitional realization of the existence of the all, and one’s relationship to it; while Theology means the attempts of men to ascribe personality, qualities, and characteristics to it; their theories regarding its affairs, will, desires, plans, and designs, and their assumption of the office of ‘’ middle-men’’ between the all and the people.  Philosophy, to us, means the inquiry after knowledge of things knowable and thinkable; while Metaphysics means the attempt to carry the inquiry over and beyond the boundaries and into regions unknowable and unthinkable, and with the same tendency as that of Theology.  And consequently, both Religion and Philosophy mean to us things having roots in Reality, while Theology and Metaphysics seem like broken reeds, rooted in the quicksands of ignorance, and affording naught but the most insecure support for the mind or soul of Man. we do not insist upon our students accepting these definitions—­we mention them merely to show our position.  At any rate, you shall hear very little about Theology and Metaphysics in these lessons.)

But while the essential nature of the all is Unknowable, there are certain truths connected with its existence which the human mind finds itself compelled to accept.  And an examination of these reports form a proper subject of inquiry, particularly as they agree with the reports of the Illumined on higher planes.  And to this inquiry we now invite you.

    “That which is the Fundamental Truth—­the Substantial
    Reality—­is beyond true naming, but the Wise Men call
    it the all.”—­The Kybalion.

    “In its Essence, the all is unknowable.”—­The Kybalion.

    “But, the report of Reason must be hospitably received,
    and treated with respect.”—­The Kybalion.

The human reason, whose reports we must accept so long as we think at all, informs us as follows regarding the all, and that without attempting to remove the veil of the Unknowable: 

    (1) The all must be all that really is.  There can be
    nothing existing outside of the all, else the all would
    not be the all.