PREFACE

Many volumes have been written as commentaries on the secret systems of philosophy that existed in the ancient world. However, the eternal truths of life—much like many of the world's greatest thinkers—have usually been presented in poor or unattractive forms original: "clothed in shabby garments". The present work is an attempt to provide a book original: "tome" worthy of those seers and sages whose thoughts make up the core of its pages. Bringing about this union original: "coalescence" of Beauty and Truth has proven to be very expensive, but I believe the result will affect the reader's mind in a way that more than justifies the cost.

Work on the text of this volume began on January 1, 1926, and has continued almost without break for over two years. Most of the research, however, was done before the manuscript was written. I began collecting reference material in 1921, and three years later, the plans for the book took a definite shape. For the sake of clarity, I eliminated all footnotes. Instead, various quotations and references to other authors are included directly within the text in their logical order. The bibliography is included at the end primarily to help those interested in choosing the most authoritative and important works on philosophy and symbolism for future study. To make the complex original: "abstruse" information in the book easy to find, I have included an extensive topical cross-index.

I do not claim that any statement in this book is either perfect original: "infallible" or entirely original. I have studied the surviving fragments of ancient writings enough to realize that making arrogant or absolute original: "dogmatic" statements about their beliefs is worse than reckless. Rigidly following tradition original: "Traditionalism" is the curse of modern philosophy, especially within the European schools of thought. While many of the statements in this book original: "treatise" may seem wildly fantastic at first, I have sincerely tried to avoid random spiritual speculation original: "haphazard metaphysical speculation". I have presented the material, as much as possible, according to the intent and spirit of the original authors rather than just their literal words. By taking responsibility only for any mistakes that might appear here, I hope to avoid the accusations of theft original: "plagiarism" that have been leveled against almost every writer on the subject of mystical philosophy.

Since I have no specific personal ideology original: "ism" to promote original: "promulgate", I have not tried to twist the original writings to support my own ideas. Nor have I distorted doctrines to try and fix the unbridgeable differences found between various systems of religious and philosophical thought.