Customer Reviews

Wisdom of the Mystic Masters

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book contains the core teachings of the Rosicrucian order. This book is enlightening, just reading one paragraph causes a powerful lift in my conciousness every time I read it. They language is a bit antiquated but the meaning is very clear and concise. The ideas are complex, but they are broken down and expressed in the simplest way possible. There are no unneccessary details; it gets straight to the point.
But don't take my word for it. You can get "A Rosicrusian Speaks" for FREE on the internet. Just do a Google search for Joseph J. Weed, click on "A Rosicrucian Speaks", then copy the papers to your hard drive as a text file.
It is a collection of lectures given by Joseph J. Weed to Rosicrucian lodges in the 40's-60's. The wording is a bit unnusual but the ideas are the greatest treasures I have ever gotten for free, on the internet. If you read these lectures, you will want more, and want to get "Wisdom of the Mystic Masters".

Mr. Weed is a former Rosicrucian Grand Councilor who has written other, less pithy books as well. His "A Rosicrucian Speaks" is very different & IMHO far less valuable than this masterwork. I believe Mr. Weed was strongly criticized by AMORC for publishing this book which succinctly reveals much private information that Rosicrucian students receive over years of study & practice--it was felt that people were not ready to receive this information in such a condensed format-- p. 167: "The unknown is always discovered through the known. This is the way we learn." In accordance with Mr. Weed's several warnings, beware of delving too swiftly into these practices. As he states, p. 123: "Energy that is built up demands release, & if we do not open doors for it & guide it in the proper direction it is likely to break out in an undesirable way." Patience & a step-by-step approach is strongly recommended. Some of the teachings in this book, though based on Rosicrucian principles, are specific to Mr. Weed, but this does not detract from them as he was an accomplished Rosicrucian. Topics in the book include: harmonium, karma, reincarnation, types of energy, thought, healing, the cycles of life, prayer, telepathy, developing psychic ability, & psychic projection. I agree that many people could be successful in such practices. Whether people are ready is another story. Still, if you find this book & really practice these techniques as given, you are probably ready. I would also recommend reading the works of H. Spencer Lewis, former Imperator of AMORC, for further information, esp. on "The Cycles of Life." For more on Rosicrucian philosophy, see the works of his son, Ralph M. Lewis.

This book is written in a concise, yet easily readable style with many experiments/exercises. I notice many parallels with Tibetan Buddhism herein. For example: p. 6: "From the very beginning you must learn to be more aware, not less so" & p. 168: "Energy flows from you to whatever you direct your attention [kavvanah]. We can also turn our attention to Great Beings that do not ordinarily manifest in physical form & from them receive a corresponding return of high grade energy which will stimulate & rejuvenate us in every way, physical, mental, & spiritual." This reminds me of Kabbalistic kavvanah (intention) as well as Tibetan Buddhist guru/deity yoga. For the right student, this is a great book. Even for an accomplished Rosicrucian, it's a wonderful refresher. It is NOT a new age book, but is, rather, based on old, tested, efficacious principles.

What a wonderful book. Filled with esoteric insight that took the author decades to learn. Here it is in print, narrowed down to the core,the heart of information that opens up a portal to metaphysical and spiritual understanding. Many authors fill their books with unnecessary filler jargon, this one gets to the point. I recommend it to all who want to cut to the chase learning to raise their vibrational freqency,increase psychic energy and abilities, and resonate with a higher awareness. I am glad this book FOUND ME.

Being a neophyte myself, it takes a leap of faith to fully embrace the ideas Weed presents in his book. For instance, he talks about using the power of thought to control your destiny and sending/ receiving telephathic messages. Such ideas defy reasoned thinking, so in a way its almost delusional to accept everything at face value. I've tried to keep and open mind yet proceed with caution.

Believe me, I would love to surrender my skepticism. But, instead I have chosen the hypothesize, test, and evaluate what Weed has to say.

With that said, I am entirely fascinated by the idea of studying one's own thinking process in the techniques he has provided.

The writing style is concise and easily understandable. Well written!

The only thing that could have made this book more enjoyable was if it listed an index of all the meditation techniques. This is because Weed includes them within his writing. As you begin reading you may want to jot down a list of all the practical techniques as you go (at least the page numbers).

Its hard to describe but the meditation techniqes Weed provides for releasing positive and negative energy really worked (for me). Also, they were easy to do. I really feel its a strategy that will help one control his/her emotions and bring them to a steady equilibrium (harmonium). I have to give Mr. Weed credit here. Chapter 1, How to Understand Yourself and Attain Harmonium really worked! Though, I suggest you decide for yourself.


