The Secret Science: For the Physical and Spiritual Transformation of Man (Hermetic Philosophy, Book 1) [Paperback]

John Baines (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Spanish

From the Publisher

A simply stated introduction to the profound Hermetic principles, this book reminds us that "to become conscious is the supreme goal of the human being." It is addressed to all those who sense that "all is not well" with the human species, who feel alone in the world, and not understood by its people, and who yearn to better themselves mentally and spiritually.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: John Baines Institute; 3rd edition (November 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1882692012
• ISBN-13: 978-1882692019
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,620 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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99 of 115 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Buyer Beware, July 16, 2002

By 

happydogpotatohead "happydogpotatohead" (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Secret Science: For the Physical and Spiritual Transformation of Man (Hermetic Philosophy, Book 1) (Paperback)

First of all, this writer's real name is Dario Salas Sommer and he's from Chile. He claims to have knowledge of the secret teachings of Hermes Trismegistus, an ancient Egyptian mystic. Interestingly enough, there is another John Baines, an Englishman, who is REALLY an Egyptologist, but has nothing to do with these books. That's not a good sign.

The second thing that should make you lift an eyebrow is the fact that Mr. Salas is a bit of a cottage industry in his native Chile and elsewhere, as the Founder and Spiritual Master of the Dario Salas Institute For Spiritual Science. Which undoubtedly you can gain enlightenment from. For the right amount of money, of course.

There is nothing in this book that cannot be discovered in other, older, and more legitimate works. The material in this book that isn't in other older works is not worth reading, because Mr. Salas has MADE IT UP out of whole cloth.

Give this one a pass. Try The Kybalion, by "The Three Initiates" instead.

55 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars How to Persuade People your Beliefs are the Only True Ones, April 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Secret Science: For the Physical and Spiritual Transformation of Man (Hermetic Philosophy, Book 1) (Paperback)

In the Secret Science the author, who has adopted as his pseudonym the same name as a prominent English Academic - an Egyptologist (not that that is revealed in the book) develops an Orwellian scenario - not where "all animals are equal but some are more equal than others" but one where all men are depicted as looking alike having animal bodies and generally sleeping spirits, but amongst them there are some descended from far superior extra-terrestrial visitors of aeons past whose prominence has become evident in history. It may be easily inferred that he counts himself amongst these and these alone have high levels of consciousness able to discern the only real truths of the universe, God and the living creatures within it.

The book openly associates itself with occultism but immediately denigrates every other such organisation as a sham.

It sets out to systematically tell readers that their present beliefs are ill-founded and inadequate. It uses this common method of manipulation of people's minds - firstly telling them that there is a greater truth than they have ever encountered, secondly wearing down the confidence in the beliefs they presently have and thirdly embarking an a programme of substitution of the authors beliefs in place of those which he has either de-stabilised or attempted to de-stabilise. And of course it warns the reader to guard against those how carry out similar manipulation (counting on them not realising that this is what is happening here).

This substitution process is carried out through the various chapters of the book. They cover all manner of things. In them the author describes commonly occurring situations quite accurately, building up a trust in his judgement, in the mind of the reader. He subsequently makes assertions, which he makes no attempts to justify, as matters of fact whereas they are generally not factually based at all and it would be difficult to point to any demonstrable evidence to back them up - he certainly does not but takes them as a given. He then develops arguments based on these extremely tenuous premises to demonstrate all sorts of things he wishes to convince people. The very type of person he suggests needs the benefit of his teaching (the person who is low on discernment) is the very person who is likely to be taken in by this type of approach - it all sounds so plausible and yet in my view this technique is so morally wrong.

The author repeatedly uses extreme examples to justify certain conclusions whereas an honest practising scientist would be extremely wary of putting great weight on such outlying data points as any type of guide to the norm.

Certain matters of fact, such as people's hearts beating 100,000 times per hour are patently wrong whereas in fact they normally beat at about 4,000 beats per hour and may reach 6,000 - 9,000 in extreme circumstances.

Despite the author giving the impression that he must be at the pinnacle of the type of discernment which he espouses it does appear that with his repeated references to "a jealous and dominant woman" becoming a problem to a man, that he has been unable to avoid falling into one of the traps he preaches that men should guard against. For some reason he "puts down" various groups of women but men don't seem to come in for such treatment.

At various points he lays down "immutable" laws for the conduct of life without any justification - other than he has said so. He quotes Biblical passages quite frequently and Jesus but overall seems ambivalent to Christianity but more positive towards it than his distinctly anti statements about certain other relations.

He makes a new definition of God to suit his purposes and indulges in what is generally termed "double-speak" to make what he has to say sound convincing and impressive - a bit like the story of "The Kings Clothes" - the implication is - accept that what I am saying is correct or admit (to yourself) that you're unintelligent (and must need my help and guidance) - I am sure a number of readers are taken in.

With his desire to have people come within his orbit and to join the various branches of his institute there is increasing pressure towards the end of the book to convince people that the "only true way" is to become a disciple of his following and subsequently (for generally undisclosed benefits - as they must all be kept secret lest society wreak retribution on 'the enlightened') be initiated into his particular Rosicrucian type of Society.

It is not really clear how much of the material is based on the teachings of the Egyptian philosopher Trismegistus. There is a lot of mention of waves and in particular wave-lengths and vibrational frequencies - concepts developed in physics in the last 300 years unlikely to have been part of the vocabulary of Trismegistus 15,000 years ago, nor of his audience.

34 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money on this tripe, September 7, 2004

By 

Frater Peredur (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Science: For the Physical and Spiritual Transformation of Man (Hermetic Philosophy, Book 1) (Paperback)

I purchased this book, having been a student of Hermetics for many years. What a waste of money! The fact that this book is recommended as a companion to the Kybalion is an insult to the Three Initiates!

From the very start, Mr. Baines has a condescending tone when referring to anyone who doesn't share his viewpoint, especially towards those not initiated into Hermetics. Solipsism is one of the most difficult things for a student to overcome, remembering that not everyone is as attuned as you are, that not everyone sees the truth your way. Baines carries on with this pretentious attitude throughout the entire book.

Other absurdities include his theory of nicotine addiction on page 35, which he says "brings to life a special being formed by the energy of the burning tobacco and the smoker's pleasure. This entity stirs up a constant restlessness in the smoker, which can only be appeased by lighting a cigarette." In other words, you're not addicted as science would have you believe, you're possessed!

One of the most offensive passages comes on page 44 where Mr. Baines, in his infinite wisdom, discusses the sexual deviations of women. Apparently, one of these "deviations" is being a victim of rape, or as Mr. Baines puts it, being "brutally possessed by a man with passionate instincts." Excuse me, Mr. Baines, but where I come from people take responsibility for their actions and a man who "brutally possesses" a woman is called a RAPIST and is treated like the criminal that he is!

About the only time Mr. Baines makes any sense is when he is essentially quoting from the Kybalion, which is the book you should be buying. Don't waste your money on this tripe!