The Amazon testimonial for this book is gimmicky and the same one that appears on the back cover of this book. It promises wealth, power and happiness! Weed's own writing doesn't quite match that tone. Instead he provides compelling techniques that are easy and enjoyable to work on. Wealth, power and happiness ends up being more of a side-benifit Weed mentions. You don't have to worry that Weed is giving you a sales pitch the whole book. He doesn't.

(You will not find a history of the AMORC or other Rosicrucian orders in this book. This book really is a self-study guide.)

In a way, I almost suspected a slight sales campaign for the AMORC in this book. To paraphrase, he often makes the comment "only students of the AMORC will have full access to the monographs that teach this [or that] lesson." What I mean, is there is a bit of an enticement for the reader to explore more about the AMORC. However, this may simply be my perception.

My hope here is that my review tells the skeptic "Don't worry, its ok to be skeptical and keep an open mind too." I hope what I've said is helpful.

Weeds book deserves 5 stars. Its earnest, sincere and well written.

Good Luck finding your path in life!

-AO

This book, along with "Phychic Energy", also by Joseph J. Weed, were first purchased and read by me in 1974. Throughout the years, I have consulted, and re-read them, time and time again. With simple, easy to do experiments, you can track your progress, and prove once and for all that you are a part of something greater. A few of the references are dated, but the main truths and contents are just as valid now as when my copy of the 1968 edition was published. You owe it to yourself, to be equipped with the tools, and to prove it once and for all time, that the mystical path is the true path. Mr. Weed took a lifetime, devoted to research, and all can benifit by reading and practice of the contents of this work.

I could say so many things... and the other reviewers have said plenty.

Instead, let me tell you how this book makes me feel, and please let me use this words: I WISH I COULD TAKE THIS BOOK WITH ME WHEN I DIE AND BRING IT BACK TO MY NEXT LIFE, I MEAN, TO BE BORN WITH THIS BOOK IN MY HANDS (LITERALY) ALONG SIDE MY OTHER FAVORITE BOOK "THE YOGAS AND OTHER WORKS" BY SWAMI VIVEKANANDA.

If the information that this books has is taken to the heart, then, you will become the "master of your own destiny".

Here is a glimpse, but, do not read lightly... furthermore, is you don't read slowly, you will miss the "in between words" enlightenment. One sentence is the equivalent of pages, if not entire volumes! How I wish I could have read these books (Vivekananda's and Weed's) as soon as I learned how to read when I was a child!! (Inside brackets is mine):


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What is the difference between good and evil and how may I distinguish it? ...A good thought, wish or act is one which conforms to the law of nature; evil is that which is at variance with nature's law. As to know the law-this requires the application of intelligence and good judgment. In the ultimate you will only know the law, really know it, through your own experience. However, you can learn it much more quickly and save yourself grief if you will accept and act on advice from more advanced souls who have already traveled along the road through life and encountered the same problems that beset you.

It is very difficult for us to see ourselves as we really are. We have been conditioned from earliest childhood to ignore all but the most vigorous and solid impacts upon our consciousness. We are trained by life and by our elders to be materialists. Small wonder, therefore, we give so little value to the spiritual and attach so much importance to the physical and its correlative emotions. Since that is true for all of us, it is foolhardy to ignore the physical or, worse still, try to pretend it does not exist. Far better, give it full recognition and use it as the foundation upon which a higher awareness is built. This deliberate expansion of consciousness is a step-by-step progression along a path for which this book serves as a guide.

So this book deals in facts and offers instruction only in those skills and abilities that have been successfully demonstrated by men and women like yourself.

Every man, woman and child in the world is advancing and developing, whether he or she realizes it or not. For some the rate of progress is slow; others go along at an average pace, a few are far out ahead. Each person is different. There are no carbon copies. Some strive to improve and others care for nothing but their own physical satisfactions. Those who want to develop and really try soon outdistance their fellows and come earlier to a true understanding of life. Their open minds, their intellectual curiosity and their persistent efforts bring them eventually to a Teacher who can lead them on the path to illumination and Cosmic Consciousness.

No one is contacted by such a Teacher until he has trained himself and is ready for the disciplines involved. You have often heard, "When the student is ready, the Master will appear." The important word in this promise is `ready.' No one is ready by accident or by gift of Divine Providence. You get ready by training yourself, by study, by practicing certain exercises and by becoming skilled in the prescribed mental techniques. Along with this must go better understanding of who and what you are and why you do the things you do. All this, plus discipline and self-control, is part of the process of "getting ready." [all contained in this book]

We learn by doing-so waste no time. If you would discover your hidden abilities and put them to work, start now. Thoughtful experiment and persistent striving are the keys. You must do. The techniques have been given [in this book]. Your rate of progress is now up to you.

Chapters:

1-The human body: How to understand yourself and attain harmonium
2-The principle of Karma: How you can make and remake your future
3-Birth, Death and Reincarnation
4-The power of thought: First steps to the control of your destiny
5-The power of thought: Physical-Etheric and emotional energy
6-The power of thought: Controlling mental and psychic energy
7-Healing through the power of psychic energy
8-Understanding the Law of Cycles
9-The power of prayer
10-How to understand and use telepathy
11-How to generate and apply psychic energy
12-Achieving psychic development
13-The secret of psychic projection
14-The Rosicrucian way of life

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Here, I will remind you of what Buddha said (extracted from Karma Yoga by Swami Vivekananda and The Secret Doctrine by H.P. Blavatsky): "Believe not because some old manuscripts are produced, believe not because it is your national belief, because you have been made to believe it from your childhood; believe not because a holy man preaches you; believe not because of holy books; but reason it all out, and after you have analyzed it, then, if you find that it will do good to one and all, believe it, live up to it, and help others to live up to it."

Now, the fact that you are reading this review, and probably you will read this book, means that you want to advance faster by trusting others; otherwise you will be learning by your own experience and would not care to do this (read reviews, books, and follow someone else's advise), so, I'll say this: read the book and put it into practice, just like Buddha suggested. Take what is useful to you, leave what it is not... no matter what, I assure you, this book will help you change and shape your destiny immediately!

Again, a word of advice: don't read it lightly... read it and re-read it, and then, read it again, and again. Every time, you will discover something new!! Don't forget to read in between the lines.

It is well known that H.P. Blavatsky made only two books of the "Secret Doctrine", and she said that the third one was almost ready but never got published. She did hint that it was going to deal with the psychological (in a very esoteric yet practical way) aspect of man. I don't know what she wrote in that third book (I have an idea though, and it has nothing to do with the "third book" of the Secret Doctrine that has been published by Annie Besant) but this book "Wisdom of the Mystic Masters" and "The Yogas and other Works" by Swami Vivekananda (both books) can very well take its place.

For those who want to start on the mystic path and would like to save years of hard search and "trial-and-error"... this is your book.

Here you have a little more from the same writer... and it is free (write together everything inside quotations):

"www" period and then "arosicrucianspeaks" period and then "com" and "/index" and finally ".html"

I read this book twentyfive years ago, and I began to seriously change my life. Unfortunately I loaned the book to a friend and could never get it back. I soon thereafter made contact with the Rosicrucians. The last twentyfive years has been a journey, and although I had only studied earnestly with the Rosicrucians for six months or so, everything that they taught me has been validated through observation and experience. I mourned the loss of this book for twentyfive years, and just happened across it here in Amazon. I am now reading it again, and I am amazed at how much I have progressed....and how much more there is to do. My youngest daughter and my first two of more to come grandchildren are blessings that I would never have been granted had I not read this book and found my way to the Rosicrucians. I am so happy to have found this book again.

A better book on the subject will NOT be found. Period. I have read several dozen Rosicrucian books and this is by far the best. Keep in mind, I am biased towards the Beverly Hall side of Rosicrucianism (founded by my great, great grandfather) so me giving this praise towards Mr. Weed, a student of AMORC, is REALLY saying something!

Perhaps the only "down" side to this book, is that it is TOO informative. By Weed's own admission, he is revealing things that took him 30+ years of study and practice in just 200 pages! For the "average" person, I fear it could be overwhelming and therefor one may not take the practices seriously. One could not make a more serious mistake. Again, I have not found a better book on the subject of astral projection, levitation, teleportation, telepathy, etc. The very best so far!

For someone seeking an introduction to the Rosicrucian mind set, one should try to obtain a copy of "The Way to Happiness" by R. S. Clymer. A much better "introduction" as this book is NOT! This book is filled with nothing but the most advanced abilities, if not concepts. Some baby steps may be in order before jumping head first into this one.

I read a friend's copy of this book and was so impressed I had to own my own. I've seen some of these principles before, but it is laid out very concisely and easy to handle. I love the "homework" problems which bring it out of theory and into your day-to-day life. Two thumbs up to Joseph Wood.

I like this book. I would like to find everything this author has written. Unfortunately most are out of print. Here it is in a nutshell. It is a good read. Just the material on life's cycles of 7, are worth the purchase price of the book. I made charts using the calendar for all the members of my family based on this section. I hear from them all the time on the accuracies of the cycle trends and most of my family now look ahead to the upcoming cycle to see what's in store for them. Recommend it.